trip to colorado

Saturday AM I embarked on a trip with my parents to have a little vacation in Estes Park, CO. This is a place that they have visited often, particularly in September after tourist season. Yesterday I drove about 450 miles in Iowa and Nebraska (Go Big Red!) and today another 250 or so to end up at the Saddle and Surrey Motel which will be our lodging for the week. This is their favorite place to stay, the rooms are very comfortable, extremely clean, and include kitchenettes in some. It feels good to be in one spot for a bit.

On our last leg of the trip, from Loveland to Estes Park (about 25 miles of winding road) we warily watched billowing smoke not far from our road. Thankfully, the fire was over another ridge so did not cause any problems for us, but I am sure someone somewhere is thinking otherwise. I hope it is not near any towns or areas of population. The people we talked to in Loveland said it had only started this morning. It definitely is dry around here. Smokey Bear says the fire danger is Extreme!

We will be setting out for a walk this afternoon and connecting with my Aunt and Uncle who are also vacationing here right now. It is a beautiful sunny sky and 75 degrees. Yay! That is my favorite temperature!

lots of miles

Tonight finds me in York, NE, at the end of another good day. Had a short stop at Material Girl Fabrics in Grand Island this evening, just before closing. It is a place to return to when I have more time. More unusual fabrics than almost any other store I have visited. Joanne was working and was very reasonable about accommodating my late arrival, if we hadn't lost an hour today it would have worked out much better! Dinner tonight at Chances R in York as recommended by Joanne was very tasty.

The odometer turned over to 200,000 miles in my trusty little Saturn as we flew along the interstate in western NE near Ogallala this morning. It was cause for a little (very little) celebration. We purchased this car in 2000, so that gives you an idea of all the driving I do! This drive has been so much more enjoyable than the last time we did it which was December 2007 through ice and snow and blizzard conditions. There was a lot of pretty scenery that I didn't see on that trip because the visibility was so poor and we were just trying to stay on the road! Tomorrow night we should be home in our own bed again, which will be very welcome!

on a break

I've been away for a few days without adequate time nor consistent internet to be able to post much here. But tonight I am going to sneak in a little note and a couple pictures to show what has been happening. Spent the weekend in San Francisco for nephew Scott's wedding to Katie, it was a wonderful event for all of us. Most of our immediate family was there, although we badly missed Nora, but she was busy saving lives so we had to struggle along without her. Plus since several of us are/have been nurses we all understand the joys and crap of the schedule! Anyway, here are the cousins at the wedding reception:

Also missing from the picture is Serra, who was a bridesmaid but sick in bed most of the time, we all felt badly for her. Her precious little Aurora was the flower girl, being held in the picture by daddy Nathan. Katie was seated in this photo because she had an ice pack on her wounded big toe, a nasty cut from a freak accidental encounter with a chair, but it didn't slow her down for long at all. Did get blood all over her beautiful shoes which was the worst tragedy of the night!

The floral centerpieces were a wonderful collection of deep red flowers and berries. I loved all the shades and tones, would make a wonderful quilt!

Bob and I are making a road trip to get back home, tonight we are in Rawlins, WY, and had dinner at a very good restaurant called the Aspen House, if you ever find yourself near here you must go there. Tomorrow takes us into Nebraska and I have a couple quilt shop stops planned!