Mountains

This past Sunday I was driving to church…alone.  Wally was finishing up plowing and shoveling from a fast two inch snow storm that came through overnight. It was our second storm already and followed a week of record breaking low, low temps for November.  It felt like deep winter, but my heart warmed as I drove to the west, the foothills were gorgeous covered in the fresh snow.  Then I had a warm memory hit me…a memory of driving toward these same mountains this summer with the grandkids in tow.  Ben and Andrea had been in town and I kept telling Nolan and Elaine (mostly Elaine), “We’re going to go the mountains!”  The day of our outing finally arrived.  We started out with Elaine and one of the twins in our car.  Ben and Andrea followed behind us.  The mountains seemed so far away and little ones don’t really have a sense of time and distance.  About thirty minutes into the drive we were winding around Coal Creek Canyon.  Elaine’s excited voice sounded from the back seat, “Grandma, look we are at the mountains!!”  “Yes!” I replied, just as excited that she noticed!  After a few minutes of staring out the window she asked, “How much does it cost to come to the mountains?!”  Thankfully that pleasure is just a tank of gas!  That is where the warm part of memory ended.  Because after that we had about two hours of…Elaine: “When are we going to stop?”  Me: “We’re going to keep climbing higher and higher until we reach the very top.”  Elaine: “Do you mean that very top over there?”  Me: “Yes, way, way over there.  We are going to keep climbing higher and higher!”  Repeat!  Quite a few times!  The problem with Colorado mountains is that it does take awhile to reach the very top, but it’s worth it when you do.

When we reached Estes Park took the River Walk into the shops.  We spent time enjoying cotton candy (I love being a Grandma!) and salt water taffy and letting little legs run and stretch!

Then we got back in the car and journeyed on, climbing higher and higher!  Along the way a herd of elk was spotted and those New Yorkers jumped out of the car and went running across the tundra to get a closer look!

At last we were at the very top!!

We had a little picnic and photo shoot.  This is a great shot of the kids…not sure what the parents were doing! 

 
But then here’s a good one of the parents, and typical of the kids!  It’s hard to believe Nolan was smiling and looking at the camera…rare!

And here’s a very young set of grandparents!!  Life is good at the very top!

August Anniversaries

In August we celebrated the anniversary of several things in our lives. I’ll start with the “youngest” and move upward.  We marked, rather than celebrated the first Birthday of Sadie!  I know there are a lot of dog lovers out there and I would not describe myself that way, but Sadie would never believe that!  She is pretty spoiled!  And I did actually think about throwing a party for all the doggy lovers in our community, I just had a time crunch!  We really enjoy having Sadie…except for her barking!  We’re working on that though.  She has a fun personality and never ending limit of play!  She has been welcomed by the residents of Polo Club North…we’re pretty sure they like her better than us!  She has been given countless toys and stuffed animals, one woman ordered her a leather collar with a brass plate that has her name engraved on it, people drop by the office and ask to take her on a walk and whenever we go outside, she heads for the guard house for a treat!  She definitely has it made! 

August 13 was our third anniversary of coming to work here at Polo Club North.  I cannot believe it has been three years!  I still remember the exact moment that Wally phoned me to tell me we had been given the job.  We had already been through the application process and another couple was chosen.  And I was so relieved!!  A week later us girls were at our annual Tea outing and we were taking the photo below when the phone in my pocket rang.  Wally asked if I were sitting down, because the other couple backed out and we were being offered the job.  I responded with “I’ll have to call you back in a minute, I need to smile for this picture!”  That is a true story!

It has taken me every bit of the past three years to settle into our new lifestyle.  There have been so many changes and so many difficulties and so many evidences of God’s grace.  It is those evidences of God’s grace that actually confirms for me that this is exactly where we are supposed to be.  When I walk down the stairs in the morning and enter the office, I no longer have the feeling that I am entering the Twilight Zone, so that’s progress!  But Wally and I do keep saying that we need to start writing a book because many of our experiences seem like they are an episode from the “Twilight Zone!”

Over Labor Day, Wally and I went to Oklahoma to visit his Mom.  It was a nice visit…despite the humidity.  We did nothing really but chat, a little shopping, and I think we got Grams hooked on Downton Abbey.  We went to church together, which we had not done in a long time.  On the way to church, we went to the graveyard to visit Pop’s grave.  August 25 was the fourth anniversary of his passing from this life to his eternal home.
 

