Happy Mabon from Longmont, Colorado

With Starbucks Pumpkin Via coffee in hand and sweatshirts over our pajamas, we stepped outside this first day of fall 2013 into the chilly morning air.  We were greeted by the moon setting above the mountains to the west and the sun rising brightly in the east. 

 

And what bit of luck does Chris spot?

 

A rainbow that appeared to come straight from the clouds to the mountain!!  Fortuitous? Serendipitous?  First day of Fall magic?  Perhaps!!

 

And if it couldn't get any better, as we left for a couple mile walk into town, we see 3 hot air balloons arise in front of the mountain skyline.  Would you believe Chris had mentioned hot air balloons when we were having our coffee this morning???!!  As we walked, there appeared to 5 or 6 in flight. 

 

We did a hot air balloon ride when we were in Sedona, Arizona, in September 2008.  It is so peaceful up there.  What a smart way to begin this season...why hadn't I thought of it?!?  ;)

 

I have a tradition that I strictly uphold for today and that is ...  I make myself wait to eat candy corn!  So for me, the first day of Fall = Candy Corn (with peanuts)!!  I had a couple pieces of the good stuff before our walk today ~ for energy, of course!

 

We will celebrate the harvest season with a meal of Pork and Sweet Potato Chili, a recipe from my dear friend, Kim Stephens, atop quinoa, along with a Pumpkin Cranberry Bread I am baking.  And to wash it all down, a Pumpkin Spice Tonic from Cost Plus World Market.  We are going to compare it to the incredibly delicious Pumpkin Juice we got at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter a few years back.

We Are Coloradans! Coloradites? Longmontians?

We arrived to Longmont, Colorado, on Tuesday, September 10th at 3PM Mountain time.  I have much to tell you about the drive and our first week (first days!) in our new hometown/state! 

 

 

Two long days of driving, bookended with loading and unloading a moving truck, were somewhat exhausting!

 

Days of rains that led to flooding of biblical proportion in Boulder County!  Nothing like it in 500 years!!  Yes 5 HUNDRED years!!!

 

The upside: we were indoors getting unpacked and decorated during the bad weather.

 

We enjoyed much-deserved brews our 2nd nite here.  After unloading in drizzle and returning the truck in the rain, we went directly to Walnut Brewery!  We even did a quick walk of Pearl Street Mall under our umbrellas.

 

We have been applying for jobs and trying to familiarize ourselves with our new neighborhood, city and county (well, from Longmont to Boulder, so far).

 

I have a job interview tomorrow with Spirit Halloween!  HA!!  Just looking for something part-time to get us a little extra money and to indulge my senses in our favorite holiday!

 

Found a wonderful little coffee place in downtown Longmont, where the coffee is pretty good and the free internet even better!

 

In a nutshell, that is where we are right now....only one week in! 

 

I have scribbled cryptic notes along the way, but don't have them with me at the moment. 

 

Observations from the road and a review of a small-town greasy spoon where we had breakfast on deck!

 

 

 

 

 



Our last week in Indiana

Can you believe our move is only 2 days away?!?

 

Let me catch us up:

 

Our last day of work was last Friday, August 31st.  I actually got teary as I left.  I think because it was a place I had spent over 11 years of my life and there are a handful of people with whom I developed relationships and they will be missed.

 

Leaving my gym was even harder!!!  I said goodbye to my circuit coach and some gym-mates on Thursday.  Then, I was back there yesterday for my final boxing class.  I didn't think about it during our class, which was wonderfully tough.  The owners of the gym, Paul & Danielle, brought cupcakes and presented me with UFC Gym and Hoosier Fight Club tees.  So 2 days in a row, I was crying at the gym.  Generally, a no-no!  I made connections with people there over the past 4 years and leaving them and the ah-mazing workouts is very hard, very sad.  I was both physically and emotionally drained last nite.

 

We also had a gathering at a local bar last Saturday.  The best way for us to see a large amount of people before we leave.  We are very grateful to those who made the time to come and see us!  We stayed out until after 2AM!!!  Left the first bar and then headed into downtown CP for some dancing at another bar! 

 

We are packed and getting the moving truck tomorrow morning.  Chris and I will spend the day loading everything up just right! 

 

If we can squeeze it in, we will head to the beach once more.  We'll then spend one last nite here in Ogden Dunes, waking early Monday morning to begin the first of our 2-day drive to Longmont, Colorado. 

 

So many new things await us out West!