X Marks the Spot (day trip, part 1)

Yesterday morning we packed up the car and headed west into the mountains to commune with nature by climbing impossibly high peaks and stuffing our faces with s'mores. We had actually planned to leave on Monday morning and camp that night, but the weather was unstable so we pushed our departure back to Tuesday, in hopes that it would give the skies a chance to clear. We set out around noon and crossed our fingers.

It's been a few years since we first heard about geocaching and we bought our first GPS unit while we lived in Savannah, but never actually used it. I think the movers filched it when they were packing up our belongings there and we just recently purchased a new, improved model. Quin downloaded 3 waypoints that were in or near Idaho Springs, which is where you turn off the interstate on the way to Mt. Evans, our ultimate destination.


The first cache we found was on the grounds of a gas station. We knew we were close, so I hopped out of the car with the GPS to look for it, and found it hanging on a tree overlooking Clear Creek. It was kind of exciting to find our first cache! We opened it up and looked at all the goodies inside. There were two travel bugs, both baseball-related, that were fun! We left a little treasure and signed the log book and I took this cute photo of Quin before we jumped back in the car and headed to the next one.









To find the next cache, we drove through Idaho Springs, a cute little old mining town filled with quaint old Victorian homes. We located the waypoint, but hunted and searched and still couldn't find the cache. The instructions said it was hidden well but easy to find, which was just as confusing and contradictory as it sounds. I looked and couldn't find it, and then Quin looked and couldn't find it. He came back to the car and told me there was a log under one bush, but he had kicked it and found nothing. I went back for one more look and I guess I kicked it just the right way, because it came apart in two halves and inside was the cache! Very clever, indeed! The hider split the log, carved out a place in the middle and then fastened the whole thing together with a dowel pin. Sneaky.





The third cache was on the way up to the mountain, just off the road. I looked and couldn't find it, but Quin had success. It was a bigger cache so it had lots of stuff inside, including a disposable camera. We left a package of Band-Aids and took a tiny plastic moose, just because it made me laugh.

It was such fun to find these caches--I think I'm addicted already! I was disappointed that we didn't have any more waypoints downloaded, but we'll definitely do more later. I want to find some fun treasures to leave in future caches. The packages of Band-Aids were a last-minute purchase, chosen only because they were the only non-food-related item in the gas station (besides chewing tobacco, that is). I think I'm going to try to find some pirate eye patches--who doesn't need one of those?

Next up: the Mountain.

Arrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggg

It's Pirate-palooza around here, these days. On Friday night Quin and I got a real, live babysitter for the Li'l Monster and went to see "Pirates of the Caribbean 2" in an actual movie theater. It was a fun movie, buckles were swashed, and a good time was had by all. Very cool special effects; I especially liked Davy Jones' squid-face. We just now finished watching a History Channel program on real pirates. Turns out, pirates were actually big jerks; not at all hunky or quirky like Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom. Bummer.

Lately I've been thinking about having a Pirate Party. Problem is I can't come up with a good reason to even have a party other than I want the pleasure of coming up with clever pirate-related names for foods and fun decorations. Is that alone reason enough to have a party? Hmm, I don't know, I might be able to convince myself that it actually is. Seems like everyone likes to go to a party, they just don't want to be the one to have to put it on. I happen to prefer putting on the party to actually going, so it seems like a natural fit for me to be the facilitator.

What kind of food should I serve at my Pirate Party? I have seen a treasure chest cake that would make a fun centerpiece, and maybe we could have butter rum ice cream with it. What else? Dead Man's Chest BBQ ribs? Pieces of Eight potato chips? Polly the Parrot's (chicken) wings? Scurvy sea-(hot) dogs? Yo-Ho-Hos? I have these little cloth bags I could decorate and fill with candy jewelry, chocolate coins and Ring Pops for each family to take home as loot, and even a gold-leafed treasure chest to present them in. Boy, I think I have myself just about convinced to do this! Maybe in August. If you have any more suggestions for pirate food, leave them in the comments!

