Colorado Springs

 

We went to Colorado Springs this past weekend and the family had a great time... except when sprinting 60 gates to make a connecting flight.   Above is a view from our hotel.

We went up Pike's Peak 13 of the 19 miles, as far as we could go, but it was snowing and the rangers closed off the top 5.  The mountain was covered in snow, and Thomas and Gregory had visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads: 

We also met a local fox named "Wilbur" that liked to beg for food at your car doors:

That wasn't the only close encounter with nature, mule deer were everywhere, outside of the church, roaming the suburbs, just about everywhere you turned there was a herd of about 50 deer that just sat and watched you from ten feet away.  They just were wandering the streets.You almost had to run away from the giant bucks (didn't see one with less than 6 points) in order to keep a safe distance:

 

Yes, I mean they were really close.  Thomas desperately wanted me to shoot one for lunch.  This deer was behind a fence at the zoo -- but he wasn't an exhibit. He jumped out moments later.

 

 

But our encounter with nature didn't stop there.  We went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  Although it was a bit cold, the boys enjoyed petting the giraffes (they had a herd of about 20!):

They came right up and wanted to steal Thomas's lolipop.  Never been that close to am 18' giraffe:

Gregory had a blast just walking around :

The next day, we went into the bowels of nature itself... into the Cave of the Winds, again, the boys had a blast, except Gregory didn't so much appreciate the restraints we imposed on his desire to go on an independent spelunking tour of the cave.

Due to the delay of our flight, we just barely made our connecting flight home on Tuesday, got home at 11:00 p.m., and then it was back to the real world, a return to the lingering skunk smell, and getting up at the crack of dawn to the Leesburg sunrise:

...  which, really isn't that bad.  As we departed, Thomas waved bye bye to the mountains, and said he was sad.  But, upon being home, the boys rediscovered their toys...  It is good to be back.  We had a great time, and it meant alot to be able to spend that time with the family.

Pepe Le Pew: R.I.P.

The Hanssen boys, father and sons, having simultaneously come down with fevers, colds, and miscellaneous other bodily ailments had all settled in for peaceful night of sleep, Becca put them all to bed.  And at 10:00 pm, just one more task remained, Becca would dutifully take the dogs on their evening walk.  

Entrez Pepe.  Ou vont les chiens?  The dogs?  The dogs are running as fast as they can with their noses to the ground.   The depressed skunk, apparently accepting that Penelope would never accept his advances, was sulking around mourning the loss of his raison d'etre and playing a reckless game of hide and seek with our dogs.   Twice before, he had managed to escape.  I had called the dogs back, once very narrowly.  But this time, the dogs were ready.  They bolted into the starless night as soon as they stepped into the paddock, noses to the ground, looking for blood. Notorious for bad eyesight, he probably never saw them coming.

When Becca finally caught up with them, she saw Springer crushing the skunk's neck.  The skunk managed to latch on to his face and Springer howled in protest -- even after Springer released his grasp and desperately tried to fling him off, the skunk held on for dear life.  He wasn't ready to go, but he had stepped to far into the field to go back now and Amber got in on the action.  But, Pepe's revenge filled the night squirting Becca, Springer, and Amber with a coating of putrid oil from his anal glands....

We all know the distinct odor of the breed scientifically known as Spilogale putorius, the stinking spotted weasel.  You pass it in the car, and you shake your head, glad to leave it behind as the miles go by , but you soon forget all about it.  But when you are actually engulfed in its raw presence, there is no leaving it behind, you are stuck.  With all of its concentrated gut wrenching power it clings to anything and everything, including your wife.  Becca came into the house, and it came with her like hell's fury, hitting our air ducts like a virus.

We have been working all day to get the smell out of the house, ourselves, and the dogs.  Three gallons of vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda later, we have achieved limited success.  My Jeep Grand Cherokee remains under quarantine for the foreseeable future after Becca took the dogs to the vet.  Our laundry room is still off limits.  But, luckily, the living area is ... well, livable.

The good news is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After vacating the area, we came back in the morning to confirm that he had died on the spot where he dropped.

The dogs after frigid baths must remain locked in our barn until Animal Control can check the skunk's brain for rabies.  We doubt it, we believe he has been stalking our chickens. 

The Baptism of Emma Jane Fig

 

September 27, 2009 @ 1:00 p.m., Lisa and Joe were proud to have their daughter baptized "Emma Jane" in their new parish, St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church, Virginia.  Joe's sister Jane was the godmother, and our brother Mark relished the role of godfather:

  Emma Jane couldn't have behaved better, I don't remember a single cry...

