Camp Life

Patty and Teri headed to Urgent Care first thing on Friday morning - Patty's had the crud since April 1st and was actually feeling pretty good when she flew out.  But the horrible cough came back and she was scared of it going into bronchitis so decided to get checked out!

I stayed at home and got ready and soon they were back - it wasn't bronchitis but she did have some meds to pick up so we headed out to get them and then we were off to Common Ground for coffee!  It's a great coffee place that we've all been to before and just a nice place to relax!

We walked on over to the Farmers Market next - there wasn't a lot there yet as just too early in the season but it was fun to walk around!

Next we drove to "The Cheese Lady" - a really cool spot where you can stand and taste different cheeses to your hearts' content!!  It reminded me of wine tasting!  The gal was very knowledgeable on all of her cheeses and we must have tried 8 or so choices!

Check out the board with all the types of cheeses - had no idea there were so many!

Teri bought quite a few choices in small quantities and each label explained what it was - I was impressed!

We grabbed a quick bite back at the house and then packed up to head to Baldwin to their property - they call it The Camp - and it's basically 6 acres of woods which includes a stream, a trailer which they have refurbished and a couple of other buildings - one of which they have remodeled into more bedrooms for sleeping guests!

We stopped at Shrine of the Pines just to see what it was!  They have a museum with lots of different hand built furniture made out of wood and a walking trail!  We just stepped in the gift shop and each ended up buying things!  It was really pretty there!

As we got to Baldwin, we stopped at The Meat Shack and bought some jerky and meat sticks of different varieties - another fun store!   Baldwin was super busy as they were having a bike rally for the "Blessing of the Bikes"!  We finally found a place to park and then walked to have some yummy ice cream before heading out to their camp!

Jay had the campfire going and after unloading the car, we grabbed some wine, cheese and crackers and just relaxed around the campfire!

Another building is going up for a friend and Jay is the master builder on this place, along with a handy man that helps out!

The stream behind the trailer is really pretty!!  Yes, there are fish in it!!  And lots of birds around!  Our favorite place to sit (and eat) was the screened in back porch which is an extension of the trailer and it faces the stream!

The three of us got in their blowup hot tub that evening after eating an excellent meal that Jay prepared!  Camp Life at its' best!!!

Enjoying Holland

What a cute statue this was!!

There were even lots of tulips in the downtown area!!

We browsed through a few stores and I found my Christmas ornament in one of them - a ceramic ornament with tulips painted on it - perfect!!

This statue was unique as there was classical music being played - how cool!!

Emily told us we HAD to stop at this place for pie - cherry pie!!  Only Teri and I chose the cherry crisp as I'm not that fond of crust..............it was excellent - let me repeat that - it was excellent!!  Especially with a cup of coffee!!

After walking by all the tulips ONE MORE TIME, we drove to Windmill Island - a beautiful drive and although we didn't go into the actual place to walk up to the windmill, I still got a great picture of it!

That evening we went to Teri's favorite Italian place called A'more - great service and really good food!  We all enjoyed a glass of wine with our appetizer!

We split a couple of entrees (and still had leftovers to take home!) and the other 2 ordered dessert!  I chose to wait until we got home to have some more of Teri's yummy rhubarb cake!  But we were all served a chocolate liquor which tasted amazing!!    It was a great evening!

Sisters Trip - Grand Rapids, MI

It's always great fun on our sisters' trip and this year was no exception!!  We decided to go to Teri's place in Grand Rapids, MI since our last couple of trips had been major ones and also because I hadn't seen their house they'd moved to!

I drove up to Denver and parked in my usual spot - grabbed Caribou Coffee - and soon was flying the friendly skies with United!  It was an uneventful trip - I LOVE those types of flights!

Teri was waiting for me at the Grand Rapids airport and within an hour, Patty had arrived!  We headed back to Teri's place and it was fun to see their house and get unpacked!  Before long we were out on the patio with drinks in hand!!

 Teri and Jay have a super cute backyard so it was the perfect place to relax!

We talked the day away and just stayed in for dinner where Teri served us her fabulous lasagna!  With a 2 hour time difference, I figured I wouldn't be able to sleep for a while but I must have been tired as I fell asleep right away!

Thursday morning Teri made us special coffee before we headed out to drive to Holland - this is where her daughter Emily works and also where the tulips are - just like the country of Holland!  I was excited to see them as we just don't have that many flowers in Colorado!

