Colorado Blue Sky, Rolling Rivers and Meadow Creek B & B

Larr started off our spring break with a surprise trip to stay at the Meadow Creek Bed & Breakfast in Pine. It was one of our favorite places to go before we had the kids, and so it was fun to go back. We just wanted a place to relax.

It was built by an Italian prince who lived in Denver. It was their summer home that allowed them to get away from the heat of the summer. We stayed in the Rose room, the very same room we stayed in before.

On Saturday we went out for a drive, starting out along the Platte river where the rocks are so beautiful. The snow has not started melting yet, so the water was still pretty calm.

every time I see rocks in the river, like these, I imagine what it must have been like when they rolled off of the mountain and into the water. I wonder, did they all come off at one, big, thunderous time? Did they break off one by one? Was anything crushed in its pathway?

Just a short bit away, but at a higher elevation, we tried to go up over Guanella pass. The river there is still much more like winter. The snow is dirty from the construction on the road. We could not get very far because we were not in a four wheel drive vehicle with high clearance. I think Larr was disappointed that we could not go very far.

When we returned to the B&B, we relaxed in the hot tub and had a quiet evening by ourselves on Sunday night. Larr caught up on the newspaper and I finished reading a book about transparent watercolor.

I also loved petting Kelly Ann, the resident dog. She has such a sweet, calm manner and such welcoming eyes.

We had a nice breakfast the next morning and took the long way home over Squaw Pass, one of Larr's favorite roads as the views are so wonderful.

We returned on Monday, midday, ready to take on some of the projects that we have been putting off. During our absence, Ethan scrubbed the grout and the kitchen floor. That was a very welcome surprise. Remmie was happy to see me return. He was missing me. Ellie and Kohlton are on a road trip of their own, so Ethan and Remmie had some bonding time. Ethan is trying to win Remmie over. Remmie is giving it some thought, though once Ellie returns, we return to being "background music" as Ellie is the one Remmie lives for.

Colorado Avalanche vs Anaheim Ducks - Box Seats at a Hockey Game

On Friday Larr and I went on a date to a Colorado Avalanche hockey game. They were going head to head with the Anaheim Ducks. Scott had two tickets for the ALICE/KOSI (local radio stations)private box where we had comfortable seats, drinks and dinner.

When I was in high school some of my friends and I used to go to the hockey games to see the game, the fights on the ice, the silly drunks in the audience and the fights in the stands. Hockey games are far more tame than those times. The games was loud, bright, busy and fun. I think it was a bit too much for Larr. It made me kind of wish that I had been able to play hockey as a teen, and it made me miss playing soccer. (I played all through high school.)

There were tons of flashing lights, a jumbotron with bright lights displaying different angle of the game. Each time there was down time in the game something was going on.

There was the Kiss-Cam that roamed the stands showing people who would then see themselves on the jumbotron and then kiss. The best one won a prize. There was a proposal gladly accepted and a guy in a different part of the stands with a sign that showed a picture of the ice, the team logo and a ring that read, "Don't do it, It is a trap!"

There were girls who dressed dressed like cheerleaders who cleaned the ice often.

There were tiny parachutes dropped that delivered canisters with prizes. They threw t-shirts into the crowds and there were truck size balloons that floated around dropping lottery tickets and gift cards for a local furniture store. I thought those things were pretty fun.

And of course there were the zambonis where were also decorated with pretty girls.

There were interviews and games with prizes. An Irish step dancing troupe performed. And there was dinner in the box. We had chicken sandwiches, nachos, popcorn and drinks.

One of the most interesting entertainments during a pause in the game was a video that featured the AVS hockey team members in a special edition video of the Imagine Dragons "Radioactive" music video.

Christmas Eve with Kohlton, Mark and Martine

Breaking away from tradition and doing a new thing for Christmas this year was good. It as a lot of fun up at Mark's lodge in the mountains.

It is not a small place, but it still feels cozy with the overstuffed couches and the wood burning stove. There are mounted heads on the wall (most of them festoonded with garlands) and furs on the floor. There are strings of lights on the support beam and special string of lights that look like tiny oil lanterns.
The kids and the men went for a walk on the mountain while Martine and I stayed behind. After several days of food prep., I was happy to sit, relax, knit and talk.

The skies were clear blue, crisp and cold. Great conditions for a walk.

A bit after their return, we sat down for a wonderful meal. It started out with crab legs that we steamed in the microwave (I posted the recipe in a previous posting) which was served with butter, garlic butter and garlic dill butter. I also brought up some English crackers, to which Martine and I added Almond Rocca (a lovely chocolate and nut toffee.) They remind me of Christmas time with Eleanor, my long gone mother-in-law.

For the next course we had salad with feta cheese, craisins and glazed walnuts. That was followed grilled rib-eye steak and mashed potatoes. I had rubbed the steaks with olive oil and dusted them with Montreal Steak seasoning. As I stood at the grill, I enjoyed the delightful snow. The flakes were large and substantial. I could feel each flake as it landed on me. We had hoped for such a nice snowfall.

The last bit of dinner was the Nantucket Cranberry pie. By then we were all full and happy. Some of us were even a bit sleepy.

Ellie tempted Kohlton into taking a few barefoot turns around part of the yard. The fun of it pleased her. Their feet quickly froze so they warmed them up by the wood burning stove.

