Livin' the Dream!

January 18, 2016

I (Betty) had the day off today and spent the day writing notes, doing a little art, and generally just relaxing.  It felt really good after a  busy weekend helping cook for a women's scrapbooking retreat.

Letters are fun to get!  If you wrote to me, expect a letter soon!

Here are some shots of the food we had this weekend.  I am having to go easy on all the delicious food!

Mary, the cook, with the 15 gallon mixer named Ick-a-bob!

Best cinnamon rolls ever!

Fruit kabobs stuck in half a purple cabbage.

I try to get a walk in every day.  The views and the altitude are breathtaking!  

Necessities for taking a walk: sunglasses, boots, chapstick, and lots of water.  Did I say sunglasses? For all my Indiana friends, that's because of all the sun . . . every day!  Vitamin D just by walking out the door!  And when the sun is out, it is warm, really warm.  Even though the temps may be in the 20's, all you need is a light jacket and a hat . . . and boots.

Here are some of the views I see on my walk:

Emmental Lodge

Blue, blue sky!   I just can't get enough of this blue sky.

Seeing all this natural beauty reminds me of a song:

"Creation is a song

A song that we can sing

A sacred gift from God

Let's join the harmony."

Jonathan still makes popcorn every Sunday night!

Jonathan's new ride . . . what he always wanted.  A four-wheel drive pickup with chains and a blade!

And last, but not least.  The camp has provided for all our needs except one thing: 

Margarine?!!  Say what?  I had to go buy us some butta!  I don't care what color bonnet that little lady is wearing, I am not a fan of all the artificial ingredients in margarine.  Give me butter . . . just cream and salt in a beautiful, creamy stick!  And for those of you who know what stewed crackers are . . . yes, I did buy Premium crackers, too.  I am set!

Now I am off to live the other part of my dream . . . cooking breakfast for 15.  And the only reason I am getting this blog done is because I thought I had my alarm set for 5:00 a.m. but it was actually 4:00 a.m. which I did not realize till I got out of the shower and was making coffee.  But, hey, I have an extra hour!

Food for thought:  We had dinner with a couple in their early 50's who are "living retirement in installments."  They live minimally and work for several years and then take time off to do what they want to do . . . like sail around the world and hiking the continental divide.  What would living retirement in installments look like for you?