I spent my weekend. All of it. It burned a hole in my pocket because I was here:
Four girlfriends and I felt a self-styled spiritual retreat would be wonderful. We’ve done organized retreats with churches but it would be a refreshing change to not have to be up at 7am and live the regimented life. Freedom is conducive to deep study and spontaneous chats. We’d bring food we like, read books we like, sleep in as long as we like, and let our days unfold organically. If that happened to include a little vino? Cheers, friends.
We drove to Breckenridge, which is a popular winter destination for skiers and riders. It’s the off-season, which meant small crowds but gobs of natural beauty.
A fox said hello to me. It was adorable and we think it was hanging around because the lodge where we stayed kept fresh baked chocolate chip cookies flowing.
It snowed, off and on. Breckenridge is a town that depends on copious snowfall. Reminders were everywhere.
In the center of Breckenridge, there is a large pond with feisty and enormous trout. We fed them what appeared to be dog food which was sold in gumball machine for 25 cents. I missed my kids, but at that moment I was relieved I wouldn’t have to spend $1.50 for a cup of trout chow…
…and then a muskrat came along and stole the food. The fish went mad and there was much thrashing. Now I wished my kids were with me. They would have loved it and taken sides. Team Trout vs. Team Rat. The battle is probably still raging.
Breckenridge has plenty of tourist-trap shops and funky little local places. It’s the typical mix you will find in any place that hosts visitors from around the world—doofy souvenir t-shirts and pricy art prints, all in the same block.
In one shop, I was able to channel my inner Lady Gaga. My version has blue hair.
I found a copy of the Sunday New York Times on a rack at Breckenridge’s Starbucks. It is housed in an old bright yellow bungalow, built in 1938, and it is the cutest, quirkiest Starbucks you can imagine.
When I noticed they had the Times for sale, I checked to see if I was truly inside. Yes, truly.
I gave it to the barrista, telling her I was in it and needed to buy. Squeal!
If I were a fresh-faced daisy, I would have withered under her glowering indifference.
These are my four lovely friends. One is a studious librarian. Guess.
Thanks, ladies, for your support, creativity, brilliance, and for keeping my arms up.
You’d know if you were there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I recently joined Twitter. If I’m not following you, I should start. Let me know how.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While away, my husband won a PS3 gaming system and The Beatles Rock Band. Early Christmas! We thought about keeping it hidden away for 2 months, but we couldn’t. Squeal!
A 21-year-old Starbuck’s barrista just shuddered at the thought someone is happy.
Oh I love this. I want to go to there!
Steph
.-= Adventures In Babywearing´s last blog ..On Sunday Morning =-.
Oooo, we were given a two-night stay to a condo in Breckenridge one year. We didn’t ski – just enjoyed. It was so much fun. Your weekend sounds super.
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Truth in Advertising =-.
What a great weekend!! The photos are, as always, lovely.
What a great idea! As you know, I JUST got back from one of those BIG church retreats in Vail. We stopped in Breckenridge for lunch and crepes and also had some cider at the Starbucks. Wish I had picked up that NY Times! Love the way you write, and the photos are superb! Enjoyed it!
Love all those ski towns in Colorado, so many places to go for a weekend trip. Great idea to get away with your friends. Was it time for Archie to sleep solo?
Oh good grief – I need to get my life this organized!!! I will have to shuffle off the couch though. Maybe i will just stay here while we have some mad stormy weather outside – I will have to get more organized another time. Procrastination is an art form carefully being perfected on our couch!!!
.-= se7en´s last blog ..Sunday Snippet: The Other Woman in Your Marriage – A Review… =-.
Wow! Sounds incredible! 🙂
.-= edj´s last blog ..In which I attempt a metaphor that may be just too forced, and blithely switch persons & tenses =-.
Oh how I love this idea. It looks like you had a wonderful time with your friends. Priceless.
.-= Heth´s last blog ..Advanced Secret Stashing =-.
Is it possible to be homesick for Colorado even though I’ve never lived there?
I read your article, by the way. You are so famous.
.-= Kelly @ Love Well´s last blog ..It’s Like A Virtual Baby Shower =-.
This makes me want to move to Colorado. My husband’s family lives in Colorado Springs, and we have definitely thought about it from time to time…. I loved the pics of the muskrat and the fox! You are impressively close to both. I’ve never seen a muskrat before. Looks a lot like the rat that lived in my apartment in charleston.
I do love SC, but Colorado is just so beautiful. I wish it were closer to me.
Lovely. I wholeheartedly agree,unregimented retreats are more refreshing.
So, so happy for you!
What a great idea! And you’ll love PS3. I think. I mean, I’ve never played it, but I here kids these days think they’re cool. Is cool still in?
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..All About Kolby =-.
I feel relaxed and refreshed just from reading your post! You are blessed to live in a state with such natural beauty so close by. Glad you had a great weekend.
And congrats to Lee on his winnings. My husband feels that no home is complete without every gaming system known to man. He’ll rest a little easier tonight knowing that a PS3 is under your roof.
.-= Shayne´s last blog ..13.1 =-.
Looks like you had a GREAT time!!
.-= The Casual Perfectionist´s last blog ..The exploding paper shredder =-.
Keeping your arms up…like Moses?
Sounds like a great retreat, and CC cookies to boot!
.-= Minnesotamom´s last blog ..Sunday Sunshine 10.25.09 =-.
So glad you got a chance to do this, it looks wonderful. And congratulations on the article, btw!
.-= Sara Joy´s last blog ..But I Digress =-.
What a true chronicle of our time! So glad you posted. It is an honor to be your friend. Not the only studious one. (must have that pic =/\=