Dear Mom,

Thank you.  

For teaching me.

It is because of you that I know the saving grace of a hot bath or a cool washcloth.  I know how to make a couch bed cozy with the perfect blanket and fresh sheets. It is a talent that you have and I have learned so much by watching you.  

There is something about the way that you take care of things.  In the most confident and caring way.  You know what to do.  You show up.  You are brave and you handle things.  difficult things.  with grace.  

You are a true inspiration to me.

Thank you.

Heritage on a dish...

 

 My Grandma Linda's sticky buns.  Probably in the top 3 reasons why Christmas morning ROCKS!

This year, 2012, I am making it my #1 goal to successfully make this here recipe.  I have managed to make the three worst batches EVER in the three years I attempted.  Even with my mom there to assist they were either falling apart and NOT sticky, expanded to the point of no return, or I was scrapping them off the bottom of the oven for weeks to follow.  Might I add that the fire alarm was involved in one or more of those times... Yikes!

But for now, I am so so thankful to be on the list of recipients of these fine buns on Christmas morning!!  My Papa makes four batches a year and I GET ONE!! And not only that, he DELIVERS!  You better believe I had at least 4... maybe 5 ;-)  

Thanks Papa!

Perhaps a sticky bun tutorial on skype is in order?  What do you say?

 What is your favorite holiday treat??

Blog?

What blog?
Apparently I give up all things normal when embarking on a whirlwind-four day-free for all-Christmas vaca.
because there is all this going on...

and this is just the tip of the iceberg!  Favorite part?  Quite possibly the food.  Scottsdale has some delicious dining.  And even tastier citrus... but we will leave that for tomorrow.  I am off to slumber off the red eye, the laundry, the co op, the costco trip, the cooking, and the return cleaning.
Yup. Going to bed at 8:15.
Night.

Does anyone feel like this ^ just shy of two weeks til Christmas?

Oh good, thought I was the only one ;-)

I did wake up with great anticipation to visit Arizona soon.  When I am a visitor there I am joyful.  I am looking forward to ...

u.k.

the smell

a dinner at Shogun

a glorious 50 cent ice coffee

an LGO cookie, the apple one

the drive from 40th street to 56th place

Tangelos (if I am lucky)...

family visiting

Best holiday weekend ever...

I simply love spending time in New York and I am so grateful to have the chance to spend this thankful holiday running amuck through its streets, showing the kids what livin' is all about!

Funny I say that because on Wednesday night the Mister, Grandma Mindy and I decided we would prefer to watch the parade on the tube and sip coffee in our pj's. 

say whaaaat?

Well, if you haven't heard, east coast weather has been anything but frightful.  So after a lovely snooze and a leisurely morning we thought we would venture out for a walk... to the parade, with no expectations, to be with the people... in the mix.

We ran into a lady in blue who slipped us thru some barricades onto a side street giving us a wonderful view of the balloons and an earshot of the band...

Can you say awesome? 

We did, for the next hour, as snoopy, Kung fu panda, spongebob, and spiderman drifted by!

  The kids were so excited that they blacked out in the car...

We spent our Turkey part of the day, not eating Turkey, but enjoying the most delicious dinner prepared by my very talented Aunt Sherry.  Her meals never cease to amaze and she had so many veggies on the table that I managed to stuff myself without stuffing a bird ;-)  

My favorite part... sitting at the table for hours after eating, talking and listening.

Thank you Mom, for having us to the City apartment and thank you Marc and Sherry for having us to dinner!!  Already looking forward to next year!

...and this was only the very first day

A visit for Raw Milk...

It's Monday folks and I am so looking forward to a week of thankfulness, family visits, and some delicious Thanksgiving dining!

  Today I am so very thankful for the two-in-a-row visits with Grandpa Jay and the Lovely Sue.  As if seeing them for a long weekend in Montreal wasn't enough we get to have them here in Vermont for a Village stay!

