Adventure-golf therapy

Since Monday, we have been doing a lot of scrambling, list-making, errand-running, paperwork-validating and,as expected at moments like these, stressing. I have to admit that my nerves are a little on the raw side right now. So last night, after a long day of testing our organizational skills, we gave ourselves a much needed break and headed up to Westminster for one of our favorite summer activities.

Mike thinks that Flynn will be disappointed that this is not actually the house that we live in. We have, I am sad to say, no turrets chéz Larkin.

That blue thing hanging over the hole swings in the wind, knocking your ball out of the way more often than not...one of the many clever obstacles that makes this adventure-golf course more fun than the average!

Awwwwwwwwww yeah! I sunk it.

In the end, Mike won by ONE point. I'm pretty competitive, but we play a very close game and you never know which one of us is going to win. I have a feeling mini-golf will be a different sort of game with Flynn in tow...for one thing it will take us a lot longer to make it around the course. But boy, is she going to enjoy the "Lost Continent", with it's headhuters, alligator pools and crashed biplane. Oh, and the volcano!

Cousins abroad

My cousin Poppy in England and her husband Andrew recently shared beautiful photos of their son, Alexander, who has just started walking!! How quickly it happens! Seems like just yesterday...well, you know how it goes! I couldn't resist posting a few...what a cutie he is. Look at that beautiful smile!

Poppy and son.

Andrew and son.

Approved!

We woke today to some surprising and wonderful news....LOA!!

The funny thing is, I am generally the earlier riser of the two of us (not surprising since M. often works until past 11 pm). Only twice in the past year has M. gotten up before me: once on the day we got our referral call for QiuQiu, and once on the day we got our LOA call! I don't know what that means, but there it is. I guess he felt "a great disturbance in the Force"!
So, the first words I heard this morning, in my dozing state, were, "I'm sorry, this is whom?....oh, CCAI! For a minute there I thought you were a telemarketer."
At which point, much like on the day of our referral, I shot bolt upright in bed, limbs quivering, heart pounding.
Actually, I think the reason I was sleeping in was that I was dreading my dentist's appointment, at which I was to have my very first filling in my entire life! (No, I did not enjoy it, let me tell you. Not one bit.)

After the dentist, with my mouth still numb and throbbing, we skeddadled down to the CCAI offices to sign our acceptance papers! Here we are, with shaky hands, checking the box that says "YES, we accept Chu QiuQiu!"

And here we are with sweet Sarah, my fellow dog-lover and the best person we could possibly have had to help us through the ins and outs of the Waiting Child Program. I am so grateful to Sarah for the wonderful way in which she handled the entirety of our process, the difficult moments and the delightful moments alike.

Papers signed, we went for barbecue sandwiches (hungry work, this!) and then to M's parents house to spread the good cheer! Here's the new dad and the new NaiNai, who both fortuitously (and coincidentally) happened to wear red today!
We have been told to expect to travel in four to seven weeks....aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! We spent the entire day running around in circles like chickens with our heads cut off, and accomplishing very little. I cannot even wrap my mind around how much we have to accomplish in the next few weeks. I haven't even ordered QiuQiu's crib yet! Not to mention the paperwork and footwork...The only saving grace is that M's semester at school starts next week, so he still has time to cancel the semester. This way, he'll start school again in the fall, and in the meantime I'll have some help during this scramble. Hopefully his work will be understanding about the time off for travel (since he has never even taken a sick day, and has tons of vacay time accumulated). And if we are able to travel in July, we'll miss the Olympics AND he'll be back in time to cover the Democratic National Convention in August (which, if you work at a news station, is pretty much essential!)
I can't believe how surreal it feels to have finally crossed this much-anticipated hurdle, and to be so close!
Wish us luck!!

Might I have a bit of earth?

I had to reference The Secret Garden in this post title, because it's such a wonderful book for anyone who has ever loved and been nourished by a garden. A book I grew up on.

Our second load of plants from Al's, the ones too big for the bike paniers!

Preparing the earth for my peonies.

New tomato plants, between the rose bushes.


My first peony.

Max, stopping to smell the roses.




Chocolate mint, one of the best smells in the world.

