Genealogy Fan Chart

I was looking at the new youth and family history site (https://lds.org/youth/family-history?lang=eng) on the lds.org home page and found this nifty nine generation genealogy fan chart. If you have an lds account it will create this chart for you automatically. Give it a try!

Genealogy Fan Chart

My Patient Patient

Ezra and I have been sick, and Ezra has been an angel of a patient. Even when I do mean mommy things like suck out his snot with a nose bulb or spray saline drops up his nasal passages, he is still so loving. Several times in recent days, he has given me a look that seems to communicate his gratitude for my efforts and his trust in my ability as a mother. I have really needed his non-verbal vote of confidence lately. I marvel at his happy ways even when he is obviously uncomfortable. He is such a sweet example to me of patience and understanding. I feel so grateful to be his mother.

E is for Ermine, don't you know...

During story time yesterday baby and I read an animal ABC book. The book, first published in 1954, was rather drab...A is for Alligator, B is for Bear, C is for Cat, D is for Deer, E is for Ermine...Eh? The letter E was apparently the curve-ball, the "are-you still-awake-out there?" page. Considering the previous four letters I was anticipating something mainstream and generic, like elephant or eagle or elk or earthworm or ewe.
But, curious George that I am, page 5 and this mystery animal prompted a little zoological exploration. (Perhaps this was the author's intention?) After a little research I have learned that an ermine is in fact a short-tailed weasel, also known as a stoat and lives in mostly northern climes, like Canada and Alaska.
The letter X animal was another interesting page; X is (obviously!) for Xenurus, as in Xenurus unicintus, the Latin name for armadillo. Right, I bet your three-year old will make a connection with that one. (***Note to self, share this story with your child the next time you drive through west Texas and carefully help him identify the Xenurus roadkill).
I guess I am a children's book snob, but I am not terribly motivated to read that particular ABC book again. I could, on the other hand, read Dr. Seuss's ABC book every day to my little boy. Dr. Seuss, who published his ABC book in 1963, not only understands his audience, he understands how important it is to educate AND entertain his audience. The variety, repetition, and word combination patterns are fantastic--bursting with creativity and fun. B isn't just for Bear, it is for barber, baby, bubbles, and a bumblebee. What little kid wouldn't giggle at the feast for the ears in "four fluffy feathers on a fiffer-feeffer-feff" or "the quick Queen of Quincy and her quacking quaker-oo"?! Y isn't just for Yak, it is a yawning, yellow yak with Yolanda on his back! I love it! Now that is a story time to look forward to!

p.s.--for older kids I love Graeme Base's Animalia, another alliterative alphabet book with stunning illustrations.

Music Man

It is never very productive to pine over bygone days, but I must admit I feel a bit cheated by the timing of my dating relationship with Dallin. I didn't meet him until after his music glory days in college, after his concerto competitions, after his time as concert master, after his recitals, and gigs for campus elites. Sometimes I wish I could have been a fly on the wall or a mouse in the corner during those days to see Dallin in first chair in the orchestra, Dallin wowing the crowds, Dallin in the spotlight.
This past week I got a small glimpse of that Dallin, and Dallin had a walk down memory lane as he was invited to sub in the city symphony orchestra where he attended college. I got quite the thrill attending an orchestra concert, which I am always game for. Even better, though, my sweetheart was in the orchestra all dressed up, and playing with professionals. I couldn't have been prouder. I love being married to a musician. I am sure there will be other orchestra invitations in the years to come. And, in the meantime, I can enjoy his fiddling from the comfort of our living room couch in pajamas. How did I get so lucky?

Collecting

Ezra and I took a lovely fall walk and while he slept, oblivious to all the beauty, mommy collected a whole slew of colorful flora. I was in a creative mood and came home and made a quick horticulture collage of my plant samples:

Categorizing is always fun, so I made a group for everything red:


And everything yellow:


For all the fruits, pods, and seed heads:


And because I am a plant nerd, how about alphabetically by Latin name? (arranged from bottom to top: Acer, Baptisia, Calamagrostis, Caryopteris, Catalpa, Chrysanthemum, Cornus, Fraxinus, Gaillardia, Geranium, Gleditisia, Juniperus, Lavandula, Malus...)


I won't bore you with all the other ways I thought to subdivide my collection, but suffice it to say, I am easily entertained.

