An ALARMING Metaphor

What is WITH you English-speaking humans and your ability to come up with the most ALARMINGLY inappropriate metaphors?! While I was Googling myself yesterday (don't act like you don't do this), I found this article towards the top of the front page. Horrified, I clicked the link, and it turns out, they were just talking about some jerk filming an open forum meeting at a library or something. I tried Googling the phrase "armadillo on fire" to find its etymological origins, but all I found were some upsetting videos on YouTube and more links to the above blog post.

I certainly hope that their Claire the armadillo wasn't harmed in the writing of their sensationalist story.

Nikki Post: Idaho Springs

While I definitely need to take Claire out on more adventures, this particular outing need to be exclusively for just me and Steve. We celebrated our five-year anniversary the first weekend of January by driving north to the mountains to Idaho Springs, Colorado. Our ultimate destination was the Indian Hot Springs and their healing mineral waters. We shared a private bath, and it was heavenly. I'd love to go back and try a mud bath or maybe spend time in the geothermal caves. (The caves are segregated by gender, and Steve wanted us to be together since "it was our anniversary." <3 <3 <3 ) We stayed at a small inn and dined at Tommyknocker Brewery, where I had the most delicious roasted red pepper soup I've ever had and where Steve drank their home-brewed root beer. We watched some football and eavesdropped on snow bunnies who were stranded in town because a snow storm closed I-70 heading back to Denver. The next morning, Steve and I walked around main street after having a healthy, hippie breakfast at a local coffeeshop. Everything was so beautiful in the new snow. I'd love to go back to Idaho Springs and explore some more.

View of the mountains from across the street from our hotel, the Columbine Inn

View from the front of our hotel

 

 

 

There was a small table and two chairs tucked into the trees outside the hotel. I thought it was so romantic! If only it hadn't been snowing; maybe I could've made Steve eat a midnight snack there with me. ;)

There's something so beautiful about snow piled precariously on tree branches.

The next set of photos were taken on Miner Street, which is essentially the main street in Idaho Springs.

 

Relaxin' on main street

This "door to nowhere" is in an alley behind Miner Street. I just thought it was so ridiculous to have a door and a doorframe leading only to the roof of a building. I wonder if there was more to this building back in the day?

Bridge that lets Miner Street travel over the creek that runs through town.


The aforementioned creek, which I think is named Clear Creek, although it's not clear from the Google map. If you click on the image, you can see it full-sized and see how the sun streaming down was causing the water to steam up through the ice!

Next to the creek is an old locomotive, located behind City Hall and alongside a water wheel trail. (We couldn't check out the trail because the snow leading to it was too deep. Another time, perhaps.)

The train is in beautiful condition, despite its age.

Like I said, I can't wait to return in the spring and do some more exploring of the trails along the water and also take a tour of the local mine! There are so many good restaurants up there, and Idaho Springs is so close to so many of the ski resorts that we might not wait until things thaw out to visit the town again.

Nikki Post: Shameless Self-Promotion

Way back at the end of autumn, Steve and I drove up to Echo Lake Park on a chilly, breezy day to take pictures and revel in the glory and beauty of nature. Maybe we had also been camping the day before. I can't remember now; it was quite a while ago. We took some photos and ate a sandwich (Steve) or chips and hummus (me) with numb fingers, hiked around for a bit, then eventually succumbed to the cold and drove home. Unfortunately, the road to Mount Evans had JUST closed a few days before for the season. (Snow falls up there MUCH sooner than it does in Denver because of the altitude.) So there wasn't much to see. I hope that we get a chance to go back in the spring/summer to explore more of the area.

I posted some of my photos (the ones without me mugging for the camera) to my Facebook Fan Page. Please take a look and feel free to comment if you want. I always enjoy feedback/praise. Good for my self-esteem, and it reminds me why I continue to take photos and post them on the internet. :) (PS: If the link doesn't work, please comment below so I can fix it.)

New Family Member

Hiya! Quick blog post about a new addition to my family.

This new member of our family came courtesy of Steve as a Christmas gift for Nikki:

His name is T-Rex, and in addition to having his own Tumblr documenting his adventures, he also has his own comic strip (that he shares with a couple of his dinosaur friends). He's ENORMOUS, and Nikki's made me promise to let him occasionally be featured in some of my travels.