Germany Again: The First Four Days!

October 4, 2026October 4, 2026 Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment

Our Tradition: Lin & Larada on flight to Germany

Lin and I traveled to Germany in September again, repeating our tour from 2023, with Tom, Gina, and Curtis. This year they added Trevor, Curtis’ son. But more specifically, we were in Bavaria, the beautiful luscious green southeastern part of Germany. This week I will feature the first four days of our tour!

September 15 – Flew to Munich, Germany

First, we flew from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Houston, Texas at a reasonable hour, not “0-dark-30.” Luckily, we traveled with several Albuquerque square dance friends! We left Albuquerque late but made it through the Houston airport in time—then on to Germany. We had upgraded our seats for the Houston to Munich flight to Economy Premium. Am I glad we did! It gave us more leg room.

During our flight, I watched “Project Hail Mary,” a truly fascinating movie. I didn’t sleep much during this flight. Lin watched “The Sound of Music” to get ready for the Salzburg, Austria tour, so I joined him for the ending.

September 16 – Arrive at the Munich Airport

When we arrived in Munich, we had to go through a passport verification kiosk. I had to do it at least five times because my fingerprints are not strong. The Crisps gathered everybody together. We had two buses that drove us the two hours to our new hotel, Chiemsee Hotel Farbinger Hof near the village of Bernau am Chiemsee. They provided welcome drinks and introductions. A local Bavarian band played, and the mayor of Bernau welcomed us. I started our time together in Germany with watching square dancing after dinner. Lin unpacked.

One of the wonderful parts of this tour is going to one hotel and then taking day trips out to various places. Unpacking once was a luxury!

September 17 – The Farmer’s Museum in Amerang.

Thank God, we had a leisure morning after our big travel days. During the afternoon, we visited the Farmer’s Museum. We didn’t go there three years ago, so I enjoyed seeing how farms in Germany operated in the past. They kept the farm animals close on the first floor and then there was living quarters on the second floor. Also, they had religions items in the kitchen and bedrooms. We saw wagons, wooden rain gutters, and a friendly windmill. Also fluffy comforts donned the beds.

After our busy day, we square danced after dinner.

September 18 – Bershtesgaden: Salt Mines & Eagle’s Nest – Weather permitting.

The Train We Rode - Germany — The Train We Rode

The First Slide- Germany — The First Slide

I loved visiting the Salt Mines again. Everyone had to put on overalls. Then we rode a little train into the mine. Afterwards, we slid down two slides with two other people. What fun! Down at the bottom, a pool of water covered the cavern. We rode across it on a barge and it felt eery.

Afterwards, we went on to Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s Alpine hideaway. We had to catch a bus to go up the hill. Then we had a walk to the elevator to go up. Once up on top, the views were breathtaking.

When we got to the building there, Tom Crisp asked us to join him for lunch. We ordered our lunch then took pictures of the marble mantel Mussolini bought for Hitler’s fireplace. We had a delicious schnitzel lunch.

Afterwards, Lin walked up to the cross, but I couldn’t because of my bad leg. But I did take in the beautiful vista up there.

When we got back to the hotel, we didn’t eat dinner but slept—just trying to catch up on our sleep. Then we went down to the restaurant for only ice cream. Again, we didn’t dance.

I slept like a log that night. Getting used to the seven hours difference in time took a while, but it happened!

Finally,

As you can see, the itinerary filled our days with activities and our nights with square dancing. Have you ever been to Germany? If so, what was your experience?

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Dancing · My Thoughts · square dance

After 20 Years: Hot August Nights in the Bag!

August 16, 2026August 17, 2026 Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment

Hot August Nights Committee celebrating 20 years!

Our 20^th Annual Hot August Nights Square and Round Dance Festival is over. What a great event! We danced, we saw old friends, and we met new ones.

How It Started

It all started 20 years ago, three couples created this event—Ted Wright & Larada, Lin Miller & Kathi Raver, and Bill & Freddi Franks. Lin and I are the only people left from the original committee. Then we have added these following wonderful people: Mary Jo Smith, Sheri Pastian, Joan Oliver, Jim & Gabrielle Murphy, Earl Quick, Cathy McKenna, Robert & Lisa Miller, and Gloria Schwab.