Babies Don't Keep

For many years in my parent's bedroom hung a 1970s vintage needlepoint with a mother rocking a baby and the following poem:

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow,
for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.

When I was younger I thought it was quaint, a nice cadence, a pleasant little rhyme. Now I realize how surprisingly true it is.

My little Ezra certainly isn't a newborn anymore. He already has differentiated his cries, and explores his vocal chords daily with new sounds. His response to visual stimuli is impressive. For example, when he sits in his bouncy chair, his eyes follow me all around the room, often craning his neck to see where I am and what I am doing.

In like manner, his response to audio stimuli has improved. Dallin recently performed on violin at a cultural event at our church. Ezra was very alert during the evening and was obviously hearing the different musical performances. When Dallin got up to play there was a heightened attentiveness. Ezra seemed to recognize the music and was especially aware of the sounds. A couple from our ward sitting nearby noticed and commented on the special response to Dallin's playing, as well.

Ezra's first few bath experiences caused panic and terror. He would scream beet-faced before, during, and afterward. A few days ago he had his first positive experience to the bath and realized that it could actually be fairly pleasant. Today I gave him a bath again. As I turned on the water and undressed him, he got a big grin on his face, recognizing (it would seem) that what was coming was a happy thing.

Before Ezra came, I spent a good deal of time "cleaning and scrubbing." I have to admit, I rather like housecleaning. I find a certain degree of satisfaction in Lysol-ed, squeaky clean, and sparkly. Lately, though I choose to spend the great bulk of my day on walks with Ezra, talking to Ezra, bathing Ezra, reading books to Ezra, listening to music with Ezra, feeding Ezra, changing Ezra, and loving Ezra. Let the house go to pot when there is such an adorable boy to keep me company during the day.

Seasonal Delights

In the weekly grocery mailer I discovered apples on sales for .69 cents/lb.--and not just one kind of apple either: Gala, Fuji, Red and Golden Delicious, Rome, Braeburn, Granny Smith, Johathan, and Jonagold apples! I made a homemade apple pie two weeks ago, but I might have to make another with apple prices like this! I don't think my sweetheart will mind.

Yesterday I made something rather sinful, or at very least not very healthy, and certainly not gluten-free. I found a recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, which called for 1 1/2 cups sugar AND 2 cups chocolate chips! But my sweetheart loves anything pumpkin, so I indulged because making them was just one more way for me to say "I love you." I am not much of a chocolate fan...but I think I ate five.

Last week I created some butternut squash soup and with the leftover squash half, plan to experiment with a butternut squash pasta recipe. I love the foods of fall! Huzzah!

Reason no. 28

Dear Dallin,

How grateful I am for you in this new adventure of parenthood! What a blessing to have you to share the load, to have you as my teammate, and to have your support when I need a break. Thank you for being my partner in the diaper changing, burping, holding, cuddling, dressing...etc. What an amazing season of life we are in--so glad we can do it together! You are a wonderful daddy, and you help this mommy in all the best ways.

All my love, Liezel

Come and See

Media attention has been especially focused on religion and politics of late and the old argument that Mormonism is a cult has resurfaced with increasing intensity. I find it so disheartening that such an intellectually immature claim continues to be touted by men in high standing in the public arena.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often nicknamed the Mormon Church) is a Christian faith, and by that I mean members worship in and believe that Jesus Christ is their Savior. I consider myself a disciple of Christ, meaning that I am trying to follow the example of the Savior and live a life consistent with His teachings, as found in the Bible. I consider the Bible to be the word of God and appreciate the doctrines and teachings of Christ that are recorded there. I belong to a Christ-centered church, not a cult; I worship Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, not Joseph Smith.

In the book of John, in the latter half of chapter 1, Jesus invites the curious Simon and Andrew to "come and see" to learn more of Him and His doctrine. Later Philip invites a skeptical Nathanael to also "come and see" Jesus.

"Come and see" is the open invitation from the book of John that needs to be applied to intelligent acquisition of truth. It is the invitation that needs to be applied in understanding the religious doctrines of any faith. Mormonism, along with all other religions, deserves a thorough, unbiased investigation.

Come and see what the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is by attending Sunday services. Every chapel for worship the world over invites "visitors welcome". Use the church's interactive tool at http://lds.org/maps/ to locate the chapel closest to you.

Come and see what the church leadership teaches in its semi-annual two-day general conference. The conference is broadcast from church headquarters in Salt Lake City and is available on http://lds.org/ in text, audio, and video formats for immediate access.

