August 1, 2014---Michelle’s in Loveland, Colorado

Meredith, Lori, and I went on some errands this morning.  Meredith had some work done on her Mini Cooper this week and she needed to pay the bill.

We took several bags of things to donate to Habitat.  Lori made a quick trip into the store to look for a suitcase, but she didn’t find what she was needing.

Our last errand for the morning was to Walmart for a few items.  Lori bought a Bronco messenger bag.  She will soon be out of Bronco country and back in Raider/49er territory...yikes...and she wanted to get one last bit of shopping in.

We drove to Windsor to eat lunch at a Hawaiian restaurant.  One of the things we had was Ahi Poke, made with ahi-tuna, onions, and sprouts, and served raw.  I have tried it before and I ate some today, but it wasn’t high on my list either time.  We also shared an order of Musubi...Span with rice wrapped in seaweed.  Most of us ordered different main dishes and shared so we could taste a variety of different things.

Before going back home, we made a quick stop at JoAnn Fabric for some thread.  When I got back to the motorhome, I worked on a sewing project until it was time to go to Meredith and Dwaine’s for dinner.  

We had pizza, salad, and pie for dessert.  Some of the group made S’moors, but I refrained.

Before leaving, we took more pictures.  Brent cooperated quite nicely tonight.

Bill and I left the party at 9:00.  I wanted to stay longer, but I was really tired.  Brent, Coleson, and Sara leave early tomorrow morning to go back to Mississippi.  (Sniff, sniff!)  It has been wonderful having them here.  We will miss them a lot. 

Coleson, Brent, and Meredith in front of the Hawaiian restaurant.

Brent is a Seattle Seahawks fan.  The girls are Denver Bronco fans.  Since the
Seahawks beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl, the Colorado dogs had to wear
Seahawks bandanas.  Here Tucker, Joey, Hapa, and Max pose in shame!

July 31, 2014---Michelle’s in Loveland, Colorado

No rain today.  It was a clear blue sky day, with a high temp of 80°, maybe.  Certainly not typical July weather.

Brent wanted to drive around a different area today so we went to Windsor, northeast of Loveland.  It isn’t much of a town, as towns go, but there are a lot of houses, both old and new.  Not much shopping that we could see, though.

We ate lunch at a Thai restaurant.  Lori and I had Tom-Kha.  It is a soup that Lori often makes.  Sara and Brent had salad.  Sara didn’t care for the dressing, so Lori and I helped her finish it.  My lunch special was a cashew tofu dish with lots of vegetables.  It was very good.  I think we all liked what we ordered.  We all agreed it would be a good place to go back to.

And, of course, I had a nap when we got back home.

Tonight, everyone but Bill, went to Fort Collins to have dinner at HuHot Express.  It is a Mongolian grill type restaurant.  The food was good, as always, but the company was the best.  I could’ve and should’ve skipped the meal all together, but it was nice being with our family.  We will soon be going our separate ways...California, Mississippi, and the “geezers” to Oregon.  (Insert a sigh here.)

When I got back home, I cleaned and rearranged my half of the closet and my two shelves in our wardrobe.  Tomorrow, I  hope to take donations to Habitat.

Brent is our "problem child" when it comes to having his
picture taken.  He says he does it because he is in the
witness protection, but don't believe it.  He's just in his
usual uncooperative picture taking mode.

  

July 30, 2014---Michelle’s in Loveland, Colorado

We had rain all day long.  It was very good for the grass.  Some areas close to us had flooding, but it was okay here.

The drippy weather didn’t keep Lori, Sara, and me from shopping, however.  We went to Centerra Mall.  After going into several stores, we met at Coldwater Creek.  Their stores, nationwide, are closing, which was news to me.  

Today was their last day to be open.  Everything was 95% off...or as they say in Mexico, “Almost free.”  I bought four cardigan sweaters, for $2.00 or $3.00 each.  I am usually cold, so these will be a nice addition to my meager wardrobe.  I also bought two or three other things.  When I got home I told Bill I purchased $346.00 worth of clothes.  I didn’t fool him for one minute.  He knows I wouldn’t ever spend that much on “glad rags.”  Actually I spent a total of $19.  Lori did even better than I did and Sara also bought two or three things.  All in all, it was a great shopping trip.

On our way home, we stopped at Arby’s for a late lunch.  On our way in a couple leaving gave us some coupons which saved us several dollars on our total bill.  Rats!  We could have bought another sweater or two!

I was tired from all that shopping, so a nap was what I needed.  

It was still cold and raining at dinner time.  Michelle made potato soup and chicken noodle soup.  They were both really good, especially on a cold night.

Our picnic place on Sunday gave us a view of a regatta on Grand Lake.

July 29, 2014---Michelle’s in Loveland, Colorado

July 29, 2014---Michelle’s in Loveland, Colorado

Lori, Natalia, and I went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast this morning.  That was on Natalia's list of things to do while she's in Colorado.  Then at noon, Brent, Meredith, Sara, and I went to Fort Collins for lunch, finally deciding on Blue Agave, mainly Mexican food, including really good sopapillas.  Lora and Natalia met us there.  Since the weather was cool and rainy by mid afternoon, Meredith made Carne En Su Jugo, a Mexican soup, for dinner...Yes!  As usual, the Danes are chowing down.

I'm cutting today's narrative short so I can send some pictures of our reunion.  I hope you will enjoy them!

Our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was our family.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Old Tex holding up an aspen tree?

