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Colorado Family Memories
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Nov 2019 – Feb 2020

Colorado Family Memories

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  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    Glen Eyrie Castle — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Tours of the castle begin at the Carriage House. Glen Eyrie Castle — Colorado Springs, CO.View from the castle entrance. Glen Eyrie Castle — Colorado Springs, CO.The schoolhouse @ Glen Eyrie Castle — Colorado Springs, CO.The benches protected women's hoop-skirts from the fire. Glen Eyrie Castle — Colorado Springs, CO.Our guide showing the hidden fire suppression system. Glen Eyrie Castle — Colorado Springs. CO.One of the elegant rooms @ Glen Eyrie Castle — Colorado Springs, CO.Once General Palmer's bedroom ... now a room for overnight guests. Glen Eyrie Castle.Twice-daily tea is served in the former music room @ Glen Eyrie Castle — Colorado Springs, CO.Free-roaming bighorn sheep @ Glen Eyrie Castle — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Glen Eyrie Castle

    January 2, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 37 °F

    “We should a guest love while he loves to stay, and when he likes not, give him loving way.” ~~ General Palmer’s creed regarding visitors. ~~

    One of the things Mui and I did when we were in Colorado Springs in 2015 was visit Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs and "have a cuppa" in the tea room afterward. We enjoyed the experience so much that I wanted to repeat it with the family. Alas, getting tickets for the tour and reservations at the tea room over the holidays and into the first part of the year proved impossible. So, I started looking for alternatives and came up with Glen Eyrie Castle ... not far from the Garden of the Gods. In fact, so close as to have similar red rock formations that add interest to the grounds. And so I made reservations — tour of the castle at 1:00p ... followed by tea in the Music Room at 2:30p.

    And that’s how we came to be at Glen Eyrie today. A cold day ... but one that felt quite comfortable in the sun ... brilliant blue skies above. And wildlife all around ... free-roaming herds of deer and bighorn sheep that come and go as they please between the Garden of the Gods and Glen Eyrie ... a flock of wild turkeys roaming amongst the lodges sprinkled around the property. Those are the animals we saw. I understand there are foxes as well ... and a bear even got into the Great Hall last year when someone left one of the French doors open. We also saw two huge abandoned eagle nests as we were leaving the property — apparently foxes and eagles don’t make good neighbors 😉

    Glen Eyrie — Valley of the Eagle’s Nest — is the one-time estate of General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs. When originally constructed in 1872, the building was a 22-room frame house. In 1881, it was renovated and the tower was added. After another restoration in the early 1900s, the castle as it is seen today was born ... with 67 rooms and many amenities that had not been seen in Colorado at the time ... such as a fire suppression system hidden in the walls, electricity, plumbing, and central vacuuming.

    Today the property functions as a conference center and a B&B. It is owned by The Navigators, an international, non-denominational Christian organization. This latter came as a surprise to me as I don’t recall seeing mention of the ownership when I was checking out the castle for our afternoon tea experience. Frankly, knowing this would have made me reconsider today’s visit ... but I guess that is neither here nor there now.

    Our tour started in the carriage house with a short introductory video. Then our guide took us outside for a short stroll to the castle, stopping along the way to show us the tunnel that connects the carriage house to the castle and the small schoolhouse that General Palmer ordered built on the property for his three daughters. At the bridge, we stopped to photograph the castle ... the best vantage point to do so. Then we headed inside ... the foyer, the library, the music room, the general’s den ... up to the second floor to see what were back in the time the family and guest bedrooms and the great hall ... and a ladies restroom with a fireplace to keep it cozy.

    Here I have to pause and admit to some disappointment in Glen Eyrie ... no original furnishings ... none of the old world charm I was expecting. Yes, the bedrooms — prepared and awaiting overnight guests — were beautifully decorated, but they just didn’t have the ambiance that original furnishings would have added. And the great hall — except for the massive fireplace that was a reminder of the bygone era during which the building was constructed — had all the ambiance of a lecture hall at a conference center.

    After wandering through the castle, we returned to what was once the music room. Here we joined other guests who had made reservations for the daily afternoon tea. Before being escorted to our table, we selected our own teacups ... odd I thought, but perhaps the best way to handle the mismatched porcelain and bone china cups and saucers used for the tea service.

    There were eight varieties of tea from which we made our selections. Then we dug into individually-plated crisp salads (with a blood orange vinaigrette dressing) that was the starter course for our tea. When our salad plates were removed, one of the waitresses brought a tiered tray of goodies for us to partake with our tea ... orange/cranberry scones with clotted cream; fig and honey canapes; smoked salmon canapes; pecan cookies; and a meringue-topped miniature chocolate tart. All, we agreed, were quite tasty.

    It was 4:00p when we left the music room. We had hoped to wander around the property on foot for a bit. But by this time the sun had gone behind the rock formations and it had grown quite chilly. So we satisfied ourselves with a quick drive, stopping in several places to check out the bighorn sheep and the wild turkeys that were roaming about the grounds. It's always great to see wildlife going about their own business with total disregard of the humans gawking at them. I want to return to photograph them with my long lens since the phone camera was not up to the challenge. Perhaps when we return we can hike one or two of the trails on the property as well. (Our guide said we can tell the gate guard that we are going up to the bookstore and he will accommodate us.)

