Let Summer Begin

While Brian & Julie had a date night - we had fun with the kids in pool.


Abby likes to criss-cross the pool by herself


Grant likes to jump ... and jump ... and jump.


K likes to watch.


Hope you have a great weekend!

Our French Connection

We just spent a wonderful, relaxing time in the Loire Valley of France with Jeff & Terri. Thanks to the French connection - our friend, Nell recommended the chateau where she lived in high school and where she and Charlie return every year.



Chateau de la Vauguyon is just outside of the quaint town of Chinon in the valley known to be the playground of kings and queens. The chateau was magnificent and ridiculously reasonable.

Celian, the owner was friendly as were all the French people we met. And they were all gracious with my fractured French.


We spent the days exploring the castles and abbys ...




meandering through mustard fields and vineyards to picnic ...





or just enjoying the view from our own front yard ...



a daily trip to the boulanger and wandering our own quaint Chinon.



I get to celebrate my birthday in Paris!



We used the Bateau(boat)Bus to get around to the highlights.



Notre Dame


The Louvre - it was a warm day.



And wandering the streets around St. Germain de Pres.


For the whole slide show of our France trip that includes more pictures, just click on the picture below to use controls and see the captions. (Double click on the slide show to see the pictures individually.)

Goodbye, Beau

Marty’s horse, Beau died last night. We are so very sad. He’d been acting strange the past couple of days and the vet thought it was edema because of a heart murmur and we could only wait and see. Then they found him gone this morning. He was such a good horse; spunky and sweet. His lively spirit was perfect for Marty. Beau and Toby (my horse) were inseparable. The four of us had some great rides.



We are thankful for the good horse people in Crested Butte; friends who watch out for each other and our horses. Raye took the time to be with the ranch manager to call Marty this morning. She took this photo a couple of weeks ago when Beau was following her around.



She told me what happened after she found Beau and said her goodbyes, "Toby was lying down, but not next to Beau. I went over and hugged him, and he made some strange noises I had never heard before, like "huh, huh, huh". I do know they grieve, as I saw it this winter myself."

I am sad for Toby too – he always took care of Beau in the herd and is grieving too. And I'm thankful Raye will give Toby some extra hugs until we get up there to see him.