Christmas Newsletter, 2010

Once again we are back to skiing. We had two great weeks at Vail in November. Lots of snow, and time with family and friends for Thanksgiving dinner. The front of the mountain was open, many good runs and three days of fresh powder. We plan to go back in January for more good skiing. We may have two weeks there in January. So far it hasn't snowed here, just an inch or so during November. It is predicted to be a dry winter in the southwest. So there are lots of opportunities to hike and enjoy the sunshine while we wait for the snow to come.

Looking back at the calendar It was another peaceful year. Good snow here and in Colorado so lots of skiing last winter. At the end of April we did some hiking in Utah at Bryce Canyon National Park with our hiking group. There was plenty of sunshine, snow, wind and cold at 8,000 feet. But it was beautiful and we were prepared for spring weather. In September Ken Ball, Kathy's brother came for a visit. He drove in his truck with his canine companion, Max, a black standard poodle. We baby sat Max while he tried to catch some fish at the Valles Calldera Preserve. He broke a personal record, the largest he ever caught was 38 inches, the smallest was 1.5 inches. Now he can boast that he caught a 1 inch trout. If the fish were sparse and small the country was at it's most spectacular. The fall colors were bright and started early and ended in November.

Ken came not only to fish but to join us in celebrating Kathy's 75th birthday. We had a big party and the weather was warm so we were able to use the patio for the overflow of friends.
Milestones in the lives of our grandchildren: Shauna graduated from high school, Parker and Aven graduated from Middle school, Lanelle was married July 3 (read blog below), Andrea has a job and lives near her mom Jeanne, Sam will be 9 years in a month, Jordan is attending New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, Jared is doing very well in the navy still stationed on the carrier USS George Washington. Their parents are all working and each is doing well with their chosen field of expertise.

Milt worked hard this summer with a bulldozer at the ski area. He was helping the effort to capture more water for the snow making pond that was excavated last year. Plus he spends time making sure our investments don't tank too much.

Kathy has continued helping with the Good News Club outreach at our local elementary school as well as the Community Bible Study ministry for women and children. Quilting projects were finished but nothing new started since September.

Again we are thankful for our health, our family and church family.

We wish you all a peaceful and fulfilling New Year.

Marriage of Lanelle and Trow

July 3, 2010 our grand daughter Lanelle Marie Ferguson was married to Second Lieutenant Andrew Trowbridge Ward, U.S. Air Force. The wedding was held in DeKoevend Park Pavilion on a beautiful day in Littleton Colorado. Family and friends came from many states to witness and to help them celebrate the start of their new life together. Lanelle's pastor, Chris Austin of New Covenant Church Woodland park, officiated. Trows sister Teresa read 1Corinthians 13 and at the end a blessing was given by parents Harold Ferguson and Allison Ward.

After the ceremony we all went to the reception in Denver at the Mercury Cafe, a dance club that and they and their friends enjoyed. After dinner there was great music played by a DJ friend of the family. These young people really know how to dance, graceful and full of rhythm. Even the grand parents joined in on the fun.

The couple drove off at 9 PM to a honeymoon in the Caribbean. Some of the crowd went back in to dance till midnight, and some of us went back to the hotel for a well earned rest and sleep.

It had been a busy three days, a shower for the bride on Thursday, a rehearsal dinner on Friday night at the Prime Steakhouse in downtown Denver and then the excitement of the wedding on Saturday.

Trow will be stationed at Vance AFB, Enid Oklahoma for the next year as he trains to be a pilot. They have an apartment near the base and it will be a new and different life for them both. We wish them a happy marriage and joy through Christ their Lord.

Bryce Canyon in April

In mid April about 18 of us from the hiking group spent three days hiking in Bryce Canyon. There were beautiful colors and forms that surrounded you at all times. The weather was variable, from warm and sunny to a wind chill factor of 10 degrees the last snowy and windy day. We were all hikers so we enjoyed it all. Milt's knees held up well, there was a hot tub to soak in and recover at the end of the day. Bryce had a big winter and some of the trails were still completely covered in snow. The drive was beautiful also, through canyons and desert. A great southwest experience.

Lotusland Garden in Santa Barbara
October 2009

Ken and Gerd, Vail September 2005

On January 2, 2010 Kathy's brother, Ken Ball, lost his beloved wife, Gerd, after an illness of over a year. She died at home with the care of Hospice and family. The picture above was taken on a beautiful day in the fall colors of Vail Colorado. They came to help me, Kathy, celebrate my 70th birthday. In the next few years we had occasion to visit them at their home. This year we spent a weekend together in Santa Barbara.

They were married for over 52 years, raised two children, and established a successful business in Southern California. They built a lovely home in Rancho Palos Verdes and lived there the past 20 years or more.

I will miss the phone calls and conversations we had over the years since moving to New Mexico. I find myself thinking of her as I live each day, composing in my mind what I would like to tell her the next time we talk. This a habit of many years and it will be a long time before this habit goes away.

