What will Grannies Gone Wild master in Winter 2011?

Can't you just see those LONG eyelashes and if he'd lift his trunk...

We are about ready to head to Horton Hears a Who country.  Of course I'm the only one that calls it that.  It wasn't until last year that I finally got where exactly Turtleback Mountain was.  I, on the other hand see Horton laying there waiting to hear from the Who.
The other burning question is what projects should the GGW (Grannies Gone Wild) cook up this year?

See the image of a turtle?  Yeah me neither.  :)

 Well Deb and I have a few suggestions and I'm sure there are plenty more ideas floating out there.  I'm happy to suggest but I have much SWing that needs to be done.  :)

How do you get customers?  Advertise cheap food and get a band to play during senior hour.  Senior hour is from 5:00-6:50 p.m. as the seniors hate to drive after dark and want to settle in and watch tv just before they doze off in their chairs.

Last night D/D took us for $3.99 hamburgers.  It's been years since we've hear steel guitar.  He was good and provided a good base for the group to stay together.

So what will the Grannies do this winter?????

 Maybe: Jillies??


Ever heard of the Mishe purse?  Well these are the Jillies.  At first I saw this green one.  The green is the base and you hook the bottoms on them by the buttons.  The bottoms are reversible.  THEN - Debbie showed me........MINE!! 









The base of mine is black with purple square buttons.

 The insides have pockets and zippers and a place for you water/coffee jug.

 First you see ONE bottom...

 Then the other bottom.  She's also making me another bottom butterflies on one side (go figure) and pear bottom ladies on the other.  Then she made a beach/shower bag out of screen. Awesome.  And since we are currently going "out" for our showers it'll be perfect.

 OR how about the pin cushion with a trash bag attached??????

OR appliqued "stained glass window" sweatshirts???

Deb and I WILL be bringing a couple of these patterns with us.

OR LIGHTS??? Hmmm?  Martha I've heard has these patterns.

AND I'll watch as I do my SW.  Hey! It's kept me out of jail for 9 months now.  I can't abandon it now.











Hello - my name is Phyllis and I'm going to buy Monk's Cloth in 7 days!! Woot-woot!

Good Ole Swedish Weaving!

A New Day......a New Friend

Happy Birthday Mom!

We got moved to Woodland Park and I have spent much time sleeping.  I think I have my sleep patterns back but I'm still tired.  Ken is exhausted and showing it.  He sits in his chair and sleeps much like he did in 2008 when we first went full-timing.  However he is in better shape than he was then.  We are staying here two weeks for him to get ready to travel again and to settle the issue of Lucky's ashes.
We are thrilled that Lucky's oldest child Spencer wants to get acquainted with us all.  He is a fire fighter and has had a good life.  He does have a very pronounced accent so we go slow when talking.  We just want to be friends with him and not encroach on his family.  There's room for us all.

The last few months have the up and the down side.  Spencer is one of the up sides and having Mona back in our lives is another up.  Yes, I know there is a lot of baggage and lots of hurt feelings and even rage but can we not forgive if we can't forget?   There is justification on all sides - how is that really working for us?

We went to Garden of the Gods with D/D, niece Sherry/hubby Jimmy their three dogs, us and Wylie.  It was a great time in the mountains.  We want to go to Pikes Peak before we leave.  You can't come this far without going there, right? D/D did a great job of socializing Wylie.  Thanks for allowing him to visit.  I know it was a REAL hardship.  NOT! 

We will see MORE of this in EB! 

Sure glad that isn't me.

Dave's niece standing in front of Dave/Jimmy/Ken

See the dove?

Looking down on Colorado Springs

Looking out over Santa Village

I heard Dave say "Suck it in" .  Is this gravity defied? 

A Blog is......

The view out Lucky's window.

 A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.
Your blog is whatever you want it to be. There are millions of them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real rules.
In simple terms, a blog is a web site, where you write stuff on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, so your visitors can read what's new. Then they comment on it or link to it or email you. Or not.  The blog owner has control over whether comments are published, deleted and reported as spam.

And this blog is MY blog.  I've found if I spend time typing my feelings out I don't harbor them as much.  Sometime I do indeed publish them other times I edit them.  In the last few days have I spewed anger, rage, despair, sorrow?  Yup, sure have.  Am I sorry - can't say that I am.  God knows where I've been and where I'm going.

