Our new neighbor Roadie

Sunday was a snowy day in Gillette but I got ready to go home to NM anyway.  Ken called and told me the cameras were showing pavement and to come ahead.  I DO remember him telling me the cameras around Colorado Springs were out.  Kissing and hugging all goodbye I head out at 9:30 a.m.  Lost the snow and breeze just outside of town and traveled on pavement getting to Pueblo at 5:30 p.m.  It was COLD there and the weather was crappy.  Having learned my lesson a couple of years ago I had Whitney make a reservation just before I stopped. Three years ago I had her make a reservation for a town I THOUGHT I could make it to; then proceeded to drive in a horrible, no visibility storm over Raton Pass to get there.  I had dinner, warmed up with a hot bath and settled down to sleep.  NOT good.  I was on the bottom floor on the end and there were a lot of late comers they put in the upstairs clomping all night.
Up at 5:30 I headed out.  The road was bare on one side and that side kept changing and wandering around.  There had been enough traffic to keep it dry but the other areas were slick with icy snow.  I ran out of snow just south of Raton and the sun began to beat down.  I think I'm getting drowsy.............yep.  I pulled off at a rest area, pushed the seat down, put my sleep mask on and let the sun beat through the window as I sawed some logs.  Man oh man there is NOTHING like the New Mexico sun.
I still have a residule cough from my sinus infection (of COURSE I got one!!) and when I get hot it comes with a vengeance.  So where did I get hot???  In the middle of traffic in Albuquerque.  I finally realized if I was going to live to see another day drastic measures were needed.  Down went the windows and I turned on the AC -  Waaalaa!  No more cough - I froze the sucker out.
I was just outside Socorro when Ken called and told me the frig was out and to prepare to buy a new one.  Oh joy!

Pulled into EB about 4:30.  Hugs and kisses all around.  And what is the first topic of conversation between Deb and me?    SW - what else.  She says, "I'm addicted."  I laughed and said so was I!!  Nothing like a good peice of material, yarn and needle for some good old fashioned Swedish Weaving.  OR in Debbie's world "Spanish Weaving".

Ken and Chip had the cover lifted up for the frig with our ceramic heater running full tilt pointing into the back of the frig.  There is something wrong with this picture................ oh well.  Let the guys have their little fling.
Dave, Deb, Ken and I went out to dinner for a "let's catch her up on the 80's happenings."  When we got back we realized the frig was hot enough to thaw and was once again working.  Chip told us there were about 10 units like this in the area.

Then yesterday I met Roadie.

Roadie, so named by Deb, is our resident RoadRunner.  (Do NOT google "How to identify the sex of a Road Runner.........it's not pretty!!)
The roadrunner is a bird the size of a chicken??? Not.  More like an anerexic chicken maybe.  As tall as a chicken - maybe.  But no chickens like we raised to eat.  We THINK he is a guy - I say that because after my abysmal attempt at googling I don't care anymore.  Anyway, Roadie is spending his time going up and down the row panhandling.  And if you don't give him food he jumps up on your rig.  The white rig is Dave/Debbie's and the dark one is Maynard's.  We will FEED YOU.  Stay OFF my hood!!

 I love this picture.  Roadie is in perfect getaway mode with his little topknot up and his tail down.

And so it begins........so good to be back in NM. This week there is the Ladies Luncheon, pool on Thursday, Mexico Celebration in Palomas Friday and Prime Rib Valentine's Dinner on Saturday.  In between is the new addiction (I have black, red, navy, turquoise, yellow, white and off white Monk's Cloth prepared and ready for the yarn and needle.  I TOLD you I was obsessed.)

Odds and Ends

It has been a busy two weeks.  Lori brought the boys down and I watched them at RMH.  I limited them to a different play area every day so nothing got old.  We went to the 3rd floor of the hospital a couple of times so they could play in the playhouses.  It was great.  I did my newest obsession while sitting near the play areas.  We were all content.  We met some nice people there.  It was also good to know that if we needed more help we could call friends that live in the area.  Just knowing Stephanie and Melissa were just a phone call away made a big different.  Even though we didn't have to call them it was comforting to know we could.  Somehow that makes things a little easier.

We drove home Sunday.  The farther we went north the colder it got.  The big boys came with me watching a DVD; finally falling asleep when we got to the Campbell County border.  I have been cold most of the time up here.  And now that the thermometer has hit -19 with highs of -6 for the day I am freezing.  I bought a coat last week when the weather told us about the big freeze.  So I have been wearing 5 layers all week.  Of course I look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy but who cares I am kind of staying warm.  The pickup doesn't like this stuff either.

Aedan traveled okay but it was too much stimulation for one day.  He didn't sleep good Sunday.  Monday we moved his "play" space and bed into the middle of the rooms where there was actually some heat.  I travel back and forth from Kev/Lori's so we can keep the boys inside.  There was no school Monday or Tuesday so KaCe was very upset.

Whitney's Lap Afghan

Kaycee's Lap Afghan. It is on turquoise and the zigs are variations of brown.

I have finished my second lap afghan.  I was going to crochet a shell pattern on top of the first stitching but the girls didn't want one.  Too poofy was their justification.  This is officially my new OCD!  I think from the phone conversations that Debbie at least is right along with me.  I have red, yellow and natural prepared to work on.  I found some white at Wal-Mart for 7.97.  Of course for that price I couldn't leave it there.  I also have some patterns coming.  I ordered them from JoAnn's.  Can't wait to start another pattern. 

We will have Hayden (2) and Andy's (1) birthday party this Saturday.  It will be fun to see how they all get along.  The next generation of children is growing by leaps and bounds.  Rachel and Mike are expecting their second daughter in May.

Happy Birthday Kim, Hayden and Andy!

Erick, Whitney and Hayden arrived late Friday night.  Whitney is Erick's girlfriend.  Her brothers name is Travis. This could get confusing down the road.  We'll have to come up with a nickname for somebody.  We had the party at 2 on Saturday and had 9 kids.  KaCe, at 5 was by far the oldest.  Then the sizes went down from there to 22 day old Aedan.  It was good to see Erick and Mike bond as "fathers".  They were kept busy assembling and helping their daughters unwrap.

Rachel, Mike and Andy (1).
Erick, Whitney & Hayden (2)

KaCe and Ethan riding in the wagon. 

Hayden was fascinated by Stacie and Aedan. 

Some assembly required.

Children, children everywhere.

Hayden's legs are a bit short for this, but I'm sure she'll figure it out.

Grrrmama helping Andy walk.  She's about there.

Rachel showing Hayden where one of her presents is located.

Grrrpapa and Grrrmama enjoying the noise and hustle.

Mike reading a card for Andy.

Erick helping Hayden open her purse to get her keys and cellphone.

 Grrrpapa getting a love.

 Hayden fell in love with Stacie. 

Telling Stacie a story.

 It was a tough job doing Grams duty.  Yeah, right!

Then Hayden inspected Aedan.  She is telling Whitney something - nobody knows what though.

 Cory and his daughter Alexis.  (I hope I remembered her name.)

 Bolt B goes into slot Z..............

 We missed Kim who is still in Moscow going to college.  Happy Birthday Ladies.  It was a Great Party.

These daddies are NOT proud.................

I am so glad I was able to stay for this celebration.  The new generation of children had a good time.  And at the end of a very fine day Grrmama sits with her two babies while the folks go out.  I wonder who will be asleep when they get home.