Long "Holiday" Weekend

What a full and (mostly) glorious weekend!

 

Chris was off on Friday and friends of ours, Jess & Emily, were coming down to the city from Longmont.  We were able to meet up with them for breakfast in Cap Hill at a place one of Chris's friends has been recommending, Jelly Café.

 

Mmmmmm!!  Jelly is definitely worthy of the praise!  And now we know why there is always a wait to get a table!  I thoroughly enjoyed the Harvest Hash and coffee!  I only wish my portion had been bigger and that I had chosen the whole wheat toast over the sour dough.  The menu offers something for everyone and I will have to try a new dish next time! 

 

We "owe" Chris's friend, Jess, a meetup for brunch, when I can have bottomless mimosas! 

 

Jess & Emily were married last month, but we weren't able to make it back up to Longmont b/c Chris was required to work the whole weekend and I was still waiting on my brake repair.  It was awesome to see them here for a couple hours and to give them their gift! 

 

Saturday was sunny and warm for our trip to the Wild Animal Sanctuary, a bit north and east of Denver.  The Sanctuary was actually on our To-Do list from last year, but we didn't ever make the trip, which is actually a good thing b/c it is closer to Denver than Longmont.  This is a place filled with animals rescued from a variety of situations, to include bear, tigers, lions, porcupines and wolves.  For the experience, you walk a raised boardwalk, called Mile Into the Wild, over the acres of habitats.  We arrived just before 11.  The animals were either hunkered down out of sight or on the far side of their respective habitats, visible mostly thru binoculars (which I forgot to bring) and a zoom camera lens.  Maybe they needed it to be hotter to be up & about, active & playful?  Eventually, we did get better sights of the big cats, my favorites, when it started to become feeding time.  All of the animals seemed happy and content as they lay warming themselves in the October sunshine.  I just wish they had been utilizing their water features and rolling & jumping around with one another.  It was a gorgeous day to be out of doors, getting a little sunburn around my tank top!!

 

On Sunday, Jess & Emily came back down to Denver.  This time, we met at the Denver Botanic Gardens.  Chris and I had just become members and were thinking of making our first visit, weather-permitting, when we got the text from Jess!  We decided to meet at 10 as the forecast called for some rain after noon.  We were all psyched to see the Chihuly exhibit, even tho it was overcast.  As members, we can come and go at will, so we knew we would make a return visit on a sunnier day, regardless.  Well, our visit was shortened after it continued to drizzle and the temps were dropping.  We made a bee-line back to our place to cook up some pizzas and watch football.  Jess & Emily had decided to become members when they arrived at the Gardens, so we will all get the chance to see the gorgeous grounds all through the seasonal changes, the holiday events and the upcoming exhibits.  Chris and I will be going to see Chihuly at Night early next month ~ definitely bundling up and drinking plenty of warm liquids!!!

 

Jess & Emily left right after the Broncos game (a win, of course) and we settled in to watch our beloved Bears.  Who thanked us with a win over Atlanta!!  Da Bears!!!

 

We also caught the first episode of the new season of "American Horror Story ~ "Freakshow"!  Creepy!!  We like it!

 

It's super chilly, yet sunny (300 days of sunshine in Colorado!!) this Monday morning, Columbus Day. I think today's high (around 4PM) is about 56 degrees, a good 10 degrees below normal! Chris has the day off and is making us breakfast ~ a frittata!  I can't wait!  I'm pretty darn hungry and the smells coming from the kitchen are making my stomach growl!