I Wish You Love

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1. Cookie and Ice Cream Sandwich from my collection (Creative Growth Artists) 2. Golden Cupcake Award (Student of Jess Dewes) 2. Miyuki Tsurukawa 3.  Herod Elementary School Students 4. Jenna Danza 

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Out of the hundreds of photos taken on our incredible trip to the mountains, this one appeals to my aesthetic the most closely. I'm a wide open vista gal.

Don't get me wrong. I loved our trip through the mountains. We drove to Durango from Creede, Colorado, which was incredible. Then we drove up the million dollar highway to Ouray which was white knuckles crazy beautiful. Whenever we were super high and/or the roads were weaving, I had to drive or else I was so anxious I couldn't enjoy anything. I have low tolerance for girls who get all squeamish around bees, spiders, bugs, etc. and then here I was having serious issues on this trip over heights?! I don't remember heights bothering me before. I thought driving would help me face my fears, but when I drove I felt calmer, so maybe to really face my fears, I would have let Lindsey drive. I could have gotten photos that way too. Anyway, we did share driving throughout the trip and I did get some photos, but there is no way to really capture how amazing the views were on this vacation. And I love the plains and prairies of Kansas and east Colorado as much as the mountains. (Our route) (Photos)  On Sunday, driving route 86 from Castle Rock to Limon, Colorado was the perfect antidote to what was a very trying Saturday afternoon. Audrey was sick off and on the entire time and Saturday was particularly brutal. She's been having problems since Memorial Day so we felt it best to get her home and get her checked out (again). My disappointment at ending our trip a few days early was only eclipsed by worry. Luckily, she is too young and didn't really understand all that she missed in Denver.

Highlights/Surprises:

• A bear coming onto our porch the first night and breaking into our cooler for soft drinks. Scary at the time, but in retrospect, not that threatening and a great story for my nephews. 
• Driving up Pool Table road with Lindsey to a valley that was the most remote, peaceful, quietest place I've ever been. Truly awesome.
• I finally got a chance to learn/play play Bananagrams.
• Having family that can vacation together.
• Audrey throwing rocks in the creek by the old mine in Creede.
• Audrey drew a rainbow completely on her own with the colors in the correct order. What?! She also wrote the word CAT! Unaided. I promise people, I am not pushing this stuff. Most days, I feel like I'm behind the curve. 
• Grand Junction. Who would have thought? We stayed on historic main street, which was loaded with locally owned quality restaurants, shops, and public art. We could walk to it all from our hotel, which had a kick butt little swimming pool that the three of us were able to enjoy privately. 
• Dinner at Blue Creek Lodge with live music. The lodge is less than 1/2 mile from the cabin where we stay. After dessert (homemade cherry pie) we met a couple who work at the place during summers. The rest of the year they live in New Mexico and the husband teaches art at a high school on the Navaho reservation. They were so great to talk to and their daughter and Audrey had a blast together.
• When I told Audrey we were going to Applebee’s she said, “Mommy, bees don’t eat apples, they eat honey.” That was funny enough to me to make up for the fact that Crapplebee's was our only option in Salina, Kansas on a Sunday night at 8pm. 
• Turning onto McCausland and Audrey exclaiming, "I'm excited!" It felt good to be home.

So...we have the rest of the week off and lots of things planned. Museums, DIY projects, and that Woody Allen flick. I'm going to rejuvenate if if it kills me.

Trinidad, Colorado

About three hours east of Creede, is Trinidad, where in 1965 the utopian artists community Drop City formed. There are some great photos of the rural hippie commune on the website of artist and one of the founders, Clark Richert. A documentary was made and T.C. Boyle wrote Drop City, loosely based on the group. One of the members who lived on the compound for three years, John Curl, also wrote a book and has an online memoir. Apparently, Trinidad is also known as the "Sex Change Capital of the World". More on that here. What history.

Kin: Vintage Photos

We are spending part of our vacation with my parents, two brothers, and two nephews. So in celebration of kin, here are some more from the family photos file. Not sure who most of these are, except for the first photo. That is my grandma on the far left (dig those sandals!) and my great grandma in the middle.

Banks of the Colorado

I know this is about a river in Texas, but still, seems appropriate somehow. And I love me some Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Maybe Brian Wilson's Rio Grande would be more appropriate.

Creede, Colorado

I found this video online showing off the beauty of the area we are in - Creede, Colorado.

Wish You Were Here

Wrapping The Week

Bags are packed. Cookies are baked. Embroidery projects are half-baked. Maps. Camera. Action. We are ready to roll. Colorado bound. I've prepared a few posts in advance, but blog activity will be a bit lighter. Won't have much internet access on the trip. We're going remote and I'm estatic! I have 20 days off people! I'm going to read, write, look, and love on my family.

Having directions like this would make me happy. 

Hope my garden(s) do okay while we are gone. Hang On Little Tomato. 

I think these 4th grader embroidery projects are so cool. 

This church conversion is inspired. Here's a cozier one via Apartment Therapy. And here's one in England. And another. Outstanding.

I'd love to get my hands on something like this - a 2,700 square foot house with wrap around porch for $85,000. Or maybe this 4,700 square footer for $90,000. Too bad this river town is a 90 minute commute. Oh, the renovating!

Knotty pine kitchen, you'd be so nice to come home to.

The image for today is again by the amazing Viv Strauss. I have a serious obsession with all three of her etsy shops. Giraffe in a suitcase. Yes, please.

Happy Father's Day to my three favorite daddys: my own sweet and hard working pops; my amazingly resilient, good hearted, and loving brother Jeff; and my beloved Lindsey.

