Rocky Mountain High

We returned from Colorado yesterday afternoon, having had a wonderful weekend in the Rockies.  Previous to this weekend, neither Ron nor I have had any experience with high elevations.  It was a bit of a surprise to us, the effect that we both experienced, mostly shortness of breath while cutting rug on the dance floor at the wedding reception!

The cabin we rented was charming.  It was built in 1912 but has received some modern updates, such as indoor plumbing and electricity.  Still it had a rustic feel, but comfortable.

The cabin we rented for the weekend.  We all enjoyed sitting out on this deck in the morning sun.

Street view of the cabin.

We all got a laugh out of this Boston Baked Beans pot that was in the cabin kitchen!

The view from our cabin.

Roni and David fixed breakfast every morning in our cabin kitchen.

The breakfast chefs!

Another view of the cabin kitchen. 

Eating lunch one day in the screened porch at the cabin.  

Saturday morning, before the wedding, we spent a few hours mucking around downtown Estes Park.  It's a small tourist town at the mouth of the Rocky Mountain National Park.  We were told by one shop owner, that they expect between 3.5 and 4 million visitors each summer.  Can you imagine?  We were very happy to have been there this weekend, rather than at the height of tourist season.  It's easy to see why it's a popular destination.  The scenery is spectacular.

The view towards the National Park from downtown Estes Park.

A fun sculpture at the end of town.

Roni, David and Dara playing on a xylophone near the mountain goat sculpture.

A tranquil little creek ran through Estes Park.

Roni and David couldn't resist playing in the water.  Dara too, though she isn't pictured here.

Tranquil this year, but we learned that last year this creek flooded, causing significant damage downstream, which is still being repaired.  

Blaine and Jenn's wedding was beautiful.  The venue they chose was breathtaking.  Behind them was a sheer rock mountain, framed by two trees. You could not help but feel awed in the presence such a display by Mother Nature!

The view from guest seating at the wedding.  Truly breathtaking!

Guest seating for the wedding.  Padded seats were provided as well as light blankets for chilly guest.  Though, the weather was warm, especially given it was the end of March.  60 degrees at wedding time!

Blaine and Jenn.  Makes me cry again, looking at the photo.  They are so happy together.

An image of the wedding party and the mountain. 

Married!  Blaine and Jenn Evans!!

The wedding reception was held in a beautiful facility, constructed to blend in to the surroundings and still accommodate crowds.  We were so impressed and appreciated all that went in to this particular setting, as well as the attention to detail that Blaine and Jenn devoted to their guests.

A look at the wedding reception area from the balcony.

Roni, David and Dara, goofing around on the dance floor.

Roni, Blaine and Dara.

Another photo of Dara, Blaine and Roni. These three were inseparable during their four years of college at Saint Martin's University.  Still best of friends and so supportive of one another.

There was a photo booth at the wedding reception.  Here's David  and one of his costume choices!

David, Roni and another wedding guest being silly at the photo booth!

Sunday afternoon we went on a short hike outside of Loveland CO.  It was on a well used trail and the feature was a unique rock formation called Devil's Backbone.  Still feeling the effects of the altitude, we were content with the easy climb and the two mile round trip!

Sunday afternoon hike at Devil's Backbone outside Loveland, CO

A portion of the backbone.

We kept a close eye out for rattle snakes!

Another view of the backbone.

Me, catching my breath!!!

Dara took this nice photo of us.

More of the backbone.  I guess this would be a vertebrae.

Roni, David and Dara.  Dara lives and teaches middle school English in Denver, so she was able to talk all through the hike, where the rest of us just concentrated on breathing!

Roni and David at "the Keyhole" in the Devil's Backbone.

Me and Reynald at the same place.

Reynald proving that he is still fit and able to take a deep breath!

Back home on Monday we found things just the way we had left them, though we noticed that the wheat has grown and more daffodils are blooming!  Baxter was happy to see us, though not ecstatic! He loves it when Louise is here to farm sit, so I don't think he misses us much!

Today the wind is blowing like crazy, so we'll both take advantage of an indoor day.

We're leaving, on a jet plane....

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go.......ok, not quite ready, but close.  We're leaving on a very early flight tomorrow morning for Denver.  Blaine is getting married!!!  Blaine and Roni and Dara were all best buddies in college.  Blaine spent some time here on the farm, even harvested for a couple weeks one summer.  We had tons of fun and we know that he is marrying a wonderful girl.  We're anxious to meet her and so happy to be part of their weekend.

