It's Still Great to Live Here!

Here's a glimpse of the section of the Colorado Trail that I rode on Saturday with 3 friends. Kenosha pass to Georgia pass: 25 miles above 10,000 feet with a high point at 11,800. An unbelievable bluebird day with not a cloud anywhere in sight. The aspens were just coming into full color and it was a great reminder of why this is such a great place to be despite the worries about fire, drought, pine beetles, californians, etc.

Reid spent the weekend in Pueblo with the Casey Bike Club on a completely free weekend trip sponsored by the Sierra Club. He returned Sunday night exhausted and sunburned but happy. The club advisor was impressed that he was leading the advanced ride on Sunday- it's great that he's found something he's passionate about and has an outlet for it at school.

Mesa is off to outdoor ed. next week, so we'll get to enjoy some more of the glory of Colorado in september. We're all praying for more moisture so the fires will abate, but we realize that's just part of living where we do. I'm going to insert some more scenic photos from the weekend so you can travel vitrually on your computer!

Fire Update

The Fourmile Fire is now being called the worst fire in Co. history in terms of structures lost. Luckily we're not in the potential path of the flames, being in the city. We had a little rain this afternoon which helpled, but not nearly enough. The forecast is not good; rising heat and wind through the weekend. The smoke has been bad around our house because we're directly downwind- I've had to ride to work with a bandana over my face and the schools have had indoor recess. Rest assured that we, and our homes, are all safe. There's good up-to-date coverage and videos on the local paper website http://www.dailycamera.com/fourmile-canyon-fire/ci_16014546

Crazy, Flamin' Birthday!

This iswhat FourmileCanyon looked like around mid-morning on Reid's birthday! Humidity has dropped to around 5% and we're having a very windy day. This one looks like it could be pretty big- there are reliable reports of several homes lost already. We were enjoying a beautiful morning and the coller weather this wind is bringing in when Kate arrived back from her hike and pointed out the apocalyptic looking plume of smoke building behind Mt. Sanitas. Evacuations are widespread and the sky is a hazy orange or bluebird blue depending on w

hich way the wind is shifting.

We had a great little backpack trip down the Ceran St. Vrain Canyon on Sat. night- caught some trout and frie

d them and enjoyed some guy time.

Reid's wish for h

is birthday festivities was

to go on a bike ride with some of his buds and have a barbeque afterwards. Right now, we're waiting for the pulled pork to finish slow cooking and the big 11 year-old middle schooler is goofing aro

und on the trampoline

with his pals. He's h

aving a good transition to Casey, bu

t he's getting killed with homework, especial

ly Spanish because h

e's doing t

he bilingual program. Time to work on those time

management

and study skills! On

the posit

ive side, his new school is beautiful and he's making

new friends and getting involved with the bike club. I'm really sorry for the layout of this post, but blogger is driving me nuts! Hope you can read it!

Love, Rico

The boys chillin' at the campsite

The background is not clouds, it's smoke!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY TO REID!!!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Reid,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO

YOU!!!!

with love from the Blackwells

XOXO

Back at school

After a delicious return to Abbott's and dessert at Frosty Treat, we took Matt back to school where he is living in luxury at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house. Rugby practice started yesterday, classmates arrive next weekend, and so the year begins. We miss him.

Slacklining or just plain slackin'?

Photo Competition Update

Emily's entry in her school photo competition entitled "Rain Drop" (reprinted below) received a Commendation award yesterday at a very nice presentation ceremony. The number and quality of entries was remarkable - over 400 photos from students, staff and parents. The school principal scooped the awards (as he does every year - it's nice to know that he takes time out to pursue his other passion!), and the receptionist and Em's home class teacher also did very well. Several senior students received multiple awards, and Emily is already looking forward to next year's show!

Hope you're all settling back comfortably into the school year routine - hard to believe that Rachael has less than 3 months to go! Enjoy the last lazy days at the Shore, and let me know the results of the Fishbait Classic - with photos, please!!