Stories and illustrations about a special place in the lives of these Douglass 5th graders. They are all students in Leann Mullineaux's 2006-2007 class.

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As I sit on the mossy green rough rock, I look around. Below me in the valley the snow is as white as sunlight drifting and streaming away from a slot of metal. To my right, the clover surrounds me like thick, bright, ruffles of grass. Everything is silent except for the sound of birds chirping like music, and the running water from the melting snow. I smell the fresh pollen from the mountain flowers, blended into the ice-cold air, loosening the snow on the peaks. As I sit I feel the smooth yet rocky wall by my side, it reminds me of when I ski at Loveland, every thing is quiet, and I feel peaceful like never before.

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When I'm up on my zipline, I feel wonderful, excited. I see the gray wire that connects from the tall post to the wood frame. I see the bright, red handlebars, blooming black-eyed susans, and tall waving grass. My eyes also catch the colorful bushes and shrubs, and the dark, textured dirt. I hear a magpie's hoarse crow, the rustle of leaves that remind me of a cool, fall day when trudging through through a pumpkin patch, picking out the perfect pumpkin. And beside me, I hear a beautiful butterfly, its yellow wings softly fluttering back and forth. I smell the fresh, open air, and the aroma of sweet honeysuckle. I feel the soft breeze that flows through the open field, making it seem as if it is a salty ocean, with waves crashing against its shore. And as always, I feel the cold metal of the handlebars as I zip, zip, zip down my zipline!!!

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My favorite place in the whole entire world is Abercrombie. When I'm there I feel incredibly jumpy, and I laugh, run, skip, and smile the whole time.

I smell the sweet leather air freshener, and I can hear the loud music with the people chatting behind it. I walk past the chestnut tables, and charcoal black racks of cotton outfits. But when I touch the soft, warm clothes, that is when I want to buy everything in the store!

I look at the black and white pictures, with models on them. It's dark and roomy with just an ounce of real light. At the end of the shopping trip I feel like I was at home the whole time, but I wasn't. I was at Abercrombie!

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If you come to my place, you have to listen so you can see the water glisten. Straight ahead are beautiful flowers, which are red, purple, and the Colorado State flower, the columbine. To the right are grassy plains, which sway in the wind. To the left are long-lasting pine trees, that grow so high that all you can see is the sky, with big puffy clouds. All you can hear is the roaring, rushing water going endlessly down the stream. Every time the water turns white, it bubbles from the air, as it changes back to its original color, only to change again. Close your eyes, and take a whiff of the air, then you can point out what plant made that delightful fragrance. I feel the icy cold water. As I lift my feet out of the water, I feel the cool breeze blowing throughout the valley. Every second can't be missed, as you wait for the next feeling to explode in your mind. I feel calmness overcoming the loudness

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My grandma's got a special room that she treasures. Her special place. That would be her doll room. There are many things to notice there, if you try.

Straight ahead I see the little, precious, glass dolls. They look like a story, all lined up like letters on a page. To my left, I see the big dolls all piled up like a mountain. To the right there are shelves full of the rest of the dolls, with just one small window in the middle.

I can feel the nice, squishy carpet, almost like feathers beneath my feet, and the beating sun on my back. Absolute silence is all that I can hear, except for if my 3-year old cousin screaming his head off, because his mama went shopping. I can smell the old dust that's been sitting, and sitting, and sitting.

Grandma's doll room is a place for me to relax and take a break (except for if my aunt's gone shopping).

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As I feel all the things to feel, smell all the things to smell, and hear all the sounds to hear, I think about certain things I will remember about being in my secret cave all my life. The clear sunny waterfall sticks out in the midnight cave. As I bend down to touch the cool rushing stream I catch the scent of mucky water. Tugging my hand back up, my elbow scrapes against the shivery stone. The shiver going up my spine, forces me back into a current of a slight breeze. The nippy breeze makes a leaf fall in my eye. Ripping it off triggers the thick pollen smell. This cave makes me feel very mellow and peaceful.

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When you are on the farm you see, hear, smell, feel, and taste lots of things. When I am on a farm I can see giant grain silos rising up into the sky like big brick beakers or test tubes. To the right of me there are giant grain and wheat fields stretching all the way to the horizon. There a tractor finishing its work is silhouetted against the golden sky. To the left of me there is an old dirt road where every once in a while a speeding truck will pass by. I can hear the faint sound of the tractor off in the distance. The crickets start tossing. One by one they each start until they are all singing in a chorus. I can smell fresh unpicked corn all around me. I can imagine what it will taste like in a few weeks time. When I reach down I can feel soft moist soil. A cooling breeze blows through the air snatching the last of the suns heat. When I am on the farm, all the sights, sounds, smells, feels and tastes make me feel happy and peaceful.

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I feel people splashing me from the Broadmore Hotel, as I'm drinking my strawberry milk shake! I'm sitting on a comfortable lounge chair, while I smell the chlorine from my head to my toes. The milk shake is cold, while it's running down my throat.

