Quite a difference between biking the seawall of Galveston and biking the mountains of Colorado. My trusty old Panama Jack did just fine on the flat terrain with gulf breezes cooling me as I went. While Golden doesn’t quite reach the temperatures of Galveston, the incline of the mountainside trails makes up for it and then some. Ebike is the coming thing among mountain bikers who want to take in the scenery and fresh air, but not kill themselves in the process. Mother’s Day seemed the perfect time to surprise Ika with an ebike large enough to carry both kiddos without a strain. This way she can keep up with Matt while he pedals a plain ole mountain bike:) Matt swears he is a purist, in it for the exercise. You will notice he has already “borrowed” it several times. I’m betting he will get one sooner rather than later, himself. As for me, I’m in it for the exercise. I know full well if I have the option of turning on the power, I will never again breath hard as I climb Mount Galbraith. Isn’t breathing hard the point?

To cool off, there is always the Clear Creek pouring down from the Rockies. It’s crystal clear mountain water, which is what attracted Coors to settle their beer brewery at the end of the creek. Coors really is made from fresh mountain water, probably the least polluted beer on the planet, but it’s still beer to me (not a fan:) New neighbors, Jessica and Mark (originally Nasa engineers from our neck of the woods) invited Matt on a float about. Everyone from Texas knows about the famous river floats on the Guadalupe River in the hill country. Clear Creek compares nicely, and believe it or not is even colder. As you can see from the pictures, it takes a bit of wading into before exposing the behind to the frigid currents. It was reminiscent of many floats we did as a family back in the day. A nostalgic Sunday as I think back to the Guadalupe trips. So glad they settled in Golden.

The celebration of our nation’s independence comes the day after our newest family citizen celebrates her birthday. Ika was born the day before July Fourth, which makes it easy to remember, as family and friends celebrate her birth, her new citizenship, and our country’s birth as well. Friends from Houston, Melissa and Brent, came to help us celebrate with wine, flowers, and their special “Italian” rendition of Thai Drunk Noodles (amazing stuff:). It was wonderful to share the evening discussing future plans for a mountain chalet for them, and ideas for a Winter Park place for my grandkids to learn to ski as well. Brent was a wealth of information, as he grew up skiing Winter Park, and his mom still lives there. I need all the help I can get, as real estate in the mountains of Colorado has gone from the ridiculous to the sublime:) My plan is to continue to pray for a miracle! The next morning, we dressed in our finest red, white, and blue (even the black lab Sambuca) for a memorable photo opp. It was hard to see them go, but we promised to meet again and collaborate after they tour Winter Park with their realtor.

The evening of the fourth came slowly, as we were so excited to see fireworks over the city for the first time. Golden is nestled in a valley surrounded by North Table Mountain, South Table Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and Mount Galbraith. As night darkened the mountains, the city came alive with lights that cast eerie shadows on the surrounding foothills. Matt’s neighborhood is built into the side of Mount Galbraith, which gave us a perfect view of the city below. The first fireworks flashed an iridescent green over the city, then came the red bursts, and finally one that was reminiscent of a UFO, followed by a red heart laying on its side. For this salt water soul, I always felt the call to the gulf for the fireworks display, but this year I learned that the mountains can be pretty amazing also. Maybe next year we will see them from Winter Park?

The Texas-side of the family arrived just before the cold front, so off we went to discover Evergreen before the monsoon set in. Lake Evergreen was awesome on this blue-sky day, and it was a perfect hike for Ivy and Hazel to break in their walking shoes:) We found a local biker-bar-restaurant beside the creek for replenishment before the hike back. Unfortunately the monsoon caught up with us as we were eating. Matt and Tres valiantly ran back for the car while the girls (plus Bo:) waited under cover. The next day was a mandatory couch-potato experience as we watched the rain move in. The Texans were happy to enjoy a bit of cool weather before returning to the Texas summer anyway. They looked at it as an “air conditioned” outdoor experience.

After exhausting all ideas for indoor entertainment, we braved the cool rain to hike around Clear Creek in Golden. Surprisingly we found a surfer battling the current for an uphill ride; there’s always one:) As if that wasn’t challenging, Matt convinced the Texans to hike North Table. This particular hike is the most difficult I have discovered thus far. It’s wide enough for the family, and there is enough gravel for the strollers; but the incline is literally breathtaking. At least my breath was taken away, as I had to stop for “breathers” four times on the way up. As you can see, the girls were way ahead of the rest of the fam. I think there’s something to be said for “low center of gravity.” As the day ended, a double rainbow appeared over our Golden, lifting everyone’s spirits. We knew then that the rest of the trip was going to be blessed with blue skies and sunshine.

For our family photographer/landscape expert, we had to do Denver Botanical Gardens before heading for Winter Park. The girls were great with Bo, guiding him through the maze of gardens to the playground. It was heartwarming to see the cousins bond so quickly. The most interesting display for me was the Bee Hotel. Logs were stacked with small holes drilled for easy entry (if you’re a bee:) Fortunately for us, the bees seemed to be out foraging while we were there.

