Yreka! Dear Dave:

Dear Dave,
I heard you're having a bit of bad luck keeping track of your stuff.  So I see Phyllis with sunreaders and happened to see fishing glasses on the same page.  So - get a new pair of fishing glasses and you can find all the rest of the stuff you've lost.

O - and thanks for sending her to the GoofOff store.  Have a great summer.
Your local Farming King - Ken

Dave Click here for new "fishing" glasses

Still Quacking Along - But we're happy!

Yesterday it only rained 8 hours.  Funny how that seemed better than........... Well for crying out loud better than what????  Actually better than many parts of the US right now.  We are all on our little hill safe, sound and alive.  So  bring on the snow!  (Just kidding!)  

Got a call from Sharon (MN) last night.  They made it back to MN but I don't think Dennis has been feeling that good.  Sharon said - "He isn't complaining about anything - he is just grateful his wife didn't put him in some strange hospital".  Anyway he had some iffy places last summer that they didn't stint.  So now they do it?!?!?  This kind of stuff drives me crazy - if they were iffy why let them go?  They put two of them butted up together  as there were four blockages that close together.  The good news is he is fine and going home.
This brings up why "Spring Breakup" down south is so emotional.  We all know it may be the last time we see each other as LIFE happens!   So we pray daily for "one more season" down south.  That's the prayer every year.  BUT this year - with all its high drama was so exceptional!  So we want another exceptional year.  

And life is happening in Gtown and shaping up. ALL of the gkids will be here in Gtown!! Woohoo!  Kim will be driving in from Idaho soo - she graduated a couple of weekends ago from Moscow Idaho.   Her BF Phil got here Saturday night (pickup loaded to the brim).  Erick was here for job interviews.  There seems to be somewhat of a bidding war to get him to work for various companies.  When he left I thought Kumatsu was the winner but possibly Wyoming Machinery (Cat) is going to win.  Cyclone Drilling REALLY wanted him but he might as well stay with Power Secure as CD is drilling everywhere but here.  He looked so much more relaxed when he left for CO last Sunday.  The telling point for me was he didn't have to ask Grams to go with him for Beer and Pool - he reconnected with family and friends up here so didn't need me.  :( 
My prayers continue for him and Hayden. exGDIL wasn't very receptive for the final "negotiation" on Tuesday so they will appear before the judge on June 13th.  I pray my prediction of "the harder she makes it on you now the easier it will be in the long run" will come to pass.  He saw a minute bit of that Tuesday.  He does have a good lawyer now.  She plays his card close to her chest and keeps gathering tidbits I hope she'll use the 13th.  We'll see.

The graduation money went in the pbank just after this pic. :)

Then there are the little boys.  Here KaCe is holding his "graduation" money close.  They are growing so fast.  They just live 3 minutes from us so the commute in summer construction is good.
 Ken is so pleased and surprised to see the growth and maturity in Travis.  The move was good for them.  He loves his job and the traveling boss seems to like Travis.  He needs mentoring and is getting it at work and with Kevin.
  SW is going good.  I'm working on a hot pink larger afghan for Whit.  The boys want buses and trucks and have picked out their colors/material which I'm sure will change weekly.  SW is STILL keeping me out of jail. :)  
The wind is blowing this morning - imagine that - and it's supposed to rain until NEXT Tuesday.  Quack!    Quack!

Mini Graduation

We left Loveland about 11 am and headed to Gillette.  Stopped in Cheyenne for deisel ($3.99).  It was the cheapest we've  found this trip.  It started raining just above Douglas and continued - for days.   

Whit/Trav have moved to another bigger apt near Kevin and Lori's.  When the rain stops I can walk it.

 KaCe graduated from preschool today.  I remember when his mom and Erick graduated from preschool - ahhh the changes we've seen.

We went to the new apt for sloppy joes (and naps).  At four they went to a bowling party.  Here Dad is helping KaCe.  A fitting ending to preschool. 

Friend Linda's gson is left of KaCe

Linda Dvorak and her son Bleu

Ken and I went to try and get the PAINT!! off the pickup.  Near Glendo we came upon the white line painter - in the rain - no warning.  We washed it and 85% came off.  Searching for "stuff" to use a microfiber pad and attack the rest.  hmmmm! Wonder if Dave's miracle Dollar Store liquid will work? 

Then we took the "traditional" scale picture of Aedan.  This scale was in the old Hereford Store my folks owned.  It was last licenses in 1977. 

Smiling, smiling, smiling!! A wonderful day that ended with Kev and I stomping Ken and Lori 152 to -1 in pinochle.  Yeesss!  Bring it on!

"Camping" with Hayden

It started raining late in the week so we stayed at LRVR.  Hayden came for the weekend and she figured out a "trick" the boys haven't landed upon yet. Erick spent a somewhat relaxed weekend snoozing and resting.  Hopefully the only "high drama" left is the final orders for divorce/custody etc.  We'll all travel to Gillette Wednesday - us to begin our summer "visitation" him to attend numerous job interviews.  If he can't find an appropriate job there he'll go "on the road" with PS.   I sure hope he doesn't have to do this.  He needs a soft place to land; a little fun in his life and being around family.  He has worked full time since he was a junior in HS and been all over the world.  He's only 26 but the last 3 years have laid him low.   

