Our road to remodel

I suggested to Fred that we drive both cars to Colorado so we can leave one there and trailer the other one when we move. I said I could do the drive in two days, not one. I'm good for about 5 hours driving long distance. We decided that was a good idea. It also gave us more room for hauling tools, materials and stuff we need for a month at Shannon's. 

We made it to our hotel in pretty good time, but we parked under a tree. The next morning Fred wanted to get both cars washed to get the tree sap off.

There was a mudslide along I-70 so we had to divert our course. It added on hours. I didn't sign up for a 7 or 8 hour day which it turned into. It was pretty miserable. We drove up through beautiful scenery, but at one point the road was two lane, no barriers on the roadway and the drop off. I was kind of freaking out. I couldn't look to the right of the lane. I kept my vision stuck on the center lane lines. 

It was just pouring rain. We got to one length of road that just came to a halt for what seemed miles to me, but later found out it was only a couple. I was so tired by then and it felt like we were never going to get there. Fred had us pull off for gas not knowing how long we were going to be stuck. Well just up ahead the road jam opened up and off we went.

This Welcome Sign was posted on their garage door It was very sweet

Lots of cars parked here for now.

This is the cause of the detour off on I70. Mudslide near Glenwood Canyon. Rotten timing for our trip. I think we will find an alternate route when we go back home.

What is the best detour route? 

CDOT recommends taking a combination of state highways north through Meeker, Craig, Steamboat Springs and Kremmling. That adds about two-and-a-half hours to a trip from Grand Junction to Denver. A southern route through Montrose and Gunnison is now viable after a construction project there was suspended until I-70 is open again. 

Final Garage Sale

We held what I hope and believe to be our LAST garage sale.

As expected, there was a lot of time in preparation for the big day.

We got up at 5am so we could get everything set up.

I think we set it up really nice. 

Grouped things by category and tried to put everything out in good visibility.

The only Princess House pieces that didn't sell were the hurricane candle holders.

I haven't used any of it in years!!!

Games and toys. Most of that sold too.

We placed things in aisles so people could walk through.

No more room for silk plants. The majority of our wall decor was sold also. I'm only hanging pictures that are sentimental to me. Like our family!

Extra pot and pans, luggage, camping gear - so much stuff.

My Dad had notebooks with 100 plastic sheets filled with letters. 

I thought those were a good deal for someone to pick up.

Fred sold his bicycle that he got when he was about 15 years old. We will look for a cruiser style bicycle to buy him when we get moved.

We had quite a bit of electronics. Most of that sold. 

I won't be displaying my collection of water pitchers anymore.  I want our new place to be clutter free.

A lady bought that quiet book I made when Corinne was a baby. Our duplos that our kids played with. 

Fred had so many packages of unused tools. I think all his tools sold.

Multiples of so many things. 

Gas grill sold. All that fencing and chicken wire sold. 

We sold the majority of stuff within the first hour and a half. It was slow after that. 

 These are pictures after we rearranged the remaining items.

A large portion of the items went to about three different people. One couple came back to pick up the grill and then bought the security camera system of Fred's. It was amazing to watch the people as they shopped. 

Our day was successful. We had to take two loads to DI and one load to Habitat of Humanity. Done. 

Now our house looks kind of sad inside, but that was the goal.

Just a few things in July

This is the phonograph that Fred's Grandpa Howes ordered from Sears and Roebok a zillion years ago. Fred said it was old when he saw it as a little boy.

It was left out in a covered patio at his Grandpa's house in Junction.

Fred was able to get this after his parent's passed away.

We found a friend who restores antiques.

The back panel was in the worse shape.

You can how it is peeling away.

This is the same piece after restoration.

It's a beautiful accent piece now.

We'll put it in our living room in our new home in Colorado.

We met with Corinne's family for our scheduled week at Park City. 

Sunday through Sunday.

Here we are directing traffic in the parking garage.

I didn't take many pictures this time because we pretty much do the same thing when we are together. All the pictures look the same. I decided just to live in the moment instead of behind the camera.

 

Fred purchased some cards for the boys to play in the game room. 

It was a so so activity. Lots of frustrations.

We spend most of the time in the pool or in the room playing games. 

Eating is also an activity we enjoy together.

Corinne and Ben did the cooking. 

We did have a nice time together. They left Thursday morning for a day at Lagoon.

Fred and I rode the gondola in downtown Park City. It ended up not being a very fun experience.

It was so hot and the ride kept stopping. What should have been an hour round trip, turned out to be 1 and 1/2 hours. It broke down for about 20 minutes. I thought I was going to have heat stroke.Thank goodness we stopped and bought this hat for me. I don't think I would have survived without it.

When I wasn't dwelling on how hot I was, it really was beautiful up there.

Here is the sunburn I got. I had on capri pants and flip flops.

Fred and I took a day to drive over to Farmington to visit with his cousin Jim and his wife Candace. Also toured his son Greg's new very fancy home. After that we drove over to see Jay and Carolyn is uncle. Very nice to spend time with them. 

On the way home on Sunday we met my brother Craig and his wife Lynette for lunch. 

It was nice to get home.

Reuniting with Cousins

A really positive benefit have having my Dad live with us the last four years was igniting communication with my Ensign cousins.

My mom's youngest brother Gaylord and his wife LaVerne had nine children.

My memories of their family was spending Thanksgiving with them at their home in Fresno.

I am a year older than their oldest child Leandra and next in line was David.

David came to San Luis Obispo to work with my Dad in his garage door business.

These are the two cousins that I was most connected to.

I learned at this "reunion" that there is a 20 year span from Leandra to Amie the youngest.

I had no idea. I just remember that they had five children like us, and then the next four came along much later and I don't remember ever being with them.

Laura was the youngest of the first five children, Her son Ryan was recently married and she was having an open house in Lehi. I said to myself "well I'll betcha there will be a lot of the siblings who come to the open house" and I wanted to see them all before we move to Colorado.

So I invited ourselves. Corinne and Ben and Richard were going to be in Spanish Fork the same weekend so it worked out that Corinne and Richard also came with Fred and I.

This is Leandra the oldest and Amie the youngest. They are looking through the pictures I brought from my Dad's stuff. He asked me to take any Ensign memorabilia that I found in his stuff and give it to Curt. So I brought a box full to the open house.

At the end of the evening, we all were able to sit around the table and take pictures and go through the stuff I had brought to give to Curt.

In the forefront is Curt, Adam and David's wife Leah.

The woman in black with blonde hair is Jayson's wife Emily.

The man standing is Laura's husband Mason.

In front is Curt, me, Adam, David, Laura, Bryan, Jayson, Leandra and Amie. Darren and his wife Holly were in Paris. 

Best night ever. David and Leah drove through St. George the next day on their way to Las Vegas as they were headed home to Fresno. They called and we met at Applebees for dinner. Best Day ever. 

I marvel at how easy it is to be with each one of them. They didn't treat me as a stranger and they didn't feel like strangers. We are an eternal family. Pretty awesome. I hope in the coming years I do better at staying connected with them whether through letters, Facebook or an occasional in person meet up.