Under a Red Roof

Rebound

September 5, 2026 in Learning, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

It’s the Duper-Dog!

Since we had so little winter, when we went for Juniper’s annual check-up, we added a flea and tick shot to her usual complement of vaccines. Unfortunately, and especially so for elderly dogs (we think she’s 12-13!), this particular one can cause kidney damage, sometimes even failure.

We realized this was likely the case when our normally bubbly and energetic pooch stopped spinning for her supper, struggled to get up the stairs, yelped in pain when we tried to cuddle, could not keep up on walks, couldn’t get in the car, and was sleeping nearly alllll the time.

It was a sad and frightening time for us, not knowing if she was going to make it, but she is on the rebound, and mostly entirely herself again after about a month of wondering. What a potent reminder that pets aren’t with us forever. HUGS…

Tags: Juniper Beulah

In December

January 26, 2026 in Learning, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

Welcome to high school hockey at Ed Robson arena at Colorado College. We went to support my cousin’s no longer little number 72. While the team didn’t win their games, our favorite player scored three goals, huzzah!

He and his Mom were in town for a tournament and stayed with us, during which time we learned: Number 72 has grown, both more adult and articulate, AND about seven inches taller since we last saw him, towering over me (zoiks!); our new pizza oven does okay indoors when making two pizzas, but four is akin to a three alarm fire, with all the cornmeal and a single pepperoni getting torched and smoking up the place. Still delicious, however!

Puzzle season began!

We also had some really weird weather in December. All across the state, the temperatures were in the sixties, sometimes seventies, the absolute warmest I can recall in my nearly forty years of life here, day after day. The heat hardly came on, and we were sporting early fall gear, like Greg’s short sleeve tee and jeans. It didn’t make us any less cuddly, however, just ask Juniper.

In January news, we’ve completely made up for it, with several storms, one with a lot of heavy snow, and a deep freeze of subzero overnight temperatures. We are just on the other side of it now, with a nice 41 degree afternoon as I type. Juniper is pleased as punch to finally get a walk!

Since our Dungeons and Dragons group dissolved, good grief, probably five years ago(!), we hadn’t done much playing, which made us a little sad. So, Greg dug through his original D&D gear (1980, I think?) and found an adventure for us. It was a new way of playing for me, drawing my own map, but I really liked it!

Muncha Muncha

October 28, 2025 in Eating, Exploring, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

I don’t suppose, after any sort of absence, that it is surprising that I would highlight food. Our daily “bread”, if you will. So here we are. Unlike the legions I assume are purchasing every manner of pumpkin spice product I spy on offer at the local grocery, because ’tis the season, my fall and winter tastes lie firmly in turkey and cranberry land, even more particularly, jellied. I can, to be quite crass, eat a shit-ton, joyfully, unapologetically.

This is a turkey meatloaf (I initially typed “meatlove,” and damn, the accuracy!) topped with a glorious, mushroom with a dash of sherry, gravy, to state the obvious. I was deeply saddened when I realized I had no jellied cranberry in the house (rectified forthwith!) but made due with a little tart apple jelly I made earlier. Heaven on a plate, my dear peeps.

Further evidence of our very high-low tastes, a little snack plate of favorites, including, the sharpest of cheddar, cheetos, and slices of american. We take our cheesy products any which way.

In the olden days, I would nearly hack my fingers to pieces in order to peel and dice a ridiculously hard winter squash, bits flying hither and thither, and generally making a mess. Until, one brilliant light bulb afternoon, I decided to put the whole thing in the oven at 400 and bake until tender. The downside to this, I suspect, is not having cute cubes drizzled in olive oil, but a nice puree with said oil or butter(!) is equally tasty. My fingers are happy and Greg, too, as there is no angry cursing involved, either. Plus, how beautiful to photograph!

A few highlights from earlier ambles about. How lucky we are to have such lovely views in walking distance.

Speaking of easy on the eyes, this is my desk immediately before posting. Actually clean and tidy! For a relatively small surface, it took nearly two hours to sort through the mess. Our life has been a little upside down, as of late, and I kept robotically moving piles of this and that, in helter skelter fashion, on and on and on, until the piles became their own chaotic entities, sliding about the desk. Madness. Fingers crossed I can keep it together for a bit.

Also, a quick note about Ducky, who has been one of my best loved toys for fifty years! How cute is he, keeping company at the keyboard.

Thirty-Four Years!

February 10, 2025 in Celebrating, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

Hello from a couple of nerdy introverts celebrating thirty-four years since our first date! We took full advantage of Superbowlers watching football, went out on the town in the mid-afternoon to little traffic and even fewer people in restaurants. Our view was nice and the food unremarkable, but it was so fun to ponder how this length of time is both magical and quite unreal. We occupy the same bodies, yet we are not the same people! In more ways than I can count, I thank goodness for this. How much more measured, mature, insightful, and strong we have become. How much more in love, in friendship, in goofiness, and laughter. Here’s to thirty-four more, which is not actually impossible (we’d be 87).

I baked a cake to celebrate and lit that candle for our own good favor!