Hot August Nights Committee - pictures 20th anniversary - Goofy! — Hot August Nights Committee – 20th Anniversary

Hot August Nights Committee - pictures 20th anniversary — Hot August Nights Committee – 20th Anniversary

It has become a smashing success in the Southwest square dance world. Our staff this year made it fantastic: Mike Seastrom, caller and his wife, Lisa, and Mitch & Chelsea Thompson, cuer.

Friday

Lin and I flew in from Panama on Thursday after a horrible travel day on Wednesday because of this festival. It started on Friday afternoon with the Welcome Dance. Mike enjoyed sharing the stage with Kris Jensen Friday afternoon.

Friday night has been traditional our “Beach Party” dance with dancers wearing fun beach ware. Beach balls floated around the hall all night. We danced from 8-10:30 and ended the night with our traditional root beer floats.

During the night Mike, Mitch and Chelsea did a Pentatonix song that was amazing.

Mike, Chelsea & Mitchell Singing a Pentatonix Song

Saturday

Saturday morning started with introduction to round dancing session with Mitchell and Chelsea and then a round dance workshop for experienced dancers.

The committee went out to lunch with Mitchell and Chelsea. We talked about square and round dancing in Colorado where they live.

Then the afternoon started with Mike warming us up with High Energy dancing. Then Mike did Singing Calls for an hour. Harue Swift from Arizona joined Mike on one of the songs.The afternoon ended with a Plus workshop.

During the afternoon, Lin and Larada donned their Guerreros shirts from the men’s basketball team in Boquete, Panama they follow. The team was playing in the Championship game Saturday night. So we asked the dancers to help create a video with the cheer, “Uno, dos, tres—Guerreros!” Here’s the video. (Sadly, they lost!)

Our dancers join in on a cheer for the Guerreros team in Panama!

Saturday night everyone wore beautiful square dance attire, if they wanted to! Here’s me doing a round dance with a friend from Colorado!

Larada round dancing with a friend from Colorado

Mitchell and Chelsea entertained us with a beautiful tango demo of round dancing!

Mitchell & Chelsea dancing a tango!

Mike, Mitchell and Chelsesa sang another song together and the harmony was amazing!

What a lovely evening we had. Again, we ended with root beer floats and visiting with friends.

Sunday

Every Sunday morning at Hot August Nights features craziness for sure. We love to do scatter promenade which mixes the squares up.

At one point, Mike sang “Wooly, Bully” and a group in the back of the hall formed a chorus line. We ended with a congo line weaving our way to the front of the hall. Some of the dancers joined us. What fun! Here’s the link to the our fun chorus line:- https://www.facebook.com/larada.horner/

Sadly, Hot August Nights is over for another year! 20 years of fun and dancing! It is the highlight of the year for me!

Returning to my featured book of the month

Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? 20

Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter of Better?. The paperback is on sale this month for $9.80. Grab it today!

Finally,

I have dedicated 20 years of my life to Hot August Nights and I don’t regret it at all. Also, I have dedicated decades to my writing, so I love featuring a book a month. Tell me what you think!

Larada and Lin in our Hot August Nights Outfits - 20 — Larada and Lin in our Hot August Nights Outfits!

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

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ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

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This Tumbleweed Landed

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Dad · Holidays · Memories · Mom · MY LIFE · My Thoughts · square dance

If Your Dad Is Still Alive: Hug Him Today!

June 21, 2026June 21, 2026 Larada Horner-Miller2 Comments

If your dad is still alive today—hug him! My dad died January 6, 1996, thirty years ago. I would love to hear his voice, smell his leathery sweat from his cowboy shirt and hat, and hug his lean firm body.

My Thoughts Today

As I’ve thought about writing this blog on Father’s Day 2026, I have lingered over the loss of my dad. After thirty years, you might think I was over the pain, the loss, but no! If I could dance once more with him and do his unique dance steps he taught Mom and me, I would celebrate.

More of His Cowboy Life

Dad led a full rich rancher’s life. He worked besides his dad until Granddad died November 6, 1966. They didn’t always agree on everything, but they had a system that worked.

