Poppy the Mustang

Poor Poppy has been in dry dock (so  to speak)
in the garage since we discovered her
 brakes had gone kaput.
The back-ordered parts have finally come in  (wahoo!)
so we should be able to get her back up and running
 while it's still convertible season :-)

I love this car!
It's taken us to prom and was
our get-away car when we got married.
Great memories!!

Another Perfect Day in Colorado

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, 

the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, 

and the lawn mower is broken.  ~James Dent

The view from where
Daisy and I are lounging
on a blanket in the front yard :-)

Co-op Project Day

My husband is involved with the Fort Collins Bike Co-op, a local non-profit.  The Co-op provides used and abandoned bikes to some local charities and the Ghana Bike Project.   Just to name a few of their other services: volunteers educate the public on bike safety and mechanics, provide bike valet service for city events, sell re-conditioined bikes and manage an earn-a-bike program.

My daughter and I have been working on signs designed for the Co-op to use when at events for some positive publicity and, hopefully, to generate more interest and donations.  I think we went through a gallon of puffy paint :-)

Labor Day weekend will find Co-op volunteers manning many areas of New Belgium's annual Tour de Fat - we will be selling t-shirts, checking ID's, pouring beer, parking bikes and floating around to make sure everyone is having a fun and safe day.  If you come down, don't forget your costume!

Here's their web site:  http://fcbikecoop.org/

"I Have a Dream"

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.  

...Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."...

Me

Brianne's Photography Class Assignment -
Photograph your Mom

The Traveling Salon

It's Hair-Doo Day for Daisy!!
This is our groomer -
Diane Waites of Four Paws.
She's awesome with our baby plus (bonus)
doesn't hook up her van to our water or electricity.
Daisy doesn't appreciate her talents
 quite as much as I do - lol :-)

Happy Birthday, Tim Burton!

Director Tim Burton was born on August 25, 1958.

When I think of his movies, "bazaar" always comes to mind...  As I am slightly off-kilter, myself, I'm a big fan :-)  Two of my favorite animated films are The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride.

He also directed Beetlejuice back in the 1980's (that was fun!), Batman and Batman Returns (great action scenes given the times), Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow (with Johnny Depp).

He also did the latest version of Charlie and Chocolate Factory - not a hit with me as Gene Wilder will always be Willy Wonka!

It's supposed to be another hot, dog day of summer, so stay inside, turn up the AC and catch a Tim Burton flick - try Big Fish...

Sunflower Days

Sunflowers are my favorite late summer flower!
They are just so happy :-)
I happened to notice this group in my neighbor's yard.
I did some crazy balancing between the
step stool and the fence to take the photo...

Jeff Nye's Antique Bikes

Fort Collins' local bike collector, Jeff Nye, had several of his pieces on display at the Bike Expo during the Fort Collins Cycling Fest.

1889 Eagle Highwheel
and
1888 Peugeot

1897 Monarch Tandem

Rocky Mountain Criterium/ Fort Collins Cycling Fest

This is just one of the
men's races that took place
throughout the day.
I love the "whoosh" sound
as the peloton rides by :-)

This was the Hand Cycling race.
Both men and women competed.
These athletes rock!!

Horsetooth Reservoir

After dropping lunch off for Doug 

and the rest of the Overland Bike Trail Crew 

on the north end of Horsetooth yesterday, 

 I decided it was too pretty to just go straight home. 

I'm so glad I took the long route and had my camera!

I couldn't help but wonder if any of the boats 

I was seeing through my view finder 

was the one Brianne was on as she

was enjoying the day with a friend's family.

Repairs Everywhere

If you ignore my bus...
This has been the scene around our block
 over the past several weeks.
It's the house next door's turn now.
Our area is considered an insurance
catastrophe zone courtesy of  the June hail.

Eagle Court of Honor

Last night we were privileged to attend another Eagle Court of Honor.  These ceremonies are one of my favorite "rites of passage" because it truly is inspiring to have each scouts' path recounted.  I love the slide shows that document Tiger Cubs, at age 6, through the Eagle Project, usually around age 16.   What exciting adventures they have had and productive services they have done!

The close-up above is part of Ryan and Doug's Troop 188 Eagle Pole.  Each of their Eagles has a name plate below this.  Ryan's is there from 2009 :-)

Laz'n in the Shade

It's too hot for a walk,
so we are being lazy in the shade.

Daisy loves being outside,
but somebody has to watch her...
It's a tough job :-)

The Finale...

Just over two months after that 

horrendous hail storm,

we've got fruit!!  

The tomatoes outlasted the roof...

Who would have thought?  :-)

National Tell-A-Joke Day

A man and his wife were sitting in the living room discussing a "Living Will."

"Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state, 

dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. 

If that ever happens, just pull the plug."

His wife got up, unplugged the TV and threw out all the beer.

Good Morning!

Starring Straten :-)

What a great production this was!!
Our neighbor, Straten, played Schroeder.
(You saw him on Hammock Day)
The cast of six plus the pianist consisted
of seven area high school students -
what a talented group!

It's so amazing to see the kids grow
and follow where their talents lead them :-)

Columbines Galore!

These columbines have really taken
over the space where I used
to plant a vegetable garden...
That's okay with me -
they are pretty and less work :-)

This white columbine is a first for me...
I've never seen one plus it is
the only one growing in my yard.
I love it's simplicity!!

