Granny says

My Love of Cars

2011-09-03T14:13:00.001-06:00

I love cars, trucks, buses, trains and almost all types of ground transport. But, yesterday when I went out to go to the store, my car didn't start. It has been making a funny noise. I was going to go up to have Kieth look at it this weekend. I'm not loving the car right now.
It started just fine on Thursday (several times) when I used it to do some running about.
I used to know a little bit about cars but for several years now they have become very alien under the hood. So now all I know is the starter turns but the car don't start.
When you are accustomed to doing things when ever you wish, being without a vehicle is a real bummer!

Wasting time.

2011-08-28T16:07:00.003-06:00

Life gets busy sometimes. The minutes get away from us and turn into days, months, years. Life is crazy that way. I had a though and sat down to write it down, but while I was getting my computer turned on, my thought disappeared. I've been here now for 20 minutes beating the misty corners of my brain trying to find it. Realizing how minutes can turn into years I have now decided to give up and go do something else.

Windy today

2011-01-17T14:19:00.003-07:00

Wow, the wind howled all night last night and is still rattling my nerves today. I'm not sure why strong winds have always bothered me emotionally. Sometimes I think it could be that the valley I grew up in really doesn't have winds like these, but maybe that has nothing to do with it. Maybe its the sound the wind makes, whistling through the trees, between buildings, rattling windows and doors, and flapping any loose thing around.
Maybe, or ???

What the heck did I do with 2010???

2011-01-13T17:26:00.002-07:00

Its the 13th of Jan. 2011.
How did that happen? And just what happened to 2010, I'm sure it just got started and now I realize I've used it all up.

Cookie Recipe

2010-12-08T22:41:00.002-07:00

Pumpkin Bars
2 C. + 2 T. flour
2 C. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
2 t. cinnamon
1 C. cooking oil
4 eggs
1 C. pumpkin
1 C.chopped nuts

Sift dry ingredients together in a bowl. In another bowl beat all the other ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet. Mix well. Pour into a cookie pan, the kind with sides. Bake at350 degrees for 25 to 30 min. Can be glazed or frosted. Cut into bars and serve.

2010-11-22T00:40:00.003-07:00

Check out my new store at www.GrapevineWisdom.com
I'm still working on it, but it is up and running. It has been fun deciding how I wanted it to look and getting it set up. Work, yes, but fun also.
Thanks to everyone that helped, you know who you are.

2's Day

2010-10-12T08:08:00.002-06:00

Its raining, so nice to wake up to. And cool, I like that.

Accidents Grrrrr....

2010-10-08T00:18:00.002-06:00

I have a different car. I didn't want a different car but I stopped for a red light and the car behind me didn't. This really looks a lot like my old car. But not quite as nice and it has a few more miles on it.
Funny thing is if you get rear ended and you are hurt the insurance company is willing to pay out some big money but if you don't get hurt they don't even have to give you enough to actually replace your car. Just "book value", and believe me that won't do it.
Oh well, I really didn't get hurt, and that is the good part of all this.

2010-01-06T12:12:00.002-07:00

Okay, Ive been away, hiding some place in the back of my mind. It's pleasant there, sometimes it's much to pleasant, and I get lost in the memories and random thoughts. But now its time to get to work on a new year. I must set some goals and find some new interest's to pursue. Or not...

Its really time to find a new tactic when looking for a job.
I need to tackle things that I don't like first.
Working on the strength in my hands and wrists would be a good thing.
This year I would like to perfect the art of making a really good flour tortilla.
I think that it is very difficult to get my family together for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and the like. therefore maybe we should try to gather at or near the change of each season and celebrate everything that has happened or is about to happen in our lives. (something to think about.)

And thats my random mutterings for this day.

2's day

2009-11-17T13:29:00.002-07:00

The two things for today are
#1 The smell of coffee when you open the container.
#2 Peanutbutter mixed with a little honey for a sweet treat.

2's day

2009-11-10T12:28:00.004-07:00

#1 Old pictures, family photos, vacation pictures, my own, other peoples, most all old photos.

#2 Trying to picture how a place looked years ago. Like "what the Denver area looked like before there was a city".

Must dig up some motivation

2009-11-06T09:38:00.003-07:00

I am doing a craft show tomorrow. The boxes need to get packed and everything ready to go. I would like to have everything packed into the car today and just get myself ready and out the door in the morning.
Here I sit thinking about what needs to be done but not doing it. This is not the picture of today that I had in mind.
Get up from this chair, get busy, I know I must!

Thursday's Photo

2009-11-05T13:42:00.003-07:00

I'm so fond of holidays, I have the usual Christmas village that I set up every December, things for New Years Day, Valentines, St. Pat's Day, Independence Day and Halloween. And I add things for holidays every chance I get. Above is a portion of my Halloween village. Enjoy.

Thursday Photo

2009-10-29T14:09:00.004-06:00

Some of the fellows that are hanging out

on my deck.

2's day

2009-10-20T09:09:00.002-06:00

The "2 things" for today are about friendship.
#1. A spoken word that shows up unbidden, at just the right time.
#2. Feeling the closeness of a person even when they are absent.

2's-days

2009-10-13T22:26:00.002-06:00

Two things that I enjoy.

#1. The way people are so quiet on a cloudy morning.

#2. Small dogs in sweaters. How cute is that?

Thursday's photo

2009-10-08T23:47:00.002-06:00

A goodby to Summer '09

2's- days

2009-10-06T11:02:00.002-06:00

Todays 2 things I enjoy:

# 1
Aspen leaves

#2
People that wear winter coats and shorts

Growing up!

2009-10-03T21:10:00.004-06:00

Two years ago

One year ago

This year!

