Sweet times in Colorado

We should leave more often. Mike went to Fort Collins to get feed and Callee and I spent a sweet day with our dad/granddad. When we returned home some of this wonderfulness was on the freezer. We had fresh baked bread with two types of jelly. Dad made some of Grandmas Lois's special catsup for us also. We are planning a trip to the goat dairy today to purchase some cheese to eat on this cranberry nut bread!!

An old homestead we hiked around. We loved hearing the stories Granddad could tell about the use of the tools they cut the lumber with to make the houses.

This was at one time a 250 foot tree!!!

We were thrilled dad could make the mile walk with us after just getting out of the 8 day hospital stay.

Early or late Friday Post

By going out of town for a weekend two weeks in a row it has put me behind on my "Thankful" posts. I wanted to post some photos of my latest knit which I did most of on my trip to Cori and Evan's wedding. Picking the trim was easy, I found a pattern that originated in 1920 because Cori and Evan picked a 1920's theme of dress for the guest to wear if they wanted. I loved seeing all their friends dressed up in costume.
First thing I am thankful for: I will be wearing this new creation to California on Saturday to see Callee and Keenan for a week. :) I am so excited to be spending the week with them. Callee taught Keenan to play UNO so we will have some fun card games I am sure.

# 2--the Buena Vista Deer are at a disadvantage now that Mike has this on the front of his work truck!!

# 3 I can wear this dog out by playing ball numerous times a day. I did take him for a mile run a few mornings ago and when he got home he took a few deep breaths and wanted to chase the ball. Our son thinks I just need to peddle my bike lots faster so he has to sprint most of the way.

TGIF

I am thankful that is cool enough in the mornings to wear my wool socks & because I am a grandma I can wear my hand knit socks with shorts. I will be excited to wear these before next friday and because I am knitting with my friends in the morning before going to Denver I will have them done. OH, Denver, I am excited to go watch the Denver Roller Dolls with lots of my girl friends and see what all of this is about. I am pretty sure a tee shirt will have to be purchased!!

I am thankful it is still 90 degrees by the after noon so my flowers are not freezing yet.

That my husband is to devoted to all of the 4-H kids that he buys 4 pigs and some of those cute little girls bake him cookies and give thanksyou cards to Martin Feed.

Oh those peaches, I love Colorado peaches!! I am learning to bake gluten free desserts so I may try my luck at a peach cobbler. Until then I will just eat them over the sink with the juice running down my hand!!

Oh, to be so thankful

It is Friday

The number ONE-I had 4 days off from work and I didn't even leave town. Oh, how I enjoyed hanging out at the yarn store and helping ladies with thier knitting. I used to think a vacation had to involve going long distances and being worn out when I returned.

The number TWO: I have not driven an inch in my little red truck since starting my vacation. I rode my bike everywhere. I just loving riding, I even rode around town for a couple hours with a friend one night after she finished work. Now my brothers might not consider it a work out of any sort but it was fun and that is why I own a bike.

The number THREE: I could talk to Keenan this morning before his first day of school and hope to catch some of that excitement about my day. His mom will post photos, I can hardly wait to see them.

The number FOUR: Cash did not get ran over when he decided he should stand in the middle of one of the busiest roads in Buena Vista. Some yippee dogs moved across the street and he thinks he is the official greeter on the other side of the tracks also. I have to go use some dog whisper on him. This won't be pretty but he is a quick learner.

I'm glad Gram taught me to sew!!

Here it is, I was able to cut up an old pair of Bud's camo pants and make his referee jersey. I do hope it is what he had in mind. I am getting ready to go watch the skating on the 22nd of Aug. in Denver at which I think he might be wearing this shirt. We will see if he likes it. I was not to put any red, pink, or yellow of any sort on the thing. Bud, I can't rip any of this out if it is not what you wanted, get another shirt and we will do it again if need be.

Lets Eat some dead pig!!

Mike and I just finished watering his latest purchase from the 4-H fair. We are now the owners of 4 very large porkers. So guess what will be under your Christmas Tree from the Martin's. They go to Hoggy Heaven in the morning.