Come and see how Mormons live their faith all over the world by visiting http://mormon.org/. Watch video profiles of just a sample of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or find a written profile of a Mormon in your hometown.

Come and see how the church strengthens its youth with clear standards of morality and decency at https://lds.org/youth.

Come and see how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints blesses its members through principles of provident living, such as self-reliance, home storage, employment services, and education at http://www.providentliving.org/.

Come and see, use your intellectual reasoning, make a thorough investigation, and then make a judgment based on personal experience, not secondhand hearsay.

By Accident

I think I have been a little camera-happy in my desire to capture all of Ezra's cuteness. Newborns being what they are--not terribly photogenic and quite wiggly--I take 50 pictures to get one worth keeping. In the process, I end up with a series of pictures that could be turned into an amateur animation of flailing baby arms and random facial expressions. It is mostly by accident (and much persistence) that I finally get a decent shot. In no particular order, I present a photo montage of Ezra and his emerging personality.

Garden Envy

To whom it may concern:

I make a humble confession as a self-professed green thumb: the vegetable garden this year has been a grand flop. My aspirations for floriferous grandeur have been stanched. I blame a very lovely, though slightly obese, honeylocust tree that has been stealing all the sunlight. After months of nurturing half a dozen vegetable varieties from seed, all I have to show for it is one green tomato the size of a gumball.

I am most thoroughly displeased, and am very tempted to do some drastic (anonymous) pruning to said honeylocust by moonlight.

Sincerely, Liezel, a disgruntled gardener.

p.s.-I envy this neighbor's success (and his unobstructed sunshine)

Please Note

For any interested reader, husband and I have created a family blog. Not much to look at right now, but stay posted for more:

http://kuzmichconstitutional.blogspot.com/

I will include a link to the family blog on my blog page for easy access. Enjoy!

Announcing our little Ezra!

Ezra Mauss was born Friday 9 September at 10:52 pm. I was scheduled for an induced labor and had a scheduled time of arrival at the hospital, but then made quite a bit of progress naturally without the aid of Pitocin, and finally ended up in surgery for an unplanned c-section. I feel like I experienced the whole gammit of the labor and delivery process and learned so much, even if it was a day filled with unexpected drama. The most important part is that our little boy is here safe and perfectly healthy. We are loving being home and loving having such a precious boy for keeps. It was a surreal feeling when my sweet husband came in the hospital room with the car seat; I got butterflies as it sunk in that this really was for real, that after months of waiting we actually get to bring him home, and that he really is our little Ezra.
Dallin was an absolute angel through the whole process and did everything he could for my comfort. I feel so fortunate to have shared this experience with him. He is my greatest support and helper.

Nothing Yet

Today is my official due date; I made it to 40 weeks! Apparently less than 5% of women deliver on their due date, and it appears that I am not in that five percent. Nothing much is happening yet, just wanted to report I am still out here, waiting.
Perhaps I have created an all-too-comfortable womb and baby isn't ready to vacate. Perhaps he wants to be a September baby, which is, of course, a very good month to be born. Perhaps he has an attuned sense of irony and wants to redefine my definition of "Labor Day" by arriving this coming Monday. We shall see. Here's hoping I have good news to share in the next week or so.

I Believe in God

I would like to add my witness to the witness of this renowned scientist.

God is real; he is a personage of flesh and bones. He is our Father and cares for us with all the love and tenderness of perfect Parent. His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, also has a body of flesh and bones, and under the direction of His Father, organized the world and all things therein. I see in their handiwork, the fingerprint of Divine Creators. The order, the intricacy, the majesty, and the variety of the creations in the earth and the heavens demonstrate to me that there had to be a Divine Plan. All things in the earth and the heavens bear witness of the Father and the Son.
We are created in the image of God. We are the offspring of God and have divine worth and potential. Our Father knew and loved us before we came to this earth. He understood our potential and created opportunities for us to grow and exercise our agency in that pre-mortal world. Now, as mortal being on this earth, we continue to use our God-given agency to make choices between good and bad, between truth and error. Our loving Father in Heaven, a being of perfect love and mercy, desires that we use our life on earth in such a way that we may be worthy to return to Him.
I pray to God because I know that He hears me. I am one of His spirit children; He is my Father in Heaven. He has a parental regard and concern for me as an individual, even amongst the vastness of the universe.

