Family reunion in Colorado

There's nothing like 20 of your closest relatives congregating in your adopted home town to mess up a person's blogging rhythm. It's actually been over a week now, but it's taken this long just to recover and get back to the regular rhythm.



From July 3 - July 12 there was the largest congregation of Schoenbergs pretty much ever. My mom, Oma as the younger generation calls her, is the matriarch and it was her idea to get everyone together. It would have been great to wait a year until our cabin was done, but when your 82 year old mother asks everyone to get together, it's hard to tell her to wait. Next was the 6 "kids" from my generation - Jannie, Susie, Steve, Ed, Jeff, and me - spanning 15 years with me as the baby of the family. All of us are married except Steve and all brought our spouses except Jeff (Priscilla had to work), so Don, Allan, Susan, and Alex added 4 more. Then the younger generation of 10 kids ranging from 28 to 6 - Lisa, Melanie, Sam, Zack, Hannah, Holly, Leah, Allison, Charlie, and Aidan. A total of 21 all in all. Amazingly complete except for Priscilla. Susie's friend Amy, who lives in Ward was the one exception - we'll just photoshop Pris' face onto Amy's body in all the group photos.

People came from Illinois (Urbana and Roscoe), Wisconsin, Missouri, Germany, California, Connecticut, and Texas. Some via plane, but most via car - taking interstates 70, 80, and 90. Once here lodging was distributed between the Boulder Outlook, Nederland Best Western, Arapahoe Ranch Cabins near Eldora, the Sundance Inn south of Ned, camping on our Land, and bunking at Amy's house in Ward. People arrived from July 3-6 and left July 8-12.

Trying to figure out "The Plan" was the theme for the week. Some options had been presented prior to everyone getting here, but there were always the details to figure out: who was coming, who wasn't, what car, what time, what would we eat, etc. This was all made more difficult by an almost complete lack of cell phone coverage. During the days there was a fair amount of splintering into different levels of activity and non-activity. But at night we were able to get an almost complete group together almost every night. Across the week we did a lot of hiking, but also rafting, horsebackriding, swimming, shopping, a parade, fireworks, eating, and a trip to the rodeo.

A pictorial rundown of the week is here: http://picasaweb.google.com/tkdelf/SchoenbergReunion2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCOK1lL2htqScxQE#. More individual blog posts to follow on some of the individual activities.

Who is more likely to get struck by lightning while hiking?

In the two weeks that we were in Boulder, I'm not sure that there was more than a day or two that did NOT have a thunderstorm at some point in the afternoon. Typically we finish up work around 3:30 local time just as the clouds are swirling in grey, green and black over the swaying trees and jagged mountains in a classic impression of a Tolkein setting for impending doom. After a few days of wisely avoiding this weather with tame pursuits like shopping I'd had enough. I wanted to climb the Flatirons and I wasn't going to let a few spooky clouds stop me. Nor would I let my whiny husband's complaints about running and hiking on the same day keep me down. So we did headed for Chautauqua park at 3:30 with a 5:00 curfew to get Wee. The hike up the Flatirons is, of course, not flat at all. Even the meadow at Chautauqua is fairly steep. But a good hike with good views through meadow, through woods, across a few scree fields, and finally up to the slanted rocks that give the area its Flatiron moniker. This is one of my favorite hikes, not just for the speed of getting up fast and its proximity to downtown Boulder, but also because of the variety of people on the trail. The mixture that I enjoy the most is the level of equipment that people have - hippies and college kids with no shoes, climbers in full gear, and classic hikers in the latest fashion. We're clearly not true Boulder people yet because we're mixes of our own wearing cotton shorts, but Gortex hiking sneakers. But having our dog with us gave us a little local mountain cred. Rory held her own even over some of the steeper, almost stairs like sections up on the top. She doesn't yet have her Boulder off-leash tag, so she had to stay on leash rather than chasing the chipmunks and big mule deer we saw on the way. Obliviously she didn't even notice a snake she sat on. Luckily the rain mostly held out just providing a nice light sprinkle on our way back down. The thunder boomed ominously in the distance as we first did the math and physics to determine the proper formula for lightning to thunder timing to distance. Then we debated which of us was more likely to get struck by lightning while hiking across the meadow. Alex is taller, but he presumed that I was waterier (based on absolutely no evidence, but turns out that muscle has more water than fat, so I'll take that as a compliment), so who knows.

