Creatively Escaping the Heat

Saturday was another super hot and humid day. I do love the heat, but I'll admit I don't have the stamina to handle it like I used to. So the first highlight of the day was driving in the A/C to an air-conditioned book fair at Lake Arrowhead. Found three must-have reads because of course that's what they were selling!

Got home and had a surprise Amazon package delivered. Who needs a neon ice cream sign?? THIS birthday girl! I texted Jim, Carter and my twin to see who was responsible for this cool moment of joy on a hot day... and my twin did not disappoint!

I had hoped to photograph the water ski show later, but we got hit by some pretty hard and steady rain in the late afternoon.

Quite a bit in a short amount of time. So I stayed home and turned my attention elsewhere. To Shutterfly, in fact, and their recent text that they had a screaming deal for the weekend. Unlimited free pages AND free shipping.

So look at me finally finishing a vacation album from 10+ years ago!  

I mean I could also make some headway on a Maui vacation from 2016, but I don't think the 5 hours between now and midnight is enough. On the plus side, they do often extend the "unlimited free pages" coupon another day after the holiday. So there's a chance I can start it tonight and have all of tomorrow to scrap away. 

But let's not forget, this was a 5-day weekend with all intentions of "relaxing." Ahhh, decisions... decisions...

Hope you had a relaxing and SAFE holiday weekend!

Rocky Mountain Hi and Hello

Had a very nice past 24 hours. The kids traveled from Colorado to Wisconsin this weekend and got up to our place last night around 7 p.m. So nice to hug my boy after 3 months!!

And Mamie, too, of course! We pretty much just sat in the living room and talked and caught up for 4 hours. It was just so nice! This momma's heart was smiling! 

They're around to visit family since Carter just finished up his contracted job with the study abroad company. And Mamie could take a few days off. We talked about next steps since their lease in Denver is up in late October. There is plenty of uncertainty since Carter was waiting to hear about a job he interviewed for with the same company.

This morning he got the good news! They're hiring him in a full-time position – like real adult one with benefits and everything! We're so excited and so relieved! It continues to be fully remote so we'll see where the dart lands on the U.S. dart board next. 

Late this afternoon, we said our goodbyes with some extra-long hugs and they headed south to the Platteville-Potosi area to see her family. This should hold me awhile.

Unless I get the urge to see fall colors in the Rockies. Not unheard of.

Oh S-s-s-snap!

Warning: The following blog may contain graphic images that will either make your heart beat faster or possibly make you scream a little.

So after a lovely morning of church and editing racing photos, I headed to the Out Back again to tackle the remaining stumps and shrub root crap. If you recall, I was hoping to get this all done before bee and snake season started. Guess I missed that deadline.

Wasn't too far into my work today and was throwing a branch on my little pile when I came very close to this slithering friend in the grass. I screamed. Did an about face and ran up the little hill in the yard with a string of expletives behind me!

Since no one was around to rescue me, I tried talking myself believing he is harmless. Then grabbed my phone and snapped a few photos. Because he absolutely was not moving. Final warning!

Large and in charge and totally scream-worthy, right? I decided to call him Freddy – along with other F words – and figured I'd get right back to work. When I saw him slide inside one of the railroad tie steps, you can bet your ass I was on the lookout for a "S-s-surprise!" at some point in the next 4 hours. But nope, he let me get my digging done. Several roots looked like snakes, so they yielded little squeaky screams, but not too bad.

I had sent the picture to Carter and you would not believe what he sent back to me with the text caption: Like mother, like son – almost stepped on this rattlesnake today! (Final warning again!)

If you want to zoom in – which I wouldn't recommend – you can see the rattle tail! OMG! 

Another reason we never quit worrying about our kids. And here I thought he's only have to worry about elk out in Colorado. Carter just called, gave us a video tour of their duplex, and said they live in a very safe neighborhood. That just doesn't apply when they leave it and go hike in a canyon somewhere! (Note to self: This was in Eldorado Canyon State Park so don't let him suggest going there if we ever get out to visit.)

Oh and I wouldn't blame you for turning down invites to our backyard either. Ha.

But I'll leave you with two pretty images from the park so you won't think it was all rattle and ho-hum...

Be careful out there!

