Old Man Winter? You're not welcome.

Do you ever dread winter? I mean, truly, within the bottom of your heart, despise winter and all that it brings? This girl does. 


But my life right now, this very second, is delicious - let me try to describe to you exactly what I see at this moment in a small side-room of a coffee joint in downtown Leadville, CO called Provin' Grounds:

a blue mug of coffee holding a Bolivian Fair Trade Coffee 

several plants ranging in sizes are directly in front of me - from really tall stalks and pointy leaves, to ferns that look almost inviting to lay on (at least run across my face for comfort). some plants are in tiny pots and since my repertoire of plant naming is slim, I am at a loss for their names. one looks like a cactus. 

a window that overlooks "Main Street" although here, it's called Harrison St (and not for the president, although he has visited here). 


below the window is a really old heater - one made of steel with vertical rectangles that stick up from the ground. very old school, but it looks antique. i'm too lazy to get up from my comfy rolling chair to check out if it is indeed, putting off heat. 


beside me is a man, in his 50s enjoying a cup of coffee (in a mug that has Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on it, how serendipitous!). he has a book, reads a little then puts it down. he'll draw his pin out from his shirt and underline something in this mysterious book, ponder, then take a sip. he's up for another refill, wonder what kind of coffee drinker he is? any guesses? 


i can barely see outside secondary to the plants that take up the majority of the left side of the window, but i can see a small sign that says "CINEMA" and a small wooden building that, from the sign, says it shows movies. it looks similar to the cinema in Sanibel Island - small, quaint, and blends in delightfully with the town. 


but, here's what blows me away about my view right now. beyond the cinema sign, are mountains - and i'm not talking about the Appalachians (although that is home to me). i'm talking about stark, white, jagged edges that pierce the horizon. small flakes of snow float through the sky, although it has to be at least 45 degrees outside, blogging at 10,150ft in elevation will create that kind of atmosphere. i'm sure every peak has a name, the only one i can remember right now is Mt. Massive, no joke. maybe that'll get your mind chewing on how big these babies are. delicious, right? 

another couple has sat down where the 50s guy left - and life moves on. that quick. 

bikes, dogs, people dressed in layers with boots, big trucks and lots of firewood. i think i've summed up Leadville. 


one more thing, and then i'll stop being so random - i just witnessed a bumper sticker that might have summed up Leadville better than my lowly observations : We're here, because we're not all there. I love it! Perfect!  My weekend here is complete. 


Alas, my friends, Old Man Winter is coming and sooner than later I'm going to have to test out a ridiculous number of hand lotions until I find one that doesn't burn when I put it on my cracked, bleeding hands. Skis will top our trusty Jeep and we'll be Keystone bound; snow shoveling will ensue. The silver lining? Colorado has more than 300 days of sunshine per year - hence my red face after our 6 mile walk yesterday - and that makes me happy. Worth it. 


My Bolivian coffee is now cold, and down to the last sip. I feel rejuvinated and thankful for some time alone to reflect on my thoughts, regardless of how random they may seem. Blogging has provided me a creative outlet to do something that has always provided me satisfaction - writing. True satisfaction though, only comes from our Heavenly Father and that is something that I strive for daily. Living my life for Him not them. 


Thanks for listening - Love you, love wins!