The Perfect Tree

This past Monday was the first day the forest service started selling tree permits.  We weren't sure if it was going to happen this year  due to the Waldo Canyon fire.  The cutting area was unaffected so we got our permit ($10.00) and drove to Woodland Park.  We decided to drive all the way in to the end of the cutting area (15 mi.) since the weather was beautiful and there was no snow.  We found a beautiful Engleman spruce (the same species that the White House has this year from Colorado) and had it cut and on the top of the car within about 30 min.  Since the weather was great we decided to have an adventure and drive home over Mt. Herman Rd.  We back tracked about 10 mi. and then drove about 45 min. toward Monument.  It is beautiful up there but has some messy areas due to 'shooting spots' and 'drinking camps'.  It was great trip over the mountain.  The tree is up but not decorated.  We thought we were going smaller this year but it looks pretty tall (12 ft.).   Another perfect tree and we helped the environment by thinning the forest.
Mt. Herman Rd was in great shape since it was used so much during the fire and it looks like they have been doing lots of thinning up there for fire prevention.

Thanksgiving 2012

We had a very nice Thanksgiving this year.  Meredith and Tim, Tyler and Lauren, and Chris and Maren were all able to make it down for turkey.  Everybody pitched in and helped and the turkey and turkey breast turned out great.  Jerry, Clyde, and Charlie all got along great for the most part and kept each other worn out from all of the playing outside.  The weather was mild so we were able to play bocce, take a hike out to Monument Rock and make a visit to O'Malley's. I still don't know how to 'turn' a pic. We missed Val and Eric but we'll be seeing them for Christmas.

1st Snow Hike of the Season (End of Oct.)

Before I left for Calif. Arn and I took a hike up to the reservoirs.  We were hoping for more snow but it was pretty anyway. Arn even wore his yak trax. These were taken the last week of October.

Mending a Heart

Looking down the hill toward the hospital

San Francisco Bay Trail

1st trip back to walk on the beach @ Pacifica (with his heart hugger)

I'm back from spending some time with my brother to help him recuperate from his heart surgery.  I was there 2 weeks.  He did well and is on the mend.  The hospital was in a great area and I would try to walk as much as I could in between visits.  I found a walk along the water, a loop on a bike path thru a neighborhood and a nice walk up a hilly street.  I also found a great Italian grocery store and a hole in the wall sandwich shop (Little Lucca's) so I need to walk more now that I am back home.  Rock is feeling better everyday and is utilizing visiting nurses, a visiting physical therapist, and eventually cardiac rehab.  He should be able to drive again after his Dec. 5th appt.  In the meantime he's walking around his apt. complex which is beautiful and very park like.  We are so glad and thankful that he found out about his aortic stenosis and that the surgery is all done. Now......on with his retirement!