Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Halloween 2012

I am wiped out. This year we had Stupendous Woman and Ironman, 71°F, and a giant tube of toothpaste. LOL Fun stuff.

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Friday, October 26, 2012

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Willon's First Field Trip

Forty miles upriver are two farms among many that welcomed our school's kindergarten classes today to teach them about sustainable living.

Rain Crow Farm in Paonia, rain crow is the folklore name for the yellow-billed cuckoo - bet you didn't know that, hosted them for education in: raising and milking goats, hothouse farming, root crops and irrigation.

The Austin Family farm in Hotchkiss hosted them for education in: raising calves, orchard maintenance, apple picking, hand-pressed cider and honey tasting.

The kids had a blast taking turns milking, hiking around the farm, painting river rocks, sampling veggies, gorging on apples, playing at the town park and generally enjoying a long ride on the big bus.

Willon was so tuckered out he was the first to fall asleep on the way back. I tried very hard not to do the same. What a wonderful day!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Birthday Cats

Our kittens turned one this weekend.

They were so shy at first.

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You can see Rocky pretty well. Can't see Dazzle?

How about now?

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They ventured out for the sake of a little catnip on their scratcher, which incidentally did not survive their first two months - don't waste your money on that particular one from Petco unless you need shredded carboard for compost or something.

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The kids made them cards and got fun stuff. For some reason the cat didn't want to pose on the table. Huh. They were even less interested in the Whoopee Cushions.

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Rocky is a sweet loverboy. He doesn't seek attention but will take it willingly if offered. He has favorite sunny spots, loves to catch and kill garden snakes, has a somewhat disturbing grasshopper penchant, and loves to antagonize the chickens every chance he gets. At the end of the day he will join us in the big bed to snuggle down for the night, often purring to the point it sounds like his engine is knocking.

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Dazzle remains as elusive as ever. She has several hidey spots: in the linen closet on the towels, under the clothes chair near the closet, in the window behind the curtain, behind the washing machine. She has an uncanny sense of personal space, like her entire coat of fur is whiskers. She will avoid being touched by a fraction of an inch with these amazingly flexible moves. Trust me to get a cat with sensory issues. She is so stealthy she can shadow you through the house without your knowledge. Ninja cat. If I am gentle I can pick her up sometimes and hold her. She purrs when I pet her. Hopefully she comes around more int he years to come.

I had to sneak a picture of her in the dark at my feet - the only time she will grace me with her presense which I am sure is only because I create heat.

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We're reading the How to Train Your Dragon series and watching the movie at every possible chance. This prompted Rhetta to declare we needed a How to Train Your Cat book. I said I am sure there aren't a lot of books by that title, so she wrote one.

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Thank you, Rocky and Dazzle, for letting us share your lives with our own. Happy Birthday!

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Sunday, October 21, 2012

Weekend in an Instagramesque Nutshell

Key found below.

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01. Entymology
02. Geological and Environmental Sciences Honor Society
03. Queen cells
04. Hotel Denver model train display
05. Pedal powered coping saw
06. Bow tie
07. Tow Mater
08. Barn door (new)
09. Stompin'
10. Hayride
11. Play clothes
12. Nature's display
13. Rocky and Dazzle turn 1.

Not pictured:

Recycling Center
Pumpkin Patch
Fieldcorn Pool
Gold Panning
Apple Butter
Highline Lake
Campfire
Waxing Moon
Orionids

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Fall Break

We have had a rare slow change of color down here in Delta and the cottonwoods have been putting on a show. I am enjoying it to no end. The kids are off from school all week and we have had extra kids as well. Life is good on the upswing.

Rainy day from the back porch.

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View from the hammock chair.

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The back yard cathedral.

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Buggies.

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Burning bush.

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Willon and friend Addison at the October Saturday Market in Delta.

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Rhetta and Willon (Colorado Monument and Colorado River as a backdrop) they really do love each other.

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Extra kid #1 acting goofy.

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Extra kid #2 and her froggie. Man could that frog JUMP!

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Anthropomorphous rock art out in Cactus Park.

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Gunnison River bridge near the house.

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I truly hope we get more mild weather through Halloween, even though we had snow over 8000 ft. the other day! It's just the loveliest "indian summer" we have had since moving here and I selfishly want it to last.