Cometsgirl

I’ve been home six days and I’m about to take a seat, once again, in that chair in the sky.

I’m headed to Houston early this morning. I’m going to help Beth pack up for a second return to the rectory – after flood #2.

I drove to Atlanta last night for an early flight. This was much easier than leaving home at 3am in the morning. Plus, snow was forecast. I believe WAS is the operative word here.

It’s chilly in Atlanta this morning. I’ll travel 689 air miles, while also “traveling” in temperature degrees. High of 45 at home, 78 in Houston. I’m hoping I packed light enough.

What a beautiful morning to fly.

I mention the two floods. In each one I mostly focused on unpacking. This week I’ll be using my packing skills. I’m actually a most excellent packer. Almost world renowned. Seriously.

Making light of hard times sometimes helps. I have been so close to these floods, even participating in one of them. I need to find some light and humor to sustain me. There is hard work ahead this week, for body, mind, and soul.

I’ll need to carve out a bit of time for cross making.

In the meantime, here are the latest cross creations.

Acorn sanded flat to be affixed to found wood.

The other 2 chimes from the broken wind chime (featured earlier) cloaked in seed pods.

Found penny attached to Apple tree scraps.

Pussy willow branches gathered roadside in Colorado.

Spoons served with local cappuccinos. My coffee companion created this cross.

Just landed. See you on down the road.

And so we all disperse this morning, headed home to Texas and to Georgia. By car, by plane.

I took an early morning walk to move my car closer to the lodge for loading up.

Soon the slopes will open.

The sun will come up.

Walking into town was such a quiet scene.

Then a fairyland feel.

I love this.

I pray for peace for all this day.

My drive to Eagle airport was gorgeous, and involved a number of “scenic overlooks”.

Driving out of Lone Eagle Lodge.

Gotta have one for the road.

Pullovers along the way.

My plane is here.

Traveling mercies.

A fitting way to end this high-time trip. A double gondola ride to North Peak for Der Fondue Chessel dining.

An immense dining hall, capable of seating 300, was set up for a gastronomic feast. We began with tableside preparation of Caesar salad, followed by two pots of two kinds of cheese fondue. Then came a raclette grill of chicken, beef, bratwurst, and potatoes,

Musicians strolled by, stopping to play a few tunes.

All topped off with two pots of chocolate fondue – milk and dark chocolate.

A veritable feast!

The return gondola ride drifted down as the sun completed its setting. Both Mark and I activated our night sky apps so as to identify the stars which now appeared in the sky as dark settled in. We spotted a contrail high above, identified through a favorite app of mine as Southwest flight from St. Louis to Las Vegas. Ah, the wonders of it all.

Looking outside and below our balcony just now….

These few days have very much been a Rocky Mountain high. Homeward bound tomorrow.

Traveling mercies.

This a blue sky day. A Colorado blue sky. I’m sitting out on the condo balcony drinking Sam Pelligrino, reading the New York Times, covered in sunscreen. Watching skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities slide by. And occasionally a sled carrying an injured person slides past.

The lodge is situated at the base of River Run.

It’s ski in/ski out. Very convenient.

There’s Mark now.

And Georgia and Jack.

This is likely to be the last of the many family gatherings we have enjoyed at Keystone. In addition to the enormous joy we have all shared these past few days, it’s been a healing time for me. Eight years ago Jack and I were in a ski accident in this very place. It was far worse for him than for me. I’ve carried some responsibility for this ever since, because as a grandmother I felt like I failed to protect him.

He’s long recovered in body and mind. Being here these past few days has done much for the healing of my heart. Jack asked me if I was glad to be back. Yes I am.

Making crosses in this time and place has been especially meaningful.

Sticks stuck in our burgers to indicate doneness, tied with twine found by Georgia.

Napkin which accompanied my club soda on the flight to Eagle, now folded and cut.

Found button at the car rental affixed to found twigs.

Tonight we’ll take a double gondola ride to dinner. Stay tuned.

This afternoon we boarded a gondola for a ride up to the Summit House, where we were met by the snowcat driver who would drive us up to the top of the world. Almost literally.

Waivers signed, and dressed for super cold weather, thirteen of us climbed into the snowcat.

It was quite a ride!

The snowcat parked on the edge of the Independence Bowl. 12,200′. We clamored out of the cat and walked around.

Our driver pointed out all the peaks and related points of interest.

It was breathtaking! Truly. I slowed way down, but that just let me have time to savor the views. I did veer off on my own a bit. The driver informed my family that there would be a “whoosh” sound if I were to disappear. Hilarious.

The Heckel highpoint stance.