Thyme loves the climate and soil of Colorado.

Lucky Luciano, our lion guarding the house.

The end of a satisfying day of gardening.

Pelicans on the lake. Note the dog on the front of that speedboat!


Sunflowers outside Sunflower Market.

Twilight from our front door.

A Colorado sky.

M.'s smashed potatoes with basil...mmmmmmmmm!

The man knows how to put together a plate.

Thunderheads at sunset. This is the actual color - no photo filter was used!


My roses at sunset.


Home sweet home.

Friends with generous hearts

Seems like every day when I get home there is a new package on the steps...oh, not for me, for MISS FLYNN!! Her world is already filled with testaments to the generosity of those who welcome her into our world. And the wonderful thing is that each gift has been given with such careful thought...each perfect just for her. I am putting each and every note and card in her life book (well, I've tucked them into the album for future pasting, since that's one project that has been forcibly on the sidelines of late!)

Fliss sent her this wonderful singing book, which is very zen, and is also all about DUCKS! Yes, I am already preparing to teach Flynn all about the wonders of ducks. Before long, I have no doubt, she will be just as duck-crazy as her mum.
'
Hayley sent a wonderful package full of goodies in her inimitable style - Hayley, who has been my friend since very early in our adoption process, understands our lifestyle very well. Among her gifts were a full set of mini-masters board books (art being, of course, a primary influence in our family dynamic), and this absolutely fantastic version of Pippi Longstocking, as illustrated by Lauren Child (of Charlie and Lola fame). I absolutely love it, and it is the perfect book for our Flynn!

After perusing it heavily, I discovered that this is my absolutely favorite illustration from the book. I have a feeling that at some point we will have a very similar picture of Flynn in her pirate hat (which Hayley also provided, in an earlier package, I might add!)

Again, I just don't have the words to express how grateful I am to all of you who have sent such thoughtful and perfect gifts to Flynn. So, Hayley, Fliss, Heather, Yoli, Maryellen, Doris, Juliette, Chrissie, and everyone who has sent packages for Flynn, I owe you all "thank you" cards. I am waiting on a few very special sets of cards that I ordered recently from Bluebird Lane...so I'm a bit behind the ball, but you will be thanked!...and thanked, and thanked....OOXX

Tranquil days

We've entered that drowsy, tranquil zone of summer when we spend our leisure hours in riding or walking around the local lakes with the dogs, watching the ducklings hatch and grow, and then wheeling over to check out the goods at our neighborhood nurseries...planning our flower and vegetable beds for the summer.

A cove at the East end of Berkeley Lake where the ducks love to congregate in the shade.

This mama knows I can't get through the rushes to capture her babies.

This is our new favorite "hangout"...an amazing mom-n-pop nursery in our neighborhood called "Al's Pine Garden & Nursery". These are a vanishing breed of nurseries that seed all their own starters, know their species inside and out, and really care about teaching their customers. The array of flowers, vegetables, bushes and trees is truly spectacular, and the prices..I hardly dare tell you this, but the prices are much better than any of the lesser "plant mill" nurseries that you see so many of these days. Oh, and with each new variety, you get a little hand-typed and xeroxed sheet explaining how to prepare the soil, care for and harvest your plant.

M. trolling for his vegetable garden.

Just look at these heirloom tomato starters! How can you not love this??

I like that they have all their hardy, low-water xeriscape items clearly marked.

Here it is. All you locals...GO THERE NOW!! I'm telling you, you do not want to miss out on this place!

In this era of escalating fuel costs and a deteriorating environment, we are particularly happy to live in a neighborhood where we can get pretty much anything we need on our cruiser bikes, and take them home in paniers and bags. We bought heirloom and regularl tomatoes, another flat of strawberries, grape vines (already starting tiny grapelings!), three asparagus plants, as well as shasta dasies and nasturtiums, and (my treasure!) two foot-high pink peonies. I have been coveting peonies since we moved to Denver, and am finally fulfilling that particular dream! Can't wait to see them bloom!

View over the cornfield behind Al's. Yes, this is another facet of our beautiful neighborhood! You'd never guess we live in the city!