Pink slip

I've been temporarily relieved of my duties as family secretary. This morning we suited up and strapped Maren in and drove to the place where you get emissions testing done for your car, which is required for registration in the state of Colorado. You see, I was under the (erroneous) impression that both of our cars' registrations were due for renewal this month, and since Quin is on leave we decided to do it all at once. We pulled into the emissions testing facility, Quin in one lane and me in the other. At that time, decided to pull out the old registration and insurance documents in case they were needed, and that's when I noticed that my car was actually registered last September. A quick hop out of the car and I verified that there was a 9 sticker on my plates, not a 7. Oopsie. I called Quin and told him of my total stupidity, and luckily there was no one behind me so I was able to do some fancy driving maneuvers and pull backwards around a curve so I could get out of line. Just as I pulled out and over to where Quin was, it was his turn in line (at least the wait was short!). I walked over to his car where he kindly pointed out his registration documents that clearly showed that his car's registration isn't due until the end of August. Double oopsie. So, I've been fired.

The photo above is the pot that sits on my patio table. Last weekend I finally managed to get to the nursery, since Quin could watch Maren for me. I bought red geraniums for the pot on my front walk that match the cute little welcome sign slate that I ordered. I saw an article on succulents in a recent magazine and I decided to do those on my back table instead of flowers. You don't have to worry so much about them getting dried out--in fact, they like being dry--plus they're interesting-looking, aren't they? They look like little alien plants, and I had much fun picking out different varieties for my pots. I love how they turned out! The smaller pot here at right sits on a little side table that matches my big table, but I'm going to have to keep a good eye on that one because Maren has already sampled the little guys hanging over the edge of the pot. I know they look like peas, but I doubt they taste like them. That cute little guy is called String of Pearls, for obvious reasons. The one on the left is called Sea Shell, I think. I love the big ones in the top pot that are gray-green with pink tips! The cushions on my patio chairs have greens and burgundies, so they coordinate perfectly. I just love them!

I have 4 iron window-box type planters hanging off my back deck, placed there by the former owners. They had coconut husk liners that I tossed at the end of last summer because they were in rough shape. I've looked all over for replacements and finally found two this morning at a nursery on the way home from the Emissions debacle. They were $10 each and I still need two more, and when you add in soil and flowers, I'll be into those things for a hundred bucks, easy. I'm thinking maybe this year I'll get the liners, and leave the dirt and flowers to next summer. I like petunias, but not $100 worth.

This afternoon I'm going to get my hair cut! It has literally been 7 months since I had a haircut, which is a long gap even by my standards. Curly-haired folk such as myself can get away with going a little longer between cuts, because it's not so obvious when we have split ends and I don't really have a 'style' cut into my hair that needs maintaining. Jen Stewart mentioned a website on her blog called NaturallyCurly.com where people can post recommendations for salons, and I found a girl who happens to be nearby who got several thumbs-up nods. I'm not sure what I even want done with my hair other than highlights and a good cut. I think I'm tired of trying to figure it out myself and I just want to find someone I can trust enough to say, "Do whatever you want, I know it will look good." We'll see. Maybe if it turns out I'll even post a picture here later.

And with that, I'll leave you with a picture of Maren on the 4th of July in her cute flag outfit that Daddy picked out (way to go, Daddy!) and my new red geraniums.

Fourth of July dessert

Homemade shortcake with strawberries, raspberries and blue berries and fresh whipped cream. I'd hoped to make star-shaped shortcakes but went for the drop-method instead, as it was much easier. We ended up not going to see fireworks because a nasty storm blew over right as we would have needed to leave. The clouds were black, the temperature dropped 15-20 degrees and there was lightening all around. Around 10 o'clock the skies opened and it poured! Considering that fireworks were supposed to start at 9:30, we would have most certainly been caught in the downpour. I'm not sure they even went ahead with the show, as the winds were high and the fire danger around here is even higher--can't really afford to be taking chances like that. So, in the end it was best that we stayed home, although I don't recall ever being rained out on July 4th before! We did go over to the neighbor's house for a second dessert of birthday cake and ice cream and enjoyed visiting. In all a fun holiday.

Maren's lunch on the Fourth

I've read that most kids Maren's age really enjoy "dipping" their food, so I've decided to test the theory. For lunch yesterday Maren got half of a hot dog (cut very small, no choking hazards here!) and a little dish of ketchup. At the last minute I threw a few chips on her tray, and she largely ignored the hot dog bits in favor of dipping her chips in the ketchup. The dipping thing looks to be a hit, I'll just have to remember that she may not dip what was intended. As long as she eats, I don't care! I think Bronco was the recipient of most of the hot dog, so he had a festive lunch as well.

Lunch on the Fourth

How's this for a 4th of July lunch? Grilled hot dog, chips, and the sweetest fresh watermelon I've had a in a while. Yum!