Wander. Wonder. Get Out. Love.

Let's Go ! Travel Wish List

As we get ready to embark on this journey, I'm reminded how much I love planning and going on trips. Here is a short list of places I would love to visit.

• Storm King, the sculpture park in upstate New York  
• Marfa, Texas
• Yellowstone and Grand Teton Park
• Montreal, QB, Canada
• Lyon, Paris, etc.
• Bilbao Guggenheim
• Extended roadtrip exploring the east coast, landing in Maine and staying for some time.

Vintage Autograph Book

I remember having autograph albums when I was in grade school. I remember two of them very specifically, along with an Underdog pillow that could be autographed with an attached pen. I wonder if kids do this kind of thing anymore. I sort of doubt it. Below are pages from an autograph album I bought at an estate sale. Ronald Ruff, 1948.

Lindsey?

Lindsey, 1996

I just found this picture for the first time. I met Lindsey eight years after this.

 While the hair is incredible, what I find even more incredible is that

 I think he still owns and wears those shorts.

All. The. Time.

Rebellious with a hint of frugality.

That's what I love.  

{BONUS...I just realized this would make a terrific bookmark for those of us who still read books!}

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Lots of movies, naps, outdoor activities this weekend. Perfection, really.
Friday: The The Kids Are All Right/thunderstorm/slept with Audrey
Saturday: Errands to prepare for vacation/naps/park/grilled steaks/Manhattan
Sunday: Grant's Farm/naps/helped brother hang pictures/father's day cards

Wrapping The Week

{Viv Strauss Etsy}

I had a lovey dinner out (tapas and sangria!) with three of my girlfriends on Thursday. A much needed girl's night. All three are so creative and dedicated to their work. Real inspirations. The official vacation countdown is on. I am in need of some rejuvenation. I'm working on music for the road trip and finding the perfect sandals and sunglasses. I am eager to immerse myself in a couple of good books, embroidery projects, and journaling--along with enjoying my family.  Tonight we are going to a concert and movie in the park. Here are some finds from this week.


Sweet rendition of Moon River.

I expect a lot of this and this on vacation.

I am so in love with beets right now. (Thank you mother-in-law.)

These little sumo wrestlers are adorable, but everything at Pink Cheeks is.  

I have a white rooms list on pinterest, but this tumblr blog My White Room, is pretty nice This room is especially dreamy.

This memoir about growing up while living off the grid sounds like a good vacation read to me.

Get Happy this weekend. Big love.

Big Hair

Vintage Phones

My grandma had a black and red Ericofon. I remember talking on it. I don't remember if it actually worked. We thought it was the coolest thing. I think the rest of these are pretty marvelous too.

{Ericofon: Etsy Northstarvintage}

{Etsy nowvintage}

{Etsy 33 Reasons }

{Etsy EuroVintage}

Tim Williams & The Civil Wars

I love this video. I don't really know anything about Ted Williams or his music, but I like the homemade aesthetics of the video. The song is catchy too. Reminds me that I have to start working on our road trip music.



This video by The Civl Wars is also a winner. Love the song. Apparently the duo was touring with Adele in the states.

Weekend Bits & Pieces

On Saturday we got fresh rhubarb and strawberries at the Farmer's Market in Tower Grove Park (or Grover Park as Audrey calls it). I made a pretty rockin' strawberry rhubarb cream pie (recipe and photo below), which was enjoyed late night on the deck with friends. Sunday we went to the zoo in the morning and the park in the afternoon. In between we had a dance party. Audrey loves Everybody Dance Now by C+C Music Factory. And really, who doesn't?

Strawberry Rhubarb Cream Pie

3 eggs
3 Tbsp milk or cream
1 2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
grated rind of half an orange (optional)
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups pink rhubarb cut into 1/4" - 1/2" cubes
2 cups strawberries, halved

Crumb Topping
2 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp butter

1. Prepare your favorite pie crust and bake in a 400 degree oven for 5-6 minutes. Keep oven preheated to 400 degrees. 
2. With fork, beat eggs slightly. Add milk and stir well. 
3. Mix sugar, flower, orange rind, and salt together. Stir into milk mixture and flavor with vanilla.
4. Fold rhubarb and strawberries into "custard" and pour into shell.
5. Mix brown sugar, flour and butter for crumb topping and sprinkle over filling. 
6. Bake 15 minutes.
7. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and back 30 minutes longer or until knife comes clean.

Wrapping The Week

I've been a bit brain dead this week. I served on the jury of a criminal trial and it was pretty intense. To lighten the load, during breaks I re-read Birds of America by Lorrie Moore, a short story collection that I love. Baby girl has had the stomach flu, so again, the week has been a little rough. Looking forward to a weekend with no definite plans, but hope to shake things up a little. 

The last few weeks, I have been having so much fun with my tumblr blog, which I use purely for artsy eye candy.

Usually not a fan of red rooms, but love this one inspired by one of my favorite Matisse paintings.

Cannot wait to see the new Woody Allen movie, Midnight in Paris and Miranda July's new move, The Future. Would also like to see Bag It. Missed The Pruitt Igoe Myth because of jury duty. Had to refund my tickets (sniffle).

Super dance scene from Bande à part by Jean Luc Godard.

That's it. Next week.

Hair Today

I've got to do something with my hair. For reals.

{All photos from Flickr's The Commons}

Pokey LaFarge

Good morning Pokey. Thanks for being from St. Louis. So long honeybee, goodbye.

So Long Honeybee, Goodbye - Pokey LaFarge (Official Music Video) from bill streeter on Vimeo.