    All in all, we had a nice afternoon at Glen Eyrie. Certainly, the rest of my party had no complaints. Nor did I. Not really ... except for the disappointment I mentioned above ... that I won’t dwell on now. That said, if I had to recommend a castle for tea, Glen Eyrie would not be the first one to come to mind.

    If you'd like to see additional photos, click the following link to visit my online gallery: https://eenusa.smugmug.com/North-America-US-Can…    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    At least with my long lens, I can tell that the big brown blobs really are bison — Golden, CO.
    Buffalo Bill Cody of the "Wild West Show" fame — Buffalo Bill Museum in Golden, CO.Souvenir program covers for the Wild West Show — Buffalo Bill Museum in Golden, CO.The Rockies ... from the Buffalo Bill Museum — Golden, CO.Buffalo Bill and his wife are both buried at this gravesite at the museum — Golden, CO.View of the Coors Brewery from Lookout Mountain — Golden, CO.1Quilt Museum ... I love the quilt mom is checking out — Golden, CO.Quilt Museum — Golden, CO."My Mother's Flower Basket" (F. Kordek) ... Quilt Museum — Golden, CO."Honey Bee Garden" (J. Finley) ... Quilt Museum — Golden, CO.

    Golden: Buffalo, Bill, Beer—Not, Quilts

    January 4, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 54 °F

    "His was the spirit of the West, typical of the West, one of her favored and favorite sons." ~~ The Denver Times ... upon the passing of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody ~~

    Yesterday, my brother, Deniz, came to stay with us for a few days. We had a lazy day at home, going out only for dinner at Basil and Barley. With everyone thus rested up, a full-day outing was just what we needed on a beautiful Colorado day ... blue skies, brilliant sunshine, high temps near 60F.

    Bright and early, we headed north to Golden, eschewing I-25 for rural roads ... a change of pace. Yes, it was slower, but it gave our visitors a chance to see a bit of the scenery that is not visible from the highway. That the roads were in much better condition than I-25 made for a smoother ride ... with the added bonus of little to no traffic until we hit US-85 and beyond.

    Our first stop was the Buffalo Herd Nature Preserve in Golden. Despite the preserve’s name, the animals here are American bison... direct descendants of the last wild herd that roamed in the US. The herd is maintained by the City of Denver as part of a conservancy effort. The animals can be viewed from an overlook off I-70W ... sometimes in quite close proximity to the preserve fence-line. We did see them today, but they were quite far ... up in the tree-line where some were grazing and others were resting.

    Up next was an unplanned stop ... one that perhaps wreaked havoc with the main activity planned for our day in Golden. Anyway, following a winding road up Lookout Mountain, we drove three miles from the Buffalo Overlook to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave.

    Born William F Cody, Buffalo Bill got his nickname for his skill as a hunter of buffalo. The museum is dedicated to his life and the legend he became when he established the Wild West Show. Exhibits tell his story and include lots of memorabilia from the show. After wandering through the museum, we enjoyed the views from the terrace ... Denver's high rise buildings in the background ... Golden and the Coors Brewery in the foreground.

    Buffalo Bill had noted in an early will that he wanted to be buried in Cody, Wyoming ... the city he founded. Later, falling in love with the views from Lookout Mountain, he rescinded that request and asked to be buried on the mountain ... in a spot overlooking the Great Plains on one side and the Rockies on the other. Of course, at the time he had no idea the view would someday be marred by tall antennas ... but that is neither here nor there.

    Heading down the mountain — another winding road with some very sharp turns — we found ourselves practically on the doorstep of the Coors Brewery. No problem finding a parking spot ... no problem following directions to leave all bags in the vehicle. Then we hit a snag in the form of a long queue waiting for the brewery shuttle bus. When we were told that the wait for the bus would be 45 minutes, our group decided to grab a bite to eat first.

    That was the second mistake we made. Not that the burgers and hot dogs at Bob's Atomic Burger — a hole-in-the-wall joint — were bad. The food, in fact, was quite good ... even if the ambiance was lacking. But by the time we rejoined the queue, the wait time for the shuttle had doubled to 1.5 hours. So we bagged the tour. Mui later said that he read where people were complaining about long wait times for the brewery tour. If this is a regular problem, then Coors needs to rethink the way the tours are operated. Timed entry or pre-assigned group numbers would easily solve the problem and eliminate disappointments.

    I had one more planned stop in Golden ... this one for the ladies, though the men were welcome to join us if they so chose. They didn’t. This stop was at the Quilt Museum. A small museum ... a little over-priced IMHO. But the quilts on display in the two rooms were truly works of art. I enjoy crafts ... but I don't have the patience for this particular handicraft.

    Having taken the slow way up to Golden, the plan was to return to Colorado Springs by the faster I-25 route. We got started that way. But when the GPS added a 45-minute delay due to construction work, we hightailed it on to the backroads again. We probably didn't save time by doing so, but at least we kept moving. And of course, once again there was less traffic and better scenery along the way to entertain us.

