Vacation in Vallecito

Written on 7-5-25.

      I am in our Alto, and we are still up at Vallecito.  It’s quiet time now, and B left to go be on the river porch.  It was hot in here, and that’s the reason she left.  She is not feeling very well.  Now, however, the AC has kicked in and cooled the inside, and it has become very comfortable.  I am all alone.  Kody is hooked up outside, and he has learned it’s a super cool spot to be in the shade under the camper.  

It feels like a recovery day after lots of water sports and dealing with small people yesterday.  I came back with A, B, Casey, Ben, and Rowan after a little over an hour out on the lake.  The rest stayed and played for a few more hours.  They got home sometime after 2:00, and I cooked burgers, brats, and hot dogs on the grill for them.  They were very hungry when they got here.

Danielle just did a...

touch-and-go, staying for only one night.  She has her final tests coming up on July 7th, and we are all rooting for her.  Whoa!  That’s just two days from now.  Hopefully, she will be done with her probationary year after those tests.  I remember her talking about how seeing family recharged for going back to work when she came here last year for the 4th of July.  

We just came back from the little arts and crafts booths where we had a short visit with Gibby, the retired firefighter from Tempe, AZ.  He offered advice and was super supportive and optimistic about Danielle’s chances.  I am, too.  I think she will do fine.

She stopped by our home on her way back to Albuquerque to see all of the progress on our newly textured and painted walls, and that made me so joyful for some reason.  I wanted her to see it now while it is in transition vs. seeing it so completely different later when it will be all done.  I thought it would be too much of a shock for her to see it if that happens.  It is as much James’s and her home as it is ours.  We hope James and Casey will be able to see it tomorrow.  Danielle was super complimentary and amazed at what she saw.  She gave us a FaceTime call as she walked through.  I am so glad she took the time. 

We will babysit Rowan tomorrow to allow James and Casey to have a date and go see the new How to Train Your Dragon-the live version.  That will be great.  I remember feeling relieved when anybody gave us a break when James and Danielle were little.  

On to golf…

I forgot that Kyle (last name) and I had set the date to go play at Pinon Hills on Tuesday, July 8th.  I have a dentist appointment that morning, so we will go play at around 1:00.  I will not invite Herman (not his real name) for that one, so I hope we don’t run into him.  If I do, I will tell him that we had planned this a while ago, which is true.  I look forward to seeing and playing with Kyle.  Soon after, he will go on his mission to Mexico somewhere.  I will ask him when he leaves we play.  

I moved my workout with Matt to Wednesday  because of my dentist appointment.  Since I will do that, I will not play with Herman this week.  I want to rest for the tournament at Hillcrest with Greg.  I haven’t done well playing golf the day after one of Matt’s workouts.  He pushes me, and I am happy for that.  

I see people stirring outside my window, and I want to see if Belinda wants to buy some paintings we saw at the crafts fair thing.  

Until next time…