Tiny corns

Earlier I reported that we had one ear of corn...I was slightly wrong...there were a few more...tiny...corn..

 They don't look so bad, in with the cucumbers...I mean, those are big cucumbers, right?

 And big cherry tomatoes, right?

Well, no...but they were tasty.

The garden is starting to wind down--a few more cucumber blossoms, some kale, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers still to harvest.  There are a couple more apples--no peaches or cherries this year, but we've picked about five apples of various kinds.  And it looks like the asparagus will be great next summer.  I need to take a look and see if we have more onions and garlic and start getting everything tucked in for the winter.  Today I bought a butternut squash at the grocery strode...I felt a little guilt that I wasn't going to the Farmer's Market, but it was quicker to just get it there...hopefully one night this week we'll have butternut  squash soup...yum!

What I'm reading, Blog Edition

There are several blogs that I read once in awhile--some I get a daily or weekly digest and that is all I ever read, others I go to and binge read, some I read the first line and that's it.
I ran across this one earlier this week and want to share it with all of you:

Petals of Joy: Why God Whispers


Wow!  She nailed that...what a way to put everything in perspective and remind me to "press in" this week.

Things to do in Denver Part I

Some friends from out of state are coming for a visit later this fall and asked for some ideas of things to do with their young kids--I am going to chat with them, too, but thought it might make a "fun" post I've talked about some of these places before, but here is the "whole list" in one place... "things to do in the Denver area" with (or without) little children....  A lot are mentioned in The Preschooler's Guide to Denver, a book that we have used a lot more since the kids started school than before.  Whenever I can I've included a link to the location's official website.

Children's Museum-I hate to start with this one, because it is one of my least favorites (sorry museum fans).  I was "spoiled" by growing up near the fantastic Indianapolis Children's Museum, so the Denver Children's Museum has always seemed small and over-priced.  We have spent some fun afternoons there--mainly rainy or cold days when we've been cooped up too long.  It does have a some great play areas for younger kids-it is aimed at the 3-5 year old crowd is my opinion and anyone older or younger isn't thrilled..but it is ok if the weather has been stinky for a long time.  And it is a good "go-to" for little kids and grandparents--lots of things to play with.

Aquarium-I haven't been to the aquarium since around the time it opened and we had free passes.  It is supposed to be great...it is funny to think of going to an aquarium in Denver though.  And again (I'm cheap) but it has always seemed pricey.

Museum of Nature and Science I do love this place--lots of stuff for kids to do and entertaining for the adults too.  Has an IMAX theater.  It is pretty similar to Nature and Science Museums in other cities...I can't think of anything that makes it drastically better or worse than any other Nature and Science Museum.  Entrance prices also seem about the same as other cities.

Zoo When we lived in Denver proper we had a zoo membership and would "pop over" for a couple hours on a Sunday afternoon. it is a nice zoo, lots of buildings with indoor exhibits so you can escape from the rain/snow/heat. We used to be famous for our polar bear cubs, but it seems like we haven't had any in awhile--but there are snow leopard cubs!  Here, too, there is an entrance fee, but it is never surprisingly high and (at least used to be) lower in the winter months.

Denver Botanic Gardens-Right now the Gardens are hosting a Chihuly exhibit and they have added a "kids discovery area".  It has always been a nice place to go play.  I think there are discounted tickets available through King Soopers sometimes.  It has a few indoors areas as well to escape the sun/rain/snow.

Lowry Beer Garden-Why might you ask, is a Beer Garden on a "kids's list"?  Great question...Here's my answer.  This place is situated right next door to the Wings Over the Rockies Museum and has a fantastic outdoor patio as well as a great indoor area.  Tasty food...and...a box of toys/games for the kids.  Granted, my kids are older, but they spent several happy afternoons playing Apples to Apples with my co-workers while I snacked on "half price food for teachers" during happy hour . I once fed the kids and I dinner for $12.  $12.  Not kidding.

Wings Over the Rockies-A very miniature version of the Air and Space Museum, has a fee, but often there are discount tickets online or in the kiosk at hotels.

Wildlife Experience-One of my favorite museums ever.  There is an area where you "walk through several climate zones" and along the way get snowed on as well as see lots of taxidermied animals.  That section alone is worth the price to me.  It also has an IMAX and a fun kids discovery area.

Butterfly Pavilion-Haven't been there in years, it was lovely, especially since when I went I had free tickets.

Westlands Park--Great park, no where to go inside, of course, but fantastic if the weather is decent (which, let's face it, it is a great deal of the time in Denver).  Has an observation tower, nature walks, and several fantastic playgrounds/play areas designed for kids of different ages and abilities.