    If you'd like to see more photos (especially of the quilts), click the following link to visit my online gallery: https://eenusa.smugmug.com/North-America-US-Can….    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    We finally remember to get a family photo — Colorado Springs, CO.
    The cliff dwellings consist of Anasazi ruins that date back 800-1000 years — Manitou Springs, CO.One of the multi-story, multi-family cliff dwellings — Manitou Springs, CO.The tower at the cliff dwellings may have been ceremonial or used as a lookout — Manitou Springs, CO1Panorama of the cliff dwellings from the Balcony Structure towards the museum — Manitou Springs, CO.Aylin takes the lead going up to the Balcony Structure — Manitou Springs, CO.2Caught coming out of the Balcony Structure at the Cliff Dwellings — Manitou Springs, CO.2View from the Kiva at the Cliff Dwellings — Manitou Springs, CO.Not a snowman ... rather an ironman — Manitou Springs, CO.Mui tasting the spring water that once had visitors flocking to Manitou Springs.

    Manitou Springs

    January 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 37 °F

    The forecast was for a day colder than the 60F or so we had yesterday. And it was to be breezy ... very breezy. On the other hand, it was also to be a blue-sky day with plenty of sunshine. Sun! That’s the magic word around here as it makes all the difference to one’s comfort level ... even when the temps are downright frigid. So, off we went this morning to enjoy another “family outing” with my mom, brother, sister, and BIL.

    Our day started at Urban Egg, which bills itself as “a daytime eatery.” The menu is mostly breakfast items, plus a few salads and soups. Our meal was somewhere between breakfast and lunch. On this Sunday morning, we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table for six as the restaurant’s policy is to NOT combine smaller tables. Turns out the food was worth the wait. One thing us ladies all agreed on — the portions were way too big ... next time we would order a combo of sides instead. The men had no complaints!

    After breakfast, we headed into the mountains to visit Manitou Springs. Before going into town, however, we stopped to visit the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. The site is quite small, but claims to be one of the most accessible examples of cliff dwellings. That’s probably true as you can practically drive up to and park just steps away from the dwellings that were once occupied by the Anasazi. Frankly, if you’ve visited some of the grand dwellings — like the ones in Mesa Verde — the site is not impressive. But if you’re short on time, or this is your only opportunity to visit ancient dwellings like these, then the site serves as a good introduction.

    We wandered through the small number of structures, stopping to read the signs explaining what each was. Those of us brave enough to do so, climbed up a short ladder to the second floor of one of the dwellings, squeezed through a small opening, climbed down another short but steep ladder, and then squeezed ourselves out of another small opening. All in good fun.

    Afterward, we made our way to the pueblo that was built on the site in 1898. According to the brochure, local Native Americans lived in the pueblo until 1984. Since then, the buildings house the museum, which has some interesting exhibits and a couple of small dioramas depicting the daily life of the people. The gift shop is also in this building ... quite a large shop that is mingled in with the museum exhibits. Although we don’t usually buy trinkets from such places, the ladies all found something to take back home.

    From the dwellings, we drove the short distance into Manitou Springs ... the town. Finding two on-street parking spots on a Sunday afternoon turned out to be surprisingly easy ... and inexpensive at $1/hour. It certainly beat parking in the free lot and waiting around for the shuttle for transportation.

    We didn’t have any special plans in mind, so we just wandered down one side of the main street ... and up the other side ... popping into a few shops along the way ... just window shopping. The side of the street that was in the sun was delightfully warm and cozy. The side of the street that was in the shade ... well, downright chilly would be a good description. We all appreciated the chance to pop into a café for hot beverages before we made our way back to the cars. We skipped the chocolate shop this time 🤪

    We’ve been busy since the beginning of the year. So, tomorrow is planned as mostly a day of rest ... though we do have some errands to run that will take us out and about. Who knows what else we might find to do once we leave the house 😉

    For more photos, click the following link to visit my online gallery: https://eenusa.smugmug.com/North-America-US-Can…    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    A former passenger terminal houses the museum — Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO.
    Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO.Historic exhibits at the Edward J Peterson Museum — Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO.Mural "You Are Going into Combat" (J.L. Smith, J. Sherborne) — Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO.The "his" referred to here is 1st Lt Peterson — Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO.Raytheon MIM-23 "Hawk" — Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO.Making family memories in front of a Lockheed EC-121T "Warning Star" — Peterson AFB, COS, CO.The Airplane Restaurant is housed in a KC-97 air refueling tanker — Colorado Springs, CO.Inside the KC-97 ... waiting for lunch to be served — The Airplane Restaurant, Colorado Springs, CO.Scenes one would not ordinarily expect to find in a restaurant — Airplane Restaurant, COS, CO.

    CoSprings: Peterson AFB & The Airplane

    January 7, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 21 °F

    "Golden Legacy, Boundless Future ... Your Nation's Air Force" ~~ from a plaque in front of the Edward J Peterson Museum ~~

    Another gorgeous blue-sky day filled with sunshine. And a high of 54F. Our luck is about to run out, however, as a cold front is moving in later this week ... with possible flurries on Friday. Better take advantage of the good weather for another outing. That Aylin and Murat will be leaving tomorrow to return to Turkey was another reason to be out and about. We decided to stay local, so after breakfast at home we headed over to Peterson AFB to check out a museum I had read about.

