Zoey + the Post Man

Zoey made a friend this year.  How nice is that!?

A Foot of Snow

It snowed all day and Chris got to test out the neighbors electric snowblower on our driveway.  

Snowshoeing

We got out for a couple hours of snowshoeing this morning.

Overlooking the Ranch.

Devils Thumb Ranch

We're Ranching it!  We're celebrating out friends 40th birthday at Devils Thumb Ranch this evening.  We came up yesterday to make a weekend of it.

Our Room in the Main Lodge.

Sitting area in the Lodge.

Hacked

Someone accessed our Kohls Account today and tried to order two $100 gift cards that were to be shipped to an Oklahoma City address.

Kohls caught it and stopped the order from being placed.  

Good reminder to change passwords often and not to store credit cards in your on-line accounts!  Lesson learned.

Family Breakfast

Hammond's Candies

Bath Time

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

       

Gone fishin'

Chris had to fish a 4th wire from the basement to our new Ecobee thermostat so we can heat and cool.

Birthday Boy

We walked to Ernie's for dinner tonight.  Ernie's gives you a $20 bar tab on your birthday.  We had the zeppole for dessert (pictured).

Dia de Los Muertos

I finished my skull in time for Day of the Dead.  I picked it up last week and it was fired only, no color.  I black washed it and added the color on the flowers at home.

It looks a little goofy to me in pictures.  Much better in person, I think.

Halloween in the Neighborhood

This house is a couple blocks away from us and our response to AGPERP's Halloween in the Neighborhood.

Happy Halloween!

We spent the evening at Cori & Bob's.  Each couple carved a pumpkin, we handed out candy to trick-or-treaters, ordered Chinese, and watched the Royals beat the Mets.

One More Liddy

Lydia's Big Day!

Lydia in her baptismal gown.

Later on with her pumpkin.

Liddy Bug

Lydia all dressed up for Boo at the Zoo.

Panda Pics

At the Brookfield Zoo today.

Sugar Skull Weed Pots

Erica went to a clay workshop today at EvB Studio.  Chris is a sickie and he rested and slept while Erica was away.

We started with a clay doll face that was formed from a mold.  It didn't look like this for long.  Each face was deconstructed - the eyes were hollowed out, the mouth was wiped away, and the various skull indents were added.

Silk flowers and lace were applied with casting Slip.  The flowers and lace will burn away during the firing process, leaving behind clay casts.

Holes were put in the top of the skull so it can hold flowers.  Once fired, it will need to be black washed.  Color can also be added.

Finished Concrete

It's been a little over a week since the concrete was poured and we started driving on the driveway today.

New and improved grade on the patio.  Next step is some clean up on the brick and getting a new railing.

An extra sidewalk section was removed and re-poured to get proper grade away from the house.

Out with the Girls (& Rob Thomas)

Erica was invited by a couple girlfriends to see Rob Thomas and Michael Franti tonight.  It was an acoustic set and we were about 15 feet from the stage.  Although not a super fan of either singer, it was a really good show!  Appetizers and a wine tasting were included too.

Rob was singing right to me.

Franzy & Alice

Our good friend Franzy is spending the night.  She is driving from Idaho to New Orleans with her friends dachshund, Alice.

We ate Blue Pan pizza on the patio and sat by the fire.

Golden

We drove into Golden for lunch today.

Three Amigos

Courtney Visits

On the 16th Street Mall

Larimer Street, outside Osterio Marco

Courtney is visiting for the weekend!  Tonight we went to Union Station's Terminal Bar for pre-dinner drinks and people watching, Osterio Marco for dinner, and Little Man Ice Cream for dessert.

Fresh Pour

They poured most of the driveway today.  Cori & Bob are having concrete work done down the street at the same time, so we assume we split a load of concrete with their job.  They are pouring the rest tomorrow.

Demolition

We're getting a new driveway, front steps, and front patio!  The driveway was cracked, spalling, and down to dirt in some spots.  The front steps were starting to crumble, and the front patio was cracking.  New concrete will also help get proper grade and drainage around the house.  The driveway has definitely sunk over time.

Final Farewell

I started a new job at a new company last week.  It has been a bittersweet transition, I worked with great people.  And, my old team threw me a little going away party at Topgolf on Saturday.  It was a lot of fun - Topgolf is essentially a fancy driving range with food and drink and target practice.  The balls are RFID'd for each player and you get points for sinking shots in the various targets.

Chris swinging a club after 25 years.  It's just like riding a bike.

The old work gang.

Last Weekends Work

Chris trimmed down the over fridge cabinet to fit with our new taller fridge.  We also trimmed out around the bottom of our new doorway.  Things are coming along.  Very slowly.  But surely. :)

New fridge and new pantry.  The pantry area looks more like an extension of the kitchen instead of just an odd space at the top of the back stairs.

Pantry Upgrade

Before: wire shelving

After:

We lost some pantry space, but we made up for it in looks.  And it couldn't fit better.