The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.
[Gilbert K. Chesterton]
I’m sure it doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering how little time I’ve spent at home this summer, but I have felt the need to get away (and give myself room to breathe). A friend of mine had plans to go to Colorado for a few weeks to spend some dedicated time training a few of her horses, so I decided to tag along and go on a road trip with my friend, three horses and a dog.
Going on the road with her sometime and seeing what it’s like to travel with horses is something I’ve always had an interest in doing, so I was excited for the opportunity. We had some touristy plans and only one of our ideas panned out, but I still had a lot of fun living on a ranch for a few weeks. I also had plenty of time to get some work done and it felt nice to have some dedicated work time. When I’ve been home there’s been so much activity that I was starting to feel like I was behind on some things. (Like this post on essential oils, in which most of the photos were taken in the living quarters of the horse trailer while we were in Colorado.)
I’ll definitely share about what we did soon, but for now, here are some of the everyday moments during our trip. (Also, be sure to stick around for an exciting giveaway at the end!)
Ever since I first saw this in my friend’s truck, I’ve loved it and thought it was beautiful. And then I heard the story behind it. It was created by a woman named Roxine. She had breast cancer and as a result of treatment, had trouble sleeping. She started to create these horses at night from a single strand of wire. As the daughter and granddaughter of breast cancer survivors, stories like this always touch my heart. Her website is called Nightmares, if you’re interested in taking a look.
On our way to Colorado we spent the night at a horse hotel in Nebraska. The next morning I stepped out of the trailer to get my water bottle from the truck and when I opened the door I saw this. I went back in for my phone.
Our first night in Colorado we stopped at Johnson’s Corner for dinner, which is a well-known truck stop, apparently. I’ll say I wasn’t incredibly impressed by what I ordered, but the cookie we shared after dinner was fantastic (and HUGE!) and I’m kind of disappointed we didn’t get back to grab a donut.
In Colorado Minnie graciously welcomed some guests into her midst for a few weeks and tolerated Sophie.
My phone is always filled with pictures of the sky, whether I’m in Ottawa, on the road to Colorado, or at home.
An old fashioned to celebrate my friend’s birthday.
Some of you might remember Taz from my Instagram and Snapchat. This is his brother Pip.
This was right before we hopped in the truck to leave Iowa (our stop for the night when we returned) and head home.
One travels to run away from routine, that dreadful routine that kills all imagination and all our capacity for enthusiasm.
[Ella Maillart]
I’m so happy to be able to team up with Kristin from The Peculiar Treasure and some other fabulous ladies for an awesome giveaway in honor of The Peculiar Treasure turning 3! Go read Kristin’s post about her blog’s birthday and enter the giveaway below!
The giveaway is open to those who live in the US and Canada only.
Design by NXNW.
![“When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?” [Ralph Marston]
I used to see my dad just sit and think, “How can he do that?” I always wanted to be doing something.
And now I try to remember—and often forget—to find pockets of time to be still.](http://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/009daf7a2c4e890d8f45e88c9da19f7e/5D732606/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/57094653_1357214081070469_8843512423712889536_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com "“When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?” [Ralph Marston]
I used to see my dad just sit and think, “How can he do that?” I always wanted to be doing something.
And now I try to remember—and often forget—to find pockets of time to be still.")
!["Everything you can imagine is real." [Pablo Picasso]
MoMA was a dream. And inspiring. Do something that inspires you this week.](http://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/048969695427becb45c124e8afa94899/5D52492E/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/54204242_705399393228105_4317314845970727381_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com "\"Everything you can imagine is real.\" [Pablo Picasso]
MoMA was a dream. And inspiring. Do something that inspires you this week.")
Beth Kondrick
August 16, 2017 at 12:41 pmSuch beautiful pictures, from the skyline to that gorgeous pup! I love it!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 26, 2017 at 10:29 amThanks, Beth! The skyline was so pretty! And so is Miss Sophie. 🙂
Ro I Chicken and Bliss
August 16, 2017 at 1:07 pmI love these photos!! They’re so gorgeous and so crisp! Also, your dog is adorable <3
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 26, 2017 at 10:29 amThank you! I enjoyed having some time to play around with my camera again.
And thanks! The dog in these photos is my friend’s dog. She’s a cutie! She’s such a character, too.