We parked and went to Emily's work where she gave us a tour and then we were off to the tulips!!

There was every imaginable color and they were all magnificent!!!   I took picture after picture of them and just couldn't stop!!  WOW - they were amazing!!

We all loved seeing the wooden shoes which were painted with a theme!

All the tulips reminded me of my high school days when the marching band would go to Orange City, Iowa to march in the tulip festival parade!  But of course I didn't appreciate the tulips then - I certainly do now!!

We had a delicious lunch at the Holland Brewing Company and then Emily left to head back to work!  We walked around the darling downtown and one of the places we stopped was Cherry Republic - everything in it had SOMETHING to do with cherries!  We did a wine tasting there and sampled their cherry salsa - oh my gosh, it was good!!  So of course I had to buy some to bring home!

To Be Cont'd

May Tidbits

May - crazy weather and busy!!  I think May has always been that way!

The Saturday before Mothers Day we headed down to Co. Springs early (leaving the house at 7:00am!!) for Kylan's 8:00 soccer game!  It's always fun to see him play and his team is again very good this year as they've only lost 1 game!

After stopping for a quick bagel and coffee, we headed to a surprise 70th birthday party for a good 4-H friend - her daughter put on the party and we enjoyed a great brunch and seeing a lot of acquaintances!

Sunday was Mother's Day - and none of the girls were coming down (and Jaime had to work) since we are celebrating it at a later date!  So I decided to make myself chocolate covered strawberries!!  Yes, they were delicious!!

That morning we were both woken up early - to the tune of 5:30!! - by a bird flying into the window above our bed!  It just kept hitting the window and then sitting there!  After we got up, we saw it was a robin and after hitting the window, then it would fly back into the tree!  Soon I noticed there were 2 robins and they would take turns flying into the window and then sitting there!!

Pretty strange - there are lots of "ideas" written about robins and the one I chose to believe is that someone that has died is coming back to tell you they love you and miss you!  Saturday was my mom's death date and Sunday was my dad's birthday!!  And for an update - the robin STILL wakes us up about 5:30 each morning - not sure what to do to prevent that but at least they are not flying into the window as much - I was sure they'd get brain damage from that!!
 

Glenn has been searching for a "side by side" since last fall - and has really been looking since we got home from Mexico!!  We had a list of things we wanted on it and one of the main things was a heater and full doors and windshield.  And there was hardly ever a heater in any of the ones for sale!!

But I checked Craigs List about noon on Sunday and one had just been posted - exactly what we wanted!!!  I emailed him and said we were very interested and could come down on Monday, which is what we did!!  And we're now the owners of this side by side and can't wait to take it out!! (and yes it does have full doors and windshield, they're just not on)!!  And Glenn is really thrilled about the mounted scabbards for hunting!!

A Whirlwind In Denver

What a fun time we had in Denver this last week!  I knew there was a lot of events going on and I was thankful that I was feeling good enough to enjoy all of them!

Monday evening was Evan's 6th grade band concert!  He plays the saxophone (very well I might add for only starting it this last school year!) and loves playing in band!  The concert was great and we
really enjoyed it !

Tuesday morning I caught Papa reading to Gwyn!

 Jessi and I went out for coffee Tuesday morning while Papa watched Gwyn!  It was Caribou and oh so good!!

And then we were off to Gwyn's gymnastics!  She looked so cute out there and does great!

 After Gary got home from work Tuesday afternoon we headed to Costco - we don't have a membership (yet!!) so it was fun to walk around and not only taste all the samples but to buy some stuff as well!!  I've discovered they have the BEST cheese bagels!!

The weather was NOT great the entire time we were up there and Wednesday morning it was raining for the Mothers Day program and brunch at Gwyn's pre-school!!

Gwyn did wonderful reciting the cute little song for their moms and afterwords we went downstairs for a very nice brunch!

 I forgot we went to Kenzie's school to eat lunch with her after gymnastics on Tuesday!  She got to invite one friend to the special table and we enjoyed visiting with them!

Jessi had to work after the brunch on Wed. so Gwyn and I played the day away..........and that evening it was Kenzie's time to shine at her choir concert!

They did one song from each decade and it was so good!!!  Of course I knew all of the songs so that made it even better!!!

And Thursday morning we headed home in the snow!!   What a great time at the Keppys and so fun to go to all of the events!