The icing on the cake of our day was a literal float – note Greg’s look of surprise at his buoyancy! We spent an hour in what is probably most akin to a blissful day on the Dead Sea, minus any fear of sunburn, silently bobbing away our worries, aches, and pains. It was weird, as the volume of salt makes it feel a little slimy, and fun because you absolutely do NOT sink. I highly recommend it.

Musical Throne

December 1, 2024 in Listening, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

I haven’t done a playlist in long while, and one late evening while listening to music (of course), Greg and I got to go-go-going on our favorite artists and bands, and here we are. A relatively small Musical Throne of favorites from a pretty vast library. Alice in Chains to Willie Nelson. The best of the bestie best.

Click the song title to hear it! I hope you enjoy, and maybe even discover something new for yourself.

Alice in Chains: Our car stereo storage system is not so bueno and sometimes resets in the middle of a song. Until our recent purchase of Santana’s Abraxis, Alice in Chains was always the default starting point, and in particular, the song Again, which was never really a bad thing. Jerry’s guitar!

Head Creeps :: I Stay Away :: All Secrets Known

Andrew Bird: Once, in conversation with our most fabulous friend and financial advisor of twenty-four years (!!), we mentioned Andrew Bird. A bit shocked, he said, “That weirdo who whistles all the time?” The very one, Sean.

Fake Palindromes :: Plasticities :: Rising Water

The Black Angels: Back in the days when I was on Facebook, this Colorado born and Oregon living gal stumbled upon an “I Miss Texas” thread, and this band was the most compelling reason on the list.

Doves :: Young Men Dead :: Melanie’s Melody

Chris Cornell: The voice. The Voice. The Voice. Also, the spirit.

Birth Ritual :: Can’t Change Me :: Cochise

Dolly Parton: America’s Angel on Earth. Sings like one, too.

My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy :: I am Thinking Tonight of my Blue Eyes :: A Few Old Memories

The Doors: This band, if I had to wager, is imprinted on my DNA. Thank you, Daddy.

Queen of the Highway :: Take it As it Comes :: Strange Days

The Eagles: One of the most prominent bands of my childhood that I could never, ever quit.

I Can’t Tell You Why :: Peaceful Easy Feeling :: After the Thrill is Gone

Ella Fitzgerald: Simply the best. I love you, Ella.

They Can’t Take that Away From Me :: Misty :: Blue Skies

Fontaines D.C.: This band is one of the myriad I’ve discovered on independent radio. Thank goodness for it!

Televised Mind :: Jackie Down the Line :: Starburster

Frank Sinatra: With many thanks to my parents and grandparents for this one. The voice ain’t half bad, either.

One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) :: It Happened in Monterrey :: The Last Dance

Iron Maiden: Wholly on Greg’s favorite list, but late one evening on Channel 12 (fellow Gen X of the Denver metro, you know), Run to the Hills was the first video this junior high girl without MTV ever saw. I still like it.

The Prisoner :: Run to the Hills :: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

Jerry Cantrell: The Riff Lord is a polymath, y’all!

I Cut You In :: Psychotic Break :: Atone

Joy Division: I have no words for how much this band meant to me as a teen.

Transmission :: Autosuggestion :: Atmosphere

Led Zeppelin: The name really does say it all.

The Song Remains the Same :: What is and What Never Should Be :: That’s the Way

Mark Lanegan:: King of the understated stage presence.

Gospel Plow :: Song for the Dead :: Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division!!!)

Metallica: Greg, Greg, Greg! The first band he saw live and in person, and at Red Rocks. Pretty sweet.

Ride the Lightning :: For Whom the Bell Tolls :: Orion

Peter Gabriel: Another of my angsty teen finds that meant ever so much.

The Feeling Begins :: Humdrum :: That Voice Again

Pink Floyd: Peerless.

Us and Them :: Echoes :: Comfortably Numb

Ronnie James Dio: Greg, again, but I have no real objections, besides his name alone.

Man on the Silver Mountain :: I :: Rainbow in the Dark

Radiohead: They have such a diversity of sound, yet it always sound like R A D I O H E A D. Also, the only road trip we’ve taken to see a show – Portland to Seattle 2012.

Bulletproof…I wish I was… :: Subterranean Homesick Alien :: Separator

The Rolling Stones: Another band of childhood that I could not imagine my life without.

She’s a Rainbow :: Gimme Shelter :: Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?

Tommy Guerrero: Perfect for a sunny afternoon, well, any afternoon really. Plus, the skating!!

Directions of Possibilty :: Water in Your Hands :: Headin’ West

Van Halen: At a party once, chatting with my pal Eric, Van Halen came on the hi-fi, and, as you do if you’re a fan, know it from the first note. I squealed, “Van Halen!” and maybe did a little fist pump, and he’s like, “How did you know?” “We’re Gen X man, how did you not?”

Dance the Night Away :: Runnin’ with the Devil :: And the Cradle Will Rock

Willie Nelson: An American treasure, full stop.

Last Thing I Needed First Thing in the Morning :: Whiskey River :: Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to be Cowboys (p.s. – I love the Electric Horseman!)