For any of you that knew me as a child you’ll have heard our stories about “the cabin”. For those of you that came to us later in life, here’s a little taste of early Carey:

FYI I still dress this way, I just take less pictures. But I digress.

The cabin was a 2 bedroom log cabin in the Collegiate Peaks of Colorado, outside of a little town called Buena Vista. It belonged to a friend of the family and it was located on Cottonwood Lake–and it was called High Cotton. At the time I didn’t realize how appropriate that was but whoever named it sure did. We started going when I was about five and went pretty much ever summer for about 10 years. There was no electricity and us kids slept on couches in the living room and it was PERFECT. Campfires, hikes, fishing, white water rafting. The happiest memories of my childhood were at that lake–and for that reason, whenever we’re in Colorado we go visit.

We start with lunch at K’s dairy delight. Tradition. Includes ice cream and fond memories.

Then we go to the cabin for a quick outdoor visit, also referred to as trespassing (our friend no longer owns it) but since my family build this deck I feel like it’s allowed.

Then we go to the lake and pick some wildflowers for Mom because this is where her ashes are. She loved it maybe even more than the rest of us and for those who were lucky enough to go, she helped make those the best summers ever. ❤️

And then…we adventure. HARD.

First, we play dry

Then, we play wet

And then, we celebrate

High Cotton indeed.