Pat bring's the Floods!

Our brother Pat who lives in Helena, MT was in town for a medical conference, and stayed extra so we could get a good visit! 

It was great to have him here, and he even treated us to a play downtown!

During Pat's 10 day visit we went from a very hot September to solid rain for a week! 

Then came the floods!!!

We were lucky in Golden, 6" to 11" of rain depending on where you lived in town.  

However, just North of Golden got up to 18" and the resulting flood damage has made national news.  

We really feel bad for everyone who is contending with the flooding, and hope their lives return to normal soon!!

Pig Party - 2013

It was a beautiful day to have a neighborhood party and shoot some hoops!

Ron Kimmet made some cool cutting board prizes and we have enough for two more years!!

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Beautiful morning for a ride up Lookout Mtn and to celebrate a birthday!

It was another Golden Stay-cation Weekend! 

In between working on house projects, we .....
   
Golfed at first light, Saturday morning at Foothills Golf Course!  
Enjoyed watching cool golf course wildlife!  A moma raccoon and 5 babies!!  
Window shopped around at the Clear Creek art fair!  
Ended the weekend with a "Boys vs Girls" golf scramble with our friends Don and Mindy at our home course, Fossil Trace! 

Even better, the Girls lost and bought supper!!! 

That doesn't happen very often!!! 

Whoo-yah!!!

Pickles and more Pickels

Last year was a bumper crop of apples.  The year before that was zuchini.  This year it is cucumbers!

Joanne has been very busy learning how to make pickles!

She has giving them out to every neighbor that she spots walking by, and I think there will be enough for holiday gifts as well!

Summit County Weekend continued inn Breckenridge

Joanne and I continued our get-away to Summit County in Breckenridge.

We went on a very pretty hike to Mohawk Lakes just a couple miles south of Breckenridge.  Then we checked into a nice bed and breakfast close to main street.

While unloading our bags I noticed movement on the 2nd floor of an abandoned old building.

A family of 4 fox were using the old building as a home, and totally accustomed to people walking by!

I forced Joanne to walk by the old building every chance we could to try to sneak a peak!

Summit County stay over with the Saylors

Last week we decided to do a Summit County vacation weekend, heading up into the mountains just an hour west of our home in Golden.

We started with a stay over at my long time oil industry friend's home - Scott and Jeanette Saylor in Frisco.  Followed by a very fun game of golf at Keystone River Course.

Scott and Jeanette have built an incredible home in Frisco, where Jeanette pursues her passion of skiing.  She is currently the top master's level women skier in the US and has been for numerous years.

Joanne, Jeanette and I played a best ball scramble against Scott for a tie!  We are either improving or he is slowing down in his old age!!!

I was raised to be a Cat Squeezer

Joanne likes to give me hell for being a cat squeezer, I think she refers to my actions as "forced affection".


It get's me roughed up every once in a while, but for the most part cat's do like me, and I just want them to know how much I like them!!!


I actually come by the trait quite naturally, and there many other cat squeezer's in my family....

 

WOW - that was HOT!!!

I went to Phoenix to see my family down there, and WOW - it was HOT!  

118 F with a wind!

I lucked out and got to see Jordy and Kevin before they took off for Montana for their own  family visiting trip!

I also lucked out and got to go for a ride in Marla and Kevin's new Camero!  It is quite the ride!!!!   And I swear - Marla did not squeal the tires while Kevin was out of town - that is my story and I am sticking to it!

I got to see my Mom and Dad, and was glad to see that  Mom's back issue has gotten much better!

It was also fun to see how much they enjoy their cat - Duffy!  

That is one lucky cat!!!  He get's away with anything he wants!!!  

Oh, he gets scolded now and then, but he has learned there is nothing to back it up!   ;~)

Castlewood Canyon Hike

Summer is here in Colorado!  
( Including wildfires unfortunately )

We tagged along with our neighbors, and did a 8 mile loop through Castlewood Canyon St Park south of Denver.  

Very pretty - glad we went!!!

Great vista's, flower's, and we even saw a snake!  ( great plains rat snake )

Montana Memorial Day Vacation

Joanne and I are back from a very fun trip to Montana to see family and for me to help brand at my boss's Montana ranch South of Three Forks. 