Just Sitting Around Watching the Sunset

Wildfires in New Mexico are causing some hazy skies and pretty sunsets here in central Wisconsin. I took these pictures tonight at the soccer field. My last pictures of a two-day photo spree. Hey, it's spring and in the 70s. You gotta make hay and shoot pictures when you can!

Yesterday I covered the Royals middle school softball game since I hadn't given them any love yet. Then walked over to the high school soccer game, where our Lady Royals continued their undefeated dominance beating Wausau Newman. It took them all 7 innings this time, though.

From there,  I headed over to baseball. When I left the softball field, our guys were down 6-1. In my short drive over, we rallied and tied at 6-6. Of course, I got there and must have brought bad vibes or something because we ended up losing 11-6. Ouch.

From there, I went over to the soccer field where our Lady Royals beat a tough Amherst team 3-1 and maintained their undefeated status, too. We've got some hot girls teams this year!!

Today, I shot the Lincoln baseball game. Wanted to catch one of my fave seniors in action before he's done forever. And another friend's son who's having a hot year. It was tied 1-1 when I left during extra innings. Rapids ended up losing by 1 in 11 innings. Uff da. 

I would've stuck around but wanted to get over to Lincoln soccer to take pictures of one of the girls whose younger sister plays for our Assumption team. Logan didn't see much action because she was in front of our goal and Merrill didn't make their way down there much. Lincoln scored 3 goals in the first 3 minutes and were up 6-0 at halftime. 

That's when I took these sunset pictures, then headed home.

I had to make one stop at IGA on the way home to get coffee creamer and a few things. When I was checking out, the "kid" at checkout asked me if I was 55 years or older. Insert a "what the ??" face here. I said "Nope, I've got a ways to go." Then went home drowned my sorrows in the ice cream I bought there. NOT at a discount.

On the plus side, I did get home in time to get a call from Carter. He and Mamie arrived safely in Denver last night and really like their place and, of course, love the mountains! 

So, all is good from here. Nothing much happening, per usual. I need to get to bed!

Every Sunset Brings the Promise of a New Dawn

At the end of the day, we can look at the sunset as a beautiful end or the promise of a new beginning. Or both.

That's what's happening around here. After working remotely from homes here and where Carter's girlfriend's family lives, the two of them are setting out on their own. 

Hitting the road.

To Colorado. 

This weekend.

If you think they just threw a dart at the map and researched area housing with short-term leases, you wouldn't be completely wrong. Since Carter's work contract goes through summer, he can work remotely from anywhere. And by anywhere, that means not our basement and NOT THE MIDWEST.

And why not? They're young and free.

They have looked (virtually) at so many places in the past few months. And all over the map. They were were lucky to find a furnished apartment in the Denver area that they can rent from now until the end of August. It will time perfectly with their next big move or – if they love it there and he continues with same company – maybe continued residency in the Mile High Metro.

Momma wasn't a fan of this idea at first. But I now realize they need to spread their wings and experience some true independence. Without outside help – or interference – they can test their mettle at budgeting and their overall compatibility, to say the least. I wish them nothing but the best on this adventure called adulting.

We'll certainly miss them. It's only 4 months though. And not like he's all the way over in Germany this time. There are reasonably priced flights to Denver every day. Ha.

Don't worry, I'll give them their space. For awhile.

Rocky Mountain Memories

After sorting through hundreds of photos from our long weekend in Colorado, here is a vacation scrapbook in a nutshell. A rather large nutshell, but you get the picture (or pictures) anyway...

Exit to Pete and Dawn's place!

Our lodging for the weekend! You can see the mountains and Denver from every room.

View off the deck of our bedroom.

Our co-host Rudy.

Our co-hostess Annie. They. Are. So. Fluffy!!

Walking the dogs down (and back up) the Apex Trail. That's the one Dawn and I ran later that weekend.

Time to rest for the evening while the guys play!

Evenings were made for cribbage, which these two have been playing together since high school. Isn't that board beautiful? Pete made that. Nice!

OK, I did have one trip to Wal-Mart... Only because it was so pretty with its log cabin look and metal roof. (Looked the same inside, by the way.)

Bison Lookout near their house but we were unsuccessful.

The only buffalo I saw. Dang.

