DESTINATION: COLORADO
In mid-June 2005 I went to the Western Slope of Colorado to visit some family out there. I knew it was
going to be different, but I always seem to forget just how different life can be, how many other types of
people, kinds of places there are. The world I live in is a tiny, fractional minority of what is out there.
Thus the "importance of travel" and all that, I guess...
Anyway, here are some parts of that trip...
(Oh, and the photos are pretty big, so I'll thumbnail them pretty big. If you're on dialup, you may want to
avoid selecting them.)
going to be different, but I always seem to forget just how different life can be, how many other types of
people, kinds of places there are. The world I live in is a tiny, fractional minority of what is out there.
Thus the "importance of travel" and all that, I guess...
Anyway, here are some parts of that trip...
(Oh, and the photos are pretty big, so I'll thumbnail them pretty big. If you're on dialup, you may want to
avoid selecting them.)
The plane you take from Denver to Montrose.
I woke up on Sunday and walked out the back of my sister's
house, greeted by the baying of three labs, the braying of six
miniature donkeys and the hoof beats of three horses
running to the house, knowing that once someone is up,
food is on the way.
house, greeted by the baying of three labs, the braying of six
miniature donkeys and the hoof beats of three horses
running to the house, knowing that once someone is up,
food is on the way.
Weeks before arriving, my sister's kids joked with me about building them a tree house. Once I got
there, I found the subject had become quite serious, at least to the littlest ones. My sister had held a
family meeting before I showed up, sternly warning all the kids that "Uncle Don may just want to relax."
There would be no mention of a tree house, of any building, of any projects whatsoever.
About one hour into my first full day there, L:ittle C, the five year-old, sat next to me on the couch while his
mother was in the kitchen and asked if I was going to be "building anything" while I was there.
"Build what?" I asked.
"Shhhhh! It's a secret! Mommy can't hear!"
"Okay," voice lower now, 'what are you talking about?"
"The T.H."
"T.H.?"
"I'm not supposed to say it."
"Ohhh. Treehouse."
"Yes!"
"We'll have to ask your mother."
"Awww. It's a secret..."
So that was the subtle hint to get moving on the building of the tree house. I did manage to put it off for a
few days...
there, I found the subject had become quite serious, at least to the littlest ones. My sister had held a
family meeting before I showed up, sternly warning all the kids that "Uncle Don may just want to relax."
There would be no mention of a tree house, of any building, of any projects whatsoever.
About one hour into my first full day there, L:ittle C, the five year-old, sat next to me on the couch while his
mother was in the kitchen and asked if I was going to be "building anything" while I was there.
"Build what?" I asked.
"Shhhhh! It's a secret! Mommy can't hear!"
"Okay," voice lower now, 'what are you talking about?"
"The T.H."
"T.H.?"
"I'm not supposed to say it."
"Ohhh. Treehouse."
"Yes!"
"We'll have to ask your mother."
"Awww. It's a secret..."
So that was the subtle hint to get moving on the building of the tree house. I did manage to put it off for a
few days...
Just before the screws were put to me by
Little C.
Little C.
And his accomplices...
Where this all takes place.
During my reprieve, I was able to tag along behind the steaming train that is a family with six kids and a slew of
animals. Shopping, ferrying, feeding, and spectating at myriad events.
animals. Shopping, ferrying, feeding, and spectating at myriad events.
One of the highlights of heading out to rural Colorado, for me, is the choice-yes choice-of drive in movie theatres.
We corralled the kids long enough to get them to "Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3D" at one of the local drive ins...
We corralled the kids long enough to get them to "Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3D" at one of the local drive ins...
Half of the dynamic duo who
run this carnival.
run this carnival.
We also had some fun with the animals.
Almost immediately after these two pictures were taken a huge gust of wind tore through, covering
us in hay and donkey dung, ripping the tarps of the dog pens and knocking over a 60 foot tree in
the neighbor's yard. Afterword, even though there had been almost no rain, a rainbow appeared.
Eerie.
us in hay and donkey dung, ripping the tarps of the dog pens and knocking over a 60 foot tree in
the neighbor's yard. Afterword, even though there had been almost no rain, a rainbow appeared.
Eerie.
The cries of the tiny were not to be silenced, and soon work had to begin on the tree house.
The plan.
Loading the horse trailer. First time I've
transported materials this way...
transported materials this way...
'Got some help unloading.
I didn't feel so bad when even
Grandpa fell for the manipulative
charms of the Littlest Developer.
Grandpa fell for the manipulative
charms of the Littlest Developer.
Post and dream
construction.
construction.
And that was pretty much all I got done day one. We
had to knock off while there was still light for other
important activities.
had to knock off while there was still light for other
important activities.
Next morning, it was back to work.
Helpers!
Nobody gets out of the dirty work.
Hmmmm, where are all the kids?
Hmmmm, where are all the kids?
I learned on In a Fix that day two of a three
day project often goes late.
day project often goes late.
Just enough time left in the day to take The Littlest Developer
for a ride on the 6 wheeler.
for a ride on the 6 wheeler.
Rolling it up.
And day three...the reveal!
Don Wood Online
For the love of Pete, who's in charge here?
For the love of Pete, who's in charge here?
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