It was time to head back to camp. The drive from Palisade, Colorado, to our camp at the James Robb State Park in Fruita took less than thirty minutes. Both towns are conveniently located just off Interstate 70 making the drive quick and easy.
The four of us ladies sit in the vehicle in near silence with smiles plastered to our faces. A visit to Suncrest Orchard Alpacas, the day filled with wine tasting, laughter, treats, and the perfect Colorado weather was enough to send us into a perpetual state of euphoria overdose, if there is such a thing.
But our fun didn’t end there. We arrived back at camp about fifteen minutes after Al and my brother returned. While the ladies were out doing ‘girl’ stuff, the guys were out doing manly things with manly men and now they were doing manly things around camp…. chopping wood and preparing a campfire.
As we approached the picnic table, the sweet smell of deliciousness wafted the air. That morning before leaving for the wine festival, I baked brownies and started a pork shoulder in the slow cooker. The slow cooker was outside on the picnic table and the pork was slowly doing it’s thing while we were out having fun.
It wasn’t long before we were all sitting around the table indulging in pulled pork sandwiches with plenty of side dishes. If I recall correctly, a bottle or two of wine may have also been included with our meal 😉
After dinner, it was time for desert around the campfire. As we indulged in brownies and more wine, we discussed the events of the day. It was obvious why the ladies were smiling….the last two posts detailed our adventures, but what about the guys? Why were they smiling? Hum, we wondered……
They weren’t quick to share, but one look at my brother’s dusty, dirt covered vehicle told a tale; boys and their toys in the Colorado back country!
The rest of the night was spent around a roaring campfire, devouring homemade brownies, and sharing events of the day all beneath a star filled Colorado sky.
The girls were up early the next morning. They were greeted with freshly brewed coffee and warm cinnamon rolls. I know, I’m a great hostess!
Ashton’s car was still sitting at my brother and sister-in-law’s house. I’ll need to drive Ashton and Tasha over there so they can head home to Denver. Since this was Tasha’s first visit to Grand Junction, I opt to take a detour through The Monument on the way to my brother’s home.
Since I’ve already done so many posts in the past on The Colorado National Monument, I’ll jump right to the gals; they had a fabulous time taking in the sights and playing around during our 2 hour detour via Rim Rock Drive.
By noon on Sunday, September 22, we were saying farewell to Ashton and Tasha. Al and I would leave Colorado the next day meaning I probably won’t see my daughter until next spring. That’s where the whining began. Yesterday wine, today whine……
Live Laugh RV 
Lol@ forgetting about the wine part. 😀
The last pic looks like a smoke is coming from a volcanoe. And candid pics with the brave ladies!
Maybe, I shall plan an eat out to one of my travel destinations as well.
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Ingrid, I bet it was sad to leave your Ashton! Just think of all the fun you will have when ya’ll return to Colorado! I love the Alpacas! Your last photo is amazing! Beautiful shot!
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Ha! – loving your captures – such a HOOT:) I remember one dinner party a few years back – amazed the next morning when there was 10 empty bottles of wine on the counter – WOO WEE!!! Nothing Better Than Good Time and Hanging Out With The Peeps:) Happy Week!!!
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10 empty bottles? Well you have us beat. Yep nothing better! Thanks 🙂
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With a daughter on the west coast, and us on the east coast, I know exactly what you mean about the “whine”! It’s even worse now that there are two precious girls aged two and under! I hate saying goodbye…
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Oh gosh, that has to be difficult. Two little girls? I’m not sure my hubby could keep me away very long…..especially an adorable 2 year old. Hope you plan lots of visits 🙂
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So far, I have managed lots of visits. Life is amazing right now… we have 5 grandchildren under the age of 4. Our son Johnny has 2 little girls (18 mos and 2 mos) and his son will be four Saturday. They live an hour away. My whine is: I do wish the kids lived near each other!
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That pulled pork and brownies sounds too delicious, not mention the warm cinnamon rolls. All your pics are great, but it was the food part of your post that got me this time. 😀
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Oh thanks. I’m glad I got the taste buds engaged. Too bad we don’t have a widget for “smell a blog” 🙂
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That would be so great. 🙂
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This was a fun post, chock full of good times and great photos. A little whining is to be expected. 🙂
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Thanks…..can you smell the pork? I thought about posting the recipe but you do such a fine job in that department, I ‘d just send folks over to you….lol.
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C’mon! Post your recipe. I bet it’s delicious! 🙂
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Oh, its delicious…..I’ll think about it 😆
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Crock pots? Brownies? Cinnamon rolls? That’s not camping…I’m sure of it…why hadn’t I ever thought of those things before? Must have been because I didn’t have an RV! I’m so jealous!
I absolutely love your photos of you and the girls at Rim Rock Drive…they really share the excitement and fun of the whole trip!