    Peterson AFB was established in 1942 as the Colorado Springs Army Air Base on the site of the original COS municipal airport. In fact, the museum we visited is housed in the Art Deco building that used to serve as the passenger terminal for the facility. The base — and the museum for that matter — is named after 1st Lt Edward J Peterson. He was the Operations Officer of the 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron and the first Colorado native to lose his life at the base in the line of duty.

    After watching a short video explaining the history of Peterson AFB, one of the volunteers was quite gung-ho about giving us additional information about the exhibits before taking us outside for a tour. Alas, we had lunch reservations and didn’t have the two hours he said it would take for the full tour, so we had to cut him off short. Instead, we wandered through the static aircraft displays at the museum on our own. A small exhibit to be sure, but interesting nonetheless.

    After a quick shopping run to the BX, we left the base to have lunch at The Airplane Restaurant. Mui had called ahead for reservations to ensure that we’d be seated “in” the plane and not in the add-on room ... though the airplane wing and various memorabilia in this secondary location would have made it just as interesting to dine there.

    The Boeing KC-97 tanker in which the restaurant is housed is a fully intact aircraft. Built in 1953, the plane refueled aircraft around the world before it found another life as an eatery. This was made possible by the fact that the crew of the aircraft managed to find the Azores and didn’t have to ditch in the Atlantic on their way back from a refueling mission. The article I read about this had a funny turn of phrase about the incident ... saying in essence that “the KC-97’s crew ... couldn’t remember where they put the Azores ... Luckily for the crew, the plane, and The Airplane Restaurant, the Azores were rediscovered ...”.

    “Passengers” who dine in the aircraft itself can peek into the “boom” area from which the operator refueled aircraft that were in “need of a drink.” It’s also possible to freely visit the cockpit ... which makes for a good photo op. We took advantage of both opportunities while we awaited our food to be delivered.

    Colorado Springs has a wide variety of restaurants that serve excellent food. In the time that my family has been with us, we’ve “checked out” quite a few of them ... some more than once. While the food at The Airplane Restaurant is good, dining here is probably a one-time deal for us ... simply because there are other places with superior food that are in closer proximity to our home.

    All in all, a nice “wrap-up outing” before we bid Aylin and Murat farewell tomorrow ... until we meet again mid-March when we take mom back and stay on for our annual trip to Turkey.    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel

    CoSprings: Almost Empty Nest

    January 9, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 36 °F

    A "not-a-trip" footprint ... but one that wraps up a portion of our family time here in Colorado Springs. This footprint will serve as the chapter that closes a portion of the "Colorado with Family" memories we've made.

    We are experiencing the same empty nest syndrome parents do when their children grow up and leave home. Except that in our case it is my siblings who have left after spending time with us in our new home.

    Aylin had been with us since we left Turkey on 26 October for the TransAtlantic cruise from Italy back to the US. Murat joined us here in Colorado Springs on 19 December. Deniz arrived on 3 January for a few days of family time.

    Now, they have all left. In fact, Aylin and Murat are already in Turkey … probably on their way home from the airport in İzmir even as I write this. Deniz is at DEN waiting to board the 10:55a United flight back to Kansas City, Missouri. (He said the flight looked pretty open, so there should be no problem with him getting on ... as a UA employee, he flies standby.)

    Our nest still has one family member staying on with us — my mom. While our sightseeing pace will probably slow down a bit, we'll still be going out and about until it's time for us to fly to Florida to embark on the eastbound TransAtlantic that will take the three of us back to Turkey ... by way of Spain.    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    Mom and Mui measuring for the headrest covers — Colorado Springs, CO.
    2Success! The headrest covers work out perfectly — Colorado Springs, CO.Mui, ever practical, suggests using the old cushion fabric for arm covers — Colorado Springs, CO.1Ta Da! Project complete ... we'll remove the protective covers when we have guests — COS, CO.

    CoSprings: Sewing Projects

    January 16, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 32 °F

    Our living room is not just for guest entertainment. It’s where we live ... everyday. From experience, we know that the chair and sofa arms show wear the fastest. So, we decided to make some covers for them. While we were at it, we also decided that covers for where we rest our heads when watching TV are probably a smart idea too.

    Mui, being the practical one in our family, worked with mom on this sewing project. If I had become involved, we’d still be sewing ... I assure you 😉. They done good!    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    A glass or merlot for the wine-drinkers ... PF Chang's — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Making birthday memories ... PF Chang's — Colorado Springs, CO.Can you tell which dish we didn't care for? ... PF Chang's — Colorado Springs, CO.Winds gusting to 50 mph as we leave for Mui's birthday celebration — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: B'Day Happy Hour

    January 17, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 32 °F

    Mui’s birthday was on the 15th. But we decided to hold off having a celebratory meal until today. Not that he did not have a special meal on his day … he did … a few mezes at home ... he and mom toasted the occasion with rakı, a traditional Turkish drink that most people in the US equate with ouzo.

    Tonight’s meal was mom’s treat. She suggested we do happy hour at PF Chang’s and we readily agreed. We like the smaller-size dishes on the happy hour menu and make our own "Asian tapas" meal to share.