I Never Knew

Is part of growing up liking a wider palette of vegetables?

I think I was open to most veggies as a kid, but perhaps had somewhat limited exposure to all the potential variety an olericulturist could offer. It wasn't until my twenties that I tried, and liked, such things as collard greens, mustard greens, and okra (thank you Georgia). Despite bad PR I have now tried, and actually love, brussel sprouts, especially steamed and tossed in lemon butter. This past winter I tried a root vegetable stew made from turnips, parsnips, and rutabagas and was pleasantly surprised.

Just this month, some friends at church gave us some of their bumper crop of homegrown Swiss chard, and I have a new vegetable love. Husband and I steamed the greens, ate them without any seasoning, butter, etc., and each had three servings, finishing the entire bowl in one sitting! How have I lived this long and never known that I love Swiss chard?!

I am still working on liking beets. One of these days I will meet a borscht I like.

And the Winner Is...

Recently, I went on a day excursion to the Denver Botanic Garden to identify some top garden performers for summer heat. Late summer has a tendency to wipe out a good majority of perennials. My interest was in those perennials that still had energy to bloom and put on a show in 90+ temperatures and occasional water. I should note that the plants I picked were thriving in the botanic garden AND in the average homeowner's yard, which would receive less care and attention than a plant in a public display garden.

Here are my top picks for late summer Front Range perennials:

Agastache rupestris Sunset Hyssop













This plant is just starting to put on a show in late summer. Normal bloom time is late July to frost. But, that is the appeal of the plant! When little else looks good, this plant takes center stage. It has delicate needle-like leaves and tubular flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The whole plant smells like licorice and is an excellent water-smart or xeriscape choice. It grows quite large (3-4' tall), but has an overall fine-textured look that allows it to blend very well with most any other plant combination. This plant thrives in full intense sun (native to the Southwest).


Salvia officinalis Variegated Sage













Sage is one of those garden plants that has so much to offer: aromatic foliage, great textured (rugose) leaves, kitchen and medicinal uses, interesting color variations, good form, low water needs, and great heat tolerance. It is categorized as a subshrub, has woody stems, and can have a presence even in the winter garden. I consider it an excellent border plant along walks and the front edge of a bed because of its perfect little hedgehog mounding growth habit. Even if it isn't used as a culinary tool, it is perfect for a children's garden because it is small, scented, and textured. And, it still looks amazing in August!


Echinacea purpurea Coneflower













So, this is a very common garden plant, but for good reason! Coneflower is blooming non-stop (with a little deadheading to encourage regrowth) from JUNE to frost--that is a serious garden statement. The plant doesn't flop or fade in the sun. It doesn't need supplementary water once established. Coneflower has few, if any pest or disease problems. It meshes well with a plethora of other plants without being overbearing to any given garden combination. Honeybees and butterflies love the plant. It is long-lasting as a cut flower. If left alone through the winter the old seed heads (where a flower used to be) create an additional season of interest. All it asks is full sun.


Caryopteris x clandonensis Blue Mist, Bluebeard, Blue Spirea













Blue Mist shrub is easy to grow, adaptable to various soils, and somewhat drought tolerant. It begins flowering in late summer (usually mid- to late July) and continues until frost. Blue flowers are always a welcome and somewhat rare garden feature, so this plant has great design versatility and works well in a shrub border or mixed border with other types of perennials. I prefer this plant to other upright purple/blue growing shrub-like perennials (such as Russian Sage) because it has a much tidier growth habit and will not self-sow itself with abandon. The leaves are aromatic when rubbed, the flowers have a sweet fragrance, and it attracts bees and butterflies. Overall plant size is usually 2-3' tall and wide, prefers full sun or light shade.

Honorable Release

The Denver Temple closes tomorrow for a six-week renovation. Today was my last day to work as an ordinance worker. I have been given an honorable release from my time of service in the temple. My new priority is mommy, and I could not have given up being an ordinance worker for anything less worthwhile. It will likely be 20 or more years before I can return to that service opportunity, as the church asks that women with children still at home devote their full-time efforts to motherhood.
It is a strange sort of loss to be finished with my time as an ordinance worker in the temple. I was able to serve for three and a half years in the Atlanta Temple and about eight months in the Denver Temple. I consider that time a precious gift. Some of my most beautiful life experiences took place there. I know that I became more of a devoted woman of God by spending regular time in the temple. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and especially in the temple, we refer to one another as brother and sister. The women that I served with in both Atlanta and Denver truly feel like my sisters in the full sense of the word. My bond of friendship, kinship, and understanding with the sisters in the temple is both difficult to explain and hard to forget.
How grateful I am for this unique chapter in my life.

