Cowboy Poetry and Music - Day 1

On Thursday, October 3 we left home at 3:30 in the morning and headed out for Durango, CO with Chan and Brenda. Tim and Marcia were already in Colorado and were heading down to Durango to meet up with us. It is about a 14 hour trip from our place to Durango so...

In Bailey, CO we stopped for some brunch. 

We all felt safe with our security guard along.

This was my view for 14 hours...a dirty windshield and someone driving. Unless I was reading but it was a bit hard to read on the winding curves of the last 6 hours. It wasn't really too bad just long!

The scenery was amazing and the colors are all changing. Plus it was a beautiful day and from the sounds of the weather further north we were very fortunate! Bobbi and Travis were supposed to go to Montana to see family but there was a massive blizzard in Wyoming and northern Colorado that prevented that. I felt so bad for them.

As we were coming down the pass toward Pagosa Springs this truck started to pour out smoke and very nasty smells and finally he pulled into a turn off. We were a bit concerned there would be a burning truck in front of us. 

Beautiful

and we counted on this for getting us where we needed to go. Thank goodness for GPS.

We arrived at about 6 p.m. Durango time. As we were walking up to the Strater Hotel we had to pass the windows of the restaurant they have on their first level, I am pulling my suitcase and glance at the windows and see a lady waving madly at me. I sort of smile and nod in acknowledgement and she smiles really big and just keeps waving at me. We go in and for the life of me I can't figure out who she was or why she would have been so excited to see me. Still have no idea. You thought this was going to be some big reunion story, didn't you? Nope just welcome to my mysterious life. We got checked in, and went to our rooms. Look this hotel up. It is done in period antiques and is so beautiful. It has been here since the 1800's and has the distinction of having had my dad as a bellhop and elevator operator. Maybe that is why the lady waved at me, she knows I'm the daughter of a famous bellhop... It is rather fun to be where you have some history even if you weren't around when it was happening.

Pictures of hotel rooms never do them justice. But take my word for it the room is cool. Not big, but just right for what we needed.

We cleaned up and met in the lobby. Tim and Marcia had arrived and we all went to supper at a pizza place called "Fired Up" it was delicious. 

When I got back to the hotel room this warning was on my phone 5 times! I guess they meant it since the storm made national news. It went just behind our place. So far the girls haven't reported anything out of place at our house so we were very fortunate. Others near Hickman were not. 

And so we came to the end of a very long travel day.  

Just some weekend pictures

After lunch on Sunday, Ashley and Jayme went out and did "chores". I took pictures. They were feeding the chickens some grass. The chickens loved it.

Then I needed new pine shavings in the nesting boxes so Ashley did that.

Jayme was putting some sandy gravel in the pen for them.

The horses didn't need anything but a pet on the nose.

They fed the  fish. 

Bryan and I just watched to make sure they did all these hard jobs right. hahaha. What a beautiful fall day. 

Yesterday Amiah spent the day out here with me becuase she didn't have school and her grandpa had the boys with him. We sewed some sheets and pillowcases for her American Girl doll bed and made some foam mattresses. It was a fun time. She loved sewing decorative stiches with my sewing machine.

Painted Violin

Today I did a project. Along with laundry, cleaning, dishes and baking some cookies. The project was my reward. Several weeks ago Bryan found and bought me an old violin. I have wanted one to do a painting on ever since I did the cowboy painting on the cello. This violin is purple! 

That is a picture I took off the internet because I forgot to photograph the violin before I taped it all off to do my painting. I wanted to paint on only the face of it so I taped off what I wanted to stay purple. It is a very stripped down violin but that makes it perfect for painting on.

So I started by taping off and painting green on the part on the neck that was plain wood. Then I primed the area that I wanted to do the painting on. 

Since the cello has a cowboy scene I decided to do a largemouth bass on the violin. Just another of Bryan's many hobbies.

When I start these things I have to just keep saying "It's only paint, if I hate it I can prime over it."

Base coating, boring but essential.

Feeling good about the background and so I had to go do some stuff while paint dried and I worked up my nerve to start the fish.

At this point I always start to think "It's not working!!"

Oh the magic of shading and highlights! 

Added a couple more details and a lure that the fish is chasing and then time to peel off all that tape and hang it. 

I kept staring at it not sure that it felt done then it hit me, I needed to clear coat it. 

The magic of clear coat! It somehow brings out details and helps the picture look more real.

Side view so you can see the purple and green. 

Bobbi's house

The day of closing is fast approaching. I'm excited for Bobbi. The only thing is the house isn't on the same street as Ashley and Jayme! But it is only about a mile down Pioneers Blvd. It will definately be a quick trip to work since it is just down 40th. It is a nice little house and I'm sure she will have so much fun fixing it up to make it her own. 

She does have a tree house in the backyard. A mother's apartment? Ok, maybe not...

So my babies are all grown up and owning homes...what's a mother to do? Be thrilled for them, I guess.

So congratulations, Bobbi, can't wait to play in the tree house.

Shed light on it...

Bryan and I have talked about changing the lighting over our table for a long time. We looked for the perfect old shed lights and found them. While I was gone he put them up! What a great surprise! They look amazing!

I love them. 

First for me

Yesterday on our way home from a meeting in Grand Island we decided to stop at Lee's for supper. Now, we have lived in Lincoln 20 years and I had never eaten at this Lincoln landmark. Now I have.

Our friend, Dan, plays the organ there on Friday nights. I requested the theme from the Andy Griffith show for Bryan. 

I suppose this large rooster has been there since the place opened but I would like him on my yard so I wonder if they would give him to me...

Today I planted three mums out in my garden. I wish everything was full grown already. I'm not a very patient gardener. I still have a lot of space to fill up. But it is getting there. 

I am not the world's greatest gardener by any stretch of the imagination but my zinnias are my pride and joy this summer.

I see lots more of these in my future. So lovely.

This spring, in school, Amiah planted an acorn from a red oak tree for Arbor Day. She then gave the tiny little tree to Bryan to plant out here somewhere. He has had it in a pot all summer long and watered it and cared for it. Today it finally found a home in a corner of my garden. I plan to take a picture of Amiah next to it every October. Amiah's Oak.

Will you remember a time in September...

The song goes on to say, "when grass was green and grain was yellow..."
I just need to remember to blog about it. While I was in Montana, Bryan, the girls and Travis went to a Chicago concert in Council Bluffs. I only have one picture that Bryan sent me while he was waiting for everyone to get there and the concert to start.

When I got home Jayme came to hang out and we ended up getting out all her old Beanie Babies. She has a few...it was a fun and funny trip down memory lane with her.

That led to me sorting out the Cabbage Patch Dolls. More memories.

Bryan and I made ice cream. And my chickens provide us with plenty beautiful eggs.

The kids loved their Montana shirts.

That Monday evening Bryan and I went fishing. It was a perfect night.

I caught fish but didn't manage to get them in the boat...

Then last Thursday we went to the Nebraska Volleyball game.

Friday the kids came for an overnight. Ashley spent the evening with us. Lots of food and fun.

Tired kids and tired babysitters.

Sunday all the girls and Travis came out for lunch and then some shooting of the bow and arrows. It was pouring rain most of the time but that didn't stop these Robin Hoods.

I am daily grateful for this life God has given me.