Perfecting campfire cooking

The very first day we bought the land of course there was 6 inches of snow, but we wanted to "live" on the Land which included making food. I don't remember exactly what we tried to cook, but I remember that we burnt the crap out of whatever it was. Next chance we had we bought a gas grill to make life easier. The grill has served us well grilling veggies, breads, and animals of all kinds and even heating up water and side dishes on its little burner. After that first campfire cooking experience we were scarred and only used the campfire to toast many a perfect marshmallow using awesome telescoping rotatable forks. This weekend and last we spent several hours around the campfire on both Friday and Saturday nights and a little during the day too. We collected wood of all sizes, started fires with dry conditions and wet, we stoked the fire high and kept it going at a slow burn. Then, just as we were about to start cooking hamburgers, veggie dogs, and corn for David Smith's family and ourselves around 7:30 Saturday evening, the gas on the grill ran out. Uh oh. Hardware store was closed. Thankfully David had a small coleman stove and the hamburgers went on there. But it was too small. We looked at the campfire. It was time to step it up. I got some rocks and placed them around the already burning fire at just the right angle and placed an inherited round grill grate over the rocks. I knew from that one previous experience and a fair amount of research that I didn't really want a fire, I wanted slow burning coals. In my previous grilling experience the only way to make coals if from the charcoal that comes in black briquettes from a bag and is doused with lighter fluid. But I also had the image of those late night slow burning embers and that's what I tried to emulate. So I pushed half of the already started fire under the grill grate and there were some coals. And lo and behold it worked!!! The foil wrapped sweet corn was very forgiving, but it was definitely cooked, even having some carmelization in certain areas. I did it!!! I cooked on real fire!!! Two and a half years after that first attempt and I'm a mountain person now! Now time to perfect the craft. Over the next day or so, I realized I could keep those coals going with inch diameter short sticks which are luckily in huge abundance on the Land. We toasted bagels the next morning just to prove that real cooking could actually be done. I still think we'll fill up the propane tank at the next possible opportunity, but the possibilities for camping in different fire pits on the Land without the grill have just opened up. I can't wait to go back.

A little mountain music

The mountains are always famed for their music. I guess people kinda had nothing else to do so they entertained themselves with song. Our first real foray into the mountain music scene was accompanying my sister Susie's friend Amy to her Marimba class. Really? Marimba? What even is that? We drove up Ridge Road north of Nederland to the house where Amy's Marimba band meets. First of all, the house was amazing. It was set on a long drive all to itself. Modern and angular with gorgeous views of the mountains from a nice open porch that had hummingbirds nesting along strings of christmas lights. The back room of the house was surrounded by windows pulling in that view. Its curve and high ceilings made a perfect room to support the 10 or so xylophones of various sizes that made up the marimba band. The sounds of something like Under the Sea from the Little Mermaid let us know that the band was already playing when we walked up. I was surprised at the variety and size of the different instruments. The bass had keys that were maybe 6 inches or more in width, the next smallest was the baritone that Amy was playing for that first song, then tenor and I assume an alto and soprano. The owners of the house were also the craftsmen who had made the instruments. In addition to marimbas, the room contained mountain dulcimers and hammer dulcimers all around that had also been made in house. The music blended simple tone combinations and rhythms from each individual instrument into a really complex symphony with a great beat when all put together. As soon as we walked into the room, Wee sidled right up to Amy and started dancing. The beat was contagious and we all had to move a little at one point or another. And this is what the mountain people do all the time.

