4th of July

These past couple of weeks have been super busy! Here's a recap of what we've been doing:

1) Building a deck. Actually, Thomas built it. It's beautiful and I love it! Now we can finally have friends over for backyard BBQs. Which we finally got to do Saturday night. 

2) Visiting with the in-laws. Tom's parents came to town for a few days. They mostly helped us with our deck but we were able to fit in some sightseeing. We headed to the summit of Pike's Peak! The highest paved road in North America. I think I am done with cliff hugging roads.

3) Celebrated the 4th of July. We headed to Frisco for the annual parade. It's a little town in Summit County just outside of Breckenridge. We met up with my brother Brian for the festivities. Declan had a blast watching the floats, howling with laughter and clapping the whole time. Afterwards, we headed back down the mountains to watch the Castle Rock fireworks from a friend's deck. Unfortunately, they only lasted about 15 minutes before a grass fire started and they called everything off. It's just too dry for fireworks here!

4) Visiting with friends. Now that Declan is getting a little older, I am trying really hard to expose him to as much "socialization" as possible. We've been hanging out with some of the neighborhood kids. Unfortunately, he is at an age where sharing isn't so much fun and there are always tears. He also seems to be playing the role of "neighborhood bully". Hopefully it's just a phase, but he likes to hit and push and it concerns me. Who knew 18 months would be so difficult. 

Now that the holiday is behind us, it's time to get back to the "real world". I plan on hitting the gym hard these next few weeks as I've been a bit of a slacker. I would post some more pictures, but my camera is on the fritz. One of these days I'll get it fixed and post a "final" deck picture. I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday!

Rocky Mountain High

Wow. I can't believe it's already mid-June. Before we know it, it's going to be end of the summer! Although, I can't say that I would be sad. I'm not a fan of Colorado summers. It gets so hot and dry here. Did you know that the atmosphere could get so dry rain can't fall? Seriously, we haven't seen rain in WEEKS. I always look forward to a good thunderstorm and every night I watch them pass right over us and head east. Boo.

These past couple of weeks have been jam packed.  My parents came out last week and we spent the week being tourists.  Declan and I were treated to a train ride through the Royal Gorge. I learned that it is not a good idea to bring a 17 month old on a 2 1/2 hour train ride. Thank god they served booze. On Thursday we headed up to the mountains for a weekend in Vail.  We decided to take a detour over Mt. Evans, the highest paved road in North America. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. We're talking cliff-hugging roads and tundra conditions. But the views it make it a worthwile day trip. 

We spent the weekend vacationing in a cabin alongside Gore Creek in Vail. It was so nice to get away. Except I am always sad when I leave the mountains. I love it up there. This weekend I swore that one day Tom and I would own a vacation home somewhere in the Rockies. Not sure how that's going to happen yet, considering the avg. cost of a home is well above 7 figures, but I'll keep you posted. Perhaps I'll invest in a lottery ticket or two.

On Saturday, Tom and I (and the pups) left little man with the grandfolks and headed to the Holy Cross wilderness for some hiking. We found a 4x4 trail and headed up (on foot!), and up and up and up...... I swear that trail was straight up the mountain, not a switchback to be found. I was pretty sure I was going to die.  However, the map guaranteed a deserted mining town (always cool) at the summit so I persevered. After 2 1/2 hrs of hiking uphill we came to a giant snowfield and could go no further. No mining town for us. We walked around a bit until I found bear poo and then headed straight back down. The ice cold beer waiting for us back at the cabin made the 7 mile hike well worth the effort!

This week I am preparing for a visit with the in-laws. Tom and I decided to build a deck and we've enlisted their help. I'll post pics as soon as we get our camera fixed!

Adventures in Landscaping

It's raining today. I have both love and hate for rain.

I love rain because it gives me an excuse to stay indoors all day and watch movies. Then again,  I hate rain because it keeps me indoors all day. I love rain because our grass desperately needs some water. Colorado was not meant to have green. I don't know why we insisted on laying down so much sod. It almost never rains here and the cost of water is astronomical (much like gas!). We have such tight water restrictions (once every 4 days) that our grass is always near death. 

Which brings me to my next complaint. Why in the hell did Thomas and I buy a home with no landscaping? We thought "Oh! It will be so much fun to landscape and make it our own!". We are idiots.  We are also idiots for buying a house on a 1/4 acre lot. I always wondered why people up in Denver buy homes so close together. Well, now I know! 

Do you know how much it costs to buy a damn tree? I grew up in MN. We have trees everywhere. Compared to Colorado it looks like the amazon rainforest. Therefore, I like mature trees. Thomas and I have 3 trees. Actually, 2. Because some little insect called the "Ash Bore" killed our 3rd tree. Now our maple isn't looking so good because it can't get enough water. You know you are old when your happiness is tied to whether or not the maple you spent $400 on is thriving. That and when you are dying to ask your reclusive neighbors how they keep their grass so green.

Anyhow, back to landscaping. We recently hired a designer to give us a plan to work with. I don't want to start throwing shrubs in the ground without having  a plan. I think she threw up in her mouth a little when I told her we only had about $1500 to spend on our yard this year. She works with people who drop $20K, minimum.

Since grass is so expensive to water we would like to do what is referred to as "Xeriscaping". Or, rocks. Lot's of rocks!  Well, that was until we were informed it was $250 to buy a large boulder-sized rock. Seriously?! We live at the foot of the ROCKY mountains. Why does some jackass get to sell what we are surrounded by naturally for that much money? Can't we just go ind our own rock? Thomas says we would need a forklift but I say "I married you for a reason now get to work!".

We also want to put in a deck or patio. Since hiring someone is out of the question on our budget we will need to DIY. However, we can't just run to Home Depot and get some lumber for the deck. With 100+ degrees in the summer and the 6800 feet closer that we are to the sun it will warp within a year. So, we have to buy composite decking. That shit costs $33 per piece! GAH! Our deck will probably be just big enough for a couple of chairs at that rate. 

So, I've given up my dream of a flagstone patio, retaining walls, a waterfall and koi pond in the backyard. For now I guess we will live with our dead ash tree, the dying maple, our sad little spruce and comatose sod. 

Next house we buy will require NO LANDSCAPING!