2nd Anniversary in Taos!

 Jimmie and I had such a hard time trying to figure out where we wanted to spend our 2nd anniversary. After much debate, we found a nice AirBnB in Taos! It so happened to be the town that Grammy and Grampy love!

It was so fun exploring. The weird thing was that Walmart didn't have a produce section. Weird right?! We had to go to Albertson's down the street. 

The view from the AirBnB was gorgeous!! I will stay there again in a heartbeat. Jimmie liked the toilet the best. HAHA it was a fancy one that cleaned and dried your butt. If he had the money, I know he would buy one. Maybe he will someday. 

It was such a nice weekend to spend with each other. We walked around the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Super dope! Could see for miles around it and the drop was so far down! I normally don't like heights but for some reason love bridges. Weird, I know. 

We also went to Taos Pueblo where there are still original Native Americans living there. We bought some jewelry and items there. I love exploring my roots and the roots of the American people. I am part Cherokee. I also just enjoy getting to know other cultures. 

Honestly, I want to buy a house in Taos. I am just in love with the feel of it. I also just adore adobe houses. When I was little, I dreamed of having a hacienda by a lake with a live-in chef. Maybe that dream will come true with Jimmie as my chef lol 

Bake it With Sass Adventures

 As some of you know, I started an online business in April of this year. It's been fun and A LOT of work. If you've seen The Sassy Baker show - that was the catapult to Bake it With Sass. 

When I understood the urge inside me was to create a community center for Deaf children so that they wouldn't grow up like I did - I realized I needed a second source of income. My first idea was to open up a bakery but someone said there was a better way - a way that wouldn't be as time-consuming (eventually). Obviously, now, it's time-consuming because I had to create a website, send up an email marketing system, and am trying to be consistent with posting on social media. 

Bake it With Sass is an online membership providing baking courses in ASL with English subtitles. I also have blog posts sharing baking tips and about Deaf culture. This is meant to be a community where you can learn from each other and level up your baking skills! 

I have two subscriptions: New Sass on the Block for beginners and Beyond Sassy for intermediate/advanced bakers. Each one comes with a growing library of baking videos in four categories (so far): cookies, brownies/bars, cakes, and allergy-friendly. I am hoping this becomes bigger as I grow. 

Check it out! https://www.bakeitwithsass.com/ 

Juneteenth Camping Trip

Last weekend, Jimmie, Blitz and I joined Black in Denver camping group in Bailey, Colorado. Check out the photos below, it was gorgeous! 

We arrived late because the GPS took us the wrong way. Jimmie put it in the GPS and it took us to the correct spot. I have no idea what happened! But at any rate, we made it. 

It was freeeeezziinngg the first night. Blitz loves the cold since he's a Siberian Husky but the humans...not so much. 

On Sunday, we went to Wellington Lake. We rented a paddleboat first but Jimmie was frustrated that it wasn't going fast enough. So we got a kayak. Wound up getting it for free because Jimmie did some manual labor for the man in charge of the rentals. There was water inside the first kayak and we capsized because of it so we needed to switch. Jimmie offered to help by trying to empty the kayak filled with water but couldn't get it out. The second kayak was better but tipped every easily if you weren't sitting up straight the whole time. I hated that part. But I got some pretty awesome pictures out on the water so I can't complain too much.

The water was cooolldd but once you were in it for a few minutes, it felt refreshing! Blitz, this was his first time exploring the water. I led him out to a 6 ft long "island" of sorts made of huge rocks maybe 5 ft from the shore. We went back and forth until he was comfortable and not so skittish of all the splashing the two of us were making. We were on the island for a few moments and then Blitz put his nose in-between my legs. I was confused as to what he was doing then realized, he was pushing me off the island! I lost my balance and fell almost sitting in the cold water that went up past my waist. I'm just glad my hearing aids didn't get wet. I was sooo mad at Blitz but he was having such a great time in the water that I didn't stay mad. 

Neither of us had Juneteenth off so we headed back Sunday night. On the drive back, we saw the beautiful sun setting among the mountains. It was a great weekend and hopefully, we can do more activities with Black in Denver. The one downside about this trip was that Jimmie was the only guy. Sad. He doesn't like to socialize with women but when we were at Wellington Lake, he was pretty outgoing. Way more than me! haha

New Adventures: Butterfly Pavilion and Magic Museum

 Jimmie and I decided to check out the Butterfly Museum earlier this month. So many gorgeous butterflies! I still am in awe at the Creator's ability to make such unique creatures. Some were ugly when their wings were closed and became breathtaking once they flew away. I know some of them are like that to protect themselves. Between the two of us, we took at least 50 photos and I might be way under. 

I know that all of God's creations are beautiful but there is just something about the butterfly that makes me filled with unexplainable JOY!

A couple weeks later, Stephanie (SJ) and I went to the Magic Museum one rainy afternoon. I didn't have high expectations but WOW I am glad we went. It was only $3 - mainly because they gave us a discount because we were "disabled". Never did like that term. But hey, we are not complaining about the price!

All of the structures and people were made by Michael Charles Garman. Some of the rooms inside that he built could change right before your eyes! MAGIC! If you are ever in Old Colorado City, check this place out! 

Checking out new places and going on new adventures never gets old!