Warm temps, books,and cleanliness

I've been told to get on with it and post something. Okay Lisa! Time just got away from me - it's been wildly disorienting to be back in Naples. Nice as it is, couldn't be more dissimilar to Star Mt. This is the land of clean, sparkling cars - with regular spotting of ridiculously expensive foreign ones.  Our filthy car promptly went through a car wash - just in case there's a committee to deposit you outside the city limits. Where are the cowboys? The hay trucks?A clean car in Gunnison is very hard to find, and certainly not a Maserati or Bentley to be seen. Hmmm, there are different ways to live for sure...

my friend the ibis

Mark has come and gone - back to Detroit, back Friday. At least I got to see him for a few days.And it's cold, brrr, in Detroit right now. Supposed to be 79 here today - not bad. Snowing back in CB - the ski mountain will be happy about that.

Banyan tree

I've been remiss in listing books read. These are from way before Christmas until now. And in the middle I'm reading Atlas Shrugged - that crazy 1100 page classic by Ayn Rand. Never read it, tired of hearing about it, and since it apparently has influenced many movers and shakers in our country, going to find out what's the deal. Gave it to Chris too at Christmas. He was way ahead of me at the end of the year. Contest going on!
A New Kind of Country - Dorothy Gilman
The Bookshop - Penelope Fitzgerald
Dark Vineyard - Martin Walker
A Pelican in the Wilderness Hermits, Solitairies, and Recluses - Isabel Colegate
Time to Depart - Lindsey Davis
The Scottish Prisoner - Diana Galbadon
 The Men and the Girls - Joanna Trollope

I am happy to report that the condo is close to being back to the cute place it was. Have to replace a couple pieces of furniture that were damaged beyond  repair, but the place is back to sparkling clean, new paint and carpet, so basically all traces of the terrible tenants are gone. What to say - just shake your head over human bad behavior. Pictures will follow, we'll be renting it out again (6 months minimum) if anyone knows someone in need.

Stir Crazy

We made it to another couple of favorite restaurants. Fernandez the Bull (Cuban,) found through a Star Mt. neighbor (actually Bunny, Walter's wife - their house is across the road from Star Mt.). Her mother lives down here, so she visits frequently. And Stir Crazy, the pick your food out and they cook it in giant woks. Yum.

Balmy Naples

And, in Naples we are....  Long three days of driving but made it just fine. Oh, the shock of green grass and blooming flowers and 75 degrees. Poor pitiful us right?
And if you're wondering what's the deal since we sold our house in Naples last April, we've had a rental condo there as well. Bought at the high end and then everything came tumbling down. Not the time to sell yet so we'll keep renting it out. And had good luck with renters until this last one. Oh my, bad story, much damage, and trauma to the soul. It only takes one rotten apple... Sooo, part of the time here will be spent in restoring everything back to nice. Much work had already been done before we got here thank goodness.And thanks Heather for the advice - we had sage burning to purify the condo - no bad energy here now!

The condo is 20 feet from the water, and I'm sitting in the lanai as I write watching ducks, turtles, herons, pelicans, and egrets bobbing and weaving hunting for food. Much more entertaining than I expected. I do love the wildlife wherever and whatever it is...

We've already been to some of our favorite restaurants - Randy's (seafood), Sushi Thai (obvious), Escargot 41 (French), and today Texas Tonys Barbeque. There are many more excellent restaurants we'll be going to - it's a good thing I've started back on my walking regimen - burn up those calories!
Mark has already been back and forth to Detroit (he wasn't here even 24hrs before flying)and leaves tomorrow for CES in Las Vegas. Crossing my fingers he'll have time to have some fun in the weeks we're here.
I start art classes this week with the wonderful instructor I found last year - Patty Kane. Yippee!

Happy New Year!

Oh how fast the holidays go by. All the family left Friday after a week that zoomed. Finished it out with a visit to the crazy animal store (as in taxidermy) and BIG breakfast at W Cafe.W - the cafe that hasn't changed decor since 1950 - good food though. Most were not fond of the animal store, but happy with W. Penny too young to have an opinion on either...

The house seemed very quiet and then our madness began. A marathon of taking down and putting away the Xmas decorations (and there were a lot - I went a little crazy this year) since we're leaving Star Mt. for the tropical climes of Florida for January and February. Lots to do to shut the house down. We have our wonderful Walter to take care of the house while we're gone, so no worry there. We are driving the 2000 miles - whoo hoo ( so we have a car?) And Mark will still be commuting to Detroit - should be easier travel at least.

lots of napping going on - hope everyone relaxed!

Our New Year's Eve was fun, as Mt. Crested Butte puts on a nice show - torchlight parade of skiers down the mountain and then fireworks. We had an early dinner at Le Bosquet, a favorite, which was nice, although Mark's duck entree was not up to snuff. Oh, well can't win all the time. And in our tradition - did not stay up to see the new year in. Too old, too tired, too over all of that or some such thing...

Do hope for a healthy and happy 2012. Wishes for everyone to have a good one!

Holiday fun continues

Goodness the fun continues. Lisa and Charles have come and gone - boo on the gone, but we had a lovely time with them. How sweet they were to drive the 5hrs over here!

Penny meeting Grand Aunt Lisa

Secret Stash baby. Penny's first time (as well as Jay) good munchies and an electric ball.  (I think Dad was a little concerned about the side effects).

Wandered around CB. Absolutely no new snow here. What's up with that?

New sock monkey purchase

Grandaddy checking on Penny

We took Penny out for a walk in the woods. You can barely see her in her little snowsuit. She fell asleep -bored I think.

Mark and Chris went skiing yesterday. Came back happy, tired, and, in Chris's case, painful leg muscles due to too tight boots. And yes there is snow on the mountain...

Penny already wants an e reader

The week is going fast and the end of the year is near. We'll keep relaxing and enjoying every minute.

Princess Penny and Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!  Warm and fuzzies with the family here - which is the best present of all. Penny received more presents than anyone - how amazing...

We have white stuff on the ground, but no snow coming out of the sky - for a few days to come. The big snow you may have read about in Colorado did not make it our direction. The mountain makes snow too though, so skiing is still happening.

Christmas dinner in the oven, picking up boxes and wrapping paper everywhere, and anticipating Lisa and Charles coming tonight. Weather is cooperating for road conditions, thank goodness...

Wishes for all things good and I'll be back with the next holiday installment.

Christmas anticipation

My walks in the woods have been quite magical. Diamonds sparkling in the snow, animal tracks everywhere, and complete silence - except for my crunching boots. We could use some more snow, just not when family is traveling here late this week.

Christmas things are fairly under control. So excited family is coming and baby Penny in the house! We have extra special family coming too: Lisa and Charles are trekking over from Santa Fe to spend a couple of days with all of us. Fabulous!

We made it into CB for a little last Xmas shopping and lunch of course, Ryce is back open - hurray!  Some hustle and bustle going on, such a pretty time of year. And we took a photo of, get ready - drumroll please, of Occupy Crested Butte. There were actually 3 people - one's out of frame....