Holiday

Before I run far away 

I need to take a holiday.  

Maybe it's a fall from grace, 

I gotta find a new place... 

It was spring break, and because both my husband and I are employed in the field of education, we got a vacation. For the first time, my office actually closed. In the past, I took vacation to be off when my kids were. And for once my husband also had the full week off. Usually, his staff, even though the entire school is closed, is on duty for a few days. This year too, which isn’t always the norm, 80% or so of the state had the same week off for their spring break. The kids are grown and gone but that meant Evan didn’t have to go to school either!

So we loaded the truck, and with a startling resemblance to the Beverly Hillbillies, except for the rocking chair on top, headed out. I know you’re probably thinking I’ve exaggerated when I said we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies. But I assure you, I wasn’t kidding! We were already packed, with me and everything else in the back seat, because it was looking a bit rainy and the truck is, well, a truck, so anything outside might get wet, and an extra passenger. All was snug and we hadn’t yet added two car-seats, at least two more suitcases, assorted necessities, like toys, cookies, pillows, blankets, and of course, three littles. We stopped to gather them and finally, with ‘stuff’ piled in every possible place, everyone strapped in, three in front and three in back, we were really off. It was cozy. Let the break (?) begin!

And they loaded up the truck...

The trip to the mountain house in New Mexico, from our house in Texas, is about 300 miles. It takes about six hours and that’s with very few detours. We only stopped to drop our extra passenger off where everybody refreshed and we were on the road again. The littles are fairly good travelers. You learn to be when you live out here in the middle of nowhere.

I’m not sure what time we got to the house but it was snowing. Not just a little, either. It was really snowing. We unloaded and Alan went down the hill for supplies. One thing about the location of the mountain house; if the weather is bad there’s a really big possibility after going down you won’t be able to get back up the mountain. That is, if you can get down! Slipping and sliding, he made it down and back. I put some soup on and we settled in for the night.

Me in the snow

About 7 inches of snow.

What a view!

Pork 'n Bean soup...recipe on Family Flavorites Tab

The snow was beautiful. There was about 7 inches at the house. We made snow ice-cream the next day. The kids were going to make a snowman but it was really too cold! They went out and looked around then came back in for hot chocolate. I found a blanket, a book, and some knitting, and settled in on the couch! I was reading Mary Higgins Clark, “I’ll Walk Alone”. It deals with identity theft and kept me interested from the start until the end. By late afternoon the roads were clear enough to wander around and the temperature was starting to rise.

Reading and knitting...Mary Higgins Clark...one of my favorite authors.

I had a birthday while we were there. Alan made me a cake. He baked it in a 9x9 square pan. I asked if he knew there was a 9x13 pan. I asked if he followed the high altitude directions. I got a blank stare so I guessed he didn’t! He and the kids took me to eat then we came back to the house for cake. I had a little help with the candles!

The birthday cake!

We had a good time, relaxing and just taking it easy. It’s nice to be away from the everyday stress of life!

Where's the snow?

Where the deer and the antelope play...

A new start 

I've broken too many hearts 

And I don't have any clue where to go 

I don't know 

But maybe I'll be back someday after my holiday 

I saw a cool thing on Pinterest. It was weaving on an old CD. I had a bunch so I gathered some yarn and took some CDs and the littles gave it a try. Evan really liked it. Belle could do it too and chanted, “Over, under, over, under” the whole time. Caleb did about two rounds and he was finished. He’d much rather play dinosaurs! But they turned out cute, don’t you think? Oh, and to show how behind I am...they didn't know what a CD was. It's a DVD Mamye!

Evan weaving...over, under, over, under

The little's projects! Here's more creative ideas!

A holiday.
I'll set off on a new chase.
I gotta see a new face.
I need to take a holiday...

Snow Day

Open my eyes start to get out of bed. 

Throw back the curtains to see a white spread! 

I feel like I’m ten, it has snowed once again! 

Let’s go have some fun! The day’s only begun!  

The severe weather warnings started two days before the actual weather began. For once, all of the TV weathermen were in agreement. There was a chance of snow; A lot of snow. Out here, even if there is a 50% chance of anything there is a 50% chance that nothing will happen. If it does happen though, it usually makes an impact. On this day, almost ten and a half inches of the cold white stuff fell!

What a forecast!

The climate here is mostly considered desert. In fact, right now Texas is in a severe drought. Where I live there have been burn bans and water restrictions for almost a year. So, any kind of moisture is welcome. But, because snow is so uncommon, even a sprinkling can shut the area down.

Snow snow snow!

When my alarm went off at 5:30 it was raining. But it quickly turned to sleet. My husband works for a school district so he was out early, checking roads to make sure it would be safe for buses to transport students. I had a headache that wouldn’t quit so I called in to work and said I’d make it in by noon. Then I went back to sleep.

