Friends and Family

I went down to Ft Collins to visit Stan and Pat during Mother's Day weekend. Stan had the most lucious pansies he had picked out at a local nursery. Friday night we went to an art opening with great food. ( not so notable art) Saturday night after a full day of shopping including Goodwill's half off sale and a couple of bead stores where Stan dutifully waited as I pawed through the goods, we headed home to grill some steaks and shrimp. At this point I was ready to go simple but Stan kicked into gear and produced an exellent meal starting with selections from the olive bar, brie with crackers and a chardonnay, then colorful baked veggies, avacado salad and a nice pinot noir to have with the grillings. I was overwhelmed by all the goodies which at home I would try to make last a week!

Stan, always the artist, using his paint brush to keep the trimmer and trimee cleaned off.

The week before, my best friend ever, Mariah, stopped to visit on her way home to New Mexico from Seattle. I have looked forward to this visit for years. The infamous cold Wyoming wind kept us indoors most of the time but we had so much to catch up on it didn't matter what the world was up to. We did have one nice day to go rock hunting and barbeque. She stayed for her bithday and by request I made a peach raspberry upside down cake. I pledged my unremitting love and adoration 'til end of time.




Diana's best friend, Pat, also from NM, was passing through a couple weeks ago. We had a yard sale at Diana's in town. They came out another day and we shared a light lunch. They had been raised together on and off over the years as their fathers travelled for work. I believe they consider themselves closer than family.



Last week Cole's mother, Kash, stopped on her way home to North Dakota. She has many interesting siblings we met at the wedding party in Albuquerque. Serena and Cole flew out to Minnesota on the red eye express after work on Friday to spend at least a week visiting everyone. Kash had planned a short stop but since it was getting late in the day I offered her a beer and we proceeded to barbeque. I was hoping it might work out that way. We are both cut out of the same cloth (tie dyed) but really hadn't ever had the time to compare notes. We definately have a lot in common right down to the love of rock collecting.

What do you call the relationship between two mother-in-laws?
Muy bueno!

Text and pictures © 2008 Mona E. Dunn

Hell Hath No Fury...Like a Springtime Storm

Got spring fever, transplanted the best of my seedlings and several nice plants from the greenhouse down the road and fixed up a spot to sit in the garden so I could read my reference books there and work on transplants.

I should really know better and wait 'til June to move ahead. The rose bushes were begging to bask in the sunshine so I uncovered them too. Wednesday I was in town doing errands and heard rumors of tornados. Clark had warned me to get home early to cover the garden, just in case! When I did get home at 5: 30 he was out putting up the barriers. Between 6:30 and 7:30 pm we had three rounds of pea sized hail, the last one dumping a couple inches in the yard. Looking out at the pature you'de have thought it snowed. I tried not to dwell on the damage and went to bed that night grateful that I had a warm , dry place to sleep. More than I could say for the cows and calves who had no choice but to endure the bombardment.

Soooo... today... heard it might get windy in this afternoon. I made my rounds to stalk the wild asparagus early and came home with about four pounds, some nice fat stalks for grilling. Four o'clock my friend in town, Diana called to make sure I'de heard the afternoon's tornado warnings which I had no inkling of. I put the radio on to get informed. The radio assured that the tornados were passing to the East of town heading north. Bueno! Clark went out to feed the calves and it started to rain, then hail, then harder and larger until we were being pounded by walnut sized ice balls. The cats were racing around in the house looking for shelter.

Well, I can still be grateful that we weren't run over by a tornado like they had in Windsor, Co.



Text and Pictures May 2008

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Aw, Shucks

What can I say? My brother Stan and I have learned how wonderful it is to have some close family bonds. As fate would have it, we were both in our 50's before the opportunity presented itself. If your family is available to you, don't take a moment for granted. Family people can be great mirrors whether you want to look or not.

Whenever he can come up here with Pat and M-dog it is always an occasion to celebrate (and motivation to clean house).

We plan day trips to the hills

and enticing dinners with wonderful fresh veggies, exotic cheeses and a crusty bread from the Sunflower Market, and a nice bottle or two of wine all of which they bring to contribute to the festivities. Thanks to his generosity, some of the rough edges of this old house have been polished.

Our mutual curiosity about how life works and how to be more masterful in creating the life you want has led us into many books and deep discussion of the philosophies therein. I am so grateful to have a good friend to explore the mysteries of life with, particularly from the Buddhist perspective and the Law of Attraction.

So touche, Stan. You are a very special part of my life also. Maybe one day we will be able to bring Phil and Becky into the fold so we can all embrace each other once again.



Text and pictures © 2008 Mona E. Dunn