The glories of Star Mountain

 

We are back at Star Mt. and all is right with the world. We timed it perfectly for the start of the greening up everywhere and elk and deer out and about. Glorious spring.

Elk mommies have been around our house almost every day. This is the time of year they calve in our woods. We hardly saw them last summer with all the noisy home construction. We will definitely be keeping an eye out for new little ones. They're not so little though - 40 lbs at birth.

More signs of spring. Lupine blooms and daffodils I planted years ago. Hummingbirds buzzing around were waiting for us to get here. I think it will be another mania summer of boiling sugar water but I love it. Nesting robins and bluebirds are here just like always. I love all the things here that follow the seasons.

Crested Butte is still mostly closed up as it's off season. Looks really empty right? We ate at one of our favorites that remained open  - Ryce. They struggle with a common problem that's here and many other places. They can't find people to hire. Hope that changes soon.

Anticipating a lovely summer. It feels great to be vaccinated and able to do things. I have so much appreciation for life and the wonders of nature.

Birds, Rosy Tomorrows Restaurant, and back soon to Star Mt.

 

Sandhill crane and baby

As we wind down our time here in Florida, the weather is changing to the hot and steamy soup that is summer here. Not my cup of tea really. It makes leaving such a wonderful place much easier and then there's the magic of Star Mountain waiting for us. There is still snow on the ground there as the mountains change slowly from winter season to spring/summer. It is quite the transition to go from manicured lawns, beach and palm trees, to dirt roads, forests of pine and aspen and rushing mountain streams. I believe we'll manage...

No sign - you just have to figure it out

We've been eating out a lot since we are fully vaccinated and exploring places we've missed in the last year and then we hit the jackpot. Had to share this place. Rosy Tomorrows Heritage Farm. Fabulous restaurant in the middle of nowhere on their 100 acre farm. Everything organic, including produce and heritage breeds of cattle, pigs, ducks, and chickens. It's been visited by a lot of well known names like Tyler Florence and Sara Moulton heaping praise on this amazing regenerative farm and restaurant. Food was wonderful. 

Zucchini fritters with truffle aioli

hamburger from longhorn cattle and red wattle bacon with onion jam

homemade ravioli with burrata, kale-pistachio pesto 

Had to share the food photos - quite yummy. We will be back for more but not until fall.

Started with birds and ending with them. Sandhill cranes close to the restaurant and egrets at the beach. I'll be back to you from Star Mt. 

The Texas Adams fun visit

 The time is growing shorter before we head back to Star Mt. We've enjoyed these months and all the fun that is to be had in Florida. As always happens an enormous amount gets squished into the last weeks. We had lovely company last week (Paul, Sherry, and Katie) and we all made the most of their short trip with golf, fishing, beach, swamp tour.

Beach action. We drove up to Captiva Island north of us to see the sights. Perfect weather, good shelling, and of course lots of people out enjoying too. It's end of season here so crowds were not too bad.

While in Captiva we stopped at a restaurant I had been at 2 years before. The Bubble room - yup, it's still the same. 40 years running, a place hard to describe with every spare inch covered in memorabilia and antique/junk things, waiters dressed in boy scout uniforms, model trains zooming around ceiling trim, Xmas bubble lights on everywhere, and crazy assortment of food. My shrimp and mango salad in a pineapple named Carmen Miranda for example. 

The day before we had headed out to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary deep inland east of us. It's a protected wetlands area that is part of the everglades ecosystem with the largest Bald Cypress forest in North America. It's home to some rare ghost orchids as well, but they were not in bloom yet (June -Sept). Did see more than one alligator, obligingly close to the boardwalk walking trail.

In the meantime, the boys were out fishing with a guide deep in the mangroves. Definitely a different kind of fishing than mountain streams...

We ended with a lovely brunch at Bay House. A special place on the river with great food (loved the beignets) Great visit come anytime....

Charleston family visit

 

Fabulous visit with Tiffany, Chris, and the girls. So much was crammed in a week and it went way too fast. Gorgeous weather, pool time, beach, kayaking, and a birthday celebration for Juliet. She's now a big whopping 7.

Lots of pool time, and I mean lots!

 

xoxo

Beach was spectacular. Clear beautiful water and white sand. Lots of people joined us all carefully distanced. This is Florida at it's best.

Tried a new activity - kayaking. Down a pretty river with three doubles. I would definitely do it again.

Jules birthday was a success and really it's because it was done just the way she wanted. She wanted to bake the cake, wanted pooltime, remote control car, barbie from her sister and spaghetti with meatballs for dinner. Hey, what else could you possibly need?