We explored Pagosa Springs today.  It was sunny and warm with a bit of a cool breeze.  There is still snow in the mountains...just on the tops of the tallest peaks.  I've tried but I cannot get my photos to upload on this laptop.   

Everywhere we look, there is a beautiful view.  The people are friendly.  We all ended up doing some jewelry shopping.  I got a pair of earrings--brass lizard chasing its tail with some inset stones--lapis, turquoise, and mother of pearl.  At another store I found a "pinky" ring with similar stones set in a silver band.  The "story" is that it is the same jewelry that they sell in Santa Fe, but at cheaper prices.  I love the pieces I got, so it doesn't really matter.

Last night we ate at Bogey Q.  It is a putt-putt golf course that also has a small restaurant that seves BBQ. They have a small beer garden out in the back where a live blues band was playing.  It was a good time.  They just added the BBQ and were working out a few "kinks" but that was fine with us.  We enjoyed the music and staring off at the mountains in the distance...and talking to each other.

Tomorrow we have an early start.  6:45 we head out to do the Durango-Silverton train trip.  Tuesday is a hot air balloon ride.  Not sure what we will do Monday.  We have quite a few options.

My parents arrived at our house about 5 PM.  I fixed a quick supper.  We talked about different things we want to do.  Added Los Alamos to the list.  Not sure what order we are going to do things. Part of it depends on the weather...which sounds like it will be chilly, even during the day.

We made it to Dodge without any major disasters.  We ate supper at Applebee's.  I had the California Shrimp Salad which was excellent.  After we ate, we walked around "Boot Hill"...which has replica buildings and a museum.  Unfortunately it closed at 5 PM so we just looked from the outside.  It was still some fresh air and exercise after sitting in the car for about 10 hours today.  It looks like another 10 hours to Pagosa Springs tomorrow.

Wednesday, Sons arrived.  The 2nd book in the Good Earth Trilogy. I brought it with me, but I don't know how much time I'll have to read.  

Tomorrow I have to get all the t's crossed and i's dotted...so I can start my summer.  Because ready or not, Thursday morning, I'm headed west with Dennis and my parents.  I thought I was packed until my mom told me the 10 day forecast for "out west".  I need to pack warmer clothes.  

After work today, friends stopped by for a 4 o'clock club.  Lots of laughing and chatting and snacking and sipping wine.  Girlfriends are the best. I'm lucky to have a gaggle of them.

Last night we had some heavy rains and winds. The power was out for a while.   .9" in the rain gage.  My peonies and irises were flat this morning.  I am not complaining because it could have been so much worse.  Prayers for the people in Moore OK.  We also talked about Joplin MO and the destruction of a tornado...it just defies description.  

 I took a quilt my mom pieced by hand to the Methodist Church quilting ladies.  They will start working on it soon.  I hope to stop in a few times this summer and  do a bit of quilting on it myself.  I have a long list of things that I want to do this summer.  We'll see how that all works out. Reading, sewing, scrapbooking, quilting, swimming, cleaning, organizing...and also relaxing.

Last night, about dusk, Dennis was walking around our back yard (talking on the cell phone with kids) and saw something that looked like a rats tail disappear under the Big Gas Grill (that is up on bricks).  He called me...to bring out a broom and flashlight.  He had a big white bucket in the yard.  So I used the flashlight and broom stick to poke around under the grill until the possum came out and Dennis caught him in the bucket. He was hissing and acting vicious.  You know, like possums do.  We must be getting soft in our old age, because instead of killing it, Dennis put the bucket in the back of the truck and dumped him several miles south of town.  

It's stormy here.  Not like in Oklahoma.  Prayers for all effected by the tornadoes.

I feel like I need some humor...so this is the funniest complaint to arrive in my office today (it was before school even started).  

"My waistband hurts."    Nothing in nursing school prepared me to deal with these medical emergencies.  

At 2:30 this afternoon it was 91 degrees outside & 79 degrees inside...which equals= turn on the air conditioner.  Dennis has been mowing the lawn in spurts; alternating mowing with cooling down time inside.  The peonies are looking good.  I took a photo of them because they may be flat by tomorrow if we get the storms they are predicting.   The nest of baby robins is very crowded.Their heads were out further, their beaks were open and they were panting until I drug the chair up to get a photo.  Then they scrunched down and closed their mouths.  

Tonight we are having chef salads...I picked the lettuce in the garden and it is soaking in cold water so it will "perk up" before serving.  Some (now thawed) frozen grilled breast strips, sliced hard boiled eggs, and cheese.  chipotle ranch dressing.  Iced peach tea.  Summertime food season is officially open.

We got up and headed to Springfield.  Picked up Jimmy John's on the way...kind of a standing order for lunch when we visit Jax (and his parents).  Jax had bananas, peanut butter sandwich and goldfish, with a chaser or milk.  He and Pepe are buds now...since Pepe babysat for him yesterday.  He's on pretty good terms with Mimi too.  Mom & Dad are always the best. While mom was cleaning out the car, Jax decided to show off his driving skills. 

