Camping at Poncha Springs

 FINALLY it was time to go camping again - but only AFTER we had gotten some rain!  It was SO DRY that I was scared to leave the premises and there were fires all over Colorado - (and there STILL are many fires!!).   But since we had received a couple of nice showers, I felt better about leaving.....

It was a nice drive over and this time we did NOT have the motorcycle strapped to the side by side so we didn't have to stop and check it all the time!  There were quite a few campers but we actually found a great spot not too far in on the gravel road!

It started raining shortly after we got set up so Glenn took an early nap before we headed out on the side by side!  There was a beautiful rainbow out - and it stayed out for almost a full hour - have never seen one stay out that long!!  Part of it was always under the clouds but it was sure fun to watch it!

We came in the back way to our camper and I love this picture of the rainbow because you can see our camper in the trees!

We had a yummy dinner and then ended up playing Upwords - Glenn is not a game player most of the time but he's getting better!!  I only beat him by a few points that evening!

I did slip outside and take this photo - it was so pretty out!

The next day we REALLY slept in - it's amazing how well we sleep sometimes when we camp! We headed out with a packed lunch and had a great day!  We've been over these trails many, many times but it's still fun and we love it!!  Marshall Pass is one of our favorite roads!

There were hardly any atv's out that day which was surprising!  We covered a lot of miles that day before we headed back to the camper later on.  Upwords was on the list again that night to play and this time Glenn actually beat me!!

But we did discover one more issue - we had to run the furnace that morning as it was darn cold!!  But that evening Glenn checked the gauges and it said we were almost out of battery - DARN!!  So we used the stove the next morning to warm the camper a little bit - our biggest worry was of course having enough battery to close the two slide outs!!  The slide in the bedroom is small and it came in with no problem but the large one in the living room wouldn't move - Glenn immediately plugged the solar panels back in (he had them hooked up the entire time but there was basically hardly any sun during all this time) and that little bit of power got the slide in to work - WHEW!  So a new battery is in order for that!

It's just nice to find out all the little issues before we take it next year to Texas!  Anyway, a great camping trip!  

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 250th Birthday America!!!  What a special day in history!!

Since July 4th hit on a Saturday and Friday was the legal holiday, we KNEW the roads would be crazy and camping would turn into a 4 day outing so once again, we hibernated at the house - HA!

BUT first of all a Happy Birthday to Aleah who turned 17 on this day, along with Jill and Robby's anniversary on this day - so much to celebrate!!!

Glenn and I were invited to Jaime's on Friday night for an Asian dinner - they had got a new blackstone to attach to their grill and Rayna and Jarod grilled all the veggies and rice outside while Jaime cooked the chicken inside!  It was all so delicious!  I had brought fresh rhubarb strawberry dessert to round out the evening!

Saturday evening we went over to Al and Debra's place for hamburgers - here we're goofing around with the knight - HA!

It was SO lovely outside so that's where we ate - a fun time!  And then watched an America show on TV!

Here's the Keppy's in Iowa!

Jill's crew went to a friends house for a BBQ!

And Jaime's celebrated at home!

All in all a great weekend for everyone!

June Photo Dump

 It's a short photo dump this month!!

Henry is sporting a new ball cap for the summer!  After getting back from Baja with his straw hat, I decided he needed a switch!!

Glenn and I were sleeping soundly one night and heard this LOUD sound - we both sat straight up in bed as it sounded like it was in the same room!!!!  I thought for sure there was a bear right outside our window - Glenn thought it sounded like tin cans!!  We both got up but couldn't find anything!  I was gone the next day but when I got home, Glenn told me he found the source of the sound!  Down in the storage room, I have a very strong wooden bookcase which holds a few books but mainly my scrapbooks from creative memories!!  The 2nd to the top shelf gave way and came straight down and knocked the next two shelves down and when that happened, all the scrapbooks came forward and fell on a large tub, taking with it, the sheet I had hanging down in front of it, which meant everything I had on the very top of the shelf came down - oh my gosh - what a mess!!!

