The summary:

Well, first you want to check out the photos, here.

Kazha's first experience traveling with us was fun. The first morning there, she encountered her first deer, who then, promptly, decided to encounter her. Yep, the deer followed her through the backyard of my parents' house, as Dave and I watched, very carefully. Kazha then wandered through a gap in the fence to the alley. Wanting to make sure she didn't get too far, I skirted around the observing deer one way, Dave another, and we cornered the dog. As she tried to escape us by dashing back into the yard, she startled the deer, who then bounded backwards and back over the fence. It was rather surprising and funny! We then observed that there were three deer hanging out in the yard. Perhaps the same three that were fawns last year?

Anyway, we wandered around town the first day, just enjoying the view and the relaxation. I got a lot of knitting done that day, and Dave started a new Tony Hillerman book. Mom and Dad read and relaxed, too. We had a nice gazpacho for lunch that my mom made. Yummy! Then we went to Nanda Ghan's, a great local restaurant I'd recommend to anyone, for dinner. After that, we took a great long walk, which is where all the sunset photos came from. This is one of my favorites--the East Spanish Peak with the last rays of pink light on it, and the moon shining above...



The next day, on the 4th, Dave and I went for a hike at Blue and Bear Lakes... a little too crowded for our taste, but storm clouds threatened, so we really couldn't go anywhere farther. Still, I got some nice photos of flowers and Kazha on the trail.





And that gave us enough time to get back into town and go to Art in the Park for the afternoon. That's after my mom and dad went to the Cuchara parade. So we wandered, and we found this artist, R. Wade Brown. He had a wonderful piece we couldn't resist... stark white background with a petroglyph looking bison hunt image on it. Beautiful enough that we couldn't resist it. We're working on paying him in installments over the summer to purchase the piece. Hooray for layaway! Another artist there was Barbara Kowalik, who makes shields. She says the symbols are common ones, but she learns the common meanings and then interprets them herself in her works. Take a look at the bottom right of this page to see one, which is one of Dave's favorites. We'd each like to have one that represents each of us, someday. Carla Romero is another painter with works we would love to have someday... when we have a lot of room and more money. :) But admire her work, because it's very striking.

So then, on Saturday night we had barbecued ribs with my dad's homemade sauce (yum!) and baked potatoes and corn. And then everyone was exhausted, so Mom and Pop went to bed early and Dave and I stayed up to read, knit, and chat in a hush. Kazha was not thrilled with the fireworks, but she did okay, considering we didn't have her rescue remedy with us.

Sunday was a nice egg breakfast and then another long walk, this time up through the golf course. That's where I got the lovely bright daylight photos of the Spanish Peaks--Wahatoya. Seeing the clouds roiling over the peaks brought to mind the concept that local NDN tribes had that all weather for the whole world originated with the peaks. The lifeblood of the plains in the area comes from the clouds that have their start over those mountains. It's awestriking. Heh.



We bought our artwork on Sunday before having a last serving of gazpacho and a sandwich and heading back to Denver. A little bit north of Walsenburg, we ran into one of the worst storms I've encountered--and the worst one I've ever had to drive through. We had to pull over while the nearly golf-ball size hail pounded our car while lightning flashed around. The hail was strong enough that we couldn't hear thunder. We saw a few motorcyclists huddling in the high grass as we were able to start off again. We later learned that many bikers found shelter in the cars of other generous people. We'd have done the same if they'd been anywhere near us when we stopped. That hail had to hurt...

When we finally got going again, we encountered a serious accident, with one car that had flipped over, with the top crushed. Everyone else seemed okay, but we know people were trapped in that car. We saw one person's foot near a window, moving. Our prayers went and go out to those people in hopes that they are alright. Many had stopped to help, and we didn't want to be excessive help that would likely hinder, so we kept on. One of those who stopped was a truck driver, so we feel certain he probably radioed the accident in, while several others were directing traffic and trying to comfort those who were trapped. Still, I wish I could find news of the accident to know if the people are okay. I can't find any word...

We traveled on, going through two more storms that seemed much less intimidating, and finally got home to safety with a slightly spooked dog, arriving to find a cat desperate for attention. And, well, that's pretty much it. Nice break. Not long enough, but certainly nice.