My great grand daughter turned 2 years old recently. The time has just flown by.

Thursday's Photo

2009-09-10T21:46:00.002-06:00

2's - day

2009-09-08T16:48:00.002-06:00

1. Forever friends. You know the ones, the ones that stick with you even when you are being a really stupid person. They don't join in with your stupidity but they are still your friend. I've had some dumb days in my life time and the people that have stuck with me are very special.
2. Breakfast, the best foods any time of the day.

2's-day

2009-09-01T12:51:00.002-06:00

#1. Dusty dirt roads that wind through mountain canyons. Especially the ones that have an intresting history.
#2. Quiet little places to hide away from the world.

Doctors don't always know.

2009-08-30T21:30:00.002-06:00

A friend of mine just went through a medical procedure. She hoped that this would solve some problems she had been having. She had been undergoing a long lists of tests over the last few months and they pointed to a certain problem. That led to the past Friday's trip to the hospital.
At the end of a very long day, checking in, waiting, being prepped, waiting, being operated on, waiting, conferring with the Doctor, she was told that what was done went well but, it wasn't a solution to the problem.
Now there will be more tests in her future. And more hoping for an answer. And more expense. And, well you get the picture.
Maybe when the doctors have a hard time figuring out what our problem is its because we don't have the right words to explain what we are feeling, or that what we are feeling can be attributed to many things and the elimination processes can take a long time.
But what I think is that sometimes the doctors just don't know.

2's-day

2009-08-25T17:16:00.002-06:00

It's 2's-day and time for 2 things that I enjoy.

#1. Cloudy days, anyone that knows me understands that one, I wilt in the sun.

#2. Birthday's. For quite a few years now I have spent some time on the anniversary of my birth looking back at the new things I've learned and the new experiences I had. It makes me happy.

2's-day

2009-08-18T11:09:00.003-06:00

I'm stealing that from someone else.
I think I'd like to use it as a prod to make me remember some small things that give me pleasure.
Today as my first 2's, I would like to say "I love that there are FREE classes". The computer classes I've been taking are a good example. I know there are other things that I can learn that either don't cost or are very low cost and when the computer classes end, I intend to find something else.
Number 2 for this 2's-day is "duct tape". If it can't be fixed with duct tape there is a good possibility that it will help temporarily. It can give you time to come up with a real fix.

Instead of a photo

2009-08-14T21:50:00.000-06:00

United Way Day of Caring
Today I went with my daughter to take part in a clean up, fix up, day at an old Grange Hall. That their are some of the old halls still around amazed me, but then I don't live in a farm area.
They told us today that the grange was started after the Civil War as a way for the farmers to be heard by their representatives in the government. Like a lobbiest of sorts. Then they became a place for the farmers to get together to socialize. Dances, Graduations, Weddings, and what ever, happened at the many Grange Halls across the country.
I grew up in a small town in Colorado and all those things happened at the school house when I was little. It was a time when getting together with your neighbors was what you did for entertainment. Now families seem to spend time going out or sitting in front of the television. Look how far we've come. Is it good or bad?

Thursdays Photo

2009-08-06T12:42:00.001-06:00

Some time with family.

Thursday's Photo

2009-07-30T21:02:00.002-06:00

A very dark cloud on this side of the mountain and the
sun has just gone down behind Longs Peak.

Thursdays Photo

2009-07-23T16:53:00.002-06:00

A sailboat coming into Duluth on Lake Superior

Road Trip

2009-07-11T17:35:00.000-06:00

Excited, you bet!
I leave Monday morning on a 2100 mile trip. Road Trips, I love them, I love the country side as it moves by the window like a constantly changing photo in a frame. I love the deserts, the mountains and streams, the farm land, the wide rivers, lakes, oceans, the small towns and the cities. I love the stops in strange towns for gas and the hunt for a place to get a bite to eat.
I have never been a "are we there yet?" kind of traveler. No matter how exciting the destination may be, getting there should be fun too. Even the weather can make a trip interesting. A thunder storm can be a beautiful light show. An unexpected snow storm could be a chance to spend an extra night in a lovely mountain town.
And then there is road work and detours, they are a perfect reason to go exploring. A chance to see something you hadn't thought of before, like a buffalo reserve in Nebraska or a quiet little town in upper New York. You know the one that your route would have missed if not for the detour sign, and where that sweet little cafe was that served the most amazing fruit pies. Or the place where the road side stand had the best local crafts you found on the whole trip.
But this time I also get to spend a few days with my baby sister at the far end of that 2100 mile loop. She moved so far away from our beautiful mountain home and I am very excited to see her!

Thursdays Photo

2009-07-09T09:59:00.005-06:00

A cloud hanging across the highway from me on Berthoud Pass.

Thursdays Photo

2009-07-02T12:36:00.005-06:00

Colorado Wild Flowers. This state is so beautiful I have a
problem believing anyone wants to be anywhere else.
But I'm glad that others feel otherwise.

To be a Mom

2009-06-21T10:25:00.003-06:00

more soon!

There is no words to express the pride I felt yesterday. Although, I admit, I was mighty proud of Dave when he finally made it to graduation. But to see my girls up there in front of that huge crowd accepting their diploma, WOW! My eyes got watery, and I had to blink them to see. They called "Laura Lee Taylor" and almost immediately after that they called "Donna Diane Carter", I'm glad that they were right together. There were others after that but I didn't hear any of what was said from that point on. I was setting there wishing it was over and I couldn't wait to get out of there and hug my girls.

Thursdays Photo

2009-06-11T09:32:00.003-06:00

I haven't been keeping up with things very well, putting things off, falling behind. My focus is slightly askew. I need to escape to a quiet place.

