Vacation: Mountaintop Experience

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same.”  Actually, there was just one unpaved road that led to where we were staying, but the view was indeed always the same: SPECTACULAR! 

Every day of our Colorado getaway was a mountaintop experience, literally and figuratively speaking.  It is pretty incredible to wake up each morning to the freshness of a new day in the mountains. The air is so cool. And talk about quiet time -- the stillness is almost deafening. Maybe I just had a heightened awareness for God's presence since I was being still for a change. I could hear/see/feel and even taste that He is good.


Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. -Psalm 34:8

The coffee was good, too. Although we did not do any scientific research on the subject, I think my early morning java even tasted better at the higher elevation. :-)

We turned off the television and radio and tuned out the stuff of life that clutters our brains. We simply unplugged. Ahhhh! We played games together, enjoyed conversations, and laughed. Our family made memories -- lots of 'em. It truly was a much-needed and ever-so-appreciated respite. R&R was just what we needed.

It was a treat to get to spend time with Mr. Smith's brother, Ed, and his wife, Jaxine, at their mountain cabin, which is really more of a resort.  Ed is technically a half-brother, but we have agreed to drop that "half" thing. We are family... (I feel like breaking out in song. Thank you, Sister Sledge.)

On Wednesday afternoon, we headed down the mountain to visit with the Thruston family. It was so much fun to be reunited with our dear friends, even if it was only for one night.

Smith and Thruston kids

We left the Thruston's home on Thursday morning and headed to DIA to pick up Millie Girl's BFF, Sydney, who was flying to Denver from Sacramento.

What a sweet reunion! It had been eighteen months since these two buddies had seen one another, but they picked up right where they left off.

We made a whirlwind trip through Denver, grabbed a burger at The Cherry Cricket, and did a little shopping at Cherry Creek North before heading for the mountains. It may have rained on our parade as we were making our way back to the cabin, but nothing could dampen our spirits.

After the storm clouds passed, the view of the Spanish Peaks was glorious. It's a good thing I had my camera at the ready; batteries charged.

What a swinger!

Cozy cabin

This one-holer is no longer operational. It's merely a rustic decoration. 

Love it!

Hot diggity dogs

Four-wheelin' for five = a wheel good time!

Grilled personal pizzas are always a treat.

This 'za was loaded with tasty toppings and grilled to perfection.

M. opted for making a calzone instead of a pizza. He just had to be different.

These boots are made for walkin'...

That may be, but these boots are also rather photogenic in their abandoned state.

Sadly, it was time to hit the dusty trail on Saturday morning.

Somewhere in the Texas panhandle, I took this photo of M&A as they were driving alongside our vehicle. We were both moving at 70 mph, but it looks as if they are stopped.

It's been said that kids are king at Burger King. I'm not sure if that's still true today, but that was one of BK's slogans when I was a kid. These two look like princesses to me.

Hot! Hot! Hot!
Hello, Texas. Goodbye, cool mountain air.

To entertain ourselves on the road trip back to Keller, we looked at pictures in the sky. This cloudy figure might be an alligator or an elephant. An alliphant? What do YOU see?

As we drove along U.S. Route 287, it was also entertaining to read the names for the local businesses in the small Texas Panhandle burgs. A couple of the favorites: It'll Do Motel and the Nuttin' Fancy Cafe. We resisted the temptation to stop at either one of those businesses.

Here's a photo of an interesting looking trading post we spied along the road. We didn't stop here either.

Don't look now, but I think we are being followed.

From a mountaintop you can easily see where you have been and where you are going. Although we are now back in Keller at an elevation of 709 feet, I can see that we will be going back to the cabin nestled amidst the aspen trees. We have already been invited to come back next summer. Would it be too early to start packing now?

All good things -- even mountaintop experiences -- must come to an end, but that doesn't mean that the FUN has to end. Shortly after we arrived home, Millie and Sydney found out that the new house's staircase works pretty well for mattress surfing,  just like the old California house's staircase did.

Is it my imagination, or are those crashing waves I hear? Oh, it's just the girls crashing into the wall at the bottom of the stairs. Surf's up! I think I'll go join 'em. I like the beach almost as much as the mountains. Besides, I am not quite ready for vacation to end...

Vacation: Going in Multiple Directions

It's summertime. Our family has been on the road, up in the air, and most definitely on the move over the past weeks. In fact, we have been gone more than we have been home during this month, which might not be a bad thing, considering that the temperatures in North TX have been over 100 degrees every single day of July. And no relief is in sight. Let's not talk about the weather. Not now, any way.

The luggage is unpacked, dirty duds are laundered, folded, and put away, that huge pile o' mail has been opened (most of it was shredded), and vacation photos have been organized. After downloading images from two cameras and three cell phones, I think we took 562 pictures. A few deletions resulted in narrowing the pictures down to the neighborhood of 400-ish. Truth be told, only 100 photos are really worthy of sharing. Okay, okay... maybe it's more like 50, or 25. Who's counting?

