Hopping Around

Dear Mom,

You would have LOVED Telluride so much! Karen and I kept saying how we wished you'd been there. As much as I miss you, I know it makes you so happy that I enjoy spending time with your friends...and consider them my friends too. 

The first day, we had late afternoon cocktails and nibbles on the main drag... Then we moved on to There for Brussels sprouts and scallops. The sprouts were INCREDIBLE! 

I'd love to try making the sprouts...but apparently you need copious amounts of oil...and to spend the time painstakingly separating the individual leaves.

Another culinary highlight: lamb sliders with goat cheese, arugula and chutney.  Those I may try making on my own...and I may mix up a beet and quinoa salad too.

On Fridays, they have a market downtown, so we had fun poking around that. 

I got some FAB earrings from this lady's booth -- mine are similar to the ones on the left in the photo below.

We had so much fun hiking together! That KK is something else. She is fearless and fit!

Before I got there, she'd done the Bear Creek waterfall hike with her sister and cousin. That's one of the most popular trails, so I did it on my own one day.

And I took some new "feet pics" for the bathroom wall. I need to let the blog readers vote on which ones from my summer travels should make the cut. 

Midway to the waterfall, there's a spot where people stack rocks in this sort of improbable balancing act. It fascinated me.

I googled balance and found this quote, which I love:

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony." -- Thomas Merton

Balance is a big theme for me these days...along with the seasonal aspect of life. Stay tuned for more on those topics!

Debbie and Kerry joined us for two nights. What a treat! They were staying at the Thompsons' house in Gunnison, but they worked it out to join us for a bit. Just perfect, as we had an extra bedroom with their names on it.

And...now...back to THE FOOD!!!

Telluride has some amazing restaurants.

Karen and I ate at the Thai place twice; the second time was with Debbie & Kerry. You would have loved it. I know Thai food wasn't "your thing," but trust me, it was good stuff!! My mouth is watering again just thinking about it.

The wraps above were THE BOMB. I think the ones we got that first night were soft-shelled crab and tilapia? The owner make them daily by hand. WOWZERS. Karen said in the summer, the wait is ridiculous, but we loved being there in the off season.

Hilary's dad, "Mr. Ross" ("Lynsley, just call me Ross!") asked if we'd eaten at Cosmpolitan. Karen hadn't, so we made it a priority with the Edgils. Oh. My. Stars. Maybe the best meal I've had this summer?! And one of the best this year.

Appetizers: burrata (above) and "corn dogs"-- a breaded seafood sausage made out of lobster (and maybe crab? I should have grabbed a menu).

 Debbie's scallops. Holy Toledo. I think they're over corn and tomato risotto?

 Karen's lamb tenderloin (methinks...again...where's ze menu?).

 Kerry's duck over polenta...

 Another shot of the scallops, in case you missed them the first time!

 My "pork two ways" -- tenderloin and shredded, with peaches and horseradish mashed potatoes.

Just a stellar meal! It was the perfect ending to a lovely trip. We headed out the next morning. Debbie and Kerry had a car, so they dropped us off at the airport in Montrose. (En route, we drove by Ralph Lauren's ranch, and I googled pictures...phancy!)

KK and I were still talking gangbusters at the hotel, as we polished off the last of our wine and kettle corn.

Oh, yeah, and this was our view. Talk about going from the penthouse to the ****house!!

But it was perfect, and we snagged our early morning flight.

I'll close by "going full circle," just like you taught me to do with my writing:

You would have LOVED Telluride so much! Karen and I kept saying how we wished you'd been there. As much as I miss you, I know it makes you so happy that I enjoy spending time with your friends...and consider them my friends too.

Saudade,

Lynsley