Down the hill and into the forest. Now this is just what I needed. This time its a memory walk. But soon, yes, soon...

Thursdays Photo

2009-06-04T15:16:00.003-06:00

A tiny wildflower and a

tiny butterfly. Now that

is Summer!

Randomness

2009-05-17T10:07:00.005-06:00

My thoughts are coming in short, random, spurts today.

I'd like to go to Minnasota some time this summer.

The weather here is suppose to be very warm for the next few days so I'll probably hide in the house. Can't afford to run away to somewhere cooler right now.

Went up on Flagstaff mtn. today. That was nice.

The baby birds outside the window are driving my cats crazy.

Auto's are a big pain in the neck.

You can do everything your suppose to do to maintain them and there still may be a time when they will leave you stranded.

Thursdays Photo

2009-05-07T23:01:00.003-06:00

okay, I'm not sure why this is one of my favorites, but it is.

Thursdays Photo

2009-04-30T10:17:00.003-06:00

Grand County, Colorado

Tuesday --- Memories

2009-04-28T11:01:00.003-06:00

I remember the first time we tried to plant a garden after we moved to the mountains. About the last week of May Mom dug up a spot in the back yard and we put in radishes carrots lettuce, potatoes and tomatoes. Oh, and green onions. That spring had been pretty mild and the snow had melted early except in the very shady areas. The digging was hard because the ground was still a little hard from being frozen.
Mom thought she was choosing the kinds of hardy plants that would be okay with the short growing season that we would have. She covered the beds with something at night (I can’t remember what, but maybe it was burlap) and uncovered them during the day.
I was pretty young, about 6 or 7, and was not much help but I loved the watering and digging in the dirt. Then I would look at my hands and see how dirty I had gotten and run into the house to get cleaned up. I still can’t stand for my hands to be dirty for long. I love the feel and smell of the soil but not for long. I wasted so much time running back and forth that I never got much done. Mom probably thought I was a hindrance more than a helper but she let me help anyway.
When the little plants started to pop up out of the ground I was so proud it was like I had caused it all by myself. The late frost had killed some of the seeds but some of them made it and hung in there to become plants. We got plants from all of the eyes of potatoes that we had planted and the radishes and carrots were doing good The onions and lettuce were slower and the tomatoes did not do much at all.
In July we had radishes and green onions from the garden. The carrots did not develop into carrots really but the tops grew and were pretty. By the end of August it snowed and we dug up the potatoes. They were about the size of a ping pong ball and we did not get a lot of them.
Mom learned a great deal that summer about high altitude planting. It was a bunch of work for very little harvest but what we got was very tasty.

Thursdays Photo

2009-04-23T08:14:00.002-06:00

Mondays food

2009-04-20T22:40:00.001-06:00

I got this one from Gin.

THE 5 MINUTE CHOCLATE CAKE FOR ONE

4 Tablespoons flour
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons milk
3 Tablespoons oil
3 Tablespoons chocolate chips (Optional)
A small splash of Vanilla extract
1 Large coffee mug (Microwave safe)

Combine dry ingredients and mix well.

Add egg and mix thoroughly.

Add milk and oil, mix well.

Add vanilla and chocolate chips and mix.

(They say you can do this right in the mug but I found when I did that it stuck, so next time I will mix it then pour it in the mug).

Cook in microwave for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.

The cake will rise over the top of the mug but do not be alarmed!

Allow to cool then tip out onto a plate.

EAT and ENJOY! (This can serve 2 if you really feel like sharing!

Why is “this” the most dangerous recipe in the world?

Because now we are only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night!

Thursdays Photo

2009-04-16T08:18:00.004-06:00

Its cloudy and windy outside today. So here is some Colorado Beauty to brighten things up.

Tuesdays.........memories

2009-04-13T22:31:00.005-06:00

Greald Emery Fisher

1973......................................... 1999

1960 or about that

1949 ...........................1950? .......................1956?

Mondays Food Day

2009-04-13T22:15:00.003-06:00

I didn't really have an idea for a food topic, but a little while ago I put apple slices in the microwave oven with a little bit of cinnamon and brown sugar. In two minutes I had a very tasty and juicy treat.

Thursdays photos

2009-04-09T14:52:00.009-06:00

Light House at Mackinaw City, Michigan

Monday's Food Day

2009-04-06T13:10:00.002-06:00

How about a (not so ordinary) Veggie dish today.
I'm going to call this: Spiced Fennel
2 stalks of fennel, cleaned trimmed and cut into slices
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1 T. olive oil
1 T. butter
1 tomato, chopped
1 C. mushrooms, chopped
1 t. pepper blend
1/2 C. unsalted beef broth

In a pan, put olive oil, butter, mushrooms and fennel. cover and cook for about 5 min. Add everything else and continue cooking for 15 to 20 min. Stir once in a while.
Serve as a side with dinner or with a piece of fruit or a sandwich for lunch.

who is rockin' my boat?

2009-04-03T22:41:00.004-06:00

This has been quite a week. I was doing some research on my family tree earlier this week and while looking in the SS death index for a grandfathers information I ran across my brother's name. It said he died in 2005.
Wow! that really threw me. I had not talked to Gerry since early in 2003. He called me about Judy and we talked for a while about him moving to Texas and what was going on in both our lives. At that time he gave me an email address so that we could keep in touch. I invited him to visit my Family site on the web.
The last time he logged into the site was July 6th of 2005 and the record from SS says he died on Sept. 1st of that same year.
None of the family heard anything about it at the time. If I hadn't come across that record on the SS site we still wouldn't know.
What makes me mad is that I hadn't noticed that he hadn't been on the site in so long. And if I had noticed what would I have done? He didn't give me a phone number or address when we talked. Just the email, but I should have tried to keep in touch better. I should have taken the responsibility of staying in contact.

