colorado barn

This abandoned farm is in eastern Colorado. anyone want to help restore it??!!

Memorial day weekend

went over to D & D's house for some summer day fun. They bought a slip n slide for his girls. well they wouldn't get on it and use it. apparently didn't really know how or were afraid to chip a nail. so some of the adults (me included) had to show them how it's done. by the end of the afternoon the girls were finally wet and giggly and the adults were discoving muscles we'd forgotten about. all and all a fun day. oh, an no one chipped a nail! lol

The "M" endorsement

Yep, T & I finally did it. We went and took the class at a local college. It was a lot of fun! made some new friends. It really wasn't as bad as I thought is would be. And let me tell you ... It is much easier for me to drive a manual motorcycle than a car! On a motorcycle I can ride the clutch! lol! now we'll have to go looking at bikes.

Where our fuel comes from

These companies import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell......................... 205,742,000 barrels

Chevron/Texaco.........144,332,000 barrels

Exxon /Mobil..............130,082,000 barrels

Marathon/Speedway..117,740,000 barrels

Amoco....................62,231,000 barrels

Citgo Gas comes from South America, from a Dictator who hates Americans.

Here are some large companies that DO NOT import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco............... 0 barrels

Conoco............... 0 barrels

Sinclair................ 0 barrels

BP/Phillips.......... 0 barrels

Hess.................. 0 barrels

ARC0. .................. 0 barrels
Also: Pilot, Flying J, Love's, RaceTrac, Valero

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.

Tick removal tip!

with summer comming this could be handy!

To Remove the entire TICK safely...A school nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share.
I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's sometimes difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and let it stay on the repulsive insect for a few seconds (15-20), after which the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for mom. Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way.

12,000 reasons not to frequent porn shops

... 'nuff said

bad truck driver

this guy has to be voted in with my top 10 worst drivers...

he has his daughter with him... she looks about 6 or 7. and why isn't she in school? and the child has a small puppy. We watched her dragging this puppy in and out of the truck for about an hour while her dad fiddles with stuff on the truck while parked in the dock at this warehouse. Amazing that she didn't fall and break something on her or the pup. then when they're loaded, he pulls out and stops on the RR tracks!!! gets out leaving the child in the cab of the truck. goes back and shuts the trailer doors. then finally they leave. very luck no trains came in for a delivery too!

jury duty scam

JURY DUTY SCAM TO GET YOUR SS # & DATE OF BIRTHPLEASE READ!!!!:
This has been verified by the FBI (their link is also included below).Please pass this on to everyone in your email address book.
It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call. Most of us take summons for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty, that a new and ominous kind of scam has surfaced.The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo; your identity just got stolen.The scam has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado. This (scam) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they're with the court system.
The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm

When your huts on fire

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?' Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story:

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

odd ramblings for the girls

Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there
''Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today"

1. Aspire to be Barbie - the bitch has everything.
2. If the shoe fits - buy one in every color.
3. Take life with a pinch of salt... A wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila.
4. In need of a support group? - Cocktail hour with the girls!
5. Go on the 30 day diet. ? (I'm on it and so far I've lost 15 days).
6. When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.
7. Let your greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just your personality.
8. I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here...
9. Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.
10. Don't get your knickers in a knot, it solves nothing; and makes you walk funny.
11. When life gives you lemons - turn it into lemonade then mix it with vodka.
12. Remember every good-looking, sweet, single male is someone else's ex-boyfriend!

New Air Filter

some may think it's not much... but we did! we installed a new air filter on the Jeep. Wow, I can't believe the difference! before it was hesitating and sluggish. now It has get up and go see ya later! all that from an air filter design change. (the red filter is the new one) as exciting as it was installing this. we aren't going to run off to be mechanics.

you might be a Coloradoan if....