August 14 Wally and I celebrated thirty-three years of marriage.  I cannot even believe that it has been thirty three years!  I mean, that makes me seem like, so old!!  On the inside, I still feel like the young thing that said “I do” to a motorcycle ride about thirty-four-ish years ago.  I always consider that our first date.  Wally and I had been exchanging letters for a couple of months.  The high light of the week was when the phone rang late at night, (you know, when the long distance rates dropped.) and Wally was on the other end.  Then one day he just drives up on his motorcycle and surprises me!   He had gone home to Indiana and was riding his bike out to California where he was stationed with the Air Force. 

We rode up to Estes Park and over Trail Ridge Road.  We got to the visitor’s center at the top, and that was as far as we could go because there was a wall of snow that needed to be cleared from the road.  So we had our picture taken and rode on home. 

This past spring Wally wanted to take that same ride again…a “then and now”experience.  I kind of think of it as “we were so skinny then and we are getting old now!”  But then I guess that was the idea, to grow old together!

Recently I saw this little quote and jotted it down…”Love isn’t found, it is built.”  I think I can agree with that.  Because long after the thrill of a long distance romance has worn off, what would I have?  But building something together, that lasts as long as we last! 

Happy Anniversary to Us!

The Grands Visit

Two weeks ago I was looking forward to having Ben and Andrea visit…and all the grands!  Now I can hardly believe they have come and gone!  They came to be part of  the Mission’s Conference at Beth Eden Baptist Church across town.  We knew it was going to be a full schedule at the conference and that we would have to share them.  We picked them up at the airport and had them for one night.  Then off they went.  Sunday evening they presented their video of  church planting in the Bronx.  We took my parents and Jo and went over for the Sunday night service.  The following Sunday night, Ben preached at the close of the conference and we all traipsed across town for that…and brought more family along!  Interesting thing about going into a strange church….you are not strangers.  You are brothers and sisters in Christ, likeminded.  To find we had old friends and acquaintances at Beth Eden was just icing on the cake!

The first afternoon together we took a walk around the neighborhood.  The kids were very much into walking Sadie.  The twins were very much into moving!  We had a couple of close calls near the edge of the pond when we went to find ducks.  I do have to say, Sadie was the best dog.  She never did snap at the kids…even when they were in her food dish.  She played keep away and chase with them…I think she thought we had brought her home a new toy, or four!

We did get to snag Elaine and Nolan for a couple of days.  And of course they love to go out with Grandpa in the golf cart!  We had a good time.

 
I did kind of forget just how low to the ground toddlers are.  I don’t think I have bent over so much in a long time.  One night Wes came by and we all went to get a burger together.  Elaine was squirming pretty good in her booster and Grandpa had to get on her not to move or she would fall!  Not more than ten minutes later, she head planted off the booster right into the floor!  A couple more things I forgot about toddlers, they cry loudly in public and everyone looks at you like tortured the poor child.  And then just how badly you feel because they are hurt!  As I was trying to comfort her I said, “Elaine, that’s why Grandpa wanted you to sit still”  and between sobs she replied, “I wasn’t moving, I was rocking!”  Free ice cream sundaes for her and Nolan did help a bit.

Elaine is very much into “helping” with whatever you are doing.  And Nolan is very much into doing what Elaine does…and adding some spice to the activity.  So we filled the bird feeders together, we fed the dog together, we watered the plants together, and we made spaghetti sauce for dinner together!  Elaine is a non stop talker, so I heard about all the things she helps her Mommy do.  I loved every minute of it!!  Elaine is also into “set ups” with her toys.  She takes it kind of serious, and she likes to use all the toys.  She has an interesting negotiating strategy with Nolan.  Nolan, however,  does not take too much and his strategy is to knock over her set ups!  

Now just  take a look at the work to put all these little people in place.  Not to mention the imagination of a horse and carriage in  a castle tower.

One day we were supposed to meet Andrea at the zoo as one of the activities the mission conference was providing.  Since Jo is home, I invited her to come along.  The day was very rainy…and the zoo outing was cancelled.  So my parents and Jo just hung around with us to enjoy the great-grands!  Nolan loves puzzles and I still had a bunch that Wally had made years ago.  Nolan was not stumped by any of them…even the backwards number puzzle.  Turns out Jo is pretty good at working a puzzle herself! 