Happy Independence Day

It's only 11 a.m. and already we've celebrated so much that it requires napping! We were up early this morning to go to a pancake breakfast put on by our church. Quin cooked and Maren and I visited with friends and played on the slide before stuffing ourselves with pancakes, eggs and sweet watermelon. What is it about breakfast that it always tastes better when cooked outdoors? So now Daddy and Baby are napping, and Mommy is headed that direction shortly. Don't have big plans for the day; perhaps we'll dump the past two days' rainwater out of Maren's little pool and fill it up with fresh, and let her splash. Maybe Bronco will even get in on the action! Dinner, hope it doesn't rain again, and if the weather holds we may venture out for fireworks.

Quin's mom, Bunnie, is very involved in doing genealogy for her ancestors, many of whom are from South Carolina (as is she). In her files she had a copy of this wonderful document, and I was so taken by it I had to take pictures. I don't know of the official name for it, but this document was written by who I assume were prominent citizens of South Carolina (some of whom I believe are Bunnie's ancestors) less than a year after the first shots were fired at Lexington & Concord, on April 19, 1775. I will type the text as well as I can read it. I found it to be quite inspiring.

"South Carolina Association. The actual commencement of Hostilities against
this Continent by the British Troops in the bloody scene on the 19th of April
last near Boston, & Increase of arbitrary impositions from a reviled and
despotic Ministry--and the Dread Insurrections in the Colonies, are Causes
sufficient to drive an oppressed People to the use of force: We therefore the
Subscribers, Inhabitants of South Carolina, holding ourselves bound by that most
Sacred of all Obligations, the Duty of good Citizens toward an injured Country,
and thoroughly convinced, that, under our present distressed Circumstances, we
shall be Justified before God and Man, in resisting Force by Force, Do unite
ourselves under every Tie of Religion and of Honor and associate as a Band in
her Defence, against every Foe: Hereby solemnly engaging that, whenever our
Continental or Provincial Councils shall decree it necessary, we will go forth
and be ready to sacrifice our Lives and Fortunes to secure her Freedom and
Safety. This obligation to continue in full Force until a Reconciliation shall
take place between Great Britain and America, upon constitutional Principles--an
even which we most ardently desire. And we will hold all these persons inimical
to the Liberty of the Colonies, who shall refuse to subscribe this Association."

Every time I read that, I am touched by the fervor and the conviction behind those words. I am thankful for the men and women who did what the did, and held such convictions, even being willing to die for them.

Thrift find

I haven't been posting my thrift/garage sale finds lately, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been finding neat things! I just got a little embarrassed about posting how much junk I buy, although lately most of it is for resale. If you want to see what I've been buying, check my eBay ID and you'll see most of it!

I did want to share this, however. I found this at a thrift last week. It's a vintage baby dress made of dotted Swiss, with pink ribbons along the front. It's sheer so I assume that it must have been common for ladies to have little slips for their babies to wear.





This little dress appears to never have been worn, as it still has it's original tag. Here's a close-up.

Charming baby, indeed!

eBay watch

Tonight I have several auctions ending on eBay, and I'm pretty excited about how they're going so far! Hopefully as auction end time nears, they will go UP UP UP! Here's the link in case you want to check them out. I know I'll be obsessively checking them every 30 minutes or so.
Heidi's auctions

Nuggets of wisdom

If you look closely, you can see what appears to be...yes...masking tape over the front of Maren's diaper. We started doing this on our last trip to Utah, as Maren had recently discovered her talent for removing her own diaper, and usually peeing on the floor immediately after. I cannot tell you how many times I've cleaned up *piddle* from the hardwoods, carpet, seat of her highchair, bathroom floor, etc. So now, unless she's clothed in something that makes it impossible for her to access her diaper, it gets taped. 1 1/2" wide masking tape, to be specific.

This weekend we attended a training conference up in the mountains at a hotel resort called Copper Mountain, about two hours west of Denver. I packed in a hurry, and neglected to take the tape along with the diapers and wipes. I won't be making that mistake again, and let me share with you why:

We were able to get a port-a-crib from the hotel for our room so Maren would have a place to sleep. Our hotel room was configured such that there was a long, narrow hallway leading from the front door to the rest of the room. Quin decided to set up the crib at the end of the hallway (nearest the door) because it was much darker and somewhat quieter there, which we thought would make it easier for her to fall asleep while we were still in the room. I dressed Maren for bed in a fresh diaper and some of her new summer two-piece jammies. The pants on these pjs are a little big for her as she's still so skinny in the waist and they don't stay up well, but if she's just laying in bed they're fine. We put her to bed with a bottle, turned out all the lights, the TV down low, and waited for her to fall asleep. She drank her whole bottle, which usually means blissful slumber is soon to follow, but last night she continued to rustle around in the crib for quite a while. I thought maybe she was just trying to get comfortable since she was in an unfamiliar place, and that she would soon fall asleep.

