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Favorite Grandchildren
FAVORITE Parks, TRAILS and other places
Rocky Mountain National Park
It is difficult to think of any other park or wilderness experience that has more ties to our family than Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Weddings and honeymoons; ascents up Longs, Hallets and Yipsilon; camping at Glacier Basin or Moraine Park; spectacular mountain lakes and fishing; tundra excursions, the Never Summer Range and Trail Ridge Road; the headwaters of the Colorado River, and of course the YMCA of the Rockies have all contributed to wonderful memories.
The included photo was taken at Bear Lake during a recent and beautiful Fall Aspen color change. This park is a delightful visit any time of the year.
Click on this picture for more information.
Seed Savers Exchange
There are so many wonderful places to visit near Decorah, Iowa. Luther College, The Fish Hatchery, Topling Golith Brewery and downtown Decorah are great, but don't miss the opportunity to visit the Seed Savers Exchange just north of the city. Beautiful trails and gardens, plus all kinds of seeds and educational opportunities. Seeds of the past are a priceless heritage. This is especially so in a monoculture oriented world.
Click on this picture of the Seed Saver Farm for more information.
Lair O’ the Bear Park
The Lair O’ the Bear Park and trail system was one of the first visited when we moved back to Colorado. It is still a family favorite due to Bear Creek and abundant mountain vegetation. We particularly enjoy the Bruin Bluff trail. A new mountain bike trail has nicely reduced the traffic on most of the other trails.
LyNette and Weldon, Kayleen and Rob are pictured in the ‘family tree’ at Lair O’ the Bear park.
Click on this picture for more information.
Welch Ditch Trail (Golden Peak to Plains)
The Peak to Plains (P2P) multi-purpose trail system is wonderful for biking or hiking. A special part of this system near the town of Golden is the Welch Ditch (WD) trail. This trail was basically a manmade flume to move water and materials from Clear Creek Canyon into Golden. The WD trail is hiker only (~2 miles round trip) with beautiful views of water and climbing canyons.
Steve, LyNette and Mary are pictured at the bridge connecting WD with the P2P trail. Click on this picture for more information.
favorite Websites
Sherlock & CO.
Suggested by Ed, this podcast is a creative collection of adventures for a modern day Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. John Watson. These intriguing tails honor the tradition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, yet amplify a humous it not at times testy relationship between the lead characters. Holmes can be downright insufferable.
One may listen, or binge listen to these Sherlock & CO podcast episodes on many if not most streaming channels.
Click on the logo for more information.
Hall Pass
Scott was a work colleague and hiking buddy when he lived in Colorado. Though he now lives in Pennsylvania his YouTube Channel titled “Hall Pass” helps keep me up to date on his latest trips, wildlife sightings and photography.
Click or tap the channel logo for more information.
News from the North
This website has news with a Canadian POV, along with great photos and commentary. Broaden your perspective and interests with “225 News” published by my brother Steve. Click on his website logo.
Sing for Joy
We love choral music, which is less common in the West than it was in Minnesota. So Sing for Joy’s program of music, connected to the pericope readings of the week, is a pleasant habit. We often listen with Sunday morning popovers.
Click on the logo for more information.
Family Search
With recent family genealogy research, this website has been a valuable tool. Like all genealogy records, authenticity of the information requires validation. Links to public and private records are very helpful. This site is user friendly and intuitive.
Access to the Family Search website is free, though an account will need to be setup. Withe accounts, it is possible for families with accounts to directly collaborate with each other.
Click on the logo for more information.
Reflections on Faith & Life
When we lived in Plymouth, MN our church home was St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran. Two of the many programs that we appreciated were the “Faith in Life” lecture series and “Reflections on Faith” podcasts.
Click or tap the logo for more information and a link to the podcasts.
favorite eateries & food Circuses
Hungry Goat
Wtether hiking in or around Red Rocks Park or Dinosaur Ridge, the Hungry Goat in Morrison, CO is a great stop for lunch or dinner. The food is wonderfully crafted and the ambiance unique. All of this and exceptional customer service and attention embrace this dining experience. Just be aware, because the city of Morrison has speed traps and paid parking everywhere.
Click or tap on the picture of the bespectacled Goat to visit this restaurant's webpage.
Tacos & Tamales - Fat Rosies
Fat Rosies in Naperville is all about fun, and the tacos are pretty good too. The most recent visit to this restaurant was with Christine, Peter, Madison and Liam in August. That certainly embellished the fun. The service at Rosies is courteous, prompt and otherwise invisible.
Because there is so much to do in downtown Naperville, eEating out is only part of the experience. The River Walk is delightful. When we were downtown a Block Party added games, music and other treats to the festivities.
Click on the picture of Fat Rosie’s dining room to visit this restaurant's webpage.
The Best Yak in Town - Sherpa House
The Sherpa House is a unique dining experience in Golden, CO. The menu and service exude authenticity, including the Yak which is authentically tough. On most Colorado evenings dining outside in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains only adds to the overall dining experience.
Our favorite menu item is the Naan (perhaps the family is addicted to carbohydrates - see referenced sopapillas at Casa Bonita). The seasonings of all the food specialties give one a memorable taste of the Himalayas .
Click on the picture of the Sherpa House to visit this restaurant's webpage.
Raise the Flag for Sopapillas
Casa Bonita (CB) has reopened (at least partially) starting in June 2023. Whether or not it will be a family favorite is probably a premature assumption at this time. As a child growing up in Colorado this restaurant was known for Cliff Divers, Black Bart's Cave and roaming (or lost) Mariachi Bands. It was not known for its food, except for the sopapillas. These fried and sugared puffs (comprised essentially of less than healthy lipid and carbohydrates) were summoned as an all you can eat dessert by raising the flag on your table.
Casa Bonita’s new owners, Matt Stone and Trey Parker (creators of the South Park cartoon) have pledged to “change nothing and improve everything”. The original refried beans (food chemistry composition never really validated) may be the biggest challenge/opportunity to fulfill this pledge. Purportedly it would have been far less expensive to tear down the old CB and start anew. But then there wouldn’t be the history (& special ambiance like the lingering smell of day-old diapers in Black Bart's Cave).
Updates on any visits, especially with the grandchildren will be provided when available.
Click on the picture of Casa Bonita to go to this restaurant's webpage.
