Overnight, or so it seems, that beautiful green forest of aspens next door suddenly transformed into bright gold. It was a complete surprise to this Texan as I pulled into the Granby neighborhood for the first time this fall. In fact, even driving past the Linke Ranch before arriving was a breathtaking surprise. I had to stop the car on the highway, braving near misses by the 18-wheelers, to capture a rainbow of green pines and golden aspens covering the mountains in the background as the cattle seemed to take it all in stride.

As I stood on the balcony breathing it all in, along came Dora (the deer:) with her yearling in tow. Such a precious sight, as I watched them nibbling on the greenest grass. She did look up once right into my eyes. I assured her she and her baby were safe, so she went back to munching. On the balcony, next door stood Snow Queen (my pet name for the neighbor’s snow white husky). She normally greets me with a cacophony of barking and tail wagging. Not so today. She was quiet as a church mouse as she watched Dora and baby. She looked across at me, staring hard into my eyes as if to say “don’t you make a sound”. So we both gazed adoringly at our local pets. I started worrying about how Dora will find tender grass when it’s all covered in snow. Never fear, I know where corn (aka deer candy:) can be found.

The children followed the next day, hoping the glimpse the golden rainbow I told them about. Unfortunately by then, the fall monsoon had set in. Never fear, there was a cozy fire to warm us up as we watched the thunderstorms come and go. Grandpuppies and grandbabies alike seemed to nestle around the fireplace while the adults discussed all the changes we wanted to make before the spring break crowd comes calling. It was a golden weekend memory.

The Wilcox’s have been searching for a mountain place to call their own since the pandemic started. We watched prices double in just a few years, made an offer on a few more reasonable houses, but nothing seemed to work out for various reasons. Now it is clear that God had a plan, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic about the final outcome. While vacationing at Grand Lake, my real estate-focused daughter-in-law found a jewel in the rough. The online pictures didn’t do the house justice, so I had ignored it for several months. Since we were driving home, directly passing this home, the kids insisted we stop by for a look-see. The front of the house was just a precious little doll house nestled into the side of a mountain, with an aspen-filled yard and a forest of aspens next door. The view from the street was awe-inspiring, with breathtaking views of Granby in the valley below, surrounded by rocky peaks. Then there was Dora the deer, a sure sign from above. The owner was the listing realtor and even though she had family visiting, she graciously offered to show us her home. With a few hours to spare before the showing, we headed to Winter Park for a nice lunch.

We found the Heberts sitting on their balcony surveying their kingdom, their son from NYC had come in to say goodbye to the home he grew up in. They were a salt-of-the-earth mountain-loving family who clearly were dealing with letting go of the place they called home for over two decades. We loved them as much as their home. The views were beyond anything we had seen before, and the floor plan fit our family perfectly. The backdoor neighbor was Linke Ranch (think Yellowstone of Colorado:) One small problem was, although the house was not overpriced for the current market, it was a wee bit more than I had planned for. After sleeping on it, I called my realtor and made an offer, substantially below the asking price. Then, as Mamou has been known to do, I prayed. The answer came back within 12 hours. They took my offer, no counter, no argument! They loved us as much as we loved them. They visualized my grandangels learning to ski and sled down the side of the adjacent hill. They were leaving the piano, which my granddaughters enjoyed while we visited. We had talked of my passion for lowing cattle nearby, something I enjoyed in my youth at our family ranch, LaBelle. They were glad to pass the torch to a family they knew would enjoy their home as much as they had. My realtor, a young man not given to spiritual comment, said it was a “God Thing”.

The rest is history, we headed up for our first weekend in our mountain home after closing. We enjoyed our first night, soaking in the views of the city after dark. Both grandpuppies and grandangels were entranced by the views from the back deck, where I imagine porch swings will be added in the spring. Currently, I’m focused on getting all outside areas prepared for the winter, which can be in the teens more often than not.

The next morning we had to discover the neighborhood hiking trail, then on for brunch at the delicious Fitch Ranch Cafe, complete with a meat market dedicated to the cattle of Fitch Ranch. Their specialty was smores pancakes, which the kids loved, needless to say. In fact, the kids loved just about everything related to Mamou’s mountain house. I look forward to many weekends with the grands, discovering the Rockies. They did sleep peacefully all the way home, which the adults were grateful for.

