Sledding!

Ketchum, Idaho
Monday, December 28, 2015

Before we moved on to trying out the more nuanced sports of skating and x-country skiing, we decided to start with sledding. Challenging enough, it turns out! Especially when the slopes have hardened and developed bumps--exhilarating, but terrifying, too!

Snow shoes!

Ketchum, Idaho
Sunday, December 27, 2015

I just gave snow-shoeing a trial run! The snow here is DEEP and powdery which makes snow shoes the perfect thing for not sinking in too deep... Got outside in late afternoon when it was UP to 16F--most of the day it was around 5F. I think I could do more of this!

Echoes of Mongolia

Ketchum, Idaho
Sunday, December 27, 2015

This morning we pulled up the shades, and were greeted by this spectacular sight. It was very cold (about -5F) when we got up, and the dry air and temps reminded me of Mongolia. Spectacular!

Santa Rabbit & friends

Seattle, Washington
Thursday, December 24, 2015

Santa Rabbit gets a careful investigation by one of her more lively relatives. Not long now before Santa Rabbit will be headed back to Siberia...

Final touches

Seattle, Washington
Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Today we added the finishing touches to the Gingerbread Stable. Most importantly, the horses were added to the stable yard, along with some trees and a few other barnyard animals...not 100% sure if we should have added the cougar...

Yalda!

Seattle, Washington
Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Spent a lovely evening with friends tonight celebrating the Persian Solstice. Fruits, nuts, and all manner of delicious food--and a bit of poetry, too!

At last, the days begin to grow longer!

Just in time

Seattle, Washington
Saturday, December 19, 2015

Just in time for Christmas vacation to begin, the library notified us that the new Rick Riordan book was waiting for us. "The Sword of Summer," here we come!

Baking for the New Year

Seattle, Washington
Thursday, December 17, 2015

Tasked with producing some cookies for a cookie exchange at work, I decided to go with a New Year's theme: '16.

I love baking...

Santa Lucia

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, December 13, 2015

Another lovely "Luciatåg" at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Ballard. And then the coffee and cookies...that's a sigh of contentment you hear...

30 hours in D.C.

Washington, D.C.
Monday, December 7, 2015

Spending a day + with family and friends in D.C. Unseasonably warm, but nice weather to walk around in. The scenes of homelessness stay with one...

I take my first ride on Seattle's light rail

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, December 6, 2015

Tonight I took my first ride on Seattle's light rail--a trip to the airport. The Mount Baker station was pretty deserted on a late-ish Sunday evening but it was a mighty smooth ride. Finally!

Food heaven

Port Moody, Canada
Saturday, December 5, 2015

We are spending the weekend with wonderful old friends in Port Moody. Today was my idea of Food Heaven: dim sum for lunch and sushi for dinner. Thank you M & M--it was fantastic!