Colorado/Cousin Summer, Part 2!

Colorado, here I come again!

I flew to Denver, and Sarah and Dick picked me up for

the drive to Conifer--a most beautiful spot!

My private suite in their lovely mountain home was ready!

 Complete with gifts!!

Sarah had my drinking covered!

 That's a Colorado mug--I collect mugs from my travels,
 you know.

And I guzzled gallons of water from my new paisley glass!

Here we are having lunch in the lovely sunroom!

 And this is our view.

It is peaceful and so pleasant.

Well, folks.  I'm just gonna cut straight to the chase.

This girl got to see WILDLIFE!

More than I saw in all of Alaska!

This first beautiful specimen was spotted by yours truly

before anyone else saw it!

THAT IS A FIRST!

I usually see it last or not at all!

 Are you ready?

I understand this handsome fellow is a mule deer.

He was on the side of the road, and I thought he was a

                               statue when we passed him!

And Sarah and Dick missed him completely!

One evening Sarah and I went wild life searching.
There were reportedly elk in "John's meadow."
Not when we were there.
But we kept searching, and we found this!

Then, just down the road, this!

An elk family!
Sarah took this picture, while I looked at them through
binoculars.
Then I heard a car coming and was afraid I was
going to witness the demise of the elk family!
But--no problem.  Drivers in Conifer are prepared.

Our central location allowed us to go north one day
and tour Rocky Mountain National Park.
We started in Estes Park, where we saw this:

The Stanley Hotel featured in The Shining!

Sarah and I found the greatest spot for a photo op outside
the Stanley!

We thought we were so cute!
Then we discovered this sign.

How embarrassing.  We are a little old for this.

Jack would have loved this Stanley Steamer.

Just one picture of the beautiful park.
It was amazing to get to see this. 
These mountains are said to have inspired the 
"purple mountain majesties"
line in America, the Beautiful! 

Emily and James, Sarah's and Dick's daughter and
son-in-law, invited us down the road to their fabulous
home for quite a spread of appetizers!

Dig this view from their deck!

  
On Sunday we went to a little church, then drove to
Evergreen, where we walked around its lake.
(The longest 1.3 miles in CO or maybe the world!)

Sadly, Evergreen was involved in the Colorado flooding.
We wonder if these flowers by the lake entrance were wiped out.

Another day the "Lynn girls" had a great time here:

We had hotdogs and root beer floats by this 
beautiful river! 

Then on our last full day we headed south to
Pike's Peak and the cog railway!
What an experience!

And on the ride down--more wildlife!

I think those are bighorn sheep.
(If they aren't, please don't tell me!)

We drove through the Garden of the Gods.

It's funny.  I've heard of the Garden of the Gods all my
life but had no idea what it was.
What it is is amazing!

I thought when I went to visit Sarah I would only see Conifer.
The possibility of seeing Pike's Peak never occurred to me.
To get to visit there AND Estes Park AND 
Rocky Mountain National Park, etc., etc., etc.
was a truly incredible adventure!

I've seen more of Colorado this summer than in all the 
rest of my life combined, and
I LOVE IT!

I'm Back...

Although no one has told me so...

I know you've been missing me.

Well, it's like this.

I have a beloved group of friends with whom I play bridge.

There are 8 of us, so we play 8 months of the year,

and we are hostess 1 month of the year.

September was my month.

Now most people won't admit that they obsess over their 

hostess duties, but I don't hesitate to do so.

I even missed choir Wednesday night, cause I was home...

obsessing.

But, it paid off.  I am successfully done for the year!

Here's what the table looked like:

 

The plates are so fun.

   They feature vintage European hotel logos.

And yes, vintage "cracks!"

The flatware is also different.  In the early 1900s hotels

mixed their flatware patterns for an eclectic look.

So the pattern of each piece is different.

I ordered all of this years ago and love using it!  

We start at 10 A.M. with breakfast goodies and coffee.

These were delicious Danishes from Whole Foods

on my warming tray which did not warm!

Very good anyway. 

Now let me show you what my sweet Susan did for me!

She offered to help, so I asked her to plant

something in this urn for me.  (It was sitting there empty!)

What she did was a knockout!

But...while she was here checking out the size of the urn,

she spotted all my other empty containers.

She comes back with her little HHR loaded with gorgeous

plants.  Just look!

I was thrilled beyond words!

I felt like I had an outdoor showplace!

 

Susan is also responsible for this:

 I love love love this!!!!!!

(In case you're curious, the picture of Madeline and me

was taken on Congress Ave. in Austin.  Someone had 

painted the "I love you so much" on a wall.  Our

entire family has now had his or her picture made there!

Thank you, unknown graffiti artist!)

 

I got this new little piece--

Nifty, huh?

 

Now all this took place last Thursday.

Then on Friday night the husbands are included.

We had 16, or 4 tables of bridge.

 

Since Jack has been gone, my partner has been 

my dear friend, Charlotte Irwin.

It just so happened that Charlotte's birthday was nigh,

so we had birthday party bridge for her!

 

I think a great time was had by all--including me!

It was such a blessed weekend.  

Over and out for another year! 

 

 

I Need To Hurry and Tell You About My C/C Summer

Cause one of these days summer just might be over.

I won't keep you in suspense.

That C/C stands for Colorado/Cousin summer.

My first venture into CO was to celebrate July 4th

with my bank travel club.  We went to wonderful Vail and

stayed here:

 The beautiful and historic Lodge at Vail.

My room overlooked the gondola:

And had a Keurig coffee maker!

(Single travelers get good at self portraits!)  

On my first night walking around the town I met some new friends.

These three Afghan hounds and their owner will become

very important on parade day!

Aren't they gorgeous?  Did you know I love big dogs?

Does the sun shine???
 

We went to Lion's Head on the 3rd.

At the top of the gondola:

The best fish and chips ever at The Tavern:

And beautiful flowers everywhere:

So now it's the 4th, and here's where my cousin comes in.

Sarah and her family have a home in Conifer, CO,

about two hours' drive from Vail.

They came to watch the giant 4th of July parade!!!

Fortunately they have been to some small town parades in

their lifetime.  More than I have, actually.

This parade was...well, I don't know how to express it.

Perhaps this was the high point!

And my choice for low point!  I'm not sure this Statue of Liberty

should not be charged with unlawful impersonation!

  

But...if the parade was not magnificent, our seats certainly were.

My hound friends and their owner got seats at the crack

of dawn and shared them with us!

 This is Sarah, Dick, Emily, and James

 And here are the real stars of the parade--the hounds!

Everyone who passed by stopped to admire and pet them.

They've been coming to this parade for years.

Bless their hearts.

  

After the parade we drove to a nearby park and had a 

fabulous picnic lunch, prepared by Sarah's son-in-law James!

Just look!

(Oh, Sarah will want me to tell you.  She cut up the fruit.)

This was one of the best meals I had in CO!
 

Here I am after Sarah and family left--

riding the gondola visible from my window.

Just me and my Chacos.  Yes, I'm undeniably cool.

Then we had dinner here--owned by John Elway:

Shedding a little tear now.  

Sarah sent me some great pics from her camera,

but I made her an album and included them so now I don't 

have them.

I'll just have to conclude with a couple of mine that

tickled my funny bone.

 

 But...this is just Part 1!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my C/C summer!