Monday, March 4, 2013

Postcards from Colorado, Part 2 (Featuring Tallulah, the Flying Turtle)

My sister and I had an exciting Friday in Colorado, beginning with a horseback ride and a trip to a yarn store, and ending with a beautiful sunset (after what was possibly the best pizza I've ever tasted). I snapped a photo of the sunset...


...but the pizza escaped my camera as I was too busy eating to even think of photography. (My nephew and his wife, our hosts, live in Boulder, which is chock-full of great restaurants. Our stay there was punctuated by a series of amazing meals, made even more memorable by the fact that many of them were gluten-free - a necessity for my sister and our hosts. Boulder is, apparently, celiac heaven.)

On Saturday we took a day trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to visit a famous outlet store. Enlivening the view was a cycling time trial taking place on a frontage road next to the highway. It was difficult to get photos of the cyclists, as my nephew was driving well over the speed limit (are your ears burning, P?) but I managed to catch one:


We also saw a quint - a bicycle for 5 riders - but alas, the camera was in my purse when we passed it, so no photos could be taken.

When we reached the outlet store, we found that they were preparing for inventory and all the bargain items were an extra 50% off. Armed with some Christmas cash, I had been hoping to find a Smartwool top at a discount. I found not only my top (and with the extra discount, it cost less than $15, while a new one would run $75-$100), but also a beautiful winter jacket (to replace my 22-year-old Purple Peril); new sneakers; new cycling shorts (all I need now is some warm weather to wear them); arm warmers (also for cycling); and a pair of Smartwool socks.

Many thanks to D, my generous brother-in-law, 
for the Christmas cash that came in so handy

Unfortunately for me, a headache set in on our way home from Cheyenne. (I always seem to get one bad headache when I'm travelling, no matter how careful I am to eat regularly and stay hydrated.)

The headache took some of the shine off our lunch in Fort Collins, a lovely college town, and proved distracting when we visited Lambspun, a spectacular yarn shop there. But Tallulah the turtle (Thursday's gift from my bloggy friend Snowcatcher) was very taken with these beautiful Findlay and Findley Dappled sock yarns from Juniper Moon Farm...


...and had I not just blown my Christmas cash on clothing necessities, I would have splurged and bought a skein. (Because I don't have enough yarn already, you know.) A store employee came by as I was posing Tallulah, and was most impressed by her fine workmanship and detail. (There's glory for you, Snowcatcher.) :)

On Saturday night we had the very great pleasure of hearing Bach's St. John Passion as performed by the Boulder Bach Festival Chorus, Soloists and Players. No praise can be too high for this baroque masterwork, and the performers did it noble justice.

Sunday was a leisurely day, with breakfast out in the morning and a stroll down Boulder's Pearl Street in the afternoon.


We particularly enjoyed this street performer and his didgeridoos:


(Query to Marigold: does this qualify as a shadow shot?)

Pearl Street has many fine shops, but this was my only purchase - and a very good one too:


Sunday night we fell asleep to the sound of a mighty wind rushing down from the mountains, and woke on Monday morning to a grey sky heavy with snow. Saying our farewells to Boulder, we headed for the airport.


Tallulah, being rather nervous about airport security, stayed hidden in my purse until we were safely on board the plane. Then her curiosity got the better of her, and she climbed out to look around.

After listening carefully to the flight attendant's speech...


...familiarizing herself with airline safety procedures...


and ascertaining the location of the nearest emergency exit...


...she crawled over to the window for a peep at the gorgeous clouds.



"All I need now is a cape...."

And before we knew it, we were home.

:)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


34 comments:

  1. I see you've had an absolutely wonderful time, Sue!
    I love the didgeridoo player and the beautiful sunset!

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    1. Thanks, Sandra - the player was amazing and the sunsets over the mountains were breathtaking. :)

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  2. The sunset is amazing!!! And the trip overall seems like a great one, very happy for you!
    the tiny turtle had the best time of its life, and perhaps, you would take it along for other trips as well?
    Pizza, ice cream..mmmm! I'm hungry now, and my lunch is 2 hours away still.

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    1. Oh yes, Tallulah will go everywhere with me. :)

      We had so much wonderful food it will be hard to go back to cooking all my own.

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  3. "Boulder is, apparently, celiac heaven."

    How wonderful for your extended family, who live there!!!!!!!

    Oh that sunset! And all your pics. Lovely. And so glad Tallulah had a marvelous time, also! :-)

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    1. Yes, my nephew married a gal who is also gluten-intolerant. A match made in celiac heaven ... and lucky for them they live in a place where their food allergy is understood and catered for. My sister (also gluten-intolerant) loves visiting Boulder because she can safely eat almost anywhere there. I was the odd one out at all our meals. :)

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  4. I love Boulder and that Pearl Street is so much fun. I'm glad you had such a wonderful trip and I hope that you are feeling better. Hey, it's March, finally February is behind us. :-)

    Will there be more adventures posted for Tallalah? I am wishing for that.