After a while, I decided I needed to go to bed myself, and I would just have to risk turning on the light in the bathroom which was near to where her crib was. As I neared her crib, I could see Maren standing up and holding onto the side, seemingly not the least bit sleepy. I noticed she'd tossed her bottle far clear of the crib, and bent down to pick it up to fill it with some water. When I did that, I noticed something small and round-ish on the carpet by the foot of the crib. The light was so dim that I couldn't make out what it was, but I wanted to make sure it wasn't something Maren was playing with that she could choke on. I picked it up and noticed the odd texture, and as I walked the few steps back into the light from the bathroom, I realized that I was staring intently at a turd. Yes, folks, it was POOP.

Naturally, I shrieked and flipped on the incredibly bright vanity lights, all hopes of tiptoeing quietly just shot to hell. Once I'd disposed of the offending offal in the toilet, scalded my hands under the faucet, and grabbed a tissue, I ventured back into the hallway where I found several more...ahem..nuggets, courtesy of Maren. Seems that all that rustling around that we'd heard was actually the sound of her removing her pants and her diaper, peeing on the bedsheet at the bottom of her crib, and chimp-like, flinging her poo for what appeared to be both Distance and Accuracy. I say this because there were several little Raisinets quite some distance from the crib, and Maren has proved in the past to have quite the pitching arm.

Even if I'd remembered to pack the tape this still may have happened, as we don't normally tape her diaper before bed. You can bet we will now though, especially when she wears those pajamas. And I think I'll be keeping a spare roll of tape in the car. Some lessons you just don't need to learn twice.

Baking beauties

I made cupcakes the other day. Maren and Bronco helped:


Even with my "helpers," they turned out okay. I made vanilla buttercream but at the last minute added a little lemon juice and lemon zest, and colored it pale yellow. Doesn't taste all that lemony to me, but it looks pretty! I think for more lemon flavor I'd need to do almost a lemon curd. Maybe lemon and chocolate is a weird combination, though. And I do think vanilla buttercream is not that great--I like chocolate far better. Vanilla just tastes weak. I was thrilled to find that my cupcakes fit perfectly in the Tupperware containers I bought at a yardsale last weekend for a quarter apiece. I think it must have been cupcake kismet.

A meme for Thursday

This blogging challenge and meme were supplied by Sophia! I'm only a day late! LOL

1. FIRST NAME? Heidi
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Heidi from the Johanna Spyri book
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Last Friday when I was at my wits' end (DH had been gone for 4 weeks)
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, I do
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Salami
6. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? One 15-month-old whirlwind of a daughter
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I hope so! I think I'm friendly and positive and fun to be with. I like all kinds of different things so I'm interesting to talk to. I have a good sense of humor.
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Not in the traditional sense.
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Me? Never. (that was sarcastic)
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? As far as I know
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Probably
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I don't often wear shoes that tie, but I would probably unlace them.
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically, no. Mentally and emotionally, yes.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? World's Best Chocolate from Baskin Robbins, but anything chocolate will do. No wimpy cheap chocolate! I only like the good rich stuff, I'm spoiled
16. SHOE SIZE? It went up half a size, thanks to pregnancy! Now I'm a 9.5. Hope that doesn't happen with each pregnancy.
17. RED OR PINK? That is a toughie. Red has always been my favorite, but I do love pink, especially now that I have a little girl. I just can't choose!
18. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My lack of willpower and difficulty setting and keeping goals.
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My family, who live 9 hours away
20. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Late 70s, hot summer, Utah.
21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black shorts and bare feet. Shoes make me claustrophobic!
22. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast.
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The chatter from my little girl as she tears up the office behind me
24 IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Positively Pink
25. FAVORITE SMELL? Coffee
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED WITH ON THE PHONE? My friend Melanie yesterday. I'm giving her the curtains I just took down.
27. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU MEET? What they're wearing. Shallow, but true.
28. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I have extremely dextrous toes
29. FAVORITE DRINK? Ice water, in my pink cup
30. FAVORITE SPORT? Not really a sporty type. Is thrift-store shopping a sport? I think I could make it into a competition.
31. HAIR COLOR? Curly brown
32. EYE COLOR? Swamp
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes. Hard gas permeable. Desperately hoping to get Lasik this fall
34. FAVORITE FOOD? Hard to choose! I love Thai. And Chocolate cupcakes. Really, any cupcakes will do
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Happy Ending
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different (but I listened more than watched)
37. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Lavender
38. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
39. HUGS OR KISSES? Are we talking Hershey's or real? Kisses for both.
40. FAVORITE DESSERT? Anything chocolate (notice a theme?). If cake's involved, that's good too.
41. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Some books by Laurie Notaro, a humor writer. Plannin to start the first Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum book when they're done. I've also been reading books on collecting vintage jewelry.
42. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? An eagle and a flag
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? the ocean, the nice white noise from my fan at night, my little girl's chatter when she's still in her crib in the morning
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Big fan of the Fab Four. Don't like the Stones at all.
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? I lived in London for a semester. Also went to Paris.
46. IF YOU COULD PICK ANY TWO PEOPLE TO HAVE DINNER WITH, WHO WOULD
THEY BE? Alicia Poulson and Amy Powers (shh, don't tell them I'm stalking them!)

