Recent Adventures and Being Thankful

     My house feels like home now that everything is out of boxes and on the walls or on shelves where I can enjoy seeing my "stuff" everyday.  I had a discussion with a friend last week about how do you know what "stuff" to keep and what to get rid of.  When I was cleaning out everything before I left for France my deciding factor was, "will it have a place on a wall or shelf in my new house or will it just be packed away in a box?"  I only kept those things that I knew would be on display every day in my house.  If it wasn't something I wanted to see on a regular basis then it obviously was not that important to me and I didn't need to keep it.
     That being said, I love my new house and all the things in it.  I do not buy anything new unless I know exactly where it will go without everything else being cluttered or being put in a box!  And I do enjoy being at home and sitting on my back porch watching the birds and squirrels playing among my trees, bushes, flowers and herbs.  It's my own little sanctuary.
     One of my recent adventures was buying a hot tub!!  I had one for 28 years at my old house and used it almost every night.  I have really missed having one for the past year and so can't wait for it to be delivered sometime next week.
     Of course, most of my recent adventures have been my weekly trips to the zoo.  It's so nice to be able to "visit" with all my favorite animals - especially the primates and the lions.  There is some excitement with the gorilla troupe as they are readying the girls to be full time residents with Goma, the handsome silverback.  Asha, our 25 year old female, seems particularly interested and does all of her most flirtatious poses either at the window or at the grate between their enclosures.  Goma seems interested, but is playing hard to get.  I keep telling Asha that she needs to be less obvious!

Handsome Goma

He is an impressive gorilla!

One of Asha's lovely poses

I call this one the "pole dance pose"!

     And then there are all the babies! We have four Canadian lynx kittens - all are females and all are absolutely adorable whether they're cuddling with mom and dad or exploring the treetops!! 

I am in love with that face!

Look at me!

So adorable!

We have two meerkat pups who are very animated with their digging and their attempts to stand up like mom and dad only to fall over because they're still working on their balance.

Watching a plane go over!

And I still love seeing the lion cubs who turned two in June - and little Ember, our orangutan baby, who just turned three.  And we can't forget about Rae, our 8 month old giraffe!

Elsa is still my love!

The boys, Aslan and Boma, are getting so big and handsome!

Little Rae with momma Mitzitu

Ember keeps everyone on their toes!

      Besides the zoo visits, I have had some other adventures!  Andy has been the foreman on the Incline project.  The Manitou Incline was originally a cog train that went up the side of Mount Manitou just west of Colorado Springs.  The train was discontinued about 30 years ago and the train tracks up the side of the mountain became one of the most popular hiking trails in this area.  After many years of use (and abuse) the trail was becoming dangerous due to rock slides, weather deterioration, etc and so Timberline Landscape was hired to do the repairs.  This is the third and last time of closure in order to repair the trail,replace the ties, build a drainage system, and retaining walls.
     So, about three weeks ago, Andy invited me to see all the work that they had been doing.  We started our adventure at the helicopter staging area which was just south of Ute Pass on an access road for the Manitou Watershed.  Then we hopped (literally!) into a Polaris Ranger (small ATV) and took the back road up the mountain til we came to the top.

Helicopter staging area

Our ride for the rest of the day!

A beautiful view of Almagre Peak

Pikes Peak!

 
Along the way, we stopped at the Experimental Forest - a compound where hybrid experiments with trees in high altitude were done in the 1920s.

What's left of the science laboratory

 At the top you could see where the old snack bar/souvenir shop was and the landing for the cog train.  Brought back lots of memories of summers that we brought visitors up here.

The view from the top!

This is what the trail looks like

What's left of the gift shop/snack bar

The "landing area" for the cog train many years ago

      Then two weeks ago my friend, Renae, and I went to Orlando again (we went March 2016) to play in the Harry Potter Parks!!  I love that place!  We have decided it should be a yearly pilgrimage 😄  We spent three full "magical" days there.  Here are a few of my favorite photos:

Entering Hogsmeade

The dragon on top of Gringott's Bank - he spouts fire every 15 minutes

Celestina Warbuck and The Banshees give a great performance

The puppet show for the Tales of Beedle the Bard are amazing!

In line to board the Hogwarts Express at Station 9 3/4

Hogwarts Express

Hogwarts Castle!

     Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am so thankful for friends and family - far and near. Ohio cousin, Sharon, her husband Bob and son Aaron, came for a visit in September.  And cousin Cindy has been here three times since I got back from France! 
      I get asked all the time if I'm happy to be back in the US and here's my answer:  I love being able to see the people I love on a regular basis so that is a real blessing.  But I really miss living in France and I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to follow my heart and make new friends and find a French family - Hélène and Giuseppe.  I miss them and can't wait to see them next April!