Thursdays Photo

2009-04-02T09:05:00.005-06:00

An old school in Minnesota.

Gin will recognize this one, I believe Ray said he attended school there at one time.

Monday's Food Day

2009-03-30T10:00:00.004-06:00

Food, I love food. I love the endless variety of edibles that are available to us. We can shop the farmers markets, the big chain stores, the produce stands, the small corner stores, the ethnic food stores and we can grow our own. We can't possibly run out of new ideas or get bored with food.
Over the years I have ran into a few things that I don't care for and a few things that I wouldn't even try. But, if you subtract those things from the lists, there are still many things to try. There are also many combinations that can make a new treat from an old stand by.
Today I'm sharing a spice blend that I use often. It works with meats (great for grilling), casseroles, stews and soups.

Nada's Pepper Blend
1/2 c. Course Black Pepper
2 tablespoons Lemon Pepper
1 tablespoon Dry Chili Pepper
1 tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
1 teaspoon Dry Sweet Red Pepper
1 teaspoon Dry Sweet Green Pepper
1 teaspoon Dry Garlic
1 teaspoon Dry onion
1 teaspoon Dry Parsley
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Lemon Zest
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pinch of sugar

mix well and store in a closed container near where you cook. I keep some in a shaker next to the stove. If you really love one ingredient, add a little extra of it. If there is something you can't have or don't like, omit it.

Thursdays Photo

2009-03-26T10:32:00.002-06:00

One taken today and the other less then a week ago.

Monday's Food Day

2009-03-23T11:41:00.002-06:00

I'm cravin' sweets today! So instead of eating them I decided to blog about them, maybe I'll get over the craving by the time I'm done and can avoid the extra pounds.

Apple Crisp

4 c. sliced apples
1 t. cinnamon
1 c. crushed cereal
1/2 c. Brown sugar
1/3 c. butter

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Put apples in an ungreased 8X8 inch pan.
In a small bowl mix flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in the cereal. Sprinkle evenly over the apples.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.

This is so easy and quick to put together. You can also change the apples to another fruit or berry, just use what you have on hand.

Okay, so that didn't help, maybe I'll just have to make something and hope I can resist eating the whole thing.

Thursdays Photo

2009-03-19T18:44:00.003-06:00

I'm dreaming of a white spring! It's so dry and one good storm could make a really big differance.

Tuesdat --- Memories

2009-03-17T20:41:00.004-06:00

I have been sitting here thinking about growing up in the fifties and how much has changed in my lifetime so far.

My older sister and I did many things together. She, being 1 1/2 years older, didn't like that as much as I did. But in a small town your circle of friends covers a span of years. One time when the snow was really bad we walked down to the store to meet the school bus and long after it should have been there we and some friends of ours got a ride with someone we knew in the back of a pickup. After riding 11 miles to the school we decided we didn't want to walk in late so we decided to ditch. We hitched a ride with someone else and went, not home but, to Winter Park Ski area and watch some competition that was going on. That involved retracing the 11 miles we had just traveled plus another 8 miles up to the ski area. Our ride took us as far as Hideaway Park and there we decided to walk the last 2 miles.
We had just started out when I saw a couple of snow plows in front of a cafe and figured if the plows were there Dad and maybe the father of two of the other girls were inside having coffee. Judy decided that if we were to keep from being caught ditching school we should go around the other side of the building. That was no easy task because the snow didn't get plowed down there.
After getting very cold and wet we finally made it to Winter Park about noon and we ran into some kids we knew from school. And that's when we found out that for all of us that rode the school bus... There was no school that day because the bus had gotten stuck. We hadn't officially ditched after all.

Thursdays Photo

2009-03-12T09:51:00.003-06:00

A clear day on the west side of the devide looking east.

Tuesday --- Memories

2009-03-10T10:46:00.004-06:00

Mom and Dad loved to go for a drive and just see the scenery. They would pile us kids in the car and just go. Sometimes they had a plan but more often there was no destination and the goal was to see something of interest.
In the spring the deer and elk antlers would be covered in velvet like the elk in my header and the creeks would be full of snow melt and running wild. In early summer the wild flowers would bloom and long days were great for an adventure on a back road. Fall, there would be aspen leaves turning gold and elk bugling and berry picking trips. Winter was a time of quiet and lazy day drives didn't happen much and when they did it was a sightseeing trip with a destination. Snowy roads were to be respected and travel was more of a necessity and less a pleasure.
Dad loved the mountains and the history of the settlers and of the Indians that were there before that.
The Ute Indians claimed most of the area that we lived in or near. As he drove he would point out thing like a hill west of Granby where he had heard there was a battle between the Utes and another tribe. He would say,"See up there? Old Bill told me that's the spot where they clashed and if you hike up there you might find arrow heads or something." We would drive past the hot springs and he would tell us he had heard that the Indians believed that the springs would cure most anything, they would even take their horses in the caves with them if they thought something was wrong with them, or just to warm them up on cold days. We would be driving up across the Trough Road and he would point out a dugout and speculate on the type of brave pioneer that had made his home in there and how he may have had to live while he was there.
He knew the names of the steams and the mountains and if he didn't he would name them.
Lunch was packed from home and eaten in the car or at some place where Dad could pull off the road and we could have a picnic.
I wonder now, if Mom and Dad had known how this oil crisis was to play out, if we would have found another way to entertain ourselves.

