Author: cometsgirl

I’ve been on a Fall grandchildren tour the last few months.

To date I have visited three grandkids, with one more to go.

I’m on my way to snowy Colorado! The forecast is for 5”-6” of snow today. In theory all the inches will have fallen before I land.

As I took my chair in the sky, reality hit: so much for my snow theory. My planned lunch today with my sister-in-law is now reset for Spring 2025 due to the amount of snowfall. It’s been a long time since I last visited with her, and I was so looking forward to time with her.

She sent me the snowy scene outside her window.

Beautiful sky outside my window.

Fortunately the snow is not expected to move any further north of Denver. So I will drive north ASAP. I’ll have some snow on the road challenges: slow as I go will guide me.

Located in Fort Collins, Colorado State University is where my grandson is a freshman.

CSU is about an hour’s drive north of the Denver airport. I have lodging tonight along the way to CSU. Tomorrow morning I’ll drive the remaining 45 minutes to meet up with Nathan. I’ll have a few hours with him to walk around the campus and then have lunch, all the while hearing about his freshman life here. Then he will be off to class and I’ll be off to the Denver airport hotel for my flight home the next morning.

I can’t wait to see him!

Traveling mercies.

While my trip to Taos, NM came to an end, my travel continued on.

Instead of returning home, I flew home with my traveling friend to Texas. She lives in Houston, and my granddaughter is a Rice U student in Houston. It made sense to continue on for a few days so I could visit her.

For our time together, I suggested an exhibit at the renowned Menil Museum. With dinner to follow.

I Uburred to her apartment and from there we traveled on to the Menil.

The exhibit took up significant space in the museum. Some of the images were huge. Others tiny. While my granddaughter and I really tried hard to learn more about the pieces, knowledge eluded us.

Though eluded, we entertained ourselves with some of our own interpretations.

The Menil is a real treasure, always free,; it is a huge contribution to the city.

We dined just across the street at the Bistro Menil.

Reverse Uber route return. This time with a retired respiratory therapist who talked women’s basketball from the early days of the WNBA. The Houston Comets!

I loved being with my granddaughter. I loved hearing about her life. It was precious time.

The following morning at dawn, I flew home. I’ll be back in the air again soon, as I head off to Colorado to complete the grandkids Fall visit tour.

Travel days – The rest of the trip,

The remaining days in Taos were filled with sights of gold and yellow, the colors of Aspen and Cottonwood.

There’s gold in them thar hills…

Originally used in the phrase “there’s gold in them thar hills”, possibly a misquote of the phrase “there’s millions in it” (meaning. the North Georgia mountains) uttered in Mark Twain’s 1892 novel The American Claimant by Colinel Mulberry Sellers, a character though to be based on Dahlonegal Mint assayer M. F Stephenson.

From Wiktionary

Travel day 2

Taos Apothecary to begin the day.

After coffee we were off to the Empty Bowl event at St. James Episcopal Church – in support of the St. James Food Pantry

For $25, you received a ceramic bowl crafted by a local potter. Lunch consisted of soups, accompanied by bread made by local chefs, and cake or ice cream.

After lunch we decided to drive up to the Taos ski area. It appeared to be snowing up on high.

As we drove up to the ski area, we caught glimpses of aspen gold.

Driving down…

….it was wintertime, and time for…

a fire and quesadillas!

A day filled with gold. Indeed.

Travel Day 1- Lakemont to Taos

ATL > ABQ

Soaring over Escabosa, NM

Rental car pick-up.

Headed north.

Lunch with Sue, a friend of over 40 years.

Chimayo chile powder!

Rainbows along the High Road driving north toward Taos.

First sign of yellow – northern New Mexico Fall.

At last, home away from home.

Im traveling to Taos, New Mexico, today. I haven’t been in New Mexico during Fall for many years. Too many years.

I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of Aspen, though it’s more likely I’ll see Cottonwood. The Aspen trees may have dropped most of their leaves by now.