    As we always do, we ordered the chicken lettuce wraps. We then added Mongolian potstickers, crispy green beans, and a new addition to the menu — Asian Mac & Cheese. Should have skipped the last one … just not good. The sauce is OK, but the “mac” is a doughy rice pasta … very rubbery. We won’t be ordering it again … even suggested to the waitress that the dish should be removed from the menu entirely.

    We wrapped up with tiramisu. Yeah … nothing Asian or Chinese about this dessert. But that’s what the birthday boy wanted. So that’s what he got. Turns out the portion could easily have been shared by eight people! It was huge. We ended up taking a couple of bites each and brought the rest home to eat after dinner tomorrow.

    Happy Birthday, Mui!    Read more

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  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    Antelope in our neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Antelope in our neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.Antelope in our neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Antelope Come By to Visit

    January 19, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 41 °F

    I've mentioned before that we have antelope in the neighborhood where we live in Colorado Springs.

    Usually, they just graze and gambol on the plains, but they do occasionally venture into the arroyo that fronts our house. Today, a few of them actually crossed the arroyo to graze just off the footpath on our side.

    Such a delight for us all ... especially for mom as this just doesn't happen in the city where she lives in Turkey. I was tempted to go down to the footpath, but I did not want to spook the antelope. So, I satisfied myself with a couple of shots from our deck.    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    Welcome to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum in the former El Paso County Courthouse.
    The End of an Era - circa 1960 ... recognizing a century of skiing.The former El Paso County Courthouse — Colorado Springs, CO.The former El Paso County Courthouse — Colorado Springs, CO.Ceiling detail ... The former El Paso County Courthouse — Colorado Springs, CO.District Courtroom where some of the Perry Mason episodes were filmed — Colorado Springs, CO.Pikes Peak from the former El Paso County Courthouse — Colorado Springs, CO.Historic photo and painting of Kenmuir Quarries at Derrick 11 — Pioneers Museum."The Eagle" L to R: Black Bull, Big Spring, and Stabs by Mistake — Pioneers Museum [Dis]Information.Nicola Tesla did some of his early tests in Telluride, CO.

    CoSprings: Pioneers Museum

    January 22, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F

    An overcast day that turned sunny and warm-ish as the day progressed begged to be enjoyed. After taking care of a few errands, we headed into downtown Colorado Springs to check out the Pioneers Museum, which is housed in the former El Paso County Courthouse. This small museum, which charges no admission, is “… committed to building a lasting connection to the Pikes Peak region by preserving and sharing our cultural history. …” In addition to the permanent displays that highlight regional history, there are special exhibits on various topics … including the ones that attracted our attention today: “Evidence: Finding the Facts about General William Jackson Palmer” (founder of Colorado Springs ... whose estate [Glen Eyrie] we visited not long ago) and “[Dis]Information: American Indians Through the Lens of Roland Reed.”

    Another ‘attraction’ at the museum is the restored courtroom on the third floor. What made this room interesting to us is that mom enjoys watching re-runs of the Perry Mason TV show. Apparently a few of those episodes were filmed in that courtroom.

    After wandering through the museum, we went to the Phantom Canyon Brewing Company for lunch. We were introduced to this brew/restaurant by our friend, Ray, when we had lunch with him here last spring. We weren’t disappointed then … nor were we today. Mom had fish and chips … a first for her; Mui ordered the squash and prosciutto salad with salmon; I got the shepherd’s pie. All tasty. We wrapped up with a cheesecake to share ... served with a maple whiskey, brown butter, and caramel sauce. Yummy!

    It was during lunch that I got a text from Aylin … it was about midnight in İzmir, Turkey. They had been awakened by a 5.6 earthquake. No serious damage ... just a big scare. Needless to say, they were quite shaken [no pun intended] by the experience. I would be too. I’ve been through a number of earthquakes and know that they are downright scary ... more so when they happen in the dead of night. 🤞🏻there are no aftershocks to further fray everyone’s nerves.

    (If you’d like to see more photos from today, go to my online gallery at this URL: https://eenusa.smugmug.com/North-America-US-Can…)    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    Visitors choose the conservation programs they want to support at these kiosks — Cheyenne Mtn Zoo.
    Mom and Mui and their giraffe friends ... Cheyenne Mtn Zoo — Colorado Springs, CO.East African Crowned Crane ... Cheyenne Mtn Zoo — Colorado Springs, CO.Mom and Mui make a real giraffe friend ... Cheyenne Mtn Zoo — Colorado Springs, CO.Meerkat ... Cheyenne Mtn Zoo — Colorado Springs, CO.The Broadmoor ... from an overlook at Cheyenne Mtn Zoo — Colorado Springs, CO.American Bald Eagle ... can't fly due to a wing injury ... Cheyenne Mtn Zoo — Colorado Springs, CO.Red-Necked Wallaby ... Cheyenne Mtn Zoo — Colorado Springs, CO.Barn Owl ... Cheyenne Mtn Zoo — Colorado Springs, CO.Portrait of an Emu ... Cheyenne Mtn Zoo — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

    January 24, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F

    Everyone who knows us also knows that we love animals of all kinds. Well, except for the creepy crawly and slithery kind. We especially love seeing animals in the wild ... where they belong. But it’s not always possible to see critters in their native habitats. So, sometimes we go to a ‘reputable’ zoo to see animals, too. That’s what we did today. Taking advantage of a glorious blue-sky day that was plenty comfortable temperature-wise, we headed to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo with mom.