Wall of color!! I loved, loved, loved, working in the sea of color today

Got my hair cut so took a photo by the wall of color. Notice, still no glasses, Cash ate them so I should get new ones on Friday!!

It's Friday already

Thankful Friday:

Hmmmmm lets see, I will have to ponder this a bit for sure.

1. I am not thankful that Cash ate my glasses last night, but am very thankful I can still see without them. By next friday I can post a photo with my new glasses I hope.

2. Mike has had a succesful week and the feed store selling hay. He has found some young boys who are willing to work and throw those bales around.

3. I am about to get a week off from Trail West and when I went to the yarn store today Tami could use my help at the yarn store!! I am glad to be back in there with all that wool.

TGIF

I encouraged my daughter to start every week writing down the things she is thankful for. It would not be a bad idea for her mum to do the same. So here goes--the first one is this child and how looking at his photo makes me tear a bit. He is a joy to Nana and Papa and we are so thankful he loves to call us a couple times a week to tell us about his day. I will be flying out to see him for a week in Sept. and do whatever he wants. We are eating mac and cheese, marshmallows, and popcorn so he says. Reading lots of books from the library and going to the park will be part of our days also. I am looking foreward to seeing Callee's place and spending time in her and Keenans life.

#2. That my sister loves me enough to know when I am having a really hard week here on the home front and buys me a wonderful gift to show me how much she loves me. I am very thankful that I have a sister and will be looking forward to seeing her and all her guys in a few short weeks at Cori and Evans wedding.

#3. That this fine women whom I am very proud to say is my mom made it through another trip to the emergency room. We are all very thankful she is home again and doing better. I do hope she will stop scaring me like this!! LOL. She continues to impress me daily and I am thankful to get the chance to payback a little for all the care she has poured out to her family.

#4 That our son and Mike were here to help with Gram this week. I am thankful for Lynney, who was so willing to fly out here for 2 weeks and help mom when we went through 2 surgeries in 7 days. I know that was hard with all the planning for Cori's wedding that needed to be done.

Bud living closer has been so fun for me--next time we are hiking (he will fish and I will draw) Cash will charge along and jump around in the water. I love those times together with Bud.

Until next week.

Just a few memories

This is where I started the Cliff Walk which was .5 miles from the hotel I stayed in. I went on it 2 time. Once the whole way--8miles by myself and 3 miles of it with Bud

This is the lawn side to the Breakers, 70 rooms, built in two years. This was thier summer home, those little windows at the top where no air can get through is where the 40 servants stayed. Bud, Dane and myself toured this house. I can't believe they built the thing in 2 years.

The real reason I flew out- he cleans up good. Mike and I are very proud of him. He is driving back to Colorado as I type. Until next time.

Easter Flowers

Mike gave me some pretty Easter flowers so I am trying to capture them with my art. The new books Emily and Jerry gave me money for (my birthday) should be arriving soon. That will help lots. Suffer through these pictures. Until next time.

I now have new TOYS!!

I don't claim to be any sort of artist but I thought some of you might like to see my new toys--36 new colored pencils. Today was the first time we used them in class. I need to buy some flowers so I can practice, it has been great fun for me. I promise not to bore you with to many of these budding art photos.

OH DEAR

Oh dear, I knitted like crazy for 4 weeks to finish this lace project to wear to our son's graduation from Officer Candidate School in RI. I leave on the 15th. The back of my cable sweater is finished and I am now casted on and started on the front. Those pink socks are for a friend of our daughters. She has cancer so pink is perfect. I found a lady in Colorado Springs with a sock knitting machine and for a very small fee she will take my mounds of sock yarn and make something people can wear. That is great because I am knitting my stash yarn this year.

The color is not very good in this shot but it shows the pattern. I am enjoying knitting this and hope to have it done when the snow flies next winter.

Here is a close up of the lace project, there are trees in bottom of the stole. One row (it is my first lace project) look like the trees were born and raised in Wyoming:). I am planning on getting that sailor to stand still for photos with his mom, so look for those in my next post. Until next time.

