Pictures from Milton and Hollis

Here are some pictures Milton sent from their trip to Hawaii earlier this year as well as bicycle racing at home. Looks like Hawaii was fun and relaxing, but the bicycle racing can tire you out. I think that Sam is being encouraged to join in the fun as a bicyclist.

Check this out for more pictures in a short slide show.

Quilting and friends

It was a celebration of Fran's birthday today. Only three of us, but between us three, with our creative and exceptional design sense we helped Fran work out a "first step" design for her new quilt. It was circles and pie shapes that needed to dance and move the eye about. A project from a class they took last week.
Sue had made a good first start on hers
but Fran was frustrated and discouraged. After working for awhile she left with a smile and an idea of how to begin.

UPDATE 11-08
Fran got tired of working on this quilt and gave it to me to complete the design, sew and quilt. I had fun doing it and I thank Pandy and Fran for the gift of this quilt. It hangs in our bedroom and is a bright addition to our room.

Valle Canyon to Cerro Grande

May 28, Annette and I led the hiking group to the top of Cerro Grande on a rather mixed weather day. In the early morning it was foggy and cloudy, cool and breezy. This made for a nice cool hike. Then the clouds broke as we arrived on the high ridge. During lunch the clouds raced overhead, seemingly within reach of our hands.

The red columbines were all throughout the forest as we climbed up to the ridge along the fence line. Bunches of them, spaced about every 20 or 30 feet. The violets were still in bloom and the iris were beginning to pop out in the lower meadows. Valle Canyon is showing recovery from the fire. Aspens are beginning to take over, the stream is pretty with ferns and grasses growing along the banks. The burnt trees are slowly falling down and will soon be covered with bushes and new trees. The mountain bikers are keeping the trail clear of dead fall!

We had a momentous event, a first ascent for two of our hikers, Mahlon and his grandson, Eamonn. Plus, we planned just right, we could fit all of the peak baggers in the one car we had left at the end of the trail at St. Rd 4 and 289. And the rain didn't begin until the drive home.

Pictures from Jeanne

Jeanne took some pictures of the sunset along the coast in Santa Cruz. The clouds are the fire that was burning to the south and east of them. The Santa Cruz Sentinel used them for their write up of the fire.

She also sent me a picture of her, enjoying Loch Lomand in California a few months ago, as well as a picture of her on the beach in Hawaii. And I'll add a picture of Janet's family visit to Santa Cruz last year as well as a picture of Jeanne and Andrea on the drive home from Arizona.

Parker's birthday dinner at Gma and Gpa's

Birthday Celebration for Parker, 12 Years old, 5-24-2008

Steak and shrimp, Caesar salad, carrots sticks, home made rolls, curly fries, and key lime pie

He had friends from church for pizza and a sleepover on Saturday the 24th. Then Oso, Kiva, Jordan, Elizabeth, Ken, Milt and I celebrated on the 25th at our house. Joanna was up in Boulder Colorado enjoying the Bolder Boulder race. We missed her and hope she did well.

A call from Ken on Tuesday informs us that Joanna finished. She was back in the pack but did well in her age group. She and Crista had a good, relaxing weekend away from the stresses and strains of the regular, daily life.

Skiing at Vail, 2007-08 season

Lots of snow at Vail this season. We were there in December, February and April. Not many sunny days and lots of powder days. No complaints from us. We had fun with friends and family and enjoyed this epic winter.

December and February slide show
April slide show

Can you see how spring just didn't sprung!

2007 in Pictures, and Christmas 07 Newsletter

Gillespie Christmas Newsletter 2007

Christmas greetings to all

This year I am trying a new format, using the Internet to reach you with a big hello! I've made the pictures into a slide show. I hope it won't slow down the dial up people.I've included pictures from this this past year.

We've done lots of hiking and skiing here in New Mexico and Colorado as well as visits to friends and family here in the west. We've enjoyed our condo at Vail. Skied over 30 days there, as well as a good season here at Pajarito. We had Aven, Janet's 10 year old boy, join us for a week of skiing at Vail. He learned to snowboard that week. Then Parker, Ken's 10 year old, joined us for a week at Vail in the summer. Hiking, river rafting and horseback riding were some of our fun activities.Here in New Mexico I continue to hike with my hiking group, quilt with my quilting group. Milt has slowed down a little. His knees are getting arthritic so big hikes are becoming painful, but he still hits the trails as much as he can. We are thankful to be enjoying the retirement years.

This September we started looking for a new church. We were wanting to return to the traditional services we attended in our youth. We have found a Presbyterian church we like very much and have been attending it regularly for the past couple of months, Bryce Avenue Presbyterian. Check out their website for a picture of the building and descriptions of the activities and beliefs of the church.

It has been a good year, lots to be thankful for. Let's keep in touch. Check the web site for pictures, http://www.thegillespiebunch.blogspot.com/ or send an email, to us so that I can have your email address. I promise no forwards unless you forward me first.
Love from Kathy and Milt (miltkatg@emailtaxi.net)
May you have a joyous Christmas!