Well, it’s been almost eight months since our last blog update. Oops! So what have we been up to? In January, we found ourselves down in Tennessee redoing a kitchen for the lovely Beth Kirby (aka Local Milk). Then we headed back north to redo a big farmhouse in the Catskills. Photos of both projects on the way!
But more importantly, summer vacation! My mom and I had a chance to road-trip around Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico. Wow. What an absolutely breathtaking part of the country. It’s impossible not to take thousands of photos, but I did manage to edit them down some. Hope you enjoy as much as we enjoyed our time out there!
A couple of bison grazing in the early morning Yellowstone fog. We woke up super early one morning hoping to see some wolves, but instead saw a grizzly playing in a tiny little snow patch by himself (through someone’s scope from about a mile away!) and also saw a ton of bison. Not “buffalo,” apparently–that was just an early nickname since they looked a bit like true buffalo from other parts of the world (water buffalo, etc). Who knew!
The stunning view from the top of the stairs at Jackson Lake Lodge. The story goes that–back in the National Park system’s infancy, when the Tetons remained rather untouched and mostly in private hands, and the town of Jackson was in a sad state–John D. Rockefeller Jr. had a picnic lunch one day before this very same view. He was so blown away that he decided to buy up as much of the private land as he could (for later donation) and to build a hotel in just the right spot so that every visitor would be treated to the very same view upon arrival.
More from the Tetons, Bluff UT, the gorgeous Mabel Dodge Luhan House, and more after the jump!
The postcard Tetons shot. Not pictured: the blankets of wildflowers hugging Two Ocean Lake. A must-visit if you’re in the area in mid July and want to feel like you’re in a fairy tale.
Next, down into Utah, through Arches National Park, and eventually to Bluff, UT.
Bluff, Utah. A little town with a lot going for it. We were lucky enough to spend a few hours with Vaughn Hadenfelt, Anasazi expert and ruins/petroglyph/pictograph guide who knows Cedar Mesa like the back of his hand. If you’re ever nearby, do yourself a favor and book a backcountry tour with Vaughn (Far Out Expeditions). He’s a real character and couldn’t be a nicer guy.
Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde.
Hot-spring-hopping route-planning breakfast.
Abbey Road reenactment courtesy of some horses just outside Durango.
Breakfast nook at the adorable El Rey Inn, Santa Fe.
Legit chili shop next to El Santuario de Chimayó, home of the blessed dirt.
Taos Pueblo.
Peeping Mom at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House in Taos. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. You can’t get a better breakfast for two and a more beautiful hotel for around $100 per night. There were so many gorgeous corners everywhere, I couldn’t stop taking photos.
And that’s all I’ve got. Next stop, Boulder and a few CO 14ers!
Glad to see you guys back on the web! (have been waiting forever). The Doylestown house is coming along……slowly. (I’m now hiring people to do stuff because I’m burnt out).
Anyways- the pictures of your out west trip are awesome! I just started a new job, hence no time off till Dec.- but I can dream, and those pics are certainly inspiring.
Keep up the good work and keep posting!
-Heidi
So good to hear from you, Heidi! We think about you every so often and always mean to check in, but as you can see from our infrequent blog updates…. We should have lots of new work up in the next week or two though.
Def get out west as soon as you can! It’s so easy and so so beautiful. My mom’s been dying to go back since the second we left. We’re actually going to Yellowstone for a few days over Christmas.
Best of luck with the house! Can’t wait to see how everything turns out.
-Percy