Someone is starting to get comfortable

Rene has come a long way.

She can now spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's and enjoy all the love and attention she gets. She now sleeps on my bed. She plays with new dog friends and is starting to take treats from her people friends.

She is definitely coming into her own!

 Rene and her new friend Sammy

Rene taking treats from human friend Greg's hands

The big "3" and Art Nite

Yesterday, Rene turned 3! She had a special day. We woke up, and took a walk at a nearby park. We came home and she opened her gift of 4 new toys-a tennis ball, a squeaky pig, a rope toy and a squeaky ball. I bought her some special peanut butter baked treats and she enjoyed quite a few. We looked outside and saw Rene's friend, Ziggy, playing in "the quad" so we went out and brought Ziggy a treat and played with him for a bit. Last night, I had two friends over for "Art Nite"-my friend, Kristin, and also a gal I met where I volunteer. Rene really showed her personality by running around and even barking. Kristin was able to pet her at one point! She is really coming around. During "Art Nite" we sat around, drank some wine, and did crafty things together. It was a really fun day and evening, and I hope Rene knew it was a special day!

The Birthday Girl

 Getting supplies ready for "Art Nite"

 Rebecca and Kristin

Rene finally getting comfy with people

The big 7-5

I know it isn't cool to advertise a woman's age. But, there are just those milestones that you can't escape. Like, me, facing forty. Or my mom turning seventy-five this weekend.

We had planned for weeks what to do. We meaning Robert, Dad and I. We talked about a surprise party, or a trip to the mountains, or something like that. But, in the end, we opted for cozy time at home and a little time on the farm. The White Fence Farm, that is. We did have a few tricks up our sleeves to make the day super special.

The eve of The Big Day, Saturday afternoon, I took a bouquet of flowers and a few other special treats over to the house while Mom and Dad were at church. I guess, when Mom came home, she was surprised and wondered how those flowers got inside. The next day, her birthday, July 19th started out with a visit from Rene and me and I brought the cake that I ordered with a special birthday wish along with the caramel ribbon gelato that is scrumptious. Rene played in the yard, got in her pool, laid in the grass. She showed Grandma extra special attention. She let Grandpa chase her around the yard. I dropped her off back at home and got ready, heading back to Mom and Dad's for an early dinner a the White Fence Farm. It is a very cute, very down-home restaurant in Littleton/Lakewood with good food, a petting zoo, little gift shops, a candy store, and live music. We wandered around, and then ate, and then listened to a few tunes. Back at our home front, we surprised Mom with a DVD a cousin lovingly put together with pretty much every home movie from Mom's side of the family. We popped it in the DVR and watched much of the DVD, with tears of nostalgia and laughter, both at ourselves from the 1980's and just the fun of it all.

After the DVD we had a lovely cake with "Happy 75th Birthday, Betty!" Iced on top. A few presents here and there. Did I mention it is my parents' anniversary, too? Celebrating 46 years of marriage, my parents' anniversary sometimes gets put aside during birthday festivities. But the years of love and dedication to each other can never be put aside.

 Rene spending some time in the pool

 Drying off in the sun

 A group selfie attempt

 A Mom and Me selfie

 The wonderful couple

 The lovely birthday girl

A peacock who needed to be a part of the festivities

This greyhound was Delta bound

I found out the Palisade Lavender Festival was this weekend. Mom, Dad and I went last year when I lived in Montrose and it was a delightful time. I have been wanting to get to the Western Slope again, and thought this would be the perfect weekend. I texted some friends, who would be around to meet up here and there during my short time on the other slope. I decided it was time for Rene and I to see if we can spend more than an overnight together on a little trip.

Friday we left before 8am to get to Delta by 1pm and visit my previous co-workers at the Delta office. I was listening to a CD from 2005 with KBCO songs on it and as we were driving to Delta Marc Broussard's "Home" came on. "This Greyhound is Delta Bound.." Of course, he was alluding to New Orleans, but it was quite serendipitous fun.

We got to Delta and saw some really great people at the hospice. We spent about an hour there, and Rene tolerated everyone gushing over how beautiful she is pretty well. After an hour of catching up, I headed to Grand Junction to check into the dog friendly hotel I chose, not far from Palisade and a place I have stayed before so I know the creature comforts. Rene found her place comfortably on the couch in the hotel. My friend Beth who lives in GJ picked up some food to go and came to the hotel. She is getting married in August and so it was fun to hear how the plans are going. She and her beau are marrying in Denver, so I get to see her execute all the plans she told me about. Later, we got to see that beautiful Western sky from the windows before Beth had to get home to her sister coming to town. Rene and I woke up early this morning and walked Main Street, something early in the morning seems to be more pleasant with a cool breeze and window shopping than in the hot sun with all the people.

We went to the lavender festival around 9am and I wasn't prepared for all the attention my beautiful girl would get. We were approached from every direction, people wanting to pet her and find out more about greyhounds. I don't know why I thought we could slide under the radar, but look at that face! How could you not want to pet and kiss it?

My friend Jenny who works at the Grand Junction hospice office met us there. We kind of hurried through, as Rene was not really all that comfortable in the crowd. Well, let's just say she was downright miserable. People crowded her on all sides, and at one point she tried to jump up on a table. Thankfully, it wasn't full of expensive lavender goods, but it was the nonverbal communication I needed to get my girl to quieter ground.

Jenny and I found a little spot outside of the festival where we could talk. She is a hospice social worker and went to DU. She is one of those souls who is just unconditionally loving. I hurried our get together and felt like I was acting manic and she just calmly sat there and supported me. Can't you sense her calm nature in her sweet smile?

Rene was pretty much done with it all so we said goodbye to Jenny and headed East. We did stop at an adorable farm stand and got a view of the peach trees in bloom.

I planned for Rene and I to stay in Carbondale because I love the Roaring Fork Valley. We drove to Glenwood and then to Carbondale. We stopped along the way for potty breaks and "eating on the road."

Hotel check-in wasn't until 4pm so we drove around. We went to a park in El Jebel where I captured this relaxing video of the wind blowing through the wildflowers at the park.

We also drove over to Redstone, but I didn't stop for us to get out. Rene had been so overwhelmed during the day I just was happy to "be in" Redstone and feel the artsy fun vibe. I love so much about the Carbondale area, especially the rich landscape and the small houses with fun porches.

We stopped at another walking trail before we could check into the hotel. Rene was kind of over it. Come on Mom!

Now we are all checked into our hotel, and actually tucked away for the night. It was a long day, and Rene had pushed her comfort zones so many times today I am respecting her need to be her own introverted self for the night. But, Shhhh….I don't think this is proper hotel protocol (how will I explain one adult used both queen beds?) but for the moment, my girl is content.