Some Days are Diamond, Some Days are Stone

While the eastern half of the country enjoys blizzard after ice storm after deep freeze... we are enjoying the warmest winter in, according to the Telegraph, 150 years. Okay by me! As the Chief Shoveler and Primary Snowblowerer around here these days, I'm quite happy with the lack of in-town snow...

... and the unbelievably amazing effect it has had on Vallecito, a nearby reservoir. Without any snow cover to insulate the lake at night, the ice has grown to a foot thick, and the warm days has provided an almost glass-like surface.

It was so warm it didn't take long for the coats to come off...

Well, at least mine and Acacia's came off. 

Cayenne is always dressed for the North Pole...

...unlike this lad, who sped past us in shorts - carrying a fish in his left hand. Huh? 

His friends near the shore had built a fire on the ice,
and that one little fish fed the multitudes.

It was a diamond day.

 

Tuesday on the slopes

One of the not-so-great things about my job is that I often work on weekends. One of the very great things is when the kids don't have school on a Tuesday, there's no one to tell me we can't hit the slopes. We had the mountain to ourselves, skied for five hours and never took the same run twice.

Cayenne had a fun time, I swear. ha!

What an easy way to make the whole week better.

 

Happy Birthday Mom

Mother Nature thwarted my Mother's birthday party. A huge storm passing through my sister Diane's town and heading to my Dad's meant she couldn't make the trip down. He called the bakery and explained his dilemma and they offered to bake him a new one tomorrow. (Quelle service!)

"Mom won't know if her birthday's today or tomorrow," he said, so best to play it safe.

But she might know what cake is. Or what singing is. My Dad has always maintained that we don't know what she knows or hears or processes, so he treats her as though she understands, and if the nurses need to speak to him about her, he leads them outside the room, and he includes her in those conversations happening in the room. He doubted there was any recognition, but you just never know. How could you know?

Then a few months ago my father took a break and went to Holland for ten days. He only agreed to go after securing Diane's and Terence's promises that my Mom would be visited every day in his absence. Holland was good for him and he enjoyed spending time with his brother and sis-in-law, eating the comfort food of his youth and travelling.

And it was good to come home, too. He went to go see my Mom, who is home for him... and she cried.  She took his face in her hands and cried and kissed his cheeks over and over and over again. She knew. And she'd missed him.

He spends every afternoon and dinner with her, and always will until death parts them. In the meantime, he will bring her roses every June 25th, and cake every January 13th, but most importantly, he'll bring her love and companionship every day in between.

Happy 77th Birthday Mom. Enjoy your twice-baked cake.

I love you both.

♥

(My sister-in-law Carala took this photo about four years ago and I love it. I believe it's the last portrait where she looks like herself.)



   

T'was the night before Christmas... I know... I know. Old news!

Oof! Christmas nearly put me over the edge this year. But that's only because I love it so much. I could just pretty much ignore it like Nicolas does - or would, if we let him - but some of my favorite memories growing up revolve around Christmas and how special my mother always made it. So lots of decorations and lights and candles and baking and anything that sparkles. And eggnog, of course, but that goes without saying.

It didn't help that I had two house closings (yay!) scheduled nearby, one on December 30th, and the other January 6th (Happy Birthday Nicolas!). Note to self: Never do that again. Having to deal with all the last minute stuff right around the 25th was a really bad idea. So that will be the first on my long list of resolutions.
Quite possibly the only one I keep.

Cookie Time!

Ilona and the girls took care of all the baking. Seeing the three of them in their aprons makes me happy.

Dipping the florentines 

Butter cookies are very serious business

Cayenne savouring the aroma of Christmas Eve dinner

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...

Lucky for Santa, all the cookies turned out awesome!

Cayenne's first knitting lesson

Here's a close-up in case you were wondering what Michel was reading...

Christmas Day walk

Mom and son don't get to do this very often these days

Working up an appetite for dinner:

Drum roll please...........

Yup. That's what I'm talking about.

Not bad, eh??

   

Short, Sweet and Great! (Not me - last weekend's flight.)

Know what's better than driving to Phoenix to see Nick?

 Flying!

And you know what's better than just flying?

Flying over incredible scenery...

... through super smooth skies.

♥ Thank you Mark and Carly for the time with Nicolas. ♥

   

WOT?

The question is always the same:

"What's for dinner, Mom?"

Today I got a, "WOT?!?" from Acacia when I answered, "Grilled Mahi Mahi with shredded Brussels sprouts and kale salad."

"You trying to poison us?"

"Yes, with love and health, my precious."

Grabs her throat and pretends to be gasping for air.

"Yum. Sounds good. I'm starving." With her head in a Fine Cooking magazine, Cayenne ignored her sister's theatrics until Acacia got louder and started falling off her chair. Only after Acacia got a smile out of Cayenne did she recover from her death throes.

And you know what? Turns out it was "actually some of the best fish I've ever had." Yup. Those words escaped Acacia's lips.

It's a Christmas Miracle.

   

Thanksgiving Hoodmire

Although the term "muck and mire" was originally lifted out of the book of Psalms where it refers to pits of despair, here in the southwest it pretty much means a good time. Durango Mountain Resort hosts a Muck & Mire, an annual muddy adventure race, just for the fun of it, and we borrowed the idea when planning Thanksgiving with four families in the neighborhood this year.

Introducing the first ever Timberline Hoodmire: A slip-sliding muddy obstacle course run.

As they completed each obstacle, each of the 11 kids received a playing card. At the end, the winner was not who crossed the finish line first, but who had the best poker hand, allowing even the tiniest contestant a chance at winning.

At the starting line, not quite sure what awaits them...

They first had to climb a tree and ring the bell to get their card before running to the water tower where Kristin was waiting with hoola hoops.

At Carl's stop, they bouldered to the bell.

And you never knew who you'd meet along the trail...

(Bill Luthy)

The Viking Maiden's aid station.

Katie took the mire part seriously. Nice leg warmers!

Yes, that's a turkey on his head.

I love this shot.

After whetting our appetites with sunshine and fresh air, we cleaned up and regathered for what would end up being a 6-hour progressive dinner. First course at our house:

Seven of the 11 

Each course was at a different house.

By the time we got to the Sturm's, we were very full but still enjoying every minute.

Very thankful!