Into the evening we watched, "The Christmas Story" and played Texas Hold'em. Kohlton was teaching me how to play and I was doing rather well for a beginner. Around midnight we all drifted off to bed.

We awoke to a white Christmas, just like the ones in the movies. At the end of the hallway Mark has a large window that looks out over the meadow. I stood there, transfixed by the snowy scene. (I wish I had taken a photo, but it had not occured to me at the time.) W

e had a leisurely breakfast and opened presents. All too soon it was time to head back down the mountain as we were hosting Christmas dinner at our house in the afternoon.

Vedauwoo, Wyoming - A Girl and Her Dad Take A Quick Trip

On Saturday, Ellie and Larr went for a drive. Larr had not been in the mountains for nearly three weeks and was feeling the need to connect with nature.

Ellie convinced him to go to somewhere new. I am not sure how they came upon it, but they decided to head to Vedauwoo in south eastern Wyoming.

Larr and Ethan had been through Vedauwoo some years back when they went to a rock climbing festival.

My husband always takes such lovely photos.

Ellie has that same wonderful photographic vision and talent.

t

A Wonderful Weekend - Bike Racing, Dinner Out, Sunrise Drive and Dancing + Recipes

We had a crazy busy weekend.

We had dinner at Root Down. It is a very popular, hip restaurant. The food was really wonderful. We started out by sharing an order of sweet potato fries with a curry and lime yogurt dipping sauce. We followed that with the salads of the day. I had Steamed PEI Mussels / Thai Red Curry Broth, White Wine, Israeli Cous-Cous, Scallions, Fines Herbes & Grilled Bread as I had been craving mussels for about six months. (I am the only one in our family that likes them, so I don't make them for dinner.) Don had peach bourbon BBQ Pork sliders and Larr had steak. We had Chocolate Hazelnut Torte / Macerated Cherries, with Hazelnut Powder & Chicory Devonshire Cream for dessert. The decor was a lot of fun. The ladies' bathroom was decorated with bathroom scales, one of them was even covered in pink fake fur. I would like to take the kids to eat there some time. Ethan was working and Ellie was at a friend's house.

Earlier in the morning Ellie did the Kick It CX cyclocross race. She was jazzed about getting to do the fly over. They often close it off to juniors.

We really enjoyed the t-shirts at the Endurance Conspiracy booth. I loved the orange shirt with the monster shouldering the bike and a bag of courage. Ellie thought about that one, but opted for one with Chubaka riding a CX bike.

She also got to try out a Pugsly bike over at the Pedal booth. Our friend, Tom, works there. Ellie really liked the bike. Tom says she needs one. I told him that at $2,000, longing is a good thing. He laughed.

On Sunday, Ellie started a new season on junior instructor for the Cotillion Academy. This year she is teaching the 5th and 6th grade class. When you see Ellie and Matt, her male counterpart, they kind of look a bit like Ken and Barbie. I imagine that they look perfect demonstrating the dance moves. This time around they taught party etiquette, the Swing, Fox Trot and the Electric Slide.

This morning Larr and I went for a pre-sunrise drive, hoping to catch the sunrise from some beautiful mountain top. We were somewhat successful. That was fun enough that we went deeper into the hills.

I love the color and textures in this photo.

We found ourselves in Rollinsville, which meant that we HAD to check out the Moffat tunnel. Our timing was great and we were able to watch a train come through the tunnel. When Larr was a young boy he was able to walk into the tunnel. Now there is a safety curtain that must be raised for the train to come through.

------------
Italian Wedding Soup (Modified)

1 batch Pete's Amazing Meatballs (see below)
4 cups Chicken broth
2 stalks celery, minced
2 medium carrots, grated
1 small zucchini, sliced
1/2 teas red pepper flakes
2 teas Montreal Steak seasoning
1 teas paprika
Salt & Pepper (to taste - I actually leave this out)
1 bunch (or bag) spinach
1/2 cup long grain rice, uncooked
1/2 cup White Wine

Make small versions of Pete's Amazing Meatballs. (Mine are about 1 teaspoon each meatball.)
In a large stock pot, combine chicken broth, water, carrot, zucchini and celery. Bring to a boil. Add seasonings and rice and boil for 15 minutes.

Reduce heat to low and add white wine, spinach and meatballs to the soup. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and serve. Add shaved Parmesan cheese on top, if you wish.

-----------


Pete's Amazing Meatball Recipe
Our friend, Pete M. makes amazing meatballs. As a boy he had them for breakfast every Sunday. I have fun picturing that in my head when I make a batch of these. They are fun to make and freeze well. They are good enough alone that you don't need any sauce.

Pete's Amazing Meatballs

3-4 TBL Parsley, fresh & chopped
3-4 TBL Basil, fresh and chopped
3-4 Garlic SHoots or 1-2 Garlic Cloves, minced
1# Hamburger (80%)
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese or Romano Cheese, grated
1 1/2 cup Bread Crumbs (plain or seasoned)
3 Eggs
Salt & Pepper, if desired

Mix the herbs, garlic and hamburger in the food processor or by hand. Add in the grated cheese and process again. Add in the bread crumb with the eggs. Form into Meatballs.

Bake the meatballs in a 350 degree oven. You can also fry them in a skillet.