Dream Garden

This is Val and Eric's garden. Everything is flourishing and we were able to enjoy lots of lettuce, basil, and a couple of cucumbers.  It is absolutely beautiful.  We  had such a fun time.  The guys golfed and Val and I got some projects done. Chops and Turk are such fun too.

1st Time to Montana

This past week we spent a little time in Montana.  We were invited to some friend's home in Fishtail.  It was beautiful and so relaxing.  They have 30 acres with a pond and stream.  We tried but didn't catch any fish.  Deer were frequently around and every evening a gaggle of wild turkeys came and roosted in the trees across the stream.  Ginny and Bob have a beautiful home with a wonderful veggie and flower garden.  We also played golf in Red Lodge.  Every evening we played games and had a delicious dinner.  On the way thru Billings we stopped and I reconnected with my first cousin Claire.  I haven't seen her in probably over 50 years. Watch for another post soon..............we drove from Billings to North Dakota to see Val and Eric for the weekend since we were so close.

A quick visit with Val and Eric!

Val and Eric are here from North Dakota for a very short visit.  The got home yesterday afternoon and are leaving tomorrow morning.  This morning we hiked up to the reservoirs.  Eric hadn't been up there.  Chops got to say home and Turk came along and worked on his swimming skills. 

Golf at Perry Park

Today I had the chance to play one of my favorite golf courses.  Perry Park is located north of us in Larkspur.  Even the drive up there from Palmer Lake is beautiful.  The course is beautiful and pristine.  We saw a few deer and some fresh bear scat but no bear.  One of the ladies I played with had pictures of a bear with 2 cubs who climbed into her cart one year.  The area rock formations are amazing.  Arn  was able to play this course for the first time this year and he would like to join there!  When we moved here it was one of his choices but I nixed it due to the distance from schools and towns. Anyway, it's a beautiful course and was really fun even though it was a very hot day.

2013 Black Forest Fire - Late Post

Look closely and see the black vs. the remaining green area.

The Black Forest Fire which happened a couple of weeks ago became the most destructive fire in the history of Colorado.  It destroyed around 511 homes.  It was a very surreal feeling driving home the day the fire started seeing the smoke plume so close to town.  The cause hasn't been pinpointed yet but it wasn't caused by nature.   The evacuation area was very close to where we live.  Our old vet office was destroyed.  The church we occasionally attend survived but the hiking trail close to there was partially burned.  A girl I golf with lost her home but plans to rebuild.  When she was playing golf last week she noticed a couple of burn holes in her golf towel.  That's how close the fire embers were to her as she was throwing things into the back of her truck to escape.  Her home was very near to the beginning of the fire.  We haven't driven out into the area yet but I hear that it is devastating.  When I drive to work I can look east from a certain spot on my drive and see the burned trees.  There was the fear that it could have jumped the road and come up thru a wooded park where we hike and continue north into our area.  Alot of people are trying to improve their fire mitigation.  One of my friends just cut down over 50 trees.  We have a few we probably need to remove and we have always been picking up pine cones and needles. 

Happy 4th of July!

 This year was kind of a different type of 4th of July.  Most of the fireworks shows had been cancelled due to the fire danger.  It was also the first year that Palmer Lake wasn't having them (no water in the lake - watch for a future post).  I went to the gym and to yoga while Arn played golf.  In the afternoon we went to the 1st Bull Bash in Monument.  A local couple who own bucking bull put on the competition and it was pretty cool.  All of the funds raised are going to help feed and care for all of the horses that have been displaced due to the fires in Black Forest.  Around 1200 horses had to be place in other homes and cared for due to the fire. The owner of the bulls is also the TriLakes fire captain. Anyway it was something new and different to do and we both enjoyed it.  After the bull bash we went to LaCasa for a drink and apps.  I was home sleeping on the couch by 5:30 pm!

We spotted these classy people after the street fair/parade.  I guess they wanted to be comfortable while watching the parade.  It's a couch on their flat bed truck complete with bar/drinks.

Happy Birthday Tim!

Happy Birthday to Tim!  It's a milestone birthday (30) and we hope he has a wonderful day.  He is a sweet, caring, and handy guy!