My Momma's 92nd birthday coincided this year with Mother's day... as it has done a number of times over the years, but for most recent years our Vashon Island Art Studio Tour schedule has prevented my being with her. This year that program has been shifted to dates in June, so we grabbed the opportunity to fly to visit her for such an auspicious occasion.
She lives contentedly with our youngest brother Terry & his fine family in Fort Morgan, Colorado... a little more than an hour's drive northeast of Denver's airport, so we rent a car to visit her & several other old friends in the area.
My brother David lives within similar driving distance, so he & Michelle joined us. Brother Jon flew from Kansas City to more complete a rare family gathering... still quite incomplete because our sister Merrillee & her partner, Diana, own a nursery called Perennial Favorites in southern Colorado, quite a long drive away... not to mention this is the opening weekend for their spring sales. While we appreciate & understand the situation, we certainly missed them!
Jon was recording by video some of our conversations so she will be able to share vicariously when she has clearer time. We are discussing a project to make her bathroom more easily accessible. We are so appreciative of Terry & Kathy for their generosity & capability to allow her to live in her own apartment in their home. It means so much that she can enjoy a generous amount of independence & privacy inside the security of their family! What a gift!
We had a fine day of celebration with brunch by Kathy; her favorite ice-cream cake from David; & dinner by Terry of fabulous smoked brisket. We added a vegetable & green salad. Momma was a trooper through far more commotion than is her usual.
After we picked-up the rental vehicle on our arrival last week the first destination was Black Swan Cottage, our friends Patti & Rob's home in Four Mile Canyon above Boulder... always such a fine & funny treat. We have many memories of Patti & my history beginning three-plus decades ago when we both lived in Sedona [Arizona]. Stephen & I have visited them in France when they sojourned there one winter. Several years ago I posted about visiting when their creek flooded & we had to evacuate to safety, making a sadly memorable visit. Their home had survived a severe forest fire the year before [thus helping to create the situation which encouraged that flood, thus making the house is a survivor... it has such a strong history. They make an equally strong couple. Patti is a fantastic chef, Rob is a retired lawyer who is a pillar in the volunteer fire department & has a wonderful collection of gins, so Martinis are a first order of business upon our arrival! Much humor is a constant...
