Saturday, July 14, 2012

Backyard Changes

The monster arrives,....

and it's hungry.

"Jim and Becky's" is looking pretty good! new windows, insulation, and siding

Oops! Privet hedges weren't supposed to go, were they?

chomp, chomp, chomp,....

Hi! Mike Mulligan! When is that steam shovel,....

Monday, July 9, 2012

Thanks Emily

It was wonderful, Emily. to see and read your colorful account of snowboarding in New Zealand! So happy to have your post on the blog---keep them coming! You made my day!  Love, Yia-Yia

Emily - I second YiaYia's comments.  Add a video sometime.   Babbo

Thank You, Emily!

It was wonderful, Emily. to see and read your colorful account of snowboarding in New Zealand! So happy to have your post on the blog---keep them coming! You made my day!  Love, Yia-Yia

Emily - I second YiaYia's comments.  Add a video sometime.   Babbo

New Zealand Ski Trip

Well hello everyone.
As an unusual surprise, it's Emily making my first post here. About time, right? Well after a few incessant reminders from mum, I've finally sat down to post about the Ski Trip I just arrived home from. It lasted a week and myself and 30 others stayed in Wanaka, New Zealand. The town was relatively small and the people were lovely. The small amount of time we spent there and not on the mountain, however, was usually used for sleep and meals. The group was pretty flat out during our stay but it was definitely worth it.
Photobucket
I'm the one with the neon green/yellow ski goggles, second to the right in the first row

Cardrona was where the real action was taking place. We normally left early in the morning (around 7) and left the ski fields at 4 for full days of skiing and in my case, boarding. I managed to get a few photos as proof that I was there, and luckily I had enough memory on my multiple SD cards. 
Photobucket
Again, look for the fluro coloured goggles. 

The weather conditions were consistently ideal for each activity. It was freezing cold but I was wearing enough layers and was having too much fun to notice. Especially on the Wednesday when we spent the day in Queenstown after Jetboating in the morning. The view over the town from where we ate was amazing and luckily I got a photo on the gondola up the mountain.

Photobucket
I'm on the left in the front (which was the best seat since I got soaked every time the driver did a 360)
Photobucket
The view of Queenstown from our Gondola cart

All in all, it was a great trip and I can't wait until I get the chance to snowboard again some time.
Photobucket
Me on the Green run, McDougall's 

Saturday, July 7, 2012

July 4th


 Mom and I did the usual July 4th pancake breakfast in Jamestown followed by the parade - 5 minutes worth with local Kazoo band and fire truck with kids throwing candy - the little boy beside  us cleaned up as he was the only child in the area.  We then went up to Eldora - the town - where I had gone once briefly when exploring the area rather than ski in the wind.  Just out of town is the Hessie Trail (about 500 yards along is the townsite of Hessie - nothing left - must have been a busy valley about 1900 with two towns so close.  Mining b rough in a lot of people  We walked a bit.  I had a heart halter on - routine test - and wanted to see how the heart behaved at an altitude - I felt pretty good.  Then drove up to the ski area so I could get to almost 10,000  feet.

On the way back through Nederland we stopped at the Carousel.  It was going strong - almost full of riders.  Brought back some good memories of Rachael and Emily on the animals when they were exhibited in the library.


Hessie Trail - mountains are the back side of Eldora and the area they hope to expand into.


We took a ride and then went across the street for ice cream and ended up spending an hour and a half listening to music.  We like the first band with a sax better than the second all string affair.  It was a delightful relaxing afternoon in cool temps - mid 70s.  When we got down to Boulder it was in the mid 90s.  Watched a very good broadcast of fireworks from Washington - one of the best of those shows for a long time.  The fireworks went on forever - 30 min? and were beautiful and the popular music was very pleasant.


Last Thursday I went to Denver alone to see an art exhibit - Ives St. Laurent retrospective.  Denver was the only US stop.  I was pleasantly surprised at both the history the show reflected - he led/reflected ???? the changes in  women's dress style from 1955 when he started at Dior but especially after 1962 when he started his own place.  The relation of the artist to history - leading or reflecting changing ideas has always intrigues me.  I wasn't prepared for that in this show.  The over 200 dresses - many tuxedos and pant suits as he introduced them both for women - were interesting and again reflected the time period - lots of Picasso paintings on the material and influence from Chinese, Spanish, and other countries - the globalization of the post WW II era!

We want to thank Julie for forwarding the information  about Bunny Sayces's death on July 1st.  We have decided not to go back for the July 21st Memorial Service.  It is a hectic time here for us with several days of Presidential responsibilities for me.  Instead, we have tickets to fly east on Friday July 27 and hope to go to Concord to see Anne the 30 and 31st.  We'll then go to the shore from Concord if all goes smoothly.