After Granddad died, Mom stepped in to be his right-hand woman. Daily she went with him to the ranch, doing whatever the season required: feeding cattle and digging out of snow drifts in the winter, calving in the spring, preparing for shipping calves in the fall, and stepping back to relax in the summer. His eyes lit up when he bragged on how much she helped.

He loved his brand, Lazy H Spear Point. He put this on the calves when he branded them each spring. Yes, it hurt. I remember the smell of the hair burning, but the state required it to protect the ranchers from cattle rustling. You can see it on Dad’s tie in the first picture above.

Dad and Granddad ran Herefore cattle. He often said, “My favorite colors in the world are red, white and green: Hereford cattle in a green pasture.”

Dad & Mom’s Dance Life

Dad and Mom danced whenever and wherever they could. Remember, they met on the dance floor. They loved the local country and western dances in the Branson gym. I remember watching them glide across the dance floor so fluid and graceful—to me they competed with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Dad always had a dance or two for me. And he often danced with nieces and great nieces. At many dances around the area, they had a tradition of exchanging dances with other couples too.

Often after the Branson dances, they hosted After Parties at our house. I remember the living room and dining room overflowing with friends, laughter and alcohol!

They also loved to square dance. Dad was our 4-H club caller and taught many members to square dance. They traveled hundreds of miles to dance and made lifelong friends with square dancers all over southeastern Colorado, northeastern New Mexico and beyond.

Dad Loved to Travel The USA

When we were growing up, Dad didn’t have the means to travel much. When I was ten years old, we did a trip to San Diego, California to my half-brother’s graduation. While there, we went to Disneyland and had an amazing trip.

Later in my teen years, we made other trips to San Diego for Christmas.

After I left home, I went with Mom and Dad on several local trips around Colorado and New Mexico. We also traveled to California to see us family out there. On almost every trip we took, he had several rules: get up early and travel until about 10:30 PM each night. I fought with him to stop earlier so I could enjoy the motel’s swimming pool. Once he did and I had a blast. Another rule he had—we could only be gone a week. Dad was such a country boy; he couldn’t accept being away from home and the ranch for very long.

They traveled to Nashville on a tour and had an amazing time.

Dad Loved His Family

Dad was a family man. He took care of his parents until their dying days.

He had three children with his first wife and two with my mom. They had nine grandchildren and I’ve lost count of the great grandchildren. He did not live to see many of his great grandchildren.

Holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas meant the world to him. He never joined us in the games around the round table in the dining room, but often I saw him laughing a long with us and keeping up with the conversation going around the table.

Finally,

I long for another dance around the gym floor in Branson, in his arms as he leads me through the waltz or two-step. Anytime I heard “In the Mood” at a dance with Dad, I would grab him to dance because that’s the rhythm he did his unusual movement. Oh, to do that again!!!

But mostly I’d like a hug, a bear hug and a whisper in his ear, “Happy Father Day.” I know his reaction—he’d smile and snuggle close and say, “Shorty, I love you.” You can’t beat that!

Is your dad alive? Hug him if he’s near. Call him if he lives away from you. Celebrate him today! And let me know what you did!

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$3.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

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This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

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Gratitude · Memoirs · Mom · MY LIFE · My Thoughts · square dance

Day 29 – A Picture of Me—On My Wedding Day

January 29, 2026January 29, 2026 Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment

One of my favorite pictures of me is on my wedding day, October 22, 2011. The sheer joy shines in my eyes. And here’s the reason why!

Back Story

My ex-husband and I separated in 2008. We divorced in early 2009. My best girlfriend, Kathi Raver, in square dancing died in November 25, 2009. My ex-husband and I did lots of fun activities with Kathi and her husband, Lin—we went to square dance festivals and dance together. We played games in each other’s homes. Also, we danced weekly at our three club dances.

After the first of the year, Lin called me asking if I would like to dance with him at the three club dances. Because we were friends before, the dancing moved into more of a relationship.