She was just happy as can be sleeping in her mother's arms... and her mother looked quite happy herself I might add:

 

Mark taking up his role:

   

Welcome to the Body of Christ Emma Jane!

Weekend at Home

  Well the exciting news here is that our hens have started laying their eggs in the nests I made for them -- we harvest at least 3 a day.  Thomas is excited, first thing in the morning we check out the nests, and first thing when I get home... a little ritual. 

 

This afternoon we took the boys exploring on their little john deere gator, all the cows were in the other field, so I removed the speed governor and they had a ball.   

 

Labor Day at the Bay

Thank you Nana and Papa for hosting the Hanssen family at the bay-house.  Mom came down on Sunday, and Greg and Laura came too.  Mark had to go on work to Austria and Lisa and Joe couldn't get down before the rain, but we'll get them next time.   We had a great time, and I got to try out our new camera...

 

                      We had beautiful weather on Sunday evening, an evening rain storm to make fishing that more exciting... Thomas seemed to enjoy fishing, not withstanding the rain, and he caught his first mackerel:

  He even caught a fish from start to finish all by himself from the dock.  I think he wanted to have the fish stuffed so he could take it to bed with him.  No sooner did he pull it out of the water, he said, "it's a baby one, let's catch his Mommy!"
Monday, the weather got colder, but by that time Greg and Thomas were wiped out and could have cared less:            


                I think Greg enjoyed being out on a river without a 50 cal., not to mention the improvement in the company:







   

THOMAS JACK'S SON

Just lead a boy to water and....

Into the Woods...

Thomas and Gregory love to go into the woods at Mum's house to see the deer.  Thomas wants to chase them or "shoot them" -- and no, I never even suggested it, he picked up from a game he saw at the local pizza joint.  In any case, just the mention of seeing deer gets him extremely excited, just like his dad.

Here is a cute picture.  Thomas really wanted to hold my hand walking in the woods. After awhile, I suggested that he hold Greg's hand.  Thomas and Gregory then walked hand in hand for about ten minutes. 

Yes, we saw deer.  We always see deer.

- Jack

Meet "Cookie" the Miniature Pony

Our friends are moving to Arkansas, and needed to find a home for their miniature pony.  We thought we would just go over and check it out... well, Thomas and Gregory flipped over him, a "Thomas sized horse."  So, here they are, on our farm. 

Memorial Day Weekend

We went out to Patuxent River Naval Air Base, looked at some of the air show, but then went to Papa's to board his boat and watch the Blue Angels from the end of the runway.   It was awesome, if a little loud.  Thomas was glad we had ear plugs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!

   We love you Mom!  Even though Dad is the only one that lets us ride the Gator barefoot and in our skivvies.  ... and Happy Mother's Day to Mum-Mum and Nana too! 

Happy Birthday Thomas!

I know we are late posting this on the blog, but yes, as of April, Thomas is 3 Years old!  

Happy Easter!

 

While the Wife's away, the boy's will play

 

Becca is off gallivanting in Florida with her sister Abby, so we had a man's weekend: planes, trains, and automobiles.   After dropping the trash off we headed to Brunswick, as per usual, to chase the coal trains.  From there, we drove to picked up Uncle Jim and Damien for a trip to the Udvar Hazy Aerospace museum where we saw the SR-71 Blackbird, Enola Gay, spaceships, and other things that fly.  As luck would have it, we didn't have to stop there.  Uncle George Volsky of Seattle, stopped by at the Leesburg Airport to show off his rather nifty airplane, then took off on his way to N.C. to see his dad (truth be told, it is his client's plane, but the plane garnered alot of attention at the airport, so why dissilusion them?    Then Papa tried to make off with the plane... "Hey, Papa, don't you think you should close the canopy first?" I don't know, but I never thought of a helicopter "taxiing" on a runway, but that is just what we saw one do... just like an airplane, hard right turns down an aisle of planes to the helopad, except it was about 8 feet off the ground. Then Uncle George took off, Bye Bye Uncle George, see you in June!!! 

- Jack

The Baltimore Aquarium

This past weekend, we decided to take Thomas and Gregory to the Baltimore Aquarium to stay out of the cold weather outside.  I had to convince Thomas that there was glass between us and the sharks, so they couldn't get us.

He eventually touched the glass... but, he wasn't so sure.  After the sharks, we got to see the dolphin show.  Both our boys were in awe, as were we.  Ask Thomas what the dolphins did to us:

They Splashed us!

Remembering Sabrina

Mark recently sent me this picture he took of our neighbor's horse in our pasture awhile ago.  Sabrina was put down this winter, but this autumnal picture of her is beautiful:

  - Jack