An August cool-weather adventure awaited the Wilcox’s at the coolest mountain lake we’ve encountered to date. It was a great Airbnb decision as the temperatures have been 100+ in Austin for two months, and not much cooler in Galveston. The weather was picture-perfect with low 50’s at night and mid 70’s in the day. The log cabin had many screened windows to open, fortunately since a/c is not a common amenity in the Colorado mountains. The log cabin was like taking a time machine back to the early 1900’s, with the exception of electric lighting and a very well equipped, modern kitchen. The bedrooms were pleasantly oversized, with a large bunkroom for Mamou and the grandangels. Outside there was an oversized gas firepit for gathering at the day’s end, and a large front porch with thick cushions to sink into while the koi in the pond eagerly feasted on the local insects. We’ve never been so happy and beyond comfortable with a vacation rental.

We couldn’t wait to experience the 60-degree crystal-clear Grand Lake. It was the maiden voyage of our two inflatable paddle boards, and we were pleasantly surprised to find them as stable as my old woody board back in Galveston. All four grandkids, their parental units, and their Mamou managed to circle the local island without falling in. This was a very good thing, as 60-degree water is a bit chilly for the Texans. The suspension bridge nearby provided us with entertainment as the locals leaped into the frigid water, screaming with delight on the way down:) I guess when you hail from Colorado, this is a normal, even warmish, water temperature. This was just the beginning of a very cool vacation (in more ways than one:)

The next water adventure began via a pontoon boat on Lake Granby, the largest natural lake in Colorado. It is surrounded by the Rocky Mountain National Park, leaving us with the feeling of being enveloped in the majesty of America’s most impressive mountain range and yet close to world-class skiing in the winter. The experience just confirmed what we always knew; this was the place for our mountain home. As I launched out on my little paddleboard, with serene still waters and osprey soaring overhead, I felt this was a little piece of heaven on earth. As you know, life can change in a heartbeat. The wind suddenly went from 0 to 60 in a minute, and I couldn’t get back to the boat, try as I might. Fortunately my daughter-in-law Laura was there to save the day. She braved the frigid waters to swim out to me and commandeer the board safely back to the mother ship.

Enough of water adventures for Mamou, so we opted for Grand Lake shopping the next day. Once before, at Christmas, we visited downtown Grand Lake. It was a snow-covered hallmark card in winter, and summer did not disappoint. So many adorable rustic shops to discover, with all the t-shirts and prizes the grands could ever want. There was a large new park to picnic in, just at the foot of the Rockies, while the grownups finally were allowed to sit down for a minute.

At the end of the last day, as we packed to head back to reality, Tres and Laura came across a house in Granby that they really felt fit all of our needs. So, on the way home, we drove past for an outside viewing. It was a good call, as it reminded me of a rustic little doll house with a $1M view. The Linke Ranch (think “Yellowstone” of Colorado) was the back door neighbor, with the town of Granby nestled in the valley below. We decided to stick around Winter Park for lunch while making an appointment with the owner-realtor to peruse the inside. While waiting we discovered the new park near downtown Granby, complete with a snowboarding swing. The house was a jewel, waiting for us to make it our own. We’ll save this discovery for another blog!

Thousands of islanders came to see the first-ever Fourth of July techno-display by 200 drones. No one really knew what to expect, as it had never been done before, but we all knew it was going to be the most spectacular display over the gulf that we had ever witnessed. We came with portable chairs, bbq pits, igloos of beverages, and best of all fireworks in case the drones don’t make it (after all technical difficulties are a given:) Most were seated along the seawall by 8:30 as the show was to begin at 9:15. As soon as darkness descended, the locals brought out their best fireworks to share. That was a very good thing, as 9:15 came and went, as did 9:30 and 9:45. A cheerleader in the crowd started a chant “drone, drone, drone” as one lonely drone appeared over us, surveyed the crowd, and left. Still nothing but the fireworks we brought. Many with small children began to pack up and head home. I refused to give up because I knew technical difficulties were inevitable and there was another show scheduled for 10:30, so I could wait. Finally, a few minutes after ten, the first wave of lights rose up from the gulf waters. Reminiscent of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” there was a roar of approval from the crowd, then an awesome silence as the show began.

The peaceful and unusually quiet display was only broken by occasional cheers from the crowd as each artistic image was transformed as the drones moved swiftly into new positions. Each individual drone displayed its own colored light. When the drones assembled into new patriotic scenes, the silence was captivating after so many loud fireworks had exploded around us earlier. I was sad for the families that gave up and left too soon. They missed a show that I believe will be the wave of future fourths. So artistic, quiet, peaceful, and environmentally light-years above the fireworks of old.