So, we officially started dating in May 2010 and married in 2011. It might appear that we rushed this, but Kathi had said repeatedly to me when my ex and I broke up to get over it—give it six months and go on.

Lin proposed to me on Christmas Day, 2010 in Branson, Colorado in front of my mom and my aunt—what a precious day that was!

Then he spent the year telling everyone at square dance festivals were at all over the country to come to our wedding! He evenly got up on the microphone at some and made the big announcement.

Our Wedding Day

Because of our love for dancing, we got married at the Albuquerque Square Dance Center. My brother and mom gave me away. He had two best men and I had eleven brides’ maids.

Because of our multiple marriages my Episcopal priest couldn’t marry us, so we found someone on the internet, and she did a beautiful job, weaving our story into our vows, even referencing recovery quotes for me.

So, we had a short ceremony and a big dance party afterwards! Three hundred of closest friends attended with some flying in from Florida and Tennessee.

During the ceremony, I read Lin a poem I wrote for the occasion. Here it is:

Larada reading her poem to Lin - picture — Close up of Larada reading her poem to Lin

Close up of Larada reading her poem to Lin

It’s Here! Our Wedding

October 22, 2011

It's here!

Our life together starts today

The past is behind us
The future looms positively in our view!

I have labored over the words to say to you.
How do I find words to describe what has happened 
Between us

There is not a container to hold it 

We come from 2 rich, full lives 
a small town New Jersey boy and
a country girl from Colorado
Other places, other times
Other husbands, other wives

We arrive here today
From tragedy 
The loss of Kathi
Your dear former wife
And My dear friend

We arrive here today
From joy
In our newfound relationship,
Having been friends for years!
I knew you and liked you before
I fell in love with you!

Thank you for proposing to me
On Christmas morning, 2010
In front of Mom and Aunt Willie, 
My 92 year old aunt 
and 
making It official.

When You met My dear Uncle Tanky 
After you proposed, he took me aside 
And said he's the best!

I agree—I have no doubt.

Many of our friends here today have 
Told us that they will be glad when we get married,
So we would stop kissing and hugging each other
All the time!

I will never stop!
Each kiss and each hug heals my soul at a deeper level
I want more!

Lin, to me
You are a cool mountain breeze
Deer stopping by for nourishment & comfort!
You are laughter!  Every Wednesday night at 
     round dancing when you refer to the foxtrot 
     as the F word, I laugh deeply!

I know that the life we will start today 
Is rich
blessed
And oh, so good!

As I look out over
Our family and friends,
I know we have the support
And power to make this marriage
Become a fascinating adventure.

Today we become husband and wife
And some of you may wonder
"why?"
At our age.

Here's my reason—
I wanted to stand today before
My family and friends and God and profess 
     my love to you.
To me the sacrament of marriage 
Has a different value today!
I wanted the protection for us
That marriage offers.

I commit today 
To be Larada
Creative, messy, wacky and fun!

I ask you to be Lin.
Creative, neat, linear and goofy!

Together we form a "we"
That's dynamic!

I could site a long list of thank you's today, 
     but I want to thank you mostly for one thing—
     choosing to
Share the rest of your 
Life with me!  It's here!

After I read this, Lin played, I Cross My Heart, a George Strait song for me—George is my favorite.

Finally,

The joy on my face in the picture below shows exactly what this day was for me—the best day of my life!

Larada Horner-Miller on her wedding day - picture

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

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Category: square dance

Germany Again: The First Four Days!

September 15 – Flew to Munich, Germany

September 16 – Arrive at the Munich Airport

September 17 – The Farmer’s Museum in Amerang.

September 18 – Bershtesgaden: Salt Mines & Eagle’s Nest – Weather permitting.

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Hair on Fire

After 20 Years: Hot August Nights in the Bag!

How It Started

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Returning to my featured book of the month

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Hair on Fire

If Your Dad Is Still Alive: Hug Him Today!

My Thoughts Today

More of His Cowboy Life

Dad & Mom’s Dance Life

Dad Loved to Travel The USA

Dad Loved His Family

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections

Day 29 – A Picture of Me—On My Wedding Day

Back Story

Our Wedding Day

It’s Here! Our Wedding

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections