December 3, 2011

Wow, what a treat to ski in snow!  We went up with Robyn and her kids from across the street, braved the cold (it was mid-teens on the ski area) and had a great day.  Yes, only 1 run is open but it sure beats not skiing at all.

Friday was a mellow day at work, and we had an early dinner of veggie burgers, roasted fingerling potatos, red bell pepper strips and baked beans, then we bundled up and strolled into town to sit the front window of the Steaming Bean and watch the world go by.  Little Rose got a vanilla steamer, Frances got a hot chocolate, JC had a decaf mocha, and I... well I had a glass of wine.  Then we strolled back home at bedtime and they read a chapter out of The Incredible Journey.

I went on a moderate cleaning rampage in the kitchen, everything out of drawers and cabinets, wiped down, un- or under-used items eliminated, reorganized, repeat.  Yes, I am guilty of letting disorder build up to some moderate degree, but I refuse to be accused of not keeping a tidy home.  Unacceptable.  I seem to do the deep clean thing at the change of the season, so you probably won't hear me describe such a morning until May.

After warming up from skiing we walked down to the High School for the Annual Arts Bazaar, where I purchased two homemade pot holders (cool fabric on one side and coffee bean sack on the other), 2 tiny ceramic cups with giant handles that we will use for espresso, some chocolate for Ella for Christmas, and some locally grown and canned zucchini relish for hot dogs.

I made a gigantic macaroni and cheese with sliced up natural hot dogs in my new Le Creuset casserole, and we are recovering from that right now.  I think tonight will be a Muppets night - JC missed the episode last week with Steve Martin.  He looks so young!!  Wow.  Just playing the banjo and hanging out with a bunch of fluffy animal puppets like it is no big dealio.

My parents sent the kids advent calendars and from what I can gather they are the first ones they have had.  We had them every year when I was a kid and they are so cool!  I thought about it last year but concluded that they might lose their appeal with the fact that the kids are not here every day and will have to open a bunch of windows at once when they return, but big whoop, right? 

Even though we didn't get much snow out of this short-lived storm, it is such a difference to deal with snow and be immersed in a winter storm for a day or two.