“Ya-Ya Sisterhood of the Traveling Aunts”

I got an email from my niece, Renee, back in July. It was an invitation for me, her mom and my sister, Lila, and my cousin, Melody, to come spend a weekend at her log house in the mountains at Red Feather Lakes, west of Ft. Collins. What I really liked about her email, though, was it was addressed to the “Ya-Ya Sisterhood of the Traveling Aunts”. She really gets us. And yes, this is the same group who made the pilgrimage to Hugo, Colorado to discover our roots back in June.

Of course we all accepted and selected the last weekend in September to visit so we could enjoy the fall colors while we were up in God’s country. Renee and her husband, Mike, are the Godchildren of Charlie Parker, a former NFL and Bronco football player back in the 1960’s, and they acquired the cabin from him and his wife this past year. We affectionately call it the “Parker House”.

(Renee on her front porch reading a good book!)

When we drove up to the little cabin in the woods, we were greeted by several deer in the front yard – our welcoming party!

Renee gave us a tour of the beautiful house and we all fell in love with the sunroom in the back and the gorgeous view of the valley below.

We decided this was where we were going to have our “charcuterie” and champagne. Sweet Melody provided all the food and champagne and educated me on what a “charcuterie” means, which I think is a fancy French word for snacks.

While we ate, drank, laughed, and as Melody said, began our silliness, I put our dinner in the oven. Chicken Cacciatore, of course! I know nothing about champagne, but we finished off the Veuve Clicquot Brut in record time, and Melody promised to bring two bottles when we meet again! Then it was on to dinner with fine wine, and a dessert of more silliness and laughter.

I don’t know what time I got to bed, because when you’re in the mountains time ceases to exist. When I woke up the next morning, the first thing I saw was this sign. I thought this was good advice and decided to take it.

It was foggy in the mountains that morning as we lounged around and drank our coffee by the toasty little fireplace in the den. Renee and Lila rustled up a fabulous breakfast while Melody and I roamed around the place. I had my trusty walking stick in case I wanted to hike a bit before breakfast, but the fog was too thick, and Renee reveled us with stories of “bears in them thar’ woods”, so I decided to forego any hiking on this trip.
It was with sad hearts that we packed up later that day and headed back to our homes on the Range. But, I will return soon, possibly in the Spring. I discovered a little writing nook in the den. A desk and chair snuggled up next to a big picture window showing off the mountains, valleys and wildlife. The perfect spot to write, undisturbed and inspired, about the next adventures of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood of the Traveling Aunts!!