At the Ranch

Day four!

Uffda.  Sleeping in a bit was a must today - but so worth it!

We started the day with breakfast at the condo - with Mom, Dad, cousin David, and his wife Nancy (they're our roomies for the week!).  It was a relaxing, unrushed kind of morning.

Then, while Mom went out with some of the other ladies, Dad and Hubby and I headed into Vail for the day.  What a unique place!  The streets of Vail Village and Lionshead look like little villages in Switzerland!  So cute and quaint - full of upscale shops and art galleries, and cafes on every corner. 

We managed to take a gondola ride to the top of the mountain - a fun spot with lots of activities for kids!  Rock-climbing, trampolines, slack-lining, bean bag games, pony rides, etc.  A nice patio and restaurant, and great photo opps!  We played for a while, then took the gondola back down the mountain into Lionshead for an art fair.

(The hubby was missing the Jimmy Buffet concert with his sisters this weekend.  So he sent this picture to them, with the caption "Fins up from Colorado!")

(Yes, Mike gets comments on that shirt everywhere we go...  Too funny!)

(Show off!)

(Can you see the little dot at the top of this picture?  That would be a snowball.  Something just isn't right about getting snowballs thrown at you on your summer vacation...)

We enjoyed walking through the artist tents (I found one artist I would LOVE to own something by...   But alas, I don't think I could ever afford it...).  We also found the "maypole" displayed on one of the streets of Lionshead - a colorful, playful, whimsical maypole - commissioned by one of my artist relatives!  (Chris Huck's wife, Laurie.)  So cool!

By this time, our stomach's were growling...  So we headed back into Vail Village and found a little cafe tucked in a little riverside spot...  Sapphire, I think, was what it was called.  Great tuna steak sandwiches!

Once again, we headed back to the condo - and I took a nap.  The sun is intense up here! 

Our evening event tonight was at 4 Eagle Ranch - awesome.  We headed out to the country to a ranch that has been in operation for decades - with all kinds of animals!  Horses, cows, a buffalo, llamas, goats, prairie dogs, chickens, etc.  Too fun!  We got a wagon ride around the property with "Tink" as our storyteller and driver - hilarious!

("Tink")

(A wagon-full of Hucks!)

(And MORE Hucks!)

Then we headed back to the buildings for dinner, country western dancing, cattle-roping practice, campfires, smores, and more visiting.  It was picturesque and a wonderful place to have a little fun.

(I could handle this view from my porch...)

(Little Owen...  too cute!)

(Cousin Alex - he planned and organized this reunion with the help of his wife and kids.  Awesome!)

(Alex's wife, Pat, blushing as we all sing 'Happy Birthday!')

(A little country western dancing.)

(Such serious conversations...)

(Larry - this guy makes everyone laugh.)

(Ha ha ha.  Jenny doesn't look too sure of Mike's marshmallow-roasting ability...)

(But I can attest - he's a great marshmallow roaster!)

(Apparently, it runs in the family - look at Brian's perfectly roasted marshmallow!)

(Little Owen was "roping" his dad in the yard - very joyful giggles coming from that little game!)

And the sunset was spectacular!

Once back at the condo, the hubby and I went for a late night walk...  The stars are amazing here!

I'm realizing we're going home tomorrow... and don't want our vacation to end.  Not yet.

Things I am thankful for:

1.  Humidifiers.
2.  Art - it brightens the world.
3.  Sidewalk cafes on sunny days.
4.  Watching dogs playing in the river.
5.  Kayla - for taking care of my dog!
6.  Little kids in overalls.
7.  "Tink" - I bet he has a fascinating story!
8.  Mac and cheese.
9.  Campfires.
10.  Starry nights.