Clearing my head.

I arrived home in the early evening yesterday after a long and trying day. I wandered about the house looking for something to do to help my mind relax. Finding no crafts I wished to begin nor tasks that could be accomplished in the time I had left before dark, I fell back on an activity that has never failed me. I climbed on my bike for a ride...a 20 mile ride, as it turns out. I used to walk when I needed to clear my head, but after getting my bike in ship-shape condition I found that nothing clears the head better than a good hard ride. I'm compelled to focus as I frequently ride on city streets and so must be on the lookout for cars, pedestrians and potholes, all of which leave little freedom for dwelling on irksome thoughts. Just what I needed.

I rode through town until I picked up a trail following South along the river. I rode hard, feeling the burn in my knees and thighs - a good burn. I forgot to hang a left over the bridge to cross the river and ended up at Millennium Park. Hmmm, that's not where I meant to be, but since I'm here...

It's a beautiful park to ride in, the paths are clear and well maintained, and they wrap around a series of ponds and lakes. I often meet runners, roller bladers, bikers, fisherman and picnickers enjoying the park as well.

It looks like I used the wrong soap in the dishwasher again. (kidding) I'm pretty sure this is the fluff from the Cottonwoods. It looks cool on the ground, but it gets in my eyes and goes up my nose when I'm riding. achoo

When the park was developed from an old gravel pit, the planning committee had the foresight to be sure the meadows would be filled with wildflowers. I think the idea is that if a plant can't survive on it's own without maintenance and watering, well, it wouldn't survive then. They really do quite well here. Are they all native? I don't know.

I don't even know the names of some. I'm sure I could look them up, but hey, I'm just here for the ride.

And in some places the path winds it's way right next to the water.

I dawdled in the park, taking a few photos; stopping to enjoy the many views; gazing about at the scenery; enjoying a fabulous Spring evening.

And all too soon it was time to head for home. I had a long way to go to get back to the city and I don't like to ride the streets after dark. So, I pedaled North, enjoying the solitude and feeling the cool breeze on my face as I wended my way through the woods.

Just as I exited the path onto the street, I was greeted with this fine sight.

"Why, hello Mr. Moon. Are you here to keep me company the rest of the way home? Thank you, I would love your company."

 I made it all the way, but for the last couple of blocks before the street lights came on. Home again, safe and sound, and my mind full of peace. Just what I needed.

Fire Engine Red

Favorite youngest son was over this weekend and together we worked on one of the many projects in queue around my house that require orbital sanders, paint stripper and new paint. He has his own place and was in need of a coffee table. Hmmm, I just happened to have a coffee table that I had pulled from the dumpster where I work, and it was in need of a new home. How fortuitous!



I love my orbital sander. It makes short work of projects, but I wish it could bend around curves and reach into crevices. Would that be too much to ask? We tried hand sanding the legs and sides, but only until my arm gave out. Alas, time for the wicked paint stripper. Sometimes, it must be done.

The color he chose doesn't surprise me in the least as he's always been fond of bright color. It's not orange, even though the picture looks like it. It really leans more toward red, but it certainly has an orange tone to it. What a difference! This was our first time using the Behr Paint and Primer in One and I will swear by it. It took two coats to get the perfect coverage, which is much better than the normal two coats of primer and then two coats of paint.



This beauty is currently seasoning in my garage for a couple days and then it leaves for it's new home. Did I mention that I pulled this from a dumpster where I work so the only cost was a quart of paint?

Painted Fingernails and Fish Heads

There is a campground close to where I live; it's right next to the highway and I, being the somewhat snobby outdoors person that I am, have ridiculed said campground my entire life. I am not alone in my ridicule as everyone I know ridicules this camp. It's too close to town, too close to the highway, too crowded and the lake is too small. But then in 2010 my daughter-in-law's father parked his 5th wheel there with the idea that it was close enough to town for everyone to visit without too much trouble. I reluctantly agreed to go for a visit, which inevitably changed my mind about this 'too everything' campground. If you have kids, it is the perfect campground as the whole park is geared towards family entertainment. When it's BINGO night everyone shows up to play and appropriate campground gifts are awarded to the winners. How about a bundle of firewood? Or a flashlight? Or a snack cooler? There are numerous potluck dinners, hay rides and barrel train rides, kid games and family activities. There are row boats and canoes and kayaks, as well as the swimming, fishing, and playgrounds. I joined my son and d-i-l this past Saturday over Memorial Weekend for another visit. Please join me for a brief summation of our adventures.

The Delightful Miss M was dressed appropriately for the morning bike parade and won 1st place. It might have helped that she was wearing camouflage and had an appropriate sign on the front of her bike. Hmmm...

Daddy took the training wheels off her bike and she learned just today how to ride on the trail that goes around the back side of the lake. Here she comes all grins and smiles...

And there she goes...

