Bill and I are back in the Mile High City, and glad of it.

Our trip home went fine. As usual, we drove the first night to Albuquerque. We did make one change-up, in that we visited the Petrified National Forest. We have driven by it several thousand times, but decided to take an extra hour and drive back into it a bit. It was very pretty. The painted desert was gorgeous, and the petrified wood is astounding.

We then hit the road yesterday early, and made it to Denver by late afternoon. I always hold my breath as we turn the corner onto our street, hoping hoping hoping that the house will still be standing. Silly, because undoubtedly Allen would have thought to mention it to us if it had burned down.

Since I spoke yesterday about the things I will miss about Arizona, I want to tell you about a few things I am happy to be back to here in Denver.

Tap Water

The water in the Phoenix metro area is nasty, plain and simple. It is terrifically hard, full of minerals, and tastes absolutely awful. No one drinks unfiltered tap water in Phoenix. Bottled water, filtered water, or water freshened up via a reverse osmosis method is the norm. I think Denver has good tap water. It is heavenly to me to be able to turn on my faucet and get a glass of water. Now if I could just make myself drink eight of them a day…..

No scorpions

I have never seen a live scorpion. That is very good news. I don’t know why it is the case, but we have had not a single one in our house or our yard in Arizona. Nevertheless, I know they’re out there because our house is in the desert. So I never walk barefoot in my house or outside – never, ever. I never leave dirty clothes on the floor. And I always – every single time – shake out my shoes and slippers before putting them on my feet. Yay! I don’t have to do that in Denver. It will take some getting used to.

300 Days of Sunshine a Year

I was just recently reminded that Denver has 300 days of sunshine a year. I thrive on sunshine. I’m quite serious about that. My doctor has told me I visually change when the days get longer and I can enjoy warmer weather and more sunshine. So now I have the perfect world because Phoenix also enjoys sunshine most days – 296 days of it a year I recently read.

Springtime in the Rockies

We are seriously getting home just in time to enjoy the most beautiful time of the year in Colorado. In May, it isn’t unheard of to have some cold days, even days where the temperature dips below freezing. It only took one time of me planting my flowers early in May only to have a freeze for me to learn that YOU NEVER PLANT YOUR GARDEN BEFORE MOTHERS DAY. NEVER. EVER. Having said that, there are more nice days than cold in May, and it’s fun to see my perennials start pooking out of the ground. Yay. And the really nice part is that the nights are still chilly. Nice sleeping.

My Own Car

We have only one car in Arizona. There is actually a second car that currently isn’t running. We are determined to get it fixed, but one thing becomes the next and before you know it, we are ready to leave and still only have the one car in Arizona. We are seriously able to get by with one car about 90 percent of the time. Still, there are just a few times when I want to do one thing and Bill wants to do another. We made it work.

Here in Denver, I have a Volkswagen Bug. Collectively referred to by all of the grandchildren as “Nana’s Yellow Bug.” They love it, as do I, despite the fact that it only fits four people. Period. But it’s brightly colored so that when I come out of any store, I immediately spot it in the parking lot. It runs like a little top (except when it doesn’t) and I can climb in it anytime I want and go anywhere I want without having to make sure Bill doesn’t need the car. Of course, when I went to start it yesterday afternoon, it was dead as a doornail. More about that tomorrow.

And finally….

My Family

And just as my family was the thing I was going to miss most in Arizona, it is my family that is the best reason for my joy at being back in Denver. My sister Jen, my nephew BJ, all of our kids and a good portion of our grandkids – and most exciting of all – one more baby boy coming along ANY DAY NOW. Stay tuned.

After all, wouldn’t you be happy coming home to this…..

Dagny, Adelaide, and Alastair enjoying a sunny afternoon with an ice cream cone.

And this….

Kaiya and Mylee enjoying ice cream as well!

And this….

Maggie Faith with her Uncle Mike.