There are many folks that are interested in Lucky/Mona. But, other than Ken, Mona, Lucky, Tom Harvey and members of Burnt River Community Church no one really knows their background.  Between our insurance and out of pocket we spent $100,000's for counseling on Lucky. As we felt, at the time she was the more wounded. Pastor Tom Harvey was present at the jury trial 35 years ago when their birth mother was stripped of her rights and the children were given to Ken.  Hmmm - so if the jury hadn't come back in Ken's favor they still weren't going back to Frances - they would stay at Burnett Baylin Orphanage.  1975 in the Bible belt of the U.S a stranger comes to town and after two years leaves with his birth children??  Yes - precedence for father's rights was set in Kenneth Colpitts vs Frances Knipe; Harris County Texas.

We are fully aware of how Lucky lived her life and loved her anyway.  She knew it didn't matter what she said about/to us that no matter what we loved her.  Never one time during the last few days did she say go away; I hate you; why now, etc.    She knew where I stood with her.  I really don't care what anyone else thinks.  Because often you only hurt the ones you love; because they are safe. 

And we are fully aware of how Mona lived her life and loved her anyway.  When Ken put his hand up to her and said - your children would be better off with their father - she left.  23 years later Lucky called her to come - she came back.  We haven't spent any money on Mona.  She NEVER asked, not once to this day.  She spent her own money on counseling.  How do I KNOW she did that?  Because without understanding who/what/why/how the abuse came; there is NO way she could have withstood that past 2 weeks.  Because during those nights when Lucky would finally settle down we talked.  I asked her some hard questions and gave her some hard opinions but she never blew and stomped off.  She does resemble her "egg donor" as she puts it and most folks assume she is going to act like her.  She seems to live her life along the "how would Frances handle this?" then she does the exact opposite.  She began to spiral one day then walked away; spent time alone and came back.

Mona shut herself off from her family and had never experienced death.  She had to grieve almost full circle in 11 days.  I encouraged her to read about death from the Hospice aspect and ask the nurses questions.  I told her about the phases Mom, Aunt Della, etc. went through.  Dying is hard, hard work.  Mona came to recognize and understand the phases that happened to Lucky and slowly began to accept them.  Wednesday at noon we said our goodbyes to Lucky and ended with a speakerphone prayer from Pastor Tom Harvey.  We were fully aware Nina was spiraling into a major confrontation with us.  When we got into the pickup Mona says - it's time for me to go home to support Mike.  His grandmother had passed away in Rapid City and the funeral was Thursday.  So we loaded her up and headed to meet son Mike(l) in Cheyenne.

At 12:34 pm - Nina declared war.  We usually reappeared about 6 pmish every night.  That night we didn't appear.  The filthy text messages began at about 6:30 pm. It was interesting that she only sent them to Mona. We advised Mona not to read them that Nina was looking for a response to spiral some more.  They finally quit.  Mona forwarded them on to my phone so a record can be kept if it is ever needed.  We called Hospice about 9:30 and were told there was a LOT of drama in/about Lucky's room.   I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye to Claudia, Ellie, Mike, John and Nicole.  I could see the pain they felt at losing Lucky.  Lucky did leave a mark in Colorado Springs; she befriended many people.  Did Lucky lose her faith?  I don't know.  I pray not.  She often talked about/to K.C. at night.  However I was taught differently and just can't reconcile dabbling in the occult with Jesus as your savior.  Many believe once saved always saved;   others believe one can throw it away.  What I do know is that NO ONE KNOWS until we get there. 

Epilogue:  It appears that Lucky/Nina didn't do their "due diligence".  Gay marriage is not recognized in Colorado so Nina is not the spouse and is NOT next of kin.  Lucky's children were legally adopted by others so they aren't next of kin.  Ken is next of kin.  Nina should have left Mona alone Wednesday night.

Ken has to sign the cremation papers and after allowing the mortuary to read a comment that was sent to this blog by Nina they advised us to NOT sign until Nina can either produce or NOT produce a will giving Nina Lucky's body.  We'll see.

