The View from Behind Our Rose-Colored Glasses...

New blog

2009-09-22T18:54:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone!! We (well...*I*!) have a new blog, if you'd like to check it out:

EnJoy! (For All is Well!)

While it may *seem* like it's a food blog, there is still a lot of our lives in there, since much of our lives is centered around glorious food!

Be Well ~
Anne

Wednesday, May 19, 2009

2009-05-20T05:36:00.005-04:00

Since completing our *365 Photos* project, I have released myself from posting a photo a day on this blog...and life has been SO much more FREE ever since!! It feels more *authentically mine* for not having to think about which part of my life to share in the blog...

So that is why there have not been many posts. I *will* be adding photos now and then, when I have some time.

THESE are VERY important photos!! We have new members in our family...and we are so very much in love with both of them.

Meet Monty...

...and Roxi...

(Sam is Monty's *boy*, and it is VERY rare that Roxi is in Sam's lap, because the big ole bulldog baby usually is!!...and, as you can see, he does *Not* approve of the little corgi being in his boy's lap!)

Life is Just So Grand!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

2009-04-11T13:43:00.004-04:00

I'd like to introduce you to a new member of our family...our Welsh Corgi puppy, Bella True. She was born March 20, 3 days before Choco crossed over...and she'll be coming into our home on May 8.

We Love Her So Much Already.

Friday, April 10, 2009

2009-04-11T12:59:00.004-04:00

So, this is what my morning looked like...

And this is what my evening looked like...

(that says Dave <3 Anne...my honey always makes me a loving Easter egg...)

Sam spilled cereal milk on his Alienware laptop several weeks ago...and we've been through hell and back trying to get the issue fixed and resolved (Alienware is *not* a consumer-friendly company!). Finally, we stopped fighting the flow and Sam chose to buy an external keyboard with his birthday money from his Grandma...and now he's back and gaming and happy (he was happy without it, too...)...

This is his keyboard lit up...COOL!!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

2009-04-09T08:03:00.003-04:00

Oh, I love it when ducks and geese deem our pond to be *noble enough* to stop for a swim along their journeys...

This wood duck has been here every morning...I just love him.

Look at the gift I received when I opened a new jar of Nutella!! YES!! This *beauty*, in addition to the gift of the deliciousness of Nutella!!

Another amazing sunset... Wow. Just Wow.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

2009-04-09T07:58:00.001-04:00

Dave:

Anne:

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

2009-04-09T07:31:00.005-04:00

Last night, Sam said, "I want to bake bread tomorrow."

And so, he did.

He and Jake made their first homeade bread ever, and it was SO wonderful to be a part of it all (I must confess to using my bread machine to make the dough for me when I make bread!)...

I had cleaned out the dough bowl and gathered up a little bit of bread dough. We were all playing catch with it (playing catch with bread dough is one of our favorite things to do!), and then Sam realized that he could make a teeny tiny pizza with it while we were waiting for the *real* bread to rise...
(And it was SOOO good!!)

All I have to say about this bread, these boys and this glorious life: Yes!!

Monday, April 6, 2009

2009-04-09T07:25:00.003-04:00

There is something *very* wrong with this huge strawberry picture...

I had to go into town to pick up our Jeep (hooray for new brakes that actually WORK!!)...and so I stopped at the ice cream shop to have a little baby-cone treat for myself, and picked up a treat for *all* of us... Mmm...ice cream cake...

Sunday, April 5, 2009

2009-04-09T07:20:00.002-04:00

Mmmm...my Dad's meatball recipe is just what we needed today...

Life is glorious...

Saturday, April 4, 2009

2009-04-09T07:15:00.003-04:00

I found this treat in the refrigerator that I had bought at Minamoto Kitchoan the last time we were in NYC, and it had expired, darn it! But I opened it up and looked at it and touched it and smelled it, anyway...because it's so very lovely...(yes...that's a whole Japanese cherry encapsulated in a sweet gelatin...)...

Friday, April 3, 2009

2009-04-09T07:13:00.002-04:00

Thursday, April 2, 2009

2009-04-09T07:05:00.002-04:00

I woke up this morning, looked out the window and this was the view from my pillow...the CN Tower...

Yay!! It's going home day!! We love to travel, but we love to go HOME!! But first, a trip to the St. Lawrence Market ('cause we just LOVE these markets!!) and a pea-meal Canadian bacon sammo for my Sam O (one of his favorite meat sandwiches)...

What a great trip. Home. Heading home...

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

2009-04-09T05:45:00.010-04:00

On to Toronto...and after checking into the hotel and having lunch, Jake, Sam and I sent Dave off to his silly Engineering conference and we hopped on the subway to the Royal Ontario Museum...

This is the Museum subway stop...

The cool museum...

And look who we got to PLAY with at the museum!!...the most awesome Laricchia's (well, some of them...)!!

We were excited about seeing this exhibit:

Journey to the afterlife through the mystical Book of the Dead of Amen-em-hat. Books of the Dead are funerary manuscripts created by Ancient Egyptians during their lifetime, containing instructions to help the deceased in the afterlife. Learn about the haunting “weighing of the heart” judgment ceremony, the mysterious gods Amen-em-hat would meet, and the magic spells that would keep his soul safe as he journeyed through the Underworld.

Lissy kept telling us that she had to show us the BEST thing in the entire museum...a window shade (which she aptly named *Shady the Shade*). NOT part of the museum exhibits, mind you...but an actual shade on a window in the museum. We were like, "Yeah, yeah...OK...let's go see your shade..." But, WOW!! She Was SO Right (of course she was!)!! It was SO cool and awesome and was a light-capturing-shape-shifter!!

Our time together was too short...and so we walked to the subway station and said good-bye...until we meet again in Niagara Falls in JUNE!!

We arrived back in the hotel just as Dave was finishing up w/his conference, and we headed to a restaurant where we had reservations...an incredible Italian restaurant called Kit Kat Italian Bar and Grill...

Oh.My.God. Favorite restaurant meal EVER. (I know...I say that a *lot*!!)...

My honey took this...

MMmmm...grilled calamari...

I'm still dreaming of and wanting this osso bucco...

So how do you top off too much deliciousness and too much beautiful wine? With *more*, of course! A couple of after-dinner drinks...

...and some palate-cleansing lollipops...

Our walk back to the hotel was the silliest walk EVER!!..

Sam's shot from our walk back...

And it didn't end there...we proceeded to the hotel pool where Dave, Jake and Sam had a wonderful time swimming together (the pool was indoors, but a portion of it extended *out*doors, so it was very cool...

What a glorious, glorious day...

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

2009-04-05T08:50:00.003-04:00

Dave has a conference in Toronto, and we are excited to be joining him. We're stopping for a night in Niagara Falls, to stay in the hotel that I'll be having my Shine conference in in June ~ the Crowne Plaza Fallsview in Niagara Falls, Ontario. These are just two of the loads of photos I took of the hotel...(the rest are on the We Shine Conference list)...

