The YMCA Camp…finally!

It has been a few years since I have stayed at the YMCA Camp in Estes Park. For the past two years, I have opted for adventures on the Western Slope, since there was so much to be found in my own back yard. Being back in Denver finds Estes Park in my own backyard once again. I was able to make a cabin reservation for this past weekend, and made it a long one at that, with check in on Saturday and check out today. I invited the family along for the fun, as well as, of course, my girl. As I reflect back, the last time I stayed at the YMCA Camp I had Chester and Stanley. How I managed to travel with those two energetic boys amazes me sometimes. Rene is different-much more mellow, though still shy and I still have nightmares she will escape her lead, never to be seen again. Nothing like that happened; rather, we enjoyed a nice weekend. Robert and Dad stayed Sat-Sun and Mom kept on with me and Rene until this morning. It was lovely, as always, and there are still countless reasons why I think the YMCA Camp is up there with Disneyland as one of the happiest places on Earth!

Robert drove with me and Rene…Car selfie!

Robert and Dad hiked The Alluvial Fan in RMNP

Outside the Admin building at the camp, resting after the morning's activities

"I suppose I will take a wooden porch since a bed isn't available…"

What I love about the camp…smatterings of beautiful flowers and cozy sitting areas

Our cabin…"Cedar"…built in the past 5 years so updated and spacious

So much to see and do!

When we got in, we drove to RMNP and had a little something to eat at Sheep Lakes. We drove to the Alluvial Fan, and since dogs can't hike the trails Robert and Dad went; Mom, Rene and I stayed behind. We drove through the park and to the YMCA where we sipped coffee on the porch of the administration building. I was brave and let Robert walk Rene around, making sure her lead was on tight and showing him very carefully how to walk a dog…oh boy, am I protective! She took to him like "white on rice" and showed no trepidation as he walked with her. The family went downtown and then to church; Rene and I checked into the cabin and got settled. We ate dinner in the cabin and played a few rounds of Bingo. Sunday morning, after leisurely coffee drinking, walks around the property, and a game of disc golf between Robert and me (such a beautiful and well marked course!) Dad and Robert left, leaving the girls to get ourselves into trouble. We drove to Mary's Lake, then walked the Riverwalk. We returned to the cabin, had lunch, and I got a massage in the "massage cabin" and walked The Labrinth. Mom and Rene hung out. We ordered pizza through the YMCA and after dinner played Scrabble and Gin Rummy. This morning we woke up, and left around 10am.

Until next time, dear YMCA Camp! Who knows when that will be. It could be a spontaneous weekend anytime in the near future, or not again until next summer. But when we meet again, I know we will pick up right where we left off!

The Birthday Guy!

Dad's birthday was this weekend. It wasn't a milestone birthday, just yet, but we celebrated all the same!

We started out with mini-golf at the South Suburban course in Englewood…

Later, we moseyed over to Maggiano's for a filling and delicious dinner...

And then back to the folks' house for cake and gifts!

Dad, I hope your birthday showed you how special you are to all of us!

A girls trip to Winter Park

Mom, Rene and I took a little trip to Winter Park today and are staying the night at the Best Western. We had quite the adventurous day! We left around 9am this morning, wandered around the ski village, drove to Devil's Thumb Ranch to look around and hung out in Cooper Creek Square for some shopping. Rene did so well! This was her first time really wandering around town and around where all the people are. The ski village was abuzz with mountain bikers, kids, families, and she did so good with all the people approaching her to try to pet her. We are hanging out in the hotel room and are pretty much done for the day. Tomorrow we will head back to Denver after taking a little walk on Fraser Trail.

We stopped at the top of Berthoud Pass…very beautiful views!

Mom in the ski village…those flowers are bigger than her!

Devils' Thumb Ranch…the little things that make it so welcoming

Ahhh…that view!

Rene and me in the village

Winter Park does public flowers soooo well!

Cute little Cooper Creek Square

Stopping and smelling the flowers

What's next, Mom?

Someone is starting to get comfortable

Rene has come a long way.

She can now spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's and enjoy all the love and attention she gets. She now sleeps on my bed. She plays with new dog friends and is starting to take treats from her people friends.

She is definitely coming into her own!

 Rene and her new friend Sammy

Rene taking treats from human friend Greg's hands

The big "3" and Art Nite

Yesterday, Rene turned 3! She had a special day. We woke up, and took a walk at a nearby park. We came home and she opened her gift of 4 new toys-a tennis ball, a squeaky pig, a rope toy and a squeaky ball. I bought her some special peanut butter baked treats and she enjoyed quite a few. We looked outside and saw Rene's friend, Ziggy, playing in "the quad" so we went out and brought Ziggy a treat and played with him for a bit. Last night, I had two friends over for "Art Nite"-my friend, Kristin, and also a gal I met where I volunteer. Rene really showed her personality by running around and even barking. Kristin was able to pet her at one point! She is really coming around. During "Art Nite" we sat around, drank some wine, and did crafty things together. It was a really fun day and evening, and I hope Rene knew it was a special day!

The Birthday Girl

 Getting supplies ready for "Art Nite"

 Rebecca and Kristin

Rene finally getting comfy with people

The big 7-5

I know it isn't cool to advertise a woman's age. But, there are just those milestones that you can't escape. Like, me, facing forty. Or my mom turning seventy-five this weekend.

