July 29-31, 2018 Denver, Colorado

I have a busy few days ahead of me visiting lots of friends in Denver, Canon City, and Frisco.

I had dinner with some former coworkers from Kaiser Arapahoe tonight. Lots of fun to see every one. First photo l-r Kris, Pam, Kathy, the other  SueP,  Sue V, Bekki, Toni and Pam. Next one  SueV, Bekki, Toni, Pam, Cathy, Linda, Kris and Pam.  They bought me dinner and ordered a birthday cake for me. 

Before and after I blew out the candle with my Kaiser friends. The next day I drove down to Canon City with my friends Katy and Katie for our annual raft trip. In Colorado Springs on I-25 we had a blowout. We pulled over on a very narrow shoulder of a very busy section of the highway with cars whizzing by just inches from the car. We called AAA and they send a police car to direct traffic and Craig in a tow truck. He changed the tire right there on the highway in just a couple minutes and we were on our way. 

We were right on time for our raft trip on the Arkansas river. There was this warning sign as we signed the waivers. There was a group of Amish in another raft on the trip. I would be scared to death to flip out of the raft wearing a long dress or dress slacks. But they had a great time. 

It was a lovely sunny day on the river. The water is low but still enough waves to keep us wet on the way down. 

Katy enjoying the ride. Katy, Dennis and I went in our own boat on a very relaxing Bighorn Canyon ride.  The raft ahead of us heading down into Harvey Wallbanger- the giant rock ahead. 

Katie and some coworkers went on another raft down the Royal Gorge. A bit more exciting. Katie is in the blue shirt.  

Katy, Katie and I have  been coming down to Canon City every year to raft with Dennis who owns Raft Masters. This year we rode in an oar boat and he paddled us down the river.  Here we are heading into a rapid. I love how my hair is blowing backwards. 

Me enjoying the ride. Katy, Dennis and I powering through white water. 

Dennis took us out to dinner afterwards for some yummy Mexican food. Since it is still my birthday season they gave us a complementary birthday dessert to share.  Sue, Dennis, the gumball machine, Katie and Katy after dinner.

 I went to Kaiser for some tests today and the union was picketing. It is the union negotiation year this year and the company is playing hard to get.  Soon after I was hired at Kaiser we went on strike and picketed here too. Good luck to these guys. Lake Dillon in Summit county this afternoon. 

Lake Dillon in Summit county this afternoon. I visited with my friends Sharon and Larry this afternoon. I used to ski with Sharon. Larry makes stained glass fish. Here is one of his masterpieces. He is a fisherman so his fish are anatomically correct.  I also visited a minute with my friend Katy who teaches skiing in the winter and I took many years of excellent lessons from her. 

 Beautiful historic downtown Frisco, Colorado at sunset. I had dinner in Frisco with my former coworkers from  when I worked at Summit Medical Center in Frisco, Co.Margo, Ginny, Barb, Linda and Mary. We are all now retired. Great to see them all. 

 Sunset from downtown Frisco. There is a lot of smoke in the air from the forest fires.  I stopped by the lab for a minute at Summit Medical Center hospital. When I worked here it as a smaller clinic. I mostly worked in the smaller lab in the medical center before the hospital was built, but I worked in this one for a few months and left because working on call I couldn't keep up with all the new things in this bigger lab. Here is John on of the techs I worked with there.

 Kind of a weird bunch of signs. I passed Butts rentals and saw the sign Butts has gas. Then I was following a dump truck that had this sign on the back, This truck takes frequent dumps.There is a fire ban in effect now and this no smoking sign is pure Colorado. The natural arch on the Arkansas river from our float yesterday. 

July 25-28, 2018 Fort Collins, Colorado

I saw this storm cloud on my way home from biking. It started to rain just as  was almost home. . .

I had lunch today with some friends that I used to work with at Humana many moons ago. Great to catch up and look at old photos. At the table, Sue, Nancy, Curl and Kay. On the steps Nancy, Curl, Kay and Suep.

I love the light at dusk. The bike path and the path around McMurry Ponds.

This wicked looking cloud was vibrating with thunder. Glad is was going north east.  Reflection on North Shields lakes.

Cool looking sunset clouds from two different places. Bike path and McMurry Ponds.

Off the beaten trail on the way back. Tree roots and the Poudre river.

Don't ask my why, but this cloud looks like a flying pig to me. After my bike ride we walked over to Old Town Square for the free Thursday night concert. 

Jimjim stopped by on his way out of town. He is moving all his tools etc from the rental house here in Fort Collins to Alma to start work on his house up there.  I have been making belt buckles. One of them exploded into 5 pieces in the kiln. The top right picture are the pieces ready for re-firing into pendants. They are in the center sprayed. The far right piece was two pieces I am fusing together. Bottom left are the finished pieces.  I ran out of price tags so I made some. 

Sunset last night. The finished belt buckles. 

John took me out to dinner on the eve of my birthday tonight. We ate at the outdoor seating and it rained a bit. John bought me the rose from a vendor on the street. Then we went to the Midsummer Night Fire Circus to watch fire dancers at the Fort Collins Discovery Museum. This whole weekend is the Fringe Festival with performers in 5 venues all day all weekend. Very fun evening. Thanks darling. 

The fire dancers started out while there was still fire in the sky. Acrobats on a huge hanging swing, fire hula hoops, more fire dancers and at the end there were lighted hula hoops, fire dancing and acrobats in the background. Birthday flowers from John. It was a great show. 

July 14-24, 2018 Fort Collins, Colorado

Dinner tonight at the Rio with Martha, Barry, Sue, John, Lydia, Colin, Mandy, John and Jimjim to celebrate Colin's birthday, a little late. But better late than never. Barry had another BBQ on the lake. Mandy and Barry kayaking on the Long Lake.

 

 Barry ahead of me as we explored the wet lands. Pelicans. There were tons of these little islands where the damsel flies were mating and/or laying eggs.

 John, John G, Mandy and Barry having dinner by the lake. John G incredulously pointing out that John, my sweet hubby really does walk on water. 

These are the more expensive seats, they are right on the water. Sunset with pelicans.

Sunset from my boat.

Today two basket friends came over and we shared knowledge. Rae Ann  with some of her intricate baskets. I am looking forward to  working with some of my new dyed needles like she has in hers. I met Rae Ann on the Pine Needle basket Facebook page. Sandy also came down from Torrington, WY but she sneaked out before I got her photo.Sandy is new to pine needle baskets. But she makes these beautiful lariat rope baskets. She brought me this pretty one as a gift. Sandy and I went to the same high school but don't remember meeting each other then. It was fun to see her. 

Sunset from our deck last night and sunset tonight from the bike path. Been too hot to go outside, high 90's. Only going out in the evening. John walks early in the am. 

Just as I got ready to go out biking this huge storm rolls through and it even hails. When it finally quit I headed out on my bike. Mammatus clouds after the storm.

Mammatus clouds on the bike path. Going over this bridge was like riding in an optical illusion. 

Sunset and I have been making belt buckles, earrings and pendants. 

Last night my brother Jerry took us out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. John is holding up the green tea ice cream they brought me for my birthday. John, me, Cecil and Jerry.