    The zoo has an interesting conservation program. When admission is purchased, each visitor is given tokens equaling 75 cents. Just inside the entrance are “Quarters for Conservation” kiosks where visitors “vote with their tokens” on the program(s) they want to support. Since this program started in 2008, it has raised more than $2.5 million for field conservation. Today we added to that amount by choosing to support conservation efforts for orangutans, giraffes, and elephants and rhinos.

    Our good deed done, we then wandered the various exhibits, watching the antics of the animals. The zoo lives up to its nickname — America’s Mountain Zoo. The terrain is very hilly, with steady climbs to reach the exhibits on the slopes. There is a gondola to help people get around, but it wasn’t operational today. I suppose we could have used the shuttle — $2pp for rides all day long — but we opted to get around under our own steam instead. A bit of exercise as we enjoyed ourselves.

    After our visit to the zoo, we got a bite of lunch at Shangri-La, a Chinese restaurant recommended by our neighbors. They did not steer us wrong. While the ambiance of the place is nothing to write home about, the food is tasty. Mom ordered the sweet and sour chicken; Mui went for his favorite ... General Tso chicken ... avoiding the red hot peppers; and I got the beef lo-mein. We wrapped up by sharing a bananas supreme ... deep fried bananas served with vanilla ice cream ... yummy!

    Looks like there is snow in the forecast for Monday. In the meantime, we have a delightful weekend forecast, so we’re going to try and make the most of it with a couple more outings. Our home projects can wait 🤪.

    For more photos from our day at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, click this link for my online gallery: https://eenusa.smugmug.com/North-America-US-Can…    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    Mom joins us for the Cruiser's first pleasure outing — Palmer Lake, CO.
    We have this side of Palmer Lake Park all to ourselves.A beautiful winter day ... a beautiful setting — Palmer Lake, CO.1Ice fishing ... hope that ice is thick — Palmer Lake, CO.My new camera/lens performs well for close up shots — Palmer Lake, CO.Alas, these kids didn't have any luck getting through the ice with just a stick — Palmer Lake, CO.Easy way to get fishing gear out on the ice ... use a sled — Palmer Lake, CO.Let's getting fishing gentlemen — Palmer Lake, CO.Chef Mui prepares egg salad sandwiches for our indoor picnic — Palmer Lake, CO.1Let the eating begin — Palmer Lake, CO.

    Palmer Lake: Picnic in the PhxCruiser

    January 25, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F

    We did something different today. Wanting to give mom a ride in our new motor home — a 2017 Phoenix Cruiser that Mui picked up in Florida in December — we got it out of storage and went for a drive. The outing had a dual purpose ... to grant mom’s wish for a picnic lunch.

    Our destination was Palmer Lake, off of Hwy 105 ... about 30 minutes or so north of Colorado Springs. We knew we could find a place to park the rig there this time of the year ... and there were picnic tables for an al fresco meal, too. What we didn’t count on was the ice fishermen ... they had the parking lot filled. No matter, we found a nice spot on the opposite side of the lake.

    The sky was blue ... the sun was shining. Perfect for an al fresco meal. Except for the on-and-off breeze from the north, which made it just a tad too uncomfortable to sit outside for any length of time. No matter ... we opened the slide and had our picnic lunch inside the Cruiser. The egg salad sandwiches didn’t care that they were being eaten indoors instead of outdoors.

    Despite the wind, we did manage to take a walk most of the way around the lake. A bit of fresh air exercise to wrap up our outing in the Phoenix Cruiser.    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    2The Bridge survived the Royal Gorge fire that decimated the area in 2013 — Cañon City, CO.
    Royal Gorge Park — Cañon City, CO.Adding to family memories at Royal Gorge Park — Cañon City, CO.3One of the RV boondocking sites at East Ridge Campground — Cañon City, CO.Panorama of the view at East Ridge Campground — Cañon City, CO.Al fresco dining at World's End Brewing Company — Cañon City, CO.Warm enough for light layers on a winter day — Cañon City, CO.2Great beer and yummy food at World's End Brewing Company — Cañon City, CO.1I can never pass up taking a photo of a mural — Cañon City, CO.

    Cañon City & Peek @ Royal Gorge

    January 26, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    Another gorgeous winter day … blue skies and sunshine and warm temps ... about 10 degrees warmer than it should be this time of the year. Got to take advantage of it. So we headed up to Cañon City … a home rule municipality in Fremont County that has its roots back during the Pike’s Peak gold rush of 1858. The area has a lot to offer — especially for the adventurous. We’ll go back another time to take advantage of some of those opportunities. Today, we took it easy and just looked around.

    We left the house a little after 10:00a for the 1½-hour drive. Our first stop was the Holy Cross Abbey, right off US50 on the outskirts of Cañon City. Unfortunately, it was closed. So, we moved on. Following the signs into the historic part of the city, we were disappointed to find it all but dead! On a Sunday? On such a beautiful day? So, we moved on.

