June 29, 2009

Saturday was highway cleanup day for the refuge. We have 2 miles of highway we adopted....it was a breeze! Not anything like cleaning the Texas highways. I am so disappointed in my state!!!! We had a cookout and fishing day after the cleanup!! Fun day!

Sunday we were supposed to power wash the 5th wheel, truck and jeep but decided to be tourists instead. We went to Taos, Angel Fire and Red River, NM. Nice drive and fun day.

Today was another work day, drat!! Mike had to do his online Defensive Driving course...BORING!!! I worked on getting the Visitor Center ready to open this weekend. I had signs printed for the highway. San Luis Valley is the land of tomorrow...my signs were scheduled to be ready Friday...went to pick them up this morning and "Oh, the will be ready tomorrow!!"

June 26, 2009

Yesterday we played tourist again. We went to Chimney Rock archaeological dig....the brochures say they have kennelSSSS for your pets because they are not allowed at the dig....NOT SO!!! They have 1 kennel and it already had a dog with several others waiting.. That trip is for another day (again) when we can leave CoCoa in Alamosa. It was still a great day....beautiful drive.

Today we stayed home and did the necessary housework. LAUNDRY, VACUUMING, ETC. Mike installed 2 electric plugs for me. YEA!!

June 23, 2009

Another fun filled day!! Mike had the YCC kids paint the posts today......what a joke. I don't think any of them had ever painted before. They had more paint on them than on the posts. Nice yellow kids!!!!

I worked on getting the Visitor Center ready to open this weekend. It is a great interactive center. The former refuge environmental education person did so much work. Lots of hands on activities.

June 22, 2009

Monday and back to work....Mike had several of the YCC (Youth Conservation Corps) kids help him today. They poured concrete to set the 6ft metal posts around the fuel tanks. Hard day for Mike, we are so NOT used to physical work any more. On the other hand, I spent 5 boring hours in front of the computer taking a required Defensive Driving Course....BORING!!! The up side is that Mike has to do the same course. The next class we both have to take is for ATV's. Mike has already taken the certification courses for Agriculture Tractors and Heavy Equipment. Such fun working for the Fish & Wildlife Service.

June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day to all you guys!! It is a beautiful, sunny, nice 80 degree day. We started our day getting up early to go trout fishing***not my idea but not my day***caught 6 nice keepers so guess what's for dinner!! In the afternoon we rode over to the bluff overlook on the NWR. Saw several elk, pelicans, hawks, prarie dogs and many ducks.

Friday (19th) we drove to Elizabeth, CO to check on the kid's house. It has been empty for almost a year and the weather is starting to affect it. They have had a small roof leak, minimal damage but damage nonetheless. The livingroom ceiling has water damage to the texture. They are going to have to file an insurance claim as Dad can't fix this one.

Saturday (20th) was a dreary day....overcast most of the day. We had plans to do lots of outdoor stuff but NO. Watched movies, read and played cards. Still a fun day. Today is our baby girl's birthday. Happy Birthday Tanya.

June 18, 2009

Totally finished with the Kid's Fishing Day.....got the press release with photos to the paper and got all the thank you letters out to the merchants for all the door prizes. YEA!!! Now I am working on getting the Visitor Center open and ready for the season. That is next weeks project.

Mike has been taking DOI computer training all day....privacy act, information security, etc. Now he can take some online courses for DOI certification to run the machines he has been running for years....tractors, mowers, skid loaders, backhoes, etc. Of course, these certificates will make him much more marketable....need to put that guy to work!!!

The weather has gotten so much better!! Highs in the 80's and lows in the high 50's. I might survive up here after all.

June 17, 2009

Monday was spent with followup doctors visits. Everything is good!!! Actually, Mike got a really good physical....better than he has in a long time. Then last night, he had to do another sleep study for his sleep apnea. They were checking to see if the settings are good for this altitude....they are. So, now we are cleared to go to higher elevations after another 2 weeks. We plan to go river rafting as soon as we can. Even though it is about another 1,000 feet higher, we did go check out some rafting companies in Creed.....Mike only got out of the jeep long enough to go into one of the companies. He could feel the higher altitude so down we came!