Fall Colors in Portland, OR

Checkout the fall colors in Portland OR -
http://picasaweb.google.com/craig.henry/FallColors#slideshow/5262445229318567762

My visit with Matthew

The day after I arrived, we went shopping at IKEA. Craig wanted to pick up a few things and I had my heart on getting a few more jars for my homemade hot cocoa mix.

This picture was taken after we entered into IKEA. Matthew was asleep in the Mobi on Craig's chest. His poor neck is twisted in this picture.

Matthew you getting his evening feeding and wide awake.

Below... Matthew hanging out with dad in the office, having the hick-ups.

The Ride - new music in Colorado

Larry and I attended small group training at Grace Church over last weekend, and were introduced to a new local band, The Ride. They have a creative funk sound and their guitar work is incredible.

Friday night they performed acoustically with only microphones for vocals.

Drive to Grand Junction, CO - and fall colors

Click the title (a link) to our web album through Picassa to see our photos.

The aspens were at their best on the drive through the mountain passes and I couldn't resist being the shutterbug that I am.
I also took pictures along I-70 going through Glenwood Springs Canyon, and Greys and Torey's (both fourteeners).
~Rebecca

Royal Arch Hike - Labor Day

While we were waiting for our friends to arrive, Larry and I walked around Chataqua Park and stumbled across this adorable black lab puppy tied to a tree waiting for his owners. Rebecca enjoyed playing with him and receiving his kisses. When we arrived, he had a blade of grass in his mouth. Check out his paws, he'll be a big dog someday.

On Labor Day we hiked with friends, Tim and Seema, to Royal Arch in Chataqua Park, Boulder. It's a smaller hike, 3+ miles rounds trip, but the elevation gain is intense. You begin at the base of the Flatirons in Chataqua Park, and continue on the Blue Belle trail until you connect with the Royal Arch trailhead. That's where the serious elevation gain begins, almost a stairmaster climb for 40 minutes. Straight up!

Aunt Becca & Uncle Larry to baby Matthew Clark Henry

Well, we got the call at noon today that we're aunt and uncle now... Craig and Kristin have a healthy baby boy - Matthew Clark Henry. He weighed in at 7 pounds 5 ounces. Kristin had a somewhat short natural labor, and was up walking around by the afternoon and eager to return home.

Aunt Becca will be able to visit her nephew in October and can't wait to meet him!

Celebrating September Birthdays - girls day!

My dear friend Sherrie and I decided to spend the day together to celebrate our birthdays this year. We began the day with coffee to go as we drove up Left hand canyon to Ward, CO and then picked up the Peak to Peak Highway t get to Brainard Lake State Park. We decided to go somewhat near to town instead of Summit County; where we knew the crowds would be for the holiday weekend.

We chose the hike that starts at Mitchell Lake parking lot. We passed Mitchell Lake on the first mile of trail, and then ascended to Blue Lake at 11,600 ft. It was a perfect Colorado day - sunny, close to 90 degrees, and not a cloud in the sky. It was quite cool at our destination due to the elevation and wind, but what a place to have lunch.

We mt several dogs on the trail, but our favorites were two Golden Retriever brothers, a Whippet puppy, and a Veishla. All were friendly and eager to sniff you. There was one family as we neared the end of the trail that had a complaining teenager wit the. They jokingly asked us if we would take their daughter. I had to laugh, cause I used to complain as a child. I told her the view was spectacular and to enjoy the time with her family. Just suck it up and have fun!

We both came home and rested before continuing girls day with dinner. We tried a wonderful restaurant in the posh, and popular Highland District of Denver. We ate outside on the small patio at Bang. Which was odd, cause the kitchen was exposed in the front of the building so passer bys could watch what was cooking, and the restaurant was in the back of the old house, including patio. Sherrie and I split a spinach salad with bacon, hard boiled egg, and buttermilk dressing. And also had a homemade fried mozzerella served on arugala and served with hot pepper jelly for an appetizer. Both were Yummy!
I decide to have the Grilled salmon for my entree, and it was out of this world delicious! So, the entree arrives with a wasabe cream suce on the bottom of the plate, with jasmine rice topped with the grilled salmon and cucumber salad as the garnish atop the salmon. Perfect with a Frech glass of Sauvignon Blanc!
Sherrie decide to have the penne pasta dish, and clearly noticed that she chose incorrectly- longing for the salmon dish.

We ended our day by touring the neighborhood nd capping the evening with a glass of wine at a wine bar called TASTES. It was small and uncrowded when we arrived. I decided to have a late harvet white wine and Sherrie had champagne. Again, she wished she had ordered the Late Harest. Though we did find out that they serve Naspresso - which Sherrie fell in loe with on her trip to Switzerland to visit her sister this past spring.

