CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN

Isn't this a cool pic, Gypsy...that ole man-in-the-moon was just peaking out between the clouds

 

This is Kathryn's good friend, Deb.  She is the secretary at the Crestone Charter School.  We dropped in for a quick visit this week.

 

Do you see that tan area under that strip of blue?  Well, would you believe...that's sand...a bunch of it.  The next picture shows it a bit closer.  It's called the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

 

 

These huge dunes are North America's tallest. 

 

 

Near the dunes is Zapata Falls.  Enjoyed seeing these...nice and cool area.

 

 

Needed a quick cup of coffee and a homemade oatmeal cookie before our hike today. 

This was the coffee shop in Crestone.

 

Headed up the Willow Creek Trail...just a little tedious to get across.

 

 

So glad we had our walking sticks...We went from 8500 miles high to 10,000.  Air...Air...where was it!  Breathing hard!

 

Around Crestone there are rocks that remind me of a puzzle.  They are all stuck together with lava from many many moons ago. 

 

Climb Every Mountain...

 

 

I expected to see Maria from the "Sound of Music" run across that meadow any second.  The mountains were really bursting with music...in their own way.

 

The aspens are not changing yet, but still very majestic and beautiful.

 

Another email from Vannie...

 

Dear Gypsy,

This is my last email before I see you on Thursday.  I can hardly wait.  It has only been a little over two weeks, but it seems forever.  These last few days have been packed.  We were trying to get in last minute adventures.  As you can see by the pictures, we did pretty well.

Visited Crestone School

Listened to the rushing waters along Zapata Falls

Ooed and Ahhed over The Great Sand Dunes

Tasted a little bit of Crestone...coffee and Oatmeal cookies

Discovered Willow Creek Trail

We can't "climb every mountain" around here, but we gave it the ole one two.

Gypsy, you know one of my favorite movies is "The Sound of Music".  So here goes...

Climb every mountain

Search high and low

Follow every highway

Every path you know

Climb every mountain

Ford every stream

Follow every rainbow

Till you find your dream.

A little cheesy, but I can almost hear you singing it along with me.

We've had a fabulous stay in Crestone at Jay and Kathryn's house.  It was been a renewal from a busy summer around the Great Lakes. 

Stay cool and we'll see you soon.

Love, Vannie

 

 

 

 

 

FRIENDS...FOOD...FUN...

Just another face of the mountain from our patio in Crestone, CO

The Mighty Rio Grande...another river we've seen practically from top to bottom...We were on our way to Creede, CO.

 

Creede, CO

Such a precious little community

 

On the way to Pagosa Springs, CO

Look, Gypsy...Aspens...There is a little orange on the top left, and, of course, the yellow in the center.

The scenery...magnificant

Makes you wonder how the pioneers did it without roads and tunnels...

 

On the road to our friends, Grace and Richard...They live out...and I mean way out from Pagosa Springs.

Grace and Richard

 

More BFF's...Jennings and Cindy.

 

Stopped to see this elk on the way back from Pagosa...He was a nervous Nellie...probably because he was fenced in.

Dem Bones...Dem Bones...Dem Dry Bones

 

Back to the sofa and Kit...Ahhhh

 

Good Morning, Everyone...I was checking my email this morning and finally got one from Vannie.  With all the flooding in Colorado, I was getting a little antsy.  But they are fine and are having a grand time relaxing and visiting old friends.  As for me, I'm trying to stay out of trouble.  There are spies lurking everywhere around here.  I did stay up late one night this week.  I got to talking to the two airstreams on either side of me, and before you could say Jack Robinson, it was midnight.  I am definitely too old for that.  Well, I'm yakking too much.  You guys want to hear how V and D are doing.  So here is their email.  Enjoy!

