Backpacking to Cataract

Last Thursday we ventured on my first backpacking trip! We drove an hour and a half to two hours to Lower Cataract where we began our 5 mile hike.

Rearing to go!

My pack...20-25 pounds (not bad eh?!?)

Dan's pack...36 or so pounds.

As we hiked up, we saw wild flowers! They were just starting...here is a Columbine.

Almost there! We stopped for lunch at another lake, Surprise, before getting to the lake in this picture. This is Cat/Kat lake. It was about a 10 minute walk from our campsite.

This is Upper Cataract Lake...just a few minutes from our campsite. Upper Cataract and Cat lake are connected by a rushing stream.

TIRED! But glad to have arrived safely!

We found the perfect campsite!!! Where I am standing to take this picture is a little meadow!

Our tent! Tucked in the trees! If you look close in the middle/left of the picture you can see our bear bag hanging between the trees! We put our food in here and hoisted it up to keep it away from any hungry animal!

In the evenings when we wanted respite from the mosquitoes, we would climb into our tent and either read or play games. We attempted (successfully I might add) to play Euchre! We each took a team and it actually worked out!Mmm....campfire coffee :)

Friday, after a decent night's sleep, we walked around and explored the area. It was a lovely sunny day so we also sat on the edge of Cataract lake just enjoying the sunshine and the view!!! We also hiked down to Cat lake and saw many beautiful Rainbow Trout!

It's hard to see, but we are on the edge of the stream.

The rushing and VERY cold stream!

These flowers were everywhere! They loved especially wet and marshy areas.

It was such a lovely "vacation!" I'll admit, the climb up was a bit difficult...I thought I was gonna die a couple times! (haha! A wimp, I know!) We realized we didn't eat enough on the way up cause we were both light headed at times! It amazed me how much harder hiking is with a pack on! Plus, the altitude (we reached about 10,000+feet) really made my heart work double time!

It was wonderful to get out of the city and enjoy some alone time. We hardly saw anybody and just enjoyed the beautiful God-made views and weather! Other than some pesky mosquitoes our time was pretty annoyance free. At night I got cold but it wasn't bad. It seemed that everywhere we turned another view would amaze us! The hike down Saturday morning went a lot faster than the climb up! Many more wild flowers had opened up since we had been there a couple days before. Though it was a lot easier, we were both glad to reach the Jeep again safe and sound! We were both a little sore but it was well worth it!!!

I give backpacking a thumbs up. :)

Greens and Things

These delicious morsels accompanied us...

For this: a game of Backgamon!

I found this leather set at a garage sale..pretty much new for $2. Dan patiently went through the directions and we learned how to play! I remember playing it as a kid with my mom when when we went camping but alas, the rules had escaped me.

Mom L. and I recently shared a 25# box of green beans. Jeff Reinhard (Tim R. brother) works at a Organic food company and when they have too much produce and have to move it quickly we have the chance to buy it at a reduced price. (see also the cherries above)

This was my first time blanching on my own!

Hmmm...and this is even somewhat organized! Thanks to Mom L. for space in her deep freeze!

Dan and I are planning a short backpacking/camping trip this Thursday-Saturday. We're really looking forward to it. Haven't been to the mountains in a while and its warm enough to camp. I'm realizing how little you can take when everything goes on your back! I'm sure there will be a post after we get back. :)

Garden Goodness!

Today is a beautiful sunshiny day...though there is a 60% chance of rain this afternoon. Can't say as I mind that prospect. I love rainy days and rain is a lot less plentiful here in Colorado than in the Midwest.

I went over to Mom and Dad Leman's to water some plants while they are away and while I was there picked some fresh produce from the garden! Dan and I, his parents, and brother are all sharing two gardens this summer. From the looks of it...we'll be having LOTS of fresh salads this summer!

Fresh lettuce, spearmint, onions, and radishes!

As I was heading home from getting the garden produce and groceries, I was about to turn right on to our street off of a main road, Chambers. Suddenly to my left there is a deer! Two of them! I was in the far right lane and the car to my left slammed on her brakes and thankfully the deer ran forwards a little until I got past before crossing the rest of the traffic. They then jumped CLEAR over a food 4-5 foot barbed wire fence (quite gracefully). They were so terrified. I guess I might be too. Chambers is a 6 lane road!!! Might heart was racing a bit after that...just glad they didn't get hit and cause a wreck!