    One of the popular sights in the area is the Royal Gorge Park. Heading in that direction, we made a detour to check out a campground — East Ridge. Peaceful and quiet — at least during this time of the year. We liked what we saw … free boondocking sites for 72-hours. We plan to return for a short stay.

    From the campground, we continued up the dirt road to where it dead ends at the Royal Gorge Park. Admission is $25pp — which gives access to the pedestrian bridge that spans the gorge, a ride on the gondola that criss-crosses the gap high above the Arkansas River, and a theater. There are some adrenaline-junky rides here as well … additional cost … but I doubt we would ever take advantage of them. We’ll return to check out the park ... and the nearby trails. Today we were satisfied with a view of the gorge from an overlook. Alas the light was bad, so I limited my photos to a few memory shots.

    Retracing our drive, we headed back to historic Cañon City ... hoping to get some lunch somewhere. Turns out the town had come alive. It was plenty warm in the sun … perfect for an al fresco meal on a winter day. Spying the outdoor seating at World’s End Brewing Company, we decided to go there. A good choice. A couple who was about the leave told us we could have their table as soon as they paid their bill. We had a short wait, but it was worth it.

    I thoroughly enjoyed my glass of “Fairy Dust” … a beer described as being based on a blond ale recipe … with a surprising peach influence. Mom and Mui ordered the Double BLT. The waitress was right … they don’t stint on the bacon. I ordered the Adult Grilled Cheese … made with a blend of Colby, Mozzarella, and Provolone … plus sliced avocado and hardwood smoked bacon. They normally add red pepper flakes, but I abstained. We were stuffed by the time we finished our meal … no room for dessert.

    We’ve got snow in the forecast, so this will be our last outing for at least a few days. We need some rest anyway after being out and about for three days in a row … and we have some projects to complete at home, too.    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    Light Victorian Tea @ Queen's Parlour ... Miramont Castle, Manitour Springs, CO.
    Light Victorian Tea @ Queen's Parlour ... Miramont Castle, Manitour Springs, CO.Light Victorian Tea @ Queen's Parlour ... Miramont Castle, Manitour Springs, CO.No Cowboy chow at the Light Victorian Tea @ Queen's Parlour ... Miramont Castle, Manitour Springs, CLight Victorian Tea @ Queen's Parlour ... Miramont Castle, Manitour Springs, CO.Light Victorian Tea @ Queen's Parlour ... Miramont Castle, Manitour Springs, CO.Beautiful counted cross-stitch panel @ the Queen's Parlour ... Miramont Castle.Miramont Castle ... the teahouse is on the far left — Manitou Springs, CO. (Photo from 2015)

    Manitou Springs: Light Victorian Tea

    January 29, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 32 °F

    “Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves — slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life. ~~ Thich Nat Hahn ~~

    In July 2015, Mui and I came to Colorado Springs for a couple of weeks in our motorhome. One of the things we did then was to visit Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs. After touring the mansion, we had lunch at the on-site tearoom ... Queen’s Parlour. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience ... fancy hats and all. (Photos here ... https://eenusa.smugmug.com/WeGoA-Rollin/Fulltim…).

    Today we took mom to the Queen’s Parlour for the Light Victorian Tea. After we were seated, we were given the “tea menu” and asked to make our selections. Since the pots are shareable, we each chose a different flavor — chocolate cherry bomb, mango tango, and lady lavender. Then we settled down to enjoy the tasty goodies ... which change daily.

    First up was the scone — today’s flavor was plum craisin and white chocolate ... served with honey and herb infused butter, almond flavored Devonshire cream, and organic strawberry preserves.

    The second course consisted of a selection of sandwiches made with bread baked on the premises — spicy turkey, spinach and artichoke on puff pastry, lasagna, and pickled cucumbers & white cheddar.

    We wrapped up with the dessert course — peach cream tartalette, Amaretto bonbon, pomegranate blackberry mint mousse, and swan puff pastry with a vanilla cream filling.

    Oh, yummy, yummy! Totally sated. We all enjoyed the experience ... fancy hats and all. I’m just sorry I wasn’t able to get reservations to the Queen’s Parlour while Aylin and Murat were here ... just not possible to get in over the holidays. Maybe next time.    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    4Mom showing off the scarf she's knitting — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Enjoying spring-like weather on this second day of February — Colorado Springs, CO.The scene from our staircase window ... two days ago — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Picnic @ Home

    February 2, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Two days ago we had snow ... an unexpected storm that dropped about an inch overnight.

    Today, we’re sitting on our deck, enjoying a day that is more reminiscent of spring than winter. Not that it’s going to last long. A snowstorm is expected to come through tomorrow ... with forecasted accumulations ranging from three to eight inches ... more in the mountains. In fact, the winds bringing the storm have already picked up. But the temperature is warm enough that we can continue to sit outside ... even in the shade.

