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For Troy
Who is laying his child to rest today
Bright and beautiful and kind
Runner, reader, friend
All but twenty-one.
My meager arms are as big and wide as Texas,
Embracing you from afar.
Sending love, hope, and comfort –
Mere drops to your ocean of grief.
Say hello to our new girl! We have been wanting a dog for a while, but with all the work on the house and feeling like we needed a bit of down time, we thought we would wait a bit. Then the stars, as they often do, had other ideas. I saw her sweet face online (L.O.L.A.’s Rescue) and that was that. We submitted our paperwork about ten days ago, and she came home with us yesterday.
Her first two years could hardly be called wonderful. She was found sick and alone, emaciated and pregnant in Gallup, New Mexico (of course our girl would be from NM) late last year. Despite this, she is a lover! Sweet and cuddly and, not surprisingly, based on her history, quite an eater, gobbling each morsel like it may be her last. We are so happy to have her here with us and look with delight upon our future together.
Now to her name, because you know it’s not just a name: Juniper, for the hubster and I hiking and gathering berries, fragrant and sweet with our love of the West. Beulah, strange and old fashioned, I know, but you’ll be converted to it’s wonder, I hope, upon reading this passage from John Bunyan’s A Pilgrim’s Progress:
Now I saw in my dream, that, by this time, the pilgrims were got over the Enchanted Ground, and entering in the country of Beulah, whose air was very sweet and pleasant; the way lying directly through it, they solaced themselves there for a season. Yea, here they heard continually the singing of birds and saw every day the flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle in the land.
In this country the sun shines night and day: wherefore this was beyond the Valley of the Shadow of Death; and also out of the reach of Giant Despair; neither could they from this place so much as see Doubting Castle. Here they were within sight of the City they were going to, also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the Shining Ones commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of heaven.
And I feel, too, like our Paris and Milo are meowing their approval down from kitty heaven. They have a new sister!
Juniper Beulah. Juni B. when we want to mix it up.
Thursday evening, our inaugural fire, now that we’ve got the basement space all kitted out. It was cozy and lovely, the hubster saving his best smile of the day for me before playing a little ditty on the piano. I love this house, how, with each passing day, it feels more and more like home.
Friday evening we went downtown, had dinner at our favorite burger place (Bingo!), wandered, bought treats, and sipped coffee, all the while watching Colorado Springs stroll by in shirtsleeves, the last bit of warmth before the snow fell.
We woke up to single digit temperatures and my favorite hush and sparkle of snow, the kind that squeaks underfoot.
I made green chile (awww, sweet Paris) and margaritas, a mighty fine way to keep the chill at bay. Snug as bugs and happy as clams.
Happy Sunday!
Our dearest Colorado Springs friends trekked all the way across the street for a day of fun. I made chicken noodle soup for lunch, but it was difficult for everyone to eat because there were cookies RIGHT there and waiting to be decorated!
I decorated each cookie to order and could scarcely keep up with demand. More Colleen, more!! L only wanted pink frosting, E only wanted blue, and C (giving his best thumb’s up) only wanted white. Though they were each pleased with a wide variety of sugar and jimmy sprinkles.
Post cookie sugar coma. E was asleep with his eyes open, not watching television. I kid you not.
All done…
A super fun day!
Sunday afternoon, the Denver Botanic Gardens, every living thing humming along happily at its peak. We breakfasted at my Grandpa’s (Hello!). I made smoked salmon (from Alaska!) benedict on super soft challah, roasted asparagus, and a fruit cup of last hurrah strawberries, plums, and Palisade peaches. I was smart enough to think ahead, concocting the richer than rich hollandaise (the hubster’s FAVORITE breakfast topping) the evening before, no stir, stir, stirring while mad with hunger after our hour-long drive north. To use Grandpa’s word, it was “delish.” He liked my apple jelly, too.
We met our friend Rob (fun shot!!) at the Gardens, our first meeting since arriving back, ambling and snapping photo after photo, falling into our usual and quite wonderful routine. Mostly of details, nature front and center, some man made delights, too, we hold no prejudices.
Tags: Colorado, Friendship, Gardening + Nature