Speaking of Buffalo... Our first view of the Rockies came while visiting Buffalo Bill's grave and museum site, just up the road from "our home."

His grave marker.

 

I guess people make wishes there and toss coins. Maybe they're wishing they don't get caught by a posse and strung up somewhere? Who knows?

Beautiful sight for at least one person we know! Just down the "hill" from Lookout Mountain.

Other interesting sights: Haven't seen a speed limit sign with "darkness hours" on it for a long time.

Driving by a pot shop. No, we did not stop.

Saw plenty of deer and elk, thankfully not on the road. The "No Bicycling" sign is significant since we saw bicyclists just about everywhere, including these ultra-athletes pedaling up the mountain roads. Wow. Crazy.

 Speaking of elk... Saw plenty at Elk Fest in Estes Park, as I previously mentioned. Check out the gang hanging around downtown!

After Elk Fest, we headed into Rocky Mountain National Park. View from a prairie in the canyons.

Hairpin turns were fine as long as there was a guard rail!

Due to snow-covered roads, we were limited on how far up we could go in Rocky Mountain National Park. Still could take some pretty pictures and selfies, though.

The UW-Whitewater grad is very serious about people his sweatshirt. Ask him about it. :)

Our hitching post.

 

Funky clouds over the mountains.

Trees can grow out of rocks but Robyn can't grow anything!

Just as we were leaving the park, this big guy was sitting by the exit.

He stopped traffic... for photographers anyway! How cool is that?

When we trekked over to Evergreen on Sunday, we stopped at Little Bear, a bar allegedly frequented by Willie Nelson.

The Red-Headed Stranger did not make an appearance that day. But we did see lots of license plates (which Carter the collector would love) ...

And bras... hanging from stage where previous patrons had let loose.

Checking out the the Red Rocks concert arena area.

It's like we are in a Flintstones episode.

Left-side seating with stage below.

Right-side seating with stage in lower left. How funky.

Appropriately named Table Mountain in the distance.

From this sideline view, you can see Denver way in the background, too.

I mean waaaay off.

Caught the end of a free concert that day.

Fred and Wilma.

Besides running down and up the mountain that day, we had steps to deal with here and at our next stop!

The Mother Cabrini Shrine was a statue of Jesus located up on a hill. A very, very tall hill.

A few "rest stops" along the way.

Almost there...

Beautiful.

Our last day... All aboard for Pikes Peak!!

Heading up the mountain.

Pretty scenery on the way up.

OMG. Where does the track go??

Whatever you do, don't look down!

Quit leaning to the left. I don't want us to tip over now!

Vegetation just sort of stops as we near the summit.

Still pretty views though.

Two other trains on their way down are coming our way. What do we do??

Give the conductor a timeout in the Switch Box until she gets them on the right track.

View of sheep or mountain goats or something while we wait.

View out "my" side was prettier.

Jim and I were glad we didn't drive up. There are 150 hairpin turns and it would take just as long getting up the mountain. Plus, we'd probably burn out the brakes on the way down!

We made it! Thank you, Little Engine that Could!

Our fellow train passengers took a picture for us. Should have waited for the school kids to get done first.

Oh well, good thing there was another sign in back.

Did you know this view inspired the "America the Beautiful" song? We didn't either.

The view up top. Don't ask what we're looking at. We were just trying not to get blown off the Peak.

Chilly with snow on the ground!

Minus 14 degrees with the windchill. Why did I even bother curling my hair that morning?

Another view from up top.

One final pretty look on the way back down.

Random ridge of rocks that I thought was cool. I suspect from an airplane, it looks like a dinosaur napping.

 

Going through rocks to get where we need to go! Funky.

Almost back to Pete and Dawn's and we see this just down the road from their house.

 

This dude peeked out from behind them and strutted his stuff for the camera.

Then, just like when I try to take a picture of Carter, he was uncooperative and stuck his tongue out at me. The nerve!

I much prefer this "wild" animal. By the end of our stay, Rudy stopped growling at us and let me snuggle with him on the couch. He's. So. Fluffy!

I already miss Pete and Dawn... and the kids!! They. Are. So. Fluffly!!

And one final look from our bedroom deck. Goodnight and goodbye from Denver!