Right now I'm reading "Christy". Many of you might have watched the TV/Movie series. Anyways...its about a young 19-year-old girl who moves deep in the Appalachian mountains to a mission. She becomes the school teacher to the dirty, Scottish/Anglo-Saxon children of that area. Anyways, Miss Alice is the head lady at the mission. She is wise and Christy really looks up to her. Excerpt: "I sat there entranced as I watched Miss Alice. I had noticed that in her presence often I would have big thoughts, ideas that went so far beyond my usual ones that they astonished me. It was not so much what Miss Alice said that sparked the thoughts, rather what she was."
*I read this and thought of my mom. She is one of those women...and growing up, I often sympathized with Christy's feeling here. Somehow my mom always spurred on thoughts in my head that seemed too big for me...sometimes I couldn't even understand them! I love you mom!

Dan works 8 to 8 today. Again, he got really good hours this week! All Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday mornings Dan and I were busy working on a building unit that needs cleaned and fixed up. We painted, cleaned, and fixed the needful items. It always amazes me how much a coat of paint does! Somehow it always makes me thankful to God for color. Reminds me of another book I read by Corrie tin Boom. When she got out of the concentration camp (WWII) she realized how starved she was for color! She gawked at the beauty of it!

Speaking of thankfulness...I've found myself in a state of it recently. Thankful for both Dan and I's godly parents. Thankful for a blessed marriage to a wonderul man. Thankful that I was raised in a godly home and that I have a relationship with Jesus Christ! To my chagrin, I find my self taking a lot of things for granted. How easy it is to focus on the negative without appreciating and fully enjoying the positive!

Well, that said, I'm going to go enjoy a cup of coffee...warmed up though it be. Love to you all!

Happenings...

I realized it's been a while since I've blogged. Maybe its because I've been too lazy...maybe because we've been busy! Of course I forgot my camera so...a pictureless post. :(

A few highlights of this past week:

1) Monday and Tuesday: Dan and I worked at his Mom and Dad's...painting and taking up tack strips and removing the trim. Its a good job for us and we enjoy working together!

2) Thursday we enjoyed dinner at Mom and Dad Lemans. There were some young guests in town so about 12 of us gathered in their beautiful outside shelter (Mom has so many beautiful plants!) for grilled brats...compliments of Dad's grilling skills.

3) Friday night Dan and I took a couple young guys from church bowling.

4) Saturday: Dan and I trek to the mountains! We enjoyed four-wheeling in the jeep and found the perfect spot to picnic! Dan took his little camp stove and we cooked up some sausages and enjoyed God's beautiful creation! Went to a graduation open house after we got home. Then to Mom and Dad Leman's again for supper. There were two couples (Mick & Delores Hill and Fred & Connie Domka) visiting from Mansfield Ohio. Since Grandma Leman hasn't been feeling 100% lately, we offered to host one of the couples. After dinner and talk we took Fred and Connie Domka (minister from Mansfield) to our apartment for the night. They also spent Sunday night with us.

5) Monday (Memorial Day) some of us from the Denver YG spent the day with some of the Sister Church folks from Colorado Springs. We played volleyball, and ate amazing food (those eastern Europeans sure know how to cook!) Oh yeah, got a bit sunburned too!

Dan works today 6am to 5pm. We're thankful he got some good hours this week! A job update for me...I found a nanny job that is for 4 or so time a month. I'll be working two times a week, two weeks out of the month. I figure its something! I start the 14th of June. 15-month-old girl...adorable!

Oh, funny story. Last night I'm dreaming away and I can feel myself turning over in my sleep. Suddenly, Dan (in real life) is grabbing me and saying, "Tess! Are you alright? You were kicking and thrashing around like crazy! It was like you were having a seizure! Are you ok!?!" "Yeah," I groggily replied. "I was just turning over!" Maybe I was....I don't know if he was dreaming or if I was really kicking. I just remember falling back to sleep praying, "Oh Lord! I don't want to start having seizures! Please God...don't let me get seizures!"

Blessings to you all on the week ahead!

Happy Birthday Darlin!

Dan turns 21 today! :) Happy Birthday my love!

Yep, this stud muffin :)

My dearest Dan, I love you! Have a wonderful 21st birthday! I hope to celebrate many more birthdays with you to come!!!

