A Visit to Uncle Nate's

My brother Nate, and his wife Kim, live in the spectacular mountains of Colorado.  We haven't been for a visit in five years.  Geoff and Tennie stayed home for various commitments, but Adele, Ceci and I met up with my mom in Grand Junction and drove together for a 4-day visit.  We actually didn't do much.  Kim is an incredible cook and spoiled us with delicious meals every day, we played two new favorite games a lot, Phase 10 and Moose Farkle, watched several episodes of America's Got Talent and Chopped, the girls did their nails and hair with Kim's daughter Annie and played Salon on Annie's husband Nate and mom and brother Nate, we made (or attempted to make) mozzarella cheese and ate lots of Kim's homemade salted caramel ice cream.  We went fishing and both Adele and Ceci caught little trouts, which we came home and Nate cooked into a yummy snack.

Did I mention the girls had a constant supply of Popsicles?

Kool-aid hair dye

Annie's husband Nate is the ultimate good sport

Ceci and Adele adored Nate and Kim's three dogs, Aspen, Rudger & Hank

Nate & Kim are two of the hardest working, resourceful people I know.  I love how Kim nurtures every living thing.  Her garden is incredible and her family well-nourished, her chickens and turkey are well-cared for, she feeds dozens and dozens of hummingbirds, her yard is blooming with robust and brilliant flowers, her pregnant fish is even being watched over so the other fish don't eat her eggs when they come.  And she does everything out of love.  Nate pulls together whatever he can find to work alongside Kim in creating this beautiful home.  He's scrappy and creative and always coming up with ways to fight off the deer, bunnies, mountain lions, bears, you name it, that come to reap what they haven't sown!

I love their chicken house

It is difficult to capture the beauty of their surroundings

On our way out of town we drove down the North Fork of the South Platte River, through the Colorado Gold Rush territory.  It was a gorgeous drive.

We stopped in an old Mercantile from the late 1800s that is still functioning with its original trappings

We stopped for lunch at the Buck Snort Saloon in a little, historic town in Spinx Park.

We added to the dollar bill decor

Cabins were built on the rocks to fit into this cute little canyon town.  Can you see the original cabin clinging to the rocks?

And from there we drove back home.  It was a surprisingly relaxing end-of-summer trip.

San Juan Islands

We started going to Lonesome Cove in the San Juan Islands when we lived in Redmond, Washington.  We instantly fell in love with this little spot, where time stands still, and have been going back every other year since.  My favorite picture of all time was taken that first time we visited.

It is when I look at this little picture that I realize time really doesn't stand still.  As a matter of fact, it seems to speed up!  Look at the girls now!

But when we are there, without cell phones, TV and distractions, we explore, play, read and rest and love the slow and simple life...for a week.

Good food continued via Geoff.  On our second day there Geoff was prepping some pizzas...

...when Tennie came hobbling up from the low tide saying she had cut her foot while exploring the tide pools.  We didn't think much of it until she lifted her foot and blood dripped to the ground in a steady stream!  So we took her to get stitches.  (Scroll quickly if you get queasy.)

It required a thorough washing and eight stitches.

 Poor Tennie was off her feet the rest of the trip.

Geoff was her transportation, when needed, until he nearly threw his back out.  Then she hobbled around with a stick.

 Sunsets are our favorite part of the day.

The third day our dear friends the Serafins, who were neighbors for a few years when we lived in Redmond, came for the day.  Our kids have remained friends all these years, and Ashley and I seem to never have enough time to catch up on things.  Ashley is one of my favorite people.  She provided the pictures from their visit.

Nina, Sela, Rollin and Ashley

Adele and Nina in the library

Tennie's transportation for the day

Thank you for visiting favorite Serafins!

The rest of our visit was slow and chill.

Collections

 

 

 

On our last day, with a little spare time before catching the ferry, we explored San Juan Island a little.  We stopped by the British Camp.

We did the short hike to the lighthouse. 

Back to the ferry in Friday Harbor

On the drive to back to Salt Lake (13 hours!) we stopped to see some sites along the Oregon Trail.

We stayed overnight with the Wells in the Boise area before settling back in for the busy weeks ahead.

These costumes, if you look closely, will make you chuckle