You're from Colorado if....
You'll eat ice cream in the winter- and what's wrong with that!!?? LOL! When the weather report says it's going to be 65 degrees, you shave your legs and wear a skirt. It snows 5 inches and you don't expect school to be cancelled. ('course this holds true for my home state as well!) You'll wear flip flops every day of the year, regardless of temperature. You have no accent at all, but can hear other people's. And then you make fun of them. 'Humid' is over 25%. You go anywhere else on the planet and the air feels 'sticky' and you notice the sky is no longer blue. Your sense of direction is: Toward the mountains (West) and Away from the mountains(East). You say 'the interstate' and everybody knows which one. You think that May is a totally normal month for a blizzard. You grew up planning your Halloween costumes around your coat. You know what the Continental Divide is. You don't think Coors beer is that big a deal. You've gone off-roading in a vehicle that was never intended for such activities (My poor Focus). You always know the elevation of where you are. You wake up to a beautiful, 80 degree day and you wonder if it's going to snow tomorrow. You don't care that some company renamed it, the Broncos still play at Mile High. Every movie theater has military and student discounts. Everybody wears jeans to church. You actually know that South Park is a real place not just a show on TV. You know what a 'trust fund hippy' is, and you know its natural habitat is Boulder. You know you're talking to a fellow Coloradoan when they call it Elitches, not Six Flags. A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you. When people out East tell you they have mountains in their state too, you just laugh

what's gold worth now?

here i am... looking for my retirement...

In God we Trust

You may have heard in the news that the Post Office has been forced to take down small posters that say ' IN GOD WE TRUST ' The law, they say, is being violated. Anyway, I heard proposed on a radio station show, that we should all write ' IN GOD WE TRUST ' on the back of all our mail...after all, that is our national motto and it's on all of the money we use to buy those stamps. I think it's a wonderful idea. We must take back our nation from all the people who think that anything that offends them should be removed.
It has been reported that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having ' In God WeTrust' on our money and having God in the pledge of Allegiance.
Could it be that WE just need to take action and tell the 14 % to sit down and shut up? If you agree, pass this on, if not, don't do anything. WRITE IT ON THE BACK OF YOUR ENVELOPES !

tennis and gold panning

took advantage of the warmer weather we are having. went panning for gold in a near by creek and played tennis.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

black berry pie and mixed berry sherbert. that was my choice this year. Mmm!

driftwood

driftwood

sepia 2008

Prospector's trail

Went on a trail called the Prospector's Trail today. A relatively short day hike. A few steep spots and some amazing views of the town of Idaho Springs. There are two old mine holes on it. The first one pictured here is an open pit still. Be very careful. It was a ways down. Hard to imagine the miners digging through the rock. The second pit was filled in and was only found by the orange tailings pile and a sunken area currently filled with snow.

old mine site

old gold mine site along clear creek

b&w 2008

Bike ride!

Finally deemed it warm enough to get our bikes out. Went for a spin down to town and back down our bike trail along the creek. stopped into the Forest Service office looked at maps and asked questions about hiking trails. Gotta keep them busy! lol, the were very knowledgeable people. there is a hiking trail behind them we went on for a bit. Will have to finish it another day. It has a great over look of town. Found out on the way home that we live on a very loonng slow hill! lol. on the way back the wind decided to blow. that makes it harder to ride uphill! come on cut us a break! Oh Well, It was a wonderful sunny day for a bike ride.