We had planned for weeks what to do. We meaning Robert, Dad and I. We talked about a surprise party, or a trip to the mountains, or something like that. But, in the end, we opted for cozy time at home and a little time on the farm. The White Fence Farm, that is. We did have a few tricks up our sleeves to make the day super special.

The eve of The Big Day, Saturday afternoon, I took a bouquet of flowers and a few other special treats over to the house while Mom and Dad were at church. I guess, when Mom came home, she was surprised and wondered how those flowers got inside. The next day, her birthday, July 19th started out with a visit from Rene and me and I brought the cake that I ordered with a special birthday wish along with the caramel ribbon gelato that is scrumptious. Rene played in the yard, got in her pool, laid in the grass. She showed Grandma extra special attention. She let Grandpa chase her around the yard. I dropped her off back at home and got ready, heading back to Mom and Dad's for an early dinner a the White Fence Farm. It is a very cute, very down-home restaurant in Littleton/Lakewood with good food, a petting zoo, little gift shops, a candy store, and live music. We wandered around, and then ate, and then listened to a few tunes. Back at our home front, we surprised Mom with a DVD a cousin lovingly put together with pretty much every home movie from Mom's side of the family. We popped it in the DVR and watched much of the DVD, with tears of nostalgia and laughter, both at ourselves from the 1980's and just the fun of it all.

After the DVD we had a lovely cake with "Happy 75th Birthday, Betty!" Iced on top. A few presents here and there. Did I mention it is my parents' anniversary, too? Celebrating 46 years of marriage, my parents' anniversary sometimes gets put aside during birthday festivities. But the years of love and dedication to each other can never be put aside.

 Rene spending some time in the pool

 Drying off in the sun

 A group selfie attempt

 A Mom and Me selfie

 The wonderful couple

 The lovely birthday girl

A peacock who needed to be a part of the festivities

This greyhound was Delta bound

I found out the Palisade Lavender Festival was this weekend. Mom, Dad and I went last year when I lived in Montrose and it was a delightful time. I have been wanting to get to the Western Slope again, and thought this would be the perfect weekend. I texted some friends, who would be around to meet up here and there during my short time on the other slope. I decided it was time for Rene and I to see if we can spend more than an overnight together on a little trip.

Friday we left before 8am to get to Delta by 1pm and visit my previous co-workers at the Delta office. I was listening to a CD from 2005 with KBCO songs on it and as we were driving to Delta Marc Broussard's "Home" came on. "This Greyhound is Delta Bound.." Of course, he was alluding to New Orleans, but it was quite serendipitous fun.

We got to Delta and saw some really great people at the hospice. We spent about an hour there, and Rene tolerated everyone gushing over how beautiful she is pretty well. After an hour of catching up, I headed to Grand Junction to check into the dog friendly hotel I chose, not far from Palisade and a place I have stayed before so I know the creature comforts. Rene found her place comfortably on the couch in the hotel. My friend Beth who lives in GJ picked up some food to go and came to the hotel. She is getting married in August and so it was fun to hear how the plans are going. She and her beau are marrying in Denver, so I get to see her execute all the plans she told me about. Later, we got to see that beautiful Western sky from the windows before Beth had to get home to her sister coming to town. Rene and I woke up early this morning and walked Main Street, something early in the morning seems to be more pleasant with a cool breeze and window shopping than in the hot sun with all the people.

We went to the lavender festival around 9am and I wasn't prepared for all the attention my beautiful girl would get. We were approached from every direction, people wanting to pet her and find out more about greyhounds. I don't know why I thought we could slide under the radar, but look at that face! How could you not want to pet and kiss it?

My friend Jenny who works at the Grand Junction hospice office met us there. We kind of hurried through, as Rene was not really all that comfortable in the crowd. Well, let's just say she was downright miserable. People crowded her on all sides, and at one point she tried to jump up on a table. Thankfully, it wasn't full of expensive lavender goods, but it was the nonverbal communication I needed to get my girl to quieter ground.

Jenny and I found a little spot outside of the festival where we could talk. She is a hospice social worker and went to DU. She is one of those souls who is just unconditionally loving. I hurried our get together and felt like I was acting manic and she just calmly sat there and supported me. Can't you sense her calm nature in her sweet smile?

Rene was pretty much done with it all so we said goodbye to Jenny and headed East. We did stop at an adorable farm stand and got a view of the peach trees in bloom.

I planned for Rene and I to stay in Carbondale because I love the Roaring Fork Valley. We drove to Glenwood and then to Carbondale. We stopped along the way for potty breaks and "eating on the road."

Hotel check-in wasn't until 4pm so we drove around. We went to a park in El Jebel where I captured this relaxing video of the wind blowing through the wildflowers at the park.

We also drove over to Redstone, but I didn't stop for us to get out. Rene had been so overwhelmed during the day I just was happy to "be in" Redstone and feel the artsy fun vibe. I love so much about the Carbondale area, especially the rich landscape and the small houses with fun porches.

We stopped at another walking trail before we could check into the hotel. Rene was kind of over it. Come on Mom!

Now we are all checked into our hotel, and actually tucked away for the night. It was a long day, and Rene had pushed her comfort zones so many times today I am respecting her need to be her own introverted self for the night. But, Shhhh….I don't think this is proper hotel protocol (how will I explain one adult used both queen beds?) but for the moment, my girl is content.