Luck of the Draw

Most every day I listen to Colorado Public Radio at home or in the car, and enjoy it simply for the blessing of good music with wonderful variety. Occasionally, though, there is an added perk for regular listening. Last Thursday a ticket give-away was announced for the closing concert of the 2011 season of the Colorado Musical Festival at Chautauqua. I figured that I had as good a chance as anyone, and called in. About 15 minutes later, the station called me back and I had two free tickets to the Friday night show! This was quite a fun splurge for us, as the tickets were worth $42 a piece.

The Festival Finale featured a group called Time for Three (Tf3), a trio of musicians (two violinists, one double bass) all graduates of Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music. They are an unexpected mix of laid-back, amazingly talented, crazy, classical, blue-grass, jazz, and country styles in an over-the-top energized jam session. If you have 9 minutes and twenty one seconds to spare, I highly recommend giving a listen to their piece "Wyoming 307". We loved the show!

Collaboration and Copycating, etc.

My latest creative efforts have been for 1) animal applique pillows and 2) a baby mobile.

Originally, I was going to make a mobile using the animal design from the quilt fabric (turtle, zebra, and lion). It turns out my beginner sewing skills are not quite up to make three-dimensional objects. My multiple attempts resulted in really sorry-looking deformed creatures. BUT, I was able to replicate the design as flat pieces fairly well. So, I gave up the 3-D mobile idea after finding a book in a craft store showing applique pillows. I think I did a decent copycat job of the animal shape. I appliqued the animals to fabric pillow squares and then my genius-on-the-sewing-machine mom did the beautiful stitch work to hold it all together. The pillows aren't quite done yet; they still need some piping edges and then will be sewn around pillow forms. A modified mobile idea was a little slower in coming. In my opinion, all the $50 (+) mobiles in Babies R Us were not at all worth having. Most were cute to parents walking into the room, but were not made to be interesting to baby lying in a crib. Not to mention colors and patterns that didn't work with the scheme I had already worked out. So, I did some Pinterest browsing, and found this gorgeous (and CHEAP) idea. I ordered a hanging photoclip mobile and made a dozen paper pinwheels in the color scheme that I wanted. Wa-la! Lots of color, lots of interest for baby, and it can also be easily adapted or changed out. And finally, pregnant momma at 36 weeks. Will work for popsicles and cold water. Whew! The heat wave is getting old!

Anxious for our new arrival

Last week our stroller/car seat travel system arrived. We put it together and then adorable husband proceeded to push the stroller through the entire apartment with a little-boy-on-Christmas-morning grin on his face. Every other day or so since then, he pulls out the stroller and takes it on another walk through the apartment, smiling from ear-to-ear the entire time. Just wanted to document the cuteness!
This is one anxious daddy.

Good Read

My friend Katie bought me The Read-Aloud Handbook in preparation for baby and it has been a most engaging book. The basic premise of the book is one I am already aligned with: Read aloud to your children on a daily basis from the day they are born. I am so grateful though for such a thoughtful gift because without some of the back story, the research, and the evidence in favor of such a practice as daily read-alouds, it would be easy to dismiss it as just one more good, but impractical idea. The author, Jim Trelease, presents fact as well as anecdotal story from his personal experience as a father, as well as 20 years of positive affirmation from the thousands of parents and teachers around the world who practice what he preaches.
The idea is especially palatable to me because he isn't trying to push a program or sell a product. Any parent or teacher of any socioeconomic standard can make this a reality! The author recommends just 3 Bs: books (thank you public library!), a book basket in the home so that books can be very accessible, and a book lamp in the child's room. To aid in the read-aloud process, the last 115 pages of his book is his "Treasury of Read-Alouds", an impressive collection of more than 1,000 recommended books for all ages and genres that are especially well-suited to reading aloud. If you have the desire, and a library card, you can't go wrong!