IMMIGRATION LAWS

IMMIGRATION LAWS
THERE WILL BE NO SPECIAL BILINGUAL PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOLS.***************THERE WILL BE NO SPECIAL BALLOTS FOR ELECTIONS.**************ALL GOVERNMENT BUSINESS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN OUR LANGUAGE.***************FOREIGNERS WILL NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE NO MATTER HOW LONG THEY ARE HERE.***************FOREIGNERS WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO HOLD POLITICAL OFFICE.****************FOREIGNERS WILL NOT BE A BURDEN TO THE TAXPAYERS.****************NO WELFARE, NO FOOD STAMPS, NO HEALTH CARE OR OTHER GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.*****************FOREIGNERS CAN INVEST IN THIS COUNTRY BUT IT MUST BE ANAMOUNT EQUAL TO 40,000 TIMES THE DAILY MINIMUM WAGE.*****************IF FOREIGNERS DO COME AND WANTTO BUY LAND, THAT WILL BE OKAY. BUT OPTIONS WILL BE RESTRICTED..........YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED WATERFRONT PROPERTY. THAT IS RESERVED FOR CITIZENS NATURALLY BORN INTO THIS COUNTRY.*********************FOREIGNERS MAY NOT PROTEST; NO DEMONSTRATIONS; NO WAVING A FOREIGN FLAG; NO POLITICAL ORGANIZING; NO BAD-MOUTHING OUR PRESIDENT OR HIS POLICIES. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL BE SENT HOME.*************IF YOU DO COME TO THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, YOU WILL BE HUNTED DOWN AND SENT STRAIGHT TO JAIL.****************HARSH, YOU SAY?............The above laws happen to be theImmigration Laws of:'MEXICO!' How about that for an eye-opener?!!

glass froggie

little glass frog I bought in Tacoma. he has a neat metallic sheen in the glass. kinda like oil on water. tiny little texture bumps on his back ( so maybe he's part toad! ) and little bubble eyes!

southern california palm

sunshine through the palms...

b&w april 2008

Amish Farmer

An Amish farmer, walking through his field, notices a man kneeling down and drinking from his farm pond. The Amish farmer shouts, "Trink das wasser nicht. Die kuhen haben dahin gesheissen."(Which means: "Don't drink the water, the cows poop in it".) The kneeling man shouts back, angrily, "I'm a Muslim, I don't understand you.I speak Arabic and English. If you can't speak in the sacred tongue of Islam, speak to me in English." The Amish farmer replies, "Use two hands, you'll get more."

Telemarketers and junkmail

Tips for Handling Telemarketers
Three Little Words That Work!!(1)The three little words are: 'Hold On, Please...' Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt. Then when you eventually hear the phone company's 'beep-beep-beep' tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.
(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end? This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone. This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a 'real'sales person to call back and get someone at home. What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer!!!
(3) Junk Mail Help: When you get 'ads' enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these 'ads' with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away. When you get those 'pre-approved' letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope. Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 50 cents postage 'IF' and when they receive them back. It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before the last increase and it is according to the weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes. One of Andy Rooney's (60 minutes) ideas. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them.You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them 50 cents.The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all, they're paying for it...Twice! Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again.
You get the idea !If enough people follow these tips, it will work ---- I have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.

Biker poem

When I was a Biker...


I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.
But you didn't see me playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant.
But you didn't see me attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I drove by.
But you didn't see me driving behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children.
But you didn't see me when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.

I saw you stare at my long hair.
But you didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves.
But you didn't see me and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none.

I saw you look in fright at my tattoos.
But you didn't see me cry as my children where born and have their name
written over and in my heart.

I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
But you didn't see me going home to be with my family.

I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.
But you didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you yelling at your kids in the car.
But you didn't see me pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me.

I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.
But you didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you race down the road in the rain.
But you didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.
But you didn't see me trying to turn right

I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in.
But you didn't see me leave the road.

I saw you waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.
But you didn't see me. I wasn't there.

I saw you go home to your family.
But you didn't see me. Because, I died that day you cut me off.

I WAS JUST A BIKER; A person with friends and a family.
But you didn't see me.

Tava

"Everyone has a to-do list. Usually, a checklist of chores. Post office, Dry Cleners. Take the kids to piano lessons. Maybe instead of making a list of what we have to during the day, we can make a list of what we want to do during out life. Learn Italian, cook Thai, ride a motorcycle across Mongolia. How much more fun would this list be? So go ahead. Make a life list. Is your Tava open?"

sweets of the month

Birthday cake, ice cream, shamrock cookies and Easter candy! What a month

7:07 pm

Exactly 15 years ago tonight. my baby interrupted the opening theme song for Wheel of Fortune. Well, I forgave her. lol! today we went to a pizza place in town called Beau Jo's. They make incredible pizza! we will definitely go again. Made a cake and now we are making cookies. I'll post some pictures later on.