My French family!

     So to one and all, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope that, no matter your present circumstances, you can find a heart of gratitude for living in a part of the world that has so much to offer.  May you find and give kindness, hope, creativity, peace, acceptance, tolerance, love.  And I am so thankful for all of you who take the time to read my blog!  Merci!

What a Difference a Year Makes!

     There are two things on my mind as I write this.  (Well, actually, there are more than two, but I'm concentrating on these!)  #1 - It's been three months since my last blog post!  and #2 - exactly one year ago today Andy and Cindy took me to the Colorado Springs airport to begin my journey - the first leg of my move to France.
     It's hard to believe that was a year ago.  Seems like it was just a few months ago.  But then, I spent seven months living in the cottage near Vic Fezensac so, of course, it's been awhile.  What a wonderful experience of following my dream!  I couldn't have asked for better landlords/friends/family than Hélène and Giuseppe Gentile.  They, and their cats, were my constant companions in my new life there.
     So, here I am a year later back in Colorado Springs in my new house and loving that I get to see Pikes Peak every day and Andy almost every week and spending time with good friends.  I truly miss my life in France and am very excited that I will be back for a visit next April.  If I could just move everyone I love to that little corner of SW France . . . .
     So many of you have told me that you miss reading my blog!  What a nice thing to hear 😊  I have missed writing, but just didn't have much to tell you all after I bought my house.  No more exciting outings or fun places to tell you about.  I'm back to my routine of lunches and movies and zoo visits.
     I love my little house!  Finally, I have everything out of storage and out of boxes and in their places where I can enjoy seeing them again.  (Thank you to Beth and Cindy and Andy for their help with all of that!) When I first saw the house I thought I might turn the "bonus room" back into a garage which is what it was originally.  But then when I started taking things out of my storage unit I realized I really needed that extra room.  I downsized from a three bedroom/three bath, three level house to a two bedroom/one bath, one level house.  And while I didn't keep much from my former life, I do have some important memorabilia that I wanted to be able to display.  So, I am very happy to have that extra room for my doll cabinet, my Kiddie Corvette, my guitar and piano music I kept and will, hopefully, have a piano in there at some point in the near future.
     CoCo and I spend a lot of time in our backyard.  It is like a little sanctuary in the middle of a city with a ponderosa pine, an aspen tree, lilac bushes, an herb garden and lots of "unplanned vegetation" which makes it seem a little wild.  I love it!

My lovely herb garden

     I'll write more in a week or so about my interesting neighbors.  There's always a risk moving into a part of town you're unfamiliar with, not knowing anything about your neighbors and just keeping your fingers crossed that you will get along with them.  So far (for the most part), so good!  I also will tell you about some changes I have planned for the house.  It will have to all be done in stages as I need money for upcoming trips as well as house projects!
     I'll close with photos which I am happy to share - now that I have all my furniture and artwork in their places.  It feels like home!
     And so, the bend brings me back around to my beloved Colorado Springs.  " Home is where the heart is" and that is true.  But my heart is in two different places and I'm perfectly OK with that.  I'm also thankful that all of you have been on this journey with me.  Merci!

Kitchen/dining and memorabilia shelves

Bonus room with childhood memories

Living room and some of my art collection

Other side of living room - more art, more shelves

Guest room

In the hallway

Master bedroom with more art

Other end of master

Wall in master with France photos and a peek into the bathroom

Goldilocks and the Baby Giraffe - Part 2

     I could have entitled this "Goldilocks Finally Finds Her House and Ooos and Aaas Over the Baby Giraffe!"  But I thought that might be too long.  I now have two more "loves" in my life - my house and the baby giraffe.  Let me tell you about my house.

Need to top off that tree!

     After looking at about 25 houses, I knew as soon as I saw the online photos that the house on Gomer Avenue was "just right".  I loved everything about it both inside and out.  I think I would have wanted the house just to get the back yard!  It is a wonderful sanctuary of flowering shrubs, herbs, flowers and even a grape vine.  I can see spending lots of time out there and on the covered back porch.  CoCo will love it, too!  And from the front porch there's a view of the Peak 😊

Love this back porch!

And I love the back yard!

Green and nature - perfect!

And an herb garden!!

     But, fortunately, I also love the house.  There's a large master bedroom.  Many years ago someone took down a wall between two smaller bedrooms and made the larger one with a small sitting area near large windows.  Then there's a guest room and what I call a "bonus room".  The present owner converted the garage into living space.  I plan to get a piano eventually and that would be a great room for it along with my doll collection and other childhood memorabilia.