Lucretia Ann (Lucky) Colpitts -

  Lucretia Ann (Lucky) Colpitts passed away Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at Pikes Peak Hospice at Penrose Hospital, Colorado Springs, CO.  She was born November 6, 1968 in Baker, Oregon to Kenneth and Frances Colpitts.   The family lived in Halfway, Oregon at the time.  She fought battles all her life. Winning a fight with breast cancer 8 years ago she was unable to conquer her final battle- pancreatic/liver cancer.  Born prematurely weighing 2lb6.25oz at birth spending the first 3 months of her life in a hospital in Pendleton, Oregon.  Her older sister Mona loved Lucky dearly taking on the role of caretaker early.  Ken and Frances divorced in 1971 in Houston, TX.  Ken married Phyllis Butts of Hereford, Oregon in 1972. The couple were awarded custody of the children in April 1976 from Harris County Texas and relocated the children to Hereford, Oregon.  They later moved to Burns, Oregon before relocating to Gillette Wyoming in December of 1980. Her sister, Whitney and brother K.C. were born there.
Lucky in 1987graduated from Campbell County High School, Gillette, Wyoming.  Because of her premature birth, Lucky's eyes were her largest handicap.  She has been legally blind for many years. After short stints in Marquette, MI; Sheridan and Casper, Wyoming she settled in Colorado Springs several years ago.  Lucky gave birth to three children, Spencer, Caleb and Elijah.  She put her children's health and well-being above her own giving the ultimate mother's love.  She allowed her children to be adopted.  She was able to visit with her oldest son, Spencer before her death.  He told her "Thank you for your decision - I have a great life."
Lucky strove to better herself and was currently a sophomore at a local college in Colorado Springs.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents and brother K.C. Colpitts.
 Lucky is survived by her children Spencer Smith and Caleb and Elijah Miller; her father and step-mother Ken and Phyllis Colpitts; sisters Mona (Mike) and Whitney (Travis) Llewelyn of Gillette, Wyoming; brother-in-law Kevin and Lori Schram also of Gillette; nephews Erick and Mike (Rachel) Schram, nieces Jaci (Adam) Mathes and Kim Bell,  great-nieces Hayden, Andy and Alexa Schram.  She will be missed by partner Nina G and many friends in Colorado Springs.

Her children would like stories about their mother; to get to know her through others' eyes.  If you have any you would like to share please send them to: Lucky's Remembrances; % Ken Colpitts; 514 Americas Way  #2455 Box Elder, SD  57719                                         

                                             

Bitter.............or better; Light vs Dark

Life can make you bitter............or better.  I've spent the past 9+ years working on the better part.  I thought it was a good goal and actually was so busy maintaining my sanity that I've not thought about others.  The past 10 days have made me so glad I chose this path.  I feel such pity for many of the people that are Lucky's friends.  They have chosen to allow what life has thrown to them and to it  make them negative people.  Dwelling on the negative; remaining enraged; adopting a "get them before they get you" persona and "what can YOU do for me" attitude creates a shell of a person.  Life creates pain; put your big girl panties on and deal with it.  Acknowledging what's happened to you is just half the battle.  Feeling the pain is how we get THROUGH it; denying it allows the inner you to fester and get infected and lies and half-truths becomes acceptable and another reality is created for you.   If you allow yourself to associate with "viral" infected people the virus just grows and spreads.  If you allow what others say about you to guide you in life you are unknowingly giving them the power over whether you have a good day or not.  Thank you Jocelin for beating that into my head 20 years ago.

As Lucky loses the battle with cancer we have been watchers on the sidelines as her friends visit.  The message many THOUGHT was being sent is NOT the message we have received.  Lucky has few true friends; but she has dozens that give lip service and dishonor the term "friend".  I brought the External Hard Drive up Monday night and encouraged Mona to look at the pictures of their lives.  I have digitized them but gave the hard pictures to Lucky a couple of years ago.  Bursts of "Oh no - look at those faces we were so broken in Texas; the look in our eyes is awful....then to oh Lucky - do you remember.....; Nina come look at this smile......Oh I had forgotten how MANY good times we had........Look at those smiles; Ohhh she DID have time with......; she DID love.....  Oh Lucky the pictures don't lie we did have fun..." washed over the room.  When darkness is confronted by lightness most times the darkness turns and flees.  And they fled - early.

