May and June news from Greg and Amy

Hello loved ones!

Amy and I were planning on posting a blog after we got back from France/Spain....but June (and now July) have been so busy.....and time just got away from us. Sooo......here's a quick update from our household.

We spent about 10 days in southern France in late May (starting in Aix en Provence and ending in Perpignan). We had a car and we wound our way through southern France enjoying the beautiful country-side and its many old castles, ruins, and small villages along with some canoeing, hiking, exploring village markets, and eating lots of GREAT food!!!!

Amy standing in front of the Abbaye de Fontfroide
One of the many outdoor markets in Provence
Canoeing the Sorgue river near L'isle sur la Sorgue
Bullfighting "french style" in the arena at Nimes


Just clearing the fence ahead of the bull !!!

On the 10th day of our trip we caught a train at the French/Spanish border to Barcelona where we met up with Amy's sister and husband (Barbara and Lance). We spent our first three days in Spain enjoying the sights of Barcelona (architecture, art, culture, and GREAT food).... then rented a car and drove north about 60 miles where we had a house rented in the small coastal town of San Feliu de Guixois. Once at the house, we spent each day taking excursions to nearby villages, museums, castles, ruins, and the seashore. We especially enjoyed the architecture of Barcelona and the art work of Salvador Dali including touring his house in Cadaques (one of our favorite spots we visited).

The first of many tappas meals in Barcelona with Barbara and Lance !

Visiting the unique buildings designed by Gaudi !

Enjoying the beautiful Spanish city of Girona
and the Spanish coast north of Barcelona

Amy and Barbara standing by the Ava Gardner statue in Tossa de Mar

The old cannon guarding the fort at Tossa de Mar

When we got home June 8th.....we faced about a week of weeding (all that rain in May).....plus getting all Amy's patio flower pots planted and trying to get our garden in shape for the summer. The end result was about two weeks of sweat and sour backs...but...it was worth it.

During the middle of this work we managed to sneak off to Salida for three days for the annual FibArk Festival (lots of music combined with all kinds of kayak-canoe-and rafting competition on the Arkansas River). The best part of this trip was that Julie and Joe found time to come down and join us for a couple of days of fun.

Watching the races along the Arkansas

Racers "hitting the hole."

Julie and Joe catching some local music at the coffee house. When you see Joe, ask him about the all female Led Zepplin band in the park....pretty cool!!!

Over the 4th of July weekend..........we had a few scary moments as my mom was hospitalized for three days with chest pains and shortness of breath. There is a long version and short version of this story. The short version is that my mom is home now....everything is OK. ....and the doctors tell her she can do/eat whatever she wants with no restrictions!

Well, that's all (and enough) for now from the Colorado Front Range version of Lake Wobegone (locally referred to as........... Parker, Colorado).

Love to everyone in our families!

Greg and Amy