After Jax went down for his afternoon nap, we chatted with Matt & Sara for a while. Sara's part-time job is now full time.  Fortunately her hours are flexible and she can arrange them with Matt's schedule so they don't need daycare on a regular basis.  Matt is signed up to take his first Actuary exam in July.  Exciting times ahead!

We got back to St. James in time for Brice's college graduation party.  His sister, Lana, in the Air Force and is in Afghanistan, but his brother Jimmy, a Marine, was able to make it.  Jimmy & Matt are friends, so it was great to see him again. Last weekend he & Matt were in Gulf Shores for another friend's wedding.  Later this summer another friend is getting married...in Nebraska.  Not your typical destination wedding.

Irises are peak blooming.  Peonies are just starting.

Work was NOT fabulous.  It was the final Friday however.  There were 2 field trips.  The rest of the school was either at the Awards Assembly (by grade) or outside at recess.  Lots of of ice packs for bumps and bruises.  Lots of bandaids for scrapes.  There was drama.  Fortunately the day went by fast.  Again, I had no time for lunch.  

On the home front.  Dennis dropped Lucas off to be groomed as he left town...to babysit Jax.  He took the cutest video of Jax dancing.  That boy can shake his bootie.  LOL  Dennis got back in town to set up our gazebo/tent for our friends' sons college graduation.  I picked up our handsome and short haired poode from Groom & Room.  Then we got together with Delano's & Edwards' for a "light" supper, prepared by Jay & Marsha...Rhubarb pie for dessert.  A rousing game of Mexican Train followed.  I won the first 2 rounds, but only those 2 rounds; although I did win the over-all game.  I'm not sure what is up with me suddenly winning.  My mom's side of the family were/are big domino players, so maybe it runs in the blood.

All the rain, followed by warmer temperatures & sunshine has turned our yard into a jungle.  We are going to Springfield tomorrow.  I have to spend some time with Jax & his parents...it's been too long since I've seen them.  When we get back, we'll go to Brice's graduation party.  His parents are definitely celebrating, although I expect Brice will party too.  Sunday is supposed to be a "scorcher"...in the 80's.  I hope Dennis doesn't get too hot mowing the lawn.  I'll be doing laundry, cleaning house, engraving, and packing away my winter clothes...for real this time.

The last Thursday of this school year.  I'm always so happy to see the busses load up and drive away at 3:30 PM.   Today was a long day.  After work I had to get re-certified in CPR.  It's good knowledge to have and even better to not have to use. 

The rhubarb thieves struck our garden again. So there will be rhubarb pie for Mexican Train tomorrow night.   

I finished The Good Earth, which is an amazing and timeless book.  Unfortunately the James Memorial Public Library doesn't own the 2nd book in the trilogy, Sons.  I ordered a copy and after I read it I will donate it to the library so they can have all three books.  They have the 3rd book, A House Divided.   

It's been cooler this afternoon/evening.  Feels like it might rain, but who knows.  Dennis got green beans and okra planted tonight. 

Today Hannah became a designer for Indie Blue.  They are a denim company that designs for several labels, including Forever 21.  WOOHOO! A little irony here, since she wrote a paper for her Ethics class..."Devil Denim".  How much damage was done to the environment growing cotton (pesticides, fungicides, fertilizer); the pollution of blue dyes dumped into rivers; and the low wages, unsafe working places for the people who sew the garments.  Hopefully this company has better ethics than most. 

A busy day at work.  Yesterday a boy broke his arm skating. Today I sent home a boy who came down "wrong" and turned his ankle--it puffed up FAST and he said he heard a pop...and was sure it was broken.  No word back on how that worked out.  No lunch today. About 2 PM I went gave up and ate my sandwich at my desk.   

I was glad I had a pedicure scheduled after work.  I went to a different place--on Hauck Dr. next to Forum Dry Cleaners.  It is nice and bright and I think it's going to be my new pedicure spot.  I think it is called Rolla Nails & Spa.    It was fun to just relax and let my feet get made pretty.  Tomorrow I get my hair done. All getting ready to celebrate the beginning of summer break...just around the corner.  

It was 90 on our front porch when I got home this afternoon.  Our baby birds seem to be doing good.  They are robins...or at least a robin is feeding them. It's a better made and better located nest than I've seen from most robins in the past.

Time to go Tumble my Compost.

In spite of the field trips and all the "rewards" activites going on today, my office was busy.  In the morning I was dealing with sick kids who came to school in order to go on a field trip.  I don't understand parents who cannot say NO to children.  If you have a fever and are vomiting, you do NOT go to school even if the class is going skating.  Ditto for sore throat, had a concussion over weekend and are still "woozy".  Then as the day wore on, the student who did not get to go on rewards trips or activities started whining and wanting to go home. Tomorrow is going to be a repeat of today.  No doubt in my mind.

Dennis donated blood after work, so he got fed by "the church ladies".  LOL  The beans & cornbread I planned to fix tonight will have to wait til tomorrow. I just fixed a sandwich for myself.  Dennis is putting the cages around the tomatoes.  We went to Stanley's and bought 4 bales of straw to use as mulch around the tomatoes.  Stanley had sweet potato slips...which Dennis might buy and plant soon.  

I checked my compost.  It is warm and still moist.  I gave it a couple of tumbles.  That was easy.