    Best to make hay while the sun shines! Mui picked up some sandwiches from Firehouse Subs and we enjoyed an al fresco meal at home ... the first of many 🤞🏻    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    Looks impressive ... but we got less than 3" of snow — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Before he starts to shovel, Mui goes at the snow with a leaf blower — Colorado Springs, CO.2Mui a-blowin' the snow — Colorado Springs, CO.The driveway is clear (the thin film evaporated when the sun came out) — Colorado Springs, CO.Our patio and a glimpse of the arroyo — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Snowstorm Bust!

    February 4, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °F

    The forecast for our first snowstorm of February was for us to get a dump. Mom was doubtful ... but fingers crossed she awaited. Alas, we got less than three inches ... I know this because Mui had to do the shoveling himself!

    Mom's a New Hampshire gal, so the storms that have come through thus far don't register on her "big snow" scale. Maybe her wish for "real snow" will happen on Friday! That's when the next storm is due into the area.    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    1Mui brought the twin mattresses from the motorhome to sew custom mattress covers and sheets.
    1A couple more seams and the RV bed sheet will be done — Colorado Springs, CO.Spreading out the template for the tablecloth — Colorado Springs, CO.Mui was the only one willing to tackle cutting the tablecloth — Colorado Springs, CO.Having fun at the sewing machine — Colorado Springs, CO.5The table is set in place in the great room — Colorado Springs, CO.Looking good ... another successful sewing project completed — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Sewing Projects

    February 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °F

    I've been known to get involved in sewing projects with mom. But this year Mui's been working with her instead ... partially because he is more practical and the projects move along faster ... partially because I'm busy planning for upcoming trips.

    One of the projects mom and Mui tackled was sewing mattress covers and sheets for our new motorhome, which has odd-sized twin-beds. Another project was to sew a custom tablecloth for a round end table in the great room. Both were a success.    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    11

    CoSprings: Forecasters Blew It Again

    February 8, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 39 °F

    Earlier in the week, the weather forecasters were calling for a storm that was to dump on us. Yes, some places got the big dump … not us … not most of the places around us. In other words, they blew it.

    For the snowstorm that came through yesterday, the weather forecasters were calling for maybe up to 2” in our neck of the woods. The storm, as predicted, started Thursday afternoon and continued into the wee hours. What came down was light powdery snow, and when the winds picked up late at night, it was all but blown away.

    We woke up to powdery snow Friday morning. As the hours progressed, the flakes got bigger and fluffier. The air was still … and cold. The storm stalled. The snow stuck. By a little after 11:00a we had 4” accumulated … by the end of the day that total was more like 6”. So much for getting just a couple of inches. The forecasters blew it again.

    No matter … the only impact on us was that we decided to reschedule my dental appointment to next week. No big deal. Besides, the aftermath today was magnificent ... with the landscape garbed in white ... and the sky brilliant with plenty of sunshine ... warm temps, too. Well, that makes it worth it IMHO.    Read more

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    2We don't get fog too often, but when we do ... it's a doozy — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Fog at home — Colorado Springs, CO.2Deck railing — Colorado Springs, CO.2Frosted patio furniture — Colorado Springs, CO.1Frosted patio furniture — Colorado Springs, CO.1Frosted patio furniture — Colorado Springs, CO.1Frosted patio furniture — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Misty & Frosty

    February 13, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °F

    Mother Nature decided to re-paint our patio furniture a frosty white to match the misty — OK ... foggy — winter morning we woke up to today.

  • Two to TravelColorado Family MemoriesTwo to Travel
    Looking back on a "Colorado Family Memory" ... this one at "The Airplane" — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Time for a Full Stop

    February 26, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 12 °F

    Tomorrow we begin a new phase — a trip across the "Big Pond" to take mom back to Turkey. So, it's time for one last footprint to close out "Colorado Family Memories."

    Admittedly, we didn't do much in February. Time was spent at home working on various projects ... all successfully completed. Shopping trips took us out and about periodically, seeing us driving as far north as Castle Rock to check out the outlet mall for things on our "get lists."

    The weather played a big role in our cutting back on sightseeing. It was a much colder February than usual ... or so we've been told by people who keep such records. With much more snow than usual ... definitely much more than we had last February when we were camping out at the US Air Force Academy famcamp. Will March this year be a doozy snow-wise like it was last year? That's something we won't find out first hand since we'll be long gone on our trip by then.

    So ... we're just about ready for our trip to begin tomorrow. Our suitcases are packed ... except for last minute toiletry and similar items that will go in the bags before they are zippered up tomorrow morning. We've worked through the pre-trip checklists ... a few last minute to-do's remain and will be completed before we lock the door tomorrow morning. Haircuts were taken care of Friday ... mani/pedi appointments scheduled for later today.

    We found the best airfare to get us from Colorado to Florida on Southwest Airlines. That means flying out of Denver. I've been carefully monitoring the weather in case the weather decided not to cooperate for the drive up to DEN. The good news — the roaring winds that accompanied yesterday's blizzard — with gusts howling at up to 65 mph — shifted the weather pattern. We have a high pressure system sitting on top of us that will keep any storms out of the area until next week. We'll be gone before the next round of storms come through.

    We're not done making family memories. We're just switching locales. Thus I add a cheery full stop to "Colorado Family Memories." And begin a whole new set of footprints to take us on our overseas jaunt for 2020.    Read more

    Trip end
    February 26, 2020
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