By all means let us cling to the negative.  An article about  the bike race through Old Colorado City and an interview with Nina and Charles of  We3 The Store for the Curious vs the tattoo shop close to them in Monday's Gazette definitely describes the half/full; half empty glass.  The tattoo parlor rejoiced in the people knowing that even if the crowd didn't buy a % of them will remember the store and possibly come back.  Psychic Nina/Charles of We3 was just pissed for the inconvenience and said so in the paper.  None will come to OUR store; then insulted the biking crowd in the process.  I so PITY these people and that will REALLY piss them off.  We are tolerated here because they think we have money to give Nina.  WE on the other had have done our research; have ferreted out the half-lies and are fully aware of what is being attempted.  Nina's philosophy was "Chuckle them along;  they've said there is a LITTLE money and if I can get my hands on it" type of thing.

We weren't born yesterday and have put at least one business (the mortuary) on alert we won't tolerate deception; tell the truth or I'll bury your 4 generation business; you will no longer do business with the Human Services of Colorado.  You do NOT screw with them.  The subtle message we sent to them shaped them right up and I am convinced we will get truthful answers from now on. After all we MIGHT be giving the funeral home money.   Stay silent; sit and listen; sift the lies; look for logical progressions and note when different versions of the truth are served up to others.  When your life is half-truths, manipulation and I want your money - jubilant phrases such as "I've got her credit card number now" (referring to an older woman in town) using the brain God gave you makes finding the crap easily.  If it smells like....it surely is ....

I am totally back in ME mode (mentally put on the red power suit) at this point and planning the next strike to try and protect other unsuspecting senior folks - better business bureau???; chamber of commerce??? the bank they trade at???  don't know but gonna find out........it brings back memories of the scammers that went after Aunt Della and her money years ago. 

And don't even go to the psychic, etc. crap which is a scam to get money.  (It only works if you believe in it.  We don't and MY GOD is ready for those people.  Bring it on!!) We sat and watched and just kept our mouths shut.......(yes all THREE of us) and listened.  My library book ear bud (not turned on) was a great diversion and Mona sleeps with her eyes open (born with ptosis, had surgery) and Dad just sat there and became invisible.  Of course he and I are very aware that many people think he is brain damaged and not quit with it after the accident.  He IS; but it wasn't in the stupid part of his brain.


Why didn't Dad ever call HER?  Because she asked him not to; that him calling sometimes made life miserable for her at home.  He respected her request.  When she called to tell him of her cancer she asked him NOT to come until she asked for him. We've been told "she wants to be alone; don't hover" leave her alone.........................  This didn't line up to what was coming from Lucky's own lips  "Are you coming back?  Yes.  OK". 

She has been unresponsive for many  hours now and her body is quickly changing, working very hard to maintain but is losing the battle.  She no longer has the strength to speak.   It has been such a privilege to pass the nights with her.   Actually our work seems to be about done and the darkness surrounding us is wearing us out.  Surely reality will set in on Nina soon - the "we said our goodbys weeks ago" - is merely justification on her part.

My prayer??? That in spite of the outward appearances and the new age/black magic crap Lucky maintained her faith. I don't know how........ The answer??  I won't know til I get there.

Mona needs some closure.  In the morning when Ken gets here I'm going to ask the Hospice Director for private time with Lucky just us.......to tell her goodbye.........something totally for us.  It's time for a nap.

Roller Coaster Ride

Such a roller coaster world. At the last post I was cautiously proceeding with re-establishing a relationship with our oldest daughter. Since then the world really sped up.   DIL Lori's dad passed away Wednesday; traveled to New Underwood SD to babysit ggdaughters (+a few others under 2) during the funeral. 

Well, sleep with the ggdaughter is helping, right??

Daddy Mike with Andy and Alexa

Having a conversation with the girls in the mirror

Wylie looks on as they kibbitz

This could have gone on for hours.  Arming the watergun

On the way got the word we should "come now" and bring Whitney to see daughter #2 Lucky.  She and Dad had talked a few weeks ago and they agreed  we would wait to come when she called him.  Before this I told Mona I would take her down; drop her off and quietly leave so as not to stir the boiling pot.  Nina called Mona to come.  Mona said I was bringing her but Dad was sticking by his agreement to stay away.  The reply was he's been called.  Thus we went to New Underwood at 10:30 watched the girls from 12:39-2:00 and headed to Colorado Springs stopping in Gillette long enough to pick up Whit, the kids and Mona.  Dropped older boys off in Douglas and ended up staying about an hour out.  We met Nina at the We 3 shop at 10 am.  Dave came down from Woodland Park to pick up Wylie (Arnt Coyote).  


