Solstice Celebration

We celebrate the Winter Solstice with friends at an open house. And we had a fabulous time! The food was all so yummy -- green chile corn chowder, mini pizzas, more cookies than I can recall, spinach puffs, munchies of all kinds, great champagne, wine and beer. At the end of the night when it was just 3 of us, there was delicious fudge!

Lotsa pictures to share, too:

Susan had some actitivites -- everyone had to have some s'mores, toasted at the brazier table.
Susan with several of the kids -- Dan in the middle, Andy to the right.

I think this is my favorite picture -- the joy on Sorscha's and Dan's faces -- not to mention the flaming marshmallows, which was the reason for such big smiles!

Same kids, different view.

Got Andy to look up for this one!

Let's see... Teresa, Bruce, Linda, Jenny & Dave -- and a very clear picture of the Mona Lisa that appeared on the back of the little Mother and returning Sun made with paint marker on construction by Spencer. Susan said he was very excited to see the Mona Lisa show up on his artwork. There was some debate around the table -- is that Mona Lisa, Jesus or the Virgin Mary? I guess it depends on which media outlet you call to share your 'miracle' find!

Spencer in a very pensive moment.

Jenny, modeling the earrings Scotty made for her.

Sorscha making a sun -- from a styrofoam ball, yellow glitter paint and small lengths of pipe cleaners. Scotty made the earrings. Dan made something he called 'a doo-hickey on a stick' which Bruce said looked more like a sperm! Yeah, no pix of that craft item!

Late in the afternoon, Dan, Spencer & Scotty trying out Spencer's new wii wheel controller.

More Snow!

Okay, so it's not a lot of snow by, say, New England standards, but we've had our second snowfall this month -- before Christmas, even! And more snow is forecast for later today thru tomorrow.

When I grew up here, in the 70's to early 80's, snowy winters were common. In 1984, we had measurable snow on Jan 17, Feb 17, March 17, and April 17! I remember because I got married on May 17, but no snow that day. When I married again, it was another 17th -- in December, so today is our anniversary. No snow that 17th either. Today, tho, we'll have snow for our anniversary!

Anyway, on to the snow pictures...

Dan, shoveling snow off the driveway.

kitty cat tracks on my window sill

Snow on the pinon tree in our front yard.

Yesterday, we went to visit a friend who lives up in the foothills, at the end of a forest road, so the boys could sled. No pictures, because my camera had a small mishap when I dropped it in the snow and water got behind the lens. Once I got home, I tried using the blow dryer on it -- at Gary's suggestion -- and it worked! My camera is back!