mt bachelor ski trip

The annual Little family ski trip happened last weekend. This year's excursion was low-key compared to other years but low-key is sometime the best. We are continually blessed by my parents generosity. We forgot our nice camera at home but I happily documented the holiday with some iphone photos.

Beef

The freezer is full of beef once again. Somehow this happens on an annual basis. The grass-fed, home-raised, goodness piles high. So thankful for parents who so generously share the fruit of their labor.

My brother-in-law cued us in to an amazing blog and cookbook over the weekend.  Hank Shaw seems to have a simple approach to the pursuit of food; hes not a hipster agonizing about the carbon footprint of broccoli, he's just a guy who loves the idea that there are hundreds of delicious edible options in nature if you know where to look and how to harvest it. We are pretty impressed and inspired, you'll have to check it out and let us know what you think.

Dear Oregon

We will forever love your vistas and your wide open spaces. We will forever love the people who consider you home.

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We will forever wonder why your snow must always turn to rain and why it usually feels like we're skiing on a pile of glumpy, gooey, mashed potatoes.

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Much love, Denver & Chelsea

These three

 
I can't tell you how good it's been having Travis, Karen & Melody back in the country and here to celebrate the holidays! It has been far too long!

Garfield Peak

Oregon

Evening

Time stands still

Together again

It has been far too long since we've all been together.


   

Kelsey, on the left, recently started blogging about children's books over at bookerdoodles.com. One of my new favorite sites.

Boating

There is nothing that brings back a stronger childhood memory then a warm summer day spent on the Lake. Everything's the same, except for the boat is growing old just like myself and the life jackets are tattered. There are the same smells, the same green algae slime, the same glassy warm water, the same midges that smack you in the face and the same chips and peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. My Dad can still throw it down on a slalom ski. We've watched him with pride for so many years and he still has the skills. My Mama still manages to go for a spin and somehow keep her hair completely dry. Apparently the only thing that's changed is the leeches found along the shore which are even larger and more disgusting then remembered.

Grandpa & Grandma

Visiting my grandparents is like a constant giggle and a chuckle mixed in with a few hopeless remarks about the state of our country. They somehow manage to keep track of the goings on of their seven kids and bajillion grandkids/great-grandkids, making each one of us feel loved and special.

Logging & family portraits

Behind Times

Here it is almost the middle of January and I'm still talking about Christmas. It was a fantastic year for two reasons.
1)We were able to spend quality time with my family and Denver's family
2)Denver was able to drink some coffee out of his Christmas mug.

We gave thanks

So very grateful for:


These two little rascals


Thanksgiving spent with family


Time spent cruising around with tiny farmers (and sisters who share their photos)


A hearty slice of the only-pumpkin-pie-worth-eating and an even heartier dollop of whipping cream

An awsome collage of Chelsea being awesome on her longboard

Fowl Play

Ma and Pa L. inherited a wide variety of feathered friends over the weekend. Some people that they knew were moving, so Pa gamely offered up the long abandoned chicken coop as a place of refuge for the wayward creatures.
Little did he know how numerous the huddled masses turned out to be. Out from the dark concealment of the trailer strutted no fewer than twenty-five Chickens, four turkeys, twelve guinea fowl, five chukars, and two pheasants. Here is a sampling of the hilarity:

Phall Photography*

*This dumb title was Denver's idea

Spandex

My road riding sister talked us into going metro this weekend. No muddy hiking boots, minimal dirt, lots of spandex and a sleek sexy bike. Denver's not sure he's a huge fan. I am.






I stole the last two photos from the road riding sister We'll see how this goes down.