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Oh, sounds like you’ve been camping with the wrong crowd 😆 I will admit, the RV does allow for some luxuries that would be a tad more challenging with just a tent.
I initially came up with posing for the rock pictures and then the girls took off with the idea. We sure laughed a lot.
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There’s no better way to start the day but with cinnamon rolls.
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Ah, I so agree….and you still make the best. Seriously, no joking….. as the Owl says to the Meerkat!
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It’s great to see you all having such fun. Your photos are lovely especially the last one. Love the action photos of the girls on the rocks. lol.
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Thank you and yes those girls had a lot of fun goofing around on the rocks and I had fun capturing 🙂
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That was truly family bonding and your camp looks very neat. I know those brownies are yummy, looking forward for some someday somewhere.
That last photo is perfect capture, love it.
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Thank you and whenever you’re ready to hit Colorado, the brownies will be waiting 🙂
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Thanks for the rock fix!! I just love those red rocks.
So glad you had such a wonderful time with your daughter. You definitely made some great memories. I totally understand how difficult it is to leave your daughter behind. We are leaving Tuesday. We won’t be together again until Christmas.
Beautiful photos! Looks like the girls had a great time.
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You welcome….love those rocks. The girls did have a great time and its always fun hanging with the daughter. Unfortunately, we won’t see her for the holidays….sigh! So this visit will just have to hold me over till spring.
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I whine every time we have to leave one of the girls. Must be a womanly thing.
So glad to read that y’all had a fabulous time. You made tons of memories to keep you going until next spring.
That last photo is so lovely.
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Thanks. A girls day out…..totally fun. Yep, its hard being far from the kids, but they seem to manage without mom around all the time….sigh.
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Sitting around the campfire, sipping wine, and discussing the day is one of my favorite things to do.
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As is mine. It doesn’t get much better 🙂
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Great post! Creating those wonderful memories with family are the best!! (Those brownies look delicious, too). –Linda
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Yes, love time with the family. Those brownies are yummy. I’ll be sure and make them when we get together in Colorado…..summer 2015? lol
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Is that cloud blowing a kiss at Ashton and Tasha to send them merrily on their way? Good memories to savor until next time….
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Ah…..what a sweet thought! Nothing like a Colorado sky and fond memories to cherish 🙂
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Wow! Look at those photos! Let’s talk about those photos! 😉
We had a great time at lunch yesterday! Looking forward to round two…
Jerry & Kim
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Awe thanks and likewise…..absolutely. Looking forward to it 🙂
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Looks and sounds like fun times, I’d have a smile plastered on my face too.
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Yep, fun and giggles!
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Goodbyes are so tough…but time is just flying. Before long winter will fade and Spring will show herself. I’m hoping the girls will hop a plane this winter and meet up. Nice to be just relaxing again…think I’ll try to make some sun tea… Even if only 54 out 🙂
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As you head further south you will be greeted by warmth and sunshine. Let the healing begin…..time helps.
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Wine, family, campfires and crock pots..all my favorite things! I love the “fun” photos of the girls hanging on for dear life!! Now, THAT is MY kind of fun!!! I do believe I will toast to you and your family tonight with my daily “red”…
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This was a day right up my alley. It just doesn’t get much better. Isn’t it wonderful to have kids we “like” and want to spend time with? On that note, have another glass of red on my behalf. I enjoy red wine but it doesn’t like me 😦
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This is such a heart warming post… it is always good to read about families having fun together… so many families just seem to disintegrate these days all heading off in different parts of the world and seeing each other so seldom… this post for some unknown reason just made me feel good… thank you..
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Aawww….thanks. When Ashton called and wanted to spend time with us and attend the Winefest, well lets just say, Al and I didn’t think twice about rearranging our schedule. We were suppose to spend two weeks in Utah exploring Arches, etc. The red rocks have been there millions of years and we can always visit where as time with family is precious and not to be pushed aside. Its priorities and for us its always family first 🙂
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I love that.. the arches are going nowhere and you have plenty of time to return…
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That last shot is beautiful! You just keep having fun out there 🙂
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I know, its a tough job. I’m just warming up the places for you and DH to visit 🙂
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Don’t think I haven’t been telling him! LOL
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At least you will have some fabulous memories to carry you through until next spring. Love your photos Ingrid, particularly that last one. 🙂
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Thank you….I like that last photo too. Its tough not seeing Ashton for such a long period but the trade off is I get to see Logan. Ashton in the summer, Logan in the winter; not bad 🙂
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Not bad at all. 🙂
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I would whine too. Looks like you all had a great time. Great photos. Like the wine bottle staging and beautiful blue skies.
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There’s nothing like a Colorado sky….so blue and clear. I love it. Perhaps you and himself should revisit 😉
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We definitely should. You make it look very alluring.
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Ah, I can see us now….four-wheeling the back country fashionably attired and make-up appropriately applied. Yes, we could indeed have tons of fun 🙂
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