More long pants weather

On Saturday we met Cindo for a quick lunch at Moe's Original BBQ in Lionshead (a Vail suburb) where her son Colby works as the manager. He also has now been promoted to manager at the Eagle store too. Way to go Colby-Monster!

Hands-on manager - does it all, Colby

 We had a southern bbq lunch, ribs, smoked turkey, black-eyed peas, corn bread and more. It was fab. Then we were off to Grand Junction where we knew another yumster meal was in store at the Alvillar home - Susi and Jim are great cooks. It's a lovely drive through the Glenwood Canyon to GJ and Amy, Cindy Paul and I enjoyed chatting on the way.

On the patio - Jim and Susan

Culotte steak was on the menu that night. Susi had been marinating it. The Alvillars told us about their recent European trip, and we enjoyed partaking from their wine cellar. The conversation is always lively with this group!

In the morning I took a walk enjoying the beautiful scenery.

View from the trail behind Susi's home

We piled into Jim's Toyota SUV and headed 10 minutes up to the Colorado National Monument - the daily view of the Alvillars, but a place they hadn't actually entered for years.

The sissies

After our Monument tour, we had brunch at Garfields and then pointed the Subaru back east. We spent a bit of time in Edwards at Bolder's favorite bar - E-town. His portrait is still displayed there.

Etown with Boldie looking down

On Monday, Cindy invited friends over for supper. Skirt steak this time! (we were eating our way through women's clothing). Paul got his yard work jones fulfilled by helping spread mulch on the berm in the yard. We did have an incident on our way to Home Depot.

Paul had selected a can of soda that turned out to be frozen and it erupted slowly like Mount St. Helen's in our car cup holder as we drove. I was afraid it might overflow onto the car carpeting - and leaned down to sip from the can, nestled between the seats, as the sticky liquid trickled out. Paul yelped, "people are driving by!" He was worried about appearances. I howled with laughter! That made it hard to drink. Later, Amy and I took a walk - she wore gloves. Walking is harder at 8,500 feet!

The dinner party was fun! All the usual characters were there - our Vail pals. Bonnie and Eric - Cindo is their sister wife (in name only). The Sanders, Jim and Shiloy and their adorbs son Reeve with his new girlfriend. The food was nummy - Cindy is a good cook. I didn't get that gene either, but am determined to work on it. The conversation was enjoyable. A good time was had by all.

We were up and out of there at 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning, stopping in Denver to drop our beloved Amy off and to say goodbye. It was a long drive home, but an audiobook kept us company. We only stopped twice! Odie had McDonald's eggs for breakfast because I left the darn food at Cindo's. Oh well. We'll be back! Love my peeps there. Thanks for everything.