The refreshing air is twirling around me. I see kids and parents having a great time, splashing around together. The kids are making their way down to the swimming pool, and they ride down the twisty yellow slides. I hear screaming, and bubbles are popping up from the people jumping in the pool.

I feel wet, and happy, while watching people enjoy themselves. I'm enjoying myself with my yummy shake!

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The beating sun is like an oven, but the cool summer breeze makes it nice and warm. There are some loose rocks beneath my feet and the golden sun overhead. Trees as far as the eye can see, above the huge gorge are as tall as giants. I can see and hear birds singing sweet songs. The leaves rattling in the gentle wind with pine needles that smell like vanilla. I feel calm and happy in this peaceful place.

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My legs hang off the tall center Flatiron. In front of me I see the long endless meadow, covered with a blanket of snow. To my left I see the largest Flatiron, sitting, waiting, for something to happen. Then to my right there's the last Flatiron, facing me, watching my every move. When I look above me I see the frozen water falling from the sky like parachutes. I looked directly below me, and I felt like I was on top of the world.

The birds started singing and the trees started to play their branches and leaves.

The sweet smell of sap filled the fresh air. I could nearly taste the vanilla and butterscotch all around me.

I put my hands down and felt the hard jagged rock. I could also feel the light snow falling on me from high above. I look all around me I feel gentle and serene.

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When I am sitting in my mom's studio, I am surrounded by warm welcoming feelings. I see three creamy silk walls, and one mint ice cream colored. Through two windows are four pine trees. A screen in the corner covers a mound of balls, hula-hoops and instrument blocks. The texture of the wall feels bumpy, almost like racks and pebbles on a road. The floor is as smooth as an ice skating rink, right after the zamboni is done smoothing out the floor. I can hear the soft calming music coming from the other room. As I am sitting I feel relaxed.

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My mountaintop is my favorite place to be. I see the sunset in the sky. In the sky, I see all the beautiful colors of purple, pink, yellow and orange. The sun is hidden behind the clouds, as it slowly drifts to ground. When I look right, I see the rigid rocks go all the way over. It looks like forever. To the left, I see the same kind of rocks going on forever. When I look down, I see a ledge going down for miles. At the bottom there is luscious grass.

I hear the most beautiful sounds in the world. I hear the soft sound of moving water. As everything else around me is almost silent, the only thing other than the moving water is birds chirping and bugs buzzing. I smell the soft scent of mist, rising up from the water, and the light smell of wet, luscious grass miles below.

I feel the smooth, warm rock lying below me, with a nice, calming temperature in the air, about 75 degrees. I feel a light layer of grass under me, as everything is disappearing into the darkness.

The sky is as beautiful as a beautiful butterfly just waking up from a great night sleep. I feel very relaxed, calm, peaceful and very lucky!

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I lay on a rock and heat is so intense that you feel like your flesh is draining down the jagged rock. At least that's what your stomach feels. I look at a frolicking meadow below me. Beyond the meadow, there's a fish filled sparkling river. There are wavy trees that are shaped like giant slithering snakes. The taste of cold mist is pressing into my face from the waterfall beside me. The waterfall is a peaceful silence. Now I hear more clearly. I hear water brushing against the rocks. That's my very peaceful place.

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When I am here, I see green pine trees with sap as sticky as caramel. I look down from my rock, and I see the blue water lapping at the shore. I feel the gray rock under me, cold and rough on my bare legs. The air is cold like a freezer. Down on the other shore, a fisherman calls, ÒWe got a big one!Ó to his partner. I feel peaceful on this rock.

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When I walk in my room, I can see my pink bed sheets, and my posters all over my walls. I can hear the filter in my fish tank, and the birds outside my window. My room smells like me in every way. I can see there are clothes everywhere. I can touch my wooden bed frame, and it feels rough. The wood on my bed looks like the wood on the tree outside my window. The tree outside my window is a pine tree. I call it the magic tree. When I look outside my other window, I see my deck looking over my one-acre back yard, and our light blue shed with our bright red lawn mower. I can also see our black trampoline. When I look next to my bed, I see my dog's bed covered with his hair. I am happy here in my room.

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As I lay resting on a silky rock with powdered sugar snow beneath me, I can see the deep, glimmering waters and the tall, noble trees with flaky damp snow, and a cliff in front of me with a jumbo rock slanted like a rocky slide. I hear the white sparkly snow falling off of the pine trees. I can feel the smooth rays of the sun on my body. I can feel the puffy snow on my hair, the lacy, water laps on my feet, and the icy wind touches my face, blowing my hair against me.

The lake reminds me of a sparkly, fragile, glass vase. The delicate water is like a smooth skating rink just cleaned by the Zambonie. I feel calm, mellow, and peaceful like a butterfly.

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I see a town that looks like a child's building blocks. People are sledding down the mountain. I'm drinking great marshmallow hot cocoa. I smell cookies in the distance. Lights are flashing on and off, like glittering balls of crystal. Snow is crunching. People are laughing. I feel relaxed.

