We went to get a bench from Pottery Barn

(updated, now with more bench)

Sometimes I get these stubborn ideas about wanting one, specific thing and also wanting to see it in person before actually buying it. That's how we ended up in the car on the way to Colorado Springs this weekend.

Of course, no Saturday is complete without waffles, followed by a (9 mile) walk in the woods.

The worst thing you can say to me is "Smile normally."

 
A view of a snow-covered mountain after the clouds finally moved along.

A search for a different trail which, alas, is no more, due to changing property lines, but I did find a pasque flower.

A visit to a tiny town that held an even tinier town within.

And, finally, a flite of beers in the hallway of a repurposed elementary school with the coolest bathrooms ever.

Oh, and I did get my new coffee table/cat bench. I love successful weekends!

And Vince thinks the bench is his personal sauna. Maybe someday they'll try "on" in addition to "under."

Some days, it's all about the light

I'm fortunate to live where clouds are not the norm. Even when they do show up, the late afternoon sun often find a way to peek through at the last minute. I recommended that the brewery staff take pictures of their beers immediately this particular afternoon.

I took my inaugural ride on the 36 bikeway this week and got to see the sides of the highway at a more human speed. It's still a bit loud with the nearby traffic, but there were moments where you could pretend the cars weren't there.

The view from the city overlook is still great for viewing our Flatirons at sunset, even if the geodesic dome is gone from the west side of the road.

Of course, the only thing nicer than our sunsets is our sunrises. Not necessarily at a convenient time of day, but when you have a motivated partner...

I haven't seen them yet, but I know these shots were amazing.

One part golden sunrise, one part less than six hours of sleep. Totally worth it.