Monday, March 30, 2009

2009-03-31T08:52:00.003-04:00

Amazing.

I woke up at 5:30, and looked outside, because they said we *might* get some snow showers. But it has been beautifully in the mid-50's, and when I checked outside at 5:30 a.m., all was still clear and relatively warm.

So I got on my lap-top.

As I was working on the computer, I heard this fierce wind come up and rattle the entire house!! It kept up for quite awhile, but I kept on working (it was dark outside).

Around 6:30, I shut down my computer, walked to the french doors and saw a snow-covered landscape!! It was still snowing and blowing and it sure looked like winter again!!

Jake and I drove down to the village (in the valley) and there was NOTHING!! It was 28 degrees at our house, and 35 degrees down there!!

On the ride home, we saw the most beautiful sight...the mountains had a distinct LINE across them...the *snow* line...and as we drove up our road back to our home, we passed the *no snow* line and entered the *snow zone* again!! It looked very cool...

Sunday, March 29, 2009

2009-03-31T08:47:00.003-04:00

Anne:

I forgot to take a photo today, but I caught a good-night hug in action...

Saturday, March 28, 2009

2009-03-31T08:05:00.003-04:00

Anne:

This is the view looking directly *down* from our hotel room at the wonderful Omni at Independence Park.

Up and off to the Reading Terminal Market...we LOVE these kind of places!!

For my breakfast...sausage, egg and cheese in a PRETZEL!!...

Oh, those Amish Apple Dumplings w/fresh cream poured on top...MMmmm...

Dave's calling Jason in his hospital room to see what REAL food goodies we can bring to him...I liked that he was standing next to this ice cream cone...

This dude's on the job...making Jason a Philly Cheesestake (w/onions & ketchup...as per Jason's order...)...

A good good day...spent hours with Jason and George...and arrived home, quite grateful for ALL.

Friday, March 27, 2009

2009-03-31T07:19:00.010-04:00

I REALLY feel *over* being a red-head...

And so, I visited our awesome stylist, Max...and he took care of my desire for a change...

Because we have a dog-less home (sadder), and because we wanted to drive to Philadelphia to visit Jason, anyway, we decided to bring as much JOY into the trip and our lives as possible. So we headed to Old City Philly for the night, and did some good eating and drinking and walking and laughing and loving...

One of my 3 sliders at the Philadelphia Fish & Company...

. . . .

Crab fries. YUM. They bring this yummy warm dip with chunks of crab in it, and they pour it on a pile of fries. YUM.

After eating our first order of Crab Fries, I jokingly said to the bartender (we were eating from the bar menu at the bar), "We are moving in and we want you to serve these to us for the rest of our lives..." She laughed and asked, "Do you want another order?" I started to say No, but Dave said, "YEAH!"

Note for next time: NEVER get a second order of Crab Fries.

We walked off our beer and burgers and crab fries, touring the historic sights...

Dave and I at Betsy Ross' House...

I love Elfreth's Alley...and it's *very* cool at night!...

We walked to the waterfront...

As we left Penn's Landing, we saw a crowd of people gathered around and lined up at this shop...so we went to check it out and see what was so attractive...

Apparently, they must have REALLY good ice cream here, as this was THE place to be!!

They also had these cool sugar Easter "toys" ("Old Fashioned Clear Toy Candies" as they describe them)...

Thursday, March 26, 2009

2009-03-31T07:12:00.006-04:00

Jake:

This photo was not taken on March 26th, but I felt I should do something special, as this is my last day here!

I've done 365, so I'm headed off. Where? Who knows. Could be anywhere. Maybe I'll go find Waldo and hang out with him for a while.

Thank you so much! To everyone who's looked, and written, and been interested in my pictures! And especially to my fantastic co-author. Love you Mom!

I've changed a lot in this past year, and it's been such a fantastic experience growing into expressing myself through photography...

Thank you all so much!

Catch you later,

-Jake

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

2009-03-31T07:08:00.004-04:00

Anne:

Jake:

I've been really liking Jellybeans lately.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

2009-03-31T07:05:00.002-04:00

Anne:

Sam has been REALLY into wood-carving these days...

Jake:

Heehee. Lookit Jiji. :D

Monday, March 23, 2009

2009-03-31T07:00:00.004-04:00

Our Choco crossed over this morning...just as the sun was rising behind his mountain. Thank you for the Love and the Joy, Choco...we miss you so.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

2009-03-31T06:51:00.003-04:00

Anne:

Our Beloved Boy, Choco...

Jake:

Jamie left today, and I missed her.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

2009-03-31T06:45:00.004-04:00

Anne:

Amazing sunrise...

A much-needed colorful flower for my library program craft...

And two boys sleeping...

Jake:

Friday, March 20, 2009

2009-03-31T06:39:00.003-04:00

Anne:

Oh, how beautiful to listen to brilliant, unschooled teenagers laughing while playing with their Silly Putty and Matchbox cars...

...and Clementines...

Jake:

And somehow this was my best picture for today. o-o

Thursday, March 19, 2009

2009-03-31T06:35:00.004-04:00

Anne:

We are *LivingStrong*...wearing the bracelets, and thinking of our nephew Jason every second, sending him LOVE, as well as Wellness and Health Vibrations...

Homemade pizza in the oven is a beautiful thing...

Jake:

All of my REALLY good photos coincided on today. : O Jamie's so cute. We went out into the woods and found all sorts of treasure!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

2009-03-31T06:28:00.004-04:00

Anne:

We went into Oneonta today, and decided to stop in a new coffee shop (located in the building that our hair-stylist just left!). WOW! It was AMAZING!!

Here's the delicious "coffee" Jake and I shared... :)

As we sat and enjoyed our beverages, this little girl and the nature program on the TV behind her entertained us. She is the owner's daughter, and you can just tell! She sat there bouncing on that couch the ENTIRE time we were sitting (her Mom was elsewhere, chatting with friends).

Lovelies at the Autumn Cafe...

Jake:

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

2009-03-31T06:16:00.004-04:00

Jake:

Hey look!

It's Jamie!

Anne:

It's JAMIE day!!

My day started out making Giada's Grilled Vegetable, Herb and Goat Cheese Baguettes.

Then it was the 1 1/2 hour drive to the Albany Amtrak Station...

My boys in the café...

We sent Jake to pick up his sweetie on his own...

When did my little boy Get So BIG???...

Sweeties...so happy to be with each other...

Monday, March 16, 2009

2009-03-31T06:14:00.002-04:00

Anne:

Orange you glad I took this photo??

Jake:

Orange you... Nah, I can't tie this in with oranges. o-o

Sunday, March 15, 2009

2009-03-31T06:01:00.005-04:00

Jake:

Whee!