Littleton Historical Museum--They advertise that they are "always free", but I would pay to visit.  A small, traditional, museum and several restored historic buildings.  Chickens, ducks, cows, sheep...lots of space to run and things to explore.  Special events throughout the year-we were there last spring on "Cow" day--we sampled homemade cheese, butter, and ice cream and heard about ice houses.

Hudson Gardens-Another smaller botanic garden.  During the summer they charge a fee, but in the winter I don't believe that they do. Lots of fun places to explore here, too--a hobbit hole is one of my favorites.  On special weekends there is a large outdoor model train area.

Belleview Park-We've only been to this one a few times--they have a great train to ride on (for a fee, I think) and lots of other "park" things.

Tiny Town-One of my favorites when the kids were toddling--this is a whole village (outdoors) of tiny houses and other buildings. There is a train to ride here, too.  I remember thinking the price was reasonable...I'm sure all that info is on their website.  They may close for the winter as well....but winter is kind of fluid here in the land of 340 sunshiney
 days.

Red Rocks-Free, including a small "museum".  Worth it to let kids run up and down all those stairs and perform on the same stage that the Beatles did.  Lots of hiking trails, too.

Colorado Railroad Museum-I know I've been here, but not for a long time.  I have a coffee mug from there!  The Boy reports "it was fun and Grandude bought my ticket".  So there you go.  As I remember, it has a lot of real trains that kids can tour and sometimes there are train rides

Airplane restaurant--This place, and the  next four, are all technically in the Colorado Springs area...which isn't super far from our house, but would be a hike if one was coming from downtown Denver (of course, some of the list above are a hike for us!).  I have mixed feelings about this place and always tell the folks we take that I have mixed feelings.  No one has ever been disappointed though (or at least they didn't tell me so).  The food is so-so most visits (it is attached to a Ramada Inn, I think), but if you call ahead or get lucky you can actually eat in a real airplane.  Even if you have to sit in the restaurant, there is a ton of airplane memorabilia to look at and kids are encouraged to visit the cockpit and rear bay of the airplane to explore.  Lots of great photo ops!

Air Force Academy-A very nice (free) visitor's center.  You will have to show your driver's license or other ID at the gate, but don't have to have a reservation to go in.  Most days you can take a short walk to the Air Force Chapel (down a paved trail with lots of things to look at).  A fun (usually short) stop on the way to or from somewhere else.

Olympic Training Center-Another free visitor's center.  The last time we were there they were remodeling (again).  Usually there are lots of hands on things to do and tours of the grounds are given.

Garden of the Gods-Very pretty to walk or drive.  Free entry, parking can be a pain if it is a nice day.  There is a nice visitor's center, too, mostly a gift shop, but a few things to look at/touch for the kids.

Santa Train-We haven't done the Santa train, but did take the cog railway in the summer.  The Santa train sounds very fun and we've been told that tickets "sell out fast".  Make sure to stop in Manitou Springs on your way to or from the train and try some of the water from the town's springs (the springs are free, just bring your own cup). With older kids they can pick up a map and lead you on a scavenger hunt as well as a taste test.

Bonus Link to "Best Hikes for Kids and Families" We've done a lot of these--downtown Golden is fun as well as the one to "the castle"

I'm also a fan of our public libraries--no matter what part of the "Denver Area" you are in ,there is probably a great library with a children's area, many including a"play room".  Phillip Miller (in Castle Rock), Castlewood (Centennial), and Schlessman (Denver) are some of my favorites.

Hey, Coloradans...what else should I add?

End of summer adventures with the family

Since IM didn't get to go with us to Michigan, we've tried to take a few day trips on weekends this fall.  A couple weeks ago (maybe it was even Labor Day weekend?) we decided to go to the Art Festival in Manitou Springs for the day.  We never actually made it to the actual festival...but we had a lot of fun in the Springs...here's our travel log with commentary, of course!

This is what happened when IM said--"hey, have we ever gone up that street before?"  And by up, he meant up...yes, that is The Girl huffing and puffing in the background.

This building says "old depot".  Interesting.  It looks like it is an apartment building now.

 As seen on Zillow....IM is intrigued by this house.  I am not, as it has no off street parking and is on a giant hill...but it is surprisingly larger than it looks!

What would a visit to Manitou Springs be without some spring water?  Actually The Boy was sticky for some reason(who knows) and this was a convenient place to clean up

Look!  A snowman in August!  This was entertaining...and a little hot when touched.

