Girl-power day in Denver

I proclaimed Today Girl-Power Day: seeking inspiration and motivation in all my activities to refresh and renew my energies as I doggie paddle through this job-search-thing.

So of course I . . .

1. Got a manicure

2. Devoured a homemade poptart or "popster" at a new bakery (to me): Sugar Bakeshop

3. Was enlightened by a visit to . . . (*see below for details)

4. Perused the shops at Cherry Creek North, store and restaurant lined streets all decked out in the finest fall leaves.

5. Devoured a hamburger at  the Cherry Cricket with BACON--true girl power food.

6. Went halfsies on a Bread Pudding Cupcake at Big Fat Cupcake

7. No girl-power day would be complete without a chocolate or 2.

*but back to  number 3

On Pennsylvania Street in the Capital Hill area of Denver, majestic, historic, brick, stone, victorian, modern, restored and reinvented homes, offices, churches and coffee shops stand side by side shaded by wise leafy trees.

One building, one former residence was the centerpiece for this girl-power day!

From 1894 until her death in1932 the "Unsinkable Molly Brown" lived here. Fun facts I learned on the tour:

• She learned 5 languages as an adult and spoke them fluently
• She worked to create the first juvenile court system in the nation
• She founded one of the first humane societies in the nation, The Denver Dumb Friends League
• No one ever called her Molly.  She went by Maggie and/or Margaret. The newspapers got her name wrong after the sinking of the Titanic and again when reporting her death. But Molly rhymes with more pleasant words than "Maggie" so the error was perpetuated in the musical "the Unsinkable Molly Brown"

Go girl!

The Wild West

First stop Maddox Ranch House in Brigham City, Utah where the beef is raised outback and served in large portions, the parking lot is full and the log cabin interior screams down home cookin'. My mom and I shared a 12 oz New York Strip Steak served with squishy fresh rolls and corn pones (and raspberry butter!), soup or salad or seafood cocktail, your choice of potato (baked please!) and steamed vegetables. I don't like cooked carrots but I could eat bowl after bowl of these. And then a homemade rootbeer. Oh how I could take another one of those RIGHT NOW.

Then rolling rolling rolling, with our extra full tummies, through northern Utah to Idaho

We stopped for the night in Pocatello, Idaho. Oh darn, we missed the entertainment on July 14th: Midget Wrestling, seriously?!

Next Stop: Idaho Falls, Idaho. As my mom and I were getting out of the car a senior citizen dressed in red plaid sporting a gun holster was waving his handgun outside his truck. I threw my arm across my mom and said, "wait, do you see that guy with the gun".

My mom replied, "yes, I think I just heard him ask his wife 'do you think it's ok to take this in the store with me or should I leave it in the car?'" Well, he left it in his car, just laying on the front seat. After reluctantly following him into the store he turned to me with the broadest grandpa grin and a twinkle in his eye saying "did you see that crazy guy out there waving around the gun". Yep folks we're in Idaho. But not even a gun can over shadow the ice cream at Reed's Dairy. Again the cow's are outback. I had a softball sized small of a scoop of chocolate, oreo, marshmallow and peanut butter cup heaven called Mom's something or other. Sorry I can't remember. I would take another scoop right now, right along with the aforementioned root beer!

Then on to Rexburg, Idaho for a trip down memory lane. I spent my first 2 years of college here. So much has changed (see left) and so much has stayed the same.

Last Stop: Twin Falls, Idaho. I've been looking for a potato ricer with zero success, because I refused to pay $40 for the only option available at a certain store. Well at Rudy's they had 3 options--bonus. And my favorite was the most economical $14 option--double bonus.

Twin Falls has a wee bit of shopping and some spectacular scenery. Even in the middle of summer when the water level is low the views of Shoshone falls are breathtaking.

A Bathroom Makeover

An update from Lehi UT a couple more trips up my sleeve, traveling withdrawals, my iPad working overtime as Meg's escape from her brothers, road trips, gelato making, a lot of unknowns, my new favorite painting gadget discovered while working on a show stopping (if I say so myself) bathroom redo and about that bathroom redo . . . my sister Christy and I worked our magic. Ok it was mostly Christy. I offered my consultation services and provided some manual labor. You can see all the pics here House of Normandy

An update from Denver

Yes, I'm back in the U.S.A with a lot of extra luggage and one gigantic carry-on of mixed emotions.

My first stop in America was Washington D.C. And now I'm in Denver, Colorado. The last month has been insane-o: lack of internet access, fellow travelers ill, a night without my luggage, general anxiety about the end of my trip, a very full heart, and overall amazingness. I have a lot of catching up to do sharing my travels in Europe and here in the States. Yes, that means more blog posts forthcoming starting with...

