February Update

Wow, I just realized I have been lax in updating..........what's been going on?  Grandma is still here and plans on returning to Ohio in May after Lauren's wedding shower.  Arn and I have been trying to walk more since we haven't had snow since the last big dump when we made the snow dragon.  Arn worked over a whole week which tired him out and I have been trying to work as much as possible.  Some of the recent walks/hikes we've taken..............walked from Spruce Mt. Trailhead almost to Larkspur (6 mi.), Black Forest Section 16, thru the fire burn area (4mi.), Monument Preserve with Tyler, Lauren and the dogs (over 3 mi.) , around  the neighborhood (over 3 mi.), and I stopped on the way home from work and walked 4 mi. on the Santa Fe Trail until the Air Force Academy closure (should reopen this spring).  We took a mud hike on the Lincoln Mt. Open Space for 4 mi. which was a mess and now are checking out some of the drier places we don't usually go until the snow melts and the ground dries up.
I have also been trying to keep up with Betty Rocker, a 30 day challenge workout video series.  Gotta get this excess poundage off!

Puff the Snow Dragon

Arn and I were busy for a couple of hours this past Sunday before the Super Bowl.  What started as a snowman became a robot, then a cat, then a dinosaur, and finally a dragon.  We really started getting into it and raided the trash can (the Christmas tree was still in there since the trash wasn't picked up due to the blizzard). Some pieces of it became his toenails.  The weather was warm that day and will be warm for the next few days so we think that Puff won't be around for long.

POW/MIA Bracelet Project

In the 1970's, we wore Prisoner of War, POW Bracelets and Missing in Action, MIA Bracelets bearing the name of a captured or lost soldier. We did this to keep this person in our hearts and minds, even if we did not know them personally. We proudly wore these bracelets, and some still do, as a symbol of hope that the POW's and MIA's would return home to their families.

 I wore one of these bracelets in the 70's too.  I recently found out that our local high school history class is doing a project where they research the names on some of the bracelets and try to find out what happened to the person.  If they find the family they'll give them the bracelet.  I'm going to donate mine (it was surprising how easily I found it after all of these years).  I'll post again with any results that are found. 

2015 Purge

It seems like every year the holiday season is such a rush and everything happens so fast that we are all just trying to get through the season and then it is all over..............It's kind of a letdown.  I always feel like hibernating the week after Christmas and then after a couple of weeks regret not going out for bargains the day after Christmas.

 

 

Winter is the time for comfort. For good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand, and for a talk beside the fire. It is the time for home.

--Edith Sitwell, British poet

For some reason I've been purging the house the last couple of weeks.  I've taken one big load to Goodwill, eliminated lots of paper, organized the basement, taken lots of recycling, and am going through some drawers that haven't been touched in several years.  Why do we need 6 backpacks from elementary school when the kids are 31, 28, and 27??  Maybe it's a good sign that 2015 will be a good year.  It's only January and I'm anxious to get the taxes done too!

Crochet

 This is a current hobby...........am I becoming my mother?  I enjoy the feel of cotton yarn in my hands as it becomes something (currently a simple single crochet baby blanket). Also it is a way of keeping me awake while watching TV.  It's a great 'take along' project and Gma can help me with problems while she is here.

Crochet  is a process of creating fabric from yarn, thread, or other material strands using a crochet hook.^[3] The word is derived from the French word "crochet", meaning hook. Hooks can be made of materials such as metals, woods, or plastic and are commercially manufactured as well as produced by artisans. Crocheting, like knitting, consists of pulling loops of material through other loops, but additionally incorporates wrapping the working material around the hook one or more times. Crochet differs from knitting in that only one stitch is active at one time (exceptions being Tunisian crochet and broomstick lace), stitches made with the same diameter of yarn are comparably taller, and a single crochet hook is used instead of two knitting needles. Additionally, crochet has its own system of symbols to represent stitch types.