 

Hi, Gypsy...I decided it is easier to send an email.  The connection with the phone is so iffy.  The weather is been rainy most days since we last talked.  No flooding around here, though.  We did drive over to Creede, CO one evening this week to see a play.  Tickets compliment of Jay and Kathryn. (A big thank you to them) We met up with our friends, Grace and Richard Qualls. I love seeing how small community theaters can pull off productions of this magnitude. The play was Around the World in 80 Days.  Awesome!  I taught with Grace "way back when" at Broadmoor Elementary in Lafayette.  They come out here during the summers and spend the winters in Lafayette.  They live out a long winding dirt road outside of Pagosa Springs.     We followed them back to Pagosa...ate out...slept over...visited.  Great times!  After we left Grace and Richard's, we met up with our friends, Jennings and Cindy Hamilton.  We met them for lunch at a restaurant in Pagosa.  Jennings is the pastor of the Bloomsfield Baptist Church in New Mexico.  We originally knew these friends from East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette.  More fun times!  On the way home from Pagosa, we stopped at this ranch that sells all kinds of elk, bison, and deer stuff...frozen meats, jerky, sausage, and more.  We didn't buy much, but did enjoy seeing everything.  We were pooped when we got back to Crestone.  Kit was very glad to see us, and we were glad to see him.  See you soon...and stay out of trouble.  You know I have spies!!!!

Love, Vannie

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

 The Many Faces of the mt......Never seem to get tired of looking at it.  This colors are magnificent. 

 

 

 

 

Kathryn & Jay's house...We are loving our housesitting job, but are missing you.

 

Crestone Artist Alliance

 

One of the many temples around Crestone

 

Kit watching me exercise.  You would love Kit, Gypsy.  Reminds me of Tinker (New Mexico Kitty)

 

Rio Rancho Buddies...Helen and Loretta...came up for the weekend

 

Salida is a sweet little town north of Crestone.

 

 

Dave might have found his calling...Punch Fiber Art

 

 

 

You can run, but you can't hide.

So glad you were behaving yourself...One of our spies took this pic of you and sent it to us. 

 

Vannie:  Hello...Gypsy, It's me!  Pick up the phone!

 

Gypsy:  Hello...Van...Hello..Can you hear me?

 

Vannie:  The connection in the mountains is not too reliable some days.  Can you hear me now?

 

Gypsy:  You are cutting out on me?

 

Vannie:  OK...I'll call you back later in the week.  Hope the pictures uploaded on your phone.  Luv ya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEAR GYPSY...COLORADO 2013

Picnic at a rest stop...still in Texas...still HOT

 

New Mexico...Capulin Volcano sighting

Decided to take a side trip to visit this spot

 

V and D walking around the rim of the volcano...Cooler

 

Another side trip...just a cool rock formation between La Veta, CO and Cuchara, CO

 

Same formation...just up close and personal

 

Vannie sharing a cold one with a local in Cuchara

 

View out the back of Kathryn and Jay's house...Crestone, CO...Even Cooler!

 

Each view was like a painting

 

Early morning from the patio

 

late afternoon from the patio

 

early morning from the front porch

 

Dave lovin' the cake at the little church we visited in Saguache, CO 

Well, it is about time!  Finally got an email from V and D.  I thought they had fallen off the face of the earth.  They are on their way to Kathryn and Jay's in Crestone, CO.  They are housesitting for them for two weeks.  I'm staying in Hillsboro...just need the next rest.

Dear Gypsy,

I know you have been worried sick about us.  I don't know where the time goes.  Anyway, we are doing great...as you can see by the pictures.  The trip out was very eventful.  We decided to make several side trips, and they proved to be wonderful.  Capulin Volcano was awesome.  I had been there before many years ago, but this was the first time for Dave.  We hiked down in the crater, and then did the hike around the rim.  You probably could hear our huffing and puffing all the way in Hillsboro, but we made it, and it was worth every slow and painful step.  The scenery was breathtaking. 

Our next side trip was to La Veta and Cuchara...both in Colorado.  Gypsy, what a find!  It was like driving into a fairyland.  Precious...Precious...Precious!  Every place you turned God had done His magic.  Our God is an Awesome God!!!

We did have some excitement in Alamosa, CO.  We were staying at the Grizzly Inn...small and cheap!  Around midnight we heard a big commotion...like screaming, running, yollering!  Then there were cops all over the place.  Then the ambulance arrived.  I was peeking out the curtains...crazy...cops had a man up against their car, a man was on the ground, a girl was screaming.  Finally the ambulance left with the hurt man...he seemed to be still alive.  One of the cop cars headed out with the other man and the screaming girl.  All of this happened right outside our window.  Needless to say, it was hard to get back to sleep. 