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    1. Thanks, Astri, much better. :)

      My sis thinks Tallulah should have a blog of her own. I don't know if we'll go that far, but she will certainly have more adventures. I'll have to take her on some bike rides when the season starts up....

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  5. Sounds like a busy and wonderful trip.

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    1. It was - very busy and pretty wonderful too! :)

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  6. Im really enjoying the images....
    and i want that ice cream

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    1. Deep Chocolate Peanut Butter - and I can tell you it was very difficult to choose between all the wonderful flavours they had available. :)

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  7. Gorgeous scenery! and I love the Tallulah pics. ;-)

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    1. Thanks, Mindy! My sister and I had so much fun on the plane with Tallulah - we were laughing like fools and I'm sure the other passengers thought we were crazy. :)

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  8. I'm thinking you're going to have to start a whole new blog to report on Tallulah's adventures... :)

    You truly did see some of the best of everything while you were here. And taste some of the best the state has to offer. Thanks, P!!!

    If you do get to come back here in June, I have the PERFECT stop in mind for apres ride in Fort Collins, a place you've already been and one I have to get to know now!!!

    Please come back soon!

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    1. Yes, my sis thinks Tallulah needs a blog too. I told her I can hardly keep up with the one I have now....

      We had lunch at a wonderful restaurant in Fort Collins - it was a mini-brewery too - I think it was called Coopersmith. Their homemade root beer was the most amazing drink I've ever tasted. And you have got to see that yarn shop.

      Fingers crossed for June.... :)

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  9. You, Tallulah and family were busy - fun fun fun busy! Boulder is an interesting place for sure - people watching at it's best! Sounds like a little altitude sickness causing that headache - common for visitors from lower elevation. Acupuncture may have helped. You experienced so much - planning a return visit?

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    1. I did wonder about the altitude - Cheyenne is actually higher than Boulder, so we gained some elevation driving up there.

      I hope to go back in June for a very special event (more on this later).

      :)

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  10. Tallulah had a lot of adventures for a tiny turtle. :) She is very cute. I think you might have to find her a tiny crochet hook, she seems to like yarn.
    It looks like you had a great trip (except for that headache).
    Have you read the books that feature Lambspun in Fort Collins? I have read them all. Sure would like to see the store.
    Great shopping too. Lucky day for you to go there with extra $$$.

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    1. Ooh, great idea about the crochet hook - I'll have to see what I can come up with.

      I didn't know there were any books about Lambspun - will have to check them out. The store is beautiful and carries an amazing variety of yarns.

      And yes, I scored big time at Sierra Trading Post. Much better than I expected! :)

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  11. But OF COURSE that qualifies as a shadow shot!!!! I see shadow there so it counts. The Goatmother LOVES didgeridoos, by the way! AND you really cleaned up with all those lovely purchases from the *famous outlet*. Way to go, Mrs. Micawber! Lastly, I bet Faith would be very interested in that yarn Tallulah was perusing because one of the World's Cutest Boys is named that. :) Personally, I think Tallulah is much prettier and nicer than that little green adventurer who lives here.

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    1. Well, I have to agree about Tallulah's looks. (No offense to the Moribund and Mossy.) In fact, since I didn't make her, I can say that I think she is beautiful and perfect, and her little turtle feet are the most adorable things ever.

      Those didgeridoos were incredible - he had two, and I would have liked to stay longer to listen to them.

      That yarn was truly sublime - and with a great name too. :)

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  12. Hope that headache has passed.
    The scenery is beautiful and you'll have to share what you knit with that luscious yarn.
    Susan x

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    1. I didn't actually buy it ... but had I done so it would probably have become a sweater of some sort. If I ever do buy it you'll definitely see the results! :)

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  13. I do like Tallulah, I shall have to read back to find out about her - I am so far behind in blog reading that I've started at the newest and am working backward. It's a tough job but someone has to do it.

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    1. You'll only have to go back one post - she's a very recent addition to the Micawber menage. :)

      I'm way behind in blogreading too. So nice to hear from you!

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  14. Sue, it looks like you had a great time on your trip. Love the wonder deals you found at the store, you are going to look great. Tallulah looks like she had a fabulous time, I bet the yarn store was her favorite stop.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Yes, it was her very favourite stop and she was much admired there. Snowcatcher (her creator) is very talented! :)

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  15. I feel sure you will be crocheting Tallulah the desired cape, won't you ;)

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    1. Yes, and thank you for the reminder. :) She's living in my handbag - out of sight, out of mind.

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  16. You've had a fabulous time, it seems (except for the headache). Welcome home. Regula

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    1. Thanks, Regula! It was wonderful (except for the headache). :)

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  17. Replies
    1. She is - and I need to let her out of my purse to have some more adventures.

      :)

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