We met 2 couples at the pickleball courts yesterday. They invited us to play with them. They had their MAGA hats on so I managed to bring up vaccinations with one of them. She was very nice and said she was an anti-vaxxer. I also got the idea that they didn't wear masks as she said they had been asked to leave the courts at another resort when they didn't wear masks. She gave no explanation for her stance on these issues and I didn't ask. But I would loved to have had a more in-depth conversation..... just to try and understand.
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Arizona
We met 2 couples at the pickleball courts yesterday. They invited us to play with them. They had their MAGA hats on so I managed to bring up vaccinations with one of them. She was very nice and said she was an anti-vaxxer. I also got the idea that they didn't wear masks as she said they had been asked to leave the courts at another resort when they didn't wear masks. She gave no explanation for her stance on these issues and I didn't ask. But I would loved to have had a more in-depth conversation..... just to try and understand.
Sunday, February 14, 2021
Red and white
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Life is very good indeed....
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Passing the days.....
Our decision to stay home and stay put this winter might pay off. Colorado has moved the priority for those over 70 years to 1B and we are now right behind front line health workers. The governor said that the majority of deaths have come in our age group so he has upped our priority. I happened to be on FB ( I look, I don't share ), and a notice from our Public Health Dept popped up saying we could now register for the vaccine. I immediately filled out the forms and signed us up. It's first come, first served so I'm hoping my luck at seeing the notice as it came out will give us an advantage. We also shared the link with all of our old friends. I'm not optimistic that we will get it this month but we have our fingers crossed that the allotments will increase rapidly....... or they'll hire Amazon.
There was a birthday celebration on January 1st. Rather a quiet group but we ate well and he got to pick the night's movie.
We've taken to doing jigsaw puzzles.... I won't order any more with lots of blue sky..... and we have relearned backgammon . We've dusted off the recumbent bike that Paul used for his rehab and are finding it to be a good replacement for outdoor biking and walking.
And so, the days go by. I refuse to wish the days would go faster but we are starting to think of possibilities....
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Onward
Thursday, December 10, 2020
December brings hope.....
We have not started our journey south. We'll head that way eventually but for now, we are reasonably content looking at our mountains and feeling relatively safe in our part of the virus impacted world. As with the rest of the population, we are getting hit with record numbers of infections and increasing deaths. Our small hospital is still OK but Grand Junction is reaching capacity . We are in a routine of activity and able to do grocery pick up and feel we are doing everything we can to stay healthy.
Arizona is a different story and we have pondered the wisdom of venturing into a bigger viral pool. The positive of it all is that we can be outside and be active down there instead of bundling up against the cold. Up until now, we have been able to golf, play pickleball, walk and ride our bikes. But, snow is coming and the temperatures are turning wintery.
So, we are slowly getting our act together to migrate. Stay tuned.
I have a fondness for jade plants. I do not have a green thumb and my success with house plants is minimal. I bought this one on a whim at Home Depot about 4 years ago. We've taken it in the RV and it continues to outgrow it's containers. Last year, it wintered over in my neighbor's house and did very well. Now it's getting heavy and needs repotting. It's going with us this year and I think it will like the desert air and will get a bigger pot and fresh soil. My mother had a huge jade on her patio in California. It lived on the patio year round and was like a small tree. And then one year , there was a harsh freeze and it froze. It was sad. I've always wanted one that size but then we will need to hire a jade-sitter when we travel.
As you can see, Drew Lock, the Broncos unexceptional QB, does wear a mask when he is shopping (as seen by Jenna) at Hobby Lobby. But then, he didn't wear one meeting with fellow QB's and had to be quarantined when one of them became infected and they had NO QB for the next game. I felt bad for the young inexperienced player they pushed into the position with only 24 hours notice. He did his best but it was an embarrassment for this team that hasn't had it together for a few years now.
Monday, November 23, 2020
Monday, Monday.....
I'm approaching 700 total miles on my bike but it's a bit more challenging to ride with the lower temperatures and mild winds. And now snow tomorrow. We got new helmets. Costco had the best deal for highly rated ones and we gladly replaced our ancient ones. They are supposed to protect our heads with MIPS technology (something about absorbing impact) but we haven't fallen, so don't know if they work !!
Saturday, November 7, 2020
Moab and Murphy
After our last snowfall, the golf course looked like a busy ski area from a distance. Lots of tracks and I was mystified until this gaggle showed up.
And then I saw this picture so promptly added a knit hat to his wardrobe.
Apparently, the wearing did not go well.....
When he isn't modeling new clothes, he is the vigilant back seat driver.
And then, we returned to Dead Horse Point SP for a few days respite from the noise. Perfect weather for biking the paved paths near Moab. We did about 25 miles of vigorous riding over 2 days. Our pedal assist bikes are just fun but we still get a good workout. We 're seeing more and more of the E-bikes.
Along the Colorado....
Our last night, we drove out to the Point to soak up the sunset above the canyon walls. We weren't alone .... a young crowd with music and laughter. A beautiful end to our short stay. And now we wait for more snow....
Monday, October 26, 2020
Winter came early......
It was a beautiful fall day for the Smashing Pumpkins pickleball tournament. He played well but didn't bring home a pumpkin.
Roses .......
AND, I now have a bike riding partner. He bought a Trek Versa 3 e-bike on Saturday. Mine is having regular maintenance done so we haven't been out for a ride together. But I'm planning hilly rides !
And I continue to read..... Just started "Piranesi".... it's a bit strange but I'm early into it. It came highly recommended on a couple of book lists I follow. And I'm loving "The Once and Future Witches". I'm listening to it while I knit and the writing/story is imaginative and rich. In between , I read a few of Amy Harmon's books..... quick reads with historical context and free on Kindle Unlimited.
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Colorful October
Meanwhile, I enjoy flowers from the grocery and liked these autumn colors. They last forever or until I shop again.
I tried to organize my recipes and look for something different to cook. I tried the ground fake beef and found that it browned up just like regular ground beef....But, it didn't smell at all when I opened the package ( I've found that my smell buds think real meat has a strong foul odor). Beyond Beef has a high fat count ( as does their sausage) and I always precook it and drain thoroughly). It has a higher protein than I expected, probably from peas.
So, I cooked it up and combined it with lentils, peas and carrots , and topped it with mashed potatoes for a tasty shepard's pie. I made the best mushroom gravy (vegan and fat free) and it gave us a couple meals. Later, I used the remainder of the ground 'beef' for enchiladas.
Two days after I took this picture, the winds came in and the tree is now bare. Meanwhile, the guy in the red shirt, lurking around the corner, has power washed all the driveways, patios and walks and then gave them two coats of a clear finish. Many of our neighbors (and us ) do this every couple years. It looks fresh and new.