Anniversary Gift

If you read the blog occasionally you would know I am a bit of a sentimental sap.  I sucker for tradition: mine or some else's.  Well, here's this year's anniversary gift.

A hand knit hat for Jim...

Complete with a ponytail hole!

 

After a little research I found out that the traditional gift for 7 years is wool and copper.  Having just learned to knit earlier this year, I thought I would try my hand at making Jim a hat.  Besides, he's always complaining that his beanies "ride up" because his ponytail gets in the way.  He wonders out loud if they make beanies with holes like baseball cap to stick his hair through.  Now I am creative but not the best at deciphering patterns.  I tend to "just figure it out."  So after a few phone calls to my Granno, the family knitter, I was on my way knitting up a storm of knots and rows that hopefully would emerge as a wearable hat for my hubby.

 

I used wool from a friend's sheep.  I attached 2 "copper" pennies (everyone knows they're not really copper anymore) - one 2007 and one 2014 (year of our wedding and year of our anniversary).  I knit 7 stripes to represent our 7 years together.  I tried it on, too big - perfect (hopefully) because Jim's head is bigger than mine.  I compared it to another beanie that he wears that seems to be the best fitting in our house.  It all seemed good.  Then I wrapped it in a brown bag labeled "Open on 3 Oct." and stuffed it in the bottom of his suitcase.  See, Jim was at his cousin's wedding in the Outer Banks for our anniversary, but I wanted him to have it on that day anyway. 

 

He loves it and it fits well!

I wonder what the traditional gifts for 8 years will bring?

 

Then & Now

 

Our Honeymoon 2007

 

Our Anniversary 2014

 

 

Well, not much has changed by the looks of it.  Jim got fuzzier on the chin and I can still fit in my favorite pink running shorts.  Our lives have evolved together, becoming as intertwined as Jim's beard hair after a windstorm.  We know things we didn't back then, about the world and each other.  But still, here we are facing new challenges and the same old routines together and with a smile.

 

Cheers to the next 7 years!

Four Years Ago

Jim, 2 October 2007

This picture is one of my favorite picture of my husband.  It was taken the night before our wedding.  Jim was kneeling down in the headlights of the car trying to set up our tent in the dark.  I used my father's 1970's 35mm Minolta camera to capture him.  This may even be the last picture of him as a single man.  That was four years ago.  Tomorrow we celebrate our wedding anniversary, but since the world dictates work for the both of us we celebrated this weekend.

Four years doesn't seem like much, but it's a great start to forty more!!

I love you, Jim.

Flashbacks.....

Our 3rd Anniversary

I love that Jim and I got married in October. It is always such a beautiful time of the year here. To celebrate this year, we drove up to Silverton for a camping trip. Some people commented that it might be too cold for sleeping in a tent - I reminded them that it was our anniversary. (wink wink)
With our packs loaded up we set off up the mountain to the original site of our wedding. We didn't have far to go (see the plateau in the top right corner of the pic), so we brought a few extra luxuries. Big packs filled with indulgent foods, wine, tequila, comfy chairs... the list goes on.

Half way there with the encouragement of Doug and Aspen.
Note Aspen's pack: she carries the dog food and water.

Jim relaxing by the fire - Yes ... In Flip Flops!!

Sipping wine in the kitchen.

Happy Anniversary Baby!!

(see the snow flake to the right? - not a camera glitch)

Sunrise the next morning and SNOW!!

What a glorious way to start the day.

After coffee, pancakes with real maple syrup and bacon we packed up for the descent.
The snow had melted off by time we left and we were thankful not to have to desend in such slippery conditions.

Along the road on the drive out we found bear tracks. Mama and Baby. See how the Mama holds a straight line of travel while the Baby wanders back and forth?

We also had an AMAZING visitor in the morning. A certain something came to join us for breakfast but was kept at bay by the dogs. We are sure that if they had not been with us the visitor would have come right into our camp.

What was it you ask?

Well, stay tuned for the next post and find out...

Happy Anniversary!

Sign @ Wildcat Canyon Liquors in Durango

October brought a visit from Patty (my biological mother) and her husband Gary. They celebrated their 11th anniversary on October 1st. They came up to visit us for a 4 day weekend to celebrate their anniversary, our anniversary (2yrs Oct. 3rd) and Jim's birthday (date and age with held). While they were here we wandered the shops in downtown Durango and I played tour guide.

Northside of Red Mountain Pass

I took them on a scenic drive up to Silverton, over Red Mountain Pass and into Ouray. We stopped for lots of pictures, played tourist in the shops and sampled food in the local cafes. On the night of our anniversary, the four of us went to a fine dining restaurant for a delicious four course meal. Good food, good wine and great company made for a very enjoyable evening. This was a rare treat for Jim and I since we don't eat out often and when we do it's never that extravagant. (Unfortunately, we found out that evening that the restaurant would be closing within two weeks due to the current economy.) The last day of their visit was spent watching football and playing Scrabble. I fixed a pile of ribs, a skillet of baked beans, cornbread sticks and a pear upside down cake that night. We sent them off with left overs for the road the next morning. It was sad to see them go, for I'm not sure when Jim and I will get out to California to see them. It's always nice to have company and I enjoy playing tour guide.

Open invitation to any and all that would like to see the mountains... Just please call first, so we can be dressed.

The Grand Canyon - Now and Then

So, I am still new at this "blogging" stuff and apparently uploaded the pictures in the wrong order. I thought I could move them around but I can't... or at least can't figure out how. Being somewhat pressed for time they will stay in the order they are. All the pictures are from this year's anniversary trip with the exception of the last. Enjoy! A celebration beer and bagel at the bottom of the Grand Canyon for the birthday boy!!

The famous... huh-hem... infamous Ranger Matt. (Taken on our ascent out of the canyon.)

Love was everywhere!!! Even the prickly pear cactus was in the mood!

Sunrise from the trail on the North Rim. Yes, that's a cup 'o' tea in my hand. (gotta love the reflective gear... you know you gotta be careful with all those cars on the trail... hehe!)

Jim gearing up for the crossing of the Mighty Colorado River. Not for those who are scared of heights!! (Funny... the Colorado was named for it's RED waters, yet they appeared rather GREEN that day.)

Our Honeymoon 2007 - Starting the hike to the bottom at Bright Angel trail head on the South Rim