Summertime
We had a great family reunion in Colorado last week – both our daughters, plus Linda’s sister and her crew. We didn’t do much hiking. It’s just too early in the season, and some of us just weren’t up for it physically this time.
As always, we stayed at near Nederland, at Arapaho Ranch, where 10 cabins are strung along Boulder Creek. As always, proprietors Kayla and Maryanne were friendly and accommodating. How many years, off and on, have we been staying at this place?
The creek was running very high because of spring runoff from upper elevations. Instead of providing a comforting ripple in the background, the creek roared. There was no wading or even fishing; the water was running too fast and hard.
The younger ones among us did hike to Lake Isabelle, more than three miles above Brainard Lake, but it was not the great experience they were hoping for. Too much snow yet.
The parking lots at the trailheads above Brainard were closed; they won’t officially open until July 1. This is the Forest Service’s not-so-subtle way of discouraging hiking by making you walk an extra mile or so to the trailheads from the main parking lot by the lake.
Nederland is still a charming mountain town. It doesn’t appear to have changed much from last year. At Crosscut Pizzeria we recognized a wait person from the year before. And at Kaleidoscope Fine Arts Gallery, Jim was happy to chat with Danielle, a local artist he is pleased to see every visit.
Getting to and from Colorado was a trial. We fought a stiff southern wind on I-70 both ways. Driving west, we ran into a dust storm. I’m sure farmers were dismayed to see their topsoil gone with the wind. Happily, we were not part of a four-vehicle pileup a day or so later when visibility was zero.
Also happily, the state of Colorado has seen fit to pave at least some sections of the interstate, though the section east of Burlington is so far below interstate standards that I wonder how it still qualifies.
The weather was warm when we left but miserably hot when we got back. Our lawn mostly died for lack of water (the spigot opened again after we were home, but it’s probably too late for much of it). Opportunistic weeds invaded several flower beds and somehow grew 3 feet or more in only a week.
It’s good to be back, though. Dorothy was right. There’s no place like home – even if it is good to get away sometimes to remind you of that, and wherever you are, it’s always good to be with loved ones.
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At church we are handing out a little Pocket Jesus to one and all. The theme is “Take Jesus With You Wherever You Go.” Of course, the plastic caricature is only a reminder that Jesus is always with us.
On Facebook and elsewhere we share photos of where Jesus has gone with us. The photo that accompanies this post was taken outside our cabin near Nederland. I tried several times to get a decent photo, and this is the best I got. It’s hard to focus on a tiny figure without losing the background. I guess I should have tried harder.
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In the hopper awaiting finishing and publication:
– More thoughts on the United Methodist division.
– Why teaching religion and posting the 10 Commandments in public schools are bad ideas.
– Admirer, fan or follower of Jesus?
– And perhaps a surprise or two.
I hope you’ll stay tuned. I don’t write these things for therapy.