Opening Day for Camp Bliss

Wayne is spending a relaxing moment after setting up Camp Bliss.

Wayne and I took the camper out for the first time this season spending two days and nights last week at Moraine Park Campground in Rocky. We enjoyed the usual camping activities - campfire cooking, hikes, watching the wildlife, and relaxing. 

We visited the Cascade Cottages owl nest and saw the two baby owlets - no sign of Mom or Dad Owl but I know they were close by. You can just make out the two fuzzy gray heads in the upper center of the photo.

The Bear Lake area (above) still has lots of snow and ice. Without the appropriate footwear, we chose not to hike around the lake.

Sprague Lake, at a lower elevation, was free of snow and ice so we hiked around the lake path. The shrubbery was leafing out and birds were nesting. 

An evening campfire was the perfect way to end our day. Later, we were lulled to sleep by Western Chorus Frogs in a small pond close to our camp site. 

Lunch at Moon Kats

Judy (that's me), Mom, Lil, and Carol at Moon Kats

My sister, niece, and nephew were our house guests last week. They were in Colorado for my sister's granddaughter's high school graduation in Greeley. The women enjoyed lunch at Moon Kats Tea Shoppe here in Estes Park before my nephew's arrival. Moon Kats is a delightful little cafe that serves brunch, lunch, and a wide variety of delicious teas and sweets.

Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed this family visit. It doesn't happen often enough.

Graduation Quilt

Jackson's graduation was the perfect opportunity for me to create a memory quilt from his T-shirts saved by his mom for years. Designing and making the quilt was a labor of love. I enjoyed every minute I worked on it and I especially enjoyed giving it to him .. he loves it! And, so does our daughter. We hung it on the wall in their family room for his party and I got lots of compliments. I'm waiting to see if he takes it to college with him or if Jenny prevails in keeping it on the wall.

I'll be making a quilt from Grace's T-shirts for her graduation next year and I plan to make one for each of the other grandchildren in the years to come.

Grandson Graduation

Jackson receives his high school diploma

So much has been going on during the past few weeks, I've had no chance to write on my blog. I have a wee window of opportunity to do that now while my house guests are otherwise occupied. My sister and niece are napping and my nephew is out for a run. They are here in Colorado to attend the graduation of my nephew's daughter (my sister's granddaughter). My sister and niece arrived by car from Montana a couple of days ago and last night they made the two hour drive to Denver International Airport to pick up my nephew whose plane came in at 11 p.m. They didn't get back to our house until after 2 a.m., thus, the need for naps. The graduation is tomorrow morning in Greeley. They'll all be going home on Monday.

Last Sunday we were privileged to witness our first grandchild graduate from high school in Elkhorn, Nebraska. We spent a few days of intense activity which included: getting ready for a big back yard party at our daughter's house, the actual graduation ceremony, a band concert, soccer games, baseball games and family get togethers. It was all enjoyable but a much faster pace than we are used to! The graduation ceremony was meaningful and the highlight for me was seeing Jackson receive his diploma. We're proud of the wonderful, thoughtful young man he's become and we look forward to what his future will be.

We worked hard helping the family get ready for the party. Although the weather forecast was not encouraging, Mother Nature smiled on the Oligmueller back yard and the rain held off until later that night.

We drove home on Monday and had two days to get ready for our company. Once they are gone we'll have a little breather until the next round of company arrives.

Here are a few photos from our Nebraska trip.

Jackson with his proud parents

Elkhorn High School auditorium during graduation ceremony

Setting up the back yard tent for the party

Family room decorated with Jackson memorabilia

Moose Sighting

After running a few errands with Mom this morning I was on my way home when I spotted this young moose standing in a shallow pond. She seemed completely oblivious to the onlookers as she munched on water plants. Moose are not as common in Estes Park as they are on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park so it's a treat to see them occasionally. Living in close proximity to abundant and varied wildlife makes life interesting.

Another Successful Duck Race

Mascot Lucky Duck greets visitors to the festival.

It was a blue-sky, white-cloud day for the Estes Park Duck Race yesterday. The fine weather, thousands of visitors, community support, and dedicated committee insured an excellent result. There were over 5800 ducks adopted which resulted in over $111,000.00 for the 61 charities involved. Five hundred seventy-seven prizes were awarded. The entire town had a festive atmosphere with special events and activities everywhere.

Wayne and I began our day with the traditional pre-race breakfast at Nicky's Steakhouse on the Fall River. Nicky's becomes the hub for the first half of race day.

Behind the scenes in a quiet back room at Nicky's, the Quack Pack accepts last minute adoption forms and money then enters the data on the five dedicated computers. 

Meanwhile, a noisy, happy festival atmosphere prevails outside. In addition to Estes Park residents, we had many out-of-town visitors there to enjoy the day.

The suspense builds as the little plastic ducks, waiting for the count down, are loaded into the cage which is hoisted over Fall River

At precisely 1 p.m. the rope is pulled, the bottom of the cage opens and the ducks drop to the river. The race is on! 

The time of the first duck's arrival at the finish line depends largely on how fast the river is running. This year it was under an hour. Trailing the ducks are several people in chest waders with sticks and brooms to dislodge stuck or straggling ducks.

Once the ducks are dropped, the focus switches to the finish line at Riverside Plaza. Wayne (in foreground) along with other duck dippers, scoop up the ducks as they arrive. The numbers on the ducks' bottoms are recorded as they cross the finish line and the winning names are posted on big boards outside the Wheel Bar.

The theme for 2015 was a tribute to Rocky Mountain National Park celebrating its centennial.

I'm relaxing today but looking forward to next year's race.