she's a pinball wizard...

it's official—i bought my first pinball machine. i've been looking for over 2 years for that perfect machine to grace my home. i was picky, i admit, but i knew what i was looking for and i was determined to find it—even if it took me a few years, i was relentless.

what made my search even that much more difficult was the era and the price range i was wanting. i knew i wanted a pinball machine from the 1960's-70's era and of course, i needed it to be in the $300-500 price range. that was a challenge. as i perused craigslist, i knew given in the small town where i live that my options would be limited.

but i kept searching.

obviously, given the size and weight, i couldn't go much farther than an hour away from our home, knowing it'd be a risky drive back. at the time, i had no idea that transporting a pinball machine was a lot easier than i had envisioned. this made my quest that much easier. however, living in a loft with close quarters always presented a new challenge with my desire to own a pinball machine.

ya, i know, i'm crazy.

just like my endless search for those perfect gym lockers, i finally found the size/price that would be perfect—after a year and a half, craigslist had come through—as always. i found lockers that were in a shed of a farm sitting outdoors collecting dust and weathered all kinds of outdoor changes, only adding to the patina of the lockers. all for a low price of $60. needless to say, i was elated.

i had hoped to find a similar deal for my daunting quest of a pinball machine. 

until i found it! it was perfect. it was exactly what i was looking for. the seller advertised $500 but brought it down to $450. hey, $50 is $50—i'll take what i can get.

it was originally made in 1973 by the well known pinball machine designer/maker, gottlieb. although i had hoped and wanted to find that perfect design in addition to my price range and desired era, it was absolutely perfect. i knew once i would look at it, i would immediately fall in love and want it!

oh boy did i want it.

my husband had hoped deep down that i wouldn't want it for whatever reason, but boy was he wrong. i gave the seller $100 to hold it and i picked it up with a borrowed truck the following week. 

i admit, carrying it upstairs presented a whole new challenge, but it was worth it. 

1973 gottlieb Hot Shot pinball machine

thankfully, my search came back with this perfect vintage pinball machine. it's what i've been looking for and wanting for so long. i'm glad i didn't give up my search and i remained patient, because i knew, in the long run, my patience would pay off.

and this time, it did.

good things come to those who wait.

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oh deer...

until last week, i worked in the town of boulder, colorado—only 45 miles south of fort collins—and even though boulder is not necessarily a place i would want to live (or can afford to live, for that matter), i enjoyed working there with the beautiful scenery everywhere you turn, especially with the breathtaking views of the flatirons just west of where i worked.

as i was driving from lunch one day, i came across a side road to avoid the construction on the main roads, so as i was driving down this side road, i looked ahead and saw this deer in somebody's front yard—on a busy road—i kept thinking to myself "that statue looks so realistic"—until of course, it moved.

i couldn't believe my eyes. a gorgeous deer outside in front of somebody's yard just standing there as if there weren't 50+ cars driving by at a continuous pace.

well, after seeing such a beautiful creature out in the open like that, i had to stop and snap some pictures. something like this is a rare treat—even in colorado.

enjoy!

bohemian nights at new west fest

one of my favorite parts of summer here in fort collins is the annual local festival, new west fest. every year at the end of august, the city of fort collins hosts this magical event. in addition to the many local artisans showcasing their handmade goods, this festival wouldn't be complete without the sound of music throughout the day and into the night.

last night during bohemian nights, we had the pleasure of listening to the folk sound of musical talent, melissa etheridge. it was an amazing evening packed with many locals as well as visitors alike. all there for one reason—to enjoy the acoustic sound of melissa's solo talent while the sound of her raspy voice permeated throughout the downtown area. it was nothing short of delight and enjoyment.

although the festival was frequently interrupted with rainstorms throughout the day, it didn't stop visitors enjoying the day. while munching on the many tastes of food right there within our reach, visitors took in their surroundings at the same time. my daughter munched on a good old fashioned hot dog, while i couldn't resist my favorite indian cuisine, saag peneer and naan—and of course, homemade lemonade freshly squeezed right before our eyes. as a treat to end this traditional meal, we enjoyed a delicious funnel cake. simply divine.

after we finished with lunch, we headed over to the kids' area which was packed full with jumpy castles and obstacle courses, as my daughter enjoyed her active time inside the many air-filled arenas, i watched on with admiration and envy. wishing i could be a kid again.

since we wanted to head back on sunday for a day of clearer (and drier) weather, we continued to enjoy the busy surroundings of the downtown area as the weekend came to a close.

before we headed home for the day—and before we came back to listen to the live music in the evening—i had to break down and buy my daughter a handmade one-of-a-kind bow & arrow set. it was the cutest and most imaginative creation, that i had to give in and spend the $8 to get it for her. as often as i can, i love having the opportunity of being able to support local artisans as much as possible. seeing as i am one myself.

estes park, colorado

here i go again, blogging about colorado. i never intended this to be a blog about all things colorado, but these past few weeks, we really have been taking advantage of the exciting places and majestic views rampant throughout our beautiful state, that i had to share them with you.

although we went up last weekend, i wanted to touch on it now. my husband, kirk, my daughter, emma, and myself headed up to estes park last weekend for a day in the mountains. since estes park is only a 45 minute drive from our home, it was an easy trek incorporated with a gorgeous drive. and in this day and age of higher gas prices fueled with the poor economy, we didn't feel as though we were wasting money on a days drive up the 'hill.'

upon our arrival, per usual, the summers in estes park are very crowded with tourists alike. although the majority of the tourists seem to be from outside of the colorado area, there were many—like ourselves—within a close proximity wanting to enjoy the mountain air without a few hours drive west of i-70.

in addition to majestic mountains in the background, there wasn't a short supply of rivers flowing and rock formations throughout. it was simply sublime.

many photos were snapped, while we ate lunch at a delicious local pub, and walked around and shopped like the rest of the daily crowd. it was a nice day, coupled with breathtaking views.

only in colorado...

on my way home from work tonight, i noticed there were a lot of cars pulled off to the side of the road taking pictures of something. when i looked over, i immediately saw these three beautiful elk standing there as if nobody was there taking their picture. it was the most amazing sight, that i had to pull over and take their picture, as well.

i am so happy that i was lucky enough to have my camera conveniently located in my purse, so i immediately grabbed it and snapped away at these gorgeous creatures. makes me only appreciate my surroundings in colorado that much more.

what a breaktaking view...