Blessings to all our loved ones and anyone else who stumbles here--hope your weekend was as nice, whether or not you had a holiday to celebrate.

Peace

The Spanish word is "morache." I don't remember the Ute for it--Dave would have to remind me.

It's a beautiful instrument. This site has a few ideas about it.

http://www.symphonyspace.org/cap/native/lessons/lesson1/students.php

Here's how it went:

In Dave's research about the Ute tribes (Southern, Ute Mountain, and Northern are what we know of now; of course, that's the U.S. designation--they're much more than that originally), he learned a bit about the Bear Dance. The morache is an instrument, unique to the Utes, which is used for this dance. It is a notched branch or stick, rested on a resonator (a trough or, in older days, a basket), and rasped with a bone, stick, or other similar device. Looking at it might call to mind similarity with a washboard. The sound was meant to replicate that of a bear's growl.

When my sister and BIL were in town with their kids this summer, Dave told BIL, Eric, about the instrument. He described it. Then we all saw a version of it at the Colorado History Museum. That's all Eric had to go with.

I think he started working on it before he actually drew Dave's name from the holiday list. He hoped he'd get Dave. He did.

He made Dave a Growler. He carefully notched the wood. He etched it with a bear paw using a wood burner. The rasping piece is an antler from one of the elk he himself hunted.





Dave was speechless. This wins, hands down (not that winning and/or losing are part of it, but you get the point), the most meaningful gift of the year. It was just what Dave would've wanted, without even thinking to ask for it. And Eric saw that. And he found a way to do it.

And that's freakin' cool.

My brother-in-law is freakin' cool.

Peace

Well, the big rush of Thanksgiving is mostly past... but we're making our own turkey today, with as many trimmings as I can handle... heh.

Still, I wanted to express some thanks. It's been a rough year, offering some major challenges that have done some great good and brought some great sorrow... and I want to acknowledge gratitude for all of it.

I'm thankful that I still have a job. No matter what else happens, right now we can still afford food, shelter, and other necessities where we are. For all those who don't have these blessings, I send out my goodwooshes that the gifts of life and health and spirit be given them, too.

I'm thankful for my other pursuits, too. For theater, for music, for knitting and writing and all those things that I have to keep me busy, necessary, inspired... and that give me meaning.

I'm grateful for Sasha, this sweet kitty who gives such love and such fun and brings such a bright light to this house. I look forward to her feeling at peace again, and having the full reign of the house, and sleeping with both of us, together, happy and safe and loved.

I offer sincere thanks for the experience of having Sa'rits in our lives. It's been very hard, but it has taught us a lot. And it's given us a chance to save a life and become someone else's angels. Next week, after Wednesday, we're surrendering her to the local husky rescue for a better chance at finding the right place to be. She deserves it. And I feel honored to have served as a part of the Providence that will make sure she gets it. If that is what our love can give her, all the sadness and struggle and trouble has been worth it.

I'm thankful, even in my grief, for the lives of Tika and Basha and the fact that they are always with us, inhabiting our house and our hearts and our memories. Having them in our lives was one of the greatest blessings we could have encountered.

I'm so grateful for my love and his patience and his talent and his presence in my life. Everything he is in my life represents growth, love... seeking that grail.

I'm thankful to be home in the place of my birth, near most of my family, where we can spend our time with loved ones young and old, have relationships with our parents that go beyond the usual. It's, again, something many people don't have--either proximity or good relations with their families. And I recognize that and am humbled that I am so lucky to get along not only with my own family, but also with my in-laws. It's amazing.

My gratitude extends to the lives of family that have passed on... grandparents, ancestors. My heritage is a gift not to be taken lightly. For all those who came before, I am grateful.

And for my friends, of course, I am deeply thankful. Those I know only by words on a screen but who have always been there for me since the first day we met (and I will always be there for you)... those I connect with mostly only by phone but who share a devotion that makes every visit seem as if not a day has passed since the last time we saw one another... and those who are nearby, with whom I share daily laughter, tears, conversation, spirit, and love.