I most definitely will not post 100 vacation photos. No one, not even those of us who were on this journey, want to sit through that. I will share as many pictures as I can get away with, adding supporting details, as needed.

And so it begins...

Once upon a time, Numbers One and Two Smithling flew to Portland, OR, to meet up with AJ, while the rest of us Smiths stayed put in the Texas heat.

Leaving Love Field -- the westward adventure begins!

After delays, flight changes, lost luggage, and a very late night arrival, M&A finally made it to Vancouver, WA, a few hours later than originally planned. Thank you, AJ, for your midnight shuttle service. :-) Thank you, Southwest, for a middle-of-the-night, while-everyone-was-sleeping luggage delivery.

Liesey has been looking forward to purchasing a certain little white car for quite some time, and has been saving money for even longer. The time has finally come.

The exchange was made; check for keys. Congrats, Liesey!

After spending a few days in Washington State, the summer road trip began. First stop: Roseville, California. 

Raleigh Court faces are looking far too grown up.

Liesey Lou and Lauren enjoyed a much-too-brief visit. Friends are friends forever...

After a few crammed-packed days in Roseville, it was time for M&A to hit the road again. 

Next stop: An overnight stay in Flagstaff, AZ, on Saturday night. Sunday's goal was to meet up with the other three Smiths in the Rockies -- sorta, kinda near (30 minutes away from) Aguilar, Colorado. 

 Word is that the road trip from California to Colorado was scenic and memorable.

Hmmmm... The Four Corners Squat? I'm thinkin' it was well worth the three dollar admission fee to capture that pose.

Focused indeed.

Perfect 10 and 2 hand position, too.

These two have logged a lot of miles, and smiles, over the past few days.

While #1 and #2 were driving from CA to CO, Mr. Smith, #3, and I were driving from TX to CO. Our family's situation reminded me of a dreaded mathematics problem from junior high: 
Q: If one train leaves point A and another train leaves point B, they are heading towards each other, when the trains meet what will be the distance between them? 
A: Getting closer, closer, closer... CRASH!


No, we didn't crash, but our family of five was reunited at elevation 9,200 ft.


There are tooo many stories to be told, but the following photos will do a pretty good job of sharing our time in the mountains.

 "Oh, brother!"

Mr. Smith and his brother Ed not only look alike, they sound alike, laugh alike... and the list goes on.

Jeepin' along the Herlick provided lots of bouncing, squealing, and giggling. Thanks, Ed!

Fun & games

Our oh, so gracious host and hostess

The road to Cuchara provided scenic views...

...and opportunities for more pictures.

 Millie Girl's artsy view through the lens just had to be shared on my blog.

My youngest daughter also took this picture of me as we waited for our lunch at the Dog Bar in Cuchara.

Millie found a wooden pup to pose with.

Chief Stone Face had no sense of humor whatsoever.

Downtown Cuchara

Oh, deer! This is the final photo for this particular installment; however, there is much more to share. Looks like another blog entry for another day...

Vacation: Part 2/More Hoosier Fun

Something's Fishy: Hook, line, and sinker

Tasty sassafras lines the trail that leads to a well-stocked pond. 

There might be a little poison ivy along the way, as well.

Row, row, row your boat...

Millie Girl was patient, but the fish were not biting.

The girls are now hooked. Thanks, Aunt Jean!

Out to Lunch: Amish style all-you-can-eat goodness

Grandpa knows how to cook!

Hoosier Turf: Day trippin' to Bloomington (a.k.a. B-Town) was actually kinda fun -- even for a couple of ol' Boilermakers. 

Liesey wanted to take a look at Indiana University's campus, since IU has a great reputation for their classical ballet program. Looking is okay, but it might be a different story if she actually decides to go there. Hmmmm. Let the college tours begin...

Nice 'fro, Bro.

Footloose: In my home state, I'm in touch with my inner bumpkin.

Actually, you can find me barefoot in just about any state I'm in. It's ironic that a shoe-loving soul, like me, goes shoeless whenever possible. It surely does feel good to touch the green, green grass of home with bare tootsies.

Independence Day: Let freedom ring!

My morning bowl of patriotic mush

We had stopped at our usual fireworks stand in Joplin, MO, as we were driving from TX to IN, so we had a bountiful supply of things that go BOOM! We arrived in Indiana with all kinds of fun stuff that we'd never be allowed to use in Texas. This year, there is a ban on all fireworks in the Lone Star State, as the fire danger was/is dangerously high.

The sky lanterns were perhaps my favorite item. They are pretty and quiet.

Man's infatuation with fire just cannot be extinguished.

Ready, Set, Glow

More BANG for our buck?

Well, okay, we spent a little more than a buck on our Independence Day fireworks display. But it was worth it. Just ask the kids -- Mr. Smith included.

Oooh! Ahhh!