Saturday, March 28, 2009

brendan's birthday trip to co springs





























so here are our pics from co springs. brendan on top of pikes peak, garden of the gods (gog) park with pikes peak in background, 7 falls with ladder on left side leading to trails, two more gog park pics, pikes peak summit, top of 7 falls on a trail, and another gog park pic! ate dinner at an old train station right on the tracks (giuseppi's) and could watch the train go by. food was so good, we couldn't even eat the free birthday brownie!
Today hopefully some snowshoeing after the big storm we just had!



Thursday, March 26, 2009

I-5 Again?!


Den headed off this morning at 9:07am for his new job. Brennen did a great job helping him pack the truck and Jeff from next door got the Miata all loaded and cinched down. We are so thankful he's got a job, and now some time with his family down there. Traveling mercies on him as he takes that long drive.
Update: Dennis has safely arrived in Williams, CA and is stopping for the night. Just a little over halfway - 6pm.
3-27-09 - update: He took off at 4am (good thing he didn't call me!) - heading up the Grapevine at about 9am - journey almost done! He should be in Simi by 12:30 or so! So far, so good - but he says the wind is really moving!
Arrived at 12:17pm to warm welcome and the fixings for potato salad! Safe and sound, huzzah!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Well, I finally did it. I am posting. So, there! We are in the middle of big paint/remod project and I get to repaint 17 doors and frames. Yea. Life is crazy and I wish things would slow down, but I can't see that happening in the foreseeable future so I just hang on to God and go along for the ride hoping I am doing Him credit and bringing Him glory. I love my family and don't get to see them all enough, but isn't that every mother's lament? I am just blessed that I have most of them around if only for a little while longer. And if any of my kids read this, When Derek comes back for his 10 day leave before dragging my daughter and grandchild all the way across the country, We are going to get together for a family portrait! If I personally have to drag you all here one by one! ha ha, I am serious though. So be ready in April! And Derek, I love you son and I know Melanie is happier with you so it is o.k., I will just miss you all. Just come back here when all is said and done and we won't have to drag you back ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Well back to painting!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Timothy Botts



Absolutely loved having Timothy Botts here for 4 days. Dennis had invited him about a year and half ago to put on a workshop here in Salem with the Capitol Calligraphers and he accepted! He is Dennis' great inspiration and it was a treat to have him stay with us. His wife joined him and I got to show her around the area while the guys were busy calligriphying. With an all invited presentation on Thursday, workshops on Friday and Saturday with a potluck on Sunday, we were all busy! The word picture that comes to my mind with both Tim and Nancy is gracious. (Picture that in a lovely script with flourishes!) He is very humble and whenever he received a compliment he would tell the person how kind they were and how honored he was to receive their thanks. As we got to know each other, the laughter rolled and we found how many connections we had with each other. He did an original piece on Saturday and presented it to the calligraphy guild and they presented it to Dennis for all his work and planning. After the potluck Sunday, Tim and Nancy treated us to the Northern Lights Theatre Pub for a movie and dinner! We hope to visit them one day and continue the friendship!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Playing with my new camera!!!





Lots of interesting settings to shoot pictures with!