ColoradoGrams

This past weekend we went to Farmington, New Mexico.  Paul and one of his colleagues were presenting papers at San Juan College, and I decided to tag along.  Since Farmington is so close to the 4 Corners, I decided that I would try to head to Utah and check that state off of my "List of States I Still Have to See"  while they were attending the conference.  Farmington is about a 6 1/2 hour drive from Colorado Springs and we left around 6:30 Thursday evening.  Driving across the Rocky Mountains during a moonless night with deer and elk jumping out everywhere was exhausting, and Paul did a great job.  Seriously - we were beginning to think the deer and elk were aiming for our poor little Prius, but fortunately, we made it through in one piece.

 After taking advantage of the later start of the conference on Friday and having breakfast with Paul, I decided that I didn't want to spend another 4 hours in the car to drive to Utah, so I checked out Angel Peak Scenic Area instead - only about 30 miles down the road from Farmington.  The website advertises a few hiking trails, and some picnic and camping areas, so I was imagining a nice park to explore and take photos of beautiful rock formations.  Our GPS led me off the highway and down about 6 miles of dirt road before the road just ended.  There was nothing there but a canyon of sorts and 2 picnic tables.  The "hiking trails" that existed were between the two picnic tables and the very rustic restroom (all within an easy 50 feet of each other).  If I hadn't been alone, it would have been a lot of fun to climb down into the canyon and run around, but I was the ONLY car for miles, had no cell phone reception and wasn't willing to risk never being seen again.  So I took some photos and left.  It was gorgeous -- the photos don't do the view justice at all.  

 We drove home on Saturday after the conference concluded at noon.  The drive through the Rocky  Mountains during the day was spectacular, and I was definitely lucky I was a passenger in the car, as I was able to stare out the window for the entire drive.  The leaves are brilliant right now, and I loved seeing all of the tiny little towns we got to drive through.  There is definitely snow in the mountains now and ski resorts are beginning to open!  Bring on winter!

 In other news, IT'S BASKETBALL SEASON!  Go Heels!

 **A note on the last photo up there...this was actually taken in Farmington...I made a couple of U-Turns to get both signs in the shot.  It's the best photo from our trip, in my opinion. 

For Labour Day Weekend, Mom and Dad (er...the Monsmas) drove up from Oklahoma.  They typically visit us every Labour Day weekend -- a very busy weekend in Colorado Springs because it's also always Parents' Weekend at USAFA.  Very strategically we planned our activities so as to avoid the crowds of cadets and their parents.  

On Friday we drove up to see some friends of my parents in Loveland (just northwest of Denver - about 2 hours or so from Colorado Springs).  I found a car that I'd love to own, but my devotion to and love for Yolanda the Honda held me back.  Never mind the price tag, or the fact that it wasn't for sale.  Details...details...  

Saturday was spent exploring Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  This zoo is amazing -- it's actually built right into the side of the mountain.  From the entrance of the zoo to the very top, the zoo covers about six stories in elevation gain.  Mom fell in love with a baby wallaby.  I'm convinced that if she had carried a larger bag, she'd've tried to take it home with her as a friend for Nubbs (the cat).  We spent Saturday night in Manitou Springs eating at Mona Lisa Fondue - an incredible local fondue place that Paul and I love.  We were lucky enough to be able to sit outside on the second story balcony, overlooking the main road of Manitou Springs.  The weather was gorgeous, and the food and wine incredible!  

Before they drove back to OKC on Sunday, we had brunch at the Falcon Club on the Air Force Academy.  The spread was great -- I think that if mom and dad didn't have to drive 9 hours home we might still be there, working our way through all that was there.  

We had a great weekend together, and Paul and I consider ourselves very lucky that family is close enough for a weekend visit!  Enjoy the photos.  :) 

If you haven't had a chance to meet our dog, Bandit, well...you're not missing too much.  She's pretty normal for a mutt (brown, about 45 pounds, fuzzy), and, really, she is sweet.  She and Rascal wear each other out and keep each other entertained all day long.  

Bandit is unique, however, in that she likes to watch television and also likes to stare at herself in anything that is remotely reflective (but not mirrors).  On television, she'll go crazy if she sees another animal.  She can even recognize Brian from Family Guy as a dog.  She starts pacing back and forth, and tries to run behind the TV to see where the dog might be hiding.  She responds to birds, fish, and even dinosaurs.  But not people.  She recognizes music too -- Paul and I can be watching television in our basement while Bandit is upstairs and a PetSmart commercial will come on.  Bandit will fly down the stairs and run straight at the TV.  We don't want the TV to crash down on her if she jumps at it, so we're trying to curb this behaviour.  

Bandit also likes to stare at herself.  She'll stare at her reflection in our fireplace, in the cover of our CD changer in our entertainment center,  and in our kitchen appliances.  Tonight Paul caught her staring into the plastic packaging of some cables that are buried in the side of his desk!  

Do you think Bandit's "talents" might be marketable?  Strange little dog.  :)  I think we'll keep her another day.  

The kitchen is finished!  It's not put back together again, and we have a bit of molding to put around the island in the center of our kitchen, but other than that, it's completed!  And what a project!  Paul's parents came for the weekend - drove in from Oklahoma City so Bill could bring all of his "toys" to help in the project.  The weekend was a whirlwind!  Demolition of the kitchen floor began almost immediately upon their arrival.  There was a semi-scary moment when Bill & Paul were trying to get our old refrigerator out the front door and down the steps (everyone and everything made it out of the house and into the garage safely and in one piece).  Nancy and I took off to do some shopping as per her request (which was great with me!).  When we got home several hours later, the old floor was no more; we were very surprised to find ANOTHER laminate floor underneath the one we'd been living with - stapled down with thousands and thousands of staples that had to be hammered in flat so the new floor could be put down.  Once the old floor was pulled up and the older floor was hammered to death, it was time to put the new floor in. 

Bill & Paul worked tirelessly from the time the Oklahoma Grahams arrived at noon on Friday to last night (Saturday) at about 9pm.  Nancy and I made sure to keep the boys in good food and snacks and drinks (and being the good hostess I am, I couldn't let Bill have a glass of wine alone!).  The new appliances were moved in last night and hooked up and tested out.  It was rainy and stormy most the day yesterday so we didn't make it to see fireworks, unfortunately, but we loved being in good company with Paul's parents, and even made time for ice-cream cake.  

This morning we said "good bye" to Bill & Nancy, and instead of collapsing back into bed, we went to Lowes and picked up some paint for the kitchen.  I spent most of the day painting a wall in our kitchen and all of the railings and baseboards.  

And, for those of you who may be wondering, I think the final "Trips to Lowes" count for the weekend came out at 5 -- just as Bill predicted!  As a result, Paul now has lots of new "toys" (I think Bill and Paul are bad influences on each other when it comes to tools and gadgets!), and I'm looking forward to helping him find ways to use them and practice with them!

Enjoy the photos!