A funny thing happened on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park; we came across the infamous Stanley Hotel. You might recall Steven King spent the night in Room 217 many moons ago, where the bones of the book The Shining was born in my favorite “horror” author’s imagination. He and his wife were the only guests staying at the hotel that night. Needless to say Steven King’s memories of this eerily quiet old hotel at the edge of the Rockies, developed into an American classic horror film. As you can see, the impressive backlit bar became one of the most memorable scenes in the movie, as Jack Nicholson waxed poetic with the ghostly bartender. Out of the maze garden grew the terrifying episode as Wendy Torrance races through the intricate maze with her son in an effort to escape the abusive Jack. Ika and I spent most of the day snapping pictures, until I grabbed the last one as they entered the Otis elevator. This is where Matt, as you can see, had enough of the “bloggers” documenting the scenes:) So, on we went to one of the “easy” hiking trails of the Rockies,

This “easy” trail was about two feet wide, running along the edges of steep cliffs, with an added challenge of icy snow. The trail guided us to three lakes as we clawed, slid, and clambered our way towards the top. I use the term “we” loosely, as this grandmother stopped at “Dream Lake” and rested while the kids headed for “Emerald Lake”. As I sat on a boulder in the sun, waiting for the family to return, I couldn’t help but notice that a great deal of time had passed with no sign of the kids. Finally, after more than an hour, they reappeared looking haggard at best. Evidently the trip up to “Emerald” was even more challenging than we thought. I was so glad I sat on the boulder and rested. I’m getting too old for this!

For a much more relaxing experience, we took it easy on Mother’s Day. The Denver Botanical Gardens at Chatfield Farms was a nice flat, and significantly wider, path with distant views of what is becoming a favorite neighborhood for Matt and Ika. The treehouse was an impressive creation that Ika photographed so Matt could reproduce it in their own backyard, when they find “the house”. The maze constructed of hay was also an interesting idea, but looked a bit too “snaky” for this grandma. The canadian geese were everywhere, and there was a wonderful outdoor gazebo with mountain views that had hosted many local weddings. To top it off, Matt asked the mom’s what delicacy our hearts desired for our special day. This is something Ika and I will always agree on. We can never get enough sushi, and it was time to introduce the “little Swede” to a serious array of fish. As you can see, he definitely took to it:)

My Turtle Patrol buddy Connie McCreight and I began our third year of cruising the west end of Galveston in search of turtle sign. Turtle Island Restoration Network on the island provides UTVs to cover the distance from Galveston Island State Park to San Luis Pass in the search for our endangered gulf coast turtles. If we find turtle sign, our job is to attempt to locate the nest full of eggs before the coyotes, snakes, birds and crabs do. As you can see, we ran across a plethora of other animals along the way. Dogs love to chase our little vehicle, birds love to check us for possible bread droppings, and beachwalkers want to know our story. Once we reach the expansive San Luis Bridge attaching Galveston to the mainland, we know we can turn around and head back, scanning the dunes along the way for anything out of the ordinary.

Near the western end of our island lays an array of colorful buildings appropriately known as Pointe West. I spent a summer there before moving to Diamond Beach. It is far from the madding crowd of Galveston, with wide open beaches and a feel of truly living in the midst of nature. While I loved my time there, it was desolate in the winter and a trip to the grocery store meant a minimum one hour round trip. While I love contemplative alone time, it was a little too much for my social nature. As we neared the busier beach of Jamaica, apparently a local artist had built a driftwood stonehenge to add to the sunrise. You never know what you’re going to see on the island. When we reach the three-story “lotto house” we know it’s time to turn south toward the bay facility, and return our little UTV.

As if the day wasn’t adventurous enough, I headed over to Offats Bayou to pay the marina rent and there was Conner Cochrane bragging about his yellowfin. Since I am never shy when it comes to acquiring seafood (especially the free kind:) I asked him where my fillet was. This sweet young man then insisted that I take a couple of fillets. What you see on my plate is one-half of one fillet! It was bigger than any steak I’ve ever been served, and fresher to boot. Never have I enjoyed a better piece of yellowfin. I told the marina owner, Bill, I will never again complain about the rent going up:)

