Summer 2009 Trip - Steamboat Springs

We rented a car in Denver, and drove to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to visit with Curtis and Shirley Zabel (Curtis is Grandma's Cousin). They live on a beautiful ranch in the mountains outside of Steamboat Springs. We drove the same route that Daniel and Grandma took when they took the truck to Doug, and it was still beautiful. We did notice that there were several dead pines. We found out later that it was beetles, and they are so infested that they can't get rid of them. There were notices up to warn people to be on the lookout in the mountains, because the trees could fall at any time. The mountains were still gorgeous, though, and Grandma really enjoyed remembering the other times she had made that trip. Curtis, Shirley, Jim, and Nancy in the house being built by Curtis and Shirley's son, Kirk and his wife, Bev, on property across from Curtis' ranch. Right now Bev works in Venezuela for Chevron and lives there with Kirk and their two boys. They are building the house for when they return. It is beautiful, and the view is wonderful. The picture shown is their view from the front window. The houses you see are Curtis and Shirley's. It is so nice, because their other son (Ty) lives with his wife and two children (Regina, Tyanna and Taylen) in a house on the property next to them. Ty works for the school in Hayden, Colorado.

This is a picture of Curtis and Shirley in the house. Curtis is still doing bronze sculpture, and Shirley is doing the bookwork and keeping everything together. It was so fun to stay with them, with the extra bonus of being able to get reacquainted with Kirk, Bev, Travis and Jacob. Curtis and Shirley are keepng busy and enjoying their grandchildren!

Bev gave us a tour of the house. They expect it to be done in November, and they're coming back from Venezuela at Thanksgiving time to sign papers, etc. In the meantime, they were being sure that things were getting done properly while they were there for the summer. We enjoyed hearing about life in Venezuela and about the children in their International School. They seem to be enjoying the experience, but are looking forward to the times in the new house, too.

It was fun to be reminded of the importance of family and to enjoy the warm friendship while we were there!