Monday's Food Day

2009-03-09T09:35:00.004-06:00

I've been thinking about the stories I've been told about the depression and how tough it was for people. My folks were young people then and talked about how bad things were and how inventive people were.
This prompted me to look up "depression recipes" on the net. One of the recipes was for bread made from flour, yeast and water, nothing else. Well Friday I tried that and all I can say is it was edible. Not much taste, but if you put something on it, butter, jam, etc., You could eat it.
I suppose if it was all I had it might taste better.
One thing I read, told of boiling dried meat in a pot of water and some salt for a few hours then adding whatever vegetables you had around and boiling it for a couple more hours. Before serving it it would be mashed into a gravy consistency and pored over crumbled bread.
Maybe that would make the bread taste good.

Someone once said..........

2009-03-07T10:21:00.003-07:00

My daughter and I were talking last night about things that someone said that stuck (made a lasting impression) with you. That kind of thing may come from a relative or a teacher or a friend or a leader (in business, government, religion etc.) or from a chance overheard bit of a conversation.
After that conversation I spent some time thinking about that.
I know that I got the saying "All things are sacred" from my mom and modified it to "All things are spiritual" some time ago to fit a need in my life. From my dad came "You don't really have to look that hard to see the good, so don't dig for the bad".
They were "just plain working folk" but you can find wisdom any place if your open to it. Listening is the way we learn and from listening comes repeating to our self, then an idea can fit and become a part of us or be changed to fit or be discarded.
As in the quote from my mom. When I thought "all things are sacred" to me it meant all things should be worshiped but when i changed sacred to spiritual it became all things are on the same level and should be treated with the same respect. That fit me better so i changed the saying. To someone else spiritual many be the wrong word and they may need to change it to worthy or related or something completely different. Maybe to mom what she said meant to her the same thing my changed version means to me. Maybe it meant something else, I never ask and she never expounded.

Thursdays Photo

2009-03-05T11:02:00.002-07:00

Looking down on the headwaters of the Cache La Poudre River from Trailridge Road.

Tuesday --- Memories

2009-03-03T14:19:00.002-07:00

March winds!!!!!!!!!!!! Its very windy today and that made me think of March winds, April showers, Bring May flowers.
Where I grew up March isn't the forerunner of springs beauty. Its just another wintry month. Keep the heavy coats and gloves handy and don't even think about putting away the winter boots. You are still in the grip of Old Man Winter.
Which brings me to a memory.
When I was a kid, after a good snow, Dad and all us kids would go out and shovel the drive. Our driveway could park a half a dozen vehicles of various types and sizes so clearing it of snow was a big job. One man and five children (one that was only big enough to get in the way, her and her little ash shovel) would work for about an hour and as the parking spaces got cleared of snow the mountain of snow between the drive and the street would grow. When we had just about finished I would go in and Mom would be fixing a warm treat for us. A cake would be ready to come out of the oven and I and Judy would get the cups and fix tea or coffee. Or maybe it would be a huge bowl of fresh popcorn and apples with hot chocolate.
Later there was a plow on something that pushed the snow up into a frozen hill and the warm treat was no more. The ease of the plow changed a togetherness chore into a quick job and stole our warm ritual of family togetherness
Sad but a lot less work.

The Death of an Old Friend

2009-02-27T13:41:00.004-07:00

I was only 14 years old when the Rocky Mountain News turned 100 years old. Now, just short of 50 years later, they are gone. The last issue went out this morning, and then it died. It happens, in times like now, businesses close, people lose jobs and newspapers die.
I grew up knowing the "Rocky", I used it to research articles for school, to explore what was happening in the world outside my little mountain valley, and to line the warmer for the baby chicks.
I wonder if Wm. Byers had any idea that paper he put out in April of 1859 would last this long, or that newspapers would be replaced with the ease of going on line for our news.
Goodbye, Rky Mtn News, you will be missed.

Thursdays Photo

2009-02-26T09:06:00.001-07:00

Morning bursts in to the valley!

Tuesday --- Memories

2009-02-24T11:45:00.003-07:00

One of my earliest memories is of the walk to the outhouse at the house we lived in when I was born and until I was five. The house sat on a long thin lot. The house was back from the street about 10 yards or so, just room for a patch of grass and a couple of trees my folks had planted when my older brother and sister were born. Behind the house was a storm cellar, a garden a cloths line and finally by the back fence was the outhouse.
One night when I was about 3 my sister and I made that long trip in the dark to the outhouse and on our way back we saw a monster with shaggy hair and huge feet standing by the corner of the house. I haven't felt like running so much at any time since then.
When we burst through the door yelling for Dad we startled everyone. When he could get the story out of us, Dad took a flashlight out and looked around and sure enough there were big shoe prints in the mud at the corner. They had come from the street and left over the side fence.
As we later learned, the shoe prints were made by clown shoes and were left there by a neighbor that worked part time as a clown and took a short cut through our yard to get home.

Monday's Food Day

2009-02-23T10:36:00.003-07:00

Back in my childhood my mother made a chocolate cake that even I would eat. All who know me know that I don't really like chocolate very much.
I remember she would plan it so that it would come out of the oven about the time we finished eating supper (yes, we ate breakfast, dinner & supper instead of breakfast, lunch & dinner) Dad liked it warm with a little butter on it, no icying.

Chocolate Mayo Cake
1/2 cup cocoa
3/4 cup mayo
2 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup cold water

Cream the sugar and mayo together. Put the cocoa, flour, soda and salt together in the sifter. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed ingredients alternating with the water and vanilla. Bake in a 9X13in. pan at 350 degrees for about 25 min.

Mom cooked at almost 9000 ft. high so you may need to adjust for a lower altitude.

