End of Summer

We got up this morning to a bit of icy snow on the deck. The official end of a wonderful summer.

A recap of the summer of 2008:
We made time for art projects and fishing


We ate good food, took long bike rides, and listened to beautiful music




We visited old friends and ate sorbet with family after a hot-weather walk


We got caught up in the election and met patriotic sheep


All in all, a beautiful summer in a great place to be, the Rocky Mountains.

Visitors in the cold

The weather has turned cold and the little creatures living around us seem to want to come in and share our warm home. Caught these little critters today. The squirrel was actually on his hind legs, peering through the door, but when I opened my camera he was a bit startled, so I ended up getting him on the run.

The jay looks so clumsy on the little feeder and he scared away all the little finches and chickadees.

A Peacemaker in the White House

I received this postcard in the mail on Friday. It is from a dear friend who was moved to paint her first "political art." I am in awe of her artwork and totally agree with her sentiment so I thought I would post it here on my blog. Isn't it beautiful!

The Big Game

The big game for our family this season was the Colorado-Texas game, Colorado's Homecoming game, played last night at Folsom Field. We happen to be a "mixed" family, with ties to both Colorado and Texas and this adds to the excitement. The night before the game we took visiting family members to the Stampede on the downtown mall, a huge community gathering of football fans, players, the marching band, local celebrities, and lots of singing of the CU fight song.



The day of the game more family arrived, wearing burnt orange instead of black and gold. Dear husband and I wore our CU gear but also UT hats, signifying our divided allegiance but most of the family wore the Texas colors.

There were many, many Texas visitors at the game and they more than filled the visitor's section of the field.

Little brother was kept busy on the sidelines, sending in the plays.

The Golden Buffalo Marching Band, celebrating their 100th Birthday, entertained us at halftime with songs from all the decades. There's a very nice article on the band here.

There was time after the game for a bit of a family reunion which is always nice.
Even though we represent two schools, we can peacefully coexist.



That's one happy little brother/receiver's coach there! And just why was he happy? Because he got to see some of his family? Well, maybe a little. But the biggest reason:

At least it wasn't as bad as the last time we played!

Fading Summertime

As we rode our bikes around town this morning I realized that summer is fading quickly and autumn colors will soon overtake us. So with some sadness I looked back at a few of the beautiful summer flowers oldest daughter planted and tended this summer during her "Urban Parks" job with the city -- as a budding horticulturist. (Budding seems so appropriate for a horticulturist!) These were taken near one of the rec centers and at Chautauqua Park.

23 Years ago today

Twenty-three years ago today we had a church picnic that dear husband was in charge of. How did I remember this? Well...........this young lady was born that morning. Miss Mallory Theresa, our second daughter. Dear husband attended her birth, carried her to the nursery, then left to buy the hamburgers and hotdogs -- and cigars -- for the parish picnic!

Dear Husband is Elderly

Just read this article in local newspaper. Dear Husband is slightly depressed. He didn't realize that he's elderly.

Man faces felony after assault at CU-West Virginia game

By Vanessa Miller
Originally published 05:51 p.m., September 22, 2008
Updated 05:51 p.m., September 22, 2008

A 26-year-old man — who lives in Delaware and was in town last week for the University of Colorado-West Virginia football game — now faces a felony assault charge after CU police said he punched an elderly man in the face while inside Folsom Field.

Michael Streicher was arrested about 8:20 p.m. Thursday on suspicion of third-degree assault and crimes against an at-risk adult because witnesses told police that he was fighting with someone next to him and inadvertently punched a man sitting below him.

CU police Cmdr. Brad Wiesley said witnesses reported that Streicher didn't know the 63-year-old victim from Denver and didn't mean to punch him in the face.

The victim, whose name wasn't released, was bleeding from the mouth and was treated at the stadium for his injuries.

Streicher was taken to the Boulder County Jail. The misdemeanor third-degree assault charge was upgraded to a felony because of the victim's age, Wiesley said.

"Because the man is over age 60, he's classified as an at-risk adult," Wiesley said.