Remember when easter egg hunts meant filling your basket with real eggs dyed in pretty pastels? No more simple stuff in the baskets today! The “other Rita” (Fuglaar) outdid herself designing a special diamond beach egg hunt, to end all egg hunts. There was a table of prizes for the hunters to ogle before beginning their search as the horn blew to start the race. Each held a ticket describing the prize the lucky hunter would receive at the end of the race. The adults had as much fun hiding the eggs among our palm tree islands, as the kids did finding them. Most importantly for me personally, it was Bo’s first egg hunt (although he spent it perched high above the madding crowd in his parent’s arms:)

We had invited some good friends from Clear Lake to join us for the remainder of the day, lounging beside the pool and warming our backsides in the hot tub. While easter weekend was cloudless blue skies and spring temperatures, the pool water hadn’t caught up with the air temperature. Although that didn’t slow the the three mermaids from the neighborhood, it definitely kept the adults on the sidelines:)

When it came time for the mermaids to float the river, which was even chillier, the adults had to draw straws to get one to join the float for safety. Matt Plass lost, and the girls had fun paddling their tubes ahead of him just to keep him on his toes. I promised the group to lobby for a heated river in time for next year’s gathering! Can you just imagine a heated lazy river? Eat your heart out Schlitterbahn:)

All the owners at Diamond Beach take great pride in our amenities. It’s one of the things I love most about my home. There are so many projects donated voluntarily to improve our beachside abode. This year James Fuglaar (our illustrious HOA pres) built child-sized picnic tables, which Bo tried on for size. As Matt and Ika left town for Denver, they donated the dolphin statues, which now brighten the pool area in the evening when the solar uplighting illuminates our pathway. Early this summer a group of owners are combining resources to build a playground of swings, slides, forts, and climbing ladders. There will be no excuse for boredom at the Diamond Beach! Come on down:)

This adventure developed a passion for the mountains that I never knew before. In the past Colorado, of course, meant downhill skiing and hot chocolate at the bottom of the slopes. While skiing is certainly a challenging sport, trekking up steep slopes for a birds eye view of the Rockies made me aware of muscles I didn’t know I had. We started with a hearty lunch buffet at the local rustic restaurant in downtown Evergreen. It is the city of choice for Ika and Matt as they search for just the right house. I fell in love myself with the come-out-of-the-cold warmth of the shops and the folks that run them. Here’s hoping Matt, Ika and Bo find their home there:) If not, there’s always Golden and Red Rock!

The next day was deja vu on the trails of Golden, where the goal was the summit overlooking this quaint mountain village nestled in the foothills of the Rockies. Matt would set the pace, and when he thought I couldn’t take another step, he would take a phone break:) It was steeper than I expected and I found myself literally on my hands and knees negotiating a particularly narrow upward trail. Far below, to the north, was the original Coors Brewery. The downtown was a blend of rustic restaurants and very vogue shopping. A river runs through it, just perfect for my paddleboard (in the summer I’m thinking:) I certainly wouldn’t be sad if Matt and Ika settled here!

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Evergreen Day Two was a different kind of vision, with an ice-covered lake providing a miles-long flat trail that encircled this magnificent view of icy-white in the middle of a thawing valley. Yes there was a waterfront house for sale, just one, where I could keep my kayaks and paddleboards at the water’s edge. The price? If you have to ask, you can’t afford it:)

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The final day was the most physically exhausting, as it seemed the trek up would never end, and the icy trail provided the slipperiest challenge yet. Again it ended with an amazing prize at the top. The Red Rock Amphitheater brings music enthusiasts from all over Colorado. Huge boulders surround theater seating on all sides. I can imagine that mother nature’s acoustics will be beyond compare. While there, I discovered that Stevie Wonder will perform in June. Sounds like a perfect time for Farmor’s (grandma’s) next visit!!

Animal lovers come from all parts of our great state to show off their favorite furry family members. I’m pretty sure the animals love it as much as their owners. It’s like the ultimate “bar scene” from Star Wars, decked out in their finest, sniffing out new friends, and receiving the most attention they will get all year. Those who came this year braved fog, rain and a blue norther blowing in. It didn’t stop those of us who share a passion for pets. In the background you may notice Tillman’s Boardwalk even made an appearance, complete with the helicopter and the “incognito minivan”:)

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The kids and their pets make this parade the most special of all the Mardi Gras revelry, their pride in their furry babies shines through to brighten up a winter day. It’s so interesting to see the choices people make when they choose the family pet. Often you’ll notice a similarity in appearance, of course dressing up in a matching outfit helps:)

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This year I worked the registration table before picking up the banner for the long trek through The Strand District. What a great way to meet so many interesting pet owners. One lady rushed up at the last minute to register her four dogs, looking a little overwhelmed by it all. After helping her fill out the forms and check the immunization records, her four children with their matching german shepherds sauntered up. I thought to myself that this woman was a walking saint. It’s hard enough to imagine raising four adolescents in the same house, but add to that four hugemongous german shepherds. They were impressively well behaved, the bunch of them. I don’t imagine this household needs an alarm system.

