Los

So - onward and upward.  I arrived in Los Alamos and was happy to kiss my honey.   The plan was for him to "work" at Los Alamos (though he's not geting paid) to get some encouragement and camaraderie - and that went well.  Things are progressing well with his work.  He was a "guest scientist" and can now use the name of the institution on his papers, etc.  He'll most likely come back next year with good vibes all around.

Connie Witt (AND Larry - but he happened to be not at home) are SUCH good friends for allowing us to hang out at their condo WHENEVER we are in LA - whether they are at home there or not!  They are SO appreciated.  


I feel a fool (well THAT'S not new) because of COURSE I went to visit Jonathan and Victoria and Cael - but did I take photos???  Nooooo.   But it was great to see them, and I'm sure I'll see them again so I can adjust my lack.  The weather has been fine wherever we go.  I took some pretty spectacular photos of the sunset over the mountains - and even that didn't do it total justice, but it's not bad from the front windshield while driving up the mountain, huh?

  Connie was spending time with her grandkids the last few days before they had to go to school, and I was allowed to play with them, too!  We did several fun things - like play mini-golf and go to the rodeo.  (Yes, there IS a rodeo in Los Alamos - for what it's worth.)  So, even though I don't have photos of my grandson, Cael, I have photos of Connie's grandkids!  Sorry, buddy - doesn't mean I don't love you!

Here's a few of my favorite photos of the rodeo.  They had all the events, so above is the junior bull-riding.  I don't know ANY of these people.  The little girl on the right was SORT of entering the watermelon-eating contest.  She was still munching away, one delicate bite at a time, WAY after the winner was announced.

I think this is a very clever horsey costume from the clown who was trying to entertain in an interval between events.

 This is my favorite photo of the barrel riders.  I have one of a gal who was much more intense, but I just love the juxtapoition of colors in this one.

Here are Addy and Coulter with me at the mini golf/ playground.  Why in the world did I not get a photo of Connie???  I think I will go find an old photo and put it in here.  And since I'm up to that, I'll find one of Jonathan as well. 

 THERE we go! - That makes me feel a bit better.  And, I promise that I will get REAL photos of them before this trip is over.  Meanwhile this reminds me that I better get some photos of where I am NOW.  All I have so far is this funny bunny photo of my great nephew Forest.

While in Los Alamos, we visited lots of friends and ate quite a bit.  While we were dining at Carol and Ed Storms house in Santa Fe, they shared their hummingbirds with us - they were quite prolific!

And, in looking for things to do, I found a little group at a craft shop where I shared the entrelac I am working on at the time.  I haven't decided if I'm turning it into a blanket or a stole for me.  Whaddya think?

OK - NOW I'm off to go take some phtoos of the rest of the folks HERE - so I can include them in the next blog.  I'll see you in another week or two.  Love and light and don't forget to write.

Kathy

OK, OK, I'm still here.  My excuse for not blogging is just that we haven't done anything really exciting, although we've done fun things - they are the kinds of things that we all just do in a day-to-day life.  But OK, OK, I'll put it down.  Maybe if I include a lot of photos, it will LOOK exciting!  

After Michigan, we stopped in Cleveland, Ohio, to visit Chris' long-time colleague Bill Harter and his wife, Carol.  We had about three days with them, and while Chris and Bill talked science, Carol and I went looking for things to do.  We played tennis one day, went antique shopping one day (sorta) and did some just hanging out.  

Here's Carol posing with a giant shoe chair - I especially thought of Jackie Ostilla with this one.

Chris had a MUCH more positive reaction with Bill than with the Candian guy. Bill was quite intrigued with what Chris was doing and they discussed it diligently.  That helped Chris keep a more positive approach.  Yay!

Travelling back across country from Ohio to Colorado is no big deal for us, as we get along well even in confined spaces, but this first day it was no fun!  First we had a half-hour traffic tie-up and then we had a TWO HOUR parking lot - both because of overturned trucks!  

And, going through Iowa and Nebraska there is almost nothing but corn!  I tried to get some photos of the interesting patterns on the cornfields, and believe me, I took myriad photos, but this is the best I got.

We got back to Fort Collins, and Chris left the next day to head to Los Alamos where he would be "working" (but not getting paid) at the National Science Laboratory as a "guest scientist".  I stayed in For Collins for the week to play with the grandies.  That was great for all of us, I think.

Lily is going to be five in September.  Jude just turned three.  Owen is one and a half and is NOT happy about being held this way - trying to wriggle out!

Here is the biggest kid of all - my goofy Aaron!

I tried to bring some kind of project
for them to do every day - here Lily is making door
 hangers  from a foam kit for each of the kidlets.

 

Owen is playing Fire Fighter on the back patio.

LOOK at all that curly hair! 

On this day I took sticker books for Lily and Jude.  Jude is totally engaged,, and Lily worked really well, but at this moment, she is playing with the pipe cleaners and strainer that I brought for Owen to play with.  Owen had lost interest and was goofing off on his own.

               

It's no wonder they have gorgeous kids, right?        Lily is a sweetie and she loves her Tutu

After a week of play, I drove down to Los Alamos to meet Chris. It's an eight-hour drive, so I stopped often since I was driving alone.  I stopped to get petrol, to have lunch, to buy munchies to keep me awake, to have a little snooze, and to take photos.  So it actually took me nine and a half hours.  One stretch of the road is called "The Cosmic Highway" and I was tickled with this sign.  I loved the bikini on the alien!  Well, it IS summer time, ya know, so what did I expect??? 

I stopped at another place to get gas, and take photos of the BIG birds in front: 

The big chicken!

The big flamingos!

There was a big  pelican, too, but my photo wasn't very good.  

And the best bit is that it's called...

So this is for my sister, Joyce - does it count???

I'm going to stop here, just so people won't think I've dropped off the face of the earth.  I'm not caught up yet, but I'll continue working on it and then maybe you'll get to read TWO blog posts in as many days.  Whaddya say about THAT?

Love and light,
Kathy