The relationships we make, keep, and, yes, even lose, are true life's blood. I'm blessed with loved ones from all areas of life, with a sense of purpose and Good Work, and with the knowledge that life is a great gift in itself. Thank you, Most Blessed One, Great Mystery--and thank you, all those beloved who have been or are now in my life.

In turn, what a great gift is the snow coming down outside my window. For every blessed flake, a prayer of gratitude.

Peace

We had to let Tika go today. She was in horrible pain, starting at about 4 this morning. After seeming to be just fine, she just really took a bad turn. We got her in to the vet as quickly as we could, and she stayed in pain, even on heavy doses of morphine. She was practically screaming with it, and this is a dog that didn't even cry when she stepped on glass and cut her paw open. After they took an extra xray today to try and determine what went wrong, she had a seizure. They discovered that her glucose was low, which is exactly the opposite of what should happen with pancreatitis. They now think it was actually a pancreatic tumor.

She was suffering so much... but she had a good long life for such an big dog. More than 12 years! And I know she knew she was loved.

We were with her the whole time. We were able to say goodbye, and I think she even realized we were there.

She was quite simply, a blessing of providence. I am so grateful that she adopted us just as we adopted her. She was the best dog in the world...

Three months to the day after Basha left on the Winter Solstice, Tika has gone on the Vernal Equinox... I'm just crushed. My house is empty. What am I going to do?

Peace, my wonderful, waggy-butt sweet Tika, my dear child and companion. And thank you for being our gift.



Peace

Dave and I have been rather ill the last few days. Part of me has wanted to post about it, but too much time on the computer just makes everything pound. Of course, I'm back at work today, so that's not such a big deal.

Dave's holiday concerts with the Golden Concert Choir went wonderfully well!  He did a great job in such a short period of time getting them to perform such beautiful, somewhat virtuosic, and entertaining pieces of music. His choir was the best of the three that performed (though the other two--the children's choir and the smaller adult group--did some beautiful work as well) and just sounded great.

Then we got sick. Actually, Dave got sick the day of the first concert, but like any good director he fought it down until the concerts were over. I got the first hint of a sore throat on Monday, though I'd been feeling a little bedraggled before then. It's improving now, but boy has it been a rough one! All either of us really wants to do is sleep and rest and doze and relax. Of course, that gets boring, but it's what the body is demanding. Feh.

And in another update, I'm taking Basha back for another recheck today. Her legs and paws are looking puffy now, as if the edema in her neck and chest has been flowing downward. She seems very uncomfortable. I think she wants to snuggle, like she has been, but she gets uncomfortable sitting with us, and has been very testy the last few days. So, in we go to see what we can do. I'm sure the vet will want to take blood this time, to check oxygen levels and such. I hope there's something they can do to ease her discomfort. Still, I don't think she's getting any more fluid in her pleural space. I just think the edema is getting... for lack of a better word, bigger. She does occasionally sound a bit wheezy, too. But she seems to be breathing about the same as her last checkup... at least as far as I can tell. Still, better safe than... well, whatever we can do to keep her comfortable for now, anyway. She's still eating and, while more lethargic again, still seems to want to do things that are just a little uncomfortable at present. I have a feeling if we could get the edema down, she'd be closer to her old self again. Eh, whatever. She's been sleeping in her crate, so hi ho, hi ho, it's to the vet we go.

And all this heading into the holiday season. Thankfully, it probably won't be as stressful this year, because my family drew names again--which means I only have one gift to give amongst them all (except that Dave and I are probably doing charitable giving again this year). I'm supposed to give to my older niece. 

However, it may get all the more hectic if, as of Monday, Dave's sister and her husband hear what they're hoping to and are certified for foster care. In other words, we could be auntie and uncle two to three times over, all over again, in less than a week! Now there's some last minute gift planning... But I hope it works out for them. Their generosity in that way is amazing, they're the perfect people to do it, and I know they'd be great for whatever kids were sent their way. And they'll take whatever kids are sent their way, which is even more inspiring.

Anyway, I guess that's it for now. Gotta get out of my addled brain and back into work.

Peace