Wow, it was spring today!  I wish I could post smells!  It smelled like spring today.  I think spring smells like soil and growing plants.  I wish I could bottle it up, but then I love the smell of summer and fall too, so I guess I'll just enjoy each, when it's time!

I took a few photos tonight, right as the sun was setting.  I intended to do that a little earlier, but just didn't get around to it.  I worked like 60 all day, hauling water and fertilizer to my spray boy, (we finished spraying the winter wheat today....yipee!!!!) and working in the yard and garden.  I tried my best to focus and finish what I started, instead of bouncing here and there.  That took a lot of energy, the focus part!

Better stop and finish packing.  Leaving home is hard for me.  The really good part of this leaving though, is meeting Roni and David in Denver, seeing Dara and of course Blaine and Jenn's wedding.

These daffodils have burst in to bloom the last two days.

A little closer look.  I love daffodils!!

The autumn flame maple tree is about to burst,

A little closer look.  I keep saying it, but it's so early for all of this to be happening.

The quaking aspen are also ready to burst in to leaf.

I can't believe how these trees have grown.  They were just twigs a few years ago when I planted them.  

The weeping cherry tree is also just starting to bloom.  By the time we get home it will be in full bloom.

This is such a pretty tree.

Spring chicks

This past weekend was the Stitchin' Chicks spring retreat here in our barn.  It's always so much fun!  We were a smaller group this time, some of the usual suspects had things that prevented them from being at the barn.   Of course they were missed, but we felt obligated to carry on without them, knowing that they will be here in the fall.

As always we did a lot of sewing, a lot of talking, and a lot of eating.  Meals were lovingly prepare and consumed.  The snack table in the barn was laden with yummy treats, both sweet and savory. Stories were shared and distributed.  AND, a little sewing, knitting and crocheting took place!

Beth and I were visiting early Sunday morning in the barn, (5am!) as we were sewing.   We both agreed that Sunday is our least favorite day of the weekend, because everyone packs up and leaves! The good news is that there is a retreat to look forward to in the fall!

Here are a few photos of the weekend.  As I was looking through these pictures, I realized how much I neglected to capture. For example, there aren't any photos of the pot holder exchange, or the chicken feed bags that Beth and I made for everyone, (made from saved bags of chicken feed) or the 40 pillow cases that some of the chicks made to be given to to organizations who work to remove children from dangerous or abusive environments. Grandma Nancy alone, made 30 pillow cases from her stash to donate to the cause!  Anyway, I will do a better job in November but until then, there will probably be more farm photos than sewing!

Claudia and Barb toasting dinner, with Cheryl and Nan in the background.

Sisters, Emily and Sarah with Their grandma Nancy!

Sometime Reynald joins us for meals.  Left over signs on the wall from Roni's college basketball days!  Here we have Ronnie Mielke standing under the Roni Mielke signs!

Barb working on a really fun floral quilt for a friend.

She finished piecing the top before the weekend was over!  It was so wonderful.  Made you smile to look at it!

Martha and Claudia talking about something!  You can see Martha's quilt in the background,  The blue one.  It is a gift for a friend who is having a baby soon.  Turned out so cool!

Nan working on a baby quilt too!  This one for her new grandson.  Nan likes to choose projects that would provoke insanity in most of us!  This one, in particular, is paper pieced animals, very small pieces to make up these darling blocks.

A wise owl will be part of baby Nathan's wildlife quilt!

And a bat......a few more animals came to completion before the weekend came to a close!

Here's another insanity project.....this one by Cheryl.  A paper pieced Mariner's Compass.  It's just stunning!

More baby related projects.  Kathy made a few crib sheets to have on hand to use as gifts as the need arose.  I absolutely love this farm themed fabric!

The knitting and crochet crowd!

 This is a really fun project that Emily did with her first, First Grade class!  She had each child do a hand print on a piece of fabric.  Students also got to embellish beyond the hand print.  Beth went to Emily's classroom for the day to help with this!  Here you can see the whole wall hanging and following will be a few closeups of a couple blocks.  It is an absolutely adorable piece.  A real keepsake!

Sisters Emily and Sarah worked on items to sell on their Etsy website. They have been making darling items, all baby related. Some sewn, some crotchet, some re-purposed items. These two gals worked like crazy all weekend, to add to their cache. Here's a link to their Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DryllersMunchkins?ref=search_shop_redirect

Oh, and one more thing.....the resident expert in this house has requested (about five times each day!) that I notify everyone that if you "left click" on the photos they will enlarge to full screen on your computer or electronic device.  I assured him that most folks know that.  Not everyone is as technologically illiterate as I am, but he insisted that I mention it.  So, here I am, mentioning it!  "Left click on photos to enlarge."