Bye Brett...

Brett's headed off to KY to chase bats. I hope he keeps taking pictures so that we can keep up with him. Amy, Tony and I bought him some gifts to help in his new career: a bat (for those rabid, attack-bats) and some glow-in-the-dark sparkle stars (for lighting up dark caves).


(Brett practices with his new bat)


Brett also demonstrated his "lighting-match-on-teeth" skills. I think those will come in handy in KY. At least until his teeth fall out. Then he can go back to using the zipper on his jeans to light them.



Brett, you've touched a lot of lives in Midland. Thank you for your sense of humor and your blunt honesty. It's refreshing - and we need more people in the world like you. Be well!

New bedrooms. Spoiled cats.

This weekend I half-lifted my self-declared garage sale ban. It was, after all, memorial day weekend in Caseville, which meant LOTS of BIG sales. How could I miss it? Regardless of the fact that I knew I'd be moving my household again in a few weeks (potentially closing just after the 4th of July), I decided buying a few more things couldn't hurt that much...

So, I outfitted my "bedroom" temporarily at Caseville with a rug and pillows - my bedroom being the chair right in front of the sliding glass door. Hey - it makes for a great alarm clock, the sun and the sound of the waves....



I returned from the weekend to find that Charlie and Gizmo found yet another bond. Charlie's newest method of spoiling Gizmo is to allow the kitchen faucet to drip. I don't know how he (Gizmo) is going to survive when he has to live with me alone...

Tennis and Baseball

Saturday: Tennis and Baseball in Hudsonville.

Kayla waits to catch a ball during Tennis games...


Kelsey shows her excitement over watching her siblings sporting events.


And Jordan shines at baseball (more pictures mostly because it's so much easier to take good pictures in that setting as compared to a wierdly-lit tennis facility!)

Track and Symphony

Tyler's track meet was fun.



Watch out - he's going to shoot!




After the track meet....a quick drive back to watch Nikki perform in concert with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra - her last (as of right now) concert before retiring.

Boulder, Day 3 & out: Challenge and Leaving

Well, I go from 3 posts on Sunday to one post for both Monday and Tuesday (travel day)....but that doesn't mean I took any fewer photos!

Jason and I started the day with Yoga at Chataqua Park, where he said we'd do a "pretty easy" 1.5-2 hour round trip hike up to Royal Arch. Here, he stands in front of the sign, with the Flat Irons in the background.


My yoga location: perfect.



The trek up to Royal Arch was a bit harder than Jason remembered (or maybe he was just being kind in saying that), so I was pretty happy to reach the top....except for my fear of heights that surfaced toward the end of our steep journey. Still, we got a couple of really cool pictures at the top:



...and on the way down as well...


After lunch (with an ill-advised margarita for cinco de mayo....remind me never to drink alcohol when I'm at risk of becoming dehydrated at altitude...it causes major headaches!) we saw this street musician who was very talented!


A ride up Flagstaff Drive produced more great photo opportunities...




And finally, Tuesday morning, the trip back to Denver to catch a flight back to good old Michigan. My trip to Boulder has spurred some deep thoughts about my life choices (food choices, environmental impact and value on nature, questions about space and waste....) and will definitely be on my list of places to re-visit!

Boulder, Day 2: Stamina.

Looking over Boulder from the summit....and starting back down when already tired...


A little beauty along the way makes the hike easier: a cactus hiding away.


On the road again - looks like more snow for the bigger mountains.



And....after an exquisite (and very filling) Indian meal, we stopped for one more quick hike just off the road to Boulder Falls - and Jason found us a beaver (the most interesting wildlife we saw on the trip - the blue bird was beautiful though!)

Boulder, Day 2: summit antics

We were happy to reach the top:


Jason and Helen....






No, Jason - DON'T JUMP!

Boulder, Day 2: the approach.

Day 2 was exhilerating - and exhausting - as we hiked up the mountains to view the great divide. We began with a view from Jason's window to inspire us:



Then a phenomenal brunch at the Tea House to provide fuel...


And finally on to the trek - preparation looks different in different camps; Jason appeared to feel that his arms needed warming up, while Helen worked on stretching out her legs.





Some views along the way....




The view from the top...

Boulder, day 1

My day started at 2 a.m. Boulder time (4 a.m. Michigan time)...but it was worth every minute of fatigue! Relatively uneventful flights preceded this awe-some drive from Denver toward Boulder - the rest of the day was just as beautiful!:






Falafel gyros with Jason and Helen next to the Farmer's Market.


A view of the mountains from the Colorado University campus.



Tulips in downtown Boulder.



Jason and Helen as we walked back to the car...