So Glenn drilled some new holes for me and I decided that the majority of the scrapbooks from that shelf would now go in one of the tubs and just put a few back on the shelf!!

We  hosted the "Brittany Drive Rocks" neighborhood group (this is our name of the text group so we can all communicate with each other) last Sunday night!  The middle couple and their son are from OK. and have a VRBO that they rent out about 1/2 mile from us - so when they are in town, we all get together for a meal - a great bunch of people!  Glenn did a fish fry and I made up 3 large salads so we had a feast!

Didn't know if we would be able to see the full moon from all of the smoke in the area, but eventually it did come out!

Yes, Colorado is on fire - I believe we have 10 active fires in the state with the largest one out past Pueblo - it's 0% contained and of this writing, has burned around 67,000 acres with over 150 structures lost!    It's extremely windy and the humidity is in the single digits - we're hoping to get some moisture in a couple of days!  You can bet I updated my evacuation list this weekend!  Nothing is close to us right now but it's 4th of July weekend and the campers are out!!

Let's hope July brings some badly needed rain!

Denver Bound

 Jessi had told me a couple weeks ago that Gary and Gwyn were flying into eastern Iowa to visit his relatives and then Jessi and Kenzie would drive out on the following Thursday!  So she asked me if I would come up and help her organize !  I said sure and headed up by noon on Friday to escape the traffic (which I didn't of course!!)  Traffic was a bear as usual!

I arrived in Denver in time to see Gary and Gwyn before Jessi took them to the airport - we had a nice dinner and watched a fun movie - AND I ate Chunky Monkey ice cream which Jessi is SO good to buy for me when I come up!

The next morning we started in the basement!!!  Worked a while (after our morning walk of course) and then went to Black Rock for yummy coffee!!  This place is a little ways away but the atmosphere is SO nice and the coffee is wonderful!!  After a stop at the store, we were back at it!

We ended up organizing and cleaning her basement area and the laundry room which also houses her extra food like a pantry!!  Lots of trash and good will things which is always a plus!!

Then we cleaned out an upstairs closet and a big buffet and called it quits!!  We certainly got a lot accomplished!!

Jessi fixed an awesome meal of lemon chicken - her and I BOTH love this recipe which has lots of mushrooms in it - it tasted so good!! And as you can see, we enjoyed wine!

Kenzie had been shopping on Friday and got this cute dress to wear to Red Rocks Wed. night when her and her boyfriend go to a country concert - she modeled it for us, borrowing Jessi's hat and boots and looked so cute!

We watched another movie Saturday night - not as good as the night before but still decent!  Enjoyed our walk the next morning before it was time for me to head out!

I stopped at her King Soopers early in the morning as I knew W. Pk would be busy by the time I got there and got my groceries - soon I was home to get ready for hosting the neighbors for a fish fry that evening!!   Life is sometimes quite busy!

First Camping Trip of the Season

 Since the new 5th wheel was all clean and ready to go, we decided to take a short trip to camp to make sure everything was working properly!  I had a massage late morning on a Tuesday so we left after I got back home!  Glenn wanted to go to Sargents where he would probably hunt in order to try out a neighbors motorcycle to see if it would work - it was a PAIN trying to load it and tie it to the side by side on the trailer but he finally got it all done and we were off!

We stopped a LOT along the way just to make sure all was OK with that motorcycle and with the 5th wheel but there were no issues!  Made it to Sargents and I was quite willing to park just off the highway a little ways but Glenn insisted on going through a creek back in a ways - I do agree it was MUCH more prettier back there...........

It was fun setting everything up and we both relaxed before cooking dinner - the bed was SUPER comfortable so it was a joy to sleep on!

We always chuckle on camping mornings because at home we tend to get up about 5:30 during the summer but when we camp, it's always later - like 6:40!!!!!!  I couldn't believe we had slept so long BUT we both got cold during the night, even though the windows were all closed!  I put the thermometer outside and checked it a little later and it was 32 degrees out - NO WONDER we were chilly sleeping!