While the guys headed for Safeway, the girls headed for a nearby Winter Park trail to discover the area. It was my first taste of Winter Park and I was pleasantly surprised at the number of restaurants, biking/hiking trails, and small villages to explore. There was still snow on the ski slopes, even though the temperatures rose into the 70’s in the valley. It was so good to see the girls peel off their sweaters and hop on their bikes in t-shirts. We did a “drive about” through the Rockies nearby to discover all possible choices for a permanent family “ski lodge”. At first I was adamant that we needed to be in very close proximity to the slopes; but as we neared Lake Granby the entire family fell in love with this beautiful mountain lake. There is a small ski resort nearby, Ski Granby, for days when you wouldn’t want to drive in to Winter Park. Even more interesting was the mountain bike lift there that brought many downhill mountain bikers to the area. A lot to ponder as we research realtor.com. At the end of each day, beer or soda in hand, the family relaxed in the hot tub. So many things to enjoy in the Rockies, no matter what the season. Can’t wait for the next visit!

It was a different kind of Mother’s Day for me; no sand, no salt spray, no seagulls, but plenty of mountainous beauty to share with the grandangels of Golden. We started with a walkabout in downtown, happening upon some local bluegrass talent. As we searched for just the right picnic fare, we found most restaurants had an hour wait (even for takeout:) No problem for us, Matt had a secret in reserve for just such an occasion, Bob’s Burgers on the backside of downtown. Outrageously good fries, onion rings and sweet tator fries made for the best picnic food I can remember.

The weather was absolutely perfect with a cloudless blue sky and fresh green grass finally blanketing the recently snow-white park. Bo was so busy visiting all the other park goers, I couldn’t catch a still shot of him. Next year will be even more challenging when Hanna starts running after him. After stuffing our faces with more fries and burgers than we should have, off on a riverwalk we went. So many moms enjoyed this beautiful day on Clear Creek, it was heartwarming to see families honoring the undeniable “queen” of the family. This was a blessed day for all of Golden in so many ways.

A full and completely exhausted family headed home for some R&R just in time to see the beginnings of the thunderstorms. As we watched the front move in from the living room window, we realized how absolutely perfect the timing of the day had been. The next few days were predicted to bring chilly, rainy, and even snowy indoor times. We ended the day with soaking baths for the grands, with Hanna and Fritz watching Bo take the first one. Perfect ending to another blessed Mother’s Day.

Two years ago my sister Ruthie and her Cuyler began a cross-country journey in a very spacious 40 foot RV to tour the USA. The journey itself was epic, but also had a goal in mind. They were to find their favorite spot for retirement, buy land, and build their dream home. Watching this journey from afar, I really wasn’t convinced that they would settle far from Texas, which had always been home. They proved to all who knew them, dreams can come true. Lake Douglas in Tennessee was love at first sight for them. There is so much to love about Tennessee, I admit, and the people of the area are every bit as friendly and hospitable as in Texas. Once I arrived for my first visit to the “dream come true”, I got it. The yard was a pathway for wild turkey, the next door neighbor tended his vineyard daily, a local herd of deer bedded down on some level ground nearby, and there was plenty of acreage left over for a stable with a few horses for the grandkids. Cuyler finally bought his “dream” tractor to mow the expanse, which will be his retirement project in the summers. Ruthie is just beginning to plan out the landscaping, which will take years to complete. So much land, so little time:)

There is so much to love about the house itself, I don’t know where to begin. The matching arched ceilings into the downstairs and upstairs bedroom areas were beyond anything I had ever thought of. The interior beams matched the arches, and extended to the exterior front porch bringing the outside in. The kitchen accommodates black stainless steel appliances, which I now must have in the next house. Countertops were of soapstone, which provided a less polished finish than the typical granite, but was surprisingly resilient when wiped clean with a little water and soap. This must be fairly new, as I don’t recall seeing it in Architectural Digest yet. A magnificent fireplace/tv wall was the focal point of the living room, and came in handy in the chilly evenings. My favorite, though, was the enormous shower they had built for our Dad’s comfort. It was complete with a comfortable boat-styled chair and wooden shutters to let in the morning light. There was nothing like waking to a rain head shower and plenty of time to soak it all in (no grandbabies at the door:) As I arrived on Ruthie’s birthday, we had to do something special to celebrate. They had been thinking of driving in to Dollywood for the Stampede dinner theater, so off we went.

The show was spectacular, particularly if you love trick horseback riding with a patriotic theme. It certainly was reminiscent of a Dolly Parton inspired show of patriotism, American history, and some extremely talented trick riding. The buffalo roundup was only to be exceeded by the longhorn exhibition. My personal favorite was the trick rider who brought her horse up to, and through, a ring of fire. I can’t even imagine the training required for such a feat. At the end of the show, this inspired Ruthie to begin thinking of “rescuing” some of these beautifully trained horses at the end of their spectacular career. I promised to bring my grandangels for a visit to see this up close and personal. The trip was far too short to do it all, so we agreed on my next visit to take the trail ride tour of the Biltmore grounds by horseback. Can’t wait!

