Jon the Renovator

Winter                   First Moon of the New Year

In Denver.  Kate and I got here around 3 pm, got a car, got on Hwy 70 and that was as far as we got for awhile.  An accident well ahead of us.

Very bright here and warm.

Jon’s done an amazing amount of work on their new kitchen, dining room, two new baths, a new bedroom.  He bought an old bowling alley, cut in half, took a to a shop and had it planed and sanded, put edging on it and has mounted it as their kitchen work spaces.  It’s gorgeous.

He also took pillars and framing timbers of old growth Douglas fir, sawed 115 years ago, glued it together and made shelves and more counter tops.  It’s beautiful.

He worked for a while with a Minneapolis renovator and learned a lot.  He’s tiling, putting in waterproofing, laying bathroom floors.  Quite a project considering he’s also teaching full time.

Granddaughter Ruth and grandson Gabe came running up to get their hugs.  Sollie, the dog, stayed with us this summer and he came up to greet us, too.  Family.

Travel Weary

Winter                                    First Moon of the New Year

We’re off to Denver this afternoon.  Though I want to see the grandkids and the new addition to Jon and Jen’s house, I confess I’m travel weary and not looking forward to the airplane.  Also, I’ve just begun to ease into a new rhythm, working on my three major projects, doing the short burst training and going away for a week means I’ll have to reestablish all those things when we get back.

Once we’re in the air, on the ground and tucked into our hotel room, I’ll feel different, excited to be there, I know.  But right now.  Not so much.

The dogs are away at the kennel and the house has an empty, hollow feel.  Their energy, tussle and pull, keeps three year old inquisitiveness as part of our daily life.  I like it and miss it.

Though.  When we got to the kennel yesterday, Rigel, one of our big girls, right at 100 pounds, shook off the handler who had a leash ready for her and ran away from the truck.  Straight to the door into the kennel.  She likes the place.

Talk to you later from the mile high city.