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Of course, for those of us who are condo-dwellers, size does matter. Smaller is definitely better, for the dog and the human. It was so adorable to see the little ones, human and furry, cuddled together for warmth as well as love. For any of you that has ever owned a chihuahua or a corgi, you know that these little fierce warriors are actually the better guard dogs. They are fearless in the face of all oncomers, great or small. And they tend to shed less hair. This is a big issue in a small condo. I have to say, at the end of the day, New Orleans has got nothing on Galveston when it comes to Mardi Gras style!

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Houston’s premier fresh-water lake called to me once again.  My good friend Brenda and my younger sister Ruthie were both making plans to begin a new journey, on to different parts of the world.  It was time to reminisce about the good times we have had on this lake, and document the beauty of it.  Amazingly so many Houstonians have never even thought about taking a trip, just a few miles north of The Woodlands, to discover this refreshing oasis, so close to the city that many families commute.  Robert and I considered retiring to the lake, but as you all know my salt-water soul sent us in a different direction.  I can still recall the years we kept our sailboat on the lake and spent many a night fishing from the stern while gently rocking in the boat slip (never too adventurous, always wanted to hook up to electricity:)  When the boys were older, we became power boat people, and took many day trips for wakeboarding and “doing lunch” at the local waterfront eateries.  Sister Ruthie and her Cuyler were always ready to share in the fun.  Now that she and Cuyler are “empty nesters”, they have acquired a 40 foot fifth-wheel and are headed for parts unknown!  Her adorable house on the golf course at Bentwater is on the market, and as you can see below, a real find. 

See “www.forsalebyowner.com”.

My friend Brenda and her husband Larry live in a nearby neighborhood, April Sound, on the south side of the lake.  She and her Larry will be heading to Magnolia soon to live closer to her work and her son. Magnolia is beautiful wooded country as well, less of the usual curbed-street, sidewalk kind of subdivision. Their April Sound house is backed to a forest, just a block from the water’s edge.  An early morning walk through her part of the world brought to mind all the wonderful things about our Texas neighborhoods.  The original owners of April Sound were a cattle-ranching family, the Saddler’s.  Their family cemetery has been preserved just down the street from Brenda.  It gives April Sound a feeling of historical significance, with traceable roots.  What a wonderful place it must have been, with plenty of shade trees and fresh water for their cattle.  Now it provides a wonderful community where children play among the trees, ski in the summertime, and throw out corn for the local deer.  The wildlife is abundant, and I learned quickly not to put garbage out too far from the house or it attracts the local pterodactyls.  Rose bushes are indigenous, and grow to a “hugemongous” size.  With no effort at all Brenda has beautiful roses popping up all over her back yard.  As you can see, there are Austin-styled wine bottle trees and cement statues as well.  My personal neighborhood favorite is the “My Little Free Library” at school bus stops.  What an amazing place to raise a family.

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No surprise, the little Swede must have it in his DNA!  I’ll never forget the first time I saw him look out the window at the fluffy white stuff that turns Colorado into a winter wonderland.  It takes something of great significance to hold the attention of a one year old for more than a few seconds, and snow does that.  Bo was entranced and I don’t see that changing in this lifetime.  This Farmor (grandmother) is already adjusting to the fact that I’m going to spend some of my winter in the snow capped mountains for the foreseeable future.

I have discovered that there are some very redeeming qualities to the Colorado lifestyle.  Most of the neighborhoods are graced with walking trails that meander through snow covered hills.  Everyone here, it seems, owns at least one dog; so every park, trail, and many stores are pet friendly.  Big furry ones are more popular in this chilly state, so my grandpuppy dachshunds are much admired and fawned over.  I did worry about the thin-skinned weiner dogs, but my concerns were unfounded.  They seem to love the stuff as much as Bo:)

Somehow even children’s playgrounds look more impressive covered in the white fluffy stuff.  Everything is log-cabin quaint, even the restrooms:)  The hiking trails are too numerous to count; and Matt, Ika, and Bo are all about the hiking.  They  are settling in well, and as you can see from the pictures, they are all teeth.  This weekend they were off to Breckenridge for a bit of snowboarding and sledding, while the dogs and I are getting our steps in on the neighborhood trail. Bo has learned a new skill, making snow angels.  God is good.