I like buttons.

Anne:

Me and my sweet doggie...my Choco...

My men. I love them. This is the swing that my honey made, with Sam. It started out being a swing that was needed for when Jamie visits this week, but somehow turned into *my* swing. And so my honey bought pink paint for *my* swing.

My manly man's beautiful pink painted hands...

Sam, working on the wood-pile w/Dave today...

Jake:

Saturday, March 14, 2009

2009-03-22T19:43:00.006-04:00

Anne:

The sweet view from the front window, looking directly DOWN...

My Manly Man doing his Manly-Man things...so that his family is warm next winter...

My Library Program String Art...

Jake:

Mm... Isn't it nice to watch the road slip by?

Friday, March 13, 2009

2009-03-22T19:38:00.003-04:00

Anne:

After our DElicious Red Velvet Cupcakes that we had in the city, we've kinda been craving them again...so I made some...from a mix, yes, but still...really COOL! (J: And really yummy.)

Jake:

Yes.

Again.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

2009-03-22T19:29:00.004-04:00

Anne:

I know... ::snore:: ... MORE sunset photos...

But it's just so breath-taking every night, I can't resist...

Jake:

More ice. We had lotsa ice.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

2009-03-19T07:41:00.005-04:00

Anne:

We did it! Sam and I finished our Lego. Oh, the hours we spent laughing together on this project!...

Jake:

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

2009-03-19T07:29:00.003-04:00

Anne:

We were out of mayo for Sam's sammo, so we made our own!

The above photos are actually from the first batch, which we had to throw out because the recipe led us astray and there was too much oil, and it separated soon after it came together.

So we did it again, and this one was really good and delicious, albeit quite yellow...

Jake:

Chocolate!

On a spoon! : D

Monday, March 9, 2009

2009-03-10T09:13:00.005-04:00

Anne:

Images from the library...Before the Children Arrive...(the images are much SWEETER *after* the children arrive, but I get so busy that I don't always get to take photos!)...

(I made those signs!)

And the sweetest image...my associate, my boy, my Jakey...

. . . .

This Necklace Is Gorgeous. This is a gift from a member of my *Shine with Unschooling* list, Lyla. Her unschooled boy, Oscar, makes BEAUTIFUL jewelry and sells it ~ check it out!! I was admiring this particular piece, and then it showed up in my mailbox, as a gift of gratitude. How sweet. I am so excited about wearing this beautiful piece, and feeling the Love that came along with it.

Thank you, Lyla. Thank you SO much, Oscar.

Jake:

Sunday, March 8, 2009

2009-03-10T09:08:00.002-04:00

Anne:

Heehee...

Sam loves his new *spying* spot...

Jake:

Saturday, March 7, 2009

2009-03-10T08:59:00.004-04:00

Anne:

Homemade Root Beer Drinking Day!!

Mmmm...it was DE-licious!!

Jake:

Friday, March 6, 2009

2009-03-10T08:37:00.005-04:00

Anne:

It was *belated* Mardi Gras in our home today, as I finally had a moment to make my King Cake (oh, I LOVE King Cake!).

I made a large one for us and a smaller one for my sweet neighbors, for taking care of our Choco while we were in the city.

According to tradition, you're supposed to hide a little baby in the cake (supposedly representing baby Jesus), and the person who finds it in their piece of cake has various privileges and obligations...they get to be *King* for the day, as Sam put it.

Well, we don't have any plastic babies in our house...so I used a Mega Blox orc. Sam got it.

(Oh, he looks so humiliated!!)

Note to self for next year: the *baby* in the cake does not wash clean very well. Also, do not use anything again that is in two parts. The legs got separated from his body. After fixing him and joking about how someone could have choked on his legs, Sam asked, "Um...Mom? He didn't have a weapon in his hand, too, did he??!!"

Poor Orc. I'm sorry you're covered in King Cake for an eternity now.

Jake:

Margaritas are yummy. : D This picture is a little boring.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

2009-03-06T09:06:00.005-05:00

Anne:

**@@## FLASHBACK ##@@**

From his earliest days, when he would, one by one, put pieces of cat food into the cat's water bowl to see if they would *sink* or *float*, Sam, like ALL children, has been a True Scientist (and how glorious that he was FREE and *allowed* to Be and Learn and Explore and Create!!)

Last night, Sam requested we "do something FUN...like a project!" And so we got out the root beer making kit (that they received for Christmas in 2007!) and we DID IT!!

We had such a great time. The kit came with a balloon, and at first we were like, "WHAT?? WHY??!!" But then when we had to wait ten minutes (TWICE), we were like, "Wheeee!!! A BALOOOOOON!!!" And we batted it around while waiting...

After a fun morning of sanitizing instruments, mixing, measuring, waiting and balloon-batting...we are finally able to pour our home-made root beer into the bottles!

Let the FERMENTATION COMMENCE!!

. . . .

Meanwhile...I had made this cake this morning (we love Love LOVE Whole Foods' organic yellow cake mixes!!) (and the chocolate is the BEST, too!). Jake, Sam and I kind of played a game of *sneaking* pieces all day long...me pretending to get mad at them when they were sneaking pieces, but stuffing my own face with some from time to time, pretending I had nothing in my mouth at all...

By the time I got around to frosting it in the late afternoon, this is what was left of it...

It still made the most perfect and CUTEST dessert...

. . . .

Sam and I have been working on this General Grievous LEGO® for quite some time now. We got frustrated at the beginning, because we FORGOT ONE CRUCIAL PIECE!! So we had to start all over again. But we did, and we are thankful, because now it just FLOWS!!

Sam usually does LEGO's® with Dave, and when Dave was watching Sam and I in our power struggles to be the one who BUILDS, Dave said to me, "I usually get the pieces ready and Sam builds." Well, I am not Dave and Wah! I wanna build, too!! And so we both share in ALL responsibilities, and we laugh and we yell and we tease and we have the BEST fun...and the power struggles are all for show...

:)

Oh, I love our life...

Jake:

Jiji was on ice today! And I was lucky enough to get a shot.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

2009-03-06T08:59:00.004-05:00

Jake:

A bit barren. : )

Anne:

Mmmm...LOVE these *Jamie Oliver* mushroom & spinach calzones...

They go good w/a brewski...Ommegang's Rare Vos tonight...

. . . .

This scarf is the first thing I ever knit. My friend, Cathy McNulty, was at our house for dinner with her girls (years ago!), and As They Were Leaving, Cathy said, "OH! I forgot I wanted to show you how to knit!" She pulled out of her bag this beautiful skein of yarn and knitting needles she had bought just for me...and she showed me how to knit!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

2009-03-06T08:55:00.002-05:00

Anne:

Jake:

Monday, March 2, 2009

2009-03-06T08:46:00.003-05:00

Anne:

The silly and very short life of an angel food cake (as requested by Sweet Sam...)