On Wednesday, it was still cool and drizzly but we went to the zoo.  I always like to go when its cooler because the animals are active.  We had a great time!

I tried all day to get a picture of all the kids together.  That is a tough job.  But finally, in Tropical Discovery, I was successful!

^{Grandkids are just Grand!}

Bird Talk

This post is for the birds…I mean about birds.  Just bird experiences I have had around the Polo Club this summer.

I used to think baby ducks were a spring time happening, but they seem to be an all summer long event.  That would lead me to think that there would be an increase in the duck population but, that too is wrong. The sad reason is, we have a resident hawk…and a lot of street drains.  We have never been called to rescue a duckling from the grasp of a hawk, but we do get several calls to rescue them from the drains.  What happens is that Mom hatches her eggs somewhere kind of secluded.  Afterwards she takes her family to the water and often that means crossing the drains in the street.  She just waddles right over the grates but the babies following drop right between them. Mamma duck then begins a pitiful quacking, calling to her babies.  It is even more pitiful to hear them squeaking back.  That is when someone in the community will call us.  A few weeks ago Wally came into the office and said he needed help getting some babies out of a drain.  When we arrived and I saw how shallow the drain was, I decided I wanted to go in and scoop out the babies.  It was so nice to hold those little critters!  Wally and I felt so accomplished gathering six babies into a five gallon bucket and walking over to the pond where Mom met us.  It was neat seeing her across the water, us letting the babies go on our side, and with one quack all six were pulled to her side at wharp speed!

Yep, we felt pretty pleased with ourselves for reuniting that family as we walked back to the street.  That’s when we heard it….another peeping little baby duck still in the drain!  I could not believe it!  Left behind, one baby was left behind!  There were drainage grates across from one another on the street and apparently they were connected underground.  That little ducky had gone back under the street to the other side.  There was no Mom to call and coax him out.  But amazingly, Wally does a pretty good duck imitation himself!  Quacks me up!!  So he began quacking and sure enough the little guy made his way out into the open area.  We have a large cardboard we slide over the opening to keep the ducks from disappearing back into the drain.  So I covered the opening and began to step down into the drain and scoop the little guy up.  But that ducky squeezed in through the edge of the cardboard and ran back under the street .  For thirty minutes we coaxed him out one side just to have him get to the opening and turn back to the other side.  All the while, Wally is quacking!  I think he was even improving a little!  But there comes a point when you have to cut your losses and get back to work.  We were at that point of saying, “one more time”  when I added “and let’s pray this time!”  Wally quacked, I prayed, and that little guy came out into the sunshine and we were able to cover the opening tightly, and scoop him out!  We went back to the pond and to our pleasant surprise, Mom and the ducky siblings were right there and we let #7 join them!!  Now, we were really, really pleased with ourselves!

At this point I should insert one of those WARNINGS for a violently graphic photo….especially to my friends who are a little too animal lovey-dovey crazy!  Please turn back now, you will not want o see the next photo. 

Remember that resident hawk I mentioned?  Well he is responsible for the dwindling baby duck population.  That Mom who had seven was down to four in a couple of days.  And this could be the reason why…

Pretty cool to see really, even though I did feel badly for the baby duck.  We watched the hawk sit on the duck until it quit squirming.  Then, up, up and away it went with dinner.  Talk about fast food!  Another reason for the decrease in duck population could be that mama ducks just aren’t all that smart.  What if the hawk comes back for seconds? Rather than take the kids and run for cover,  there she sat at the edge of the pond, just leisurely floating by!

We heard about this Mama duck nesting in a brick planter box.  The planter boxes are on the corner of each duplex and seem to be a favorite nesting spot for the ducks.  Again, I wonder about their smarts.  The window boxes are about four feet high and this one had a large bush edging the brick.  I’m not sure how she chose this place, nor how she got into it.  But there she sat, for about 21 days.  We would stop by and have a look and really, she never moved or blinked an eye!

Then the big buzz was that Mama was hatching her eggs.  We went over to have a look and saw her with about five newbies popping up all around her wings.  So sweet!

