Downton Abbey

Highclere Castle (fictional Downton Abbey)

I've become a Downton Abbey fan. Rocky Mountain PBS has been showing the Masterpiece Classic series during January (four episodes.) I missed the first two episodes and didn't want to start with episode three so I've been viewing them from the beginning on my laptop. I'm not sure who is more interesting, the Crawley family or their servants. It's fun to imagine living that kind of life, but I'm glad I live here and now, although I wouldn't mind having a live-in cook!

Bighorn Sheep on Parade

Bighorn Sheep on Parade

The last few weeks have been stressful for Mom (and me) because of her health problems and the difficult decision (for her, not for me) to move her from her condo into a senior living apartment. The facility, which also contains an assisted living wing, is beautiful and just a few minutes from our house. We've spent the last couple of weeks packing and moving things from her condo to the apartment which, having just been painted and cleaned, is ready for occupancy.

Today, a beautiful, sunny, windless day, we all needed a "mental health break" so took a drive into Rocky Mountain National Park -a perfect little diversion. Before we even got to the entrance we and several other cars full of sightseers had to stop for a "bighorn sheep jam." A herd was on parade up the road in no particular hurry and I took a couple of photos from inside the car. We drove the loop with a detour up to the Alluvial Fan. I took a few more photos of the gorgeous winter scenery.

Reading and Watching

I've just finished reading Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. I was sorry to come to the end - it was that good! Set in India, Ethiopia and New York City, it's a tale of twin brothers with a close but complicated relationship and the people in their remarkable lives. I'm starting a new book, Another Country by Mary Pipher.


We watched BBC's The Impressionists this evening (Netflix DVD.) It is a factual drama, rich, lush and beautifully filmed which takes the viewer into the lives of Bazille, Renoir, Manet, Degas, and Cezanne through the recollections of the elderly Monet. See it!

Adorable New Grandpuppy

Our thirteen year old grandson, our daughter's eldest, called today with joy in his voice to tell us they had gotten a puppy. They've been talking about it for a couple of years and the three kids, especially the youngest, have been longing and pleading for a pup. As Jack said, "Today the magic began!" She is eight weeks old, rescued from an animal shelter with fur that feels like "silk fuzz." She doesn't have a name yet - they are trying out several and it will be a group decision. I can hardly wait to meet her. We'll be staying with the kids in mid-February while their parents go on vacation so we will get to know her well. I wonder if I'll be able to keep my resolution of maintaining a pet-free home made after a Christmas visit from family members who surprised us by bringing their ill-behaved dog.

Hot Tea and Tissues

Wayne and I look and feel rather pitiful. It's a duet of coughing and sneezing. I haven't had the energy or motivation to do much but nap, read (currently: At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson) and sip hot tea. Fortunately I have a good supply of that. No photo for this post. We hope to feel better soon.

Happy 2011

The Andersen family celebrating Christmas with Wayne's 93 year old mother at the nursing home.

Our dining area ready for Christmas brunch.

The last of our holiday company left for home this morning after delaying their departure 24 hours.Yesterday was below zero, snowy and terrifically windy. The conditions in eastern Colorado and western Nebraska were not conducive to safe travel.

When we look back over this holiday season we have many happy memories. Wayne says it has been his best Christmas and I have to agree. We hosted lots of family members including our six grandchildren and their parents as well as my mom, brother and several of his family. I'm exhausted from all the work that accompanies so many overnight visitors (meals, laundry, and entertainment) and I am pondering ways to maintain the fun and togetherness while making it less stressful for me and Wayne. My sister likens our home to Grand Central Station.

Last night about 6 pm the power over a large part of Estes Park, including our house, went out. Since it was well after dark we scrambled for candles, matches and flashlights. Fortunately, the chicken rice soup was hot in the pot so we dined and played cards by candlelight. It was below zero outside but our gas fireplace keep us reasonably warm until the power came back on about 8 pm. The kids thought it was a real adventure and it sparked conversation about the "olden days."

Both Wayne and I have head colds which began simultaneously on Thursday. For once, I can't blame it on the kids (who usually share their germs with us.) I'm looking at all the Christmas things that need packing away and thinking of all the tidying and cleaning that need to be done and I have absolutely no motivation to do any of it. I'm going to concentrate on getting well and worry about all the work in a couple of days.