More snow

While we didn't get anywhere near the amount of snow that was called for, it was still enjoyable to have an early taste of winter. 

The white stuff returns

We woke this morning with a faint trace of snow on Gillaspie Dr. and a coat of snow atop the Front Range to our west.

Steady progress

The packing and sorting continues apace with more decisions being made every day about what to take and where we might imagine our posessions finding a place in our new home in Minnesota.
 

An unusual museum

On the way back to the Twin Cities, Charles made a brief detour to Austin (about 18 miles east of Albert Lea) to visit the SPAM Museum! What fun to see the history and lore surrounding this famous food that was created in Austin!!

A visit to Albert Lea

Charles made a quick trip to Albert Lea, Minnesota this week to check out the house we are hoping to buy and to meet some of the staff at Thorne Crest where he'll be working.

One of the surprises this week was references to Marion Ross (of "Happy Days" tv fame) who once called the town her home. There is a nice exhibit at the Freeborn County Historical Museum and a statue of Marion outside of the theater that bears her name downtown.

Big news from Boulder

It was announced at the conclusion of worship this morning that we are moving to Minnesota in December. Charles has been selected to serve as the Director of Spiritual Care at Thorne Crest Senior Living Community in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Our last Sunday at St. Paul's UMC in Boulder will be December 8th.

We are looking forward to what God has in store for us as we transition to life in Minnesota. However, we are sad to say goodbye to so many dear people with whom we have formed deep connections these 5 1/2 years.

We voted!

We dropped off our ballots for the upcoming election this morning, happy to be able to take part in this civic duty!

They are back!

 A scouting party from the local flock of Canada Geese came by the church today to scope out the church grounds for the upcoming winter season. It is fun to watch them waddle down the street, taking their time!

Another Zoom meeting

Belinda has been busy with United Women in Faith Zoom meeetings and Wesley has been keeping tabs on the goings on.
 

A busy red truck

It's been a busy month for Charles' little red truck! Three trips to the compost facility (thining out some sapplings behind the church), three more to the dump (clearing out the old Cub Scout room), one trip to EFAA (taking donations to the food pantry from the church), and two trips to Pig + Pearl Secondhand (taking items from the church and home).

A busy week

Three trips to the compost facility

460 lbs. of donations

The end of the Cub Scouts at St. Paul's UMC

We made good use of the truck this week with several trips to the compost facility, a delivery of 460 lbs. of donations to the food bank, and a large amount of discarded items to the dump from the former Cub Scout pack!

Mesa Veterinary Hospital's 50th Anniversary Celebration Today!

 

Had a great time at today's anniversary celebration at this hospital in Golden, Colorado. Church family member, veterinarian Dr. Steve Batch, was a good sport spending 30 minutes in the dunk tank! All in all, it was a fun afternoon celebrating the influence and impact of this veterinary hospital!

Another job finished

Charles completed another job at the church today, thinning out the sapplings behind the church. It looks so nice when these projects are completed, that it is easy to think that it wasn't that hard to do. This project took Charles about eight hours and included three trip to the compost facility in Boulder.

 

Surprise

Charles was on campus this afternoon and was surprised to pick up some buttons from people manning tables in the University Memorial Center.

Santa is on the way!

 

Another church project

Charles began tackling a big job at the church today: clearing out the overgrowth on the east side of the church. This is an "out of sight, out of mind" area and already looks so much better!

It's happening in the mountains

We went to a church member's house which is located up in the mountains west of Boulder for a function today. The Aspens are just starting to turn the iconic yellow for which they are so famous!

A happy morning

L-R: Stephanie Kidwell, Charles Alkula, Jim Calhoun,
Jim Gulley, and Skip Strickland.

The United Women in Faith unit at Mountain View UMC was hosting its annual Fall Salad Luncheon today and we were happy to be able to attend. Charles was happy to be one of five pastors on hand today including three retired pastors. 

On the way to supper...

On the way to dinner at a church member's home south of Boulder, we spotted a fox trotting down the road. We couoldn't get a better picture, but it was cool seeing this up close.

It's a cheesey day!

Charles got to use a gift card this afternoon at Cheese Importers in Longmont. He selected four cheeses: a super sharp cheddar (Wisconsin),      sharp white cheddar (Australia), Wensleydale (UK), some cheese curds (Wisconsin), two types of McVities Digestives Biscuits, and some Finn Crisps!!

Getting around campus

Charles has been enjoying himself at CU-Boulder with the course he is auditing (on Tuesday and Thursday). He has been treating himself to the occasional ride on one of the many "Lime scooters" that can be found around Boulder. It's a hoot!

Back home!

A Greater Sandhill Crane

Up close with a native!

Approaching the Arch

Close up of the Arch

The view from inside the Arch

Charles set out for home this morning having had a full experience over the past few days! 

On the way home, he paid a visit to the Crane Trust, an organization that focuses on the Sandhill Cranes that make the area between Grand Island and North Platte a regular stop on their spring and fall migrations.

He also stopped at the Archway, a unique exhibit space that spans I-80 and has some very interesting exhibits that focus on the migration through the region beginning with the covered wagons to the current time.

A hot day!

Back together!

Nice place to visit

A very hilly, rolling course

 It was a very hot day for Charles as he ventured south into Missouri today! He first stopped in the town of Mound City to get in nine holes on a fun course (his first time playing in Missouri) before meeting up with his sister, Jackie, in St. Joseph for lunch. It was the first time in five years that the two siblings had been able to get together!