Mr. Trelease stresses the fact throughout the book that the goal of reading aloud to your children from infancy is NOT to produce super-babies, or 2-year old readers. In fact, he encourages that that not be the goal at all. It could be a possible result, but the main crux of the daily reading is simply to create parent-child bonding, and a love-affair with books. No more, no less. It is that simple message that resonates with me because it aligns very well with the church's counsel for daily family scripture study and consistent gospel instruction in the home.

As a personal aside, when I went to visit my family over Christmas, my youngest sister, who is a teenager, requested that I read-aloud to her from a picture book during my visit. She has been a voracious reader since she was an infant and had the marked advantage of six older siblings and parents who were willing to indulge her in regular read-aloud sessions. When I think of her and her interest even now, as a teenager, to be read to, I am inspired and encouraged to start early and do it for my children.

Quick Stop-Over

My brother, sister-in-law and my nearly three-month old niece (who until today I had yet to meet) had a long layover in the Denver airport. Dallin and I had a nice, though brief, lunch visit with them. Their daughter, Camryn, is just adorable, wide-eyed and incredibly content with observing her new world. So glad we could get together!

Say hello to cousin Ezra!

Creativity Central

Over the fourth of July weekend, for the last 21 years Denver has hosted the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, which attracts artists from across the country. The husband and I braved the 90+ degree weather for a look-see. The 200+ outdoor booths of eye candy in a five-by-two city block area was worth some sweating and swollen feet. Here is just a sampling:

Jack Rabbit on a tricycle was my favorite of this artist's creations (his other companions included bats, grasshoppers, fish, turtles, etc.)

This artist is a Denver local in her mid to late 20's. The top left piece is called "Cherry Blossom" and it truly gave a Japanese feel. Each "flower" is individually constructed of special paper, varnished, and wired in. I love the layers!

Not quite sure what the symbolism is, but I love the counterbalance and unexpected juxtaposition of objects.

At first glance, an interesting mixed-media sculpture,

but get a little closer in and notice an artist with a quirky sense of humor.

The Prophet Said to Plant a Garden...

"Where you have a plot of land, however small, plant a garden. Staying close to the soil is good for the soul." --Spencer W. Kimball

Well, we are trying. We have a patio garden in pots, and for right now that is the best we can do. This year we are trying spinach, butterhead lettuce, bell peppers, cilantro, basil, dwarf tomato, cucumber, and a strawberry plant. Last night we harvested some greens for a salad, which feels awesome. Since our planting day on June 5, there has been some noticeable growth. The first little cucumber has started to form and the pepper and tomato plants are twice as big.

Garden at planting: Garden progress as of today:

Rocky Mountain High

Last week Dallin and I took a driving tour through some mountain high country in Colorado. We had so many blessings of good timing and safe travel during the trip that were more than just coincidental. For example, the day we spent in Maroon Bells outside Aspen was a perfect clear blue sky day. The next day was cloudy and cold and the view of the peak was obscured for a good part of the day. What a blessing that we planned our trip to go when we did and enjoy such a beautiful view.


We visited Glenwood Springs and planned to try the mineral hot springs (at a safe pregnant-mommy 94 degree temperature) and discovered to our surprise that the admission price was significantly reduced in the late evening, which is when we chose to go. We enjoyed the pools, the cool mountain air, had no danger of sunburn, and saved money--beautiful.


In three different cities large festivals were planned just a day or two later than our planned stay. This was a very good thing because although the BBQ Street Festival in Frisco, the Strawberry Days Festival in Glenwood Springs, and the Wine & Food Festival in Aspen may be desirable for some, our idea of vacation does not include large crowds. We enjoyed a vacation of relaxing, beautiful natural scenery instead.


We went on two hikes, both of which required some gradual, or in places not-so-gradual elevation climbs over rock piles and/or snow piles. Baby and I handled it just fine. No elevation sickness, no nausea, no cramped muscles, just the benefit of finishing and enjoying the views. Again, I felt so blessed.


On the last day of our trip, we took Independence Pass across the continental divide, which finally peaks at 12,095 feet. The recommended speed limit for most of the trip was 25 mph, the road was narrow, the drop-offs fatal, and in some places the guardrails non-existent. On certain hair-pin turns the speed limit dropped to 10 mph, and for good reason. But, the views were outstanding and so worth the trip. In all of our driving, in all types of weather, we were safe. What a blessing!

Did I mention that we also had perfect luck in our choice of restaurants? Among my favorites was an artichoke bisque in Glenwood Springs and decadent desserts in Snowmass.