The old Clear Lake HS gang came up for the usual Texas ski week, which all Texans know is mandatory for the spring season. Since the boys were old enough to ski (and later snowboard) a mountain ski trip was a traditional part of family vacations. The memories were always special, so when Matt and the Swede (Ika) looked around the country for the perfect spot to raise a family, it was no surprise that they chose the mountains of Colorado. This has made them very popular among the Clear Lake crowd for a destination sight. This year Shane D, Matt P, and Chad came to try the slopes of Winter Park, near Golden. After pushing their limits on the slopes, they stopped by on the last day to discover a bit of hiking in the Golden area. North Table is known for its extremely steep incline, so much so that even the locals find it challenging. Much to our surprise, the guys were up for it. Considering they came from sea level elevation to the mile high area, they did very well on their first hike.

I found the positive of being the photographer in that it was a great excuse for stopping every so often on the climb to capture a shot as we headed to the top. That was a great excuse to take a breather, which I assure you was much needed. As the group stood at the top of North Table, I noticed we were missing Chad. We looked around, and finally up, as he had found an even higher summit to reach, Northquarry. As he waved the crowd on, I settled in on a nice rock to capture their descent. The final shot included Denver in the background, which made us realize how close to civilization we still were. Next year, on to Gem Lake!

Last Easter in Golden was a snow-covered winter wonderland which left us with wonderful memories of how special Colorado is. This Easter reminded us of the 300 plus sunny days warming us in the Denver area. Like a box of chocolates, you never know what you might get. We had a spring-like weekend, with barefoot kids wading in Clear Creek; and while there wasn’t much greenery yet, there was plenty of warming sun. After a walk along the creek and last minute shopping in downtown Golden, Ika and I decided to head for the mountains while Matt was flying others home for the holidays. Evergreen is a favorite mountain village with quaint rustic shops, brick streets, and the general feeling of being in the 19th century. We stopped for coffee and pastries at our favorite Muddy Duck, which is just down the street from the best Vietnamese in Colorado, Saigon Landing. Evergreen Lake, being much higher in the Rockies, was still partially frozen and edged with snow. It feels amazing to walk the edge of this frozen lake in a t-shirt and jeans. When the sun is out and the air is dry, you would be surprised at how little you need to wear for comfort. It made me think of the bikini-clad snow bunnies that frequent the slopes this time of year. Mountain dogs are popular up here and can obviously take the icy breeze from the convertible their dad drives. You never know what you’re going to see in these little mountain towns.

Monday, Matt returned from flying the rest of America safely home from their Easter. We had a special celebration waiting for him, with Ika’s amazing Swedish dishes and baskets for the kids. The beet and goat cheese salad made me want to just fill up on that alone, but then there were caviar-filled eggs, marinated salmon, the traditional swedish meatballs, boiled potatoes with gravy, and daim cake with coffee for desert. After such a meal of course we had to go on a hike to work off at least a few of the calories. This was Hanna’s first Easter celebration and it looked like she enjoyed everything in the basket and then some. Next year we hope to have the Austin family together with us once again, like old times:)

Winter on the island usually brings a very damp environment with more than a little fog. When I first arrived, it was difficult to see past the palm trees. The waves could be heard off in the distance, but not seen. Fortunately, the next morning brought much needed sunshine. It seems so much more enjoyable after a foggy week. For me, it is a time for indoor projects, working on the next book, clearing the closets, etc. This year has been more challenging, as most of my time has been in Colorado, helping with the grands. Bo started PreK-3 and Hanna continues to dominate Ika’s time while she nurses. The place definitely needed a bit of organizing.

One of the things I love most about the island is the excellent medical support at UTMB. This past year, it became more important than ever as COVID spread across the nation. Our island hospital, Jeannie Sealy, was one of the first in the nation to acquire the Pfizer vaccine, which requires extreme low temperatures to maintain quality. Our Texas governor opened up the vaccine to all over 65, which gave me an “in”. I was thrilled to take the first shot in early January. My arm was a bit sore, but other than that, no side effects. I was a little apprehensive when I came back for the second shot, as there was much said online about more difficult side effects. My second shot was scheduled after I had some time to enjoy the island, as I wasn’t sure how I would feel after.

Mardi Gras would normally take over the island with decorations, parades, and events leading up to Ash Wednesday. I did find one decorated house as I drove around the island, and a cool historic barbershop. It was a sad commentary of the virus-inflicted year, but I’m sure it will make next year even more spectacular when the balls and parades return. The parade I miss most, of course, was the Galveston Humane Society Parade in support of the adoptables on the island. I always brought out my “puppy dog” outfit to help carry the banner through the streets of downtown Galveston. Bittersweet memories of this favorite time of year, bring hope that next year will be better than ever.

There is still so much to see of Galveston’s culture and art. Bishop’s Palace, the Cathedral, and the new Phoenix created this year by a local artist to give us hope. Even if you stay in your vehicle, there is always something new and exciting to view.

And there is always the seafood! Fresh shrimp can be had, right off the boats. This is something I really do miss about the gulf. Shrimp & grits is a hands-down favorite. What can be better to start the day? I had to leave my precious island within hours of the second shot, to insure I would be over the effects of the second shot and ready to grand babysit. The visit was short but sweet.