Wish I could say she is with the Lord because of her trust and belief in Christ, but only God knows our hearts during those last few fleeting moments.

She is greatly missed by us.

Christmas Greetings

2009 Newsletter from Kathy and Milt Gillespie

This year has rolled around pretty much like last year. Skiing at home and at Vail, hiking in Colorado and New Mexico, visits with friends and family, a trip to California in October, Milton and Sam came for a visit in August. We had Thanksgiving at Vail with Janet and family and Ken and family.

In May our grandson Jared Ferguson graduated from Navy basic training. He looked so sharp, and it was a real joy to see our young man growing up. We had a good weekend with him. Janet and I and Harold and his brother Wade were the family that came to celebrate with him. He is now on the carrier USS George Washington, based in Yokasuka Japan.

Our health had been good, getting a little older each day, but aren't we all.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and a joyful new year.

Kathy and Milt

Christmas Newsletter, 2008

Greetings to all!

Thanks for checking our family blog. The past year is written up in short posts, some with slide shows. Just click on the category in the side bar or scroll down this blog and you can read about us or our children's family as well as link to their business websites. We have several entrepreneurs.

Also there is a link to our church, Bryce Avenue Presbyterian. We are very happy with the teaching and worship service and are involved in two Bible study groups and we help and serve where we can.
I hope you don’t find this an impersonal way to communicate and that you will send a quick comment or two. I can reply back, and then we are in contact!

Have a happy and joyous Christmas.

We send our love,

Kathy and Milt

June 2008 Family Reunion Milt, Kathy, Jeanne, Shauna, Lanelle, Doug, Janet, Parker, Milton, Joanna, Ken, Jordan, Aven Sam was asleep after a big day. Hollis, Andrea and Jared were unable to come.

Sam and Hollis
Andrea and Jared

Active and involved

Milt has been active at the ski area this summer. He helped bulldoze the new terrain park on Easy Mother, he helps keep the grounds of Bryce Avenue Church free of weeds and dead trees, reads voraciously, and works out at the YMCA every other day.

Kathy has been busy with her quilting group, hiking group, leads a Bible study group with Community Bible Study (CBS). Each Thursday she helps the Good News Club at Chamisa School in White Rock. She explores new trails with a friend in the burnt and now recovering forest in the Jemez mountains.

These are a few of our activities throughout the year. We don't seem to want to travel far, we are enjoying the Rocky Mountain west and visits with family right now.

September trip to California

Life was quiet for us in August and early September. We stayed at home and did the usual things, hiking, working at the ski area, church and activities with family and friends.

Our big trip this year, besides our numerous trips to Vail Colorado, was a drive to California to visit Ken and Gerd, see the new Getty Museum, a doctor appointment in Ventura and then a mini vacation with Jeanne and David in Cambria, with a tour of the Hearst Castle and visits to nearby beaches. The details are in the pictures so please watch the slide show.

What the pictures won't tell you is anything about the doctor appointment. Milt was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2007. He was told that all indications said watch and wait. It was recommended that he have a test to determine the location of the cancer. The test was done by a clinic in Ventura that had the best technique. It was a minimally invasive test using ultrasound, and it showed that the cancer is not in a dangerous place and that watch and wait is the best protocol. Good news!

Autumn is here, the aspens are glorious, the nights are cool and we are getting our ski clothes and equipment ready for SNOW, we hope.

What has been happening in July?

Well, July 3 was a blowout! Great family fireworks with the Gillespie boys lighting some big ones. Loud and high they flew! We thought we had invited enough neighbors but maybe not. Our sound and celebration brought us to the attention of the fire department. But the reasoned talk and grey hairs on the head Gillespie saved us. We celebrated our countries freedom with joy and laughter and a big bucket of water for safety.

July 4, after a traditional barbecue in the backyard, we all trouped off to Overlook Park to watch the Kiwanis show. It was another fireworks celebration. Ken, Parker, Crista and John joined us, Joanna had to work that day, but we met her at Overlook to join us in the fun.

The next morning Milt and I drove up to Vail for a relaxing week of concerts, hikes, dinners out, and a visit from Lanelle and Bobby. This doesn't sound relaxing, but it was. The weather was very good, the flowers and music very beautiful and we enjoyed meeting Bobby, a nice young man. Lanelle was looking very pretty and they had an enjoyable few days with us, as did we with them.

We bought a new HDTV, Milt set it up and the Direct TV guy got us connected to satellite. The rest of the month has just been nice summer days, me hiking with my group, Milt bulldozing at the ski area, time with friends at church and quilting. We look forward to a quiet August at home. Here are some pictures of July, home, hikes etc.

Order direct from Hollis

http://www.morningsideproducts.com/


Just click on one of the products and you will be able to chose just what you want. Her products are really great, I especially like the pomegranate and white tea ginger scents.



