leap day

The last day of February came a day late and thank goodness because if it hadn't I would have gone the whole month of February without posting and I really hate that I've been so flaky about my blog.

I wrote a big, long post about a huge house that is being built behind our house a couple of days ago, but it got to be so much of a tangent that I decided to postpone my post. Until today. Here it is, tangent forgone.

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I woke up this morning and looked out my kitchen window. For months now construction crews have been digging, pouring, framing, raising walls and then a roof, and now even windows. A new house is going up, dreams are being realized for more than one family. Meanwhile, our dreams in this house seem to be fading and changing. When we bought this house, we stood on the back deck, looking out to the openness, the park and the trees, even the tops of the Rocky Mountains rising above them. This was one of the biggest selling points for us - this feeling of openness in an otherwise confined suburban space. No neighbors in the back - just space. We liked that, we wanted that. The house itself recognized its access to this space, with a gate on back fence that leads right through the field to the park. We would take Fiona, our beautiful and aging collie, out that gate and across the field to walk around the park that we have lovingly called "Fona Park" ever since.

I miss our girl, Fiona and now I long for that feeling of openness, that feeling as we stood there, new homeowners, in our mid-twenties. We knew what we wanted and we were making those dreams come true. Those dreams are fading now, as that space fills up in the landscape behind our house with a giant pile of dirt and a massive house designed to hold five residents and a caretaker. The homes will accommodate developmentally disabled adults who have never had the chance to live on their own. Their parents, having raised their children well into adulthood,are eager to have space to themselves again. Our old dreams are making way for these new dreams, for these families and their children.

And I know in my heart that our own dreams are changing and we are moving into a new part of our lives. The last five years have been incredible and life-altering. Buying and moving into this sweet little house. Jeremiah had one knee surgery then two, then five. Planning a wedding and marrying. 10 months of pregnancy and a beautiful baby girl. Job changes. Nearly two years of parenting with all the joys and challenges that have come with it. Many of these things we dreamed of and created, others were surprises.

Since Amelie was born, this neighborhood has become our world. Our neighbors our friends. In the fall a sign went up in the field behind our house. As winter began, they started laying the water pipes. By December there was a giant gaping hole in the ground with a complimentary two-story hill of dirt next to it. I called the construction company and asked them to please put a fence around the site that was only 20 feet from the playground in our neighborhood park, Fona Park. They did and the foundation was laid. This winter was a hard one for me and I stayed cooped up inside, watching as the frame went up and the walls.

Spring is in sight. Two feet of snow covered the neighborhood for weeks until just a couple of days ago. Under that snow lay tiny blades of green grass, the spiky beginnings of irises. The house will be finished by summer, for sure. Four more are slated for the field, but I am unsure of how fast it will all happen.

Our house is special to us. We love it and we love our neighbors. But its starting to feel small, like we can't breathe. Our backyard was a retreat, but now it is noisy from construction and the landscape is marred. Soon there will be no need for the gate out back. Now I'm thinking of alternatives. We'll plant fast-growing trees along the back fence. Perhaps a fence around the front yard so Amelie can play there while the construction continues. I think it's time to start thinking about new dreams, to once again think about what we really want and move in that direction.

busy bees

The last couple of months have been super busy in our house. With the school year starting, I was back to my part time job (at a local private, non-profit high school). The first taste of fall has us rushing around the house and yard, finishing the zillion projects we had so zealously started at one point or another in the summer. Along with my mom and sister, I participated in my hometown's fall festival, Broomfield Days. It's been crazy!! Here are some moments I captured on camera.

Open gym for tots at the rec center's gymnastics area. Ammy had a blast with her good buddy Junior. 

Tekka (our goofy dog) took us to Dog Daze at the Broomfield Bay. He didn't like the swimming much but he sure had fun running around with all the other dogs.

My mom, sister and I hosted a booth at our hometown festival, Broomfield Days. It was an awesome experience and I had so much fun working with my mama to get all the visors and headbands put together. And, as a result, my monster wear army grew.