Wind

2009-02-21T12:58:00.002-07:00

The wind has finally quieted down. I don't know why it makes me so crazy. When the wind is blowing hard I just feel like its in my head blowing my thoughts around and I can't keep them in order. Or at least "order" for me, which may seem like disorder to everyone else.

Thursdays Photo

2009-02-19T19:03:00.002-07:00

Byers Peak is just west of Fraser and one of my favorite places.

Guilty as Charged

2009-02-15T19:16:00.002-07:00

First of all: I am writing this because I'm feeling a bit guilty and need to get it out some how. Secondly: I really do know that my "right" isn't the right way for everyone. I do know that.
Now to the problem. I have been giving out unsolicited advice in very heavy doses lately. Almost to the point of "pushy" which I don't like at all. I have been someone I would not like to be around.
There are things I believe in very strongly, like trying to heal yourself before seeing a Doctor, like changing how you feel by changing how you think about how you feel, and ITS ALRIGHT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE THE WAY YOU CHOOSE AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT HURTING ANYONE ELSE DOING IT! I should add that a lot of thought needs to go into if you are hurting anyone else for this to work.
Can you guess why I'm feeling guilty now?

Thursdays Photo

2009-02-12T13:02:00.002-07:00

This is Rolo. Levi sent me this pic with a bunch of pic of their place in Florida.

This is one of the pics he sent. I just like the misty feel of it.

Weather

2009-02-11T14:41:00.003-07:00

This morning when I looked out at the trees covered with snow I was very thankful that I live where there is so much beauty. Maybe I would feel that way no matter where I was, there would be something in nature that would strike me as beautiful. But this is where I am and fresh snow is what I like.

A Walk

2009-02-08T21:29:00.004-07:00

Yesterday I walked around Coot Lake and the adjacent wet land. It took me about 40 minutes and was a little bit farther than I would have liked but by the time I realized that I was more than half way and going back would have been farther than doing the whole circle. Today I walked up to Twin Lakes by way of the trail around the swamp behind the condo. That wasn't as far but the down hill part coming home was harder on me. I did enjoy both walks and will do them again. We are lucky that Boulder had the foresight to plan all this open space.

Thursdays photos

2009-02-05T14:06:00.003-07:00

These photo's always make me think of lonelyness and old memories.

2009-02-02T09:48:00.003-07:00

Okay, so today with the sunshine on me and the oh so blue sky, I'm thinking of summer and taking pic's of flowers in places that, right now, are covered in snow.
I missed last Thursdays photo so here is a Columbine from Columbine Park in Grand County, CO for you. Enjoy!

I took a "What Tarot Card Are You" test and this was the result. Not what I'd have thought.

You are The Wheel of Fortune
Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of intoxication with success
The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.
What Tarot Card are You?Take the Test to Find Out.

Thursdays Photo

2009-01-22T13:57:00.001-07:00

Just a little mountain atream.

A Must See

2009-01-20T20:11:00.003-07:00

Everybody go on over to "Evolving Mommy" and read her blog for today. It really makes a point!

The Magic of Nature

2009-01-18T23:46:00.003-07:00

I took a walk today, out around the swampy area behind the parking lot. I saw some small (something ) running through the tall dry weeds. If was light brown and it may have been a fox but I'm not sure. On my way back I was facing the mountains and the shadows were beautiful. The temperature was in the 50's and I hadn't gone very far before I was wishing I hadn't brought my coat. There was some thin streaming clouds in the sky but not enough to shut out the sun's warmth. A gaggle of geese flew over head and landed in a watery place behind me. I did see some rabbits, they were on the trail and easy to see. I should go for more walks.

Thursdays Photo

2009-01-15T11:01:00.001-07:00

The Moon

2009-01-12T23:48:00.002-07:00

Did you go outside tonight? WOW! that moon is gorgeous. And hey, how about the one at the end of Dec. A little slice of light and Venus hanging just below it! Yep, that was a beauty.

2009-01-12T21:26:00.002-07:00

I was heading to the hills tomorrow, but my plans may be changing. If not tomorrow, I will be going soon and when I do, I want to see some friends and family and do some catching up. It always seems that a day should be time enough to get together with a few friends but when you get there and start running around trying to see several people the time just seems to evaporate and leave you wondering what happened.
As you get older that's the way your life feels. Suddenly you realize the time has flown and you didn't do all the things on your to-do list. I think that is why we rush around so. But that doesn't really help. I've decided I need to do each day only what I feel good about doing and what life insists I do to survive. Everything else I will have to do vicariously through you all.
Just in case I forget to say it at the time, Thanks!

A busy week

2009-01-11T10:55:00.004-07:00

Well I think this past week just got completely away from me. I'm not sure where it went, but its gone and so as a start for a new one I will post a photo and say whats on my mind.

I'm thinking about Colleen this morning and wondering how things are going for her. Is she working? Is she liking her new life? How has the weather been where she is? I hope she is happy and feeling well.

Cat wrote a very nice post on Tuesday about her Grandma's. It made me feel so good and made me realize how much we influence others by the things we do. Sooooooo, we must think very carefully about what we say and do if we want to leave a positive mark on other peoples lives.

With the help of Missy and Allan, I have been trying to organize my office and crafts. They have put in a lot of work and we are getting somewhere. In the process I ran across a few old photo's that haven't seen daylight in a long time.

I leave you with this very odd photo of me in 1960. Check out the cool glasses. Old photos show just how goofy those styles were.

Goodbyes are so hard!

