Summer Camp

Mom and Dad headed home this morning after a memorable weekend for us all here in Colorado. We busied ourselves throughout the weekend around the house and enjoyed spending time together. 

We didn’t have to rush to anywhere and could just enjoy being together. Mom stated it was a bit like summer camp and I suppose it was with our activities including playing cards, board games and corn hole, taking walks, trying to see the comet, and a fishing excursion. We also enjoyed happy hours on the porch, listening to Pender take 2nd in the state tournament, a trip to the Farmer’s Market and eating delicious meals. 

While Covid is certainly wreaking havoc on the world, it certainly makes you appreciate family and the little things like spending time together even more. 

Lots of card playing 

Taking a break at the Farmer’s Market 

Listening to the softball game - look at that bonding! 

Corn hole 

Happy hour and corn hole 

Trying to see the comet 

Fishing at St. Vrain State Park 

Happy hour and a game of. Sorry 

Pop killed us all in Five Crowns every night 

Chalk Art at Juniper Village

D-man and I took a break on Friday to decorate tree entrance to Juniper Village (a memory care facility) as part of our volunteer work on Friday afternoon. We are not the most talented artists so it might have been a good thing our designs were washed away later that evening by the rain storms. 

Just glad to be able to spend some time with my eldest and try and spread some joy during this difficult time. 

Life is Short

Yesterday we celebrated the life of our neighbor and friend who was killed a week ago in a tragic bike accident. Perry and LizAnn have boys in the same grade as ours and he hails from Wayne, America which brought a different bond to our friendship. 

We were fortunate to have Perry coach both of our boys in basketball and spend time with him over the years skiing, watching many kid sporting events together, celebrating his 50th birthday with a crushing Broncos loss to the Seahawks (but also celebrating the Broncos win with him against the Panthers) and attending their fabulous holiday parties. 

This is a horrific event under normal circumstances, but made even more terrible with the current environment. It was wonderful that the family was able to celebrate such a wonderful man in a socially responsible way. 

I will forever remember Perry for his calm demeanor, his love of basketball and his love of his family. He will be missed by many. Life is short. Make it Sweet. 

Ready to celebrate a great man 

Chalk tributes 

Skiing with Perry In Crested Butte 

Perry behind the Peavys during the Bronco Super Bowl win

Ringing in 2020 at the Nelson’s

That’s a Wrap

Nature was nice enough to deliver a true summer day for our final day at the cabin. We played 5 Crowns during breakfast took the boat up the river and made a quick stop in Harrison. It was quite the adventure going up the river on the weekend, but we survived. 

We spent the rest of the day on the dock, doing some boating and enjoying a great fire made by T-man. 

The time went very quickly and it was hard to believe we were there two weeks. I know we all felt very fortunate to be able to make the trip. 

Hot tub happy hour (warming up after being in the lake) 

Late night tubing 

D-man skiing in the bay 

Annual boat pic

Chilling on the ride up the river 

Driving up the river

Moose siting! 

Party central behind 

Working on the fire 

Toad! 

Thimble berry picking - just a bit too early 

Cabin Adventures

Tuesday and Wednesday brought cooler weather again to the inland Northwest. D-man and Marshall headed to Pullman in Tuesday morning (Marshall to work and D-man to golf). D-man also ran some errands, walked around the WSU campus and grabbed ice cream at the creamery. They also watched their recorded F1 race thanks to WiFi access. 

T-man, Claudia and I busied ourselves around the cabin playing games, reading and relaxing. Claudia and I enjoyed a 3.5 mile walk and T-man swam across the bay. We all enjoyed an afternoon hot tub before dinner and wrapped up the evening with more games. 

While Wednesday had promised warmer weather, we didn’t really get it. I read a ton of my book in the morning and D-man said it would be a good day for the bike ride- how right he was!

Claudia was kind enough to take us to the trailhead of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene in Plummer vía car and pick us up in Harrison via boat. It was a 16-mile trek down through The Valley and around the East part of the lake. We stopped at Heyburn State Park to eat our lunch from Zip’s. We took our time on our journey with no timetable to adhere to. We got to Harrison and grabbed ice cream while we waited for Claudia to arrive. It was the perfect afternoon outing for a cooler day. 

Even then, the boys decided to take the paddle board up the lake and also get into the lake with wet suits - because why not? The hot tub is certainly getting more of a work out than normal with these cooler temps. 

Cousin tubing! 

Ice cream on Monday 

Last fire before the Seattle Peavys leave 

Ready! 

Such a beautiful ride 

Our lunch spot 

On the old railroad bridge 

Boating back to the cabin

Off on the paddle board 

Wet suits are ready!