A Beautiful Day at Estes Park, Colorado



Highway 72 on the way to Estes Park, Colorado
May 29, 2011
(Linda Meikle photo)

I've posted photos and the travelogue story of our Sunday, Memorial Day, trip to the Colorado Mountains and Estes Park over at my geocaching blog. Please click over there and enjoy the day with us. http://geocachingindenver.blogspot.com/


Or, click HERE

Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life,
~Linda

Found A Home - Looking For a RN Job!

I can tell you now that we've finished closing on the house, and some of you already know, but my followers here on the blog, perhaps, haven't heard yet...

I was laid off from my nursing job along with about a dozen other nurses and CNA's here in Denver.  My last day was May 6, and you wouldn't believe how hard it is to get a response from resumes posted and phone calls made!!!

The facility I was working for lost a big contract and closed one wing of its 120-bed skilled and long-term care.  Some employees who have been there for more than five years were also given a 30-day notice.  It was a very sad and frustrating last month there for everyone.

Right now, NEITHER of us have a paying job.  Being without work is something that has never happened in my lifetime!  I've normally carried several jobs at one time, as my children will attest.

I'm putting out leads every day, and expect this experience to be short-lived and serve to make me stronger.  At least I'm learning how to be even more frugal in every area of living!

In the meantime, our home is looking more pleasingly complete every day. Yesterday we put up about 30 pictures on the walls. Some that had been in storage for years!  I'm happy to see the family smiling from the walls all around me. Our bedroom is mostly for our kids and our wedding photos. The living room is laid out with 20x30's of nature pictures I've taken over the years. The study has Jim's old but treasured Ansel Adams large framed posters along with some favorites of mine.


A work-in-progress in the study.



Seasonal angels watch over the dining room.

 Our walk-in closet is shared, but my side includes a small, personal, "angel wall".
I'm still working on the bathrooms.



Personal Space in the walk-in.

 I wish hubby Jim had some strong backs to help him unload the garage of boxes to the basement. But, he's doing that slowly and carefully. It will take a few more days for that task. Neither of us want a unsightly 'neighbor-view' of all our overflow personal belongings! (Although every garage we see with the doors open are filled with household items instead of cars!)

For window coverings, we're using what we have on hand, and hope people don't laugh. Actually, the windows look rather happy with a touch of JC Penney, Wal-Mart, and Linda's special home-made variety of privacy decorations.  We're rather proud of how we've decorated the home and stayed within a budget of $0.  (Well, except for one major trip to Wal-Mart.)

The cats have found all the warm-fuzzy areas. They had to adjust to no carpets on the floor and more spaces to explore. We just wish they wouldn't do the noisy, knock-down, high-jumping, explorations at 3 a.m.! 



Little Paws as high up as he can get!



Sir Ceasar just wants to be close to people he loves!



Stay close to those you love, And, Take Care on the Journey,
~Linda


Linda's E-mail: bestnurse@usa.com

Moving - One Trash Bag At A Time, and A Very Sick Lady!

...And, Uggg, you would not like what you see!!!



We're using trash bags for several great reasons.
They are reusable
They're "space effective".
You can get more into the car or truck.
They're easier for me to carry
I get trash bags almost free with coupons
Since we're emptying the bags at our new home as we arrive,
we don't have to label them.



This is the most horrible part of moving!



 But, the snow is gone,

and the flower bed is pretty already!

 See the orange butterfly I 'planted' next to the rock?

It's not massive, but we used the opportunity to meet and greet our neighbors
on Mother's Day Sunday as we cleaned the bed and planted these. (Yes, hubby did the hard part.)
First, the kids on the block came up on their bikes and told us ALL about themselves and their siblings, and their parents, and a few things I'm sure they shouldn't have.  :)
Then, the parents wandered over where we were sitting on the ground (we got up, of course) and introduced themselves. We even made a deal with a neighbor boy to mow our tiny, little, yard for $5.

Sadly, the wonderful woman who sold us the house (also Linda) is in the hospital ICU in serious condition after a seven-hour surgery. I went to see her yesterday, but she was still barely conscious.  She did nod her head that she knew who I was. She does need our prayers.

When we arrived on Sunday to plant the flowers, I found her in the kitchen doubled over in pain. I asked her movers to take her to the ER right then.

We've become great friends in the few days we've known each other. She read my book and passed it on to her friends. She calls me her "twin" because we are so much alike. (Mentally & Spiritually) Even our signatures (left-handed) are very similar.  At closing, they asked if we knew each other before buying the house.  After the closing, we all went to lunch and would have sat and chatted all afternoon, but we all had lots to do!

When I got to the hospital yesterday, two women were sitting with her. They jumped up to welcome me as soon as I said my name was Linda. They knew all about me, and thought it was a miracle that I found them.  They said they had been trying to get in touch me and had even looked through Linda's cell numbers to reach me. (They didn't know my last name.)

I'll be going back to check on Linda today. She has a very long recovery ahead. Her plans to move to New Mexico are on hold even though her rental car is sitting at a friend's house all packed to leave. The Pod with all her belongings still sits in our driveway. She hadn't even finished cutting off some utilities to the house, so it might be interesting how that works out.

At least the official signing and closing was completed only hours before she was rushed to the ER.

Take Care on the Journey
And, be ready any moment!
Your friend in life,
~Linda

Linda's E-mail: bestnurse@usa.com

The Kodak Moment During Closing



Keys to our NEW HOME!!!
(James Meikle photo)

Take Care on the Journey
Your friend in life,
~Linda

Linda's E-mail: bestnurse@usa.com

Closing On Our New Home Tomorrow

A bright day ahead with everything moving forward as planned for our new home!!  We do a final walk through at 10 a.m. and the official signing at 11 a.m. Friday, May 6, 2011.

I'm wondering if I should take flowers or GET flowers.  ha ha

What a beautiful Mother's Day gift to us!  We should be able to start moving in on Monday, May 9th.

Not sure how the 'move' is going to go because it's only three miles down the road, and we 'plan' to load things without officially packing.  Ummmm. Wonder how THAT will go. 

John will be here on the 24th to help with the big stuff.  With my bad back, everything is big stuff to me.  LOL

So, we'll keep you posted, but wanted to update before the weekend.  (See photos below. Taken while doing our first visit of the house.  Not our stuff...)

Happy Mother's Day to all women everywhere. We're all mothers!!!

Take Care on the Journey
Your friend in life,



A Small Part of the Living Room/Dining Room
Looking out from the Kitchen area




A Very Small Part of the Kitchen Pantry




A Very Small Part of the Walk-in Closet

 ~Linda

Linda's E-mail: bestnurse@usa.com

A 'Be Strong Linda" Day

We each have those days when we know it's going to be tough
To smile and be positive. 

I can't post the details right now, but just so you know,
I'm having that kind of day.

I'm working on the, 'keep looking up' part...

A message from the furry children...



Take Care on the Journey,
Your friend in life,
~Linda

Linda's E-mail: bestnurse@usa.com