 
We checked on Mom about nine o’ clock that night and she was still there.  And she was still there first thing in the morning.  I’m not sure if she was still hatching all that time or letting the newbies get a few hours in before they all jumped out of that box, scaled the bush and made their way to the water.  I do hope one day I get to see that in action!

Here’s a bird tale I have no pictures for, except in my head.  And it makes me laugh each time I think about it.  Our dog Sadie is still a puppy.  She thinks everything is a toy for her delight.  We have a lot of robins at the Polo Club.  I never saw so many before and I love watching them.  Sadie loves them too.  One day I was on someone’s patio with Wally while he repaired their hose for them.  Sadie came along with us.  Wally was just finishing when I and looked up and saw a baby robin either fall from a nest or pushed out for some flying lessons!  Sadie saw it too and went happily bounding over to have a closer look.  Out of nowhere the poor doggy was bombarded with a squadron of robins swooping and pecking and swooping again.  They must have been the community watch birds!  Poor Sadie did not know what to do, she ran in a circle trying to protect herself until she just plopped on the ground!  It really was a funny sight!

Here’s a few pictures of birds with no stories.  Along with our resident hawk, we have an egret who returns each year.  He is such a graceful looking bird.

I have no idea what kind of bird this next guy is.  In one of our recent rain storms Wally and I saw him just sitting on a rock by the pond.  He was pretty good sized and at first we thought it was an owl.  (We’ve been told there is a great horned owl that lives in the neighborhood too but I have yet to see him.)  As we came a little closer, it was this guy!  He’s kind of neat looking though and if you know what he is, let me know.

Lastly, on another of our rainy days, this sweet couple was perched on our balcony.  I just really like the mourning doves!  They’ve been hanging around my bird feeder most of the summer!

That’s the end of this twitter account! 

Card Attack

I’m not sure why, but I like making cards.  Somehow cute or colorful paper, a bit of glue and some cute punches make me very happy!  They are like a little scrap book page to me.  I haven’t given up on the big scrap book pages yet…a card is just much quicker!  The cards are also more useful…they get shared!  And that brings a deeper kind of happy!  I find I have many opportunities here in our job to share a card.  Many times it is to thank someone for something they have done or given to us.  Unfortunately though,  since many of our residents are older, it is a health challenge or death that causes me to share a card.  Those kinds of opportunities are not limited to life at Polo Club North…they are everywhere in the relationships of people we know and love. 

Sharing, giving…recently I was reminded just how important that  can be.  ““A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver,”  Proverbs 25:11 tells us.  Giving just the right word at just the right time is not only an art—it is a ministry.”  That is a quote from my devotional book a couple of  weeks ago.   Kindness and encouragement are a ministry!  Surprisingly, it can fit into an envelope!

I usually take a picture of each card I make and then I never post them on my blog like I intended to do when I first started.  So here are quite a few all in one shot.   Consider it a little gallery of ministry!

Here’s some sympathy cards that I sent to some family members recently~

I gave this card to an older couple here at PCN.  They frequently share their Rockies tickets with us.  She has been fighting cancer, he has had health challenges, and recently a family member passed away.  Those are big things and I will never know how people face life’s challenges without the Lord.  I like to think that at these times in life, people’s hearts are softer and more open to receiving a scripture verse or an offer of prayer.  It becomes “the word, fitly spoken!” 

Another resident is having knee replacement surgery soon.  I’m kind of pleased with myself to have a card all ready to send her!  I can be a bit of a procrastinator in getting the card actually into “sent” mode.  I probably rely too heavily on that “right word at just the right time” part of the ministry!

These next cards were encouragement cards for some men who had some serious surgeries.  One went to a friend’s Dad who shortly after receiving it, lost his battle with cancer. 

Happy events are ministry opportunities too!  Here’s Kenny’s Birthday card and gift card holder. 

My niece’s graduation-

This was my Dad’s card for Father’s Day.  I found a punch art pattern on Pinterest to make him a red “Farmall” tractor.

Nolan’s third Birthday gave me a chance to try this “card in a box” idea I had been seeing on card blogs I follow.  Only problem is, he doesn’t quite understand how cute it is just to look at it.  Mom says he is always trying to take the lion out of the box!

Recently I found this stamp in the mark down section at Hobby Lobby.  It has nothing to do with the ministry part of sending a card….but I love adding it to the back of a hand made card!