June 22-28, 2016 Fort Collins, Canon City and Denver, Colorado

The days are warming up into the 90’s now.

I went to D and L wholesale glass again and of course bought more than I meant to, another 5 pieces of dichroic glass. I drove I-25 to south Denver, at rush hour. I have not driven I-25 through Denver since the accident. I did fine today.

I attended the retirement party for Pam, who took my position when I retired. Got to visit with many of my old coworkers and meet the new supervisor. It was great to see them again.  First photo Kris, Pam, Nancy, Megan, Sandy and Lynn. Second photo Sue V, Pam, and Linda.

Back in Fort Collins we had Larry and Rick visiting from Salt Lake City to kayak the Poudre with John. Here they are at breakfast at the Silver Grill. Larry, John and Rick. I got new glasses, a new look for me. John does not like them. I am still deciding, they are so different than what I have worn in the past.

Sunset over the site of a new hotel going up a block away. Galardia, redwing blackbird and mexican hat.

My brother Jerry came up and had dinner with us. This is his new cadillac!  Sunset over Berekely Lake near my old neighborhood in Denver.

I drove with Katie to Canon City to go rafting. Usually our other friend Katy comes along too, but she had a family emergency. When we got to Canon City we found out the guide we wanted to go with had to go to their other facility in Idaho Springs, so we rescheduled the raft trip a couple weeks later. Katie and I then went to the Colorado State Pen museum, which is located in an older smaller prison next to the large prison that is still in use. We laid out a picnic on the lawn and a guy in the guard tower called down with a bullhorn, you-you with the picnic you have to leave- no picnics allowed! We were having an illegal picnic. . .  Katie in front of the museum.

Katie and I in the old prison cells. The hallway of the prison museum.  There were exhibits in the cells.

The worlds largest rocking chair we saw on the way down. A table top made from confiscated weapons from the prisoners. The ones with the labels were actual murder weapons. Visiting rules-No sitting on laps or legs, excessive hugging or kissing, shirts must be buttoned and on hands under or inside any clothing. A sewing machine the woman inmates used. The old medical equipment from the prison hostital, and Katie in the kitchen.

This is the old gas chamber. 8 prisoners were gassed in this. The sign says-Do not climb into the gas chamber. This painting was done by one of the prisoners, it has hidden images in it. It says there is an AK-47 in it, but could not find it.

Posters from the two movies that were filmed in the prison. Beautiful historic downtown Canon City.

On the way home we drove into the tail end of this huge storm. Denver had flooding and roads were closed, we had to take the scenic tour to get to Katy’s house. Then Katy, Katie and went out to dinner at Yak and Yeti indian food.

June 12-21, 2016 Fort Collins, Colorado

 

The Poudre River is rising-the snow in the mountains is melting. Many parts of the bike path are under water. John saw this gauge at 7 ft the next morning. It was lovely weather so we went to the Taste Of Fort Collins. I was taking a photo of the sign and the guy on the right started hamming it up for the photo.

I got a new sunhat at the Taste. John playing in the new fountain with the kids at the square in Old Town Fort Collins. Nice way to cool off on a warm day.

Sign seen on the street. We ducked into Equinox brewery. The Truffle Shuffle porter was delicious! John tried on my new hat. . .

And I am still slaving away at the kiln making glass jewelry. I had dinner with J and Maggie in Lakewood at the Elephant Cafe. Was fun to see them.

 

I visited my friend Barb. I paniced when I called her on Mother’s day and her phone was disconnected. I found she had moved into assisted living. She is in a lovely place and it was great to see her. Back at home the bike path is closed due to high water.

A few sights from walking around Old Town- a flame juggler, “Skinny people are easier to kidnap. Stay Safe, Eat our chocolate Layer cake”, A beer named Beerito??, and Thursdays free concert. Also sunset.

The bike path is sooooo green. The river is going down, so I could ride most of it. I am working on a masterpiece- from the photo above it - Twisted Tree. I took the photo on the beach in  Olympic National park.

The Poudre River on an almost 100 degree day. John and Mandy boated the Bridges run, I drove shuttle. The river is high and fast. I just got settled comfortably in my lawn chair in the water when they breezed by. Must have been a 15 minute run. John in the top half going by and Mandy in the bottom. I didn’t have time to set up for photos. Mandy was going so fast she was blurry!

Mandy manhandling her boat out of the water afterwards. The masterpiece has some flaws. The top left is it in the kiln when it was too hot to take it out. I also made some smaller trees to use as basket bottoms. I put some small pieces of clear glass(frit) in between the layers to hopefully stop bubbles from forming. Not only did it not work, each piece of frit left dirt between the layers. Boo. I broke the bubbles and filled them with more frit and it is refiring now. I don’t think I can save it, may have to make another.

June 6-10 2016 Fort Collins, Colorado

Warm and mostly sunny. This is a beautiful time of year in Colorado.

I went to the whole sale glass store in Denver and stocked up. I have never bought that much glass before at one time. 15 sheets of glass and  10 pieces of dichroic glass and lots of jewelry findings.  What fun! June 6th, 2006 is when we met-666 so we celebrated our 10th anniversary with dinner at Austins. I even wore my wedding dress, it still fits!

I did a test firing to see what colors the dichro is after firing. Here is before, in the kiln, at 1500 degrees and red hot and done. I made this handy dandy chart so I will remember.

Big storm clouds off the bike path and a pond with water lilies off the same path.

Geese and goslings and a robins egg shell, signs of summer. I have been very busy making jewels to restock my supplies for the winter.

Sunset in Denver tonight over Berkeley lake in my old neighborhood. Thursday evening I drove to Denver, stopped at D and L and only bought a small amount of glass. . . And had dinner with Katy. Friday AM I drove with Toni up to Silverthorn and met Rosie for a hike on Angler Mountain.

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The flowers were fabulous.  Fields of yellow arrow leaf balsam root.

More arrow leaf balsam root. Rosie and Toni in front of  Buffalo and Red Mountains.

Great views of Dillon Lake, the Tenmile range, Silverthorn, Dillon, and the Gore Range.

After the fields of flowers we walked in spring green aspens.

Another view of Silverthorn, Frisco and Lake Dillon, looking south toward Breckenridge. Lots of flowers, oregon grape, clematis and gila.

Sunset  in Fort Collins from our deck eating dinner John prepared when I got home. More flowers arrow leaf balsam roots, evening primrose, rocky mountain iris and buckwheat.

Larkspur, calpso orchids, pasque flower and prairie smoke.