16 June 2015 - New paint on the house

With the severe weather we have in Colorado, it is important to maintain your house. This year, we decide to repaint the outside of the house as well as the hand-rail of the stairs (indoor).

Our HOA (Home Owner Association) requires each owner to submit a formal request to ensure that the chosen color is within the approved color tone. 

We actually pick the same colors of another house that we in another neighborhood (far from ours). 

Here are what we picked:

• Base: Brainstorm Bronze – 7033
• Trim: Extra White – 7006
• Accent: Black Magic – 6991 (front door / shutters)

Here is the before / after view:

Before - Paint from 2003

Using an online application, here is the after (virtually) 

...and here are the pictures of the paint job!!

This is the day!! Yeah, go away old and ugly paint!!!

I just love the door...in "black magic"!!

All outdoor light have also been replaced :-)

Two light bulbs and a glass cover...this will look gorgeous!!

Just perfect!!! Love it!!

In the inside, we only painted the hand rail, so that to match with our furniture. It turned out that using the same "black-magic" was a great idea!!

07 June 2015 - Firebird 2015 in Eagle, CO

The Firebird 40 in Eagle, CO. I opted for the 22-mile intermediate course, with an advertised 2900 feet of climbing!!

Goal was clearly to finish the race, which I did in 3h 49min and 18sec. The climbing part was extremely challenging (about 16miles up hill) while crossing rivers with a foot deep of water (30cm). All wet, dirty and really tired!!!

It was pretty cool do it with Woon, my MTB buddy!

All set, I am # 578!!

Not much pictures of the race :-(

Stopped in Vail on the way back and had a nice steak tartare!!

06 June 2015 - Jalapeño-bacon grilled corn recipe!

Here is the best grilled corn recipe I have tried so far!!

Step 1: Jalapeño, bacon, corn

Step-2: Roll-it!

Step-3: All done!

Step-4: Grill & enjoy!

17 May 2015 - Mila's home made garden

Mila is now old enough to take care of her own small garden. We built one over the weekend. Check it out!!

Mila is drawing on her new garden (chalk-board-black paint)

Writing carefully...

17 May - My garden is ready :-)

Drawing a nice picture so the seeds will grow faster...

Now, I am the title gardener

Drilling some holes and covering them with small rocks

Pretty nice, isn't?

Adding organic soil...

Planting the seeds...

The perfect trio: Carrots, Radish and lavender!!

And the amazing home-grown radish!!

Beautiful garden. Good job Mila!

Tada!!

...and the only carrot...HUGE!!!

We gave up on the vegetables and focussed on the flowers (easier and immediate results)

09 May 2015 - Snow storm in Highlands Ranch

We do not live in Siberia but almost!! First snow usually come in the early November and it is not un-usual to have some snow storm mid-April or even in May!! Check this out!! This one literally killed all flowers and a few branches broke under the weight of the snow!

Snow storm!!

Broken tree...frozen leafs...Oh man!!