My sister, Mindy, and me bright and early that morning.

Me with my assistant and daughter, Amelie.

My mama, Mindy, Ammy and me manning the booth.

My husband , Jeremiah, brought Ammy to Broomfield Days

Our Ammy is a toddler now, running, climbing, singing and talking. She learns something new every day.

Amelie likes to do yoga in the kitchen.

The cosmos like the late summer.

Ammy and I went to the zoo with my mama, our neighbor Monica and her grandson (Ammy's buddy), Junior.

We're spending more time in the backyard now that the evenings are nice and cool.

Jeremiah is starting the big job of landscaping our front yard.

Jeremiah broke out the Halloween decorations today. At first I thought Ammy might get scared of them. As it turns out, she thinks they are pretty alright.

Pointing at the bat hanging from the ceiling.

 I'm sure there is plenty more, but this is the story the photos tell...

chasing a dream

Last week I celebrated my 30^th birthday. It was a typical weekday in many ways, but made extraordinary with little things like flowers at my bedside when I opened my eyes in the morning. I finished Chris Guillebeau’s The Art of Non-Conformity and started to list my own short and long-term goals, with deadlines around my 31^st and 35^th birthday. Check out this book, it is refreshing and encourages the active chasing of dreams. So I started making strides towards my own goals each day.  I’m still working on my lists and I’ll be sharing soon.

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My birthday, always a long summer day, unraveled slowly and I followed along. In the morning, Amelie and Tekka took me to the park.

 We went out to lunch with Jeremiah.

My talented friend and neighbor, Monica, created this beautiful and incredibly delicious cake (lemon, mmmm). Two layers just for me (I shared a few bites).

So far, I like 30.

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We visited the Denver County Fair this weekend. It was part old-fashioned fair complete with ferris wheel and other rickety rides as well as a freak show (is that politically correct?) and part trade show with a variety of local businesses. My friend, Michelle, and I spent a few minutes with a psychic (a first for me). Jeremiah and Amelie enjoyed the petting zoo the most.

The fair was a good reminder for me to get started on my inventory. My sister and I will soon be setting up shop at Broomfield Days, our hometown festival, and I have about six weeks to get ready.

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Back to dream-chasing. Have a wonderful week.

subversive art in the park

I discovered this colorful act of graffiti on an electrical box at a park near my home:



Not ten feet away stands this effigy, acquired by the city:


I'm sure the former will soon be covered or sand-blasted to oblivion. This particular graffiti, visually pleasing and thought provoking, comes across as a relevant, though subversive, work of art that expresses some voice of the community. I don't always feel this way about graffiti. The sculpture, with its movement and medium, has its own, more acceptable expression.  What are your opinions on graffiti?

spring fun

I promised myself all winter that when Spring came I would get Amelie out of the house as often as possible. It feels so nice to breathe the warm air, feel the hot Colorado sun on my shoulders, and smell the fresh cut grass and the flourishing weeds. We take a new trail each time. My nephew, Jerry, joined us on a walk near Josh’s Pond.

Afterwards Jerry and Ammy played at a nearby park.

My mama took Amelie and me, along with my nephews, Tristan and Jerry, to the zoo. Amelie had a blast! She loved the polar bear who came right up to the glass and the chocolate ice cream. My camera battery went out quick that day, but here are a couple of shots I got.

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Amelie is learning to walk and gets better every day. She loves her shoes and these pink sandals are her fave. Here she is about to stomp my newly planted flowers.

This week I made myself some baby-friendly jewelry. I’m thinking of adding a new section to the shop for Mamas.

Ammy took her first trip to the pool this week when our friend and neighbor Michelle invited us to join her at The Bay in Broomfield. Ammy loved the water and, even though it wasn’t the warmest day, waded into the baby pool bravely, holding my hand. 

Ammy loves to see her Dada at the end of the day.

Our feet feel at home in the grass. Here's to many more warm days to come.