The American Society of Appraisers is one of my two affiliations. The conference was GREAT, filled with seminars about Southwestern art (one good example -- how to tell a repro Remington bronze from the 'lifetime' real one); posters and photographs as art; case studies; and even a final couple of seminars by IRS agents. (Okay, they were a little scary.)
It was a lot to jam into 3 1/2 days, but I also had the pleasure of the Brick, not to mention Charley and Ruby, since we brought the fifth-wheeler down. We stayed in a Sam's Club parking lot, next to a walking trail. It was surprisingly peaceful and quiet. What a nice break --
Until it started to rain.
Which meant that our solar power array wasn't charging properly, thanks to the overcast skies. The Brick was having to start the truck up periodically to charge the batteries enough to give us a little heat and some lights.
Tuesday night, it snowed a couple of inches. We woke up to temperatures of 49 degrees inside the trailer. (Fortunately, we all slept warm.)
Wednesday was the last day of the conference -- and I really wanted to hear what the IRS ladies had to say. But it was also the start of a big blizzard in Denver. DIA cancelled its flights. All the schools and many of the businesses closed their doors. We were planning to leave right away after the last seminar -- when we found out that I-25 was closed, as well.
Visits to a couple of thrift shops, and a relaxing lunch out. Then a nap. One more night in the trailer. The batteries weren't holding their charge at all, but at least the propane was going strong. We had supper, talked a lot and made some plans, then went to bed.
Two more inches of snow when we woke up this morning. Lots of big soggy puddles by now. (Santa Fe doesn't get much moisture normally.)
With the highways STILL closed up north, we crossed our fingers and took off out of Santa Fe, anyways. It was rainy, snowing and a bit scary until Las Vegas, NM -- then dry, albeit windy, until about Colorado Springs. The highway must have opened just an hour before, because there was still plenty of ice here and there on the roads. A few stranded cars decorated the gullies, and we made a snail's pace crawling north, along with umpteen semis and other vehicles who obviously had been waiting. We were moving. Sort of.
 |
| No, I didn't see Bigfoot. Darn it. |
We finally pulled in late this evening. The huge drift by the garage has to be shoveled out first before we can pull the trailer back in and clean it out. (Memo to self before we start living in the trailer: Get more batteries for power storage. And more solar panels.)
The Brick is soaking his tired muscles in a hot bath, after a steak and grilled shrimp dinner. I can barely keep my eyes open -- but have a full appraisal day tomorrow, Friday the 15th, at Holly's Quilt Cabin in Littleton. There are a few openings left in the afternoon -- come on over and show me your quilts.
Then, maybe tomorrow night, I can draw a deep breath and crash. For a little while, at least.
 |
| This might be me tomorrow...except for the stabbing, of course. But the quilts will be wonderful. |
No comments:
Post a Comment