Decoration

 We saw so many homes exactly like this one while in NJ.  The Americans are BIG on wreaths, wreaths, wreaths.  There are also hundreds of homes in this basic style.  I was a bit disappointed in the "winter lights" (I'm still using ours because it's so darn dark in the Koots), but decoration with greenery is huge in the USA.  As I ran many of the roads, brightly garlanded mailboxes greeted me along the way.  Happy New Year, all!

Visiting Duke Farm

 One place that we visited while in NJ was Duke Farm, a huge old estate that has become an environmental education centre.  It was a great place for a walk and the building which housed the "environmental education bit" was lovely.  The billboards didn't really say anything we haven't heard thousands of times before.  The estate was originally owned by a tobacco baron,  and his daughter who inherited the property,  left her fortune to environmental and cultural heritage enhancement.  It's estimated that she left over $400 million to "charity".  I liked the electric vehicles shown here, and the old Victorian greenhouse was a gem.  There's some interesting female statuary in one "garden" and plenty of places to walk.  Of course, the entire thing is bordered by several of NJ's very busy roadways.  Plenty of Hurricane Sandy damage evident on this estate, too.

Hurricane Sandy

 This is a pretty typical scene from the area around Bernardsville, NJ.  I managed to do quite a few runs during my days in the east and everywhere I walked or ran, scenes of partially cut up logs, new power poles, piles of brush awaiting pickup, and snapped off trees were a major part of the landscape.  On the last two days we were in NJ, I could hear plenty of  power saws and chippers going - it was just like being back in B.C. during springtime.  There are lots of "dining out" stories from the residents - how they were affected by Sandy.

Disappointing Results

Just had a cooking failure.  I've generally liked the cookbook, The Best of the Best put out by the Best of Bridge women.  As a bridge player, I've often used their recipes.  I recognize that the recipes are rather old-fashioned and depend on store-bought cans and jars for completion, rather than cooking from "real" ingredients.  However, when it comes to baking and specialties it's pretty darn good.  Last year I tried out some new Christmas recipes and was very satisfied.  This year, I tried the Jewish Shortbread which I don't like as well as my old recipe for "sandies", although it's pretty good - very similar.  I prefer pecans to walnuts, I guess.  The ginger snap recipe was no better than any other one I've tried.  Today, however, I tried the Chocolate Rum Cookies and it was a total failure.  I used a lot of bitter chocolate and 1/4 cup of rum for expensive ingredients.  The stuff was crumbly and wouldn't hold together.  Chilling didn't help matters and neither did baking.  This is something we'll eat with a spoon.  I've saved all the crumbs and put them in the freezer to throw over ice cream!  I'm pleased that I used the Baker's chocolate I purchased in the US which is half the price we pay in Canada.  Maybe that's the reason for the failure.  Anyway, not getting too far with baking special things this year - generally it's been disappointing results.

First Ski

Yesterday I travelled up to Retallack to try some cross-country skiing.  The snow is in excellent condition!  The new bridge over the creek at the summit is a welcome addition.  Before, we used to have to travel out to the highway and walk over the highway bridge, often removing the skis for the 20 m trek to the other side and good snow once again.  Now we have a bridge put in by industrious trail workers.  Thank you to them.  It's a winter wonderland at the summit of the pass between Kaslo and New Denver.  Kaslo, today, is becoming part of that wonderland.

December Garden

 This picture is for my friend Marilyn in Regina.  As I headed out this wet and soggy afternoon in early December, I noticed that one snapdragon had a new bloom; this is the last remanant of my remaining garden pot down by the driveway.  It is in a particularly protected area underneath a big cedar tree.  The other plant I have noticed is one of my sweet peas - it is still growing strong and has one bloom on it but probably doesn't get enough sunlight to think about opening itself to the world.  Other things I love about the December garden are the rosehips and snowberry - a beautiful combination to my mind.  Happy Winter as we move toward Solstice. 

Rossland A & M

We've now completed 4 Fridays looking after Atley and Miro.  What a delightful way to spend a day!!  It's been very helpful to have Dave with me as the boys are crazy about him (especially Atley) and he is very good at amusing them if the grilled cheese sandwiches are taking longer than planned.  Andrea leaves for work at 8 a.m. and we usually have them back in bed by 9 a.m.  Depending on the conditions of health, sleeping time, etc. we have the choice of attending story time at the library or going for a walk.  I like to opt for the walk on pleasant days, but our single time attendance at story time was very successful.  We are back at home for lunch and then it's play time for an hour or two.  The boys seem happiest at this time of day - they play very happily on their own or with our participation and have a few minutes of bouncing time on Mum and Dad's bed.  By mid-afternoon it's time for another nap.  This could change very soon, I think.  Owly time seems to be after waking up in the p.m. and so far, grapes have worked very well at improving everyone's humour.  Dad is home by 4:30 and there are two very happy boys waiting for him.  As soon as Mum arrives home, the boys immediately start signing for milk.  This, so far, is a typical day in Rossland with Atley and Miro and their grandparents.