Transitions

Last week was one of those Colorado often sees in transitional seasons. Monday and Tuesday nights were at or below freezing; Pam covered our delicate plants in hopes of saving the developing blossoms. (They seem to have come through OK.)  The high country received more snow. Yesterday (Saturday) the temp was 84 degrees and low to mid 80s are forecast for the next week. The Lot had below freezing temps all week and only over the weekend did the night time temps remain above 32 degrees. It’s still Winter weather in the high country and we can still see snow on Grand Mesa. Such is Spring in Colorado.

From an event perspective the week was pretty quiet. Next week will be way more active as I plan to take a couple days off during the work week and head up to Sanderling. We have contracted for some gravel for the driveway extension – 28 tons – and it will be delivered on Thursday the 22nd. I need to make sure gravel is spread OK and prep the spot for the storage shed, scheduled to be delivered on Friday the 23rd. This will entail quite a bit of shoveling and leveling and getting a layer of gravel down on the 14 ft by 14 ft spot where the shed will sit. I also need to position some large pavers to use as corner and middle supports for the shed. The shed should have 1 – 2 feet around both sides and back of it for drainage and clearance, so even though it is 10 x 12 the pad needs to be a few feet larger. Saturday morning I will begin hauling brush over to the burn pit. It’s going to be a very physical few days and I hope I’m up to it at that elevation.

Around the house, the lilacs are nearly done but the irises have just begun to bloom. I fixed a small leak that had developed around the furnace vent on the roof; the old silicon sealer  had come loose so I removed it and re-sealed the spot with some rubberized stay-on goop I found at the hardware store. I hope that takes care of it. Yard work and shopping takes up a lot of a weekend day and today I need to change oil and filter in the Honda. Pretty mundane stuff!

I am going to close by putting in a few more photos of building the driveway extension.

Drive takes up part of the old “wilderness road”

Mid-way up extension

Part of the drive done at this point.

(Note: I did make another pass to made the road more level.)

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Two Cents Worth:

Transitions.  Space heater in the bedroom early in the week, fan going in the window last night.  Flannel pajamas part of the week, cotton pajamas the rest of the week.

Transitions.  Our oldest cat, Mira, has begun the slow decline toward death — actually expected any time these past years as she wasn’t predicted to live until six years old and she ‘s now almost twelve.  As Mira loses body weight and tries to control her elimination functions, my hope is she curls up and crosses the Rainbow Bridge in her sleep sometime in the next weeks or months.  Taking Mira to the vet to be euthanized  is so much more traumatic for everyone (vet included).

Transitions.  The upcoming Memorial Day weekend is a time for remembering transitions.  A bittersweet holiday at best.

Happy Trails.