Life as It Is!

We have had a lot of things going on the last few months, I really need to blog about some of them maybe!

We spent some time in the valley, but didn't do harvest this year. We have been helping Beth and Mark with their BBQing, and doing some judging. We have made friends with many of the other judges, most of who are really nice people. There are a few who "think" they know it all, know exactly what BBQ should taste like and look like. But thankfully those are few and far between. Sure hate to be at a judging table with someone like that though...

Tom had surgery on his shoulder Tuesday, Sept 7. It officially was a Distal Clavicle Resection, or cutting the tip of the collar bone off. The part that goes into the shoulder. I sure hope it will stop the pain that he has been in... The recovery time is usually a couple months. We are scheduled to camp at Rocky Mountain National Park the last week of September so hope he heals fast and good!!

We went to Garden City, Kansas a couple weeks ago for judging. It was so hot, and wind. Man the dust storms, wow!

We have signed up for the Havasu BBQ in February. They already have a lot of judges, so don't know if we will be able to or not. Sure is a good excuse to go to Arizona in the winter!

Fall is occasionally in the air, heard it snowed in Yellowstone yesterday. And a tropical storm hit Texas! Hate winter to come, I really really dislike snow!

Jeff Foxworthy Hasn't Seen It All!!!

Remember I said to notice this beautiful home. . .? Beautiful sitting, far from the hustle and bustle of city living, living off the grid with solar units and batteries. In a "development of other homes with at least 40 acres each. Splendid life. . .!

Just notice the workmanship, all hand cut, all hand made by the owners of the property, especially a very special lady who I shall just call CJ!

She has done most of the work, including shoveling many many loads of dirt for the beautiful garden/sitting area which is terraced. This couple has a goal and that's to have a home without "owing" any money on it! Admire her? Oh yes!!

Beautiful home. . . CJ does NOT know the meaning of "can't", she forges ahead and ends up with a mighty fine project! And to make it even more meaningful, she's a cook, a great cook, a super cook!

Humm, look closer. . . What the heck????

Wow, what a gorgeous home, but what's that showing through the windows????

LOOK INSIDE!! Step through that beautiful front door and see how this couple is doing this home!! They first moved a @14x70 foot mobile home on the property and proceeded to build this 2,000 sq. foot home around it while all the time having a place to live!! Their plans will eventually be to tear this mobile home down, piece by piece. They even left an area in the foundation to pull out the tongue and axles when they get through! I would guess this to eventually be a $300k home, maybe more!

Hummmm, wonder what she could do with this?!!!

Another Colorado Sunrise!!

Taken this morning, Aug. 12, 2010 from my front porch in Coal Creek. It was breathtaking.

How much did I know about Antelopes?

Believe me - Not Much! Beautiful Antelope out in the field, we stopped to take pictures. He watched us, started to walk away, then. . .

He stopped, looked around, and. . .

Started pawing the ground. This concerned me some, because many wild animals will do this before "attacking" - although we were far enough away, and inside a vehicle. So I just kept shooting. This whole process used about 12 pictures! So he pawed the ground, and then. . . .

Relieved Himself! Right there in front of God and everyone!! (Well it was only Tom and I, but still!) So this much I learned from an Antelope, they are picky about Where they go apparently, he sure pawed this spot before going.

Rocks of the Beidell Mine!

Well, I do love the rocks. Forget the "value", I just LOVE the rocks! Knowing that this came as a result of the La Garita Caldera, and probably the explosion when it all blew is simply exciting to me!

All the rocks are only a few yards away from the other type.

Summers Fun Times!

Many places we explored this summer, wow! This is the Beidell Mine at La Garita, Colorado. This area is known as Crystal Hill District. Many crystals were found here, (initially just laying out on the surface), gold, amethyst, zinc and lead. I will show more detailed pictures later!

Please note this house in the foreground in this first picture for a later blog!!!

Organic Wheat. Looks like wheat to me!

Someone said "Looks Like Home", well if you were a sheepherder in the 1950's, this might have been home! Tom noticed the "Chevy" wheels!

Peaceful scene, beautiful San Luis Valley field, good looking cattle and horses!

More to come!

Just s Short (Real) "Blog"

Monday, July 19, 2010

Our second oldest daughter had surgery in Denver this morning, what could have turned out so much different, I am so happy and relieved to say, All Is Well.

She has been dealing with "cysts" on her one remaining ovary for years. Doctors have told her it's just cysts, and IF she has this ovary removed, it will throw her into "The Change". (She's in her early 40's - HELLo???) This "cyst" finally grew to very large proportions, and a scan done SIX years ago at the "Morgue" (St. Thomas More "Hospital") showed this, with a report of a high likelihood of cancer. BUT that report NEVER reached our daughter. Still remains to be seen if it reached her doctor in Canon. So after long drawn out tests, okays from insurance, etc etc, she returned to the Oncologist in Denver. He was very dismayed at her "lack" of medical care - just as he was with me.

But following over 3 hours of surgery, the growth was removed, she's doing great, and prognosis is good. We are all SO relieved, we were very worried, needless to say. Now I will be glad to see the next couple weeks go by so she can get back into living - and living WITHOUT pain or the fear of ovarian cancer.

We are going to head back home tonight, and prepare for the McCormick Family Reunion which is this coming weekend! Whew, it's a busy time!