Sailing has been in my blood since seeing Captain’s Courageous as a child. Saltwater is in my veins, and yours our science teacher reminds us. My saltwater soul is something I inherited from my parents, though. The feeling of moving in sync with mother nature as the winds carry you to distant lands is an integral part of sailing the high seas. Having said all of this, when my husband and I bought our first sailboat (before our first house:) the reality set in quickly. Yes it was exhilarating to glide over the waves, pushed by a gentle breeze. As an actual sailor, I found that changing to a smaller sail in a squall while Captain Robert manned the helm was less romantic. Cooking below decks in a small cabin while rocking back and forth, not so gently, wasn’t my favorite occupation either. Now as I watch others sail by on the bay while I enjoy a seafood platter on Fisherman’s Wharf patio, is my favorite occupation. When my fishin’ buddy Randy called to invite me to join in a tour of the US Coast Guard’s training vessel, The Eagle, I couldn’t wait to see how this ocean-going vessel operated when manned by professional sailors. Was it easier for them?

The ropes and tackle were at least ten times larger than I handled. I can’t begin to imagine the arm strength required by these sailors to haul up the mainsail:) The crew was a wonderful source of sailing knowledge, and they clearly loved their vessel. I asked why there was a moss-looking substance encasing some of the halliards. Simple explanation, that was frayed old rope allowed to remain as protection against rubbing against and wearing down the sails. There was obvious pride in the crew who were allowed to sail this beautiful tall ship from the past. We did run into the ship’s cook as we passed the galley. She assured us that even though her galley was substantially larger than mine, it wasn’t any more fun to cook in heavy seas:) Randy and I were allowed to ring the ship’s bell for good luck before we left. Good luck for me was sitting on my very stable patio at Diamond Beach, watching the sun go down over the gulf. It was a tour worth waiting in the Texas heat for an hour to enjoy, and I don’t say that lightly.

The pandemic has ended!! Finally, for the first time in two years all four grand angels were together soaking up sun and surf on the island. Not just our little family, but apparently most of Houston and the surrounding area came to celebrate and remember all those who died to provide us with the freedom to enjoy the beauty of America. My greatest memories as a child were at the beach, sunning, surfing, boogie boarding, fishing, and just soaking up the peace that is all around us. Those memories compelled me to return to the island at retirement. Now it is my turn to help create memories for my grands. The older two, seven and nine, were ready to boldly enter the very large surf, armed with boogie boards to successfully “catch a wave” or two. The younger two were more than satisfied to allow the gentle wave lapping the shore to bring in the silky wet sand and allow for the digging of clams for entertainment. When we were all sufficiently coated in sand and surf, it was off to the river to float in the refreshing clean water, and allow the splash pad to wash over us.

The Diamond Beach that I call home must be shared with friends and family, especially on such a memorable American holiday. The chefs, Matt and Tres, provided a very tex-mex experience for all willing to brave the memorial traffic onto the island. Slaving over an outdoor grill for hours, they produced fajitas of both the beef and chicken kind, complete with grilled onions and peppers. They could certainly quit the day job and open the bestest fajita place on the island as far as their friends were concerned. The swimup bar was open along the river’s edge for adult refreshments and they even provided Shirley Temples for the angels. All in all, I’m pretty sure great memories were made this Memorial. As the grand angels left for home, there wasn’t a dry eye in the bunch. Mamou promised them that they would be back soon for more summer fun than they could stand:)

My generation did their college time more years ago than I care to share. In fact, our children have all graduated as well:) Now it is time for the grand angel generation to spread their wings and fly into a different world. Tobyn is the first of this generation to graduate, and he chose a different path, LIT (Lamar Lite:) It is actually Lamar Technical College, offering practical skills in a world where there a far too few practical degrees. In our day many of us majored in Liberal Arts, General Business, or History, somehow hoping to figure out a career path from a very general education. Tobyn is a graduate of a different, and many ways financially better, degree plan. We watched EMS grads, police academy grads, medical data process grads, until finally came the Commercial HVAC specialists. He does love this work, and during his education he managed to acquire all the tools necessary to start the job right. We all see a bright future of job security and potential entrepreneurship for Tobyn. In fact, one of Matt’s successful neighbors in Golden owns his HVAC company, and has done quite well with it. There is certainly job security in Colorado for anyone that can keep that heat on.

After graduation the family joined in a Beaumont-style seafood extravaganza at Pappadeux, of course. Tobyn’s sister Paisley joined us, down from UT, having to fit in finals and papers due online. She wouldn’t miss it, no matter how difficult. Paisley had some exciting news from her studies; she has been chosen to study art for the summer in Rome. While she has chosen a different path from her brother, she still has a level head. Minoring in finance will give her the option of becoming a buyer of art for some well-established art gallery in NYC (she hopes:) In the meantime, on to Rome!