Cottonwood is a good substitute tree when you can’t have Aspen. I’m talking about scenic beauty. Often found alongside streams and rivers, they are beautiful in their own right.

My hope is to visit The Valley Vidal. “The Valle Vidal (which is Spanish for “Valley of Life”) is a 101,794 acre area on the Questa Ranger District of the Carson National Forest in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains”.

It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to. The land with the stream running through it, the meadows, the distant timber, the winding road, mule deer, elk, birds and fish! Altitude varies, 8,000’ to 12,000’. Gasp. Gasp.

“See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream.”

—Ray Bradbury

Traveling mercies.

The celebration of my traveling friend’s birthday was just as I hoped it would be – activities she would love. First and foremost was the Karin Larson exhibit.

Breakfast goodies at the American Swedish Institute to begin the day.

We stepped into the exhibit as it opened.

We struck up a conversation with two delightful women. Our mutual delight made my friend and I want to return one day and take them up on their offer to join them for Morning Prayer which they conduct each morning.

We enjoyed lunch at the FIKA Café.

Later in the day we Ubered to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

Such fun to “run” from one piece to another.

I gathered seeds for my garden next year.

The James Turrel Sky Pesher was located at the Walker Art Center, adjacent to the sculpture garden.

The day ended with a late meal at CARDAMOM. Celebration ice cream!

It was a fine day.

Literally. I took a plane, a train, and an automobile yesterday. And a short walk.

An easy and pleasant flight to Minneapolis.

My friend was waiting for me as I deplaned. She helped gather up my bag and we took the elevator down to board a train.

It was a short walk to the hotel.

A short time later we scored a 4pm reservation at Owamni by the Sioux Chef, a James Beard award winning restaurant. We walked through town to dinner.

“Experience the true flavors of North America, featuring foods of Mni Sota Makoce, Land Where the Waters Reflect the Clouds.”

It was such wonderful dining!

After dinner we Ubered to Weisman Art Museum. Designed by Frank Gerhry, it was as much an art piece as the exhibit inside.

A few favorites.

Time to Uber home for the night.

Bedtime ice cream. Fancy!

A wonderful day of travel, near and far.

For many years my traveling friend has wanted to go to Sweden. With a single purpose.

To visit the house of Carl Larsson.

Known for both painting and furniture design, “he was prolific Swedish artist whose paintings of his own home interior have inspired homeowners for more than 100 years.”

His wife, Karin Bergöö Larsson was an artist, designer, dressmaker, and style icon through her art and textiles.

We are traveling to Minneapolis for this exhibit:

This a birthday trip for my friend. While not actually in Sweden, it will feel like it when we step into the American Swedish Institute for the exhibit. We will have lunch at the Fika Café.

Beyond celebrating with her in “Sweden”, she has suggested this 2-day trip might take the place of actually traveling to Sweden. My new reality of having lived 83 years, has revealed the challenges travel can sometimes have for me. I need travel to be less-complicated.

Sweden in Minneapolis seems to be an alternative. Regardless, I’m about to land. Let the party begin!

Traveling mercies.

I have a tattoo! Georgia and I have matching tattoos!

But first…

I had pizza for lunch with my grandkids. Conversation was rich and delightful. We decided since we have been to this pizza place three times, it is now our place.

Jack dropped Georgia and I off at the tattoo parlor. I was only a tad apprehensive as we entered.

We filled out the requisite paperwork, adding to my apprehension. Our tattoo artist then showed us design options and we selected our design.

Then we walked down the hall to the room where the deed would be done,

and settled in to prepare.

I chose to go first so I couldn’t change my mind.

I then climbed up on the chair and waited for the artist to begin. But first she led us in prayer. It was quite the moment.

I had a little fun.

Georgia held my hand the entire time.

Before I knew it, my tattoo was finished. I joked that it was so quick and easy, I wanted another one.

Then it was Georgia’s turn.

All done!

And just like that, we had matching tattoos.

The best part was how much my granddaughter wanted us to do this. We were filled with glee as we walked outside.