Headed to Kathryn and Jay's the next morning no worse for the wear.  Just another interesting tale on our journey.  So glad to get to Crestone.  Just a beautiful beautiful place.  We are right at the base of the Rocky Mountains...Sangre de Christos Range.  This is the same mountain range that we see between Red River, NM and Taos.  Just like an old friend. 

Kathryn and Jay were glad to see us, but they were ready to head out on their much anticipated vacation.  They briefed us on the cat (Kit), the food in the fridge, the solar system, the generator, the mailbox, and friend's phone numbers.  We bid them farewell and safe travels and began our relaxing.

Yesterday (Sunday) we called one of Kathryn's friends and found out about her church, Church in the Valley in Saguache, CO.  It was about 45 minutes away, but it didn't start till noon.  That meant we could continue with our relaxing a little longer.  They were having a special 20th Anniversary celebration. There would be singing, preaching, and food....our kind of gathering.  We loved every minute...made lots of new friends and felt blessed and loved when we headed back to Crestone.

Ok...Gypsy, that's about it for now.  I'll try not to wait too long for the next note.  Try to stay cool!
Love ya bunches,
Vannie

THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON ME

You know...there's Texas, and then there's Texas...This is almost too much Texas!

The spires of Baylor University in Waco, TX

That's Dave...Relax is his middle name!

 

Dave and Grandson, Vincent

Vannie and Granddaughter, Madeline

 

Fresh Rhubarb Pie...Rhubarb brought back from Minnesota

Vannie was taking this to the pot-luck supper, and Dave said he needed to make sure it wasn't poison!

 

 

As you can see, we are back in the great state of Texas....North Texas Airstream Community...Hillsboro, Tx.  We really love it here.  Everyone is so friendly and helpful.  I especially love having all the other airstreams surrounding me.  It just tickles my fancy!!!

 

One of the first things Vannie did, after we got settled in, was to create one of her "Art Abandonment" pieces.  I think I told you about this special Facebook group.  Members create pieces of art and abandon them....always with a little note explaining the process.  Vannie decided to go totally Texas with the abandonment...Texas shoes.  While she and Dave were eating at a Denny's in Waco, she decided to abandon her shoes on the sidewalk right in front of the restaurant.  Vannie told me that she saw two older ladies at a booth in the restaurant.  She believes that one of them was probably a history teacher and is going to loves these shoes.  Sometimes I wonder about Vannie.  She makes stories up about these shoes and then just leaves them places.  Whatever floats your boat...I guess!  Baylor University was right around the corner from Denny's, so V and D enjoyed driving through the campus.  They said is was beautiful.

 

Dave has been getting in some serious relaxing.  He has also gotten several spruce-ups done on me.  I did need a little attention in several places.  Even through Dave loves to relax, he does love a good project, too.  I seem to always have plenty to keep him as busy as he wants to be.

 

Vannie and Dave had to take a quick over-nighter to Austin to see their daughter, Emilie, and her family.  They came back with all kinds of good news...Madeline's walking, Vincent is starting pre-school, Roy got to go to the Saint's game in San Antonio, and Emilie is driving a red

Mercedes.  I said...MERCEDES!  Vannie said, "Yes, Gypsy, it's not brand new, but it is still very nice."  I can't wait to see it.  I think a little red Mercedes sitting beside me would look really smart!

 

There was a pot-luck supper here at the park tonight.  Vannie made a fresh rhubarb pie.  The rhubarb was given to her by her friend, Darlene Ashley, in Minnesota.  Vannie didn't bring a bite of it home after the supper.  When she was baking it,  the smell was breath-taking.  I was really wishing I was a wee bit human, so I could sneak a bite.

 

Vannie and Dave are off to Colorado tomorrow.  They are going to be house-sitting for Vannie's cousin, Kathryn.  I'm staying here in Hillsboro.  I really don't mind a bit.  Being on the road for three months has taken it's toll on this ole gal.  I need more than five days to get myself back in shape.  They will be emailing, calling, or Facebooking, so I can still keep you posted as to what's going on.

 

Goodnight, Friends