Too Long- a long post!

Its been way too long since I have blogged. We have had people over to visit from the UK and have had a big project we are working on.

Firstly, I haven't really known what to blog. The longer I live in the US the less I notice the differences, the odd things become normal and the British get odder and odder!

Over a year here and I can honestly say it is feeling like home. We have some great friendships, a beautiful home and the most amazing climate. To have sunshine day after day, really does lift you. Living in the UK you don't realise how wearing the rain can get at times (although I hear the UK did eventually get some sunshine). I haven't worn trousers really since I got back from my 'summer' UK holiday and to wake up every morning to sunshine streaming through the window is quite special.

The dogs are all great, they love life here. Hiking in the mountains, free run of the house and garden and lots of attention from all of us. Boo still manages some great mountain hikes on the cooler days and with fall approaching, as does the best hiking season in Colorado. Autumn is beautiful here, the Aspens turn gold and the weather is a little less scorching. I cant wait to get out with the camera for some fall hikes.

Having our friends Katie and Tom to stay was just incredible. They are the nicest couple and happily came along to lots of crazy ideas. We went on a tough and long hike at Gennesse Park, Western Riding in the Mountains,  Golf in Evergreen, White Water Rafting at Browns Canyon in freezing water, Off Road Driving in Rainbow Falls, Burger Meals, Steak Meals and so on. We had a great time, we hiked, ate, fell, laughed, ached like hell and really enjoyed Colorado. I hope they come back again one day.

We also began the refurbishment of our back yard. It was a mishmash of poorly laid flagstone/ grass and concrete and wasn't much of a useable space. We started by having the old concrete and some flagstone ripped out and a huge new concrete deck laid. Upon the deck we have begun tiling with Travertine and have installed a brilliant hot tub and brick fire pit with brick bench. From design to end it will be all our work (bar the concrete laying) but its been hugely physically demanding, we have hauled tons and tons of brick, flagstone and tile between the two of us (with some help from the Durnfords when they were here too). Its taken up a lot of weekends so far and there are still more to come, but when its done it will give us a wonderful outdoor space to use and relax in... just in time for the snow ha ha!

Anyway, I am signing off now to go and do some MORE work on the patio. Love to you all!!! xxxx

Yeah Baby!

The Rock that Tom Durnford jumped off at Browns!

The Mishmash Patio