North To Fort Collins

 It was time to head north to see kids' games and celebrate Robby and Jill's anniversary with dinner out!

We were up early and headed to Ft. Collins, missing a lot of the traffic which was WONDERFUL!  It was fun to see everyone again!  Jill and I headed out shortly after we got there to run errands and SHOP!  I'm not a big shopper but Jill has a Sam's Club card (while I have Costco) so we headed there!  And of course I ALWAYS find something to buy!  This time it was a pullover shirt for Glenn and a red sweater for me!  Now I'll have something to wear to Jessi's kids events as their colors are RED!  Also got a couple of camping chairs to take to Mexico!

After stopping back home for lunch we headed to Hobby Lobby as Jill wanted to redecorate her living room!  I love to help with projects like that!  We spent a couple of hours trying different arrangements and FINALLY found the perfect items!  Not all were on sale so she bought a few and then will wait till they go on sale to buy the rest!

Then it was a race home to change and get ready to go out and eat!

Robby and Jill wanted to go to the Hibachi Grill!  We hadn't been to one in years so it was a perfect choice!  Although we didn't have the best "chef" as far as interacting with our table, the food was still great and we had a fun time!

Aleah wanted to go out for coffee the next morning so Starbucks it was!  I'm not a fan of their coffee but tried a mocha with pumpkin spice and it was good!  I always enjoy spending some time with Aleah!

Then it was time for baseball and softball games!  Aleah had to play 2 games so Robby took her while the rest of us took Parker to his baseball game - unfortunately they lost but it was great to see Parker play!

Hanging out at Parker's game - glad we found some shade as it was DARN hot out that day!

Then we headed to Aleah's 2nd game and got to watch her play - she did just great - not a win though!  Both kids were hot and tired!  We stopped and got some burgers for the guys for dinner that night  - I still had leftovers from the night before!

TV time for these 3!  I was on the loveseat reading so I'm thinking there was football on!

Monday morning the kids were off to school, as was Jill!  Glenn and I waited for traffic to subside a little bit and then headed out!  We decided to take the back way home which was a nice change from the interstate and it didn't take us that much longer!   A great weekend!

Heritage Museum and Rita

 Next on the list was stopping at the Heritage Museum at the top of the hill, overlooking Cripple Creek!  It's a great museum with the history of the mines and how C. Crk grew to a HUGE city during the gold rush!  I've been there several times and always enjoy it!  The views are AMAZING!!!!

I've always loved this sign before you come into Cripple Creek!

And then we were off to Victor to see the newest troll, Rita the Rock Planter!  This troll was constructed by artist Thomas Dambo and is completely made out of recycled wood!  He also made the troll in Breckenridge!  After driving through Victor, we found the turn off and you hike in about 1/4 mile to see Rita!

It's really a COOL troll to see!

Check out those hands - pushing the rocks back into the ground!

I like this selfie pic because it looks like Rita is looking at us out of the corner of her eye!

You can walk a little further to the overlook and what a cool picture when you look back at Rita!  Shows all the mining that has been going on!

Wednesday we went over to Wild Horse for coffee - it's all decorated for fall - I sure love this place!

Carrie spent all day Tuesday and Wednesday with me before another friend picked her up on Wed. nite!  We had a nice visit and it was great to see her!

And Wednesday afternoon my friend Joleen from KS drove in - yes, I did a lot of sheets and towels over those few days!

Tea For Two

  Carrie and I have known each other for over 30 years!  Even though I've stayed in Colorado all this time, Carrie has moved several times and is now in Tx.  But she's excited that BOTH of her kids are now in Colorado so made a trip out here to see them and friends!

We've always loved to have tea together and this year was no exception!  I made reservations at Creations Everlasting over in Cripple Creek - I've been there many times with friends and family and always enjoy Evie, the owner!

I made our reservation for 11:30, knowing there would be PLENTY of food for a lunch, even though it was tea!  And I was very surprised when we walked in, as the usual tea place is in a corner of her gift shop but it wasn't there any longer - she had moved it out to the huge open area behind (which is a part of a casino but not used for that any more) and had it roped off with mirrors and lights and trees - so cute!

Our first course was a bowl of fruit - a HUGE bowl of fruit - for EACH of us!  WOW - most of that went home with us!    And the second course were 3 plates of tea sandwiches - oh so good!

And we went through a couple pots of tea!

Last but not least was dessert - 2 pieces of cheesecake, a slice of lemon bread and a maple scone with homemade whipped cream - all SO good - and most of it we brought back home!

