Last Rides of the Season

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Pat

Can you hear the clinking of pulleys, chunking of metal and squeals in
the cool, crisp air, as the whoosh of people fly past on colorful rides in
the amusement park? It’s one of the last October joys of the season.

Amusement Park Photo © by Pat Ruppel

Summer is fun to hang out with friends in high-profile Theme Parks or for a corporate picnic with co-workers. But, there’s nothing like riding a Tilt-o-Whirl or racing go-carts with your grandsons on a clear, autumn day. Continue reading →

We Need Help, Bad: A Mediator, Arbiter, Equalizer, Referee, Healer – Anyone ― Dalai Lama!?

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Pat

Angry Arguments Photo © Microsoft Clipart

I’ve been watching too much CNN/FOX television lately and got caught up
in the energies of politics.

It’s easy to do these days with so much happening in the news surrounding Washington D.C. It got me thinking about the heated issues of the U.S. debt ceiling and government shutdown and how I feel about it. Continue reading →

Ouch! I Think I Overdid It

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Pat

Ouch, ouch, ouch! My body aches all over ― everything hurts. I think I overdid it working in the rock gardens for almost 8 hours over 2 back-to-back days. I feel it today, after being on my hands and knees, crawling in and around rocks. The weather is predicted to turn bad this weekend and, before the snow flies, I finally got in some perennials and transplanted at least 100 irises for next spring.

It’s challenging to grow things in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 8,500’ with a shorter growing season and where the nights are cool ― not to mention the critters. If it’s not deer munching above ground, the voles will getcha underneath. Continue reading →

Ahhh Sunshine: Not Rain!

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Pat

Sunshine breaking through the storm – Photo by warriorwoman531 Courtesy PhotoDropper

It was so good to wake up to sunshine today, having seen so much rain in Colorado the past week. In case you haven’t followed the news stories over the weekend, we’ve had an enormous amount of rainfall the past several days with devastating floods. One even said the rain was in “biblical” proportions. I know, as long as I’ve lived here, since 1969, I haven’t seen this much rainfall in a short span of days. Continue reading →

Fall: Change in Seasons ― Change in Me

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Pat

Country Road — Photo by joiseyshowaa at PhotoDropper

I love this time of year ― Fall. It’s coming fast for us in the States. It’s just around the corner, though we’re still reaching 90’s during the day. Soon, snow will be flying and we’ll be shifting our activities and mindsets on keeping warm rather than keeping cool. It’s also football season ― another clue that summer is slipping away. No longer will we be shedding our clothes for the heat but now we’ll be donning that sweater or heavy jacket. Continue reading →