mirror mirror on the wall...

who's the craziest of all?

him?  for loading huge harley cycle in the back of teeny tiny pickup, or...

me? for over loading teeny tiny pickup with junk and driving 18 hrs with it from az to co 

long story short... when we left az last year with our caravan, there wasn't enough room for all the 'treasures' i had found, some had to wait to be toted until this winter's trip.   in the meantime, a new game plan suddenly came together when new cycle was purchased in az.  somehow it took priority over my junk.  so i was given 2 options.  a.  make a whirlwind 2 day trip back to co with it, or...b.   it was all going to the dump.  i already had plans for the antique drafting table (turned upside down on top).  it is going to function as kitchen island in area we're renovating for dwelling behind our store.  so like a good marine...i leave no one behind!  it really wasn't much of a decision, just load it up and off i go. 

2 hrs into the trip at 4 am somewhere in NM, the van starts overheating.  i cripped along 60 miles to find a station open at that time of dark thirty and looked in the radiator and coolant tank...empty.  took almost a gallon of coolant to fill them.  but the indicator never pegged out in red, just fluctuated back and forth, so thankfully no damage was done to the engine.  that's why the 18 hr drive going.  coming back, i was literally able to fly and made it in 14 hrs, pulling into driveway just as sun was sinking over the tucson mountains. 

so...you decide, who's the real crazy...maybe both?

ready to roll...

hubby on sweet ride.  after months of anticipating a new harley, his dreams have finally come true.  it didn't take long to find just the right one.  now he's started trying to coax me into the back seat with promises of how comfortable it is, but hasn't been successful yet...maybe tomorrow.  i really prefer a little more metal around me, but will have to 'get on board' pretty soon.  but i draw the line with the gear...no leather! 

a beautiful sight...

this picture was emailed to me from our realtor, donna brazill.  it's scenes like this that make me fall in love all over again with my surroundings.    they look so serene, not a care in the world...except, i suppose they are cold.  as of tomorrow we'll be headed out of cold country to sunny arizona for a much needed vacation.  it's not that we're running away from the cold, we don't mind it at all.  it's more like we're running away from all the work we've created for ourselves ever since arriving in victor almost 2 years ago.  but looking back, we can see the fruits of our labor...and it's all good!

countdown...

original brick exposed...check.  freight door stripped...check.  floor sanded and painted red...check.  i hope to be sitting at my desk by monday.  after months of doing business out of plastic tubs and on our kitchen island, the anticipation of having a real office again is making me more anxious than ever!

as with every thing victor remodel related, this project ended up taking longer than planned.  but we threw in a few extra things such as stairs to the basement where access was a ladder before; installing french doors in the back where only a 2' plywood door was previously; and retro fitting old doors and bead board to use as wall paneling.  so all in all, i'd say 4 weeks wasn't too bad.

and i almost forgot...there was a little delay once terry had easy access to the basement.  he had to do a little digging around in search of gold!

family time...

3 of my 4 grandkids...ready to hit the slopes at keystone, co.  ski lessons are first thing on the agenda, then a day of skiing and tubing.  this is the best Christmas present i could ever ask for...family together!   i didn't enjoy lugging boots and skis around 20 years ago, so i spent my days enjoying quiet time, hot cocoa and cooking for the crew.  also had some time to slip away for great outlet shopping.

picture perfect...

this photo looks like it could've been taken at the turn of the century...that's 1900, not 2000.  although in 1900 there would've been very little ground showing.  victor boasted a population of around 15,000.  hard to believe now with a population of around 500.  so many of the old buildings and houses are gone.  after the mining boom peaked and ebbed, many structures were abandoned and ravaged by years of neglect.  thankfully enough still remain intact to give a good representation of what the little mining town looked like back in the day.

i'm marking the days off on my calendar until we close on the olympia hotel.  i'm torn between wanting to stay to get started on it and going to arizona for 6 weeks to rest and soak up some sun.  but with the hectic schedule of 2011, my head tells me to go for the relaxation.  i'll be ready to tackle the project with renewed vim and vigor!

an original piece is coming home...

after receiving an ebay gift certificate for Christmas, i began looking for vintage victor colorado items.  to my surprise and delight i found this old c & h sugar barrel stamped victor colorado.  as i looked at it closer, i couldn't believe my eyes!  also stamped on it was purity steam bakery...one of the earliest businesses that operated in our building, now home to marigold mercantile.

i was nervous all day, waiting for the auction to end and hoping against hope i wouldn't be outbid.  so with my strategy planned (and credit line ready to tap if necessary) i was determined it would return to it's original place of use.  joy oh joy...it is coming home!  i am a strong advocate that artifacts from the district should stay in the district.   let's just say it will be over my dead body that it leaves victor again!   and should the dead body scenario happen sooner than later...let it be known to all that this piece is to go to the lowell thomas museum.  so let it be written, so let it be done!

chipping away...

work is progressng on the office space in back of building.  although the process of chipping off plaster is slow, exposing the original brick wall underneath is turning out just like we were hoping for.  the evidence of a fire in years past is still evident on the cargo door that leads to storage area.  it will remain intact in an effort to keep the building as original as possible.  i can barely wait to have a real office again.  after packing up all our files into tubs when leaving IN and working off  my kitchen counter for the last 6 months, it's more than likely the barn red paint that's going on the floor won't be dry before i'm dragging my desk and file cabinets in!

anxiously awaiting...

just 2 more weeks and we'll be closng on the olympia hotel and old plumbing shop next to it.  the olympia is one of the oldest, longest running hotels in co.  it has been shut down for several years, but our hopes are to have it up and running by gold rush days this coming july.  i immediately fell in love with it because it hasn't been 'updated'.  all the original woodwork, transoms, flooring, etc are intact.  it needs a good cleaning and painting and then the fun can begin.  oh, i guess i should mention it needs a new roof, new windows, brickwork repair, plumbing repair, electrical repair...minor details as i look through my rose colored glasses that i always wear when considering an historical property...i really should get those fixed!

saying goodbye...

it is with great sadness that we say goodbye to terry's mom, carmelita rose akins.  after passing from injuries sustained in a fall 2 days ago, we want to honor her life by posting pictures of some of the happy times we've had together in recent years.  here she is, enjoying the arizona winter with us in tucson a couple years ago.  her specialty was mouth watering pies and with an abundance of fresh fruit available, there were pies on the table almost every evening for dessert.

she loved her family dearly.  here she is with great grandson, tristin.  she always had time for cuddling, squeezing and smooches.

and who else but a loving great gramma would endure the 'help' of little fingers?

terry always said she gave him the best hair cuts ever...her barber chair was always open...anywhere!

the sonoran desert museum was a favorite place to visit.  she really enjoyed the beauty of the desert and excaping the snow and cold temps of a missouri winter

great gramma rose has room on her lap for a tired little girl and grandpa terry still has energy to push everyone.

she was a devoted Christ follower and we are confident she is rejoicing in the presence of her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  She used her God given gift of hospitality to the fullest, and we thank God for her faithful witness to her family and friends throughout her life.