The other easy place to find music was in Boulder. Starting with ZimFest at the Boulder Farmers market with a little more marimba style Zimbabwe themed tunes. Then to Band on the Bricks on the Pearl Street Mall. Pearl Street sometimes reminds me of the one Gilmore Girls episode where Stars Hollow is invaded by minstrels - except it's always that way. We ran into no less than 5 banjo players on our way to the main band that had its own banjo, a punk looking lead singer and a couple southern style guitarists. Just next to the main musicians stage was where the break dancers hung out. Wee and Amy were particularly captivated. Wee has always loved break dancing and wouldn't surprise me if he was one of those kids in a few years. Amy was just comparing these kids and their head spinning passion to her own snow/skateboarding kids. A block or so past this stage was where we encountered a bell and suspender clad group of people who were clearly getting ready to do some kind of traditional dance (who else wears suspenders?). But they were also carrying sticks. What? But then they started their Cotswald England based dancing and showed us that sticks are not just for martial arts anymore. Accordian, drum, and fife supplied the music as they danced clacking and waving their sticks in synchronicity. More mountain fun I guess.

Weapons training begins

For years now Alex has been a little bored with Tae Kwon Do. Really it's amazing that we've stayed at it as long as we have. Alex wants to learn something new. He wants weapons. Over Memorial Day we were at the Boulder Creek festival and ran into a few martial arts studios. One of them seemed especially professional and friendly. They even called me back once immediately and then again once they knew we were in Boulder. Monday afternoon while Wee was still at camp Alex and I had our first weapons martial arts class. The first decision was what weapon to choose - broad sword, nunchucks, or bo staff seemed to be the leading contenders. I couldn't imagine myself ever really coordinated enough for nunchucks and bo staffs seem too big for a little elf like me, so broad sword it is. They actually had three different swords which pretty much used the same movements, but were different weights. Alex took the heaviest version and I took the mid-weight version. I almost went for the light and floppy one that makes cool noises whenever it moves, but they said it was a little sharp even on the back. I could just imagine myself half cutting my hand off by accident and I handed that one to the instructor. So there we were pretty much in street clothes hiding looking outwardly like total amateurs. We giddy and giggly at the thought of actually using a sword just like we had seen TKD students giggle at punching and kicking on their first days. The drills started in front of a mirror with a few slashing motions with the wrists kept stiff. I thought of how floppy my wrists often are in tennis, but thankfully in martial arts there are no balls sent awry making my faults blatantly obvious. Just do 50 or so out to in and in to out. 50! That seemed like a lot for the first day, but we're black belts we made it through. Ok, now switch the sword to your left hand. Excuse me, what? We actually had been playing tennis earlier in the day so our right hands were channeling that experience somewhat, but left hands had no clue where to even start. But start they did and, although awkward, it kinda worked. After all in the Princess Bride didn't Wesley fight left handed for the first part of that epic sword battle? Enough with these warm-ups. Time to learn a form (pattern to us). Sword at side, unsheath, sitting stance, push out and support, step to the side with sword version of outer forearm block, inward slash, downward hack with kiyay, and then wipe the blood off in a good extended very kung fu like stance. Awesome. We'll definitely be back.

Sunday afternoon in Denver

Our weekend on The Land actually ended with an invitation to Athena's 5th birthday party. Athena is David Smith's daughter.

I met David when I did some IMT training at Shriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs in like 1997. He had just started working at the Storm Colorado office in Denver and this was one of his first business trips. That trip we had a fabulous dinner in downtown Colorado Springs teaching David the wonders of dining on the company dime. We also hiked a little around Garden of the Gods. After that trip we kept in touch during his time at Storm even though we were in different offices. I always enjoyed getting IMT questions from him when he was working in Italy and the UAE. And I distinctly remember the call when he told me that he had found Wyndell, the love of his life and now wife. We kept in touch even after we both left Storm. I would call him every year for Space Symposium, he had various stints in DC, and we would often get together on The Land. Wee loves having Athena to play with on the Land whenever possible.

