Changing Stuff

June – July 2017

I think I figured out that if I sit down and write what has been happening in the lives of SIT it wouldn’t feel like the summer is screaming by. I can think that right?!

Well since I last wrote we have been up to our usual of tending the garden, playing some golf, doing things around the house, and spending time in Cascade. Steve has been fishing a couple of times but the fish haven’t turned on yet. No it’s not that his fishing mojo went on vacation, it is the same for all the fisher-dudes around.

I have decided to continue my change stuff disease that started in our Florida beach bungalow. So Becky, our next door neighbor and good friend, has a desk that she was tired of looking at. Being the crafty person I am, I said we can fix that and so we did. She is happy with the results of the chalk paint transformation. The pictures don’t quite do it justice but you’ll get the idea of the change!

We also have a couple of old oak book cases in the house which were screaming “Tory we want a new life”! How could I resist that, I bet you couldn’t ignore it either.

I did both of them but with a different color base and then the wash color. They look so much better and are now very happy book cases!

We were able to spend some time in Cascade last week where we enjoyed a round of golf at their challenging nine-hole course. No matter what hole you are on when you play your views are pretty spectacular.

That afternoon we took the boat out to fetch balls that end up in the lake. I am happy to report I didn’t contribute and we were able to snag 5 so Steve was ahead. You can guess what he did during the game.

Izzy loves to go on the boat but you can imagine it isn’t to necessarily enjoy our company, so we found a nice little beach area where we could stop. Izzy doesn’t hesitate once the boat is stopped and one of us gets into the water. After getting wet and playing awhile she enjoyed a relaxing tour of the lake and air drying!

 

Once I got home I took care of the garden which I don’t mind as our cherry tomatoes are quite tasty. Zucchini is quite abundant, go figure. I will have to start making all things zucchini. When I was out the other day the quail decided to hang out in the peas and the general area so I did manage to get a couple of shots before they headed next door. We enjoy having the company in the yard and they love to take advantage of the waterfall.

 

Well that’s it for now. We will certainly continue to enjoy the summer and I am pretty sure I am not done with changing stuff nor is Steve done with trying to catch fish so as always stay tuned for more from SIT!

The Trip West

My how time flies even when you are not flying!

Last I wrote we had been busy enjoying life in Florida. We did manage to do a few more things before we buttoned down the house to hit the road.

One of our walks at the Indrio Savannahs allowed us to see some more birds, an alligator, and a beautiful sunset. It is great there is such a unique place close to where we hang out during the winter.

 Diversity on the path

 Gator Territory

 Ready for take-off

 Still Standing

 Sunset at the lake

Take My Picture Please

We played a bit more golf before we started the driving marathon and ran into these guys on the course. It is a lot of fun every time we hit a course here as you never know if you will see some new things.

 Bird's Eye View

 Hanging By The Fairway

Moon Over The River From our place

SIT hit the road April 21^st for Idaho. We decided to take a little different route home this time in order to visit some friends in Dolores Colorado. As it happens our drive took us through Roswell New Mexico.

We arrived there about mid-afternoon so had some daylight to wander along the street and gander at a few of the residents. Don’t worry I think they are used to being stared at. We spent the night there and were lucky enough to not have a close encounter of any kind!

 

Poker Game

We Think It Got Bored

As we continued the trip from Roswell found the Echo Amphitheater on the Carson National Forest. We stopped to stretch our legs and see what was happening up at the amphitheater. The scenery is beautiful and the rock formation is pretty cool. When you stand at the top of the path and talk you get the echo. We couldn’t get Izzy to say anything but we enjoyed talking to ourselves. Maybe a little too much!

There is some unique staining occurring so if we travel this route again we will need to stop and see if it has changed.

We went through Santa Fe and my how it has grown since the last time I was there. It is a pretty part of New Mexico especially in the spring. We stopped at Pagosa Springs Colorado to check out the hot springs. They have developed the springs quite nicely and the river provides for some great entertainment.

 Having fun on the river

 Hot Springs Creation

We enjoyed the journey home since we were able to visit friends in Florida and Colorado as we headed west, but it was nice to get back to home and enjoy Idaho Spring.

 Backyard Oasis

Stop and Smell the Roses

You are probably trying to figure out why it has taken me so long to share this bit of SIT’s adventure. No excuses, I just had not taken time to sit down and write. I will try and do a bit better as the summer goes by and we hope your summer is filled with adventure and making everlasting memories. As always stay tuned for more from SIT!

March Madness SIT Style

March 2017

It is April 1^st and I am trying to imagine what ever happened to March. It’s a good thing I take pictures every now-and-then otherwise I think I would forget what we have been up to the past month.

We haven’t been playing basketball but have managed to play some golf and take a few walks in a couple new areas that aren’t very far from home.

We went hiking around a lake that is just off the highway out of town from us. It is a place called the Indrio Savannahs which has about 3 ½ miles of paths. It is a great birding area as well as a catch and release fishing spot. We didn’t bring our poles but we did encounter a gentleman that told us about the Scrub Jays. He gave us some sunflower seeds and said if you start talking they might just come and eat.

Pretty in Pink

Scrub Jay

Soaking up the Sun

Well that was all Steve needed to start talking like a bird (we won’t go into it any more than that) but you know it worked. One was brave enough out of about six that were hanging out to come feed from his hand. Pretty cool! When I tried they stayed away. I would like to think it was because they were all too full and not that there was this crazy short person making noise.

 

 Steve has a friend

Thanks for the seeds mister

Another week we hiked this other area that is only a few miles from our place. Izzy came with us this time and had fun sniffing the new territory. We didn’t see any unusual wildlife but did find interesting bowls along the path. It is all that remains from a palm tree living there.

Pretty Naked

Remains from Palm tree

Heading to the car

 Resting before jumping into the car

Vero Beach had a great car show one weekend so we ventured out. There were a lot of cars there and some we had never heard of before. A few were for sale but just weren’t in our price range. I could have taken many more pictures but didn’t want to be there until midnight. Here are just a few of the eye candy!

 A Little Fury

 Classy Ranchero

Cool El Camino

Picnic Anyone?

 The Golf Clubs Must Go

 The Driver Expired

 Soccer Mom's Car

Fancy Dump Truck

One of the times we played golf we managed to play the Lakes Course at Sandridge Golf Club. We have played at Sandridge a few times since we have been back but it has been on their Dunes course. We decided to splurge and play The Lakes on our wedding anniversary. We had fun and tried to stay out of the water, especially where this guy was cruising.

 Cruising Along

 A Little Oasis

 Water Hazards Surround Us

 Going for the Green

I tackled another small project and gave a lamp a new look. The lamp was a light tan colored (wood) with a sunflower lamp shade. You are probably thinking thank goodness this girl can paint! Me too!

  

I also gave this frog a fresh look as well – he was pretty sad looking and had suffered an injury thanks to Izzy. Needless to say he now has a wooden arm! Izzy didn’t mean to break his arm off and of course licked him to make him feel better.

 

Smile

Well we did other things in-between but be grateful I don’t take pictures of everything -every day! SIT is winding down our time in Florida and will be “on the road again soon.” Stay tuned for the trip west.