The 5 of us had a war council concerning the birthmother Frances.  We knew going in that we had to have a united front.  She landed her on Wednesday (and of course began her whispering campaign) and had actually been helpful for Nina but she was beginning to wear thin and Lucky seemed to be more agitated as time went on.  She is in what is known as an "ICU" of Hospice unit.  There aren't too many of them around.  They are considered an acute care facility; patients are transfered out when they reach "routine" status.  Ken and I discussed how to use our limited resources and chose to use it to keep her here as long as possible.  So far it is not needed.  If not then we shall help with the cremation cost and print the memorial leaflet.
Mona and I asked to spend the night Sunday - so they (hospice) asked Frances to take her things with her and they would find them a place to stay - blowup city.   "My heart, my heart, where's my nitro?"  Reply from hubby of 19 years "uhhh you haven't taken that for years".

Spencer Smith, 20

And then there's "Tony" - or as he is really known Spencer Smith from Huntsville, Alabama.  He is a Lieutenant in a fire fighting unit. Lucky has heard from the other two boys' parents.  I won't be posting their pictures here until the mom gives permission.  She has/is/will be very protective of the older one.






Just gonna add what I put on FB here for posterity.

I have been waiting 35 years for it to finally come round ( You know what goes around comes around)  It came and I missed it.  Hallelujuh!!

The stress level has dropped 50%. Lucky's birthmother was asked by Hospice to not stay the night last night as "other family members" wanted to. (Whit, Mona, me) She blew a gasket and was escorted off the floor. Hospice was going to find them a room (she's been making hubby sleep in pkup - she's been staying in with Lucky telling her who knows what...)  They waited for 3.5 hours down the road and followed Nina when she left. Verbally attacked Nina in a 7-11 parking lot; then backed her into a corner not allowing her to get into her car. Nina had 911 ready to push. Police came. No charges pressed if she leaves town and heads back to Texas. Police encouraged Nina to fill out a restraining order on behalf of Lucky.   

Ken never said a word all day - giving no ammunition.  (Actually he didn't even recognize her as she has gained so much weight!  Holy spit Myrtle a lot!!)   I, of course, being the rich, blonde, barren Pentecostal that I am (sorry again it's a 35 year old lie she made up about me in 1975) attacked her in the bathroom and gloated that ha, ha, ha, I'M STILL MARRIED TO HIM.  ...............EGAD what an idiot.  Your DAUGHTER that abused/condoned other to in every way possible was removed from you 35 years ago and you think you have the right to appear now and play the "my poor baby card".  I don't think so.   (If you believe i did that you need to delete me as a friend as you REALLY don't know me.) The viral 64 year old woman is pure evil. Sorry, couldn't help it.

I'm finding more and more about Colorado I don't care for. First child custody, now I have an issue with the way they run hospice.  Hopefully they (Charles and Nina power of attorney, etc) can get the current issue settled today.  Otherwise I'ma thinking Ken and I will probably becoming squeaky wheels.  We have 48 hours to make a lot of noise and squeak, squeak, squeak. (OK so I retract that statement.  I found out about the ICU of Hospice and it makes sense.)

Am finding that Lucky has a lot of wonderful friends.  We are discovering she was a mentor; computer 'go to" person; loyal friend.  The last 8 years here in C.S. have been the happiest of her life; struggles and all.

You can stay here for virtually nothing - Frances can't

April, 2010

July 8, 2011

Pleasantly surprised

Take a picture of my spaghetti Grams!

Spaghetti #2

That WAS good spaghetti Grams!

Alexa and Nana

OH Grams! That flash was bright!

Andy and Nana

KaCe takes his first picture

Mona 44, Ken 65, Whitney 26 7/8ths

Dare I say how pleasantly surprised I am?  Ken is shocked actually.  Pleasantly shocked actually.  Dinner was a good experience last night - even if we did have 5 children under 6 with us!  They put us in a backish room where we could contain the zoo animals and of course the kids got to play.  Possibly W&M can forge some kind of relationship as adults cause it sure didn't happen when they were younger.  Of course Mona WAS 17, married and pregnant with her first child when Whit was born.  Not much of a chance then.  But we are adults so much longer than we are children.  Folks tend to forget that.    Well - yeah but we go backwards at some point and revert (depends, hearing aids, diapers!)  hmmmm!  Is my reversion near?  NOT! Well I hope not.