2009-01-04T11:51:00.003-07:00

Yesterday my granddaughter left on a new adventure. She moved about 12 hrs. (by car) away. She had set 12 noon as her projected time to be on the road and although the "Goodbyes" took longer than she had figured she was almost on time. Her dad packed the car, her mom checked the weather along her route, and the rest of us helped or hindered where we could.
I, being the strong woman that I am, kept myself together and showed an encouraging and trusting face. That is until her sister and mom lost it, then no matter what face I had intended to show, it was the wet eyed one that won out.
That's okay, she left knowing that although we all have confidence in her, she will be greatly missed.
I did ask her to call me twice during the trip and was glad to hear her voice and the assurances that everything was fine. And there was a text message when she arrived at her destination, Thank God!
She will do good no matter where she is because she is a people person and shines in any group.
We love you and wish you well, my sweet granddaughter!

Thursdays photo

2009-01-01T10:33:00.002-07:00

Moose, the summer one was taken about 8 years ago by me, the winter one by Sofia in their yard Jan. of 'o6.

Thursdays photo

2008-12-27T11:02:00.002-07:00

yes, I know its not thursday.

Mother Nature put the topper on this Christmas tree.

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T13:11:00.002-07:00

Happy Holidays!

Enjoy yourself no matter what or how you celebrate.

Thursdays photo

2008-12-18T12:03:00.001-07:00

A snowy December day on Rabbit Ears Pass. Yep, I love it!

Do you feel all Christmasy now?

Merry Christmas to Me!

2008-12-14T09:01:00.004-07:00

Elsie got the feeding tube taken out yesterday. YEA! She is without the bandage as of a few minutes ago. The vet. said I could take it off this morning. She had it pretty much off anyway, but I snipped the rest off and sat her down. She was cleaning and grooming the area that she hasn't been able to reach right away, and purring all the while. Her being happy and eating again is my Merry Christmas to me.

Thursdays photo

2008-12-11T12:07:00.001-07:00

Last weeks photo was the "gals" now here is the guys!

Bull Elk in RMNP

'Tis The Season

2008-12-08T14:25:00.001-07:00

For as long as I can remember, I have loved “The Holidays”. By that I refer to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years collectively. I love that special something that makes a person want to smile and call out a greeting to a stranger. Neighbors that you don’t take the time to speak to the rest of the year (everyone is so busy with their own lives) suddenly find themselves calling out a friendly greeting. “Have a nice Thanksgiving”, Merry Christmas”, “Happy New Year”, you hear it everywhere you go.

As a child I loved the way friends would stop by for snacks and coffee or a drink. Even late in the evening when all us little one were sent to bed, I would lay there lessening to the adults in the other room laughing and talking and I would feel all jittery with excitement for the wonder of the season. From about a week before Thanksgiving through New News Day the feeling would almost be more than I could stand. I wondered if a person could die of happiness.

Some times there were also family from out of town. We would get the extra bedding and if it had been a while sense it had been used Mom would have my sister and I help hang it out on the line to air. It would be brought in after a few hours smelling fresh and get folded up and left handy so the sofa could be made up and sleeping bags would be used in our bedrooms as extra room for cozens. We always dibbed the bags and left our nice freshly made up beds for company. It usually took some hard desisting to decide just who had to sleep in the beds. It didn’t really matter; we didn’t get a lot of sleeping done. Mom or Dad would come to the door a few times and let us know that we were too loud and we needed to get to sleep.

When I first got married I moved away from family and friends. It was so exciting meshing the traditions of our two very different families and making what survived our own family’s way of celebrating. I also had to adjust to city life instead of the easygoing, small town ways that I grew up with. Even though I was hundreds of miles from where I grew up I was happy to find that the magic was still there. It had followed me!

When my children grew up and left home to start their own traditions I was afraid that the feelings would change. I expected it to be a sad time, or at the least, not as exciting. But I’m happy to report that the magic of the season is still very much alive and well in this Great grand mother.

Not as late

2008-12-05T11:19:00.002-07:00

Last Thursday's photo was posted this Mon. So today isn't so bad.

Rocky Mountain National Park.

Silence is:

2008-12-01T09:35:00.005-07:00

I haven't posted anything after Wednesday. That's a long time for me, I missed the Thursday Photo of some place I love so I'm adding one today.

Downtown Detroit! Very interesting place.

Elsie is doing good and the feeding tube should be coming out in a little over a week. yea! Yes, she is eating again and maybe enough to go without the tube but we will continue that until the meds are gone just to be sure she gets them.

I have a craft show so must get some bags done this week.

This one is almost all made from newspaper bags. It takes a lot of newspaper bags to make a tote this size. Its about 14" by 14"by 3".

All's Well That.....

2008-11-26T07:56:00.003-07:00

An update: Elsie has a new bandage and they put back the stitches she had removed. They sent her home with a cone around her neck, which stayed on for about three hours. The doctor thinks she will have the feeding tube for two more weeks. I hope it will last that long!

And Off Comes The Bandage

2008-11-25T04:49:00.002-07:00

We have been up most of the night. Elsie and I are fighting about if she should remove her bandage. I'm saying I don't think its a good idea. She is tearing at it with her hind paws, pretty much insisting that it must be removed. I think we may be going to the vet to have some repair work done on it this morning.
She is asleep right now so I'm going to try to get a few minutes snooze time myself, right next to her so that I will hear if she attacks it again.
Wish me luck!

A Cup of Coffee?

2008-11-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

What I Need Around Me

“We all have the same needs. It’s the way we fill them that makes us different”. Who was it that said that to me? And when was it? That really doesn’t matter I suppose but I so clearly remember it being said and that it was said in connection with me not wanting to throw, or give, something away. It was said possibly about some thing that I no longer used or needed but wanted to hang onto anyway. Were they encouraging me to get rid of “it” or saying “its okay you should keep “it” if that’s what will make you feel good”?

