Tales of a Shoebox Princess

Sadly, vacations have to end and today is our last full day. I was up again for a hike. Even the little flowers are very pretty even the very TINY flowers are pretty the little creeks are pretty I got a little bit of vertigo, but the view is pretty Back at the lodge, this little one liked playing her version of pool.  creative activities Standing on the very tippiest of toes The lodge is a wonderful place and these kids loved it. the dining areas the kitchen stairs to one of the dorms water lily. It is almost alien in its construction Caroline could only get 7 marshmallows on her stick. more fire time  

 When we first committed to a Durango vacation, Jim mentioned the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge railroad as a possible activity. We reserved seats, and almost too late, but fortunately, they had 2 seats left in an enclosed car. The seats were both window seats on the left side. We drove down to Durango in the morning in order to get there early enough.  The train Our side of the train was single seats and we did sit together, just not right next to each other.  The view out the window of the train was amazing.  The engine blowing steam. The drive to Silverton was 3 1/2 hours long. I was not bored for a single second. The inside of the train car A shelf of dirty snow lots of little creeks fed into the river In Silverton we had 2 hours for lunch and exploration When we got back to the lodge, it was time for a little hummingbird interaction. A good day.

I started the day REALLY early, like before dawn when it was still mostly dark out. I got up early because Mike said he would drive me up to the trailhead to Potato Lake for my hike and I wanted to make sure he didn't leave without me. I was up for a bit, went outside and saw bats swooping in the not-quite-light-enough-to-see-very-much. I didn't get a picture, I just stood there and watched them circle around. I like bats. Finally Mike was up and we headed up Lime Creek Road. He and Lionel, his dog, went up to go fishing. I just wanted a morning hike. The trail Potato Hill     A swamp next to the trail The view is just amazing. I finally got up to Potato Lake where Mike was already fishing. I walked around for about 10 minutes and then headed back down the trail. Mike said he would pick me up wherever I was on the road back to the lodge. On the trail, I heard some crashing noise, and it was a MOOSE!!! I was a little afraid, I let the moose go where he wanted to go, and he left

Up early again for a walk, this time I went by myself. No one was up that early. I tried to walk farther than the day before when we went about a mile up Lime Creek Road. I may have made it about a mile and a half. This is Lime Creek Road. I love the green/blue/white/tan color palette. Lots of great views along the road And lots of pretty flowers this time of year. There is so much to look at and wonder about and exclaim over! The blue iris in the grass around the lodge. There were bunches of these in full peak bloom! Matt and Katheryn arrived last night. This is my first view of Matt this morning. He's still Matt. A week of marriage hasn't changed him. Yes, they spent several days with extended family on their honeymoon.  Big event of the day: Purgatory resort.  Jim went with Katie and 3 kids to the alpine slides. Matt and Katheryn went on the alpine slides too Jenni and Rowan on their way up the scenic chairlift ridge, which was my plan as well. Snow is still piled close to t