Via Bella
August 16, 2017 at 1:22 pmLooks like a fun trip– and at least your dog isn’t terrified of cameras. I would love to win!
~ http://viabella-thebeautifullife.blogspot.com/
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 26, 2017 at 10:28 amIt was! And no, she isn’t! The dog in these photos was my friend’s dog and she totally didn’t mind being in front of a camera! 🙂
Charlotte
August 16, 2017 at 1:36 pmI am loving all of your photos–sounds like it was a great trip away! I’d love to travel with animals, too! didn’t know horse hotels existed… Now I want to find one 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing and hope you enjoyed some change of scenery (PS: i take sky pics all the time, too. They are some of my favorites!)
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 22, 2017 at 10:15 pmThanks Charlotte! It really was a great trip! So much fun and so cool to see what goes into traveling with horses. Haha, they do! I’m not sure if that’s the official term for them, but it was really cool. They have stables for the horses and places to hook up your horse trailer so that you can live comfortably for the night.
Glamamom®
August 16, 2017 at 1:59 pmGreat snaps! I love CO but I’ve actually never been any other time but winter to ski. Bucket list…
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:56 pmThank you! You should definitely go back sometime! It was so gorgeous!
Chelsea
August 16, 2017 at 2:01 pmYour photos are so beautiful! My boyfriend and I are doing a roadtrip from Vancouver to California soon, and I’m so excited!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:56 pmThank you Chelsea! Your road trip sounds like it’ll be amazing and the scenery should be absolutely gorgeous! Have a great time!
shootingstarsmag
August 16, 2017 at 6:59 pmBeautiful photos! And omg, is that your dog? So cute! I’m glad you had a nice time. I travel for different reasons – to explore an area, to relax and just get away, etc.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:55 pmThank you Lauren! No, this is my friend’s dog Sophie. My pup probably would have gone a little crazy on a long road trip like this with another (bigger) dog and three horses! 😂 Those are all great reasons to travel!
Trish Noel
August 16, 2017 at 7:28 pmSuch beautiful photos! Colorado is amazing to drive through! I did it last year and the scenery was insanely beautiful!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:55 pmThank you Trish! Yes, it has the most beautiful scenery! Love those mountains in the distance and up close! 💙
Jenny Rodriguez
August 16, 2017 at 8:01 pmGreat pictures! To travel with horses must be an amazing experience. The view from there looks amazing!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:54 pmIt was! When we got the horses off the trailer to walk give them a chance to walk around at a rest stop I was thinking, “Never thought I’d be doing this!” But it was so cool!
Nicole Leith
August 16, 2017 at 8:03 pmOld fashioned are one of my favorites! Don’t you love the sky in Colorado. I’ve lived in Colorado for 3 years now and I still can’t get over the sun sitting over the mountains. Love!!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:53 pmThey’re one of my faves too!
I do! I loved seeing how the sky looked every night and, like you said, the sun sitting over the mountains! So, so, so, so beautiful!!
Christine Keys
August 16, 2017 at 9:36 pmYour photos are absolutely gorgeous! My husband and I are heading on a road trip next week and I can’t wait! 😀
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:53 pmThanks Christine! Where are you going on your road trip? Have a wonderful time!
Christine Keys
August 22, 2017 at 4:31 amWellington, New Zealand! Thank you. 🙂
Belle Bermudez-Tubel
August 17, 2017 at 10:33 amLove the photos! Looks like you had an amazing time!
Belle | One Awesome Momma
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:52 pmThanks, Belle! It was a lot of fun!
Becca
August 17, 2017 at 10:34 amBeautiful photos! Isn’t Colorado gorgeous? Heading there soon myself!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:52 pmThanks Becca! It is! I loved it! I hope you have a great time!
Anali Martinez
August 17, 2017 at 11:01 amLOVE ALL THE PHOTOS! Looks like y’all had a great time! I want to travel with my pup soon! I haven’t been to Colorado yet but it’s on my list! Looks super beautiful and calm. I need a tranquil trip soon. Haha
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:52 pmThank you, Anali! We had a great time! I hope you get to Colorado one day soon! It’s such a cool place to visit. I’d LOVE to go back soon and see more! And if your pup is anything like Miss Sophie, it’ll be an experience! She definitely livened things up! 😂
Julie Estrella
August 17, 2017 at 1:54 pmLooks like a great trip! I am dying for our Labor Day weekend getaway. Your pup is adorable.