Master Bedroom

Love the Back Splash

Cute dining area that looks to the back yard

     The kitchen is small, but beautifully decorated with a lovely tile backsplash and a tile floor that continues into the small dining area and utility/laundry room.  The owner has taken such good care of everything and it looks wonderful!  The only change I will make is to paint the master bedroom.  She painted it green and while it isn't an "in your face" green, I'm just not a fan of green.  So I plan to paint it a muted aqua - like an Italian Mediterranean aqua. 
     Closing isn't until June 9 and I'm finding it hard to be patient!  I'm so ready to have my own house and get all my things out of storage so I can see all my precious belongings once more.  I've forgotten what all I have packed in there so it will be like Christmas when I get all the boxes out and opened.  And it will be so wonderful to get all my artwork on the walls and be able to see all those wonderful paintings again.  Can you tell I'm excited??  I've only owned one other house in my entire life - the one I sold before I left for France - so I'm so looking forward to calling this lovely little house mine.

Baby is getting checked out

Boma is probably wondering "why?"

Abuto and daughter, Elsa, claim the rock

Tahoma's antlers are getting big

Tumani was showing us her teeth

Cute little Ember playing with momma

     On another note, when I went to the zoo this past week the little giraffe was outside with the herd.  She seemed a little dazed!  Do you think her neck hurt looking so far up to the adults?  She is so adorable and we are so happy to have this new addition to our giraffe herd.  The male lion cubs are no longer allowed to be in the same enclosure as dad, Abuto.  While this is sad, it is a normal and natural progression of events in the life of a lion pride.  The cubs are almost 2 years old and the boys are starting to act like adolescents!  Dad was having none of their shenanigans, according to one of the lion keepers, and put them in their place.  So to avoid any agitation that could lead to violence, they are keeping the boys separate from dad.  They can be with the females as long as dad is not there.  In the wild, the young males would be driven from the area that the pride is in and would go find their own mates and begin their own prides.  But in captivity that is not an option.  We'll see what happens to the boys in the next few months as they may be moved to another zoo or zoos.   😞
     The rest of the animals were all wonderful to visit with, as always.  The zoo is my "happy place" and I always look forward to my next visit.
     I thank you all for staying with me on my most recent path.  I appreciate all your comments and encouragement.  I was watching the final movie of the "Lord of the Rings" and at the end, Frodo shows his book and Bilbo's book.  Bilbo's book was called "There and Back Again" and I decided that was a good title for a book I may write!  But I might call mine "Here, There, and Back Again".

Goldilocks and the Baby Giraffe

     I know what you're thinking: "There's no baby giraffe in the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears!" and you're right!  But it got your attention, didn't it? 😊  And today's post includes both the persistant young lady with golden hair and an adorable baby giraffe.
     The past few weeks while looking for houses I have felt like Goldilocks.  This one's too big, this one's too small.  This one is a great house but in a bad part of town.  This one has a great price but it needs too much work.  This one has a wonderful yard, but a "sad" house while this one is a great house, but no yard at all!  And so the search continues for the house that is "just right".
     Yesterday, I think I found the perfect house for me and put in an offer.  I have done that before only to find out that someone else got their offer in before mine, or the house had been taken off the market for one reason or another.  So, I'm waiting for my agent to call and let me know where I stand with this adorable house that I have fallen in love with.  Keep your fingers crossed for me and I promise to let you know more about it once I know my offer has been accepted.  I'm trying not to take it for granted that it's mine.  There are still a number of steps to go through.  But Goldilocks is feeling more confident about having just the right house for me!
     Our most wonderful Cheyenne Mountain Zoo celebrated the birth of their 199th giraffe about a week ago!  She is so wonderful.  The CMZ became part of a giraffe breeding program in the 70s and is one of the most successful breeding zoos in the nation.  It's been a couple of years since we've had a baby, so this little girl is experiencing a huge welcome!  While I went primarily to see her, I, of course, had to visit with all my other special "friends".  Here are a few photos for you to enjoy. 

Hello Baby!

She's so tiny!

My handsome Abuto

My beautiful princess!

Always fun to see the elephants outside

My buddy Tembling saying "hello"

Handsome Goma - our silverback

Ember is always entertaining!

   
     Spring has finally arrived in Colorado Springs and I have bought a few plants so that I have some green until I have a real yard.  It's so wonderful to see the grass getting green and the trees leafing out.  My favorite time of year!  The weather has definitely been our usual - snowing and below freezing one day and sunny and in the 70s the next.  But I do love seeing the snow on the mountain tops.  The Peak is so beautiful and I love being able to see her every day.  If I get the house that I put the offer on, I can sit on the front porch and see the Peak all I want! 

