generations

I snapped this photo from our bedroom window. Baba was taking Joachim out to open the irrigation gates. Joachim loves to watch the water arch out of the pipe.
Here grandma is raking in the last of her garden, Joachim's other favorite activity is anything in the garden.

fun at the pueblo mall

bishop's castle- Rye, CO

I know this is going to be long entry, but that's only because I'm somewhat moved by this curiosity tucked away in an obscure place. The shear will and scope of what this one individual was able to do is inspiring and, while absurd, I appreciate his statement. This castle is a twenty minute drive into the mountains from Eleni's house.

From what I've read, in 1969 Jim Bishop started building a cottage using the abundant mountain stones nestled in the San Isabel Mts. His neighbors joked it looked like a castle and before long Jim was visualizing turrets, towers, arches, stained glass and a fire breathing dragon. He has never drawn up a blueprint, but always builds straight out of his imagination. Over 160ft tall and more than 1,000 tons of rock, it's in his own words "a monument to hard working people". When people ask him "why?" he returns with "Every man wants a castle" and he is determined to show that a man can build a castle in a lifetime. (Although Eleni would add at the price of his knees and back). While I don't agree with all of his political positions and Eleni might rightly argue his insanity, I can't help but appreciate his dedication to his passion. Somehow it helps me see my own life as my castle.

Sometimes I feel very boring in my accomplishments. Recently, a friend paid me a nice compliment by calling me a "domestic dream". Just before that another friend had expressed to me how hurt she felt when someone derogatorily commented "how domestic" about her life. It's a journey for me to take pride in my family life in light of a society that expects moms to provide a second income, be available and able to raise intelligent creative children, be a stimulating partner and have a life of her own. Granted I feel loved and appreciated at home, it's just in the rest of society I'm wrestling with my self-worth.

But I do like like my life and I do like canning (or at least the idea of it) and I like sewing and knitting and decorating and generally being domestic. I don't have a lot of time or energy for reading stimulating books, nor a job prospect, and my little house is often in a slight state of clutter, but, my household is my castle.

So, Bishop dedicates his life to a symbolic castle made of rocks and mortar and I dedicate mine to Ben and Joachim. From dawn to dusk, 7 days a week, people come to see what one man can do. They bring their kids to inspire them with possibilities and imagination and after years of contention in courts, the US government has conceded that he's turned a bunch of useless rocks into a useful tourist attraction. That said, Jim is pure anarchist according to Eleni and she asked I not engage him in conversation to spare us the propaganda. Apparently he's tied the government up in courts with all sorts of red tape and lawsuits so he'll probably outlive any additional charges against him. I have to admit I was a little curious to visit his shop and a little regretful of not making a small donation.Here is the ballroom

Joachim and Veronica in the Ballroom
Veronica having a spat.The castle is free to explore which is exciting and scary because there are none of the government barriers to protect me from myself. Just wrought iron at great heights. I discovered Joachim has a definite anxiety about heights as he clung to me like a little koala while was determined to climb to the top of each tower. Even I got dizzy and shaky kneed looking through the iron grates under me with no railing to cling to. The iron bridge is the only structure we did not venture on, it made me a little queesy just stand at the threshold, perhaps if I was not holding Joachim it would have been different. It was a bit like Indiana Jones taking the "leap of faith" in the "search for the holy grail".So much excitement for one day.

black forest

While in Colorado Springs, I had a very cozy morning at the coffee shop in black forest a few minutes from my parents house. Ben and I used to frequent it when we lived there, and now it's under new ownership and better than ever. I like the Dog House in Delta because they are nice to me and patient with my entourage of Joachim and laptop, but they have a poor selection of pastries, when the have pastries. Cheif Twocupsah, the creepy indian manican.

R&R is a unique mix of fresh roasted coffee, fine pastries, cowboys and contractors, all reflective of the black forest itself. I was going to order a cinnamon roll, but they had 3 different kinds and then 3 different frostings I could put on it. I was also tempted by the french toast and the biscuits and gravy (Ben got me going on biscuits and gravy). Not to mention the breakfast burritos and quiches. I knew I had to choose wisely because seldom do I get this many choices and I wanted to savor the memory long after I returned home.

So, I called Ben to ask him what he would get because inevitably he orders whatever it is that I really want, but I don't know I want it until he's eating it. So, he decided he wanted a breakfast burrito with sharp cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream. Boy, was his breakfast good, not to mention the bottomless cup of fresh roasted coffee for $1. I highly recommend this place if ever you visit my parents.

3 years ago this week

Three years ago this week I drove west over the mountains to meet Ben for the first time. I drove to Gunnison where I stayed with Davi and Eleni who drove me the rest of the way to Delta. To clarify for those of you outside of CO, it's a 5 hour drive door to door from Colorado Springs to Delta, the highest mountain pass is Monarch Pass at 11,312ft and often in winter one cannot cross the mountains at all. It was nothing short of a surreal experience the first time for me.


This year I drove east over the mountains to visit Eleni who now lives in the tiny town of Colorado City (1-1/2hours south of Colorado Springs). Along the way I stopped to photograph a few of the sights that so impressed me on that first drive. Unfortunately, I can't capture landscapes in their glory, but here is a taste of the western slope. It's so different from the front range. I remember before I left that first time Fr Anthony told me "it's a different kind of beauty over there, a sort of barren one". It really is beautiful to me every time I drive it.

Blue Mesa Reservoir

Below is South Park on an earlier trip, a long desolate drive between mountain passes. My route does go through mountains, but it's harder to get pictures when you're actually on the passes.

ok, and a trip of nostalgia, this is Eleni and me ice skating on the Gunnison river on one of my early trips to Delta.

and x-country skiing a month later, I was single, we were both childless and she was married only 2 months.

colorado city

above and below is Eleni's spectacular kitchen window morning view.
Joachim and Veronica "playing" in the toy tubs. I don't have much to elaborate on their time together other than they did always seem happy to meet in the morning.

and what parent hasn't come to bed to find this?

After a few days in Colorado City, we drove up to Colorado Springs. I very much wanted a picture of Joachim with his godbothers and sister. This is what I got, but I'm happy with it.

applefest

We went to Applefest again this year and continued our traditon of getting a huge bag of kettle corn (ironically we don't buy apples). The below pictures capture a little of Joachim's enthusiasm for kettle corn.

1. "woohoo! I'm holding the corn"
2. "See Mommy, I have the bag of corn" 3. "No Daddy, my bag of corn." Unfortunately, it started to rain so we headed home and Joachim obligingly (and adorably) wore my scarf.
Here are two pictures from Applefest last year. How my baby's grown.