Glenn said he would go ride the bike for a while so I could enjoy my coffee! 

And then he was back before I knew it and we went for a nice ride!  The columbine are out and SO PRETTY!

I was surprised how many lodgepole pines were actually on the ground!  We've had a LOT of wind lately and apparently a lot over this way too - Glenn had to move several off the trail and one time we actually had to turn around as the tree across the trail was just too big to move!

This was our view from the camper looking towards Sargents - I had to wait a day to take it because the smoke was so heavy you couldn't see the mountains!

We enjoyed grilled chicken for dinner and then played a romping game of Upwords - I won but not by much - it's one of our favorites when we camp as two people can play it easily! And we both slept great again - luckily it didn't get near as cold!

Another ride our last morning - this trail follows the high line wires for a LONG ways!

A picture of our 5th wheel - all worked well EXCEPT the morning of departure when the sink wouldn't drain - it also was dripping a little bit under the sink so Glenn had to work on that when we returned home!

And here is the creek we had to cross to get to the camping spot - I was on pins and needles - Glenn assured me it would be just fine and of course it was! And yes, the windshield was filthy!

I always love this view coming down Monarch Pass!

We arrived home late afternoon and Glenn immediately got to work on the drain - it was plugged but he got it opened up and a new small pipe to put in to replace the small leak!  Now we're ready for the next camping trip!!

Father's Day

 Father's Day was a quiet Sunday day - Glenn worked outside until Jaime stopped by with one of his gifts and I had the other ones that the girls had sent through Amazon!  And even though he was in his old clothes and was filthy, we still had him open his gifts!!

He received 3 of these brightly colored disc looking things - they're actually things you wrap around the hook and sinker on your fishing pole when you carry them in the car or store them - now why didn't we have those on our MANY trips to Baja with poles in the car?????  The other contraption is a grip like tool that holds the fish when you are trying to get the hook out - perfect fishing gifts!!

When we were in Iowa, Glenn really enjoyed drinking this peach flavored whiskey - so the girls got him 2 different brands so he could compare them - one of course is much more expensive than the other!  Perfect Fathers Day gifts!!

Glenn had requested Million Dollar Spagetti for dinner with salad and garlic knots so that's what he got!!

Family Reunion

 Glenn had one more reunion - his family reunion!!  I went to church with Patty at Soldier Lutheran Church, my hometown church!  There was just a small turnout but did see several people I knew!

Glenn and I headed out late morning to the Community Center in Onawa - Glenn's sister had rented the building and ordered chicken and all brought sides!  It was great to see everyone, especially Neal, Jen with kids Maggie and Chance!!

The 3 Iowa grandkids - and yes, Chance has a black eye!

The meal was great with lots of food to share - joining us at the table was Glenn's nephew, Frankie!

And here's the bunch that was at the reunion!  Glenn's brother is beside him and two of his sisters are in solid blue in the front row!  Afterwards, the siblings went to the nursing home to visit Deanna, another sister!

Monday morning, Patty, Brenda and I went for coffee in Mapleton - we always enjoy our coffee together at this great place - then it was back to Soldier as it was Book Club for them and I joined in also and thoroughly enjoyed it!!

Nedelle and Brandon came over and Glenn took them out to the farm so Nedelle could get a bunch of her dads' tools to have!

Somewhere over the course of our time there, I taught Patty and Leonard how to play "Swoop" which is a really fun card game that we played in Baja!

We had our farm meeting late afternoon at Patty's place and then headed to Woodbine to all eat together - a fun time!  Yes, there are lots of to go boxes since we always take our dessert home!

And a picture of we 3 silblings - missed you Teri!!

Glenn and I headed out very early on Tuesday morning for the long drive back - but a great time in Iowa and sure appreciated Patty and Leonard's hospitality!