The Living Room Seating Problem ... Solved!

We've purchased our first couch! And love seat! And ottoman!


(see the tufts of white kitty fur/the kitties have laid claim already)

This goes to show what surfing Craig's List with two Benjamin Franklins will get ya!

A Little Project

I used simple supplies found at Wal-Mart


to transform this kitchen window...


...into this!

As it turns out...

Deer eat Columbines!

Well, I learn something new everyday!

Rocky Mountain Springtime

We've gotten a lot of rain lately. Last week, almost every day it rained (and it's sprinkling a little right now, actually). As a result, the ground is becoming greener by the day.

This picture was taken while on a hike up yonder hill. My camera takes really good closeups. These tiny plants are growing out of a cut tree stump by a creek.



Another image from the same hike. The meadows are filling out nicely.


My husband looks so handsome getting ready for work.


The waterfalls are the most humid places around here. This one is the same waterfall pictured here just 2 months ago.



I'm working on building a garden bed in the front of our house.


I've planted Columbines,


And Cat Nip.


This is what it looks like today:


I've scattered wildflower seeds and lined the border with treasures found on our hikes. We have a very short growing season up here, so I'm experimenting this year.

Amazing A Capella!!

Wow-ee WOW!!

THE VOCA PEOPLE:



THE SWINGLE SINGERS:

...and a whole mess of doggy-bags

How do you [with sanity intact] shop and cook for one and two people? I'm thinking of my sisters and friends who live alone; and childless couples like my parents, and ourselves. Cooking for one and two is a real challenge, especially when trying to use up fresh ingredients and refrigerated leftovers before they go bad. It doesn't help that in most grocery stores it's cheaper per pound to buy one humongous bag of carrots over one lone carrot. And why can't I find a 6-pack of cage-free eggs anywhere? I always have to buy twelve.

It would make a lot of sense if we gathered our smaller households together for weekly meals, to share menu ideas and food surplus, especially since Americans throw away half the food they grow. Honestly, food is something we all have to stop and consider throughout our busy days, so why not make it a bigger priority to manage our food better? If not for the health of the world, think of it as an investment in our physical well-being. Both are great reasons.

The Top of the World

It is necessary to do a lot of exploring, since we have national forestland surrounding our neighborhood.



There is a place the locals call Gog & Magog, although I'm not sure how it gets its name. Gog and Magog are found in several ancient folk traditions, referenced as being giants or supernatural beings or the respected lands of these creatures.



Our Gog & Magog is located north-west of Manitou Springs, at the base of Cameron's Cone.



We plan on hiking up Cameron Cone when we have the same days off again.