Monday, June 25, 2007

Moab, Utah


Canyon Lands near Moab, UT

Milo was so excited as we started our walk this morning.  It has been 5 days since we took our morning walk together.  Milo was so excited he "bounced" down the driveway.  After we raised the flag and started toward the fork in the road, he told me he wanted to hear about the trip to Moab, UtahMoab is a special place for us.  It seems to have a connection to Boulder.  Moab is surrounded by things that we love to do.  There is rafting down the Colorado or Green rivers, cycling, hiking and camping.  It is also a great place to take some fantastic photos.  Moab is also the home of our friends, Bob and Bebe.  People from Boulder are always going to Moab, a short six hours to the west.

300 million years ago, much of what is now the great American west was under an inland ocean and was located near the equator.  Over time, the mountains pushed up and the plates shifted causing the ocean to dry.  These events caused the ocean floor tobe exposed, leaving the now visible sedimentary rock.  Wind and rain have eroded the rock giving us the beautiful views we have today.

We usually spend the summer solstice with Bob and Bebe's daughter, Terry and her husband, Dale at Hog Hollow in the northern Colorado Rockies.  This year, Hog Hollow is under major reconstruction so our Sunshine Canyon Summer Solstice YaYa Sisterhood Reunion took place in Moab.  We usually camp out so we were lucky we could participate in the Great American Backyard Campout at the same time.  The tempature was around 100 each day but it cooled off at night.  Sleeping under the stars was great.  We watched the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle fly over in the evening, and counted satellites as we watched the stars. We had about 18 people attend.

The drive west on Interstate 70 took us through the Eisenhower Tunnel, which is the continental divide and down past Dillon, Colorado, and continued to Vail.  We stopped in Glenwood Springs, Colorado for lunch and the drove on to Moab.  Each community is a vacation destination on it's own.

 

Lake Dillon

Be safe and remember, never kick a fresh cow chip on a hot day.

David

 

Sunday, June 17, 2007

SCSSYYSR 2007

 

Boulder Creek

I'm sitting here on this beautiful late spring evening listening to my son's radio program.  He is the DJ for a classical music show on the CU radio station (AM 1190), "Standard Notation".  It was a hot day in Sunshine.  The temperature reached 93 degrees today.  One really nice thing about living in the mountains is that no matter how hot it gets during the day, it cools off at night.  We had a very nice fathers day.  I feel very lucky that I have two wonderful sons and that our family is filled with so much love.  The Lord has certainly blessed us.

 

SCSSYYSR 2005

It's that time of year again when we celebrate the summer solstice.  A group of our neighbors gather for the weekend and celebrate our friendship.  We call it the Sunshine Canyon Summer Solstice YaYa Sisterhood Reunion (SCSSYYSR).   I made a post last year explaining our multi-family get together.  Unfortunately we did not get to participate.  My MIL, who was dying of cancer had a turn for the worse and we did not leave the house until she passed.  This year we are all gathering in Moab, UtahMoab is the home of Bob and Bebe.  They will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  It looks like there will be 17 or 18 of us.  I am really looking forward to a trip to Moab.  I promise some pictures.  Moab is a beautiful part of our country.  We will be camping out under the stars.  It should be fun.  We are participating with The Great American Backyard Camp out.

I hope you are all well.

Remember, never smack a man who's chewin' tobacco.

Smiles,

David

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Morning walk with Milo

 

The continental divide, just west of Sunshine

Milo, Malcom and I all went on our daily morning walk.  I was a little late getting ready and Milo let me know.  Every time I would try to close a door, he would stick his nose into it and push it back open.  He kept looking at me with that "lets go dad" look. He gets so excited when I put on my hat and grab his leash.

We raised the large garrison flag today.  Milo and I usually fly it on weekends and holidays.  Milo sat at attention while I raised the flag.  I read the names of the veterans we honor everyday and than gave him a treat.  I really don't think Milo sits at attention for the flag.  I think it has more to do with the impending treat!

As we neared the fork in the road and began our return trip, we saw a white pickup truck approaching.  Milo knew it was our mayor, Chris.  His tail started wagging rather rapidly.  Chris always has a treat in his pocket.  As usual, Chris stopped for a brief conversation.  He noticed that some our neighbors had left for another vacation trip.  They drive to Denver International Airport and leave their car in the parking lot.  Chris admitted that he has only been to DIA once and that was just before it opened. Obviously Chris doesn't fly but he still has a keen interest in airplanes.  To celebrate the new airport, the City of Denver held an air show with all kinds of airplanes, vintage and new.  The US Air Force had brought in a stealth bomber.  Chris was describing one of the things he noticed on the fighter airplanes.  Some of the WWII planes had marks under the cockpit for the number of "kills" the pilot had achieved.  Some had small trains, some had the Japanese flag and some had swastikas for the German planes.  The new stealth bomber had four camels.  We had a good laugh then Chris drove on down the road.

For those interested in the Sunshine Garden Club, I have started a journal about landscaping.  I have 23 or 24 entries planned and have posted the 1st two.  My son, Michael, wanted me to teach him something about landscaping and gardening.  This will be my attempt to organize my thoughts.

The Flapjack fling was a huge success.  We raised enough money to pay for the tables and chairs and had plenty left over to add to the fire department treasury.  Thank you to all of the Sunshine residents who read my journal.  Pictures

Keep smiling and remember......... Never drop your gun to hug a grizzly (unless it Chris' dog).

David