(*Silly*, because it becomes a very ridiculous hat for a bottle of wine...)

Jake:

Sunday, March 1, 2009

2009-03-06T08:14:00.004-05:00

Anne:

Well, Hello, grass!!

We all wanted to go for a walk today, it was so warm and beautiful...

And I wrote a post about it at my *Shine with Unschooling* list:

We headed out, and Sam said, "I want to walk in the woods...is that OK?" I said, "Sure! You lead. We'll be right next to you, following you."

I smiled to myself after I said that, knowing that those words were our unschooling lives. And Sam did *not* lead the entire time, but we started out following him. Then other people had ideas for different directions, or were drawn to something somewhere else that others wanted to see, as well. It was a beautiful, swirling walk in the woods of truly living together, leading and following, exploring and discovering, sharing and keeping silent...

This is what happens when we Trust our children and are open to being enlightened by and learning from *their* worlds ~ as defined by THEIR hearts, not by anything else. They lead, we follow, we all discover, we share, they come along, we hold hands and we joyfully explore the infinite possibilities together.

It's a beautiful dance, this glorious life of learning and living in Joy (and an even more beautiful dance because those two ~ learning and living ~ are not separated at ALL)...and the music is the ever-present underlying tone of Deep Trust.

All is well.

Jake:

Saturday, February 28, 2009

2009-03-06T07:32:00.010-05:00

Anne:

Oh, how we love New York City!

We took Jake in to meet his sweetie Jamie ~ they spent the morning at the MoMA...

And then Sam, Dave and I did some fun, touristy stuff...

We did a LOT of great shopping. Sam found his ultimate *Bomber Jacket* at H&M on Fifth...and Dave got a rockin' pair of summer shoes at J Crew at Rockefeller Plaza.

This is my favorite store, Anthropologie...

This is the view of 30 Rock from the ground...

...and this is the view from the *Top of the Rock* ~ 70th floor of 30 Rock.

That's Central Park behind us...

And on the other side, we have the Empire State Building...

Our Lady Liberty...

We got VERY disoriented coming out of 30 Rock, and yet, as serendipity would have it, we stumbled upon this glorious bakery and were drawn IN by the sight of their amazing Red Velvet Cupcakes...

I love Rockefeller Plaza...

The window of one of our favorite places, Minamoto Kitchoan.

We had time to kill before meeting Jake and Jamie for lunch, and we were EXHAUSTED from our power shopping...so we slipped into St. Patrick's Cathedral and rested during a mass...

I love these two.

It was a VERY busy, joy-filled and GLORIOUS day in the city, but I had no energy left to take more photos after lunch!!

All is truly well.

Jake:

<3

Friday, February 27, 2009

2009-03-06T07:22:00.004-05:00

Anne:

Late-night ramp building for Choco, because with his disabled back leg, he's unable to do the steps on the deck.

Jake:

Thursday, February 26, 2009

2009-03-06T07:15:00.004-05:00

Jake:

There was a big puddle! And the water from the Roof was like 'Ploosh!' whenever it got to it!

It was cool.

Anne:

I love my children's library program partner...

. . . . .

The story of a delicious lunch salad...

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

2009-03-06T07:05:00.005-05:00

Jake:

'You teach me, And I'll teach you!

POOOOKEMOOOON!

Gotta Catch 'Em All!'

I was that little kid singing that excitedly every saturday morning. : D I thought it was the most exciting thing EVER.

Anne:

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

2009-02-25T08:50:00.004-05:00

Jake:
Look, a Bird! : O

Taking shots in the car is fuuuun.

Anne:

The inside of a Haribo gummi Happy Cola bag. I don't know if the gummis are happy or not, but they sure make ME happy!! Me LOVE...

Retro...

Monday, February 23, 2009

2009-02-25T08:43:00.003-05:00

Anne:

If only photos could truly capture all of the intense beauty of these amazing sunsets...

Jake:

Glitter in your eyes...

Sunday, February 22, 2009

2009-02-25T08:17:00.007-05:00

Jake:

Swing Pendulum

Anne:

My honey...intently reading *Watchmen*...because his boys read it...and they loved it...and Dave connects with Jake and Sam by allowing their passions and interests to expand and bring Joy to HIS world. This Love and Trust and Shared Joy is the foundation of our unschooling lives.

. . . .

The best three bucks I ever spent.

Sam loves his Big Putty (it's a knock-off, apparently, of Silly Putty...but ANYthing in Sam's hands has the potential of being silly...)...

Sam's finished materpiece (complete w/batteries thoughtfully placed just so...)...

Saturday, February 21, 2009

2009-02-25T07:44:00.006-05:00

Anne:

Happy Birthday to my Mom!!

Because it's WINTER, we're unable to get together with my Mom for her birthday...so we celebrated in her Honor!

We went to Cooperstown. First stop was Brewery Ommegang for some delicious beer (and some deep-belly laughs...too complicated to explain the joke, though...)...

Then we went into the village for lunch at Alex & Ika's, which Frommer's listed as one of the best dining experiences in New York State (and Hillary Clinton has eaten here...but that didn't deter us... ;).

The place is so lovely.

(See us in the bottom mirror...waiting to be seated...?)

DAMN! These boys are stunning!! (And oh so kind and sweet and brilliant and full of LOVE!)

The menu was full of taste-sensational options and we had a difficult time choosing!

It was oh so much fun and oh so delicious and I just Love My Family And My Life. We toasted to you, my sweet Mother!! Happy Birthday!

Jake:

Is there anything in the world better than warm bread?

Friday, February 20, 2009

2009-02-25T07:35:00.003-05:00

Anne:

The artist sleeps...

Since my crockpot was kind enough to make a beautiful shredded pork barbecue for us for dinner, I thought I'd make some homemade purple coleslaw. I couldn't NOT photograph these colors...

Jake:

Two pictures of me in one day? I'm honored!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

2009-02-20T10:03:00.004-05:00

Jake:

More trees.

These ones feel sort of like a looming presence, when you look up at them from below...

They're cool. : )

Anne:

Choco's been having a difficult time lately...he's feeling better now, though...just recovering from the discomfort and the anxiety of being at the vet overnight.

I really wanted to Honor Him Today.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

2009-02-20T09:52:00.003-05:00

Jake:

Lego's are sooo wicked cool.

Anne:

I felt I needed photographic proof that I do leave the mountain once in awhile in the winter... ;)

Sam and his Balancing Act...

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

2009-02-20T09:37:00.004-05:00

Anne:

Jake pointed out the AMAZING sparkliness of the snow out back, and we both ran to our cameras, yelling, "MY PICTURE!!...It's MY PICTURE!!"

I love the shadows of the trees on the sparkle of the snow (and MAN, I LOVE that SUNSHINE!!)...

