Day 486

AJ helped the church security team this morning by checking doors in the canyon with Papa. This gave us a chance to get some pictures of AJ "graduating" up the canyon from elementary to middle school. It was also "off to camp" day for AJ. On the way, Nana and Papa took him to Fiesta Mexicana Family Restaurant in Woodland Park (a fave). Cheese Crispy and Deep Fried Ice Cream for the lad! Then on to Eagle Lake Camps where he'll spend the next week. There are 7 boys and 1 counselor in his Mohawk cabin. Among other things, they asked him what he was most looking forward to... kayaking and archery. Have fun, big guy! This evening, around the new mini fireplace, Matt and Jamie started listening to Project Hail Mary, the latest from Andy Weir who wrote The Martian and Artemis. Actually, Matt just finished the book and wanted to hear it again, right away.

Elementary in the background (including the tunnel).
He's climbed the stairs to Middle School.

Up at Middle School in the Solar System courtyard.

Day 485

The morning started with a walk to the park with Nana, AJ, Lexi, and all three dogs. The big event was a trip to Air City 360. What a hoot! "The 360" was the best! 

New courtyard layout...

At Air City 360... Just down the road.

The 360

After a very busy day.

Day 484

The day generally starts with an early morning visit from Lexi to check out the new plants, most importantly her pumpkin plant. This includes a yard check, front and back. All is well. This morning she also shared Tate the Snake which came home on the last day of summer school. The day may also start with coffee on the deck with Jamie's new mini fireplace. It was a pool day, too!

Day 483

Lexi and Nana generally start the day checking plants. Today was pruning, too, which led to a nice bouquet of flowers in the kitchen. In the midst of some errands, Nana and Papa visited Susho Ato for lunch. Papa got to try his new mini fireplace, FLIKR Fire, brought back from Santa Ynez. Pretty cool. Doesn't like any wind. Tonight's movies: Under Siege and Sum of all Fears.

Sushi Ato

Day 482

The big items today: swimming and grooming. The first for the kids and the second for the dogs. Lynn and Jamie gave the TV series Skinwalker Ranch (a History production) a shot. Nah.

It's fun to see Lexi literally throwing herself into water games.

Day 481

One last visit before leaving California... Jamie and Lynn met up with Uncle Jon in Goleta on the way to the SBA airport. Had a great hour-long chat about life, particularly life with newborn twins! On the way home from the Denver airport we found a very cool bar/restaurant in Parker, West Main Taproom and Grill. Try the Agua Fresca sometime (gin martini with cucumber, lime, and mint perfectly balanced). The BLT salad is fun and the fish and chips are pretty darn good, too. They've got 54 beers on tap. Why 54? Fifty-four 14ers (mountain peaks over 14,000ft) in Colorado. The actual number varies a little based on exactly what definition is being used. Ever hear of "topographic prominence?" All the photos for the entire 2-week trip are here.

Leaving Denver airport for home...

Day 480

And on the 5th we rested. Well, not entirely. Lots of cards, mostly rummy, including "progressive rummy," a new style to Lynn and Jamie. What "last day" on the Central Coast would not include a trip to Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream!? And following that, we got a tour of Norgrove Railway, a new 600mm gauge tramway going in just south of Arroyo Grande, CA. Karl, thanks for the tour! Jocko's (take out) and strawberries for dinner and wrapping up the day with some more rummy, progressive, of course. Matt left Colorado Springs for the Central Coast (CA) today to see a friend who seemed to be having another stroke. Fortunately, it turned out to be "recrudescence," a return of symptoms without an actual cause. The day's photos start here.

Norgrove Railway: a steam roller powered by steam.

Hannah's work

Across the street from Jocko's