Giving Thanks

 Thanksgiving 2011 found us meeting Tim, Mary Lynn, Dana, and David for 3 nights of camping in the Coyote Buttes area just south on Kanab, on the Utah/Arizona border. We hiked through a long lovely slot canyon, ate way too much turkey, and hiked in a beautiful area of curved rock and sandstone. It was warm and sunny during the day and cool but clear at night, offering amazing starry skies and reason to huddle around the fire for fun conversation. We are very fortunate to have the means, friends, and time to travel!

    

California Dreaming

Sunny ocean side portrait near Monterrey Bay, CA

We were lucky enough to combine work with pleasure for a week-end trip to California. I presented at a conference and James joined me to play golf, taste wine, with the aquarium, and generally take in the amazing scenery.

Somewhere on the Links at Spanish Bay

Pigs in Blankets?

 

We had a terrible crop of tomatoes on our little patio garden this year. We planted late and may have over watered. In late September, we finally had dozens of green tomatoes growing, but very slowly and taking forever to turn red. Frost was coming in October, and we’d always head that if you wrap tomatoes in newspaper and leave them in  a dark room, such as the basement, they will ripen. So, we tried it this year and ….voila! Red tomatoes! Unfortunately, the flavor was not that great and I cant’ stomach much acid, so James only ate a few before giving them away. But, it was a fun experiment.

Getting ready for baby

I returned to Harrisonburg for a week-end to celebrate Anna’s baby shower! She and Greg are expecting a boy in February. The shower was filled with great friends, thoughtful and useful gifts, and lots of fun for Anna. Can’t wait to meet baby Melton-Pelletier!