Life

America’s newest homeowners

Published June 3, 2015

CONGRATS to America’s newest homeowners!

A year & a half after Ash & Tom moved from Jersey, these two just purchased their first home in nearby Westminster.

Empty nester in 3 weeks – time to move forward on Home Improvements. One chapter ends, another life adventure begins 🙂

: Ash & Tom’s new digs

: champagne toast

: check out that backyard – FAAANNNNTASTIC!

UPDATE – Fri June 26th: Marty & Jo Jo – on bunny patrol – settling into the neighborhood.

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chicken swap & spring planting

Published May 16, 2015

Memorial Day is traditionally the unofficial start of Summer. Knowing I would be in Vermont this year, did my Spring planting a weekend early – first choosing to spruce up the porch in my 6-month home renovation project.

Kicked off Saturday at a local Chicken Swap with my friend Cliff. Goal today: purchase 6 hens (legal limit for Lafayette residents – only hens, no roosters). 20 minutes away in Wheat Ridge, local farmers show all varieties of chickens (plus ducks, turkeys & even goats).

Settled on 6 Ameraucanas. Fun morning – who knew buying chickens would be so interesting 🙂

The Ameraucana is an American breed of domestic chicken developed in the United States in the 1970s. It was derived from chickens brought from South America that carried the blue egg gene, and was bred to maintain the blue egg color of that breed while eliminating the lethal recessive gene.

The Ameraucana lays about 250 blue eggs of various shades per year. It has an unusually long laying season. Birds start laying at about 5 or 6 months old.

After getting the girls settled in their new coop, hit Home Depot & Jax to purchase plants, shrubs, potting soil AND a wind chime.

In addition to planting annuals, this year’s goal was to take control of the giant evergreen mess near my fence. Sheared off all bottom limbs, then pruned & pruned & pruned – until the ground below was visible. Added volcanic rock around its base & bags of potting soil where I later planted holly bushes. Lotta work but lovin’ the results – so much colour.

While putting up the wind chime, torn down bee hives from years past – home improvement projects are truly a labour of love.

Woke Sunday, threw on a blanket & took my morning cocoa outside. Watched the sunrise over snow-covered Longs. Totally worth it 🙂

: chickens, ducks, turkeys & a couple goats too

: hen haggling

: settled on 6 Ameraucanas – these girls will ultimately lay coloured eggs

: holly bushes — lovin’ the results, so much new colour

Home Improvement Update – Sun May 31st

Weekend off from marathoning & the high mountains still unpassable (54” of new snow this May – crazy accumulation), so started painting. Goal: create a home gym by July 1^st. With Ash & Tom gone in three weeks, needing to find balance/make more time for Ro (he’s losing his bro Marty). 4 add’l hours of dad time will help keep my pup healthy & happy.

Went thru 3 tester cans before deciding on the right shade of yellow. Roller brushes & pans, tape, edger brushes – and 2 gallons of Sunshine. 2 ½ days of sweat equity later – bam…walls done. 2 week plan: an electrician, a ceiling fan & a new TV.

goal: a home gym by July 1st

Wisconsin Marathon

Published May 2, 2015

Can’t expect to run 6 straight weekends without eventually having a work conflict. Threw a few bucks at the Race Director & had my race bib mailed (most marathons require bib pick-up in person day before the event). Worked Friday, boarded a late flight to Chicago, picked up my rental just before midnight (closing time). Hour drive to Wisconsin – then like a bum, slept at a rest area just outside of Kenosha. Wrapped in Mylar retained from a previous Finish, set an iPhone alarm, locked all doors, UP at 5am. Changed into race clothes, brushed my teeth – 2 hours later, my 28th marathon start. Yep, kinda ghetto – but I achieved work/life balance 🙂

Parked downtown & walked half mile to the Start. Caught the most AMAZING sunrise over Lake Michigan against a double lighthouse background. Just what I needed – helped remind me why I do this & how incredibly lucky I am.

Miss Kenosha struggled a bit with the Anthem (high notes) but still felt it in my heart. Go USA!

Shared the course with Halfers thru mile 12 in SUNSHINE. First race in weeks where I haven’t slogged thru rain. Coursed miles of road along Kenosha’s Lakefront. Crazy beautiful. The Wisconsin Marathon brands themselves as the Cheesiest Marathon – HOWEVER, BIG shout out to their lighthouses & scenic Lake Michigan. That’s what I’ll brain-log when I go.

First marathon in months without hills. Unfortunately, suffered a muscle pull in my left calf near mile 11 – first injury in 2 years. 7 weekends, 7 marathons, 7 different states – tough mental challenge (travel fatigued)…now also taking a physical beating.

One mile marker at a time. Just like tennis – gotta focus on the point being played, don’t look too far ahead/to the next game. Shifted weight to my right side, kept an even steady stride – didn’t speed up, didn’t slow down.

Stopped at mile 25, stretched. Teared up re-starting the machine. Mile 26, only two-tenths to go. Dropped my ear buds & let the crowd bring me home. I RAN & RAN hard. Could hear folks cheer as I sprinted – sprinted – thru the Finish Line.

Laid lazy in the grass, caught some sun & ate a post-race brat (better than any banana, hands-down).

Shower, lasagna (it’s tradition) – then off to Mars’ Cheese Castle for Wisconsin cheese curds. Purchased 2 bags, jalapeño & horseradish. [Ya’ll know I like my foods spicy.] Unfortunately, had to cancel all other stops, pop Advil & prop the leg.

Early to bed, early to rise – will be good to get home. Home, sweet Colorado home.

Place Bib Athlete Name Finish Time

423 290 K R HAGA LOUISVILLE CO 4:34:06