{waiting [impatiently but with smiles] for the shuttle to take us to the show}
another one for the books.
another one where i have to pinch my arm just to remind myself that yes –
i do live somewhere this dynamic, this beautiful, this full of opportunity,
this grounded.
after a productive week of nights at the restaurant, lunches with the best of friends, and just enough time at home to tinker in the kitchen, play with the puglet, and rest,
we set off to spend a night up north, deep in the recesses of a canyon
listening to the songs of a favorite band ping-pong off the poudre river.
for the first time, in a long time,
the air was crisp and my shoulders agreed,
filling themselves up with tiny goosebumps
in a hundred silent demands to be warmed with a sweatshirt.
a teeny tiny cabin in a roadside campsite, filled with colorful residents that had us in stitches far before it was time to hear the music.
rose wine, runny and stinky cheese, a fennel sausage, and crackers;
the only thing that gave us away as ‘campers’ were our
red solo cup ‘wine glasses’ and muddy hemlines.
a venue that nearly – oh so very nearly – escaped the horrible summer fires,
but thankfully stood defiantly, still.
settling in to the best seats in the house and wearing smiles for miles,
it was a perfect friday night, indeed.
not ready yet to surrender the good times,
saturday was perfect for touring colorado’s finest breweries.
a day of tasty beers, good conversation, and the bonus of meeting two new
(and very cool) friends.
glasses were clinked, laughs were had, and burritos were eaten.
what can be bad about that?
a quiet night of sushi followed by a blissful sunday, with zero alarm clocks and
sleeping in later than we have in years.
at the end of it all, realizing with a start that our july days are numbered,
but we’ve got another fantastic one lined up right in front of us.
feeling very content, at the moment. indeed.
{a lunch out with the girls…}
{…is a totally valid excuse for midday wine…right?}
{seared boulder trout over quinoa, summer tomatoes, and butter lettuce}
{the ‘it’s still a zillion degrees out‘ blues}
{the perfect summer lunch: homemade ricotta and fresh heirlooms}
{the columbine lodge}
{purple potato and kale salad}
{partaking in a breakfast superfood smoothie: spoiled puglet}
{dusk}
{a resident’s pet — yes, pet — raccoon}
{a figgy breakfast}
{our swanky palace}
{a good camper always packs cheese, sausage, and plenty of rose wine}
{colorado}
{a welcomed stop at a favorite fort collins brewery}
{backstage peekaboo}
{one very happy camper, as the old saying goes}
{lunchtime eats: a mango avocado salad roll}
{decisions, decisions}
{brewery numero dos}
{a delicious sour apricot brew}
{saturday night sake: unfiltered and ice cold, please}