. . . .

Topping the coconut cream pie with the meringue just looked so unbelievably...I dunno...SENSUAL?? I had to capture it with that same sunshine coming through the window...

Jake:

So sparkly! : O

Monday, February 16, 2009

2009-02-17T07:19:00.004-05:00

Jake:

My picture is not as majestic as Mom's. : )

Anne:

I completely forgot to take ANY photos today...until I looked up from my computer and ::GASPED:: at this glorious sunset!!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

2009-02-17T07:14:00.004-05:00

Jake:

Anne:

(...kinda ducking...because as full and glorious as this day was, much of it spent outside in the peace and Joy of the forest, in the snow, in the sun, these are my photos...yes...food...)

The sun coming through my Delicious Pickle Mary (what's a *Pickle Mary*, you ask?...it's a Bloody Mary w/pickle relish in it...DEEEE-licious!) was just beautiful...

I love making mini pancakes for myself...

Saturday, February 14, 2009

2009-02-17T07:09:00.004-05:00

Jake:

That was a good year.

Anne:

Man, for Valentine's Day and how absolutely wonderful the entire day was, I sure took some lame photos!

Breakfast biscuits for our strawberry shortcake...

And my cherry pie...

I know!! I need to take pictures of things *besides* food!!

Friday, February 13, 2009

2009-02-17T06:55:00.006-05:00

Jake:

Ahoy!
I found this cool thing in the woods, in a tree. : )

Anne:

Sweet Day. Here's just a couple highlights...

Lunch w/my men at The Autumn Cafe...

Roses and chocolate from my sweet honey...

Making marshmallow treats w/Sam, using JUMBO Rice Krispies (it's INSANE!!...each Krispie is...yes...JUMBO!!)...

Thursday, February 12, 2009

2009-02-17T06:39:00.006-05:00

Anne:

(J: Oh my gosh, I love the flower pic Mom. : D)

Sam was craving an angel food cake. I had a pint of strawberries, so I put them in the food processor and added them to the batter. MAN, that was DE-licious!! A heavier cake than a typical angel food, but really delicious...

Dave's had meetings at night this week, and I've still been recovering...so dinners have been kind of *Help YourSelf*. This is Sam's "Man's Dinner" (add ::grunt::)...

A huge bowl of peas...

A huge bowl of MEAT...with Dinosaur Barbecue sauce slathered all over it...

(He Be A Man)

Jake:

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

2009-02-17T06:30:00.005-05:00

Anne:

I woke up this morning with a craving for heart-shaped sugar cookies w/pink frosting. Since I didn't have any red food coloring, I used pink sugar...and liked these even better (I believe I love Valentine's Day because it's an excuse for me to celebrate my Inner Pink!)...

Jake:

Vanilla Ice Cream with whipped cream is my one weakness. How can you resist that?

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

2009-02-11T11:46:00.003-05:00

Jake:

This one is blurrier than I thought.

Anne:

We had too much fun in 3-D today, seeing Coraline, and happy to be feeling semi-good (both Jake and I still have lingering flu ickiness).

Monday, February 9, 2009

2009-02-11T11:44:00.003-05:00

Anne:

I am totally addicted to Clementines ever since my flu-illness... Can't.Get.Enough.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

2009-02-11T11:35:00.004-05:00

Jake:

One Ibuprofen left.

Anne:

My favorite glass (I have a glass-fetish-thing...)...

An amazing and brilliant sunset always lets us know that All is Well...

Saturday, February 7, 2009

2009-02-11T11:15:00.004-05:00

Jake:

All I have today is a picture of Condensation. : )

Anne:

I was feeling a bit stronger today, and knew it was important for Sam and Jake to get off of the mountain and out of our house! So we ventured into Binghamton and did some shopping at Target and Wegmans...

These tulips brought Spring into our home...

And this is my dinner. What IS it about the flu that totally changes any healthy eating habits you once had??!!

Friday, February 6, 2009

2009-02-11T11:06:00.005-05:00

Anne:

We're getting a new member of the family! Sam talked about how he's wanted an English bulldog for some time now...we all discussed it, and then went to the internet for further research. As grace would have it (and as our lives are so in the flow with the alignment of our needs and desires and the Universe), we found an amazing breeder, whose Bullie Mama was about to give birth.

Happy Birth Day, Belmont!

Here's Gracie, the mama, just before her c-section...

Nursin' those pups...Belmont, Sam's puppy, is the third from the left...

Welcome to he world, little Belmont!!

Meanwhile...back at the homefront...it's all about the comfort food today... My boys are taking such good care of me. Sam made me tomato soup with oyster crackers...

Jake made me banana slices w/Nutella and Reddi-Whip...

And I made myself a strawberry/banana smoothie...

Jake:

... I just made myself so hungry by looking at this picture.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

2009-02-11T10:58:00.003-05:00

Jake:

These are Mini-Gummy Bears. Which accounts for them having even less features than normal gummy bears.

'They're so itty-bitty!

Anne:

My view from my bed-ridden flu state...

Just GORGEOUS! The sun was coming up behind the hill there, and the frost on the trees was just SPARKLING like diamonds!!

My view out my door...my Jakey's head there, ready to take care of me should I need him (and OH I needed him...and Sam!)...

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

2009-02-11T10:50:00.005-05:00

Jake:

The land of snow and ice... : )

Anne:

I got hit hard with the flu this week, so my photos are kind of reflective of my lack of energy and feeling like doo-doo!!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

2009-02-11T10:39:00.004-05:00

Jake:

This is an Apple Core that Sam left downstairs. An apple core. : O

Anne:

Choco enjoys a little Lucky Charms once in awhile, too...

Monday, February 2, 2009

2009-02-03T08:32:00.003-05:00

Anne:

Oh, how GLORIOUS is my job at the library, with the children??!!!...

Sunday, February 1, 2009

2009-02-03T08:08:00.007-05:00

Anne:

Dave and Sam got to work on making Nugget a proper burial box...one that will protect her until the ground thaws and we can bury her.

We had a ceremony to celebrate her Life and her Passing... And then I picked up the markers that were next to the box and started writing on it. Everyone else joined in and the box was full of beautiful, loving sentiments for Nugget, to surround her for her eternity...

And then Sam started drawing grass all around her box, because that was Nugget's favorite place to be...in the middle of beautiful, long, sweet GRASS!!

. . . .

So, as I was folding laundry, and Sam and Dave were shoveling and bringing in wood, Jake came inside and said to me, "Do you want to stop doing that and I'll help you with it later, so you can come out and play my game with me??"

YES!!!

His game was to make a snowball and throw it on the roof! Yay! He was so excited!! And then I started with, "And whoever throws it the farthest wins??"

"No...you just THROW IT ON THE ROOF!!" (said with Sheer Joy!)