I've tried knitting before, made one thing, and never kept going.  When I picked up a crochet hook a couple of months ago.....'it came right back to me'.
So far I'm keeping it simple and plan to learn Tunisian crochet too.

Arnie's Adult Teeter Totter

Arn got a late Christmas present.............he has been wanting a Teeter Hang Up to see if it will help his back.  We borrowed one from a friend for a week and he thought it helped.  So we now have one of our own........

Arn makes dinner...............

Arn made dinner tonight.  It was yummy......but can you tell we like to watch cooking shows.  He made a caprese salad and leftover chicken.

Are we getting old?

So............last evening I spent 4 hr. in an AARP Defensive Driving Class.  The certificate will get us a discount on our car insurance.  I was the youngest one in the class and could hardly stay awake.  Everyone else seemed to consider the class kind of a social event.  We're good for 3 years now but I think Arn will be taking the class next time!

The Little Country Church

A couple of months ago my childhood church closed.  It used to be the Smithville EUB and then Smithville United Methodist.  The congregation has been dwindling for years and they had trouble at times finding a minister.  The 'conference' decided to close the church.  My mom still attended and about 20 other people.  I'm not sure what will happen to it.  Vandals have already taken the doors off the private mausoleum (where a distant cousin - John Stewart was buried.  They took the doors for the copper.). The contents were auctioned off to members.  Mom got a caned chair (all the chairs were caned by my grandmother Iva Mae Warfel), some hymnals,  and two child's chairs.    I remember sitting in them for Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  Hopefully someone will buy the church but I'm not sure if that will happen.  

Scary.................

This past week a man in the neighborhood across the street was shot as he opened his front door.  I learned about it when checking the internet before going to bed.  It happened about 8:30 pm.  We have friends who live in that neighborhood.  I checked again  when I got up early the next day.  He was the Exec. Dir. of the Dept. of Corrections for the state of Colorado.  So sad............and wondering what would have happened if his wife had opened the door.  I think the killer murdered a pizza guy in Golden the previous weekend and used his jacket to act like a pizza guy when he killed the man in Monument.  I would think somebody with the victim's job would have camera's outside his home or live in a gated community (not that that would help).  Everyone in the community and state is worked up and concerned for his family at this time..................................

Trying to find a good restaurant.........................

     We've had a rash of bad restaurant experiences lately.  Maybe it's because we are getting older but I think we may be becoming pickier too.  Another thought that might contribute is the fact that one of our favorite shows is Top Chef and we tend to critique food now like the judges.  A couple of weeks ago we went to Carlos Miguels. We had been there a time or two before and I was not impressed even though some friends seem to like it.  I think that if you order a cocktail you should be able to tell that you've had a little alcohol after finishing the drink.  Not so........  After a disappointing meal I felt the need to go to the web site and voice my opinion.  We've had no response from the restaurant.
     Last evening we decided to try a new  New Mexican place in Palmer Lake..............even though friends had not given a good report.  Again, not good.  Weak margarita's, bland food, and a chile relleno stuffed with potatoes instead of cheese.  We told the waitress that the salsa was bland and she said she has had that feedback before!  When asking her about the potato stuffing in the pablano chile she said she had never heard of that before either.  We filled out the comment card and Arn went online to urbanspoon and wrote a review but we probably won't hear from them either.
      Today Mom and I went to have a reuben at a deli.....................wow, guess we have to go to Denver for a deli.  The 'deli' we tried was like a low end Panera Bread with ok food but not like a New York Deli.  I wrote a review on urbanspoon again but probably won't get feedback.
         A year or so ago we went to a fine dining place in Manitou Springs and had a fair meal.  Again gave them feedback and never heard from them.
        I guess we live in an area of  'plain' eaters who are happy eating at chains.  Even when the results for 'Best of' comes out.................Red Lobster always wins for the seafood place!
      

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day............thought this was nice.

Fire mitigation fun!

