The year in collages

I had so much fun making collages for my other blog's year-end wrap up, I decided to do it for this blog as well. Here is the year in collages.

In January, I had jury duty on my birthday. Seth and I went to the dog park. I saw a bald eagle. It snowed.

My friend Bobbie sent us a box of weird Japanese snacks in February. Funny faces ensued. Darcy barked. Emma watched. We went to the dog park. Seth and Emma cuddled. 

James turned fifteen in March. Ryan and I went to a Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore concert.  Darcy and James napped. James, Darcy and Emma dressed up for St. Patrick's Day. 

Also in March, Jennifer, Seth, Ryan and James went on a road trip to Texas.  

April's events included Ryan's birthday, the Overland High School Awards Ceremony, spring snow, selfies and foal cuddling. 

In May, I attended Nate's graduation with Carol. Seth ad I went to the dog park. Ryan and James went to Kenlyn for a Mother's Day photo shoot. 

June was a busy month, and I didn't take a lot of pictures. Darcy and Emma kissed. James went to wrestling camp. Ryan got a passport, and James pet-sat for his friend, Kevin.

July was also busy. We celebrated two holidays: Independence Day and 7-11 Day. Jennifer went to Breyerfest and cuddled Silver Charm. James went to a Quinceañera. Darcy wore a hat. Jennifer got a job. 

August is back to school month. Jennifer worked a lot of hours and traveled to schools in Colorado and Wyoming, Cara and her dogs moved back to Colorado. Seth and Jennifer drove to Leadville to watch donkey racing.

September was filled with mountain drives. Ryan posed for senior pictures in Pine Junction, and Seth, Jennifer and Emma drove the Peak to Peak Highway. Seth fixed a car. Ryan and Darcy helped.

October was all about our Fall Break roadtrip to Southwestern Colorado. Also, dogs.

I bought a new car in November, and we celebrated Thanksgiving at Carol's house.

December's big events were another Beutel graduation and Christmas. I donated my old car, Darcy wore another hat. 

2017.

Buxton/Beutel Thanksgiving 2017

November 2017

Wolf Creek Pass

After two nights in the yurt, Ryan and James were ready to go home.

So we said goodbye to the beautiful Mancos Valley... 

and drove West, over the Animas River... 

and up Wolf Creek Pass. 

We stopped near the summit to admire the view. 

While we were there, we were accosted by some very aggressive birds...

and chipmunks. 

It was obvious they were used to being fed...

so... 

Seth fed them. 

Just hanging on some strange man's shoe. No big deal. 

I tried it, too. 

Squee! 

Then James wanted to see if they would crawl up on his hand. 

They did! 

October 2017

Balcony House

There are signs throughout Mesa Verde warning visitors to use caution when hiking and climbing. Nearly everything in this park requires effort, including the guided tours.

Or in the case of Balcony House, especially the guided tours.

The Balcony House tour starts with a steep path down the side of the cliff.

This is followed by an even steeper, metal staircase.

After that...

it's the ladder!

That's thirty two feet of not looking down...

but we made it!

We were now inside the cliff dwellings, albeit on the less used side. This is our guide, Jeannette...

and this is the balcony which gives Balcony House its name.

We spent some time talking, looking and photographing...

then squeezed through the portal...

to the main living area.

We gathered around a kiva for more talking.

When Mom, Dad and I visited Mesa Verde twenty seven years ago, we were allowed to climb into the kivas. This time, we were only allowed to look.

Honestly, I'm not surprised by the change. Given the strenuous nature of this tour...

and the fragility of the artifacts...

and architecture...

I'm surprised and grateful we're still allowed to be in here at all.

Take a good look, James. This might not be possible in another twenty years.

Exiting Balcony House is almost as difficult as entering. There is a long narrow passage way...

photo by Ryan

with a crawl-through section...

and two more big ladders.

Not a problem for James!

The Balcony House tour was the best part of a very good day. I am so glad I got to visit this place with my boys.

October 2017