"And whoever throws it the farthest wins, but you can't go over!"

::sigh::

. . . .

I was inspired to make some clam chowder, as we had considered attending the Chowderfest in Saratoga Springs. But it's a 2 hour drive, and Jake is recovering from bronchitis...and so, as always, when we're open to even BETTER ideas that are in alignment with our Highest Good, the Universe provides. We had our own delicious (and award-winning, according to my beautiful men!) chowda, and the draft beer that we got yesterday. Sat in the beautiful sunshine, in the snow, and ate and drank and laughed and loved...

Jake:

Saturday, January 31, 2009

2009-02-03T08:01:00.003-05:00

Anne:

We had such a great day today...the Sun was Shining, and I could hear that the song of the birds was different...they know that Spring is on its way!

We went to see *Slumdog Millionaire* and just LOVED it. Then we took a drive to the Cooperstown breweries and filled our growlers with delicious, fresh beer.

All day long, we talked about fulfilling Sam's desire to have a bulldog. It all felt just Right and Good and Exactly What We Needed. And so we walked forward with it, choosing his name, even!!...researching puppies...and we found the most wonderful breeders, who will have puppies ready to go exactly when we wanted them ~ in April, in time for Spring and in time for Sam's 15th birthday!!

After seeing how much they cost, Sam started counting his money. This is his *Belmont* fund...

Jake:

<3

Friday, January 30, 2009

2009-02-03T07:38:00.006-05:00

Anne:

I loved this display of our electronics just sitting around on the table. These items are a HUGE part of our rich, full lives...Jake's camera, Sam's head-set for when he plays WoW, Dave's iPod shuffle w/his workout tunes, and my beautiful headphones...sweet deliverer of music that is a part of Who I Am!

Jake:

'Wishes on Eyelashes Fade'

Thursday, January 29, 2009

2009-02-03T07:23:00.005-05:00

Anne:

For some reason, today's pictures are all about candy!

My new Pez dispenser...

And good ole, authentic, German Haribo gummi bears. The ONLY kind of gummi bears, as far as we're concerned!! When I was in high school, the German club used to sell them, and we couldn't get enough of them. They used to occupy our bored time in classes.

(J: I love this picture. : O )

Jake:

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

2009-01-29T11:04:00.005-05:00

Anne:

Today, there is only space to Honor Sam's beloved guinea pig, Nugget, who passed away peacefully in his hands last night. She was so dearly loved, and we miss her so much.

Jake:

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

2009-01-29T10:48:00.003-05:00

Jake:

Anne:

We ebb and flow in and out of each other's lives all day long...and yet in the evening, we enjoy our Coming Together to celebrate ourSelves and our lives.

Here's Sam peeling some sweet potatoes for our evening celebratory dinner...

...and Jake, finishing up the laundry before he joins us in the kitchen/dining area...

Man, I make THE most delicious reubens E.V.E.R (not to mention those yummy sweet potato fries)!!

Sam's cocktail-making citrus corpses...skewered on a knife...

Monday, January 26, 2009

2009-01-27T09:03:00.005-05:00

Jake:

Look, a Leaf!

I found the fact that this one itty-bitty leaf had stayed on the tree through most of winter, fantastic. It's so cute, isn't it?

Anne:

A couple of shots from our hotel window, as we pack and say good-bye to the city, and head home to our sanctuary...

All is well.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

2009-01-27T07:57:00.013-05:00

Jake:

I didn't take many picture that I liked in the city this time. This one is from the car while driving there...

And I just got so hungry for Bar Americain food after looking at this post. What kinda sweet torture...

Anne:

We Love New York!!

We left home at 7:30 a.m., got to the city at 10:30, took the subway to midtown and did some power shopping for Jake and Sam at H&M, and then excitedly headed for Bobby Flay's restaurant Bar Americain for our noon reservations.

A.Maz.Ing.

Beautiful beautiful beautiful. And oh so delicious. By FAR our favorite food experience EVER. Bobby Flay just won our personal throwdown...

The colors of the photos are kind of *orange* because that's the color of the restaurant interior. Brass and orange.

Dave started off with a Kentucky 95: Maker's Mark, Champagne, fresh lemon juice and fresh o.j.

Jake got a Virgin Mary and I LOVED my Pickle Mary: Stoli vodka, tomato juice, fresh lemon juice, horseradish, tomatillo hot sauce and pickle relish.

Sam, our own mixologist, declined the offer of a beverage... :)

The basket of breads they bring you is just...indescribably delicious and oh so beautiful...

This is the hot potato chips and blue cheese sauce...

A bird's-eye view of our *trio* of shellfish cocktails: Crab Coconut, Shrimp Tomatillo, and Lobster Avocado.

Sam was so excited to order the Kentucky Hot Brown...

My urn full of mussels with an incredible green chile sauce...

Dave and Jake got the red pepper crab cakes topped w/poached eggs and tarragon hollandaise sauce...

Our next stop, to which we walked the four blocks so joyfully and completely satiated...

It.Was.Freakin'.Hilarious.

Will Ferrell has Bush down PAT. From where we were sitting, you'd swear it was George W. himself.

Will Ferrell gained the respect back that he had lost from me after I had watched a few minutes of *Stepbrothers*. This was a great show, and he stayed in Bush character every second...

Oh, glory GLORY, for a place to rest and rejunvenate after a long day of walking walking walking, incredible food and Sheer Joy...

As much as we didn't want to go back out into the cold, it was SO worth it to go to Rickshaw Dumpling Bar, and we're so thankful that it's so close to our hotel...

My beautiful boys...ready for The Killers show at Madison Square Garden...

I felt so FREE, not taking a camera or purse to the show, so I *borrowed* these photos from the CMJ Relay blog (thank you!)...

The.Best.Show.Ever. We just LOVE the Killers. Sam sang every word to every song and we all danced danced danced the night away!!

Being that our hotel is in the perfect location, there's a Whole Foods one block away...and so we stopped for some hotel munchies (I joked to our adorable cashier that there were so many people smoking pot around us at the show that WE got the muchies!)...

This tiramisu was JUST the perfect ending to our perfect day...

By the way, we HIGHLY recommend our new hotel find: Hampton Inn Manhattan-Chelsea. Location, location, location!! SO close to the subway, and to amazing shopping and eating.

What an amazing day.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

2009-01-27T07:45:00.003-05:00

Jake:

I don't know why, but I really like this picture. ; )

Anne:

I think the best food in the entire Universe is home-made pizza...

Italian sausage, sherried mushroom and black olives...

Roasted red onions, red peppers, zucchini and garlic, with some sherried mushrooms, as well...

. . . .

A blast from my past. It was driving me crazy, trying to think of the name of a certain band and the song they sang that my friends and I used to love to dance to at clubs. One day I was on the elliptical and it just came to me: Trooper. Raise a Little Hell.

