300 Days of Sunshine

The past week has been so wonderful!   I love Thanksgiving and all the delicious food and warm camaraderie that accompany it.   We had a picture perfect “friendsgiving” with our good friends in Santa Fe.   Everyone brought something delicious – chipotle seasoned turkey and gravy, homemade stuffing, green bean casserole (hot dish if you’re from the north country), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, apple pie.   Did I mention there was wine and Baileys?   I’m so thankful to have met such a great group of friends here. I’m not going to lie, I was pretty impressed with my own contributions to the Thanksgiving feast as well.   I baked my Pumpkin Cheesecake Cake that is probably the yummiest thing to every come out of my oven.   It was a little lopsided this time around, but just as delicious!   I also made some homemade walnut-crusted wheat bread and baked cranberries with apple and coconut.   I could eat these every day! Pumpkin Cheesecake Cake (photo from R

In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, Long ago. Earlier this month we welcomed our first big snowfall of the year in Santa Fe.  I absolutely love waking up to a dusting of powder and gazing up at the white capped mountains in the distance!  I couldn't wait to get up to the hiking trails and create some tracks, and I think Kua was even more excited than me! Beginning the Winsor Trail The dogs are loving it! Yum Snow beard!  I think I am ready for winter and I look forward to lots more hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing!  

I can see snow in the mountains!   Winter is here!   I was planning to hike today but the blustering winds and ominous clouds encouraged a stay-inside-drink-coffee-read-books type of day, which was greatly welcomed after a long three weeks at work.   I have been house sitting this week for our good friends vacationing in Hawaii, which made my schedule doubly busy, but also provided me with the perfect opportunity for a staycation.  (Staycation: "A neologism for a period in which an individual or family stays and relaxes at home, possibly taking day trips to area attractions.  Staycationers achieved popularity in the US during the financial crisis.")  In between dog walking and attempted cat befriending, I relaxed in my pajamas, read magazines, and finished up some crochet projects.   Here are some pretty things I made: My first afghan! Close-up Kua approves Slouchy hat in Golden Rod Slouchy hat in Cranberry Cowl Pot handle