I haven't been to Colorado in a very long time. Work brought me to Boulder this past week, and I had a chance to take a few extra days to spend with one of my close college girlfriends, Diana. She landed in Colorado after college and never left. Diana is a distributor for body care products made by a number of businesses, and specializes in those that are mostly sold at health-food and holistic care stores. She knows Colorado and was the perfect host--not only did I have my pick of shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotions, and the like while visiting, but she is also an expert in herbalistic healing and an extremely creative cook, specializing in "mood" meals--foods that, when combined, evoke a particular mood, whether it be relaxing, energetic, or some other needed energy. She ran into friends practically everywhere we went; she knew the best places to hole up for a glass of wine or a cup of tea. She led us on great morning walks or to places to just sit and relax by a creek. To top it off, during the six days I was there (two plus a half-day visiting Evergreen, Di's home; and four days in Boulder), Colorado was experiencing an unusual heat wave. Temperatures were in the 80's; lilacs and tulips were in full bloom, trees were leafed out, and it was a very summer-like spring.
This blog entry will mostly be a photo journey; as they say, pictures say a thousand words. Captions will tell the story. Enjoy!!!
We first had to stop at Boulder's largest Whole Foods Market for Di's work and to pick up a few tidbits for the weekend. |
Ah, Whole Foods--even the carrots are displayed beautifully. To say nothing of the gelato bar. |
Leaving Boulder for Evergreen, Di's home. |
Deer (and elk) roam near Di's house every evening. |
House Beautiful. |
I can't tell you how much I loved this painting Di just picked up from getting framed. The gold and maroon aspen leaves popped from the white aspen trees and blue sky. Little did I know... |
...that this was a Di creation! (Diana Marie) Di, you rock!!! |
Dinner that first day included a drive up a winding canyon to the Buck Snort Saloon, a mountain bar with a mountain bar scene. |
The next morning, a walk around the town's lake and a visit to the Lake House, a public facility where an Earth Day festival was drawing hundreds of people. |
Shopping Evergreen on my first full day; a visit to Creekside Cellars winery was in order. |
Their Viognier was especially tasty. What you can't see due to the lighting is a creek bubbling behind us. Ah. Life is good. |
A birthday get-together for a friend of Di's brought us to the Little Bear Saloon in downtown Evergreen for a quick happy hour (the wine, above, was for lunch, silly!) |
Sunday's morning hike in a park that brought us to an old homestead with a view. |
After some errands and shopping, we had an afternoon of crochet lessons for Di and some homemade dandelion wine and dandelion wine jelly and cream cheese on crackers. |
Visiting Di's friend John, who is lucky enough to live next to open public land; an afternoon hike was in order before dinner. |
Climbing up to a view--- |
Gnarled trees at the top, a product of living with the wind. After enjoying the view, it was time to head back for what else, more food!!! |
Another Di masterpiece: Pomagranate margaritas, Swai fish with a balsamic reduction sauce and capers topped with diced tomatoes; broccoli salad with coriander ginger dressing; and crab enchiladas. |
I have to split up the food pictures with something, so: more wildlife sightings: elk in Evergreen... |
...and fox with a mouse. |
One of our first stops on the way to Boulder: Red Rocks Amphitheater. I could only imagine enjoying a concert here; amazing! |
And then...Boulder. The three "flat iron" rocks are the city's backdrop. Here, we're hiking in Chataqua Park before heading for... you guessed it, more shopping and food. |
Shopping along Pearl Street; tulips are blooming and you can find pretty much anything you want. |
To go with my Orange Blossom Mojito Green Tea, I had this delicious salad with beets, roasted potatoes, egg, and a caper dressing. Di had a lovely spinach salad and a White Peach Tea Wine Cooler. |
...its famous leaded glass ceiling, making the Boulderado perhaps one of the loveliest hotels I've had the pleasure of visiting. |
Even the elevator is the original Otis two-door type; you need to find the elevator operator if you want to use it. |
Colorado was amazing--its beauty is just one reason to go there, but there's so much more. It's a vibrant place, full of people who are totally themselves and who appreciate--and take care of--their surroundings and their environment, for the benefit of all who live there. Go visit sometime, and say hi to my dear friend Diana, who was THE highlight, and the epitome of all things the state has to offer. Thank you, Di, for making Colorado a place I want to return to--soon!!!