Fire on the Mountain

Well, I've no more neighborhood fires to report but last evening, standing out on my deck, I was looking at this cloud.  I had kind of a dirty look.  That wouldn't be strange on a stormy day but yesterday was a clear day.

I moved to get a different view and then I knew; there's fire on the mountain!

I went for a little drive and took this photo.

We had a fire on our mountain a few years ago.  It was close enough to drop ashes in our yard and we could see the flames from our home.  This one is further away and the wind is not likely to bring it anywhere near us.  There are homes and cabins up there, though. 

Once again, I am so grateful to those who fight fire!  The slurry bombers were already at work.  The helicopter was making drops as well.  Again, just so grateful.

Happy 4th of July

I'm really grateful that I'm an American.  

Actually, I wish the world wasn't even divided up into nations.  I wish rather that we all recognized ourselves as just part of the community of the Earth, never a situation where it is "us" against "them", never a day where someone suffers more because of the country where they live, never a time when we take from one country to give to another.

But, that is not the world we live in.

Through no effort of my own, I was born into a nation that offers to me a lot of opportunity and abundance.  I've never been without food.  I've never been in the  middle of a war.  I've always had choices.  This nation has its problems as well but 

I've always had a hopeful future.

For these things I am grateful.

Happy Birthday U.S.A!

Procrastination Pays... Sometimes.

This past week I tagged along to Colorado Springs with Mike.  He had a conference to attend and my work right now is portable, so I went along.  Here are some pictures from our ride down there...

I couldn't believe we were in snow in May, well, yes I can, but that didn't mean I thought it was right.  Luckily, after that first day, it was beautiful!

We took too long even deciding if we were going to attend and by the time the decision was made, all rooms at the conference hotel were taken.  So, I went on Priceline and tried to see where we could stay.  I'm not going to tell you how much time I spent on that project because you'd find out I have some kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder when it comes to finding hotel rooms.  I'm CRAZY but I enjoy it so who cares?

Anyway, I love staying in hotels, but I usually expect too much for what I want to pay.  This time, however, my expectations were not only exceeded but surpassed!  I decided to do the "Name Your Own Price" thing and hit the jackpot!  For $62 per night we got to stay at Cheyenne Mountain Resort.  It was only 6 minutes from the conference hotel, but so spectacular!  The first day I just sat out on an upper deck, looking out over a pool, golf course, little lake, and best of all, Cheyenne Mountain, all while crocheting my little heart away.  It was so peaceful and calm!

Our room was also quite lovely.  I was  impressed most with the personal reading lights built in to the headboards.  It doesn't take much to please me I suppose.  Really, though, that's pretty cool, don't you think?

And this is our own little deck where I ate my lunch....

And random photos from around the resort...

Even as I luxuriated, though, I thought of friends who are suffering.  It is such a strange thing, to feel so much happiness and distress at the same time.  I am acutely aware that all that is beautiful in my life can disappear in a blink.  I am trying to learn to live in a way that I will notice the good and the beautiful more, even when I am not staying at a posh resort.  I am so grateful for all that has been given to me.