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:51 pmIt was! I hope you have a great time over Labor Day! Where are you going? And thanks! The one in this post isn’t mine, but she’s so cute and sweet! I do think I have a pretty cute dog, too. She probably would’ve gone a little crazy on a long trip like this with another (bigger) dog and a few horses!
Rachel Ritlop
August 17, 2017 at 5:45 pmAwe how fun! All these pups are adorable! Love the photos!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:50 pmThank you, Rachel! I always love taking photos of all the cute pups when they sit still long enough for me to do so. 😂💙
Willow Moon
August 17, 2017 at 5:57 pmWe went on a road trip to Colorado last Summer. Since we live in Arizona, it only takes us a couple of days to get there. I would love to go back!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:49 pmThat’s awesome! I bet you had a blast! I’d like to explore Arizona more, too. I have family that used to live there so I spent some time in Phoenix and Sedona when I was younger, but I’d like to go back.
Rachel Catherine
August 17, 2017 at 6:38 pmThis looks like it was a beautiful trip. I love all your photos. They’re gorgeous! We are hoping to go to Colorado next year.
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:48 pmThank you, Rachel! It was a lot of fun! I hope you’re able to get back! I’d like to go back soon and get some more sightseeing in.
Jordyn Galan
August 18, 2017 at 12:49 amOmg I have a corgi named Minnie too! How cute! Looks like you had a great trip!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:47 pmThat’s so cool! Popular name! 😊
Gabriela Cerdas
August 18, 2017 at 11:28 amAll the pictures look amazing! I love CO! I used to live in Denver and I miss it everyday! There´s so many great landscapes through the mountains!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:47 pmThanks, Gabriela! Denver seems like such a cool place to live! I’d love to be close to the mountains!
Viridianna
August 18, 2017 at 2:11 pmLooks like you had a great time! Your dog is the cutest!!
– Viridianna | http://www.lifestyleinstyle.com
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:46 pmWe did! And thank you! The one in this post isn’t mine, but she’s adorable. I do think I have a pretty cute dog, though! 😊
Maryanne Cabrera
August 18, 2017 at 3:21 pmLooks like you had a great time! Why do I travel? My fav quote explains it all ” we travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:45 pmI love that quote! That’s definitely one of the reasons I travel. There are so many beautiful things to see in this world and I want to see as many as I can.
Katelyn Brin Bossany
August 18, 2017 at 10:12 pmLove all the animal photos and what a beautiful drive! I definitely need to check out your post on essential oils. I have some and never know how to use them.
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:45 pmThank you Katelyn! Which oils do you have? If you have any questions after you read the post, let me know!
Erica @ Coming up Roses
August 20, 2017 at 9:15 pmGIRL. Your photography is GORGEOUS! Also that story of Roxanne’s wire horses is so neat. I love that she was able to create something so beautiful from a not-so-fun situation.
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:44 pmThank you Erica! Me too! What a great way to turn that kind of experience into a beautiful business! I love seeing that horse in my friend’s truck and I love it even more now that I know the story behind it!
Lindsay @ The Flynnigans
August 21, 2017 at 8:04 amAll of your pictures are GORGEOUS, girl. The sweeping views of all the mountains, the cats, the dogs. Beautiful. 🙂 Sounds like this would be my kind of trip as well, it must’ve been nice to tag along for a few weeks and get away.
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
August 21, 2017 at 1:42 pmThank you Lindsay! Such a compliment coming from you with all your gorgeous scenic photos! 💙 You would have LOVED all the animals and the views! It was nice to sneak away for a few weeks and be surrounded by mountains and animals. 🙂
Lindsay @ The Flynnigans
August 23, 2017 at 12:40 pmLikewise, girl. Thank you for such lovely comments alllllll the time. I’d love to live near mountains someday, away from the city. And if not near mountains, out in the country amongst green space and tranquillity. When I was younger I used to love going downtown, but now, I can’t stand it. I crave the stillness and beauty of green and wide open spaces. I’m so happy you got to get away, it looks and sounds like it was just the kind of thing you needed. 🙂