I was replying to a friends email yesterday. She had mentioned something about marriage and husbands and it got me thinking about my husband. First off, it made me tremendously thankful. Thankful that I have a godly husband and that we have a good marriage. I'm thankful that God orchestrated our union and that he knew what was best for us all along. The thought struck me that God rejoices in Christ-centered marriages...that he rejoices when a couple loves and treasures each other. The same goes for the church. When its members love and respect one another, God rejoices. This convicts me...I need to make sure that I am being a promoter of peace and love!

Monday night we got back from a weekend in Oregon. 9 of us loaded up into a Suburban for the long trip! On the way there we took the long way and hit Montana, Idaho, and Washington before getting to Oregon. Yep...21 hours worth! It was beautiful scenery but we were glad to get out. Saturday we went to the beach with a bunch of people and we got to see whales!!!! It was pretty exciting. The wedding was beautiful and we met some wonderful people. Sunday night, we headed back...taking the short route this time...only 18 hours and one person less. Needless to say, we were, again, VERY ready to get out of the car!! But God was faithful and provided us with a safe trip!

Well, until next time.....

Trip to Mexico...and back

Our trip to Mexico proved to be an amazing trip! It was wonderful to spend time with Joel and Kristi and their boys! The slower pace allowed me to meet/remember the kids there and gave me the confidence to try to learn some Spanish! Dan helped Joel with a few projects and I spent time with Kristi and held Beni. Since we have never really had much one-on-one time, this trip gave me the chance to get to know Kristi better...we had a lot of good talks and I learned a lot from her! As you can see, Beni (8 months) is adorable...

Dan helped the guys paint lines on CVE's new basketball court.

Saturday afternoon, we went to Steph Bahr's house for a picnic! Poncho/Marcos waiting for the hotdogs!

Not sure what Josè is doing to Dan!

Sunday (Mother's Day) the dad's at CVE made a delicious dinner for the moms: Tripple Tip steak, baked potatoes, garlic bread, salad, and Joel make tasty apple crisp for dessert! I got the pleasure of feeding Beni while Kristi was at the "mother" table.

We arrived in Mexico Thursday afternoon and since Dan worked the following Wednesday, we decided we had to start the long trip home Monday. We loaded our stuff up into our "new" vehicle (Joel's old Jeep) and after goodbyes, started the 18 hour trek.

Dan wanted to see some sights on the way home and so we took the long route...over Wolf Creek Pass. Mexico, Arizona, a bit of New Mexico, and into south-western Colorado.

In Arizona...by an amazing canyon! (Hard to see...pictures do not capture the depth!)

Our new beast

New Mexico...kind of barren but still beautiful.We came upon an AMAZING waterfall!

Here is a video of the waterfall. At the top, the mist was blowing and it was so cold up there that it was freezing to the surroundings making it look like a sparkling wonderland.

Treasure Falls: Wolf Creek Pass, CO

Monday night we spent the night in Farmington, NM. And Tuesday morning we were back on the road! We made it home safely Tuesday evening. Tired of being in the car but thankful to the Lord for a safe trip!

Farewell Ol' Friend

Yep. Her.

I realized that I haven't updated everyone on my car situation! Well, when I was back in Indiana I started hearing this rattle in the rear passenger side of my car. No biggie, I thought, probably just the muffler loose. As Dan and I were driving it to Colorado, it started shaking BAD at certain speeds. It has since kept the rattle and the shaking. About a month ago I got a flat. Dan watched and coached ( so I could get some hands on learning) as I put on the little doughnut. Off to the auto man...used and trusted by Dan's family.

The diagnosis: (forgive my girl lingo here...I don't really know what's wrong with it!) Something is wrong with the wires to the spark plugs, the transmission fluid was like mud, the serpentine belt has got some problem, and I have a broken/breaking strut. He estimated a price that we weren't sure was worth fixing it for.

But amongst all the bad news he did fix my tire for free!

So, since we'd be putting into the car about what it is worth...and since it is already drinking more oil than it should be...We decided to get a new car. New to us that is.

Mexico here we come! Joel, Dan's brother, has a Jeep Cherokee that he is wanting to sell. It's an older Jeep but in good condition. Dan and I are heading down Thursday (yeah, in two days!) to get it and drive it back. Dan found really cheap tickets and we are really looking forward to seeing Joel and Kristi and their boys! We'll probably start driving back up Monday or Tuesday.

It will be kind of hard to see my car go! Before me, it belonged to my aunt Joan. I have many memories driving to and from Lafayette as a little girl with her (and Bridgett or Max) ;) But we are looking forward to having a 4-wheel drive vehicle for the mountains!