6 Months Out

Next week will mark six months that we’ve been out of L.A. and into the “wild”. Ha. Like this wild could ever compare with West Hollywood.

It’s starting to feel like I’m living a week in a day. I just looked at the calendar to see what I want to highlight here and I’m thinking, “Holy cow, that was only a month ago?” Last week feels like a month ago and last month feels like 3 months….you get the idea. I suppose that means Tim and I are filling our days with lots of productive and fun things and the by-product is I feel like I left home a year ago.

We’ve had several visitors here in the last 7 weeks - Marisa and David, Tim’s business partner, Diana. Of course, the big guests of honor were Mom and Casey. They were here for a week of fishing, sight-seeing, eating and lounging. Coffee on the deck every morning was extra nice with Casey’s chai lattes (I really need to get one of those milk foamer doodads). Mom braved the rain by the lake only because it wasn’t cold and it paid off when she caught a fish. I am loving visitors as we still haven’t met more than a few people in Durango – it’s nice to talk to people who actually know you well. And it was extra nice having family here. Brian doesn’t seem to want to visit but I’m hoping we can talk him into it or bribe him or something. ;)

I ended up with a couple out of town jobs in the last month and one of them left me with 16 hours of delay and an overnight stay in Denver. And WOAH am I giving you the short version. The outcome was a 2 ½ page letter to United Airlines which resulted in a $300 travel voucher. So, at some point I get to come have a beer with my L.A. peeps, courtesy of United’s apologies. I’m thinking spring, after I’ve recovered – or maybe to help recover – from the Valentine’s Day jewelry madness for which I intend to be well stocked and very busy.

In the meantime I’m busting my butt building inventory for the online holiday shopping season. I’ve been learning new things, trying new things, buying new things and really like the new stuff I’ve been making. I’m also trying some new free promotional ideas and it seems to be paying off some – my Etsy store is getting more views now at least. I’m expecting sales to pick up quite a bit in late October and peaking in late November. July was my worst month, August was my best month, September was my 2^nd worst month. Hahah! So far, October is looking good.

Business is rolling right along for Tim, too. He gets random odd jobs locally from a Craigslist posting he put up. The rest of the time he’s making some of the AMAZING new shippable pieces on his Etsy store, or more recently building tons of furniture for Marisa and David’s new place. Which leads me to that news…

Marisa and David are moving to Durango in two weeks and are getting married on our deck! I know, big deal. HAHA! These plans have been in the backs of minds for some time now, especially the wedding. Once things were set into motion they came together really fast! David got a job right away at the Animas Surgical Center and Marisa quickly followed with a nursing job at Mercy Hospital, right across the highway from us. They found a great townhouse they’re renting about 5 minutes from us and they’re staying with us while they start their new jobs here and wait for their townhouse to be ready. Needless to say there’s excitement all around. We’re trying to keep Mom Hassemer reigned in as the bride and groom want very much to keep things nice and simple. Marisa and David can’t wait to be in Durango and start a new life in a new place together. I’m excited that now I’ll actually know people here. And Tim hasn’t lived near anyone in his family in 13 years (aside from our recent 3 month jaunt in NM). Guess who volunteered to shoot the wedding. I know, I’m retired. For this one, for my honorary sister, I couldn’t help it. I can’t let someone else capture a day like that.

I calculated recently that on average I’m living 7 day, 60 hour work weeks. Somehow amongst that, Tim and I still manage to find time to enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee in the morning, go fishing at Haviland Lake, watch movies at night, go have a glass of wine in town, or just sit here and look around and marvel at where we’ve already come and where we’re headed. I feel like I should be sacrificing something in thanks but then I realize my sacrifice was 36 years in Los Angeles. HA!

This morning, when I did the ceremonious Opening of the Front Door there was that thin, veily layer of clouds that are so characteristic of October. The back yard is quickly shedding it’s green summer dress and putting on it’s golden brown fall sweater. Yesterday there were bright yellow leaves blowing through Main Street and though there are still some tourists here to see the colors, the visiting population is starting to visibly die off. The air smells like dry pine and crisp high altitude. Later this month we are celebrating our 5 year/13 year anniversary at Tim’s parent’s cabin in Chama for a few days. Makes me think of days in the not-so-far past when I couldn’t “get away” often enough. Definitely cleansed myself of that syndrome. We are enjoying life immensely. Come see.

Oh yeah, and I pierced my nose. Don't be mad Mom, it's a little star stud and it's adorable and you can hardly even see it and I waited 20 years to do it so there. :)

Love you, miss you.

We had TONS of hummingbirds this summer. TONS. Now it's about time to take the feeders down. Apparently hummingbirds migrate too.

The sunset in Mom's glasses.

Dinner! Yay!

Tim's got a whole bunch of these fairy doors on his store now. He thinks it's totally gay but since they've been so popular he'll keep making them. :)

Look at the beautiful shelving Tim put in our bedroom. AND MY BOOKS! MY WONDERFUL BOOKS! Finally set free after being in boxes for almost 2 years.

Gorgeous sunrise in Toronto where I was working the independent film festival. Took this just after my shift ended. Yup.

Crazy face x3.

Dee caught one too!

Hot springs off the highway just outside Durango on the way to Haviland Lake.

We had this amazing day at Haviland Lake last week. It rained a bit when we first got there and all the leaves were changing - when the sun came back out....it was just magic.

This totally does not do justice to the colors on the mountains right now.

It took a couple months but I did finally get some blooms on the wildflowers I planted. I'm already looking forward to next spring. My gardens are gonna be CRAZY.

"Flight of the Phoenix"

My romantic desk. Roses from the garden and everything. Say it with me: Awwwwwwww.