First stop was in Hardin, MT to see Ron and Peggy.  It was a big week for them, since they are retiring from their teaching positions.

They have placed their home on the market and in the process of figuring out the next step of their lives.  Very exciting!

We then took off for Belgrade to see Mary, and stopped in Big Timber for a fun 9 holes of golf.
While Joey visited and golfed with Mary, I took off to help out with branding at my boss's ranch.

It is a very pretty place South of Three Forks, MT with the Madison River on the Eastern side of the ranch.


Rounding up the cows, sorting, inoculating, and branding went pretty smooth with lot's of helpers like me.
Then we headed up to Helena, to spend a couple days with Pat.  We golfed, hiked, and enjoyed Pat's great cooking!

 After a lot of visiting, it was time to head back home with a fun trip through Yellowstone NP.

It was a great trip, and it was nice to get home and squeeze our cat's hello!  :~)

Spring Visitor

It must be getting closer to spring....

this guy was snooping around our bird feeder at 5 pm on Sunday.  

I chased him around the east corner of our house, and then got a couple neighbors to come see him.

 Unfortunately, they did not get a good look at him, but he is sort of cute peaking through this tree.

A coon hanging around during the daytime always makes me a little nervous.   Stealing my brother in law - Pat's phrase.  "That's not right!"

Annual Trip to La Quinta to Golf with my Boss

It is hard to believe we have been back a week already from golfing in La Quinta with my boss.

This is the first season in his new home he just finished building on the Madison Golf Club.

Low 90's F was a welcome relief, and we missed another late spring snow storm in Denver. 

A nice way to jump start the golf season!

Birthday Pie for Jeffrey and E-days Fireworks!

Joanne decided to make supper and pie for our friend Jeffery's birthday!

 Jeff is from the South and loves bacon in a meal and pie for desert!  So Joanne spoiled both of us with a fantastic meal!  

Then Jeff and I walked up the hill to the Colorado School of Mines to watch the E-days firework show!

E-days is the annual engineering day ( really three day ) celebration at the Colorado School of Mines.

Their fireworks show has evolved into one of the best in the State!  Well worth your time!!!

What a change from Saturday!

We went from a temp of 68F to 8F!

Fritz is looking outside with disgust, because it will be days before it is dry enough for Joanne to let him outside!

Although it was nippy this morning, it was quite beautiful!

Winter is still here, and we need to stay patient! 

I think it was 1982 when we got 30" in the middle of May, when I was taking surveying at CSM with Matt Holdeman and Andy Ondish. 

So, we have at least another month of potential snow storms, and impatient days of being inside for Rex and Fritz!  

Saturday Morning Hike From Our House

Saturday morning was dry and warm, so Joanne suggested we do a hike to the top of South Table, and then stop for breakfast burrito's at Santiago's!   

 I feel we are so lucky to live in such a pretty place with a girl that comes up with these great ideas!  

A little yoga stretch on top and then down the hill in search of breakfast burrito's!  What a way to start the day!

Snowy Walk for Breakfast

Joanne and I like going for a walk for breakfast on the weekend every once in a while.

 Last weekend was a little more challenging.

Blowing snow and down right chilly!  So, we walked 12 blocks vs the normal 4 miles.

I am not complaining, we certainly need the moisture.  But I do like rain over blowing snow!

Rex, on the other hand, feels that every snow day is a complete rip off, because he is not allowed to go outside!  

I don't know if he blames the weather or us.....

Best Snorkel pictures so far ....

A very good friend of mine from college is an excellent under water photographer, and has inspired me to try to take photo's while snorkeling on our vacations.

 After many attempts, this is best I have done so far.

Unfortunately, the two coolest things I saw happened when I did not have my camera along, but I think that is normal for life.

Winter is not over in Golden yet

Winter is not over for Golden yet! 

We desperately need the moisture, but I personally prefer rain to snow and ice!

Rex is bummed, because he feels he should be able to go outside!

Unfortunately, he has not convinced Joanne yet!

 By the looks of it, he is just going to have to be patient!