October

It's been 60 years !!! ..... since I was a freshman on this campus.   We met Jon and Mary Beth and spent the weekend with sophomore Mason.    We got the grand tour, of which I remembered very little.  It is a beautiful campus and a perfect day for wandering.     

We went to the airport and watched the students take off one by one.   I think it's a good place to fly...,without mountains.   I was a bit anxious thinking about Mason being up there by himself.   I don't remember being concerned about Jon doing the very same thing.   I'm assuming I just can't remember but Jon was also flying on his own before he even left for college so had some experience.   And Mason is the youngest of the grands......

It was a fun filled weekend, punctuated by a UND hockey game.        How fun to see all the families, babies with headphones, everyone in green and cheering loudly.   And they do sell a lot of beer.    Mason is in the band but skipped this evening so was my guide to everything hockey and band....they are good and added so much to the spirit of the game....but they still lost.  

He sent this pic to his girlfriend  ( who is in school in Gainesville ! ) and she said I was 'slay'.... I took it as a compliment ?

Back to our other life..... the leaves are turning, the roses are in full bloom ( after hardly showing up this summer ) and the weather is perfect.   

  In the recesses of a cupboard, I found this like-new rice cooker.    It made the fluffiest and most perfect quinoa in 35 min.   Normally I use the Insta Pot , which is faster, but it sticks to the bottom.    Next up is brown rice.    

We will get our flu and Covid vax today and hope that getting them at the same time won't be a mistake.   

This is Scout.   He is a Catahoula Cattle dog.   He looks more ferocious than he is.   But he was a pain to draw.   She gave me several pictures and he was grey, brown or black depending on the light.   And the pics were out of focus.    I should have taken my own but I stumbled thru.    He has
 a blue and a brown eye.   That was the first thing the framer said so I'm glad that is obvious.   I give them double matted.  I think it enhances my work and protects the surface from contact with a glass frame.  I hope they like him.   Next up is a golden retriever..... I think it will be very hard.  

 

September

We did our annual jaunt around Crystal Lake.   This is a 4 mile trail at 9700 ft but fairly flat so the altitude isn't an issue.    The lake has been drawn down due to a crack in the small dam so the reflections are not as 

impressive and it gets pretty boggy farther out.

This was the only wildlife.   In years past, we've seen moose in the boggy areas and a large fat porcupine.   The bear claw marks on the trees are fresh and a reminder that we are in their territory.  

Yesterday we headed up Last Dollar Road, it is up and over the mountains to Telluride.   Had hoped the aspen were at peak but we were a few days late and there were bare spots and some dull color.   Still a pretty drive but busy.    It is very very rough and narrow and has water crossings.   On each end, it starts out a gravel road and some try it in ordinary cars despite the warning signs to use 4 wheel drive.     I have so many good pictures from previous years that I took none yesterday.  

This is the finished Alex.   They were so pleased and have spread the word so I have had some requests.    I think I may start charging a small fee to cover my supplies and the double mats. 

  

This is Scout.   He is a Cattle dog and the picture is terrible.   She sent me several and sometimes he is light grey, other times dark brown and then black.   We had a chat and she says he is black.   He has one blue eye and one brown altho I had to use other pictures to figure that out.   I'm glad I don't do this to keep food on the table.  It can be stressful....

And here are the silver medal winners in the Delta tournament !!   Their opponents were in their 40's !!   When you get up in years, there isn't availability to play with your peers so you get challenged mightily by the young and agile.  But they looked great and held their own and impressed the challengers.    Well done.  

The hummers are gone for the year and I will miss them.    We discovered that 3 fat raccoons tried their best to climb the pole to the feeder at 2:30 am.  They succeeded in spilling sticky water all over the patio.   We put out a taller pole and that seems to have stopped them.   

We'll be traveling for a few days ........ be back shortly.

PS.   The tomatoes came back, started to ripen and the deer returned....... how do they know????