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,....

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.

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. 

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.

I'm on the left in the front (which was the best seat since I got soaked every time the driver did a 360)

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.

Me on the Green run, McDougall's 

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.

New York events and Colorado Alert

We have our own fire - view from North Boulder Park Looking South to flatirons.  South Boulder on evac alert -Rico's school's neighborhood.  

One hour later - 6:30 p.m. -  same view.  We've had clouds and a bit of rain during the day.  I was parking the car just off east Pearl at 1 for lunch and saw lightening flashes to the south and west - fire started about then from a lightening bolt.  It is tinder dry - no rain in weeks.  Yesterday's ( and this afternoon's storms are erratic and drop rain in different spots - we got none yesterday but 10 blocks away - our lunch friends had puddles when we took them home.  thew we got a soaked deck about 7:30 but very little rain hit the grass - the leaves got it all!
The fire looked much more under control; this morning but we have not checked anything this afternoon.  It is almost 5 and the Kelloggs are coming for an inside - we think - picnic.  The temp this afternoon went down to 88 - 90s this a.m. as every day since we got back except for one.  Tied the 102 record last Sunday.  East Coast get ready - we're sending it your way I'm afraid.

Grad and grandparents - it was a lovely event and a very nice dinner afterwards.

The family.

Nice sun set - wrong photo!

Toasts at dinner - it was very well done as the siblings spoke first and then the  two grads.  A fine end to a nice day.

Grad party time - afternoon to be followed by

evening.  Our grad is up in the air!

We'd stayed an extra day to enjoy the jump out the window ritual at Julie's kindergarten end of year picnic.  Lots of fun orchestrated by a great teacher.

Happy Father's Day! Early Summer Catch-up

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

I loved reading about Matt's huge Spring Term and big congratulations to Sarah on her graduation- Well Done!

Queso keeps getting bigger!

It already seems like summer's been going on for a while now at the Kellogg house, and I guess it has!

I returned last week from a solo voyage to Jackson, WY and Hailey, ID to visit the old college buds, Scott and Spike. I rode my bike a lot; probably 100 miles of the best singletrack I've ridden. It was very nice to catch up and see what those guys are busy with. Scott founded the first private high school in Wyoming, and he just graduated his 6th class of seniors- 22 kids; the biggest class yet. I loved hanging with his 2 cute kids and his wife, Mollie in their comfy house in the Snake River bottomlands just south of town.

Spike and Liz are both super-active and busy as usual up in Hailey. Spike just started an international land use and conservation consultancy and Liz is doing some incredible high-level work in international environmental law. They're both thriving up west of Hailey in a comfortable modern green-built home nestled against the foothills with a view of the Pioneer Mountains which Spike has been integral in helping preserve. We had some great meals together and we rode a lot- check it out: Epic mt. biking with Spike in Ketchum

Catching bubbles is a favorite pastime

While my trip was going on, Reid was off on an Alaskan cruise with Jerry Grant's wife, Jane. Jerry and Jane were supposed to go as a couple, but Jerry was not feeling up for it, so Jane invited Reid- Lucky guy! He came back with tales of the glaciers, orcas, lumberjack shows and epic feasting. He also shipped back a 20 pound salmon he caught which we've been enjoying. . returning, he's been immersed in his SMBA (Singletrack Mountain Bike Adventures) team, putting in long days and lots of miles getting ready for his first race in Crested Butte this week

It's been a hot summer, and we've already had one bad fire, setting a record for property damage in the state in just one week. We're keeping cool with our membership to the Elks Club Pool- the best pool deal in town and a nice place to hang out.

Chillin' at the Elks Club pool on a 90+ degree day

Little water sprite

Father's Day hike

Queso learned how to drink from a sprinkler- and stay in the shade. Boden finally pushed himself to go for it off the medium slopestyle feature at the bike park and Kate and I took Reid to his first real concert; Michael Franti and Spearhead at red Rocks. June has been good and we're looking forward to what the rest of the summer holds!