Ahoy!

Her eyes were incredibly blue in this dress, which used to be mine.

Pillowcase dress #2

Ain't that the truth

To have children is a double living, the earthly fountain of youth, a continual fresh delight, and also a source of weariness beyond description.

--Josephine W. Johnson

Color Week: Red Friday

Red raspberries, freshly picked from my grandfather's garden, August 2005. I couldn't have been happier with them if they'd been a bowl full of rubies. Not much out there that tastes better than fresh razzies on vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup. Nope, not much.

Today is Flag Day!

Color week--Gray/Black Wednesday

Cast-iron fish downspout, Savannah.

Pillowcase dress

Back in the spring of 2001, before I was even married, I bought a Martha Stewart Baby magazine that featured an article on how to make dresses for little girls out of vintage pillowcases. I saved the magazine, hoping that someday I would have a little girl that I could make such a dress for.

A few months ago, I remembered the pillowcase dresses and have been wanting to try one for Maren. I even went so far as to promise to teach how to make them to any of the ladies at church who signed up. Now, you must understand that I don't sew. Seriously, I have no idea what I'm doing. But I do have a large amount of faith in myself, which is what led me to offer this class, even though I'd never made one of these dresses myself!

The class is this Thursday night, and today I pulled out one of my thrifted pillowcases just for this purpose and whipped up a dress! Okay, if you consider laboring and sweating over it for two hours "whipping up" anything. I only had to rip out one seam, which for me is not too darn bad. The armholes gave me the most trouble. I have instructions but couldn't make heads or tails out of them, so I improvised. My seams are wobbly, and my armholes are a little bunchy, but once I put the ribbon in the casings and gathered up the top that all disappeared. I think it turned out pretty cute, after all! The pillowcase had the ruffled edge on it to begin with. I suspected it would be a nice detail and I was right. As soon as I finished the ribbon, I put it on Maren. It fits perfectly! I guessed on the measurements and luckily, I was right on. I think she'll be wearing this tomorrow, but I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of her this afternoon. My fit model:

Brown Tuesday

Steph over at Little Birds has designated today Brown Tuesday for this color week, so I'm playing along.

This is my younger brother Kristjan enjoying a Mickey Premium ice cream bar at Epcot in Walt Disney World, July 2004. This was his first experience with the somewhat addictive qualities of the Mickey bars. I remember it was SO hot and sticky (being mid-July in Orlando, duh) and we stopped in the shade near the American Experience to eat these. It felt so good to sit down and be cool for just a few minutes. I was newly pregnant at that time and the combination of morning sickness and the oppressive heat and humidity made for some seriously unpleasant sensations that only Mickey Premium bars could quell.

I've been thinking a lot about Disney lately. Apparently my brain thinks that Summer=Walt Disney World. Perhaps it's those Mickey bars....they put an addictive chemical in those things (not unlike The Pentaverate) that cue your brain to yearn for all things Disney. I think I need to dig out my photos and put together an album of our two trips; perhaps that will stifle the longing. Man, I could really go for a Mickey bar right now!