Hi to all that might either read or stumble by my humble blog. Today we are starting our vacation journey back to our remote cabin in Colorado. I hope to blog from there, but as yet our internet connection is a bit, shall we say, “up in the air.” We hope to have internet starting on Monday, but if that doesn’t work we have to wait for a technician to come on Thursday. If we are successful, you will see a new header instead of my “new” Jersey Girl one. It will say “elevation 8,600” which is where we will be living.

Our neighbors at the cabin (Donna & Larry) went to our cabin today and saw a big bull moose right next to our cabin. Plus, a cow moose just gave birth the other day a short distance away. We hope they show up so we can bring you video and photos, but can’t promise, of course. Nature takes its own course.

So, we’ll either chat while we are there, or I will see you on the flip side in two weeks time. Please check back for updates!

Oh, and do wish us luck getting across the country in one gas-guzzling Suburban filled to the brim with stuff, two humans, two dogs and two very unhappy (at least until they reach their destination) cats. We hope to dodge tornados, floods, and all the other stuff going on in the past week in the mid-section of the country.

photo above taken from our cabin driveway looking towards Bull Mountain.

Are you all getting tired of seeing and hearing about “my” bears yet? Don’t worry, in a few days I’m going to be giving you something entirely new!

Last evening we were sitting watching TV and Rick saw something black walk by outside the sliding glass door in the sunroom. His first thought was “Oh, must be Alex walking by” and then he realized that the dogs were not outside. Then he saw two little black cubs and we knew for certain that Myrtle was up on our deck. Again. This time there wasn’t a bird feeder either.  Rick made a quiet (so the dogs wouldn’t know) mad dash for the video camera and I for my camera. By the time we got back, Myrtle was on her way to the back yard.

Here they are in our back yard. I love the way the two cubs peek over the hostas at the end of the video. Curious little things.

Higher quality link:
http://gallery.mac.com/bmtndog/100114

Just once I’d like to see the path she takes through the yard and up all the steps to the deck, but I can’t always be looking out the windows. Maybe I should be! I feel like I’m living inside the grounds of a zoo!

Tonight, just as we finished dinner I looked out the front window and saw Myrtle with the babies. I quietly went back into the kitchen and told Rick who promptly took up our new hi-def video camera. Here is the result as he stood outside to take this video. Myrtle hisses at him a short time into the video and he loses his focus a bit, but all in all, it’s pretty good. Take a look. (Note: I’ve included two different ways to view it; via PhotoBucket or via this link that is higher quality. Take your pick.

Quality link first:
http://gallery.mac.com/bmtndog#100108

Normal one here:

I haven’t wanted to say anything here on my blog because I was afraid of jinxing it. Too many times we’ve gotten excited only to be let down.

On May 20th, one hour after Sailor passed away peacefully here at home, someone put a contract on our house in Colorado. We could scarcely believe it. We were excited, yet reserving outright jubilation until after the inspection process, where in the past two failed contracts, some little thing had always come up and the whole deal fell through. (Note: If for any reason and not even about issues of inspection, here people can get out of the contract if they choose to do so without relinquishing their “earnest monies”.) We held our breath and waited. This particular buyer was in a hurry and wanted to close by June 6th. Inspection came and went without a hitch. Could it be true? Was our house finally, FINALLY sold?

Yes, it’s now official.

No more double house payments. No more paying for gas & electric, water, yard service, taxes, homeowner association dues, repairs, and anything else that came up on a house just sitting there empty. At last. I am sad and happy at the same time. It was our dream house. A place of memories both good and sad. A place of birth, life, and death for so many treasured dogs. Custom-built to our specifications, likes, and dislikes. Something we will probably never do again. Perhaps that’s why it took so long to sell—we had put too much of ourselves into it.

We’ve been getting people “nibbling” at it like a fish after a worm it’s not sure whether to take or not. Some came back multiple times: measuring, looking, prodding, probing. No one took the bait. They didn’t like this; they didn’t like that. Wrong school district. No finished basement for the kids to retreat to. Odd little custom touches that we adored and they hated. Some wanted to rip out the lovely kitchen and start over. Some wanted a larger master bath.

This couple (a minister and his wife in their sixties from Virginia) had no such qualms about the house. They looked at it only once before deciding to write a contract. Like us, they had seen the house online and fell in love right then and there. People after my own heart. Their realtor said it reminded them so much of the house they were leaving behind in Virginia. The house had been holding back, waiting for someone to appreciate it the way it was; rejecting those buyers it thought unworthy.

We like to think that Sailor had something to do with this miracle. We didn’t know about the contract until the next morning, but when I asked our realtor at what time the contract had been signed, he told me and I just had the strangest feeling wash over me. One hour after Sailor died. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. I am convinced it was his final parting gift to us.

Join us in saying good-bye to 1501 Red Sky Court, Ft. Collins, Colorado. I think this link to the virtual tour will still be active for a few days.

So, a toast to being rid of encumbrances. To memories past. To the cutting of ties. To Sailor who (we believe) helped make it happen. To getting on with life. Here’s to us! Please lift your glasses along with us. ~~ CLINK ~~

Two days after Memorial Day work began on our kitchen remodel. Cabinets came out and we were left with a big empty space. A dirty, somewhat messy big empty space. Here are some photos of before and during. Things to notice in the following three photos are
1) lovely BLUE formica countertops
2) outdated sink
3) large microwave on countertop
4) wooden hood over cooktop
5) old wall ovens on their last legs
6) hanging pot rack over island
7) large overhang on center island meant to be an eating place but not enough room to do so
8) ceiling fan / light combination

These are things you won’t see in the new kitchen!!

During photos: the cabinets come out.

During photos: the new cabinets go back in.

Our new countertop still in the warehouse:

Granite close-up:

Hopefully the countertops will go in just before we leave next week. If not, I guess we’ll have to wait to see our completed kitchen after we return from vacation. Can’t wait!