The Morningside family of quality bath and body care products includes Originals, Lumière, Morningside and a new line of natural products called Simple Originals. You can treat yourself to a specialty item or a coordinated line of products that includes some of these fragrances: Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Warm Vanilla, white tea ginger and Pomegranate. Or add some fresh new scents to your list of favorites: Apple Pear, Mandarin Orange, Cranberry or Tomato Blossom.

2008 Family Reunion

Here is our family reunion in pictures, check the slide show.

Check out the Ponderosa Campground on the web at:

www.coloradodirectory.com/ponderosacampcabins

Big Toys for Big Boys

Komatsu D275AX-5, 410 HP, 109,900 lb, crawler dozer, for more details check online at http://www.komatsuamerica.com/

This machine was too heavy to make it up the first steep hill on the Camp May road. So it was moved off the trailer and Mike Green drove it up the old road, over rocks and fallen trees to a flatter area. Then it was brought up to the ski area by the truck.
The ski area is renting it for a month to create a terrain park at the top of Easy Mother.
Milt has been working dismantling the old terrain park at the bottom of Lumber Yard. Today he was able to do in three hours what would have taken him over a day with the ski area's small D-4 bulldozer. Needless to say he was having fun, big time.
And we skiers will enjoy having that great lower Lumberyard to make tracks on next winter, the snowboarders can jump and flip at the top of Big Mother, big improvement!
Mike Green and friend.

Comments from Family and Friends

Family Reunion comment:
Thanks for posting these! I really enjoyed seeing you all and the place. It looks like a great time was had by all.
xhollis

Hi Mom,
I signed up as a Google Reader via the instructions from the website. I actually was able to place a comment on the Gillespie Bunch website so check it out. This reader thing is interesting. I learned something new today. Who knows, it could become very useful.
Love Janet

Dear Kathy,
You have done such a wonderful job on the blog! It is really fun to see and read about everyone. I am sure sorry I won't be able to join in the fun, but hopefully afterward everyone will send you their photos so that I can see them on the Gillespie Family blog!
xhollis

Hi mom,
Yes, the picture of the fox was hard to see until I enlarged it, what a beautiful little creature. Knowing me I would be encouraging it to come around so I could watch it. I am disappointed that Hollis is not coming and of course feel the same about Andrea and David. None the less I am looking forward to spending time with everyone else.
Love, Jeanne

Kathy,
I am impressed. Thank you for sharing the wonderful picture of Pedernal. Pedernal is one of my favorite places. It was also nice seeing pictures of your family and the Thursday quilt ladies. Fran, your quilt is great.
Jan

Hi there,
I just wanted to applaud you on your website, it is a great idea and a nice way to keep informed on family activities. Maybe we could use this for news of our upcoming family reunion. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Love Janet
(My thoughts: this may be too new to really work as a communication device, probably emails and phone calls will work best, we'll see, THE MOM)

An exciting moment at the water dish!

This is the first fox we've seen in our immediate backyard. With the dry weather there have been lots of different birds, chipmunks, and probably wandering dogs who come by to take a drink from our robins water dish.
I was so excited when I saw the fox I almost didn't get my camera out. But as you can see I did. I just didn't engage the telephoto lens. Oh well, you can click on the picture and enlarge it.

It was a beautiful animal, dainty, with a huge tail, ringed and tipped in black. He/she left after a minute or two and didn't see me at the window. Great view for me!

Nambe Lake, almost

June 4, the goal of the hike was Nambe Lake, at around 11,000 elevation. Annette and I forged on ahead of the group of hikers to see if it was possible to make it that high. Early in the hike we were postholing through drifts of snow, walking on wet mud and soggy bogs, but we soldiered on. Till finally it was wall to wall deep snow. The only way to go forward was on a steep talus slope. We decided that with just two of us, we would not try anything risky. But there were a couple of lovely meadows, with flowers, rushing streams of water everywhere. Summer will arrive, maybe next month we'll try for Nambe lake again.

Alert from Jeanne!

Jeanne had a scare today. She awoke with one eye dilated, it had started on Sunday but was worse this morning. She was able to get an appointment with her ophthalmologist in the afternoon. By then it was beginning to get smaller, but she was still worried, didn't know what was happening. Of course when you Google it you find out about all sorts terrible things that it could be. The doctor was smart and questioned her about her activities and whether she had a belladonna plant at her house. She rhapsodized and described the beautiful trumpet plant that hung over their hot tub and how she had cleaned out the pods and trimmed it on Sunday.
The cause and culprit was found. Belladonna is a vaso dilator. Above are the pictures she took on Sunday of the plant, Snowy and Andrea. Needless to say Milt and I were happy that this was the outcome, as was Jeanne.
Here are some more pictures of the Hawaii trip to Maui she sent late last night.