An Aardvark Free Zone

With Labor Day now behind us, it seems that Fall has officially begun. While the grandsons began school two weeks ago along with the majority of other Colorado students, the granddaughters begin today, a more traditional school start according to this grandma. 

I missed Monday Mosaic simply because I was just too busy to write the post. 

Friends from the Western Slope came to visit their son and grandson who has begun his first year at Colorado State U, using the Garden Spot as their home base. As long time friends, they were welcomed company. My dear friend Patty celebrated her birthday. For four months out of the year we are the same age. We cannot remember the last time that we celebrated our birthdays together-- probably 40 years or more. Perhaps when one of us turned 21. So I baked her a cake, bought a couple of candles, some balloons, and noise makers (more for her little grand daughter), and hung up the Happy Birthday Banner. I took a blurry iPhone photo as everyone sang "Happy Birthday." (Note the the number candles are discretely blurred to conceal her real age.)

The Head Gardener took Jacob (12) on his first elk hunt. He worked hard to get his hunter safety card and had been doing push-ups to gain upper body strength to pull his compound bow. He is old enough to get a small game license so he was able to hunt grouse. He did shoot his first grouse with his bow. 

When they came home mid-day yesterday, he declared to me as we downloaded photos that this was the best time he had ever had in his life. I replied that his grandpa had waited a life time to give him that good time. Jacob is a boy scout, so he has spent a lot of time in the Colorado mountains, so he impressed his grandpa with his ability to hike the hills.

Since Jacob had homework waiting for him, gear was quickly transferred from one vehicle to another and we made the trek to Denver to take him home. While his momma and daddy served us hamburgers for lunch, they did cook the grouse breast for dinner and declared it delicious.

So this week it is back to normal. The HG left early this morning to help the Haxtun farmers harvest milo, a two day job. So my chore duty was on reprieve for a few hours. I am off to the university today.

On a final note, little Lily starts preschool today. She had the best quote of the week: Her sisters both have pets, Ellie has Peter, an old Easter Bunny who has finally been moved into her room, living a pampered, spoiled life. Lucy has new pet, Julia, a green cheeked conure parrot also sharing her room. So Lily of course wants a pet. The Head Gardener kindly offered to get her an aardvark. That poor little baby puckered up her sweet little face, pondered for a moment holding back puzzled tears and then declared as the tears came on: "I don't like aardvarks."

We have declared the Garden Spot Aardvark free. 

Have a great week everyone. Thanks so much for stopping by.