This old house weathered many a storm, including Ike and Harvey, without a scratch.  It was the home Matt and Tres will always remember as their first home; so many Christmases, Easter egg hunts, and friend sleepovers.  Clear Lake was such a wonderful neighborhood to raise children, with astronaut dads and rocket scientists on the PTA.  It makes us very happy to know that a new young couple are moving in with plans to raise their young family there as well.  I will miss Santa Pilot decorating the front yard, though.  He will be adorning a new home in Denver next Christmas!

How appropriate that Bo’s first birthday was a final gathering of friends and family to say goodbye to Clear Lake.  As you can see, Bo’s favorite present was his new ski sled that he can’t wait to try out in actual snow.  Many promises were made to visit the Denver-bound Wilcox’s, especially during ski season.  August will also be a favorite time, when it’s 100 degrees in Texas, it will be like visiting an air conditioned world in the mountains.  We are all looking forward to some Colorado time!

One final gathering with the Kings in Kemah at the Art of Coffee, where my cousin Tassie Marceaux’s paintings adorn the walls. The Kings are a traveling family, and will probably be the first to visit Denver.  After lunch we checked out the motorhomes with them, as they make preparations for their next year-long tour of the USA, their two toddlers in tow.  The bravest couple I know:)  Finally Ika and Bo settle into the Diamond Beach condo while Matt heads north with the dogs to prepare the Denver abode for the family.  I can’t  wait to make a snow angel in their backyard.  The last time I had that opportunity was at their wedding in Aspen.  Who would have ever thought they would fall in love with the snow-covered mountains!

This culinary celebration of Christmas (jul) can’t be missed, at least for those who love everything sweet and savory.  The local Norwegian Seaman’s Church, originally established to accommodate foreign nordic sailors who came into port of Houston, has grown to encompass so many of our neighbors who long for a taste of their nordic roots.  My son was wise enough to marry a Swede, Ika Lundin, some years ago, so we are now all well versed in the traditions of her culture.  As luck would have it (a gift from above) my friend and neighbor, Helen King, has an equally wise son, who married a Fin, Inna King.  We have learned to love all things seafood!  These nordic countries are surrounded by water, so shrimp, salmon and herring are the order of the day.  Everything tastes so incredibly healthy as well as absolutely delish!  Even the pastries are made with far less sugar than our American desserts.  After enjoying a bite of princess cake, you wonder why we overdo our icings.

 

After Fika (a coffee break) all the families headed outside to enjoy the kiddos.  Sisu and Lumi King worked at teaching Bo how to “playdate” Nordic style.  It was the first cold front of the year for Houston, so appropriate for this festival.  All the hearty laplanders loved it, me not so much:)  I’ll have to remember to wear a coat next year!

First I heard them, rumbling in front of Diamond Beach; then I saw them lit up like Christmas trees in the dark of the night.  My initial thought was that in the midst of all the motorcycles, an odd convention of sports cars had come to the west end of the seawall.  I’ve been through many a bike rally on the island, but had never seen anything like this.  Grabbing the trusty iPhone, off to the seawall I ran, hoping they would stay long enough for me to capture a few pics.  The owners of these “Sling Shots” more than complied, so proud of their new machines they stayed for half an hour fielding questions from all us “old timers” who had no idea these things even existed.  My initial thought was I must have one of these to cruise with the grand angels along the seawall.   Upon closer examination, I realized there were only two seats.  I’m already thinking of adding a rumble seat behind.  Then I found out how much the basic sling shot costs, before adding a roof:)

The next morning I had to go take a walkabout on The Strand, just to make sure there were a few “old fashioned” bikes hanging around.  Of course there were, in full force.  News reports tell us it’s the biggest bike rally the island has ever seen, with over 600,000 bikers arriving for the weekend.  Some of the locals are bothered by the noise and traffic.  I just love the excitement they bring.  It’s only once a year; I can stand that.  It’s these special events that makes Galveston so special.  Then I began to reminisce of the bike rallies over the years.  The year that my nephew Joey brought his Paisley and Tobyn for their first “biker” weekend, we actually saw a “sling shot”.  We had no idea at the time how popular it would become.  Then there was the year that our local priests decided to take part, what a sight:)  I’m already looking forward to what next year will bring.