I used to have the record, and at one party, my old boyfriend's friends all *autographed* it, as if they were the band themselves. Darn ~ again! ~ I wish I knew what I did with all my old records!!

At least I was able to find the cd on-line.

Friday, January 23, 2009

2009-01-24T09:47:00.005-05:00

Jake:

From our walk, in the early morning. : )

Anne:

Jake and I went out for an early morning walk on our wonderful dirt road...and this was the view of our home from the road, with the sun rising behind...

This is the cute purple house that we see at our *turn-around* spot...

Artist in action...

I made Dave's Dad some cardamom bread with almond frosting...I started the *tradition* of making him this bread about 10 years ago, when he fondly recalled to me his mother making the bread for him...

I colored this mandala with my new pens last night...

All is well...

Thursday, January 22, 2009

2009-01-24T09:39:00.003-05:00

Jake:

Introspection is a funny thing when broadcast.

Anne:

Mmmm...one of my ALL-time favorite treats...

These markers make my heart sing...

There *is* pie under all that reddi-whip!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

2009-01-24T09:31:00.004-05:00

Jake:

Anne:

Sam and I made an *Obama Pumpkin Pie* today. I didn't know it was going to be an Obama pie until I pulled the pumpkin out of the freezer and I saw what I had written on the bag: "Pumpkin ~ cooked & frozen 11/4/2008 ~ OBAMA WINS!!!" And that was well before the votes were in and counted and it was official...I just *knew*...all along, I knew...

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 ~ Barack Obama Day

2009-01-21T09:42:00.006-05:00

Anne:

The T.V. on, I was on the edge of my seat, watching the procession leading up to Bush's last moment as president, and Barack Obama's first ones. I was feeling quite incomplete, however, as my honey was at work, and wasn't with his family to share this historic and momentous occasion with us.

Not a minute too soon, I looked out the window, and there was my honey's truck, barreling up the driveway, just a few minutes before noon!! HOORAY!!! We're all together!!!

President Obama!!

We are FULL of Joy and Hope and Inspiration and Relief...

His wonderful speech...

And my lovelies taking it all in...

Dave returned to work, and this is him coming home again, ready to continue our Joyful Jubilation!!
::sigh:: All is truly well. Again.

Jake:

I've felt so at peace since the 20th. This election means so much to me, because for most of my life I've had Bush as our President, and have felt alienated and ashamed by our president... And not anymore.

Thank you America!

Oh, and I took an pretty picture of Ice Crystals too. : D

Monday, January 19, 2009

2009-01-20T10:23:00.005-05:00

Jake:

If you can guess what this is, you win...

The satisfaction of knowing you're right. : )

Anne:

Choco joined me for a Downward-facing Dog this morning...

(...upside down dog?...)

Sunday, January 18, 2009

2009-01-20T10:06:00.006-05:00

Jake:

The reason that there are so many pictures of snow in the winter is as follows:

There's a lot of snow in New York.

Anne:

Saturday, January 17, 2009

2009-01-18T09:56:00.005-05:00

Jake:

Absinth

Anne:

(Can you spot my Sam??...)

My beautiful men, securing our Christmas tree to the bird feeder so that its Magic will live on...

Grilling veggies for our fish tacos...

Dave's de-constructed fish taco...

Friday, January 16, 2009

2009-01-18T09:33:00.005-05:00

Jake:

Honeystickaround.

I'm not sure if that counts as a pun, but after Yesterday's fiasco, it just feels wrong. : o

Anne:

What a beautiful Friday.

After doing our shopping and seeing a movie, we came home to Sheer Joy and Following of our Bliss...

(I love how the beets in a salad make the fresh mozzarella pink...)...

. . . .

The story of our ottoman. It's small. It's old. It's cover is torn. We struggle to fit all of our feet on it when we're sitting on the futon, watching TV...someone complains that they're not getting enough of it (OK...usually that's me...)...

And so we bought a new one. A bigger one. So that we would have *two*, even, and there would be no more struggles.

But we returned it. It was too big. We're back to the Joy of sharing our little, old ottoman...snuggling close to each other while watching TV...

And it's wonderful...

Thursday, January 15, 2009

2009-01-18T09:24:00.005-05:00

Jake:

Lettuce pray.

That was an unnecessary pun, and I sincerely apologize... I'm not sure what came over me.

Anne:

The beauty of a cake batter being beaten...

I wanted to wait and go grocery shopping tomorrow (I am trying to *eat down* the kitchen cupboards as much as possible before shopping for more), and yet really wanted some hot dogs w/all the fixin's for dinner... So I made my own whole grain brioche hot dog rolls... They Are YUMMY!!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

2009-01-18T09:20:00.004-05:00

Jake:

More pictures of birds.

Anne:

My boy, Jake is AMAZING...he helps to keep his family oh so warm and snuggly...

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

2009-01-18T09:06:00.004-05:00

Anne:

Our home was filled with love, laughter and learning, as we hosted our first *Thriller* dance lesson with friends!

Jake:

My materials, now in HD. : D

Monday, January 12, 2009

2009-01-15T08:55:00.004-05:00

Anne:

Julia brought Jake and Sam some English chocolate bars...and I just had to take a photo of the wrapper before we threw it away...

I can never ever again buy Whole Foods' *Dulce de Leche Meringue Cookies* when we're in the city...I can't stop eating them, and I had a sugar hangover the next day...

But they're BEAUTIFUL and delicious!

In case you were thinking otherwise...or trying to make something different out of what is in front of you...

More Whole Foods treats (HA! I didn't even notice that it even says so on the jar!)...all-natural caramel sauce...mmmm...

Jake:

Look! An Artsy Fork! : O

Sunday, January 11, 2009

2009-01-15T08:27:00.007-05:00

Anne:

Ready for another wonderful day, Jake and I were checking ourselves out in the hotel mirror, and I decided to capture our *poses*...

So now my kids are worrying about me becoming some sort of creepy stalker just because I like to zoom in on things that I see in people's windows that make me smile...

YAY!! We get to hang out with our friends from England...sans their kids, but we'll have some fun anyway...

This is Julia and Tim...Julia is yelling at me because she commented that with Jake and I taking their picture, it was kind of *paparazzi*-ish...and so I shouted loudly, "LOOK WHO IT IS!! TIM CROUCH!!" And Julia yelled at me for not including her, and so I quickly corrected it by shouting, "...AND JULIA COLLINS!!!"

(...she's happy now...)

After a little shopping, we had to say good-bye to Tim and we took Julia to one of our fave NYC restaurants, Mesa Grill.

We were too busy eating and talking and drinking and laughing to take many photos, but I did get one of my delicious dish: Spicy Chicken & Sweet Potato Hash with Poached Eggs and Green Chile Hollandaise... YUMMMMMmmmm!!!...

