DAY TRIPS 2020 1 & 2

This Covid pandemic has kept us rather isolated like so many others.
Sitting at home or puttering around the house is fine but we need to get out and about also. This is where Day Trips came in.

While reading through Facebook we saw that others had posted pictures and their reactions to day trips they had taken. So we started asking around and got recommendations for places to see.

THIS WAS FIRST WRITTEN MONTHS AGO.

Our first foray was last week. Cindy organized a great picnic lunch while I loaded the car with our lawn chairs and then off we went.

We drove into the foothills south and west from home and drove along the South Platte river. The weather was great and the views were refreshing. A number of other people were out wading, tubing, picnicing and just enjoying themselves. A number of cabins were spotted nestled in the trees with porches faces the river. We found a spot along the river for our picnic. Lawn chairs, a great picnic lunch sitting alongside the river was just what we were looking for. Later on our drive we found another spot of shade under some big trees to sit and read and just enjoy being out.

We finally came off the river road to a major highway back into Denver. Since it was early we texted Laura and arranged to stop by their home and visit for a while in their front yard. It was a great time.

Our second foray out was a few days ago to Evergreen which was about a 50 minute drive from home through a beautiful stretch of foothills. The drive was slow which was perfect for soaking up the scenery.

We passed through a few small towns before getting to Evergreen. Passing through town we finally came to Evergreen Lake.

The weather was just perfect. Sunny with a pleasant breeze. The first thing we did was walk around the lake. There is a great walking path that goes completely around the lake. We encountered some other folks on our hike. We also walked below the dam and even came across a sculpture of a Mountain Man.

Once our walk was completed we found a picnic spot in the shade of nice tree. Other people were playing Frisbee and other games. Some were getting ready to go sail boarding.

When it was time to go we headed out and Cindy spied 4 elk crossing then walking alongside the road. 

It was a great Day Trip. We are already looking forward to our next one.

PROJECTS DECEMBER 2020

 

You may recognize these reindeer figures. I don't mean by name but design. These reindeer are meant to be painted and be out in your yard at Christmas.

I found free plans on-line. I then shrunk the plans so that instead of being large enough to be huge lawn decorations they now stand maybe 6 inches tall.

I cut out the patterns then used a spray adhesive to attach the patterns to 1/8 inch plywood then used my scroll saw to cut out the pieces. It takes time but I have enjoyed doing them. Right now I have a small herd of 6 reindeer grazing on my workbench.

These reindeer are in addition to these ornaments I have made. 

This star ornament is made out of poplar which has been a nice wood to work with. This design means using a drill to make holes in the inside circle to insert my scroll saw blade through. It gets a bit tricky cutting the holes out.

This star is largely made on a table saw. I believe this is poplar also. The individual points are comprised of separately cut pieces glued together. It involves cutting some precise angels. It also involves setting the saw blade at different depths to make the design. The possibilities are almost endless. I am not particularly happy with the results. As you can see the middle hole is not how it should be. I destroyed many stars before quitting with this one. I'll try it again now that I've learned a few things. 

Next Christmas I plan to make multiple copies of another design.

ONE MEAL A DAY

 Over the years we have tried different diets to be healthier by losing weight.

In late September we embarked on yet again another plan. It sounds bizarre but it entails eating once a day between the hours of 3-7pm. No breakfast, no going out to lunch and no snacking. My brother-in-law has lost 60 lbs. doing this.

Surprisingly for us it has not been hard. Neither of us have been thinking about food a lot. I suppose the only thing that has proved difficult is this change in routine. I have typically started each day with a bowl of cereal and coffee. Then we have been going out to lunch or more lately eating lunch at home but eating lunch. That is when we connected and did our talking. Then dinner as usual quite often followed by snacking.

Now it is a cup or two of coffee and then nothing until 3pm. Then we might have fruit or something light and then dinner as usual. No snacks but maybe a cup of coffee.

We are making one exception to this routine though. On Sunday morning we have been having brunch with Rick and Brenda Thompson and plan to continue this. I imagine that means we will have a light snack about dinner time. We shall see.

Well it has been months since I wrote the above section. Covid 19 has meant staying at home. With few exceptions we have eaten at home. During the summer we met a time or two at a local restaurant patio to eat out. 

Cindy orders our groceries online for pickup and then has organized options for meals to chose from. She has done a fabulous job of this. She even talks to her folks in Minnesota and then works with her mom to order their groceries which are then delivered to their home.

I admit I have cheated from time to time by having a piece of fruit or bowl of cereal later than usual. Having said that I have also managed to lose 20 pounds thus far.

And so it goes.