Honestly, I haven’t been back to the old homestead in Beaumont since Dad passed. Joey inherited the old place, in more than a little need of renovation. Dad was well into his 90’s when he joined the Choir Celeste and his beloved Carol. He was not into redecorating in those last years. Joey was the only family member ready to take on the project, and he outdid himself. Carpet was ripped up, and wood floors added; old fabric-covered walls were re-textured in “tree bark” design and painted a nautical navy; and most importantly the pool was completely resurfaced with a new water wall added. An old “room to hold junk” became a gym. No wonder Tobyn looked like he had added some muscle tone since I last saw him. He never looked better:) Tobyn’s room was, well, the room of a college student. I’m sure you can pick it out from the pictures. Can’t wait for the next family graduation; I’m betting she’ll make it to that gallery in New York!

Some wish to hide their age, not willing to admit that so much time has passed since birth:) Maryellen LeDuc wears it with pride as a badge of accomplishment. It is an inspirational path I wish I was better at taking. She is an accomplished mother, nurse, volunteer extraordinaire for Ronald McDonald House on the island, and to me a very good friend. In fact she is a very good friend to all who are lucky enough to know her. The celebration was a gathering of many BOI’s (born on island:) as well as ROI’s (retired on island:). One thing we all had in common was memories and gray hairs; although many of us refuse to show it. It was a joy to see so many who aged gracefully with a full head of silvery gray locks, of course everyone knows red heads never turn gray. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

As the party progressed, the guys gathered in the kitchen to tell golf and fishing stories, while the ladies gathered at the table for plenty of local news and a bit of gossip. It was such a comfortable gathering of old friends who had more grandchildren stories than the law allows. Oddly everyone there had the most beautiful and accomplished grandangels ever.

Maryellen’s children gathered from all corners of the US to surprise her with a celebration in her own island home. Where else on the island could you find such a perfectly beautiful place to celebrate? The subtle pieces of art Maryellen has placed throughout are a lifetime collection to remind you of her love of children and travel. My favorite piece was brought back from Egypt, telling a fascinating story of fact and ancient fable. The latest addition was a birthday quilt gifted her by a friend, just in time for the party. It hangs just below the impressive photo of all of her children and grands.

The grandchildren were there too, and luckily for grandma they all looked very similar to their grandmother. One exception was the new grandpuppy Puppo, a beautiful little Maltese. He loved everyone, and calmly licked every party-goer that gave him some attention. I’ve always preferred larger dogs, but this little doll won my heart. I’m thinking Maltese for my next grandpuppy. They do eat less, and fit under the seat easily on the plane:)

Most folks think of Colorado spring break season as time on the ski slopes, and in the past our family thought the same. Now that a large part of our family lives in the mountains, by the time spring comes we are ready to shed our jackets and soak up some sunshine. During Bo’s first spring break, we were rewarded with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70’s. Never fear, there was still plenty of snow at Winter Park and Breckenridge for those who want it, but we wanted Bo’s first spring break to be something different, even educational. We heard much from the neighbors about Denver’s zoo, so off we went on a (mostly) African adventure.

So many cool birds in the African section, but the most fascinating part for Hanna and Mom was the python the birds would love to feast on. Denver Zoo enthusiasts are working fast and furious on a new bird habitat, as well as a local bear hangout, and aquarium for seals and such. We did miss seeing the local bears up close but I have a feeling bear sightings are in our future whether we’re ready or not:) Hopefully we’ll be ready with a boat horn to scare them off, or at least some bear spray:)

As you can see Bo wasn’t particularly thrilled with the rhinos. Guess I haven’t read him stories of rhinos yet, so he couldn’t relate; plus they had a very pungent smell, even from a safe distance.

Elephants are a different matter, as Bo and Hanna both have heard the sounds elephants make many times, and much about how useful their trunks are. Hanna can even imitate the elephant trunk by making one with her hand in front of her nose while she bobs her head up and down. Pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Camels were another very familiar African animal. Their habitat was very close so the kiddos could get an up close and personal view of them. When our boys were young, the camel trainer came to Beaumont once a year with a kid basket on his camel’s back. For a token payment (before inflation:) the boys could ride the camel to their hearts content. Truth is, these days there are too many liability issues for that much fun.

I would love to share the biologically accurate names for many of the African animals, but I have no idea what the half-zebra half-horse was called. The African Horse was easy to identify, as was the giraffe and water buffalo. The rhino in his up close and personal home reminded me of the time I took the boys to the Houston Zoo many years ago. The rhino there had a gastronomical attack while we were a little too close. He swished his tail and got us all with a bit of mother nature’s fertilizer. I asked Matt if he remembered, fortunately he didn’t or the zoo would not have been a good memory.

The best adventure came last as we were able to view a magnificent tiger interact with his trainer. He appeared very happy to see her and did various tricks for his treats. What a special job this lady has. Sometimes as I think back over my career choices, I’m a bit jealous of those who made such fun career decisions. Oh well, at least I can enjoy the fruits of their labors through my grand angels’ eyes.