July 7, 2012

July 7, 2012

As I’ve said before, flexibility counts.  Being flexible in a schedule is super important.  That I can usually accomplish.  Body flexibility, which I don’t have much of lately, is something I’m really missing.

While some of the family walked the dogs, Michelle and I went to a few garage sales.  Brent, Coleson, and Ron went to a car show.

It was cooler today and overcast.  As the day progressed the sky got darker and darker.  By late afternoon rain had started to fall.  That didn’t keep the girls from all going to thrift stores in Fort Collins.  

Brent made all the fixin’s for “make your own burritos.”  Michelle was his assistant.  Good eating!

July 6, 2012

July 6, 2012

I thought yesterday was confusing.  But today took the cake.  My, oh, my!  Finally, I just went with the flow, even when the flow went backwards.

At 11:00, after collecting Joshua from weight training, we went to Horsetooth Reservoir.  Part of the group went earlier and secured two covered picnic tables with a very good view of the lake and the swimming area.

After eating lunch, some of the group, including the dogs, went on a trail to a place where both humans and dogs could swim.  They had a great time.  To hear them tell it, Willie was the champion swimmer.  

From our picnic tables, we could look across the water and see where some of the wildfire damage was.  We didn’t see any fire or smoke today, but apparently the fire won’t be completely out for a couple of months.

The Park Rangers were out in force this afternoon.  There was a “no fire including charcoal” ban into effect.  At about 2:00, the rangers told everyone to get out of the water.  A storm was rolling in.  Lightening was a big concern.

For dinner, most of the group wanted to eat sushi.  It isn’t my favorite thing to eat, so I had a salad with just a small amount of sushi.  We had an interesting dessert.  I can’t remember the name of it, but it was good.

We went back to Meredith and Dwaine’s to go through some more pictures.  Once again, we had a hilarious time.

It rained off and on all evening. The moisture was very welcome.

July 5, 2012

July 5, 2012

Our plans for today were to go to Boulder this morning to see the town and shop at the Pearl Street Mall.  You’ve heard the expression, “the best laid plans of mice and men.”  

Well, Meredith called to say they had a problem at their house and needed Ron and Bill to come to their aid.  The “men” discovered a leak and a broken wire in the sprinkler system.  From that point on, the “mouse” ran amok.  

It was 12:00 before we loaded part of our tribe into Michelle’s van and took off, with Brent at the wheel.  In a matter of a minute or two, some of us said we were hungry.  Where did we want to go to eat?  The passengers in the back said the two in the front could decide.  

Very soon, Brent whipped into the parking lot of Smash Burgers.  He said, “We’ve gone a block and a half.  Let’s eat here!”  Actually, is was a little further than that, but not by much.

Finally, at 1:00 we were on our way to Boulder.  Yes, we were off like a herd of turtles!  By the time we got to the shopping area, the temperature had risen into the mid 90s.  It was a great outdoor mall with some shade.  Children were playing in a fountain.  There were some places to sit.  Lots of people were enjoying the area.

Lori and her van load met us at the mall.  They couldn’t leave Loveland as early as we “hadn’t” because Tucker was being groomed.  Not long after they arrived the area was hit by a rainstorm of great magnitude.  That did away with most of the shopping.

By that time, we were hungry again.  With this mob, that is a usual occurrence.  One van wanting sushi went one way, while the rest of us decided on KFC by the time we got to Longmont.

Now you know why I said the “mouse” ran amok, don’t you?

July 4, 2012

July 4, 2012

Happy Fourth of July!

We spent much of the morning, afternoon, and evening going through a mountain of photographs.  What a hoot!  Sometime we laughed so hard we couldn't continue until we regained our composure.

Our holiday cookout, with Brent in charge of the grill, consisted of skirt steak and shrimp, baked beans, and fresh corn.  It was all very good, but what do you expect with Brent at the helm outside and the girls in charge of the inside prep?

There were fireworks at Lake Loveland tonight, but we decided not to go.  We were all rather tired from the activities of the last few days.  Bill and I could see some of 4th of July display from the motorhome, but either the trees blocked most of it or it was a pathetic show.  We probably should blame it on the trees!

July 3, 2012

July 3, 2012

Early this morning most of the group took off for Denver and Elitch Gardens.  It is a great amusement park and water park.

Meredith, Michelle, and I stayed home and sorted pictures into categories.  Hopefully, it will speed up the process of "going down memory lane."  The four Dane girls need to decide which photos are keepers and which go in the "round file."  That’s going to be a big job!

Dinner tonight was lasagna made by Michelle.  It was really good with salad and garlic bread.

When the group returned from their exciting day in Denver, they were all very hungry and very tired.  None of them were tired to eat, though, and when they were full, they started talking about all the fun they had at Elitch’s.  It had been a very successful outing!

July 2, 2012

July 2, 2012

Today was slower for some of us, but not for others.  

I stayed home most of the day, not accomplishing a whole lot.  At noon, Michelle and I went on a couple of errands, ending at Walmart.

Lori and the two girls went shopping at the Outlet Mall and Kohl’s.  I have no idea what they bought, but they seemed to think the morning was a successful.  

The “shoppers” came for Brent and Joshua at noon.  They went to Fort Collins, north of here, and walked around the downtown area.  There are some really neat shops there.

Brent got home in time to cook potatoes for dinner.  Michelle and Bill made cornbread to go with the pinto beans Michelle and I had put in the crock pot this morning.  Meredith brought a ham.  We call this particular dinner "Soul Food."  It was yummy, yummy!

July 1, 2012

July 1, 2012

We all gathered at Michelle's for brunch.  As usual, we had a  lot of food...bacon, sausage, eggs, waffles, cinnamon rolls, watermelon, juice, and coffee.

With happy tummies we changed houses for a picture taking session.  It lasted quite awhile. Afterwards, I gave each family member a treasure box.  On the top of each box, I had used my wood burning tools to make a design using our Team Frantic logo from our old sports car racing team.  The grandkids' boxes each had a $20 bill inside.  The adults' boxes didn't.  Bill was the only one who squawked about "no money."  Wouldn't you know it?!

We left for Denver at about 1:30.  Our purpose was twofold.  We went to Casa Bonita for a late lunch and to take JP and Rosie to the airport.

Casa Bonita was a good place to eat and the entertainment was fun, as always.  They had cliff divers, shootouts, a gorilla act and more.  We ate lots of sopapillas before we left.

And then the adventure began.  As we were heading for the airport, JP got a text from the airline changing their flight from 7:30 to midnight.  After calling from several phones, it was finally determined they would fly at 8:00 in the morning.

So-o-o, back too Loveland we all went.  Being flexible is the key.

We gathered at Meredith’s for “drag outs.”  There were more leftovers than we could eat.  Jim and Peggy came for another visit.  They will drive back to Santa Fe in the morning.  It has been so good having them here.