What a treat to fly instead of drive the many miles to Colorado. This was Daisy's first trip in an airplane in her memory, and she behaved like a very grown-up girl (aside from the blankie). She wore her backpack without stopping and was very glad to have her own fold-down tray.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczjKKMhNFgF5wCblJBrlq0dZyWytUJjRCFMPHB9X_-qWfCDzbUpFDIxONmkYoIMDgbe1__wZLYTIJ2ENxeQBtPTaRIzai9923nGEj5jb_2s2SK4pLyA8dAQzK8e1LEh8x1xZy/s400/ski-3.jpg)
Giles didn't need a blankie to relax.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBcAPjOm1lwZA751XLJ3YND_co8nxnxvciwkwMHDfCn22xv8QB4edWvWMY8lRtgV148EtH1Kfhwx3SgQN1MTN8ASWtR9mfuuDtZgF_D-ogeGs1UrVpibbmXFfj4UfhHcHK6SZ/s400/ski-4.jpg)
Because of uber-generous family, we got to stay in a palatial house instead of cramped quarters. Giles had his own *floor*. Everyone had their own bathroom. Daisy was still sleeping in my space, though. That felt cramped.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAdYwq8gbkWZME7EGentTVMM10lsSY7BPeMYR2yCuW3VLG7hlVop0qDi5bJe9RXESsczq-DaNtpkiBvZGsCxJevH8HVVX2vZChmgHnH0EIYF5tmqAc_6WiXt8cHtNXGoofaaR/s400/COski0111-5.jpg)
We found ourselves astonished by the snow. Of course we had expected it, but we'd never *lived* it in such magnitude. Incredible beauty! And so cold!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRUOpQSLRaAUdcn6yMPFjNfLoV77OqphRaYHt7e0CGGRaeSGNK31n72L1xNnQb_6vcakL5vY72uCJXcAcsMtD8TPgzrtpqiFT6S_wdfx70vXvKP6ZagJcnOqOgG6MwA3ZBqed/s400/COski0111-6.jpg)
But sort of undaunted, we headed out to ski, some of us three times a day, as the slopes are lighted at night. I'll just mention here that I did *not* go skiing in the dark, as I can barely see at night, and I can barely ski. In fact, this photo is of my very first moment on skis, at my lesson. I did learn to ski, but I did not learn how to be not afraid while skiing down a mountain!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BE5nGvQBi108gfe2TksSe1nxlb_Ul9EgQA5A7nZj8HD5LgDaOV0RNAY0SPSY2sbC80kAbrnaJe4rC9aKJgJO6HFLZ59ZUObpSpyZAw85PJq24k9kMHRhZsRJtHtu95041uH_/s400/ski-8.jpg)
However, Clara was not afraid! All the kids are good skiers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4yJPqMyV-2uVQe_AGhcJOvgKVVmcu4Vdt7eWopiL8qBDx6VGDkNOUP6rY_IPWOU19QtQ_skptQ1dVcJuGW6749YX9Dsy2t_rYK5h7UBuZ-Ph4hO10XqAnKOmzmacrbTLIhLT/s400/ski-9.jpg)
Felix is a great skier. Giles, as you see, stuck with the snowboard. And a helmet, after the first day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kNqRLi9TThvJmioBLMRF6PKE0K1-rAdSJMEn7Rh4llCZSVLIJjk7BvuebEBNATT9j3ljry-LZYsWs9bxXj1EaDA8cQiPhMHYALNLzyvr_eyhWp3-JtTmRvGyIVHYcgZXisTW/s400/ski-10.jpg)
I still can't believe we would all go out to play in such cold. I mean, we're from the South! Good thing about the fireplace and the massive pile of firewood.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlr8ViG48lor9fHr3ymSATDWhPRFfBObcv6nOqddjg0nOh2Aa5xWjuLZ_SJ9m8Kspd69VEoUNVHQRH99D1Rnf2l6RxoxINIvxt_xMkaLp0KOdaTXmIJWNVOx1QN1Eo5MVQUprV/s400/ski-12.jpg)
Our inside time was grandly cosy, with beautiful views out every window.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZojJoRw-7i6Cyh_a5jMY4G5HeW3GPnQTzvovUsn-bbbfJwqDoXzJjmTprPnWFDsV5Geuy2uyAybczIC8hb9faM90tTwtS_XA2Fbd-gOWbRxIjMVbU0ssC0MXY6zRGVQG34tn/s400/COski0111-7.jpg)
Card games to play with grandparents.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaZq_j4uK2ksWCFophaAHj5lmBKYBmnICRzBjuKxX4CuDJWmd99XY2YBjeUEn5M9-xuAj_3-A1MeL6_m0vsl6etIe-nIcVD6g4HTnp6OExm8Tv65KACqFkubVOQEj1EIaFZ4J/s400/COski0110-8.jpg)
Good things to read.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYujnmwfjbRVhbfnwb0poFdS_5sHfJLan3eA0x4ehxEXY06gzM9xkSRCKbPwTdrayjMfXfegnzaKb0db2kBY51zlyo0KRX9yVwPc13uzNy8sfds0BpCgvC_PZ2EKdG33mFxyRG/s400/COski0111-1.jpg)
Stuffed animals to play with in the lamplight.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2UKXtPoPHDSm_Q8CdWTL6TzdupYqnY-4bnltSIc1bn7f0BETTSreUuhNLRsWZZuiSJ-jtzRr7Pj_2XSkC1kkzjAcHOSxHFcihF7rxhyphenhyphenYe1PYfkvaYyKc5f5n8HToCQH69dzF/s400/COski0111-2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZVruj0Z1FeE7bmPMzBUfliF-8xns_8hMEq9VOA604GCbwE5tOZ2efYjB36sgOBJy2LM8BDSoSpDfhGeH6t9W2W7Kv3g0mq6zqmNV-FMMN61Ia26McIJKdVbrRua5fXp7B8sA/s400/COski0111-4.jpg)
And something nice to knit!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUGOvzG0H_dfMlyc-fcoOaa-Xn9h9eW7vAu6zhAaQJFPa_5hegQVvJFJhWlEAqiwy3Y38YBKUKeuIypcJn2D_RKSkW7-eWAGzyRqsXnDbqOCY0TQr7GYx3V-5MGajbJJa6PAE/s400/COski0111-3.jpg)
On our way home, everyone a little tired. . .
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSYI9jzC6Q11LzpggSZKgt6u3KNYE5irHlng5YKkQJqCFXGBYmxpqQOnuEJMNfAqwCilYEnzcyD_NDzaO_xhFrY47DOk4NiSlZkKK1PfkIunlDg-fpH3buN1kjYrHzEUbIHzS/s400/ski-14.jpg)
But not too tired to knit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfBwTLDmPmlXzse-K1KbLBVut3c07BsyD-3tXE1EJqrFaR2ai5KhIgJbLhTmyJpPis8KqTUXW4jnxL7BkQhJ3eHX7YIp0JV6Y1Xlv_qAmgvjhiyixIpxy9P9zBG-Xp-SeEP08/s400/ski-17.jpg)
Now, mountains of skiwear to launder, blue skies to walk under, an empty fridge to fill. Schoolwork to start back up, a new semester for Giles. New fabric to share . . . .