Sam enjoyed his Eggs & Aged Sirloin Tortilla...

(Wah! I didn't get a photo of Jake's Grilled Mahi Mahi w/Roasted Pineapple-Cascabel Chile Sauce and Caramelized Pineapple-Green Onion Salsa...maybe he has one...or two...)

A beautiful and perfect ending to a wonderful meal...

Good-bye, Julia!! We love you!!

Home again, home again...thank goodness...we love the city, but HOME is best. :)

Jake:

I have lotsa pictures today. : D

This is what I had at Mesa grill! Mahi Mahi. My god it was delicious...

Sam At Mesa grill...

And Julia and Mom.

Skylight

Yay for stores that have disassembled Mannequins lying around. : )

Saturday, January 10, 2009

2009-01-15T07:08:00.011-05:00

Anne:

Yes!! We're in New York City and we want to EAT...fast and CHEAP!!! New York Burger has fantastic burgers...for both carnivores and vegetarians!

And I LOVE their sauces...mango curry...chili pepper ketchup...chipotle honey...

This was our view from New York Burger's windows...and Sam spotted something purple in the window that he wanted me to take a zoomed shot of...

After eating, we headed to the Chelsea Art Museum to see Tim Crouch's play England. We've been good friends with Tim and his family for nine years now, and we try to see as much of them as we can when they are on this side of the ocean!

His play was incredible, brilliant, heart-wrenching, and passionate. An incredible work of art, fitting to be played in an art museum.

Yes...more food! We decided to eat again before we did some shopping...and Rickshaw Dumpling Bar is one of our favorite NY places.

(That is a very long noodle, Jake!!)

Mmm...below is their *Badge of Honor* (or some call them *lethal*) Chocolate Soup Dumplings...deep-fried bundles of black sesame mochi oozing melted chocolate and Plugrá butter...To.Die.For...

We did some shopping in the cold, wet snow, and got some AMAZING bargains. I will have to write about my Dream Dress Score some other day (two of the most BEAUTIFUL cocktail-style dresses I've EVER seen...fit me perfectly...for TWENTY DOLLARS!!)! Jake and Sam cleaned up at Urban Outfitters, their favorite NYC store.

After some shopping and walking around in the wet snow, we made our way to the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater, to see a long-form improv show performed by some of the actors and writers from 30 Rock, Colbert Report and Conan O'Brien. It was an experience that was on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Tim's show in the art museum...and both were wonderful and deeply satisfying (although I preferred Tim's show!). (J: Boy. What a lovely shot of me. : D)

I could not get a clear shot of this, but it was our guiding beacon on our walk back to the hotel from the Comedy Club, and I felt it was noteworthy for that reason...

Oh, how sweet that a Whole Foods was located right on our path back to our hotel...(and I just happened to have brought an empty suitcase to fill with Whole Foods goodies!)...

Good night...
All is well...

Jake:

I Heart NY!
This is a picture of umbrellas, but it came out fuzzy, but I still like it. : D

Note: All of my pictures today are in reverse order to how they originally happened. So yeah. : )

Friday, January 9, 2009

2009-01-15T07:04:00.002-05:00

Jake:

Beyond!

Anne:

My Sam and his passion...mixology...

Thursday, January 8, 2008

2009-01-09T07:59:00.004-05:00

Jake:

'Or Abandon them to Oblivion'

This book is adored. : )

Anne:

I was thinking of taking down the Christmas tree today...but the forces of the Universe whispered to me that it wasn't quite time yet...

...and this confirmed it...

Jiji just loves having a real tree in the house!

This was sitting on our table...it was a marking a place in a book from several years ago...and I thought it was sweet...

It had said *Volunteers* on the other side...and it was a gift from when Jake and Sam and I delivered hot meals to home-bound seniors...OH so long ago (here's an article in which I wrote a bit about that experience: This is How We Give).

All is well...

Wednesday, January 7, 2008

2009-01-08T07:58:00.006-05:00

Jake:

'Not the same Image as below'

There are some differences...

Anne:

We made vegetarian tamales for lunch today...

This is Jake...stealing my shots...

:)

My God, they smelled SO wonderful and were torturing us, steaming for an hour and smelling so wonderful...

Time to eat!! A shot complete w/steam...

...and one without...

I love tamales.

Tuesday, January 6, 2008

2009-01-08T07:37:00.004-05:00

Jake:

'The Umpire State'

You know. Like. An Umpire in Football.

Anne:

What a gorgeous day. The Sun is Shining!!!

The sun's reflection off of the icey land is so beautiful.

(...it really wasn't that cold out, Sam!...)

It's still Christmas in our home...

My brew and Jake's brew...I loved the contrast...

My honey gave me a new wedding ring. While I am probably at the weight I was when we were married, my original wedding & engagement rings somehow became so tight on my finger that I could not get them off (it's like my knuckle got bigger, because it fit my finger, actually!). When I had my hernia surgery, a nurse managed to get the engagement ring off, and then one night last month, my hands were so cold, and I knew it was my opportunity to work my wedding band off. Thankfully and sadly, I got it off. I will have them re-sized, but until then, I love my rose gold Inner Light ring.

Monday, January 5, 2009

2009-01-06T09:53:00.005-05:00

Jake:

'This is an awful picture.'

Please pay it no mind.

Anne:

Despite having a wonderfully diverse and love-filled day today (it was back to work at the library program and what a Joy that was!), I failed to photograph anything along the way!!

So I thought I'd share these photos that I took of my Animal Crossing, City Folk game.

This is my character, Tano (a loving nick-name given to me by my honey when we were first married, because that was the name brand of one of my little purses...and I am still called Tano by some family members!).

Sunday, January 4, 2009

2009-01-06T08:13:00.011-05:00

Jake:

We got a Go Board. : D This was my project for the weekend.

'GO! Board.'

I actually have lots of pictures of outside, and snow, and beer, but they look about the same as Mom's.

Anne:

The day started much like yesterday...with cinnamon-orange "Bally Cake" (since Dave missed out on it yesterday and it was SOOOOO delicious!!)...

Then some singing of newly uploaded SingStar music...

Then we headed outside, to be renewed by the Glory of the Sunshine and Family Connection!!...

Sorry, Sam...the first photo I got was of your wipe-out!!

We collect growlers from microbreweries...and our nephew, who lives in Harrisburg, PA, gave us a growler of Appalachian Brewing Company's Jolly Scot Scottish Ale (along with a CASE of the bottles!!). Man, that was DE-licious!! The sunshine and Joy and laughter made it even more delicious! Thank you, Jason!!

I received the Jamie at Home cookbook for Christmas...and it's WONDERFUL!! I was dying to make his mushroom and spinach calzones, and got the opportunity tonight for our dinner...

Mmm....ya gotta make these!!!

All is well...