Don't Fly off the Mountain!

Hi and happy Tuesday everyone! Pull up a chair, let's have a little cup 'o' coffee and chat. I have a fun story to tell.

Last Thursday, my mom and I made a trip to Palm Desert to visit my Grandma Pearl who is battling some very tough health issues. You can read more about the amazing Pearl and about the trip HERE. She and my Grandfather live in a beautiful community with a pool, country club, golf course, and impeccable kempt grounds.

Okay, now for the story.

To get to Palm Desert, you take the Highway 74, part of which is traveling over the big winding roads of a mountain. I get car sick easily so I am not a fan of this part of the drive, but it really is beautiful. There was snow on the side of the roads at the highest point, and the lower parts were sprinkled with purple and yellow wildflowers. The view down into the desert is gorgeous.

On the drive back up to mountain on the way home, I wanted to make a stop at the viewpoint to take a photo of the view. There was a big storm brewing, and it was incredibly windy. I opened the car door and it flew wide open, and my mom was apprehensive to even let me out.

"I don't want you to get picked up and blown off the mountain!!"

"I'll be fine mom, don't worry"

Well, attempt one, fail: just walking to the lookout wall I was getting a not-so-polite push by the wind. When I took photos, hair was flying every which direction so the photos consisted of the view blocked by wisps of brown hair. I felt like I would be picked right up (yes it was that strong) so I hurried back to the car. But me being me, I wanted that photo! I found a hair clip (take note...always, always have a hair clip for unforeseen weather conditions) and prepared to brave it again.

Meanwhile, a van pulled up beside us, two men got out carrying a large wooden chair and placed it atop the wall. My mom and I watched in horror...

"oh my god! They are going to sit on that chair, fly off and we are going to see someone die!"

I got out of the car again, and walked over to the men. It went like this:

Me: "What are you guys doing??"

Gustaf: "We design furniture using wine barrels, and we like to take photos of them in unusual places. We are on our way to deliver one in Palm Desert."

Me: "Oh thank god, I thought you were going to sit in it!"

Gustaf: "Oh...we are!"

Me: "But you are going to fly right off the mountain!"

Gustaf: "Nah...it's heavy."

They were very nice, I took a few photos before being totally freaked out I would die, and they even let me use them as a human wall to brace myself against. Unfortunately because of the wind I could not get high enough to show the scale of it, but on the other side of the wall it is a major major drop and had that chair blown away, well that would have been the end of Gustaf. Trust me on this...you would have freaked out too. Their company is called Barrelly Made It and the furniture is gorgeous, you can see more of their products HERE.

When I got back into the car, my mom said she was sweating because she was so afraid I would get blown away. But I lived to tell the tale!

Thanks to Amy at Lucky Number Thirteen for hosting coffee today!!