Day 202

Another smoky morning, this time from Colorado's own fire up north. Never thought I'd like a purple pumpkin, but there you go. Nana and Papa had a little wine and charcuterie with her book club friend Denise and family for dinner. They shared a wine with us we'd never had before, Calluna (Chalk Hill, CA). Held up nicely to the Regusci Black Knight we started with. For the last week or so, AJ has been joining me out by the fire pit in the evenings for a bit. He likes the warmth of the fire in the cold air (so do I). A couple of times he's sat down and chatted for a few minutes. I often find myself asking him "how'd you know that?" We were talking about various kinds of government, and then he said, "like in Hamilton?" Exactly! Lastly, Fina's packaging the masks she made for her cohorts' homecoming party that they are throwing for themselves.

Day 201

Really crisp view of the mountains as the sun rose this morning. Prep for the Presidential Debate tonight was mostly about food, drink, and games. Fina came up with the game. While the debate roared on, Jamie taught tonight's session for his God Is Good course: Exodus/Moses Part 2. Tonight's movie (for Jamie and Lynn) was Joy, an interesting movie about a single mom that develops a new mop and works to get it perfected, manufactured, and sold.

Day 200

Day 200. Think of that. I fear for this country's soul. First really pretty view of the mountains for a few weeks now that all the smoke has dissipated. We visited Atmosphere Gastropub on Interquest for lunch today, first time in quite a while. It really is a foodie kind of place, and they make a great Old Fashioned. Reasonable prices, too. There weren't enough customers there today, so go sometime, soon. Lexi's been taking tennis lessons for a few weeks now. Papa and Matteo went fishing after school today. Matteo fished, Papa listened to Prager. I don't remember the name of last night's movie, and that's perfectly OK. Chiefs won!

Day 199

Off to church first thing in the morning. The volunteer effort was focused on Kids Ministry today, but the weather turned so cold nobody wanted to hang around outside to chat. Vaqueros for lunch (I love the Pollo Chipotle). Tonight's movie: Set It Up (pretty cute).

Dinner is served!

What are they looking at?

Two puzzle day

Day 198

While Matt took some of the kids fishing, Jamie did his Parlor Car Chat session on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight and Great Lodges, a trip he and Lynn took with the Underwoods back in 2016. Meanwhile, preparations continue for tomorrow's church school program including homemade playdough. And Fina continued work on the masks for her cohorts own self-executed Homecoming Party. Oh, and Matteo caught a fish big enough to keep so he and Matt cleaned and prepped it today (with champagne, lemon juice, and seasonings) for cooking another day. Tonight's movies, How Do You Know and Like Father.

Day 197

Fall decorations are sprouting up on Nana and Papa's side of the house. And still more to come and get finished. We visited three more homes on the Parade of Homes today (this is the last weekend). Horse day for Jamie. 

Day 196

David got his casts on today to start the process of fixing his "walking on his toes" issue. This will adjust the length of tendons or something like that. Matteo went fishing after school today (Monument Lake). It was one of those days. Cast after cast, renewed bait after renewed bait, lure and/or live, deeper out, closer in, for nearly 2 hours. Sometimes lucky, mostly not. Every nibble keeps him going. But... It was fun. An abiding fun. There's a life lesson here, I think, that Matteo is learning. Actually, I think he's got this. Now, whenever we tell Matteo that "he's got this," he understands something about what it takes. Even when the reel breaks.

Had the lake practically to himself.

Day 195

Only 5 days away from 200. Think of that. Another day of a few dentist and doctor trips, but tomorrow is the biggy for that. Fina spent 2.5 hours at a Goodwill with some cohorts today. AJ's still into his dance class. Curtis (CA) and Denise (TX) stopped by for lunch today. They've been doing a little getaway visiting places like the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Today they swung through Colorado Springs, visited the new Olympics Museum, and had lunch with Jamie at the Club. 

Day 194

The only action shot caught from today was reading time with the twins right after school. The quilt pictures were actually from a previous day. The wedding folks, by the way, are in Breckenridge for the next few days presumably doing lots of hiking. Jamie did the Exodus/Moses Part 1 session of his Tuesday evening God Is Good course.

Day 193

Not long after getting all the kids off to school we hear that Tracy is on her way to the ER with the baby. He's been radically fussy lately and things don't feel right down by his hernia surgery of a while ago. Took all day to find out; turns out he has another similar issue and he's got a surgery consult on Thursday. Meanwhile, Lynn has dolled up the "wedding limo" (Regusci's van) for the big day. Eric and Alex are tying the knot (literally, as it turned out) at Garden of the Gods.

This is quite clear compared to the last few smoke days.

More Fall color added.

Lynn's wedding limo accents.