It was a lovely time just sipping tea, eating our sandwiches and dessert and talking!

When it was time to leave, we had 3 boxes of to go items AND she sent home the rest of the loaf of lemon bread with us - what a sweetheart she is!

And then we were off to the next place!

Labor Day 2023

 I remember back in the day when Glenn and I were both working and we always looked forward to the 3 day holiday weekends so we could go camping!   And now that we've been retired for years, I think to myself that there is NO WAY we would be camping on Labor Day Weekend with all the crazies!!!  Gosh, it's busy out there - and we're SO content to just stay home!

The Keppys arrived Saturday afternoon -Brad, Jaime, Kylan, Irene, Matias and his girlfriend Maddie all came over and the games began!

I made mango daiquiris for the adults and virgin ones for the kids and we all had fun playing!

Lots of cooking for a crew that size but I had everything ready to go in the oven before anybody came so it all went smoothly!

Gwyn was sitting on Papa's lap and Jessi kept trying to get a picture of Gwyn's legs with Glenn's body - ha - she accomplished just that!!

The front porch is always a great place to relax!!  And it must have been chilly as I have a jacket on!

Glenn and Evan worked on the motorcycle so Evan could ride it around the property!

Sunday morning Glenn went outside and the Keppys car door was wide open - WHAT????  Yup, a bear had opened the door (after smearing dirt all over the outside and the window) and crawled in - even though there were some nuts in the door, he didn't take them!  There was hair on the seat and a musky smell!   Yes, all cars left outside now have their doors locked before sundown!!

Evan spent both nights over at Kylans place but when they were here, they went over to the rocks and worked on their "fort"!  They had a great time working on it - it was just a bunch of tall sticks making kind of a shelter but they're taking it to a whole new level!

Sunday morning Jaime, Jessi and I all went for coffee over at the Wild Horse - always fun to have coffee with your daughters (but we missed having Jill there!)   We worked at some plans for Christmas and just enjoyed the morning!  

Monday Jaime and Kylan came over for some grilled brats and hot dogs - my friend Carrie from Tx. arrived late morning - and the Keppys headed home after lunch!!  WOW - a busy weekend!

August Photo Dump

 August is a thing of the past and we're now into MY ALL TIME FAVORITE MONTH!  YAY!  I've already decorated for fall and ready to embrace the season of colored leaves, crisp air, pumpkins, coffee with pumpkin spice, corn husk decorations and the SMELL of fall!

The first full moon of August - too many clouds but made for a cool picture!

When we were back in Iowa, the friend who makes the gnomes told me to stop down and pick out a free one as she was trying to get rid of her old stock - well of course I could pick out ONE but why do that when I could get 4 of them for a VERY cheap price!

I didn't see a lot of fawns this year but sure enjoyed this picture as they walked by while I was drinking my coffee!

Glenn made 2 batches of salsa this year - this was his first one!

The hummingbirds were as fun as ever to watch all summer - unfortunately the honey bees have discovered the feeder out back and they loved to hover and try to drink the sugary water!

LARGE tomatoes from Iowa - this particular one covered and overhung on my toast!

Gotta love the afternoon showers that brings the rainbows!

Palisade Peaches - they're sure not cheap once again this year but I got a case from Safeway and they were SO GOOD!!!  I froze up 2 bags for jam and 6 bags for peach crisp but decided I needed more for crisp so got another 1/2 box yesterday!

And that's a wrap for August!

Headed Down The Pass

 WOW - a chance to see Kenzie play AGAIN in Colorado Springs!!  Who would have thought they would travel that far to play?

Since Jaime was off mid-afternoon, Glenn and I picked up Brad at his place and met Jaime at work in Woodland Park - we headed down to the Springs, knowing traffic would be bad and the game was in north Co. Springs but Jaime drove and made good time!

It was fun to see Jessi who had driven down from Denver to the game AND Rayna who usually works on Tuesday nights but asked for it off so she could watch Kenzie play!

I LOVE to watch this girl serve - she has such a pretty serve!  AND this girl is captain of her team!

Here's the crew that watched her play!

Kenzie with cousin Rayna!

Jessi, Jaime and I decided to leave after Kenzie played and go get In and Out Burgers for all of us - I had never had one so was excited to try one!  I wish I could say I loved them but for me, they were just OK!

Check out how tall Kenzie is getting!!  

It was a fun evening and after eating in the bleachers, we watched the varsity game and then headed back up the pass!