Sir S relaxing with one of his favorite pastimes. The lake is kept well stocked with all sorts of fish and while most of the fishing for this family is catch and release, sometimes a fish swallows the hook and must be eaten since it won't live anyway. Everyone baits their own hook (except for Grandma Mostly) while Mommy and Daddy help with removing the fish from the hook.

This would be Miss M making the fish head talk. She seemed fascinated with the innards of this fish after making daddy name all the parts he was removing. I think it's gross, but hey, I'm not 5. ~grins~

There was an after dinner dance in the club house complete with mirror ball and fog machine, and everyone, from the young to the old, joined in the dancing. You know how much joy and fun everyone has at wedding receptions with the dancing and when it's over you always wish there were more receptions to go to because it was so much fun? Well, these dances are the very same. You get all the fun of the dancing and you don't have to wait for someone to get married.

There was booty shakin'...

Move makin'...

And gettin' your groove on... Good times were had by all.

And when it was all over and the last song was about to play, the DJ said it had been fun, but he wanted people to remember what the weekend was really about. He dedicated the last song to those soldiers who came before and those who will come after...and he played "Proud to be an American."

And many of those in the room formed a spontaneous circle around this soldier who was dancing the last dance with his wife and daughter. Yes, we danced...and we remembered...and we were grateful.

I'm here.

Now, but I've just returned from a trip out west - Reno, Pyramid Lake, Tahoe, Yosemite, Death Valley and Las Vegas. Oh my goodness! What a trip - up and down and all around. Whew! Pictures to come later because I'm also working on a project in my house that is taking a long time...and a lot of work. Goodness!

Oh, and one more item of interest. It seems K and Julie became engaged while I was away. Congratulations! I can't think of a more delightful woman to welcome into this growing family of ours. They've been together for 7 years and we've loved her for nearly as long.

A Night with a Little

This Little is perfect for when I need a kid fix. His personality focuses on the right now and he thrives in one-on-one situations. He's also very attentive to the one he's with, which is really awesome because instead of me having to entertain him, we end up entertaining each other. It's awesome, I tell ya.

And he's adorable, and funny, and charming, and can spin stories like a pro. He's also very social and will strike up a conversation with complete strangers just to find out more about them. He wanted me to ask a stranger a question, but I, without thinking, wouldn't ask because I didn't care about the answer. "Fine," he said, "I'll ask." And he did. Yeah, not shy at all.

Bet you can't guess that he loves the camera...and reflections of himself acting goofy. Before we left the house he made sure I didn't forget my camera because, "you never go anywhere without your camera." He's right.

We went to the art museum mainly because they were having a talk and demonstration of Improv, but also because he loves to draw and paint. This was one of his favorite pictures because the reflection looks, "exactly, and I mean exactly," like it's real. He mentioned that there was a lot of art here. Guess he didn't quite make the connection that we were in an art museum. ~grins~ His two favorites were 3 Black Lemons and Seventeen Cats on a Ledge. Hmm...really? Cool!

I suspected he might get a kick out of the improv demo. Oh, man. Did he ever. Now he wants to go to one of the shows and we spent all of Saturday practicing our improv. It fits right in with his story telling abilities.

This was a spur of the moment ride when the groomsman offered us a free ride. Really? Okay...but I tipped him generously anyway.

Ah, yes, I love having little boys in the house again. If only for one night at a time.

Good morning...

As you can see...

Tulips are up.

Have a lovely Mother's Day!

Warm Enough!

It was finally warm enough to ride my bike again. Man, I love that. Let me just say, for the record, I thoroughly enjoyed this past winter with all it's bluster and snow accumulation. Gosh, it finally felt like a real winter, but now it's time for some Spring and Summer activities...like, bike riding. The trail along the river is always pretty and there's much to see when we're quiet. This time, however, several sections of the trail were under water. We ride on a levee between the river, which had completely flooded over it's banks, and the flood plain, which was getting pretty full. At one point we stopped to investigate an area where the water was a boiling mass and we couldn't tell if there was a culvert under the levee and the river was simply flowing through it to the other side, or if this was a weak point in the levee and the high water was forcing it's way underneath, which would mean we were witnessing a breach. We really couldn't be sure, but just in case, we didn't linger in that area.

It's hard to avoid the geese when they feed next to the trail. Geez, I wasn't going to mess with her baby so there was really no need for all that hissing and head bopping at me. Geese can be so mean, yeesh!

And the trail...just...ends... That's the river over the trail. It happens. I wasn't going to test the current, but someone thought he was brave enough to ride across. I laughed and told someone I would meet up with him...somewhere. haha...B got wet feet from paddling through there and the water is darn cold right now.

He turned to ride back to me and wouldn't you know but a muskrat swam across the trail in front of him and then this goose did the same thing. How often can you be riding your bike while chasing a goose through the water? Guess she didn't like being followed. She should stay off the trail then. Hmmm, maybe there is a reason for all that hissing and head bopping.

Sure signs that the winter is quite done! Love the red contrasted against the blue.

Are you riding your bike now? Do you have good trails to follow?