The Days Are Just Packed (part 2)

I guess it was my turn to have time off from work.  Mike was off for five months with his hip replacements (if you remember his blog "The Days Are Just Packed").  I just spent two months off on "garden leave." (Wikipedia definition of "garden leave")  But, I didn't hang out in the garden.

I spent time with Ashley, Alex, Michael, Liam, and John Paul in Colorado.   It was so much fun!

 

 

 





 

Michael's telling of "Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses" by James and Kimberly Dean

May be my all-time-favorite-thing-ever (click on the link)

I drove across the Rocky Mountains to see my Aunt Mary (my dad's sister) and my cousin, Sandy in Grand Junction, CO. 



I drove through the mountains to see my stepdad.  I didn't know what I was getting into, but it was gorgeous.

 

Just entering the mountains

The picture I couldn't get from my car:  How is this allowed? (click on the link)

 Near the top of Red Mountain Pass (old silver mine)

 

I had a wonderful visit with Jim!

I had an obligation at church for which I had to get home which made the trip to see Mary and Jim kind of rushed, but still so good to see them.  I drove the mountain route north of Santa Fe through Taos on the way home.



I was home for a couple of weeks (or so--time has kind of melded together) before I flew to Alabama to be with Dene', Tyler, and James.  I was there three weeks; Mike joined us for the last week.  Again, we had such a good time!  (Dene's blogs about our visits: First Steps and Other Adventures and   Loving Life with the Grandparents)

Blowing kisses

 

Look who's walking!!

Sweet home Alabama

 

I spent the two months mostly ignoring that I was loosing my job, allowing myself to spend my garden leave having a real break.  I was planning on getting into the job search mode the beginning of September.  I need to say that I was inspired by Whitney's blog "On Directing" to not get stressed because it is worth waiting for the right opportunity.  (Thanks, Whit!) 

Just before I left for my visit with Dene' I got a call from GSK HR and was invited to come back temporarily to work on a project (as backfill for a guy to do his job while he works on the project).   We think it is a great opportunity during which I will continue to work on what I want to be in my next career.

Tree House In The Hills ( where else?).

Our trip to the hills was wonderful. Seeing Mom and Dad and family was just what we needed! And as you can tell from the first number of pictures...fishing...especially with Michael - was - dare I say - the highlight of my trip. There is an open invitation to all my grandkids - call grandpa when you want to go fishing and I will come running and take you fishing in the hills! 

 

Here is the picture blog of our trip with a few pictures mixed in with "Old Man Willow" coming down in our back yard...since my blogging has been a little lacking of late.

 

 

 

 

The baiting of the hook.

 

 Waiting for the big bite!

Still waiting with grandpa.

 

 

Mighty fisherman.

 

 



Here comes the big fish!

 

 

 

A proud Dad and Grandpa!

 

 

The big catch!

 



 James and one of his 1000 expressions!

 

Grandpa and boys.

Tired John Paul and James and tongue.

 

 Makes me ready for bed.

 

 

The Teeth! 

What is a tree house without popcorn? 

Nice James.

 

 

 I have car keys and a cell phone. Now I'm happy!

 

I said...am I cute! 

Tree house...in Mom and Dad's back yard. 

 We went on a hike around a place a gentleman has created on his property. With no religious affiliation that I know of - it is a wonderful place you can get away from the business of life - if that's not an oxymoron when you are in the Hills.  



 Here is "Old Man Willow" - actually a River Birch . It was being eaten by bugs and was the main source of branches and leaves in my yard. There was a trunk that I was concerned about that was gong to come down without notice.  I was happy to see it go . Cindy was a little reluctant. I won this one...since I pick up all the sticks and leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The company we hired  had all the "Big Boy Toys" to do the job.

Grinding the stump.

Gone.

New view from our deck. I like it. Cindy is getting use to it.

 There was some forest fires in the Northwest and Canada that was creating a bit of haze through out the Hills. I thought it looked like the Smokey Mountains. It was quit stunning. I also thought our Lord was reminding us that even though our lives seem to be in-shadowed  in haze -  He is still in control. Now that is a Tree House indeed!

 

10 Things I Learned Over the Weekend

 

 

#10 I haven't blogged for a long while - because it has been raining and my job has kept me busy and I've been perfecting my barbequing and I've been video chatting with grand-boys and thinking about making bird houses!

 

#9 Mom, Dad and Sherry came down for the long weekend and I wanted all my plants to be at their peak while they were here. You can't make deals with mother nature - she has a timing of her own.

 

 

 This plant bloomed 3 weeks before.

 

 

 These bloomed 3 days after they left.

 

 

 

#8 You can't cook too much on the grill. Ribs and chicken - life is good!

 

 

#7 It was a little rainy and cool but who can stop hard core birders?

 

 

 

 My back yard is the place to bird...it's not bragging if it's true...right?

 

 

Watch out for birding neck strain.

 

#6 My Dad is my role model for patience. We went birding in a park and Dad walked...sat...looked...and dare I say...enjoyed himself as we birded.

If Mom is enjoying herself...Dad is too! He is my role model!

 

#5 Don't believe everything you see. Is it a yellow breasted bird? Does the black extend down it's breast?...stay with me here...chased this bird all around the park...twice! Is it a Scott's Oriel?  Took a picture...zoomed in...yellow? Orange? Just another Baltimore Oriel? These are things that true birders want to get to the bottom of.

 

 

I don't know...you tell me!

 

#4 Cindy wanted to see a Purple Martian last year for the Big Year. We didn't get one. So Mom, Dad, Sherry and I went birding Monday at Pioneers Park...and what did we see? A Purple Martian? Cindy stayed home to work on her homework. When we told her we saw a Purple Martian...she was both skeptical and disappointed. So being the good husband I am, and Sherry - the outstanding birder she is - we went back out to the park. And Wo-la...Purple Martin.

 They actually posed for Cindy. She shared the picture with her birding friend at work.

 

#3 Sherry - actually has a threshold of birding! We met it by going out a second time to get the Purple Martin. Didn't know we could wear Sherry out!

 

 

#2  I made some soup for a celebration and I pride myself on my soup making abilities...Mom stepped in and sautéed some veggies and the soup was fantastic.


#1 Life is a great adventure...when you share it with the ones you love!  

A Boy and His Balloon

I thought the balloon Cindy bought me after my 2nd surgery was either indestructible or was just waiting for me to go back to work before it lost all its air. Neither was true. The balloon was just waiting for James to come. They played well together.

                                            

                                                James got the last "fun" out of this balloon.

Hopefully Grandma and Grandpa are better than a balloon.

 

Until next time James.