Warm Winter

2010 has given us the warmest January on record.  What a change

from last year, with never ending snow storms!  This mild winter
has sure been enjoyable.  And now the crocuses are already
in bloom.These little reminders that Spring is just around the
corner are surely welcome in my yard.  The weather has been
lovely, but I am ready for longer days, more sunlight. 
The sun going down at 5 pm makes the day so short,
I will really appreciate more daylight!

More Birthday

Can you guess what my birthday present was?  Yes, the red roses.

Now look again.  See the amazing cushion on the chair?  Multiply

that by 6 and that is one wonderful present from my mom.  These

beauties have rubber on the bottom so they don't need the ties

that tend to rip right off leaving gaping holes in the cushions. 

Thanks Mom!  They color is just right and they fit the chairs

perfectly.  I love them!

My Birthday

Just a quick post to say that I had a fun birthday.  Keith

took me skiing at Mt. Baker.  The weather wasn't too

great, but I picked up a new ski technique I'm pretty

excited about.  He also gave me red roses and a yummy

dinner.  So I think this is the start of a fantastic year!

Trouble in Silver City

I'm reading a book for bookclub called "These is my Words"

by Nancy E. Turner. The main character is a young pioneer type

gal who reminds me an awful lot of "Annie" in the play we

did this last Spring. Just look at Annie, the one with the gun

in her hand. You can see she's got gumption. Interestingly

enough, the character in the book also makes soap and sells

it in town, not unlike my character in the play, Clara.

Well, the point is, it's been a good read, a real page turner.

I can't say it's been an easy read though. It's full of heartbreak

and sorrows. But somehow, our heroine keeps going and

succeeding. She makes everyone and everything around

her better. And all the time she doubts her own abilities.

It's probably that humilty that makes her so likeable.

A good lesson for us all.

Thanks for the Pies Katie!

Katie really cranked the menu output up a notch over Christmas

with her amazing

Rio Lemon Chiffon Pie and...

her Most Divine Triple Chocolate Pie. They were fantastico!
She had Diane and I hopping as her trusty assistants. In
fact I think we pretty much qualified as sous chefs.
We were busily beating egg whites, grating chocolate,
folding in meringue, and drizzling chocolate. It was an
exciting time in the kitchen for sure. Almost as fun
as actually eating Katie's fabulous creations!

More Christmas Morning

Yummy breakfast! Overnight Baked French Toast and

Breakfast Casserole. A lovely fruit plate including fresh

pineapple was created by Katie.

"I cannot live without books."

Thomas Jefferson, he knew how to put it in writing.

Opening gifts from Grandma.

It took Eric about 3 days to read the whole book. He loved it.

Three great women.