Snow covered trees at the house

Around 9:00 I woke up again. My phone dinged with a text and my husband said it was getting bad and he didn’t want me to go in to work. It’s a 45 mile drive for me, usually clear and easy but when it’s bad…it’s bad. I had a presenter who was supposed to be flying in so I emailed work and asked my secretary to call her. I was told we were closing because it was so bad. Soon the news reports, with all the early closings, were pouring in. It was official. It was a snow day!

Views from the front of the house

Views from the back of the house

The snow fell most of the day. We ended up with about six inches. It was so pretty and peaceful! Everything was covered in a shiny white carpet. Funny thing, it was snowing but the sun was beginning to come out and it was melting, all at the same time. I didn’t go outside, much anyway, and I didn’t build a snowman. I just enjoyed the chill in the air and the beauty of the change. I love when it snows, especially if I don’t have to get out. And I can wear knitted things!

About 5 inches and still snowing!

This is the third snow in a very short time. There are reports that there’s been more out here than in Chicago! As they say in Texas, if you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes and it will change! Sure enough, by the next morning, the road to work was passable. One lane of the highway still had icy spots but all else was clear. There were several signs of the storm on the interstate, skid marks, stranded cars and missing guard rails, but other than that it was a normal travel day. By afternoon there were places where you would never have known there had been a snow storm! Only the standing puddles were evidence of the wild weather the days before. On the third day, it was almost completely gone, melted into the ground. Maybe it won’t be the last snow this winter. We need any moisture we can get. Hopefully it will be enough to make spring a little greener!

Snow covered pump jack-Picture by Brook Hudson

I’ll see this through, I will turn my hands blue. 

Mister snowman, my heart is beating for you! 

I’m to the point that I’ll take a snow day (or almost any other excuse!) so as not to have to go to the office. When the kids were little we’d go out and play. But I don’t really like getting cold and wet anymore, so I just puttered around and entertained myself. I knitted, put away some Chirstmas, got some things ready for the trip on the weekend and just took it easy. There was a lot I could have done. I just didn’t.

Christmas yarn...what to make?

I got some really pretty yarn for Christmas, from Bryce and more from a friend, so I’ve been contemplating what I’ll make with it. Ravelry is a fun pastime. Then there is Pinterest. Yes, there was a lot I could have done on this snow day!

It’s a school day, school is closed. 

Gonna go outside and make a snowman there. 

Wanna join me in the field?

Oh Christmas Tree

Oh, Christmas Tree 

How lovely are your branches... 

What? Just a little late you’re thinking, right? Well, probably. But I didn’t get any pictures of the tree posted prior to Christmas. Our custom is to leave it up til after New Year’s Day and this year I had to go back to work on January 2. I was thinking I might never get it down when I remembered reading about the Twelfth Night.

Wasn't it pretty?

I’ve always thought, as probably a lot of people do, that the Twelve Days of Christmas meant the days before Christmas. Well, come to find out, it’s actually the twelve days after Christmas! In the olden days, the Twelfth Night to Epiphany morning was the traditional time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations. I’m not so behind after all!

Three cross stitched candy cane holders. Made by the mother of one of my former students, now a friend. Intricate.

Admittedly, I’m not always the most prompt in taking down the Christmas decorations. First off, it’s like the little red hen around here. I don’t get a lot of help, either putting things out or gathering them up after the holidays. Working 11 hours a day then doing it in my ‘spare’ time doesn’t always warrant a fast pickup. There have been some years the tree and decorations were up way past Christmas. In fact, I think it was around June last year when I spied a snowman (the tree was down at least!) I’d forgotten to put away. It doesn’t really matter because nobody comes out here so my secret is safe! Nevertheless, I was pleased to find out about Epiphany, even though I might stretch it out another twelve days!

My grandmother crocheted the ball ornaments. She said she didn't have a pattern and each one is just a bit different. The others are just an assortment of things I like.

I made this little angel years ago. She probably qualifies as an antique!

Can't see well but one of my favorites. One year I was supposed to get a rocking chair and it didn't come so my mom and dad gave me this ornament to let me know. Inside is a rocking chair, presents, doll, and toys.

Some family ornaments. There are many. And no, I didn't forget you Bryce and Callye! Camera acted up.

As I’m taking the ornaments off, putting them in their packages, in a box, for next year, I remember where each one came from. They are good memories but the whole ordeal has an air of sadness. This Christmas is over. We had a white Christmas this year and everyone came here. Those memories will go in the box with the special ornaments. I look at the individual baubles, those marking ‘first’ Christmas, those marking life events and those handmade with love. Some I made, some were gifts and some were put together by little hands in school. Our tree is decorated in patchwork. Each ornament is connected to the others in a crazy way creating a blanket of memories. I’ll pack the ornaments away and rediscover the delight next year when it all comes back out.  