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As I shove open the door for Kindergarten, the feeling of excitement rushes over me, like water rushes over the earth. The smell of graham crackers and apples fill my nostrils. Friendly voices call to me, calling me to come inside and play. When I push the door open, I feel the cold window panels against my bare hands, like icicles against my fingertips. The tables and chairs are set for today's work. Seeing that, my blood pumps even harder, flowing more excitement through me. I can hardly wait to dig into the soft pile of today.

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I feel very peaceful in my boat. The lake is lapping, it sounds like a rock splashing in the water. I'm sliding on the freezing slippery deck. The meadow is vivid green like a pine tree. The lake is a glimmering sapphire, and extremely salty. It's so sour, when I taste it my face curls up! When I dip my fingers in it they turn numb and cherry red because it's icy cold. Finally when I sit in the middle of the lake, I smell fresh open air. The birds humming sounds are like a beautiful melody. I love it when I come to the lake.

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As I am speeding down the two-story slide at Bob Burger Rec-Center, I see a streak of warm clear water contained by a long, tan, curvy, half-pipe. I hear high-pitched lifeguard whistles and splashes. It is more warm and humid in there than California. When I come down the slide, I am partially laying down on my back with a closed-mouth smile on my face. At the end of the slide, it reminds me of taking a bath because the water is as warm as the water in a bathtub only bigger and there is throat-stinging chlorine. I am full of energy as I am coming down. Once I splash, I'm excited because I can do it all over again.

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I'm watching the world, the earth and all the things around me. I am in the middle of a tree in Wisconsin, and my dad is below me. The rough bark is warm, and the leaves feel like mini manarays. My younger sister, Sophie, is in the elephant-sized kitchen, but you can still hear her heartwarming laugh. Marie, my older sister, is watching me with big, bug eyes, and a pacifier in my mouth. Does it matter that I'm four? No! My dimples are so big; you could see them in Mississippi. I can just smell a fresh pumpkin pie, its whip cream melting in my mouth. I climb down and sit on the grass, chomping on pie. I'm watching the world, the earth and all things around me and I'm pleased.

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As I stand as straight as a sunflower, under the diamond black rock, a cool mist wraps around me like a cotton blanket.

As I look in front of me, I see white water sprinkling down into the full of Life Lake. When I look to the right, the curtain of water that I came through opens and closes, like a door in the breeze.

I hear fish jumping in and out of the lake. I can also hear the thrashing waterfall striking constantly.

If I could have this waterfall for a back yard, it would definitely be beautiful!

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I can see the cool transparent water rushing down the stream. Beyond that a grassy hill spotted with pine trees climbs away from me. In the distance I see a golden rocky ridge with smacks of snow, and dips down into a valley that carves a tree covered canyon, with a silver sliver of water tumbling down. The flowers sway in the cool breeze, and the rushing waterfall splashes drops of water into my face, makes me get a chill down my spine. I can smell the pine needles, and the flowers combined creating a thick absorbent smell. The rock I'm sitting on is cold, but not as cold as the water trickling through my toes. Then a fish squirms past my feet. I see the shiny scales reflect off the beating sun. Then I see a butterfly swooping past me and landing on my shoulder. Everything feels mellow and peaceful. I feel like nothing can touch me, I feel safe.

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As I sit at the top of a rock tower, I gaze across the golden field of yellow trees. To my left is a dark green forest of evergreens. To my right is more of the green forest, with giant rocks shimmering like gold in the sunlight. In this place I am peaceful and happy.

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In pirate shores I see sheets of water everywhere. When the 300 gallon dunk tank falls I hear a SPLASH!!!!! And the screaming and laughing of children. I smell that smell that you smell when you go to the beach. The water feels cool and smooth.

The sheets of water are like cold bed sheets. The water smells like salty seawater. I am excited and happy here, and that is why I like pirate shores.

See you next time everybody.

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In the mountains, a sunrise is a beautiful and magical thing, if you get to see one you're very lucky. I'm sitting on a broad, green pine tree, in the midst of a lovely and colorful sunrise. I gaze upon the incredible scene before me. A soft blanket of misty clouds stretches from the trees and obscures the fiery orange sun, so you see only slivers of bright yellow. Gorgeous paint strokes of red, blue, purple, and yellow streak across the sky spotted with soft clouds. This makes the sun look like a golden fish swimming in a sea of clouds.

My eyes fix their gaze on the trees around me. They are dark silhouettes against the breath taking sky. The trees stand proud and rigid and do not move.

An Earthy smell of dirt, leaves, twigs, pine trees, and the maple syrup smell of sap fill my nostrils. I also feel a warm, but rough texture of an old pine tree. I feel the warm gooey sap running through my fingers. I feel the needles that are as sharp as small spikes as I touch them.

Nothing is moving. No animals' chirp. The wind doesn't howl, and the trees don't sway. It is a magical time, and if you listen, all you'll hear is peaceful silence.