And it begins...

I told you in yesterday's post that I had 1100 vacation pictures. I warned you actually. Well, there are actually 1400. Considered yourself very warned.

Last summer when my dad moved from Oregon to Colorado he rented a cabin in the mountains with, um...an outhouse. Yep, no running water. After he was here at Christmas he told us to come visit anytime. Well, I'm afraid I'm going to need an indoor bathroom in any vacation destination. A call this spring told us they had moved. Oh happy day! We started talking about a trip.

Growing up living in Colorado for the summers, I feel like it's a part of me. My second home. It's prettier, cooler, and not as flat as my Oklahoma home. I couldn't wait to get there.

We had no idea what to expect when we got to the house. The road leading to it had me worried.

We met my dad at the bottom of the hill and headed up.We never would have found the place following directions.

I was nauseous and leaning in as to not take our car closer to the edge of the drop off. Shawn was loving the curves and the need to 4 wheel drive. But when we got to the end, it was worth it.The view of Fort Collins from the porch made all the queasiness worth it.As the sun went down the view got even more spectacular.But before the sun set we had a quick tour. The cabin was built over 30 years ago and has seen many additions. It all seemed to flow together quite well though.The master bedroom.The view of the living room from the front door. The paned glass door went into the guest room.The girls loved sleeping on the loft bed with the view of town outside the window.Shawn and I shared an air mattress on the floor.

Leaving our room you could see the stove and the glass blocks of the bathroom. And yes, the walls don't go to the ceiling. 'Nuff said.The galley kitchen with the antique stove I coveted.The dining room with its wall of windows.And the stairs leading up to the master bedroom.We also got a tour of the garden that Dad, Elena, and many woodland creatures enjoy eating out of.While outside we also saw this. The old outhouse.

Thank goodness we didn't have to use that. Especially since one night I ate half a watermelon.

What? Who ate half a watermelon? No one I know. The sign on the door was a Christmas gift from me.Years ago while driving through rural Oklahoma my dad decided to follow a 'historical landmark' sign. Leaving the highway and traveling for a while he finally saw the marker. It read,

A dead man was found lying in this gulch.

Yep, that's it. Not when, who, or why. I've mocked him about it for years.

And one last funny. After we'd marked dad's house in our cars navigation we saw this.Yep, he lives on Hernia Hill! After many up and down trips, I certainly believe it!