Lori, Michelle, Natalia, Joshua, Matthew, Sara, Rosy, JP, Bill, Connor, and Meredith
The Magnificent Eleven

Sara's horse had a mind of its own.

Meredith, Connor, and Sara

Natalia looks like a "natural"

Old Tex rides again


As you can see, I am still not very good when it comes to sending pictures.  I'll ask Sara for more help.  As other pictures come my way, I will send them.

July 28, 2014---Elk Creek Campground, Grand Lake, Colorado

We got up early this morning to finishing packing all the camping gear, etc.  

Harolene and Jon left very early yesterday because of health concerns.  JP and Rosy left later yesterday morning.  They had an afternoon flight back to California.  Lori and Michael left for Denver in the evening.  Michael’s flight, also to California, left early this morning.  To avoid Monday morning traffic, they drove into Denver for the night.  Ron had to work today, so he drove back to Loveland last night.  Matthew had gotten a cold, so he went with his dad.

Seven were going on a six hour river rafting trip and left the campground at 7:45 to make the 8:30 departure time in the Granby area.

Michelle’s van was loaded, leaving room only for Meredith and three of the dogs, Joey, Hapa, and Max.  Bill and I, with the motorhome loaded just about to full capacity, drove back to Loveland with Willie and Tucker on the floor between us.

Nineteen people and five dogs were with us for our gathering in Grand Lake.  We had a blast!  It was a great reunion.  Lots of laughter, good food, and love spread around.  

After getting the MH parked at Michelle’s and unloaded, Bill and I took naps.  Meredith and Michelle spent time getting their things pit away at their houses.   All five dogs crashed.  They were tired pups.

Michelle made spaghetti for dinner.  It was a nice evening to sit outside and eat, but everyone went home early.

July 27, 2014---Elk Creek Campground, Grand Lake, Colorado

Jon and Harolene came early to say they were heading for home.  Harolene was very hoarse and had a scratchy throat when they got to Grand Lake, but it had gotten worse and she began having trouble breathing.  We were disappointed to see them leave early, but understood their concern. 

Breakfast this morning was pancakes, cooked by Natalia, and bacon and sausage.  We ate at the picnic table by the teepee.  The day started cool, but soon warmed up.

We packed a picnic lunch and drove to the lakefront park that Brent, Coleson, and I discovered yesterday.  We got a picnic table for our feast and sat chairs around so we could enjoy the view of Grand Lake. 

The water was cold so just about the only ones who swam were Joey, Hapa, and Willie.  Joey is an excellent swimmer and would go quite far out onto the lake to retrieve a tennis ball thrown by Dwaine.  Sometimes, he would have to search because the waves made it difficult to see.  He was always successful.  Willie is a good swimmer, too, as long as he has a stick in his mouth.  Hapa likes to get in the water, get out, and roll in the dirt.  By the time we left, her thick fur had some odd things sticking out of it.

Part of the group went for a hike to Adams Falls.  They reported that it was very beautiful, but the trail to it was rather rugged.  Therefore, I will not attempt to see the falls at this particular time.

We ate lunch when the group was all back together again.  We watched a regatta of small sailboats across the lake.  After a few activities, they came to our side of the lake.   One of the boats turned over and it was interesting to watch the two man crew right it.

Brent discovered a better place to go into the water, so he took several of the kids over there to swim.  And, of course, Willie went, also.

When everyone was back, all the picnic gear was loaded into the cars and we went downtown for ice cream.  Afterwards, back home, I took a nap.  I don’t know what everyone else did, but I was really tired and took advantage of the time.

Dinner, was hamburgers, French fries, corn, and baked beans.  Yes, once again our tummies were very happy!

July 26, 2014---Elk Creek Campground, Grand Lake, Colorado

We started the day with a ranch breakfast...steak and eggs, fried potatoes, and "camping toast" rolls.  Some of the group was going horseback riding, so after they left, Brent and I cleaned the "kitchen."

I really, really wanted to go with them, but felt I might be dangerous on a horse.  Or maybe I should say, in danger on a horse.  It wasn't a trail ride where one horse follows another. They rode through aspen groves, and over meadows.  Up hills and down.  It was a really good thing I didn't ride.

Brent, Coleson, and I went in to town in search of lunch.  We walked several blocks down the main street and back again, but didn't find anything that sounded good.  Walking on the board sidewalk was difficult so we drove to the Dairy King, and had hamburgers, corndogs and fries.

We drove around the south side of Grand Lake to a picnic area.  I sat at a table and watched activity on the lake while Brent and Coleson walked on some of the trails.  Before returning to the campground we stopped for ice and a few groceries.

Jon and Harolene were at the motorhome when I got back. We had a nice visit.  After their departure, I started sorting some of the clutter on my desk.  I've been so busy with all of our activities, I've really gotten behind...the story of my life.

At 5:30, we drove to Frazer, about 35 miles from Grand Lake.  They were having a Chuck Wagon Barbecue and a rodeo.  When we looked at the menu, Meredith and I decided to share the rodeo special...The Cow Pie.  It was a bread bowl filled with baked beans, pulled pork and topped with slaw.  It was good, but I wonder why it wasn’t called The Pig Pie!

The rodeo was well attended.  It was a lot of fun, but I don’t think any of our group wanted to get on a horse and ride around.  When they got to the barrel racing event, we thought we might enter Sara.  Brent said he would be the barrel.  When one of the riders knocked a barrel, Brent said he changed his mind.

After about two hours, rain began to sprinkle down.  We decided to cut the event short for us and drove back to the campground.  It had been a busy day.