   

Odds and Ends

Well I can certainly say I'm sick of living close - to anyone.  We are at the Loveland RV Resort and I could reach out and wash the neighbor's window.  Fortunately they haven't been here and we have no one on the other side.  Sardines is what we are.  We are going "camping" this weekend with Erick/Hayden.  It is a LONG way to Boyd Lake (NOT - about 2 miles it's IN town :)  )  Erick is staying here with us (yes drama again this year - different person).  We'll head to Gillette (am I sure - it's snowing there today) Monday. 

Pink Shoe Ladies

Last Friday we Dave/Debbie, Erick, Hayden and us went to Bruce's in Severance where we all enjoyed Rocky Mountain Oysters (beef.  didn't try the buffalo or turkey???).    Afterward when Erick took Hayden back to town we drove around.  Dave said - get the camera there's a cinnamon teal.  Huh?  Red turquoise???  OHHH a duck like bird.

 After that we went hopping with Erick ending up at a place that had pool tables.  I held my own for awhile but the last game he didn't hold back and tromped me!  Poor me!

Quite a variety we found out there

 Saturday afternoon Erick took us to Pawnee National Grassland for target shooting.  What a mess some of the area was.  Stuped, ignorant people leaving their shotgun casings behind will probably eventually create a mess for everyone else.  But I can still hit the broadside of a barn.  Haven't shot in years but I did just fine thank you.

  So the drama this season makes us a one Whitney family again.  Too bad Whitneytoo is a nice gal.

  Erick is in so much flux with life altering decisions he must make.  However he will do what is "best" for the main girl in his life - HAYDEN!

In Loveland for a week.

What a day!  We left Alamosa about 10:30 (after a western movie) and headed down 17 to 285.  We were sure that we could use this as an alternate route to get to NM.  Not.  It would just be too stressful.  For me. And Ken.  The trip was just rough enough that Ken was exhausted when we got to Loveland.  Also the climb just goes on and on and on.  3000' of 5-7% grade over a ten mile stretch was the straw that made Ken say nah - I don't think so.  We were very  pleased with how the transmission worked  (correctly for once :)  )  Ken had Norton's flush the transmission last summer and put Royal Purple in it.  Awesome!   We got to Loveland RV Resort about 5:00 and are settled in here for a week. (Yes a change in plans but that's okay.)   Ken was able to take a couple of pictures as we drove along. 

I'm going to go check out the pool shortly and maybe I can get Ken started doing his walking early.  He went to the doc before we left and we were SO please to see he has turned many of his "numbers" totally around and with the 23# weight loss he is doing good.  This summer I'm going to have Humana pay for his membership at the Rec Center in Campbell County so he can walk in the pool. 

 Finished my 8th small afghan and have started on my Christmas Table Runners.  I don't think I'm a runner kind of gal....................sigh!  :) Maybe I need more patterns.........:)  NOT

Indian Summer

San Luis Valley Colorado

 We got up early (me 7; him 10) and headed out to Alamosa.  Erick went up 70 to 285.  Dave said the climb wasn't bad and it wasn't it was just so looonnnnggg!  But no problems.  Ken got in the drivers seat to move us out of the way at the diesel pumps and then decided to drive awhile.  What a treat!  I bipped from one side of my seat to the other as I took a few pictures.  The road was dry and bare but the mountain tops were a pristine white. 

After I took pictures I busied myself with......SW. What else?  I've been doing some thinking after visiting Cathy's at Monks Cloth and More.  She made
 a wall hanging using "fun yarn".  I'm thinking
 try my hand at one.  When I'm near Hobby Lobby next week I'm going to find some fun yarn.   I even think I might have a design in my head.  Wonder if I can get it out? 

 A siesta in the afternoon sun.  

Today we went up to the Great Sand Dune and wandered around the San Luis Valley.  Pretty impressive scenery.  We sure are enjoying being with Erick.  Last night we went out to dinner and ran into some of his co-workers from OK.  His company has a new contract to put in backup generators for many Wal-Marts in Colorado.  Next week he'll be in Thornton.   A good day.

Let it snow! (somewhere else)

The Martins and us left EB at 6:30 yesterday morning.  Ki and Wyn (up wayyy to early) came over and said there's no lights and D/D's and I said Well go wake them up.  It'll be daylight soon!  The trip was uneventful.  We pulled up the rear, letting them split the wind.  :)  We ate  in Las Vegas at the spot of the famous Martin pkp/5th wheel totalling.  Ken, of course, had to have a Chile Rellano for a third time in 3 days.  He's beginning green chile withdrawal.  As the weather was predicting snow on Raton Pass we bypassed the Whittington Center and headed to Pueblo Lake State Park.  The clouds were gathering all around as we got parked and settled in.

This morning Deb and I went to meet the lady at Monk's Cloth and More (Cathy).  A great visit.  She told us about Monks Cloth.  It is made overseas (Pakistan?) and when James Thompson Co receives it there is only one Color - Cream (Natural).  They send it out to be bleached (white) or dyed.  Then she showed us that often the 10 yard bolt is NOT pristine or all one piece.    AND of course she uses a round cutter on a cutting board to slice the pieces in two.  Then she told us about Italian Hem Stitch -  but I forgot to buy the pattern and we were in such a hurry at the end she didn't get to show us the stich - but I WILL figure it out before fall.!!

All  in all is was a great day and I have two new colors - Hot Pink and Lime Green.  Hi my name is Phyllis and I haven't bought yarn for 17 days.  :)  Happy trails!!!