Steamboat

On the way home, after 8 hours of driving one day (thank you Kim, for a place to rest our heads again!), which resulted in a jubilant wrestle-fest on the lawns of the Meridian Red Robin, and 12 hours the next, where Ben "Eagle Eye" Conlin discovered a tiny praying mantis in the grass of a rest stop to the fascination and joy of his brothers, we arrived in Steamboat Springs for a three night, two day stay before our final stop...home.  Aside from one rough night where no one seemed to think sleeping was a good idea, it was a bit of heaven in the Rockies.  

Summer in Steamboat is a place...
Of lazy winding rivers and butterflies on fingers.
Of wildflowers growing in a rainbow of colors painted across mountain meadows.
Of slow walks on boardwalks over marshland and perfect, warm summer winds.
Of listening to live music and hula hooping on the grass by the restaurant patio while waiting for dinner.
Of swimming for hours with the choice of three different pools for our water revelries.
Of natural hot springs cooled to comfortable by the chilly mountain river.
Of long nights sleeping with open windows.
Of blue skies and green grass-covered ski slopes, waiting for winter, glorying in brief sunny exposure.
Of easy-living and laughter.
A place that has a tight-fisted grip on my heart.