Actually, cousin Sarah Lynn Festger calls it a hill!* It is near Cedaredge, Colorado, and is owned by Sarah and her husband Dick, along with a charming home, etc.! Their daughter, Emily, lives close by. And this Texas girl went to visit!
I was amazed that American Airlines had a nonstop flight from DFW to Grand Junction, CO. It was an experience going from one of the world's largest airports to one that was very small by comparison.
As we were flying in, I was fascinated by this unusual topography. I learned that these are the Book Cliffs. Aren't they pretty? I'll show you more of them later.
The airport may be small, but I found lots to photograph as we drove away. I kept asking Sarah to "go around again!" Here are some of my shots!
This very tall beauty faced me as I rode down the escalator.
Impressive!
Heading for home. Just the beginning of beautiful fall color!
Our first stop!
Sarah told me we didn't have to go in. We were just picking up all those bags of feed you see in the trunk for Emily's animals. I joked that maybe Tractor Supply would have a Dr. Pepper! Sarah thought I needed to go in anyway for the full farming experience. So...this is a carefully staged picture of the feed sacks and me holding my Dr. Pepper! They said I was lucky to get one. They sell out very quickly.
About an hour 20 minutes from the airport we drive past
Festger Mountain!* My cousin and her husband actually own this!
We be comin' round the mountain* when we find...
the ultra charming Festger Mountain Home!*
Sarah had my room set up for me very appropriately.
I added the little roses from her bushes!
My first morning there, right when I got up, it began snowing. Snow had not been predicted, but it sure as the world happened, just for me! It was gorgeous--something I seldom get to see and love so much. I took a video, was able to put it on You Tube, but I cannot get it to post here on my blog. And believe me, I have tried and tried and tried and.....
Sarah had told me that she would have a coat for me. Lo and behold, I came out wearing an ensemble for the day that totes matched the coat she had for me!
We visited a very nice facility where Sarah goes to play the guitar and sing for the residents. She had her biggest crowd--about 12 in all, and she was a big hit with them!
Again, I took a video of Sarah singing and playing, but
can't get it to show up! Probably a good thing...we didn't have permission to photograph the residents!!
I made us root beer floats!
This was the extent of my "cooking" while I was there!
But I did set the table for a delicious soup luncheon which
Sarah threw in my honor! Her friends were lovely!
Next stop: Cedaredge, a fun little town.
And here we are at Main Street Market, my kind of place!
Sarah treated me to wonderful coffee and shopping!
Maybe some Christmas presents here, as well as a gift for Emily! The talented metalsmith personally brought me additional items.
I was getting serious Hallmark movie vibes at this point.
Now we're headed up to the Mesa where there will be more snow.
I was looking forward to the Visitor's Center, but we didn't know if it would be open. I got all excited when I saw a sign lit up in front...until Sarah told me the sign said "Closed."
We met a snow plow up here. I've not seen many of those!
F.Y.I. This is only about half way up the mesa, but was as far as we went.
Dick is a master restorer, and he is making fantastic progress on this log cabin which is next door to their home.
At Emily's suggestion, they have dubbed it "The Saloon."
This saloon has a real pretty bartender!
And here's Emily showing me her fab farm! I couldn't wait to see it, cause I had heard so much about it.
And here the three of us girls are, along with Emily's geese!
Emily has remodeled her historic place into something irresistibly cozy and charming and appealing!
Even to this city girl!
Look closely. That's a tractor on the sign I got her. Yes, Emily says she WILL have a tractor one day! I just got her her first one! And believe me I can visualize this cute little farm girl wranglin' that tractor! (Hallmark...just picture this!)
Note to Self: Never pose in a picture with Emily again.
And then we went to dinner in Cedaredge! We had the best food (chicken fried steak for me!) and the funniest waiter. In having a great time together,
we forgot to have our picture made while our table was lookin' nice, so I made Sarah order cheesecake for dessert just as a prop! ($$$ date)
It started snowing while we ate...a definite Hallmark moment!
Sarah had chocolate cake Krispy Kremes and wonderful coffee with heavy whipping cream for me every morning. And I was totally smitten with her gorgeous last rose of summer.
She also waited on me hand and foot...example...
"Does this picture make my butt look big?" "Yes, Linda, it does. So does eating all that salsa and those chips."
She said she got this sign in my honor. I can't figure out why, y'all.
Festger Overlook* (also named by yours truly) would be worthy of a stop on a highway. The depth perspective is not adequately represented in a photograph, but it is deep and wide and breath taking! And it is on their property!
Another favorite thing of mine was the flowing stream that runs in front of their home. I have THE BEST video of it, but again, I can't get no cooperation. Best I can do...
Another favorite: this tree. Even more vibrantly beautiful than the photograph shows! And one day I could see it from Sarah's deck, and it was completely white with snow!
Boo hoo. Time to go home now.
The Book Cliffs from the highway...
and from the runway...
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Disclaimer
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Only to this flat lander Texas girl does Sarah live on a mountain! She actually lives at the base of the Grand Mesa in Colorado. However, this picture with Emily and one of her friends is the first I received of Sarah's Cedaredge home.
When I showed this to Rob, he observed that it looked like the home was built into the side of a mountain. Then when Sarah showed me the mountain (hill!) they owned as we approached, "Festger Mountain" became my reality. Sarah's previous home in Conifer, CO, was at a higher elevation and, therefore, much more a mountain home! To her, anyway!