Spring Snow

Winter's last Hoo Raa! It's trying to snow today...weather channel says about 10 inches for us by tomorrow night. so not to bad all and all. then on to 50's later on this week. just let it melt then. no shoveling for me! lol!

flat tire...

how many police cars does it take to SUPERVISE a flat tire change in Denver? 2 - traffic was backed up to day On I70 for a couple of miles as a car that had a flat was pulled off onto the emergency shoulder. 2 police cars were parked in the right driving lane. one blocked traffic for the tire change. the other guy just supervised while the car owner changed it.
- thanks for listening to my rant for the day.

out for walk

went for a stroll today. the weather was so nice today. sunny with only a light breeze. just walked down the road we live on today. still to much snow on the hill behind us to try going up there. took a quick snap shot as I heard dogs barking nearby and am not sure I want to see how well their owners are following the leash law... and with my luck my bear spray would get sprayed back at me with the wind! so after the click of the shutter - grab the camera and get on back down the road toward home.

traveling around

traveling around our neck of the woods this weekend... there are hot springs in the area... one area is a tourist location. the cooler weather makes me wish I were in them soaking my ol' bones too.

Arizona horses

Saw some of the wild burros and this small band of horses. the burros kept their distance. They had a baby with them. These horses moved by quickly but didn't seem to concerned about us as they walked right next to the Jeep. They were not shoed, So we think they are wild.

Vacation in Arizona

Took a quick Vacation to Arizona. T's sister & hubby live there. Did some four wheeling, can shooting and saw some wild burr

os and horses. lots of cacti. Was surprised at how green things are right now. But that means high fire dangers when it dries up this summer.

What's in a hole?

Discovery along the trail... any one care to stick your hand in that tree and see what happens? Anyone, anyone...

Well, turns out there was something in there after all! Sorry guys! Looks like a bird nest of some sort...

Mt Evans Wilderness Area

Went hiking nearby today. It was a beautiful sunny and warm day. This trail system goes all over so we have just begun. Made it to a summit that had some good views. Very windy at the summits. Mt Evans its self is closed for the winter... there is a road going to the top. This spring I'd like to get up there to see the baby mountain goats and big horn sheep. We'll check this one as a hike we'd do again.

Southern California

Finally saw the Pacific ocean! We were in Southern California this last week. This is early in the morning.. just before another rain storm comes in again. It was really nice to see. Fresh smelling, not like dead fish. But, this is winter. The Great Lakes smell like dead fish in the summer.

Arizona

Cactus forest in Arizona. Amazing how green it is in january!

area artwork

more sights around town..

Nessie, in Tacoma??

No, it's a seal! saw this seal in a river near the Puget Sound.

Built in waterfall

Giant waterfall on a building in Tacoma, WA

more Glass Museum

More pics of the glass museum...

Museum of Glass

The Museum of Glass in Tacoma WA. There are some very cool glass artists in the Tacoma area. Artists of all kinds really! I did not think of this area as being so "artsy" I like this area too. I'd live here!

Oregon

Went up to the Nortwest again... here are some pics of Oregon. It was rainy. but, it's different. the moss on trees.. buildings, bridges... everything really... is kinda cool.

Other-worldly!

My first quilt!

It's not glorious! I made it with LARGE squares... to get it done faster. P is my guinia pig for my first project. she gets it for Christmas. doesn't she look so appreciative !!??

Strange treasures...

Not sure what these pieces of metal are. probably from some old mining equipment. but, they do look neat.

Question

does anybody out there know what poem has the line...
"and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep"
and who wrote it...

Santa Mail

This special mail box is waiting for our letters... Sweet!

shopping

Well, the shopping is finally done. a little behind schedule this year. watching the weather channel tonight. looks like we're to have a white Christmas. picturesque!

My latest creation

I call this one simply,

" Loon Lake "

Northern California

migrating swans in a rice field

Nevada

went through northern Nevada recently. These are the Ruby mountains. My questions were answered. Yes, It gets cold enough to snow in Nevada.