Bud's Wall

He lets up put up these things in our house that display what all he has done so I think it is safe to post it on here. He served 4 year on the sub and they gave him a nice wooden plaque. He will be in Colorado in 2 months, Mike and I are planning on a trip out to RI to see him graduate. I am really looking fore ward to getting off this mountain for a few days and seeing something I have never seen before.

Cash--he loves to sit up high on the sacks at the store so he can see out. Now when he gets bored he does chew holes in the sacks. Mike and the boys who work for him don't get up and look to see what Cash is into when things get quiet in the store, maybe just mom's do that!

My first load of gluten free bread from the new bread machine my sister gave me for my birthday. I hope to be very good at it when she comes to visit in a couple months.

Until next time

Tea Time

Mike and I both enjoy a good cup of tea--how the process is achieved is completely different. I love using my new cup Keenan and Callee gave me for my birthday and slowly choosing the tea for the experience of drinking it. Mike gets out the feed store cups-heats the water in this way cool pot his sister gave us and drinks the same tea every time, Constant Comment. He calls it Instant Insult. So it is time for me to brew my tea and get ready for another day here in these mountains. Enjoy your day with a good spot of tea no matter how you choose to experience the beverage. Until next time.

Mikki will be doing the dish tonight

When I made this wonderful Red lentil soup (Mike wondered where the meat was) I just had to put it in these dishes that Uncle Doc Munson gave me. He brought them back from the war for his mother, Helen Munson, and then gifted them to Mike and I a few years ago. I don't use them often, but when I do I can be sure that Mike will not get his sleeves rolled up and head for the sink. He is so sure that one will be broken. I love using them every once in a while.

If any of you have had the pleasure of going to Doc and Edie's house you ate out of the set of dishes he brought back for himself. They have pine cones all around the edge. Uncle Doc loves ice cream and we have eaten many a bowl with two of our favorite people out of those dishes. Very fond memories.

Until next time

mountains of sweetness-plain or peanut

Let me just say, sorry Callee. Papa wanted Keenan to have some m&m's and you know he would never just buy the little package when we go through the checkout at City Market. They will be in the mail soon--just the plain ones unless he changes his mind when he sees this photo.

Today on my walk I thought about all the things I am thankful for: You now will know what they are also

1. Mike Martin is still my best friend.

2. My mom lives close enough to come have coffee once in a while.

3. Keenan wants to buy his Nana a coffee cup with flowers on it.

4. My i-pod (thanks to the sailor) so I can enjoy all types of music

a. I don't enjoy country or rap--just in case you were wondering

5. We have two children who are making difference in this world

6. Mike let me get another dog--Cash is loads of fun.

7. I am standing tall & firm and waiting because I have inter strength

8. Bud will soon be off the sub and on to officer candidate school, plus living in Colorado for 3 years

9. Callee keeps us up to date on their lives with photos and a phone call every Saturday

10. That at almost 51 I could loose 30 pounds and still walk 3 miles in one hour. When I am 52 I want to have lost a total of 37 pounds. My fighting weight before those two wonderful children!!

11. I am thankful for our friends and family who we are getting to visit with often.

Celebrate life. Until next time.

I knitted almost all day

On Saturday mornings I head down to the local yarn store to knit with my friends. The group keeps growing, we even had to move the yarn racks around to fit in more knitters. It is such a great way to spend the morning. Then I taught the rest of the day--on very cute 8 year old little princess named CC along with her mother and a friend.

I have vowed to knit my stash this year--so this morning I bagged it all (25 plus projects), added notes of paper with ideas of what the finished project should be along with whom it will be for. I also have two sweaters I am knitting on. You can see that one of the projects was finished up today. Socks size 9 women's. We will see how far I get, two a month, that's not bad. Right???

The projects I want to knit are like these. I love the snow flakes, I have made 3 hats which none of them are correct yet, our local mission is collecting warm weather items for people. They have been donated. I am going to get this figured out I am just sure of it, maybe I will whip up a pair of mittens next. Oh, I don't have that yarn in my stash, does that mean I will need to buy some tomorrow when I am working at Serendipity :). Until next time.