I am going to try something a little different today, more pictures, less text. It has been almost a month since my last post, so a quick update of the last four weeks.

Weather: We’ve had some interesting weather, rain, cold fronts, low lying clouds, etc. It is now in the high 30s, low 40s at night and 70s during the day. These are some of the views I’ve been treated to in the last month.

Labor Day Weekend: two quilt shows, divided my time. The Olde Schoolhouse Quilters held their 10th annual free quilt show at “the Olde Schoolhouse”, a local museum and former schoolhouse. I had two wall hangings entered, and Great Grandma Rosie Rosenwasser’s cross stitch embroidery quilt on display. No pictures unfortunately. The Westcliffe Contemporary Quilters and Fiber Artists had a small display of some of our work, and a display of the “comfort” quilts made for members of our community. My modern wallhanging was on display there, as well as myself, as I sat and hand quilted in my rocking chair. It continues to surprise me that my hand quilting is such a novelty.

Arkansas hunters: My brother Joe’s co-worker, Chris, was back again for bow hunting deer here in the National Forest. He was joined by his brother, Kenneth, cousin, Teri, and her husband and son, his uncle and Teri’s dad, Ronnie. Chris, Ken, Teri and Ronnie came to the quilt show on Labor Day and invited me to have dinner at their camp on Tuesday. They came up to the house to see the view and visit before dinner. On the way down the driveway, they had to slow for a family of deer crossing the road, but they couldn’t hunt them. Their camp wasn’t that far from our home, relatively speaking, but through an area I’d never been before, always a fun thing, exploring. We have had a fire ban all summer, but it was finally lifted the night I came for dinner. Dinner was great and the company was excellent. Each family got a deer by the time they left Colorado.

Garage: I think I mentioned we were building a garage. It is almost complete. The exterior will be stucco, and the electrical will be put in next week. Then we can move the motorized items out of the attached garage, leaving room for a workshop and perhaps one car in inclement weather.

The Academy: Week 7 was during the DNC. The problems anticipated didn’t arise. Jay was on the overnight crew to gas up and get ready the 60 hybrid Tahoes that were used during the DNC. He also took his turn working security on the gates.  Since he worked Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, and Wed nights, he got to come home on Thursday after getting some sleep. So we had a long weekend Fri – Sun for Labor Day. Weeks 8 & 9 were working on skills, arrest control, driving and shooting, plus other academic classes, including spelling tests and report writing. After week 9, the cadets moved to Phase 2, which allows those close enough to go home to move out of the academy. Those staying at the academy are now allowed to leave at night and get their own supper, a real treat based upon the food served. Also, the big event is having a coffee pot in the classroom, but they have to provide the coffee. Prior to phase 2, cadets were limited to one cup of coffee in the morning, no one seems to mind taking turns buying the coffee. The Academy scrapbook has been updated. A link to the scrapbook is on the right side of the page.

The winter bowling leagues have started. I am on 4 leagues, Monday am Gutter Hussies (ladies), Tuesday pm Wild Women of Westcliffe (ladies), Wednesday am Wednesday Morning Alley Cats (mixed), Thursday pm Thursday Night Misfits (mixed). I like bowling.

The weather is changing. The Aspens are turning golden, but not all at once. Rain sometimes brings hail or sleet. Fall is here.