May 2020

May in Denver

May has been a full and a delightful month for us here in Denver.  We have been able to get out more with each passing week.  Our concerns about the pandemic, at least for now, have lessened as we have learned more about it and how to stay safe--using a mask is a vital part of that and maintaining proper social distancing.  How many times have we left the apartment, only to have to turn around and go back to get our masks ?  Ours are lovingly handmade by our friend, Jennifer, so wearing them is a daily reminder of her and and her kindness and we thank her each time.

As many of you probably know, May can be a roller coaster ride weather wise here in Denver--we have seen days of near freezing weather and snow and days at or above 90--but for the most part it has been lovely with lots of sun, blue skies and nature returning to life.

Erin

As we noted in an earlier post, Erin was able to relocate to Denver on a temporary basis because of the COVID-19 situation in the Bahamas. 

Walking on preserved 9th Street Park
on the CU campus (homes from 1800’s)

Since her arrival, it has been a delight to see her on a frequent basis.   We try to visit once or twice a week, often walking in parks and public places, in the open air.

On a bench in Cheesman Park

Two of our favorite walks are on the now deserted CU-Denver campus and Cheesman Park--a wonderful large park near Erin's temporary abode.

These photos were taken earlier in May, when the weather was cooler and the trees were practically bare.

Mother's Day

On Mother's Day, Bryn, Joel and Charlie invited us to celebrate the day with them at their home near Golden. It was a beautiful, sunny and blue-sky spring day.

The Fam, less Joel

We had a wonderful brunch with crab cake eggs Benedict and Bloody Marys, thanks to Chef Joel and drinks master, Sue.

It was perhaps one of the best Mother's Days that we can recall. It has been a while since both our daughters have been able to share the day with us.

Mother's Day may be a "Hallmark" holiday, but it is still a great opportunity to enjoy being together.

Charlie under the elm

After our scrumptious meal and a hard fought corn hole contest in the back yard, we drove to a nearby public park for an open air walk.

Charlie found a giant tree (an elm I think) to admire.  iI certainly dwarfed him and the rest of us.  

One of the highlights of our walk was a paper boat race in a small spillway in the park.  Only one of our paper boats survived (Oma's), but we all had a fun time cheering on all of the entrants.

Charlie’s vessel 

We had made paper boats earlier--it was a new experience for Charlie, but he really enjoyed the activity, and it was fun sharing a memory from our childhood. Charlie made people for his boat, Erin had Duchess Kate in hers, Larry had some paper people and Sue drew a crew inside hers. Sadly, the paper people got caught on grasses and slowed the progress, so Sue had an advantage.  All the boats pretty much disintegrated towards the end.  Lots of fun, though !

The Flowers of May

As part of Denver's shelter in place policy, many places have been closed; one of our favorites and one that we often visit this time of year is the Denver Botanic Garden. We have missed walking there.

Fortunately, we have discovered a place nearby that provides an attractive and interesting alternative--the nearly deserted campus of the University of Colorado at Denver.

We walk and bike there almost everyday, and as May progressed the parade of blooms was almost non-stop.

We have shared our discovery with Charlie, Erin, Bryn, and Mart & Bob.

Charlie is sometimes willing to be official photographer.  

His pictures are often carefully framed and "edited." 

Notice the bee

His close-ups often reveal more detail and interest than the photos that some adults like us would normally take.

Also on campus is our community garden.  Just a couple of blocks from our condo building, the garden is easy for us to get to and tend. 

We first started planting in mid-April and already we have begun harvesting lettuce and mesclun, making for some wonderfully tasty Spring salads.

We have this for just this year

We are caring for two 8' X 4' raised beds--one that was assigned to our friend, Sue, whom we help and another that someone else has asked us to take over for this season.

Although the plots are small, they can accommodate a large variety of plants.  So far this year we have planted tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, lettuce, mesclun, peas, turnips, carrots, beets and Swiss chard to name some. 

Sue-2’s plot which we help with

Of course, it's early, so who knows what our harvests will be over the next weeks and months, but it is certainly fun and entertaining to plan, plant, water, weed, admire and EAT !

More Time With Charlie

Charlie on a break from Virtual School

Charlie, like most of the kids in America, has been attending school on-line these last few weeks--a new experience for all of us.

We and Erin have been trying to help Bryn with the process; since she is still working full time.  

It has not always been easy; it would be hard for any second grader to do the work on their own, so one of the adults always seems to be needed. 

Charlie is lucky as we all have access to the Internet and have the devices to perform the work.

Opa and Charlie out walking  

Many of you have probably had a similar experience, and now we all have a much higher appreciation for teachers.  

When all else fails, a "walk" thru the UC-Denver campus has provided an outlet for pent-up energy and boredom.

Falcons on a cross

A nesting pair of Peregrine falcons has been one of the things that we have been following--capturing them with an iPhone is not an easy task, but Charlie has been pretty successful. He has the patience necessary for the task.

The campus has also provided some additional challenges.  Charlie really liked leaping from one rock to another.

Some Final Thoughts

An ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 100,000 friends, family and neighbors; Depression-era unemployment, affecting the most vulnerable; uncertainty at home and abroad; hungry children and long lines at Food Banks; and now country wide protests following the murder of a Black man at the hands of the police--it's been a rough month.

We are incredibly fortunate; we are both in good health, a little creakier and a little slower, but we have the resources to weather these many crises. We hope that the same is true for all of you.

We have grave concerns about our country, though; we seem so divided and quite frankly, our president has not provided the leadership and empathy that is sorely needed.

Let us all strive to show more compassion and empathy; let us hope that we can hear and identify with those with whom we differ; and let's hope that our leaders find vision and compassion.

Stay safe and stay well.