I have been walking more - early, before it gets hot. This morning (Tues) I walked for about 30 minutes - stopped at the Paradise Coffee Shop the other day, but they're closed on Tues. & Wed. - Maybe I'll skip tomorrow, walk thurs. and stop there again.  They have outside seating - very pleasant place to sit and drink my coffee.Went to Walsenburg, bought a new toilet seat at the Lumber yard, brought it home and installed it. 

K & T left this morning….Boo Hoo!  The time went too fast! They got here on Monday, July 23 around 5:00, and we went on up to the Dog Bar at Cuchara to eat, first thing.  Next morning, we decided we had plenty of time, so headed for the Denver area to visit Blackhawk and Central City.  http://www.blackhawkcolorado.com/   Very interesting and picturesque. Many casinos – a lot more than at Cripple Creek – plus old buildings and interesting sights.  We stayed two nights, (Tues., and Wed.) stopped at a Super Walmart in Colorado Springs to do a little shopping on the way back to La Veta. (Thurs.) Spent Fri. morning washing clothes, to Georges in Walsenburg for lunch, and to the Drawing Class in the afternoon.  Fri. eve, we ate at La Veta Loco – a relatively new café/bar which has excellent hamburgers.  Sat. was an all day class, with a two hour break, and there was a celebration going on in town – an anniversary celebration for Fort Francisco.  Lots of people milling around, so after eating lunch, we walked around for an hour or so, went thru the fort, looked at a couple of coffee shops I wanted to know more about, and checked out the S.P.A.C.e  art exhibits = Kathy Hill had several paintings on display there.  Went to Mass at Christ the King, then ate sandwiches.  Sunday moring early, K&T head for Taos to go rafting on the Rio Grande. I messed around all morning - (walked to the Catholic and back, stopped at Paradise Coffee) - then to the drawing class at 2:00. They didn’t get back till the class was over at 5 – took a wrong turn someplace.   One last meal at La Veta Loco, then to bed so could get up early and pack for the trip home.

Wow! I didn't think anyone would notice if I was gone for a couple of days - boy was I wrong - EVERYbody noticed! I guess some were even a little bit worried about me, and I was told about it after I got back. Funny - it's like a little town - the good and the bad! There are a lot of really nice people here though and they are all very nice to me.

Was really getting bored over the weekend, so decided to take a little road trip.  Thought I would leave Sun. morning, but realized there would be things going on Sun., (out to lunch at Sammies w/the group, then playing Pokeno)  so better to wait a day.  Mon. morning got up and around with the intention of leaving before anyone noticed, as I didn't want to explain where I was going. I left at 7:43 am, but 2 different people caught me as I was leaving and asked (indirectly) where I was going! I gave evasive answers to both! :) (Just ornery, I guess, but it's none of their business & I shouldn't have to explain!) Had a nice little outing - to Ft. Garland for breakfast, then on down to Taos and eventually to the Cities of Gold Casino/Hotel where got a room for Katy & Me. The gambling wasn't going very well, so didn't stay at the Casino very long.  Tried it again Tues. morn - still wasn't working, so headed on toward "home". People and cars everywhere in Taos - their PowWow going on.  Stopped in San Luis and walked around a little. That's an interesting old town - a church there that I would like to go into, but didn't - this time.  Tried to find out how to drive up to the chapel on top of the hill where the Stations of the Cross are, but didn't find it.  Got home around 3:30-4:00.

Called The American Furniture Warehouse in Pueblo this morning to see if the comfy lawn chair I had ordered by phone on monday was in and ready to be picked up - and it was! So - started making plans to drive to Pueblo. Was also wanting some "Frisket" to use in my watercolor projects, and when I started really looking, I discovered the Walmart Superstore is within a few blocks of the furniture store - Woopee!  Left here a little before noon, drove to Pueblo, found the furniture store and picked up the lawn chair, paid a visit to Walmart, found what I wanted there along with a few groceries, stopped for gas and was back home by a little after 5:00.  The American Furniture Warehouse is huge!! All shopping is done either in catalogs, ads or online and ordered. When you go to pick up your order, there are a bunch of guys with loaders running back and forth bringing merchandise up front to be loaded by the customers after they have paid at the desk.  I don't believe they do business anyplace but in Colorado according to their ads.  Several more RVs have arrived in the last couple of days - The park is almost full, and I am surrounded by Huge "Mansion"/RVs.  Some are so big they make mine look like a pup tent!

The Potluck/Covered Dish we had this evening was enjoyable - even had entertainment! One of the campers played his guitar and sang - had fun.  Don't remember if I told you about my neighbors, Viola and Doyle - both in their early 80's - have gotten pretty well acquainted with them. He was out here this morning talking and petting Katy and I asked him to help me level my camper a little bit better so the bathroom door wouldn't swing shut, which he was more than happy to do. About the time he finished, another guy, Harry (of Linda & Harry) came over with a lawn mower and said Linda told him to come mow my lawn - so he did! :)  Just that little strip - only took him about 5 minutes, but I am starting to feel like I owe these guys and need to find something I can do, like a good dessert I can make and give out, or something. Also found out Viola is a singer/piano player. After dinner tonight we tried out a few harmonys. Enjoyed that - I've missed my singing! We agreed we'd do it again.

Weekend - Went to Mass at the little church here in La Veta at 6:00 Sat. eve. Sunday played pokeeno with the gals over in the game room. Otherwise pretty quiet - I did paint - watercolor - some.

4th of July was quieter than I've ever seen! No fireworks AT ALL around here - any kind of fire is banned because it's so dry and the wildfire danger is very high.  Spent the the day reading, writing, and played Pokeno with the gals in the afternoon.

Drove down to Santa Fe on Sunday, where we checked out several stores, including a GIANT shoppping mall, spent the night at the "Cities of Gold Casino/Resort" and returned to La Vita on Monday.  T & E left early Tues. morn. to make the trip back to KS.