.Jack contributed the artwork just as we boarded for the return trip down the mountain.

Airborne at just under 40,000 feet for much of the flight, we descended to 6,600′ in Eagle. My drive to Keystone saw a gain in elevation to 9,200′.

Growing up in Colorado, I’ve always believed my lungs developed “super breathing” capability. When I travel to higher elevations I’m thankful I’m not winded or short of breath.

Today I expect to be close to 12,000′ as we go off on a snowcat adventure. These machines are used primarily for grooming the ski slopes throughout the night.

This morning brought more snowcats at work preparing the slopes for skiers and snowboarders.

Sunrise on a chilly morn.

At 3:15 this afternoon, we will gather to catch a ride on a gondola up to Dercum Mountan at 11,600′. We’ll board a snowcat – a HEATED – snowcat and head off into Independence and Bergen Bowls.

A Ricky Mountain High for sure.

Stay tuned.

Ah, the wonder of flight. The further wonder of the gift of my ability to travel by air. This trip is number 383. All since August 1985, the date I was set free to soar!  But hey, who’s counting? Clearly I am.

Images as we traversed the country from Atlanta to Eagle, CO

The descent begins….

Then just beyond the mesa, a quick drop to land.

And deplane. Such an awesome and awe-filled experience.

Sights as I drove to Keystone.

Then to be greeted by ‘the fam’.

We got a little carried away with creativity at dinner….

As this day comes to a close, “may the Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.”

You have to really want to travel by air if you live up in the mountains as I do.

Allowing 3 hours for drive-time to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport meant a 5:30 am departure. SO dark the entire 110 miles.

After going through security, I set out on foot for Starbucks at Terminal C. It’s an educational and artsy walk.

Stone art from South Africa:

A tropical aviary installation:

And travel through the history of Atlanta:

At last – Starbucks! Me and MANY others await our orders.

Cross making the night before departure; inviting God in this creating activity as I prepared for travel.

Tied with Iceland yarn, a snippet from Beth’s knitting project.

Vine tendrils collected on a recent walk up the hill. Soaked in water to make flexible for winding together.

Soon to board. See you in the sky!

Traveling mercies.

Tomorrow I return to my roots. Those who know me, know how proud I am to be a native Coloradoan. While I have not lived in Colorado for 47 years, I still make claim to this identity. I’m especially delighted when someone asks what my “accent” is.  Accent?  Really? Well, I guess Coloradoans must have some type of accent that sets our speech apart.  That’s way cool!  Colorado cool.

I’ve accepted an invitation from my oldest son and his family to join them for several days in Keystone, CO.  A family of skiers and snowboarders, they will take to the slopes while I will take to the village complex to take in the sights.

I’m flying nonstop Atlanta to Eagle, CO.  Eagle is a small town nestled in the Rockies, not far from some of the major ski areas – including Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone. The landing is super dramatic as the airplane descends quickly to a small mesa INSIDE the Rockies!

A drive of about an hour and a half will take me to Keystone where I expect to be embraced by my family– unless they are on the slopes, in which case the embrace will come later. Regardless, I am soon to be wrapped in family arms. IN Colorado.

Traveling mercies.

The reframed Lenten trip ended with Beth returning home Friday afternoon. It’s clear that revising Tybee Time this Lent was a very good idea.  As the last day approached, we took stock of the reframing experience.

Extreme rest that had been sought, was found;

“Luxury” accommodation offered sunrise viewing from bed;

cappuccinos at will;

gourmet meals made possible by having more than a toaster and microwave with which to cook;

movie and TV streaming in front of either the fireplace or the woodstove;

mountains instead of sea and marsh.

All in all, a restful and rest-filled week of Lent.

And the making of crosses in the midst.

New Mexico seed pods before “exploding”.

Seed pods, now exploded.

A bit of wool to drape.

Found “as is” on my deck.

The color of Spring.

Wiley Presbyterian Church labyrinth.

I’ve been thinking about the idea of reframing, of doing things or seeing things, in ways outside the usual “because it’s always been done that way’ – or “that’s how I’ve always viewed it”. I know I have bristled when I’ve heard others say “because…”, always….”, “not going to change now”.  Yet I have been doing some of that, without hearing myself as clearly as I’ve heard others.

While I did not seek out change in the form of reframing, and while I resisted, in the end it has provided me with some wonderful opportunities and experiences I otherwise would have missed. It’s also taught me something about being open and even a bit flexible, when asked to reframe.

We all need some things to stay the same so as to have some familiarity and tethering in our uncertain lives. This day I’m basking in quiet joy of having untethered for just a while.