I once lost everything in a house fire, but no one was home at the time and we were all just thankful for each other. The things could be replaced, or could they? The entire collection of photos of my children when they were babies and all those snapshots of all those birthdays, camping trips, holidays and other times now are only a memory. Some are bright others are dim. They come and go, they tease me with half remembered places and things.

Now I hug my photos close and make sure I’m not the only one who has a copy, I make copies and give them to people. I save copies on my computer and send the out over the net. They, of all possible things are most important to me.

Then there is the farie that lives on the dash of my car (bought for me by a friend when we shared a road trip) I really don’t like to start out on a trip without her, and the plastic frog the lives on my keyboard. The books that line my shelves would be very hard to give up. I know because I keep trying to give them away and some of them I just can’t seem to let go of. They are old and some of them are tattered but they are a part of me.
Having lost everything once and knowing that life goes on, I went to some friends and family members and ask them “what item of mine is in that picture of me in your mind when you think of me?” They all answered “A cup of coffee”.

2008-11-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

In the 50’ we celebrated so many things at the school. Everyone would come, there would be food, and punch, and dancing. Things would get started in the afternoon when the ladies would come in and take over the lunchroom. They would bring covered dishes, some ready to set out and some just needin’ to be heated up on the stove or stuck in the oven for a few minutes. Us kids would be pressed into runnin’ for the forgotten spice that needed to be added or the whipping cream that needed to be whipped for the pies, or "watch those little one and get them out from under foot".
The wall between two of the class rooms could be slid back like pocket doors and all the desks and such would be moved into the other classroom. That left a large space for dancing. Or putting on plays. Or graduations, weddings, baby showers, anniversaries, funerals, home comings, birthdays, wildlife films from the DOW. or any other excuse to get together.
All it cost was some food, some time and some energy and the whole family was entertained.

Thursdays photo

2008-11-20T11:09:00.001-07:00

The ski train comming into Fraser on a summer day. A thunder storm comming with it.

I'm ready!

2008-11-16T07:11:00.002-07:00

The tires need rotated. The oil needs changed. And its time to make sure I have an ice scrapper and gloves in the car. Oh yes, I need to find the little child's shovel, its been so useful in the past and takes up so little room in the car. I have 4 wheel drive and all-season tires so I’ve never bought chains for the car and I’m not sure I could put them on now that my body does not work so good. If things get that bad I suppose I’ll just stay put. But, I think I’ll put a nice warm quilt in, that way if I brake down and its cold I can keep warm. Being prepared always makes winter so much more enjoyable. Even if I never need those things, I’ll travel better knowing I have them. I’m ready for you Winter, bring on the snow!

Snow!

2008-11-15T13:33:00.003-07:00

So we had our first snow night before last. It was all in the air and melted before it hit the ground but I enjoyed seeing it in the air. I have always liked snow even when it needed to be shoveled and cleaned off of the car, the walks and the driveway. Nothing is more beautiful than waking up to a freash blanket of white covering everything.

Taking a cue from Evolving Mommy

2008-11-14T11:51:00.003-07:00

When I read the post from Evolving Mommy on the gas prices going down I thought "I should fill my tank so that when the prices start back up I'll have at least one tank full that I got at less than 2 dollars a gallon".
That made me think about when I was a young mother and on at tight budget, "I am again, but the flusher years in between were nice" anyway back to my thought...... I never dreamed that gas would be as high as $1.99 a gallon and spending $10.00 on a tank of gas was way to much, but I was making a very nice wage of $3.75 an hour.
And we call those the good old days?

Thursdays photo

2008-11-13T12:27:00.002-07:00

I've decided to post a photo of some of my favorite places on Thursdays. This one is of the Fraser Valley taken from Corona Pass. Enjoy!

Everyday Wisdom

2008-11-11T12:08:00.002-07:00

Each day is a chance to learn something new, and we do, sometimes its not on the surface. But if we do a little digging we can find it (or them). So spend a minute at some point each day thinking about the wisdom you've gained today. That way you can take it out and enjoy it. And, if you don't, shame on you!

Cold Season

2008-11-10T13:32:00.001-07:00

Cold season is upon us. The way we eat can make a big difference in just how often and how bad that bug will bite us.
All of us know a healthy diet can make a big impact on our immunity system. What I’m suggesting is that we use one tablespoon of honey in the mix everyday and a teaspoon of cinnamon couldn’t hurt. Both seem to rev up the bug blockers in our bodies.
This doesn’t mean you should eat sticky buns every day. Check your cookbooks and you will find many savory dishes call for a little sugar (use honey instead) and many dishes can benefit from a bit of cinnamon.
But then a sticky bun would be good once in a while too!

This weeks reflections

2008-11-09T12:17:00.004-07:00

Sunday, the end of another week.

Mon. I didn't do much, it was a day to get ready for the week ahead.

Tues. I voted. After that I went to a business that I had wanted to visit. It was closed for election day! How many places do that? I had lunch with my daughter, I felt I needed to check on her and make sure she was recovering from her surgery as expected.

Wed. I had to get more of the special food for Elsie (Dave and Kate did that actually). After that they took me to dinner and to a dream discussion meeting of friends at a coffee place in Denver. It was a good time of sharing.

Thur. (lost day)

Fri. I spent the afternoon with Mouse, My granddaughter and my beautiful great grand daughter. I stayed a little longer and got to see My grandson. Also visited with a friend I hadn't seen in quite a while.

Sat. I went to a hardware store that I love going to with Laur then had lunch at her place, mexican food of course.

Now its Sun. and we, Elsie, Bear and I, have make it through another week.