Breakfast at Snooze...2 days in a row. Snooze is a Colorado based breakfast/brunch eatery (who now has a stop in San Diego!). So, those pancakes from left to right: Key Lime, Pineapple upside down cake, sweet potato. Not pictured: One of the best breakfast burritos ever (according to Tawnya), english muffin bread pudding with raspberry preserves, housemade chicken sausage, and brioche french toast filled with mascarpone and topped with strawberries. All shared with my college roommates, Amy and Tawnya. I wish I could say we were carb loading for the open tryouts. But there are no contestants in this picture.

Only in this picture. We caught this guy during an interview for an upcoming taping.

Instead our breakfasts (not to mention our fried fare from H Burger) fueled our shopping and strolling down 16th street

past the big bear

And to the Denver Art Museum

The best part though--hanging out and talking as if our late night card games and visit to Craigo's were just last week.

GerBeNeLux A-Z

GerBenelux = Germany + Benelux the tri-country area consisting of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. These events were recorded in April.
Averting our eyes in the red-light district in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Bicycles in Amsterdam

Canal ride in Gent, Belgium

Dizzy climb to the top of Cologne Cathedral Dome, Germany

Exits off highways are sometimes on the left in the Netherlands. Took a few "exits" to figure that one out.
F "(insert explitive) respect" said our neighbor with a a double fist pump to his chest when Amy and I returned from our water bike tour ALL THE WAY AROUND the lake instead of taking the shortcut we didn't know about in Vreeland, Netherlands

Ggggent. Our b&b host teaching us how to pronounce "Gent" in Dutch.
Hold the Chocolate!!!! I'm on overload!

Imagine the flower fields in full bloom, because they're not blooming yet
Jovial Cyclists stopped "us" and snapped our picture with them

Ketchup or Friet sauce with those fries. Both please!

Late night dorm room chats. Some things don't change after twenty years. Traveling with my college roommate Amy.
Muddy tunnels and castle mines in St. Goar Germany

Nice people only in Gent, Belgium

On the Road Again . . . our road trip song
Passionfruit ice cream is the perfect end to a four course meal at the castle.
Queen for the day at said castle

Red rope--a mile of it--leads us through Amsterdam to the relocated Van Gogh museum

St Agnes--the patron saint of single women. For all the single ladies out there this is for you

Trails in the Rhine Valley, Germany

Uno games accompanied by ants
Views

Views

Views

Waffles, of course in Belgium

Xylophone--ok not really , but there was a stylish string trio playing Pachelbel's Cannon on the street in Antwerp, Belgium

Yellow varigated, Blue Flowers, Gold polka dots and Neon stripes. A girl can never have too many scarves

Zero space left in the trunk of the rental car after all our shopping.

The Kindness of Scots

In 5 parts here is my attempt to convey how overwhelmed I am by the kindness of those I met in Scotland.

First Out in the country the roads are narrow and long and often desolate, but when I did encounter another car I could barely make out the color before it had pulled over into a turnout to let me by. It is almost a competition of sorts to see who can pull over first to let the oncoming traffic (or new friend) pass and then wave as you go by.

Those tight roads lead to places like this

and this

The lambies and cows are not so accommodating

Second To celebrate my birthday I booked a facial at a fancy Spa on Loch Lomond, but I had quite the time finding it. My navigation system never did. I pulled into a hotel and asked a passing lady for directions to the Carrick Spa. She explained it was back up the road (at least a mile). And even though her directions were perfectly adequate she hopped in her car and bade me follow her. After pulling into the correct driveway she waved me on and turned back out onto the road going the opposite direction. So sweet, I had to fight back the tears.

Third The general respect even extends to restroom signs. No "men" or "women" or "triangles" or "circles" denoting genders here.

Fourth In Edinburgh I asked a woman standing at a bus stop if she knew where to find the airport shuttle. As she responded her neighbor jumped in, both fighting to help and apologizing to the other for interrupting, I was given directions to the best airport shuttle bus ever: a double decker with upper level front seats all to myself. Only £2. If you are going to Edinburgh Do NOT pay the £25 for a taxi from downtown Edinburgh to the airport. TAKE THE BLUE SHUTTLE BUS. The views are fantastic.

Yay double deckers

Lastly I had some exceptional hosts in Scotland. Finding myself in a pickle in Edinburgh, a kind couple let me be their first airbnb.com guest with only 30 minutes notice and then my lovely hostess in Croftamie 1.5 hours away, gathered all my gear stashing it and her 1 year old daughter in her car, she drove 30 minutes to deliver everything to me (except her adorable daughter) at the nearest train station.

Scotland is Beautiful