For as long as I can remember, our family has annually decorated the family plots at the Crawford Cemetery (on mom’s side).  Grandma, Aunt Kathi and mom purchased, created and placed most of the decor since the beginning of time.  Well – time as I know it – I suppose I should clarify.  (While grandma and aunt Kathi have gone to heaven and we decorate their graves, mom is still with me and probably would not appreciate being categorized in the same age bracket as Adam & Eve.)  We not only have flowers and pretty little touches, we put red white and blue flowers for the veterans and the cemetery plants flags for each veteran as well.  It’s beautiful.
 
As “travels” go, it’s not a long trip to Crawford.  It’s just about an hour from mom’s house in Delta.  I think it’s more about the tradition and remembering loved ones that have gone on before us.  Mom always does an amazing job with the décor and flowers.  I did include some pix of the flowers & décor from this year.
 
Also, there are a couple of really special family members that aren’t in Crawford but we still honor them.  My dad, Bill, and my sister-in-law, Amber (Adam’s wife, gone WAY too soon), are both still waiting at mom’s house.  We always do some pretty red white and blue tribute for each of them.
 
And this year, in just a few weeks as a matter of fact, we will intern my uncle Tom (ashes) to sit beside my aunt Kathi.  While we all know they are really reunited in heaven together (YAY!)  it’s nice to have a spot to honor them each year. 

Trivia time:
Where is Joe Cocker’s headstone? 
A:  Right next to our family!  Check out the pix of mom resting on the bench in front of his stone.  But remember – WE were there first!
 
So I hope you enjoyed this little peek into our annual tradition.  What’s yours??  Have a great summer 2023!


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What a great weekend!  Mom and I headed from Delta down to cousin's house by Ignacio.  Actually they live close to Alison, but no one except for those who live there know where that is.  Most folks don't know where Ignacio is.  Ignacio is the town where the Southern Ute Indian Reservation is in southwestern Colorado just about 25 miles southeast of Durango.  If you don't know where THAT is, just suffice it to say we went from central western Colorado to southwestern Colorado.

Leaving early, as I always drive over Lizard Head Pass avoiding the dreaded Red Mountain Pass (no guard rail), we made it to Durango in a record 3 and 1/2 hours.  Even stopping a few times along the way to... take a break.  (yeah - that sounds better than "to pee")

Since we were early for our lunch date with Adam G. Swanson (the very famous rag time pianist), we headed over to Honeyville.  We LOVE Honeyville.  Of course great honey, but also wonderful things made from honey too.  This time we snagged more lip balm, apricot habanero jam and some grapefruit honey sugar scrub... mmmm.  If you ever make it to southwestern Colorado, try to stop and visit.  They have lots of cool things to see and buy.  (do a tasting of some honey wine and honey whiskey when you visit)

Lunch with Adam G. was way too fun.  Met him at the awesome Nayarit Mexican restaurant and had a fun visit.  A couple of margaritas too!

Now onto cousin's house.  Very rural location in the country on his hay farm.  About 15 minutes outside Ignacio with pretty views, gorgeous green fields and deer roaming all over.  Rumor has it there's a mountain lion in the area as well - so be careful with the pets and small kids.  (no joke)

Dinner was a treat at the Mill Street Bistro in Bayfield.  Delicious!  Apparently they have a new menu weekly with local, seasonal ingredients.  I enjoyed the Pear and Brie Salad which included walnuts, dried cherries on a bed of spinach.  Mom had the Cajun Pasta entree and we all shared the Pineapple Pear Upside Down Cake for dessert.  STUFFED.

Saturday brought a rainy day complete with cooler temps.  We were fortunate though, it meant cousin didn't have to go out and irrigate all day.  So we played the card game, Cover Your Assets.  What a hoot!  We laughed and enjoyed family.

Saturday evening we got to enjoy a small town tradition:  The FFA Oyster Fry.  FFA is Future Farmers of America, which both cousin's kids are involved in.  The Oyster Fry is Rocky Mountain Oysters - just to clarify for those who might be wondering where on earth we get oysters to fry in landlocked Colorado.  The kids took money at the door, served, cooked and cleaned up for the dance that ended the party.

Sunday afternoon, mom and I headed into Durango to watch Silent Sundays with Swanson.  Yep, our bud, Adam G., plays the score for an actual silent film.  I wasn't quite sure what to expect - never having (ever) sat through an entire silent movie before.  I can tell you I did NOT expect to laugh out loud several times!  The film was Buster Keaton's "Our Hospitality."   Along with the "funniness" of the VERY OLD movie, the piano accompaniment made it a great experience.  We sooooo absolutely recommend getting to one of these events if you get the chance.  A great opportunity to enjoy a little slice of Americana.

Back home on Monday reflecting on the fun we had.  All this to say, even if you can't travel the world, go where you can and enjoy what is there.  Mom and I have certainly been blessed to see lots of places - foreign and domestic - but we always try to enjoy wherever we land and the local fare.  Even in your own town, what is a "tourist attraction" that you've never visited?  Why not?  So go this weekend or some evening.  Maybe they even have a locals price.  You don't have to be rich to enjoy travel, maybe travel is just down the block from your house.  Remember:  Travel is the only thing we buy that makes us richer.  And if you can enjoy it for free (or cheap) you are money ahead!!  Cheers!