My favorite photo of the Peak since I've been home

     I am ready for this part of the journey to be done - the part where I have to find a house.  Although, it's been kind of fun looking at all the different houses and seeing parts of the city that I had never seen before.  But now I want my own place that I can put my own "stamp" on and settle into some sort of routine.  Don't have a clue yet what that might be! ha! 
     Thank you all for sticking with me on this journey east and back.  It's been a wonderful time for me and I hope you have enjoyed it as well.  You have all been so kind and encouraging.  I look forward to telling you about the next path. 

My new car

2010 Hyundai Tucson

    

Sweet Home, Colorado

     I should not have reread my last post before writing this one.  I am now a little teary as I begin this post - my first one since I returned from France about three weeks ago.  I had planned to write one a few days after I returned, but as I recount all that has happened since I got home you will, hopefully, understand why it's taken me so long.
     Beth was waiting at the airport to welcome me back to Colorado when I landed in Denver on March 28th.  It was an easy flight(s).  I felt bad that poor little CoCo was in her carrier for 16 hours!  But she did great!  We breezed through passport check since I have a "Global Entry" pass.  I just put my passport in a machine and went on to baggage claim.  We were slowed down a little because I had to declare my "animal" at customs.  But then we were out and there was Beth - and a cloudy, rainy day.  So I couldn't see my beloved mountains!  Darn!
     Beth took me over to Stacy's to pick up the key for the condo.  Then we went through a drive-thru and got burgers for me and CoCo.  Beth had thought of everything and had bought breakfast for me - President's butter, Bonne Maman strawberry jam and croissants!
     The next day the sun came out and there was the Peak looking so beautiful with her new coat of snow!

A beautiful early morning photo of the Peak

    Beth picked me up and we went to lunch at Hacienda Colorado, my favorite Mexican restaurant.  Then she took me to get my rental car which I would need until Cindy came on Friday to be my "wheels" until I could find a car to buy.
     I was able to get my TV and internet set up, buy groceries and run a few other errands before heading back to the condo to check on little CoCo!  She's a trouper!  She got groomed -professionally, not by me! - on Thursday and looks so much better now.
     Cindy came on Friday and we were pretty much non-stop until she left yesterday morning.  She drove me around to look at cars and houses and in between all of that we ate at our favorite restaurants, visited our favorite places, saw "Beauty and the Beast" and had a wonderful fast-paced time!

Our French breakfast in Colorado!

     I was pretty firm about what I wanted in a vehicle and what price I was willing to pay, so after looking all over town I ended up buying a car in Castle Rock!  It's a 2010 Hyundai Tuscon.  I had hoped to find another RAV 4, but people seem to hold onto those til they die!  But I think I'll be really happy with the Tuscon.  And it's an automatic!!!  (If you read my posts about car buying in France, you'll understand that last comment!)
     We also looked at a few houses.  The housing market in the Springs has really taken off so houses are going quickly, especially in my price range.  But thanks to my precious friend, Stacy, I don't have to be in a hurry and can wait for the perfect place for me.  It needs to "sing Hallelujah", as Beth says!
People have asked if I regret selling my house of 40 years. The answer is "NO".  I would have wanted to down-size anyway so it would have been gone in a few years no matter what.  I want a much smaller house.  It has to have a fenced in back yard and a garage.  It's been fun looking.  I'm sure that just the right place will show up.
     I have been to the zoo twice since getting back.  It's so good to reconnect with my "babies".  Yesterday I had a wonderful greeting from Asha and her daughter, Tumani, two of our lowland gorillas.  They both came over to the glass where I was sitting and patted the window.  Tumani took off, but Asha stayed and "visited" with me.  Sorry I don't have photos of them as I was so busy "visiting" that I forgot to take pictures!  And the lion cubs are getting so big!  They are absolutely beautiful!  What a joy to see them again.

Elsa is looking so grown up!

Tembling came over to say "hello"

It's hard being a bear!

One of our beautiful mountain lions

Tahoma's antlers are looking good

     The next few weeks will be filled with more house-hunting and settling in to life back in my beloved Colorado.  Do I miss France?  ABSOLUTELY!!!  I miss the little churches and the big cathedrals, the castles on the hillsides, the abbeys in the woods, the lovely family owned restaurants, the little villages. And I miss H and G!  But it is nice to be able to run errands between noon and 2 and know that places are open! ha!  I am already making plans to return next year. 
     I will continue to write my blog posts.  They may not be every week, but will help to chronicle my return to Colorado.  You have all been so wonderful to me on this journey and I do so appreciate every encouraging word, question, comment, virtual hug. And may your journey be as wonderful as mine!  Merci!!