It was a perfect evening too! Not too cold nor too warm. We even stopped at the local ballroom dance studio to checkout the open dance. One of these days, I hope Larry and I can get back into dancing. We decided to have a hiatus this summer due to his teching schedule.

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 4

Click on the title to view the Top 4 dancers - dancing to a string quartet of Hallelujah

So You Think You Can Dance - Jashua and Twitch

Click on the title to see the video of Joshua and Twitch dancing the Russian's Dance of the Nutcracker. I love this series and hope that Katie and/or Joshua wins.
~Rebecca

21 day of over 90 degree temperatures - no air either

Well, we're experiencing our 21st day of 90+ degrees. Actually, the past three days have been closer to 100. Needless to say, Larry and I are highly contemplating purchasing an air conditioner for next summer. we thought we would see how this summer is coming along, before making the investment. These subsequent days of this heat has sold us on the idea. We're hoping we can get a discount by purchasing it off season. We'll see...

Fall is being wished for by many, and I look forward to cooler breezes and the crispness of fall.

Four Wheeling near Camp

Campsite - May Queen - Turquoise Lake, CO

Timberline Lake, CO - Trail

Timberine Lake, CO - Leadville Camping

We took last Friday July 25 off from work and traveled in one car with friends Tim and Seema to our campsite just south west of Leadville, CO. (elevation 10K+) We stayed at MayQueen Campsite with a scenic rating of 9 out of 10 and we were at campsite #19 out of 25. Great spot for two tents. After we established camp we decided to take a hike to Timberline Lake, roughly 4 miles round trip with another 800 ft of elevation gain. The guys were thrilled to finally fish, unfortunately they needed to throw back anything they caught.

Thunder threatened us along the trail but it didn't stop us. Rain finally decided to dampen our hike at 5:30pm but we kept hiking to the Lake so the guys could fish. Seema and Rebecca hiked around the lake in the rain while the guys caught fish. Tim caught three and tossed them all back. Larry got a few nibbles. Needless to say our hike back to camp was wet.

We encountered three stream beds during our hike and one was too large for Rebecca to cross with her summer hiking boots. So she took hers off and crossed the stream barefoot. It was refreshing considering Denver has had 18 days of 90+ degree days on the front rage.

Best Secret in Colorado - Piney River Ranch

Larry and I were invited to one of his previous co-workers surprise 60th birthday party. It was held at Piney River Ranch located 17 miles east of Vail on a forest, dirt road. Needless to say it was a bumpy road in, but the view was spectacularly worth it.

Will was surprised and we had a fabulous BBQ dinner and a great time to catch up with everyone Larry used to work with. Piney River Ranch has camp site, rental cabins and yurts to spend the night. You can go horse back riding, rent canoes, or hike up to the mountain pass.

This has to be the best kept secret in Colorado. I long to return to spend the night and take part in all the fun activities!

Zent's Own their Own Home

Well, it's official. We own our very own home! We began looking for homes in January not expecting to find the one we loved and bought. It look three long months to close, but we're done and have moved in.

First order of business, was to paint some of the rooms. We painted an accent wall in the Dining Room a cedar green and painted the Office a denim blue. Larry and I aren't too happy with the violet blue color in the Master Bedroom, so we may have to repaint that room. We'll see. We'll post pictures of the new colors soon. The second order of business was to purchase a refrigerator and washer and dryer for the house. We're in love with our top load refrigerator and freezer drawer!

For those of you who have continued to update your address books every time we move, this will be the last update you have to make. Here is our new home address:

9236 W 107th Mews

Westminster, CO 80021

Our home number remains the same and you can always reach us on our cell phones.

More pictures of Kitt (within last month)

Here are a few pictures of Kitt that we've taken in the last month we've had him. He's too cute!

OH! I almost forgot, my new hobby is baking hi doggy biscuits. My dad is kind enough to share his pet sitting company name with me, and Ive been making treats for all my friends' dogs too. So the business is "A Treat for Paws Bakery".

Kitt's favorite treats are peanut butter biscuits and Begging Biscuits, which have Molasses and wheat germ in them.

Photos of Tulips in Boulder

Last weekend, Larry and I went to Boulder after church to take a stroll along Pearl Street pedestrian mall and took photos of the tullip beds. I wish I had a macro lens to really zoon up to the buds, but I still enjoy these photos. Check out the one with the salt shaker in the bed.

In fact, I enjoyed the experience so much, I went back Monday with one of my co-workers and took more photos.