The weather has been unseasonably warm the last few weeks.  We dog sat Charlie this weekend so we decided to get outside and get some fresh air and work on fire mitigation.   We always try to keep sticks and pine cones picked up or at least continually work on it.  Gma enjoys her little grabber tools used to pick up cones.  Charlie enjoyed chewing on the Christmas tree before we cut it up for the trash.

Obamacare Summed Up in One Sentence

Train Hopping...Update

So evidently the guy wasn't train hopping....just way to much alcohol/drugs and he either passed out or tripped.  He was very lucky to be found before he lost too much blood.  Either way it must be devastating since he was on the high school golf team and probably had a scholarship.  Interesting that the party was being chaparoned by teachers, coaches, and parents.  The loss of both legs were below the knee.  Seems to me there needs to be some investigation into the details of the party.............

The big jar of shells and a sand dollar tray.

Our fan coral we found on the beach.

I had no Idea.......Train Hopping????

In 2010, 443 trespassers nationwide were killed and another 833 injured in interactions with trains, according to preliminary railroad-safety statistics for that year compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration. Of those injured, 41 suffered amputations of feet or legs.

I had no idea people were still doing this!  Evidently in some circles this is considered aventurous and fun.  There are even Youtube videos about it.  Last year a CSU freshman had her legs severed while trying to hop a train from Denver to Fort Colllins.  So many people don't consider the permanent consequences of doing something 'risky'.  Maybe I'm just getting old......

It happened close to home a day or so ago in Monument.  A 17 yr. old lost his legs trying to hop a train at 1 AM.  I just don't get it.  Where was he trying to go, who was he with?  Didn't somebody have a car? More to come........

Certainly life changing.......please send positive thoughts and prayers his way.

Rose Rocks

I recently received a couple of rose rocks as a thank-you gift.....never knew they existed.....

Oklahoma designated rose rock (barite rose) as the official state rock in 1968. These rocks were formed by barite rock crystals during the Permian Age and resemble blooming roses. They are found in only a few rare places around the globe. Barite Rose Rocks can be found in clusters with only two roses to as many as hundreds of roses (some clusters weigh hundreds of pounds).
In Oklahoma, the distinctive red soil colors them in hues ranging from reddish brown to cinnamon - rose rocks are sought after and prized worldwide. An old Cherokee legend says the rocks represent the blood of the braves and the tears of the maidens who made the devastating "Trail of Tears" journey in the 1800's to Oklahoma.

99 Days til Christmas

It's getting cooler here in Monument and we've had more rain in the past couple of days than we've had in a long time. I've been busy trying to preserve some of the veggies we brought home from ND. I oven roasted 3 pans of plum cherry tomatoes, tried a hot pepper pesto recipe, made two large jars of refrigerator dill pickles, roasted pablano peppers, and we're eating tomatoes almost three times a day. One of our favs is a garden tomato sandwich (wheat bread - toasted, a little mayo, salt and pepper). I've also been eating tomatoes like apples, and last night we made a caprese salad. Yummy!

I'm kind of in the 'get ready for winter' mode and want to get out the fall decorations. I always have big ideas for the holidays and want to get a few projects done that I always end up deleting from my schedule. Realizing that Christmas is only 99 days away might help this year.

I'm not ready for the weather change yet thought....there was a blizzard that closed Pikes Peak Hwy last week and it snowed on trail ridge road too.

We need to be thinking about Thanksgiving....if you want to come, let us know.

Veggies from Val and Eric!!!!!!

Today I met Eric's sister in Castle Rock to get a bag of home grown veggies from Val and Eric. Lisa, Eric's sis brought them back to us from North Dakota. As soon as I got home we had tomato sandwiches. My favorite......but not very good unless you have a garden tomato. I made a batch of refrigerator pickles with the cukes and will take a cuke to work tomorrow. For dinner we had the peas which were yummy. Thanks Val, Eric, and Lisa.