Dear Maia and Isaac,

Last weekend, my dogs and I went camping on the Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction.  I use to camp here in college when I was attending Colorado Mesa University (it was called Mesa College back then).  My girlfriends from the dorm and I would go camping up here – and it is cool because it is hight above the city and you can see the lights at night.

From one side, you can see Grand Junction – where your grandpa Chip and grandma Melanie live.

From the other side, you can see a smaller town called Fruita.

We got there in the evening after my super long work-week and pitched the tent.  It was still really, really hot.  So, I let the dogs rest while it cooled down, then we ate.  It was hot in the tent at night – no doggy cuddles because we were all just wanting a breeze.

And, then it was morning.  My favorite part of camping is the morning, because when I wake-up, I forget which campground we are at.  I seriously have to think about it for a minute.  Well, we camp a lot  It was my dream to teach you to camp, but you are stuck with my blog.  I don’t feel like much of a grandma – most my friends who are grandmas are with their grandkids all the time.  Well, not all the time, but more than I can be around you.

My job has changed, and it is super busy and long hours.  We only get the big holidays off.  Remember when I used to be able to spend a couple weeks with you at Christmas?  And, during the summer?  Your mom is just so busy, and grandma isn’t feeling really great lately.  I go camping to help me get away from the stress of work, yet it is a lot of work to camp.  I hope to feel better and have more time off at some point . . . I don’t know when I will see you again, and that makes me sad.  It makes me happy to write this blog, though.

Anyway, we drove off the Monument and went shopping for a bit.  I got Sazi a new raincoat – well, I ended up getting one for all the dogs cause they had carry pouches.  And, we went to Lowes and I got a sick orchid to save.  It is weird taking an orchid camping with you in the desert.

Then we drove over the Monument back to our campsite. There are so many cool rock formations here.  I always thought it was a spiritual place.   It was super hot, again – 101 degrees.  Poor Maizzy – she doesn’t do heat so well anymore.  The next day, we drove home.  And, now I am planning our next camping trip for Ridgway next weekend.  Hopefully, it will be cooler.

This weekend, I went to a rodeo – and that is a whole blog that I want to write about rodeos for you.  I am not sure when I will get time.  Hopefully soon.

I love you two and miss you more than you know. But, you are always with me on my camping trips and adventures! – Grandma Hartt