Whiskey Tastes Better in Utah

Okay, hop in the car.  We're going to have some fun in Provo Canyon and Park City.  And it's snowing, so grab your cocoa and mittens!



First stop: Sundance Resort, Robert Redford's little baby.  It's a ski resort, wedding destination, and all-around lovely place.  Jealous that I won't be there for the weekly showing of Christmas movies through December -OR the free movies starring Mr. Redford that show.  "The Sting" is on the first week of December.  Gggghhrrr....  Guess we'll just have to move, won't we.



The hotel lobby.  Sweet, huh?



Care for a lift?



Snow much fun.



To quote a movie title our gentleman had quite a bit to do with, "A River Runs Through It."



Just like Christmas.



Lovey dovey shots featuring my loverly hosts, Monika and Billy.









And now for the unforgettable Kurt & Diane.






You know what I love about these shots?  It took less than 5 minutes to get all of 'em.  Often you don't need a whole lot of time for just a few stellar shots, but, quite honestly, that all depends on the couple.  Sometimes it takes them a while to warm up.  But even in the snow, these couples were hot and on it!



Aaaawwwwhhh....



I love this one.  So candid.



My fwiends.



I threw the camera at Billy and he took a few of M and me.



Tada!



Chilled steppin'.



Okay, so I had a little fun being crazy with the editing.



I love mountains, love, love mountains!



Bobby's shack.






It was snowing pellets.  Kurt kept saying they looked just like dip-in-dots ice cream.  I caught a few in my mouth and nearly gagged as they pelted my glottal stop.  That's what it's called, right, Mom?  The dangly thing in the back of your throat?  That name gives me the willies.  Glottal stop.  *Shiver* Ooooooh!



Welcome, y'all, to Park City, Utah!  Resort town, hub of The Sundance Film Festival, and home of very expensive shopping.  Oh, and skiing, too.  It's, how do you say, pretty big here.



Shopping was on the list.  Some window shopped, others grabbed some great finds and took advantage of the sales, some did a bit of both (like me.  Currently wearing my $10 steal of a gourmet t-shirt.)



Stopped in to warm up at a saucy spice store.  A little too hot for my taste, but several of our pals loaded up bottles of liquid fire.



Round about town.



At the bottom of this ski run you've got yourself a mighty fine whiskey distillery.  The oldest in Utah and they're happy to brag about it -and they have every right to!  Their whisky is mighty fine -and you're about to see/hear all about it.



Original building from the 1800's.  First was a livery, then a garage, then...well, the list goes on.  Now it's a restaurant and whiskey distillery.



Some fun art on the walls of High West whiskey distillery.



We got a guided and highly informative tour of the High West.  Our charmingly gritty guide certainly knew his stuff.  Here we are in The Mashing Room where whisky first starts off as (take a guess....) beer!






Reflecting on the distilling process.



"So, yeaaaah.  When are you going to stop talking so we can taste the whiskey?"



Ladies & Gentleman, the tasting bar.  And the drinking bar.  But not the salad bar.



Ever had a clear colored whiskey?  We did.  Aren't you jealous....  Should be, because it tasted like vodka and bananas.  Okay, I know it's a bit weird, but you had to be there.



Billy the birthday boy!




Care to browse the tasting menu?



Nice people.



Bourbon French Onion Soup with Gruyere.  Uh, YUM!



Fondue, I do, I DO!



Until next time, High West!



Time for the most delicious birthday cake I believe I've ever had.  Monika, you're an amazing cook/baker!



A happy birthday moment.  Now stop kissing and blow out those candles before the house burns down!



Cozying up with Diane.



The King of Energy & Creative Ideas, Kurt!



Billy and Monika shared stories from the cockpit and the control tower about funny and terrifying experiences -some their own, others shared from friends and colleagues.  Since I thought I was surely going to crash when approaching Salt Lake, these stories made me feel MUCH better about what an airplane is capable of and that I wasn't nearly as close to the grave as I thought.  Phew!


I left this morning and returned home to my sweet kiddos, waiting now for the handsome hubby to arrive after a day of classes and a pit stop at the grocery store to restock a bit.  *Sigh* it's good to be home, and I relish the time I got to spend in my mini winter vacation.  My 1 1/2 days of snow and grown up time, catching up with my dear Monika after 12 years.
Now, it's time for her to plan her trip down to Austin...then the party starts!