Again...these two will pose with anything.  I mean, what is this?  Sculpture, a bike rack?

Ah, the "I can't find my keys" gag.  Never gets old.  Luckily (for him) they were in his pocket all along.

The Other Village

Ok, yes, that one...So IM and I saw "The Sixth Sense" when it was in theaters (clearly  before children) and loved it...so we went to see "Unbreakable" and it was, um, not so good.  We actually had free tickets to see Unbreakable and won a hat and other bling...back when we could go to movie premiers late at night without falling asleep in the theater (I've fallen asleep in a theater..."Horton Hears a Who" really needs more action...Sigh.)  "Signs" was ok, but not necessarily great...I think we rented it (from a "movie rental store"...giggle...) So, when "The Village" came out, I don't think we saw it in the theater, I think we waited until it was "on video" (DVD, I'm sure...really) and rented it.  I thought it must have come out a long time ago...like the 90's, but surprise...it came out in 2004, the year The Boy was born.  Hmm...that was a long time ago...but not like 20 years, only 10.

I remember sitting through the movie, not liking it at all...ugh..it was horrible...then there is that turning point (no spoilers) and I said, "What?  No Way!!!! Oooh....that was cool!"

I try to remember that moment every time I'm slogging through some point in my life when I just can't see anything good coming.  Not necessarily a low or bad point...just that mind-numbing, daily life thing...I know that if I look God will put one of those, "What! How cool!" moments in my life--a sunset, the beautiful flowers in the yard, a sunrise on the way to work, a visit from a former student, a hug from my kids...those everyday turning points that can make all the difference.  Enjoy looking for those little blessings today!

A Ranch sunset from earlier this summer...ahhh.

The Village

No, no, not that M Night Shyamalan movie, although that would make a great post later... (Movies I hated for most of the movie then loved afterwards?  Movies that weren't quite as good as the director's first try?)

No, I'm taking about Hillary Clinton's Village---the one from the late 1990's, that according to her it takes to raise a child.  Her book (and speeches from that era) always leave me conflicted, because although I disagree with many of her beliefs and stands, the older my kids get, the more I think she could be right on this Village thing.

In the past couple weeks, through a comedy of chaos, I've had to text friends more than once to save my you-know-what. Here's an example...the other night, I somehow ran over a large drill bit (not kidding) and shredded my tire (back passenger side, in case you were wondering) as I hurried to pick up the kids, run them home to change clothes, eat dinner and go to Cub Scouts.  Acura roadside service and the Acura dealer couldn't have been nicer--navigating the tire warranty for me and putting me in a loaner when they couldn't get the new tire until the next morning. IM was tied up in meetings and other things, so he couldn't get away to get the kids. While I waited in the Acura waiting room, I texted friend #1...."If you haven't picked up your kids at school yet, can you please take The Boy a pair of shorts?" (He needed them for a Cub Scout activity, she did) then friend #2 "Can you walk the kids from after school care in the cafeteria to the multipurpose room?  The after school lady won't let them go by themselves..."  (She did).  A couple days later I was again stuck (figuratively this time?) when I had to teach until 3:00 and The Girl had to be somewhere for cross country practice...enter friend #3, who took my child to school and had her husband return The Girl to after school care.  Needless to say, without my Village I would have had to take time off work or the kids would have to miss things...whew...Thanks, Village...I owe you (all) one (or more....)!

My Life as a Carny

Me, possibly the summer
I was a Carny...

This week was homecoming at the high school, and as usual there was a theme with "dress up" days.  This year's theme was "Under the Big Top" and the daily dress ups were "Stripes and Suspenders", "Tasty Tuesday" (wear bright and festive candy colors),"Mirror, Mirror (Twins)", "Carny Day" (dress like someone who you would see at a carnival), Blue and Green Spirit Day (our colors are blue and green).  As always, some of the kids' (and staff's) outfits were interesting.  My favorite day this time was Carny Day.  I wore my own clothes and was able to say (with an almost straight face)..."Well, when I was a Carny,  I just wore my own clothes".  Priceless reactions...

See, the story as I remember it, is that for some reason when I was in high school the "carnival" came to town (for the 4-H Fair, of course) and was short-handed.  No, I have no idea how that happens.  I suppose the other possibility is that the town and the carnival had some kind of agreement about hiring a certain number of local people?  Or some local club or organization volunteered? Who knows... the end result is that for a couple nights I sold tickets to the rides inside a cute little booth.  He, he...allowing me to use "I was a Carny" as a truth when we play "Two truths and a lie" at the beginning of the school year.

"Would you like to buy some carnival tickets?"