It’s shaping up to be a great weekend! I absolutely love all the fancy old cars coming to town. I love what the Early Iron Club has created and what it means to our economy—not just in Alamosa, but surrounding areas too! 

It will be a weekend with lots of joy and lots of hugs and maybe more than a few tears. Everyone will be missing Jeff Woodward, who passed away August 1. He was one of the original organizers and volunteer for all these 38 years. Not hearing his voice from the sound trailer will be a constant reminder of what we are missing.

As I write about Jeff, I invite you to come by and take a look at my store windows—either during the day or at night. It’s such an honor using the caricature of Jeff by Matt Beckner—I asked permission. After I got Matt’s permission I messaged Mel, wife and best friend of Jeff, and made sure it was okay with her.  And then I had Evelyn Sprouse-Rowe do the painting. I love what she did, and I love remembering Jeff.  The painting may stay up, way past all the rodders going home. RIP, Jeff. We are gonna “give’em Hell” this weekend!

Meanwhile…for those of you who aren’t on Facebook, but only read the paper (as you should), the letter from Josef Lucero, suggesting that the Motorway building be named the Jeff Woodward Memorial Bldg. was a total insult to the Woodward family. Mr. Lucero was mayor of Alamosa at the time Jeff and/or Early Iron were drug through the mud for trying to do something good for our community. As I understand it, from the family, Jeff was crushed! He resigned from the Marketing District so as not to create a conflict of interest. He had served on this board for years and years, volunteering his time to make Alamosa a better city. He loved this volunteer job. I don’t know that if the Motorway building was given to Early Iron on a silver platter that they would accept it. These things run DEEP!

It’s sad for our community because Early Iron had the connections, the backing, and the manpower to make something of that building. I don’t know anyone else who has all that. I wonder how many years it will now sit vacant. And please, not another nonprofit, with no money or way of sustaining themselves.  We have enough of those…in my humble opinion.

Gardening is slowing down, thank goodness! I can’t imagine living somewhere where you have to garden all year. I’m always ready for a freeze. Just because it freezes, doesn’t mean the work is done.  It’s just a different kind of work. I hope to be doing more planting in Mom’s Garden this Labor Day weekend—I can never get it straight, whether I am supposed to labor more, or take a break from laboring. Oh, well.

I have three trees I want to get planted, and also some shrubs that will build the foundation of the north end of this garden. Next week the boulders, and then perennials. This time of year all I can think of is “next year.” What do I want blooming in the spring? It’s a process…a never ending process.

I hope to also try a weed spray on our duplex lawn to get rid of some bindweed in the grass. Such a noxious weed! Will let you know if the label reads true. 

Before I forget…if you are canning pickles, I have heard from a couple of folks that putting a grape leaf in the top of the jar keeps the pickles crisp. Not sure why, but it seems to work. P.S. My grape vine in front of the store is out of control—so feel free to grab some leaves, in trade for 24 jars of pickles. Just kidding.

And thanks again to all you folks who keep me fired up. Maybe one day you all will stand up and we can make a difference in Alamosa. Together. What I heard this week was how there was an Alamosa County employee appreciation picnic, and it was catered by a restaurant from Monte Vista. I find it hard to believe that we don’t have a restaurant in Alamosa capable of doing the job. Thanking Alamosa County workers, with Alamosa County money, using a MV restaurant just seems weird. It’s not about the restaurant because they do a good job it’s just……………………..