A New Friend for Daisy

Daisy really wanted to make friends,
but this bunny wasn't nearly as
impressed with her and she was with him.
Needless to say, he took off in a hurry...

I Love Fort Collins!!

This is NOT Fort Collins - Thank Goodness!!
This is Denver.
I-25 near Colorado Blvd at 6:15 pm last night
I posted this to remind myself how much
I appreciate my little city and its,
compared to this, relative lack of traffic :-)

Another New Neighbor??

It looks like a mysterious critter has
taken up residence under the porch
(note the pushed in lattice).
In our area, it's most likely a fox or raccoon.
Based on evidence from Friday night's crime scene,
where a goose met with an unfortunate incident
 in the backyard, we believe it's a fox.

Animal Control recommended the
Department of Wildlife...
After a lengthy discussion with them, we have decided
to encourage Mr/Ms Fox to relocate on his/her own.
They apparently don't like stinky conditions,
bright lights or loud noise.
Stinky is accomplished by dropping
ammonia-soaked rags in the area.
We also have a work light, so now the discussion
is focusing on what noise will drive him/her our faster -
Doug's folk and bluegrass or Bee's dance and pop tunes.
I vote for Doug's :-P

New Neighbor??

He may be a new resident of my backyard,
but I'm pretty sure he IS NOT the culprit
that scared the bejeezus out of me when I went out
just after dark to put the cover on the grill...
Something a tad bigger was rustling around under the deck.

More From My Neighborhood...

We moved into our neighborhood when it was fairly new

and have been here for almost 15 years.

It's been fun to see the yards evolve and

to watch the different styles of our weekend warriors...

I'll start by saying my own yard is far from perfect!  

I don't actually like to do yard work, so you will find that,

while the layout is fairly well organized, 

it's slightly overgrown due to minimal tending.

I sort of attempt to keep up with the hedge roses so

that the house doesn't start looking like Sleeping Beauty's castle...

The first yard is kind of a free-for-all, 

but I really like the wild array of flowers he's got right now!

The second yard is more organized with 

well-placed clumps of specific flowers.  

I like this one just as well  :-)

First Sunday in August is Sister's Day :-)

Lynelle and I
I'm the Big Sister!

My sister is the Best!!
Who else would be willing
to walk around looking like
this with me??  

A Good Excuse to Treat Yourself

On Thursday, August 11, you can soothe your sweet tooth while making a difference in the lives of Children’s Hospital Colorado patients.

Grab your spoon and a friend and head to a participating Dairy Queen®  (DQ) or DQ Grill & Chill® restaurants on Aug. 11 for the sixth annual Miracle Treat Day to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. A portion of the proceeds from each Blizzard® sold will be donated to Children’s Hospital Colorado. Spread the word, send an email, post, tweet, or buy yourself and a friend a treat!

To find a participating location where you can pre-order treats, visit: www.MiracleTreatDay.com

Thank you and enjoy,

Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation

P.S. Please forward this to all your friends and ask them to buy a Blizzard®!

And the Saga Continues...

The house needs a new roof after the June hail storm,
but neither of the tomato plants are looking
 too bad despite that unpleasant experience :-)

These are the Cherry Tomatoes...
They are doing a little better than the Pear Tomatoes.

Where's the Storm?

With the thunder rolling in the background
and these ominous-looking clouds,
I was just waiting for the wind and downpour last night.
Hard to believe that nothing came out of it -
at least not over my house...

The colors in the clouds behind the chokecherry
were pretty, though :-)

Another National Day...

Until I started working on this blog, I had no idea that there was a 

designated day for practically everything under the sun.  

The things you learn :-)

Apparently, today is National Watermelon Day,

though, research shows this was probably 

originated by a food company instead of an act of Congress

(they don't actually do anything productive).  

Aside from a couple traumatic years of being afraid to 

swallow watermelon seeds as a kid - 

my Grandad told me a watermelon 

would grow in my stomach if I did -

it's one of my favorite fruits.  

I found several recipes which included watermelon,

but decided that straight up is best.

Enjoy!

August Sun

August Sun
by Rhonda Baker

The birth of August is upon us, as the fair haired sun rises in the sky
With songs of the cicada unwinding, the sand hill cranes sail by
The heat is hoovering all around us, we feel heavy in it's grip
To break free from it's bonds, from it's clutches we must rip
Shade gives little relief, to this melting, bending soul
A river full of water, is not enough to quench this foe
Only darkness breaks the curse, that the day could not hide
Relief is but short...and that too must subside
For August is just arriving, her journey's just begun
It's only just beginning; her moment in the sun 

Avocado Salsa

A friend brought this to a BBQ over Memorial Day and it got rave reviews from everyone there.  I have since tried it twice and it turned out well both times - if you knew the misadventures that have happened in my kitchen, you'd understand that this borderlines on a near miracle...  If I can do it, you can, too :-)

Avocado Salsa

Ingredients:
1 16-ounce package frozen corn kernels, thawed
2 2.25-ounce cans sliced ripe olives, drained
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 avocados - peeled, pitted and diced

Directions:
In large bowl, mix corn, olives, red bell pepper and onion.

In a small bowl, mix garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, cider vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper.  Pour into the corn mixture and toss to coat.  Cover and chill 8 hours (or overnight).

Stir avocados into the mixture before serving.

Serve with tortilla chips

YUMMY!  YUMMY!