So Sunday afternoon we headed down to David's house in Aurora. Although still in Colorado, Aurora is a very different place from Boulder. Aurora is the ultimate in suburbia and Boulder fights suburban stereotypes with everything it has. But we were there for Athena, David, and Wyndell not the scenery, restaurants, stores, or open space. It was interesting to go to a girl's party too. The theme was Tinkerbell and the girls all had wings while the boys had bandanas and other pirate paraphenalia. We were really shocked when the presents came out. No transformers, bakugans, weaponry, or science. Instead Athena and the moms oohed and aahed over an Easy Bake oven, a Hannah Montana barbie, and several princess themed presents. Wow. Totally different world. But Wee had fun playing and running around. We hung out and chatted about life. And Colorado showed that even Aurora is a little natural when a baby bunny showed up and chilled with us in the back yard for a while.

After the party it was a little late, but not so late that we didn't have time to detour through Denver and try out some big city gourmet food. I had a list of places that I wanted to go to, but apparently Denver closes at 8 pm on Sundays and it was just after that. But Table 6 said they were technically closed but could make something for us. We're so glad they said that. It is very rare as a vegetarian to get real imaginative, beautiful food; but this place had it. It was a no-brainer for me to order the vegetable bread pudding with roasted baby zucchini and patty-pan squash over a spinach puree topped with micro greens. Fabulous. Alex had lamb t-bone with a mustard sauce and cannelini beans - none of which I like. But I didn't care. I was happy with my own plate. Although Boulder has more restaurants than we could possibly try it was nice to find something good in a new place as well.

Father's Day hike near Como Creek

For actual Father's Day the plan was a hike again. Our intended destination was some sort of gulch or canyon or gully or gorge or valley off the side of Peak-to-Peak highway between the Land and the town of Ward. We didn't really know what it was, we just knew that people seemed to park there a lot and it looked pretty. Como Creek did show up on our awesome Boulder County map and was listed along with part of the Sourdough Trail, so it didn't seem completely crazy to pull off the side of the road and head for the really deep canyon. For some reason there were no people parked there on Sunday, so it took us a couple of tries to find the trailhead. Eventually there was a thing that looked a little like a road, but was blocked and had a thing that looked a little like a sign, but was blank. This must be it. In my impatience I went ahead a little, just enough to realize that although it was nice and warm in the sun on the top, it was significantly colder in the shade of the path. Sweatshirts required. So we headed down the trail. With all the rain we have been having we weren't surprised to see trickles of water crossing the path occasionally. Not really a problem to just jump over or walk around. Then there was one with some rocks to step on. Thanks to the person who put those rocks there. After a little while we came to a little campsite with a fire pit including an unopened can of soup. At this point the trail didn't end, but we had reached the stream and the trail continued on the other side. But again, thank you to previous hikers who had made a little bridge out of dead trees. Alex went first, then Wee (who was showing off the skills he'd learned in gymnastics), then Rory, then me. No problem.
We continued down the trail in a gorgeous, lush valley. We were surrounded by Aspens with the creek rushing along side. The walls of the canyon were pretty deep, but the floor was fairly even and soft.

But again the path crossed the stream. At this point the stream was rushing faster and the downed trees were higher. We found one "bridge" with a lot of branches for handholds and Alex found another smaller tree to use as a railing. Alex, Aidan, and I took the tree, but Rory thought swimming seemed like more fun. Mmmm. Wet dog. In any case we all made it across and continued down til we found a nice rock in the sun that was perfect for sitting on and having a snack. The fact that the rock was really big and we couldn't figure out how to get Wee and Rory down past it also made it a good turn around spot. So we headed back up the trail planting cherries along the way. Good father's day...