Haley Goes Back To School | Empty Nesters Once Again

Last week we moved Haley into her new, on campus apartment and got her settled for her sophomore year at the University of Colorado - Boulder.

Free Bear Creek Apartments mug to add to her collection!

Katie and Haley.  Katie helped us move Haley into her apartment.  Haley will reciprocate next week when Katie moves into Darley South as a freshman at CU!

The Living Room.

Taking a break.

Dad in the kitchen.

The hallway.  The doorway on the right is the bathroom.  Door B is her roommate, Chris', room.  Haley's door is on the left.

 The bathroom.

Haley's bedroom.

She is so excited to be in an apartment.  I fear this may be the last time we move Haley from home back to school.  We'll see what next summer brings, but there's a good chance she'll stay in Boulder in an apartment.

Hubby and I may just be true empty nesters.  I'm not sure how I feel about that.  You'd think since it's year two of college and that she's only 35 minutes away it would be easier.  I'm here to tell you it's not.

Don't get me wrong, Jim and I are excited for this next phase of our lives.  The little bit of melancholy will pass just as it did last year and we'll settle into a new routine.  It's all good.   :)

Til next time ~ find your joy!
Kelly

Sunday Beautiful Sunday

A beautiful late summer day for washing the truck.

 My wonderful hubby.

Suds!

Shining up those tires.  I waxed and buffed while hubby washed the windows and wiped down the interior.

Lookin' good!

Til next time ~ find your joy!
Kelly

My New Addiction

Starbucks Green Tea Frappuccino.

I usually order non fat, no syrup and no whipped cream.  Today, however, after moving daughter #2 into her new college apartment and getting her settled for her sophomore year at CU Boulder, I needed a dose of the real deal.

It was heaven, at least for a little while.

Miss you, Haley.

Til next time ~ find your joy!

Kelly

Almost Heaven, West Virginia

At the end of July, Daughter #1, Eden, and her new hubby, Luke, headed east to West Virginia where he'll start graduate school later this month at the University of West Virginia.  Luke was first accepted into their MA program as an O'Brien fellow and then shortly thereafter won a Swiger fellowship into their PHD program.  First ever UVW student accepted directly into a PHD program as an undergrad.  He's one smart cookie.

We were able to combine our trip to Minnesota to see them off with the task of sorting through my dad's house to get it ready for auction.

My brother, nephews, hubby and I were there for a few days going through my dad's things and then Daughter #2 flew in to Minnesota and she and hubby headed east with the newlyweds to Morgantown, West Virginia.

The truck is loaded and ready to go.

 My little man.  He spent the morning playing with Luke's family dog, Vader.

Ann, Luke's mom, has this gorgeous hydrangea tree near their front door.  It has the biggest blooms.  I want one.

 Checking everything twice...

Ready to go!

Luke, Eden with cousins Paul and John.

The posse headed east...Jim, Luke, Eden and Haley.  Don't the guys look tough?  Good thing they are...because the apartment on the other end was on the 3rd floor with no elevator!

 Luke, Eden and Vader.

Luke's sister, Rachel, Luke, Eden and Luke's mom, Ann.

Hubby, Luke, Eden, Me and Haley.

The newlyweds ready to get on with it!

Daniel Boone.

Even though we've lived 1000 miles from daughter #1 for the last five years while she attended college, she was surrounded by family, Luke's family and life long friends.  Now she and Luke are off on this new adventure on their own and they're even farther away from us.

But, this is a good thing.  So while my heart pangs a little because they truly are out on their own, we know they'll do great.

Plus, now hubby and I have a new place to go visit and explore!

I'm already planning a trip this fall to visit and help Eden refinish some furniture!

Til next time ~ find your joy!
Kelly

Summer Adventures | Grand Lake, Colorado

Part two of our summer adventure up and over Trail Ridge brought us to Grand Lake, Colorado.  It's a wonderful mountain town that sets on a beautiful mountain lake.  Other than the mountains that surround the town, it felt like we were in northern Minnesota.

There was a BBQ festival! 

Grand Ave is the main street through town.

Main street.  It was a hopping place.

We had ice cream.  I had 1/2 scoop of cookie dough and 1/2 scoop mint chocolate chip.  Hubby had a scoop of mocha.  Even on a cooler, rainy day it tasted good.

A stone on the corner telling us of the history of the corner building.  It's now a gift shop packed to the brim with neat stuff.  Many of the shops in Grand Lake were full of art and artsy crafts as opposed to the touristy junk.  Oh, and hubby's foot.

 Hummingbird.

There was a classic boat show as part of the festivities.  The wood boats were gorgeous, the workmanship unbelievable.

The lake is huge as far as Colorado lakes go, and from what we could see part of a chain of lakes.  It was an overcast and rainy day and the picture just doesn't do the beauty of the lake and surrounding mountains justice.

On our way home.

It was a wonderful day.  **contented sigh**

Til next time ~ find your joy!

Kelly

BLTA | Our favorite summer sandwich!

Our favorite summer sandwich right now is the BLTA - bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado - on sour dough (no surprise there).

We made these for lunch this past week.

You start with fresh heirloom tomatoes from the farmers market.  These came from Munson Farms.  They have a permanent stand on 75th and Valmont in Boulder.

A perfectly ripened avocado, sliced.

Fresh sour dough bread.

Thick sliced bacon.

Condiments.  We like Mayo and Smart Balance.

We grill the bread...

and the bacon.

THE ASSEMBLY as demonstrated by Hubby.

Spread mayo on the toasted bread.  Hubby likes just mayo.  I prefer a thin layer of Smart Balance topped with a thin layer of mayo.

A layer of bacon.

Heirloom tomatoes.

Another layer of bacon and tomatoes.  I did a single layer on my sandwich.

A layer of avocado.  Then a layer of romaine lettuce.

Hubby smashed his sandwich while cutting it, so it was not photo worthy, but it was tasty!  You'll have to settle for a shot of my single layer beauty, with my extra tomatoes on the side.

It was delish.

Til next time ~ find your joy!
Kelly