Fun With Spammie...
My “not so little” Spammie came for a quick visit. Not wanting to cook, we headed out to Garwoods for a nice dinner. Of course, we had to have a Raspberry Wet Woody! Scallops for me (amazing) and Prime Rib for my young one… delicious dinner with a great view.
Games galore! We played Bananagrams, Five Crowns and Rummy… for hours. Quite the competitor, it’s harder to get a win with this girl! Nothing better than a late-night game-fest.
With the sun shining brightly, we ventured down to the beach to enjoy the view. There were a few a people wandering the shores, but really not many for a spring break. With all of my hours working, it’s a rarity for me to get down there and be reminded of the beauty. Note to self: Spend more time at the beach!
Next stop… Truckee River at River Ranch. We walked across to take a photo from across the river. It was flowing quite nicely. The sound of rushing water always brings a sense of peace. Funny how a little time in nature can rejuvenate and reset the soul.
Visiting the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics… Spammie was especially excited to see this since the summer games are in Japan (where she hopes to be). This was the first picture of the eternal flame on the opposite corner. All of my other photos, were taken across the street. The new location comes with a new name… “International Mountain Resort” but to me… it will always be Squaw Valley, USA.
Next stop… JA Nugget in Sparks. There’s something about relaxing in a hotel room that brings me joy. With the hubby off on a medical, I am working silly hours. Staycations are my saving grace… Spammie and I talked, giggled, played more games.
Tucked away in our own little booth (with curtains which allowed us to shut out the world), we had an incredible dinner at my new favorite, Anthony’s Chophouse. Jeremy flew in, Alyssa drove over and we wine’d and dined. Caymus and Shafer decanted and waiting at our table. So much fun!
Back to the lake… Sand Harbor is such a special place (when it isn’t packed with people). We had the beach to ourselves. Spammie loved climbing all over the rocks. Timid at first, she found her agility and turned mountain goat in a matter of minutes!
You are about to experience overkill on the Sand Harbor photos… but it was so much fun! Being a fan of boulders and rock formations, this has always been a favorite spot of mine. Ordinarily, you can’t find a place to park, a place to sit and getting a photo not filled with others is an impossibility. Not on this day! Parked right in front, had the rocks to ourselves and the fresh air brought me back to life!
Father/daughter fun…
Okay, okay… getting close to the end of Sand Harbor. Not finished… but close. It was fun to watch the two of them playing on the rocks. Doesn’t matter your age, boulders bring out the inner child.
This little one is turning into a young woman before my very eyes. Quite frankly, she’s more mature than I… so sweet natured, well spoken, bilingual, funny and smart as a whip. My heart is full of love for this one!
Next stop, a very… VERY… quick trip to South Shore. They had no indoor dining so we ventured away… but not before visiting the “sock store”. Walls and walls of socks…
On our drive to Reno, Spammie couldn’t believe that one minute the Truckee River was on the left, and next thing you know, it’s on the right. Weaving back and forth the entire time, I told her we could visit the mouth of the river. So, we went to Fanny Bridge and the Gate Keepers area where Lake Tahoe ends and the Truckee River begins.
Water is flowing, lake is calm. Can’t wait until the snow starts melting and this area really gets going. Might even have to pull my raft out this summer.
First time sledding… actually first time seeing real snow. Though Spammie has seen the Texas version of snow, this cold stuff actually stays on the ground for more than two seconds. Much like me, snow seems fun, is pretty to look at, but she much preferred to be cozied up and warm! So our outdoor “snow” time was quite short lived.
So…. back to the games. This one is a favorite. Corey bought it for me for Christmas. The Lake Tahoe edition of Monopoly. It even has “Crystal Bay Club” as a property for sale! Needless to say, I lost… every single time I passed go, I collected my $200 and landed on the spot that I had to pay $200… just like life, I could not get ahead.
Last stop… Grand Sierra Resort. We went on the Virtual roller coaster (fun!) and played arcade games. Bowling was completely sold out. Next time we know to make advanced reservations! My little staycation has come to and end but the memories will last. It was a much needed reset! Now, back to work!
