Family Times

We needed to have a few repairs done on our trailer, so we dropped it off on Monday.  Of course, then we needed a place to stay.  The first day, we stayed at Jim & Pat Gilkerson's - next door to our old house.  It was a little strange.  We missed seeing them as they were in Cozumel, but appreciate the hospitality.  After we finished up our loose ends in Stillwater, we headed out to Brooke & Johnny's house at Bel Farm in Maple Plain.

Brooke manages the farm, and was fixing the lawnmower deck when we arrived.  We were impressed.  The farm is beautiful, and immaculately cared for. 

Ron & I had always wanted to see the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, so we decided to play tourist and go.  It is a beautiful place.  I wish I had gone to it when I had a yard!  There are trees, shrubs, perennials, wild flowers - all along beautiful pathways with sculptures and beautiful glass works. 

There was a pond with a female Hooded Merganser and 13 tiny little babies.  I've seen pictures of babies climbing on their mother's back, but these were swimming around her.

I know - it's hard to see, but I was excited.

We also saw lots of the Minnesota state flower, the Showy Lady Slipper.

And the large glass sculptures were amazing.  All of them were done by the same artist and were placed all over the Arboretum.   I highly recommend a visit. Landscape Arboretum

We also enjoyed the drive to the Arboretum.  The countryside is beautiful.  The area Brooke & Johnny live in has some of the most beautiful farms I've ever seen - even in Kentucky!

Thursday, Guido had an appointment with the vet for teeth cleaning.  Poor guy had to have 7 teeth pulled - he was exhausted!

 

Friday Alycia came to join us for a visit to Woodland Hill Winery in Delano, then to dinner in Delano.  We had a great time!

 

Tomorrow we head north to meet Jeff & Kathy at Campers Paradise.

 

Wedding Bells & Hoof Beats

Our last three days in Golden were spent catching up with our old friends from Minnesota, Paul & Karla Hendrickson.  We were all in Golden to celebrate the marriage of their daughter, Jessica to her long time beau, Jason.  Paul and I worked together in the late 80's on the production of sports and music events.  I met Jessica and her little sister, Beth when they were 8 and 6 years old, and would come to our offices for Triathlon Minnesota in the St. Paul skyway.  We had great fun at the popcorn shop and the candy store!

Paul, Ron & Karla at the wedding.  It was great to catch up with them. 

Jason & Jessica outside the beautiful, little chapel they were married in, with the Reverend who performed the ceremony.  And, this was their get-away car!  Jason's dad bought this 1972 Corvette the year that Jason was born (just happens to be my favorite car, in my favorite color (candy apple red), the year I graduated from high school!)  The reception was held at Jason & Jessica's house, with Cajun food (they met in New Orleans), French wine (Jessica speaks fluent French) and a great time was had by all. 

The next day, we were on the road again - headed back to Minnesota where I would be working the Region 10 Arabian/Half Arabian Championships.  While the drive is long, we had good driving weather and managed to get in a day early.  Alycia met us for lunch - she was headed to the Backstreet Boys concert that evening.  Brooke & Johnny came to our campsite at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for a late dinner.  It was so great to see them all!

I started working the Regional Pre Show on Wednesday (I am a Ringmaster) with a grueling first session that lasted 6 hours. Since Ringmasters are on their feet almost 100% of the time, it can be exhausting.  Fortunately, when the Region 10 show starts on Thursday, I share duties with Derek Jones, Ringmaster extraordinaire from Toronto, and my mentor.  We have a fantastic crew at the show.  Everyone works together, and the show this year ran very smoothly.  I love seeing the horses, catching up with old friends (and making new ones), and picking everyone's brain for their favorite places and things across the country to do and see.

Jeff Rutz, our announcer, me, Kitty Omitt, ring secretary, and Derek Jones, Ringmaster - we have TOO much fun in center ring!

Some of the beautiful Arabian horses showing at the Region 10 Championships.

Derek & I with Jolene Bertrand, the show's photographer, and a dear friend.  I have worked with Jolene for many years and she is not only a fantastic photographer, she makes every one feel like a champion - she is positive, direct and always smiling.  If you want to see really good photos of the horses and events at the show, go to her website!Avalon Photography

 

 

 

Red Rocks

On Wednesday, Ron & I were off to wander somewhere other than the campground area.  Much to our surprise, we were only about 10 minutes from Red Rocks Amphitheatre.  It is truly one of the most amazing things to see, and we would highly recommend a visit if you are ever in the Denver area.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

 

 

Red Rocks is a natural amphitheater that was first used as a venue for music in the early 1900's.  In 1927, the city of Denver bought it and with the help of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) built the stage and seating.  It was completed in 1941.  The CCC was one of the programs Franklin D Roosevelt established during the Depression to help get men back to work.  I recently finished reading "No Ordinary Time" about the last 4 years of Roosevelt's life, so it was really interesting to see what a contribution this program made to the nation.

 



The first concert season was in 1947.  Many musicians and musical groups have played Red Rocks in all musical genres.  They all rave over the natural acoustics and the beauty as the sun sets.  The Beatles played there August 26, 1964 - tickets were $6.60!

 

The hiking was awesomely humbling!  The steep climbs and altitude made the 1.4 mile trail seem like 10 miles.  I read in the museum that at Red Rocks (altitude 6,200 ft. above sea level) you only get 80% of the oxygen you get at sea level.  All I know is that I had to stop and breathe.

 

Climbing up......

Climbing down

 

 

 

But the views were worth it!

 

 

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

 

 

 

 

Ahhh, Colorado

We were so excited to be heading to the mountains that we forgot how bad the traffic is in Denver.  It was a good thing that we were trying to negotiate through at non rush hour time, but wow...   At first, we were a little disappointed that our campground (Jefferson County Fairgrounds) was so close to I-70, but we are finding out that it is pretty convenient to our multiple trips to Camping World, and a pretty easy drive to Golden's historic district.

This is the view from the "hill" just behind our campground.  The county fairgrounds is mostly an equine facility, so we are surrounded by horses.  It is also home to the Westernaires, a mounted precision drill team (or teams) for kids 9-19.  They are quite disciplined, no drugs, tobacco or alcohol, working together, caring for the horses.  They practice here in a beautiful arena where we can watch anytime. 
Of course, we have been into Golden several times.  One evening we went in with our good friend, Jack Sajevic, who lives just north of Denver in Broomfield.  He took us to his favorite saloon, Buffalo Rose, where they have great music on the patio.  We liked it so much we came back on Monday, after a long walk along Clear Creek.  The water was roaring down from the mountains - they have had more rain than usual and the mountains still have a lot of snow in them.  The Coors Brewery is built on Clear Creek - no, we haven't done the brewery tour yet, but it's on the agenda.

Washington Avenue - the main drag in Golden, Colorado

 

Clear Creek looking upstream

Kayakers trying to paddle against the current

There was a historic farm to wander through, with two homes, a barn, the root cellar, a smoke house, chicken coop, school house and out house!

This horse is life sized, in the lobby of The Golden Hotel.  There are large bronzes all over Golden that are amazing to see.  My favorite is this one of the little boy helping the little girl get on the horse - love the horse's cocked ear (and her dished face!)

And, of course, the buffalo in front of the Buffalo Rose.