It was a white Christmas!

Oh Christmas Tree, 

Oh, Christmas Tree 

Your gentle spirit teaches us. 

That peace and love shall ever be 

As faithful as a Christmas Tree... 

I’m almost finished with the shawl. She may have to do the blocking, but at least the knitting will be done. I really want to start something new. Or maybe several somethings! But I’m being good. So far!

On the downhill side! It'd go faster if I'd quit messing up!

The lace edge

I posted a status on Facebook and promised to make something for the first five people who commented. I got a lot, really fast, which surprised me. Anyway, I took all seven. I’ll be making something for Debi, Rachel, Marivel, Carla, Charli, Katie and Amy sometime during 2012. It’s kind of exciting! And it snowed today. That would make it all right to leave the snowmen out for a while. It sometimes even snows in February, right?  

In summer sun or winter snow, 

A coat of green you always show. 

Oh Christmas Tree, 

Oh, Christmas Tree 

How lovely are your branches.

It's a Colorado Rocky Mountain High...

When he first came to the mountains his life was far away
on the road and hanging by a song…

It’s Tuesday night and we’ve just come from a banquet. It’s time to pack and try to leave early for the drive to Colorado. It will most likely be one of the last times we travel this road, for a visit to the boys anyway.

We’ve been coming this way for seven years now. It just occurred to me that we didn’t come as often the last three years as we seemed to the first four. If we didn’t, it’s our loss. We should have.

The plan is to get up early in the morning, like around 2:00 am, and leave. I’m still gathering things at midnight. We are all tired, apparently, because it is 6:30 when we finally get on the road.


I have dibs on the backseat. I can nest back there. I can spread my stuff where I need it and have plenty of room. And I can cover up with a blanket. Or two. And a jacket. And a pillow. They keep the air conditioner on high at the coldest temperature. They have short sleeves. My nose is running I’m so cold. I settle in, get comfortable and promptly go back to sleep.


From Crane to Golden is about 750 miles. It will take us at least 12 hours to get there. We go up 385 to Dalhart then across to Raton. There we’ll hit an interstate and go on to Colorado. It’s a scenic trip with plains and mountains and long stretches of highway where there is nothing but open space. We see cows and antelope. And we can see for miles.


Colorado is the 38th state. Because it was declared a state in 1876, which was a centennial year, it is nicknamed the Centennial State. The landscape in Colorado is outstanding. There are snow covered mountains in the distance. The nearby mountains have pine and fir trees. Some mountains have green grass going up to them. The air is clear. The sky is gray today because of the snow. Yes, it’s snowing on us as we drive. May and it’s snowing.

Colorado School of Mines is in Golden. The Coors Brewery is also in Golden. It’s a strange feeling to leave your young son(s) at college down the street from a brewery! Golden is a growing city that has kept its small town atmosphere. It has an old fashioned look. The houses close to the school are old style, brick usually, with grass and flowerbeds. It seems to be a healthy place with bicyclists and walkers everywhere. We really haven’t explored much more than where the boys lived or the school or the brewery. We go downtown on the Main street but that’s about it. I'm thinking now we should have been more adventurous.


Golden has been youngest DS’s home for the past four years. But a new chapter is opening for him with his graduation. Do you remember your graduation? How you felt with mixed emotions; excitement, fear, apprehension and even sadness? It’s scary and a great adventure all at the same time. It’s a bit different when you graduate from college. This is it. It’s real world from here on out.


Our hotel is in Littleton, about ten miles from Golden. The little towns run together to me. I think I’m in one place but I’m actually somewhere else. It's still snowing. We settle in and find somewhere to eat, visit with youngest DS (YDS) and call it a night. We have a lot to do in the next few days.


Knitayear is coming along. It’s tough to do while traveling. I try to gather some yarn to take but I don’t know if my mood is going to be in those colors or not! If it's not I make a note of how I was feeling and catch up later. Today I was lucky and had something that fit. I added a thick white and multi-colored yarn for Wednesday. I wasn’t sure I had everything. I was trying to do too many things. This yarn reminded me of confusion for some reason and I thought it fit my frazzled mood. Thursday deserved a unique yarn. It was a happy day, with the whole family together, and snow on the mountains and in the air. I found some homespun that I had made in high school. It's antique yarn! It’s lumpy and bumpy and not very good and I don’t remember if it was from the wheel or from a spindle, but I wanted to add it in. The color and texture fit all I was feeling on this day; happiness for YDS and awe at the falling snow in May! It will be hard for him to leave here. It’s a very nice place to be.


But the strings already broken and he doesn't really care,
it keeps changin' fast, and it don't last for long.

Now his life is full of wonder, but his heart still knows some fear,
of the simple things he cannot comprehend.

It's a Colorado Rocky Mountain High,
Rocky Mountain High...in Colorado....