Today is the one-month anniversary of officially moving into the new place.  My enthusiasm has not waned one bit.  In fact, I find that I have to talk myself into going to work every morning, for I’d much rather stay home and revel in the beauty and the ambience the place now holds.

I’ve met many of the neighbors and many, if not all, of the pups and kitties that live near us.

You’ve met Michael and his wonderfully gentle dog, Oko. (Australian Shepherd mix) Michael is the didgeridoo player and musician with whom a great friendship has begun.

I’m in the process of purchasing a digital camera, and hope to have pics of everyone soon.

Sandy B. moved into a place catty-corner from mine.  In fact, hers was the first place I looked at when I decided that I wanted to live here.  She moved in shortly after we did.  Two days ago, she adopted two kitten siblings from a breeder here in Colorado.  We have yet to meet the furry little rascals, but Sandy says she hasn’t seen hide nor hair of them since bringing them home.  Sandy’s a talkative one, and is often seen wandering the neighborhood, chatting up people, or tending to her beautiful patio garden.

Seanna was the very first neighbor I met way back at the beginning of August, at the neighborhood barbeque.  She works several jobs, so we don’t see her very often.

I’ve mentioned my upstairs neighbor and newest friend, Derek. This past weekend, I took care of his awesome dogs, Chance (Blue Heeler mix) and Burton (looks like a Chow and mutt mix). They are two of the sweetest, kindest dogs I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.

We met Vickie recently, and her elderly Dalmation, Sarge.  Vickie is a dog-lover, and fosters strays.  Sarge was one of them, but they bonded so completely, he’s been with her ever since.

We also met Lee and his quite-chatty Sheltie, Barney.

Margo is Billy’s human.  Billy is a ferocious pup…that is until you meet him in person.  Then he’s sweet and kind and loving.  I believe that Billy is a Australian Sheepherder mix.  He’s white with startling black spots.

Roxie is Billy’s best friend, and belongs to the twins, Richard and Shelly.  Roxie is a ten-year-old black lab and adores Ozzie. (my dog, not Ozzie Osborne, silly)

Jordan is the cutest pup, looks like a Doberman/Lab mix, and is sweet as pie.  She belongs to a guy I just met and whose name I have mentally misplaced. (note: his name is Nathan, and his brother’s name is Josh…found out late last night) Jordan’s friends are Otis and Rufus, two Daschunds who visit often.

Oscar is an adorable Chocolate Lab puppy who belongs to Fred and his girlfriend.  Fred is a law student at the University of Colorado.  Oscar is quite intelligent.  You can see him figuring things out with his incredibly intense eyes.

Another neighbor, Shawna, belongs to BoBo the Chihuahua, who barks like a big dog, but wiggles with excitement when you pay attention to him.

We’ve got eccentric Audrey, who just turned eighty-something this past week, and who lives with Tweety, a gorgeous Calico kitty who likes to sit in the window and watch the hundreds of birds that flit about in the lilac bushes outside.  Audrey is very funny, very sweet.  She reminds me of the actress Audra Lindley, who played the original Mrs. Roper on the 70’s sitcom, Three’s Company, and not just because of the similarities in name.  Audrey is very active and much-loved in the senior community, and seems to have adopted me and the pups as grandchildren.  She gives great hugs and the pups seek her out every time we leave home.

Suzanne Somers, Audra Lindley, and Norman Fell

Recently, we met Maggie, a beautiful if overzealous King Charles’ Spaniel.  We found her wandering on her own down by the creek the other day, and called the number on her tag.  Her human, Christina, came a-hunting for her and the two were reunited after about an hour of doggie tag.

Rosie is another dog-lover who rescues pups and fosters them until they can be adopted.  She’s currently got a Chihuahua, a Fox Terrier, and a female American Amfordshire Terrier (Pitbull), who is so incredibly sweet, it’s like having a doting child living with you.  All three were dumped in a field (separately, not together) and came to live with Rosie, who I immediately fell in like with.  Rosie is a flamboyant, outspoken New Yawker who fell in love with the Colorado mountains on vacation one year, and has been here ever since.

There’s Pascha, also a student at the university, and who sings opera.  I’ve mentioned him before.  We’ve only seen him once since we moved in, but often in the afternoons, we hear him practicing his arias from his second floor living room.  Beautiful, and surprising, since Pascha is thin and nerd-ish with this great big, booming voice.

There’s Brownie, a Scottie-mix, whose human isn’t the nicest person in the world, but her dog is.

There’s Gloria and her personality-plus little guy, Charlie. Charlie looks like a poodle/Bichon/Daschund mix…and he’s groomed to give him a little pompadour right on top of his head.  He’s a cutie and a charmer.

Gizmo lives around the corner, a small, Yorkie/Scottie mix.  His human is somewhat nice, but isn’t the most social person in the ‘hood.

Robert lives next door to us with his mother and his two children.  He has the most amazing rose garden in his back yard.  Puts all the rest of the gardens to shame!  He’s on the Board of Directors for the HOA, as is Vickie (mentioned earlier).

Jeff is also on the Board, and rides a sweet little scooter around town.  He lives with his girlfriend, whose name I don’t think I ever knew.

Oh yeah, there’s also Marcella and her Maine Coon cat, Poochie-boy. He’s like a hundred years old, but very stately and sweet.

Most recently, we met Eluria, a South American woman who has satellite gardens on several patios around the neighborhood, including her own, in which she grows enough vegetables to keep everyone in fresh stuff for months.

The pups introduced me to James who lives two doors down with his eleven year old daughter, who was too shy to come chat with us. (the daughter, not James.) James used to be an ER nurse, but now works with medical supply companies installing much-needed equipment into homes and businesses.

I’m probably forgetting someone…but all in all, it’s been a great month meeting everyone, traipsing across the countryside, and relishing our new lives here.