Before moving here I knew that I wanted to have an active part in the local community and explore everything that these great people have to offer.  The main form of this being food of course.  I am in awe by the farms that surround and overjoyed at the prospects of eating Farm to Table.  When my familial guests inquired about raw milk I knew just the place to take them...

200 Leduc Farm Drive  Shelburne, VT 05482 

 

 

Upon arrival we had a peak around to see what was available...

 3 seed bread baked fresh

A welcome board....







and Ta-Da...

Vermont's finest raw produced milk.  Problem was, the container seemed slightly large for the short weekend stay.  While in debate on whether or not to purchase such an amount a kind farm hand appeared and offered a taste...

 We asked several times if he was sure that he should open this for just a small taste and he assured us that it was (another reason I heart this place).  He poured a glass for the long distance travelers who have been waiting a long time for this.  He poured himself a taste as well and they cheers(ed).  Matt and I refrained due to our attempting vegan ways....   I must say though, if I were to drink milk it would absolutely, hands down, be from this place!

After one sip they say...

We'll take it!

 I think they liked it.

Then they paid on the honor system which I love.






Then we headed to the Farmhouse for a magnificent lunch.  Matt and I shared the squash and apple sandwich and a to die for salad...

And that was just the beginning...

Top Ten + 1 of Montreal...

1.  Spending time with dad...

2.  The lovely French language.  Super fancy and quasi world traveler worthy... even if it is just less than 2 hours from our front door...

3.  The dinners in...

4.  The most fantastic French Canadian market with the most fresh vegetables I have ever seen in one single place.  How people think they need anything else to sustain themselves is beyond me.

5.  Spending time with my one and only!

6.  The city walks...




7.  Riding the train...

8.

9. Graffiti

10.  Togetherness...

11.  Balloons...

Au revoir

Grandma Ruth...

Meet my Grandma Ruth.

A ballsy broad with a zest for life and the world we live in like no one else I have ever known.  Fifty years my senior she has lived a life, thus far, worthy of your admiration.  One of 7sisters and raised in the depression, a father with a personality that requires a book to detail, left home at 16 for something better...

then a wife, then a mother...of three boys.  The stories she tells of this feat alone has me wide eyed and laughing all evening long.

But my favorite... her world traveling and the stories she shares of the places she has been...

Safari's in Africa

The great Barrier Reef

The Middle East

Driving an RV in New Zealand **on the wrong side of the road

Adventures in the Grand Canyon

Riding on a camel in Egypt

Though life has slowed down a bit in these recent years and world travel isn't so much in the cards these days, she still hops in her car and makes the 9 hour drive to Vermont to see me.  And with her she brings a mind full of questions, enthusiasm, wonder, and interest.  Topics discussed this weekend:

The nature of God

The Afterlife

The global awakening

The blueprint for the New Earth

The societal shift

The consolidation of power within the corporate and banking industries

and my favorite statement : getting old is not for sissies.

With all that on our minds I was not surprised when this book, pictured below, jumped out at her in the store and she bought it immediately... One of her favorite topics of discussion; what would one need to survive on a desert island and are you someone who would be useful and/or resourceful... if not, no

entrance for you!

Thank you for your visit dear Grandma.  It was so lovely to see you.  I look forward to a visit, in the dead of winter perhaps, so we can cozy up in your house and continue our conversations...

xo

Thankful Thursday ...

Today I am thankful for what was, what is, and what that is yet to come.

I am ever so thankful that I had the privileged of having two magnificent babies, raising them into toddlers, and eventually into kiddos.  I will always feel joy when remembering my Mr. working so hard so that I could be home with them.  I cherish the memories of being in Arizona, close to family and friends and living in our very first home, all together. 

Today, I am thankful to live in Vermont.  To share in this with my Mr. and N & G.  I am beyond grateful for the friends we have met, the village we have nestled, and the simple joy of watching the weather change right out my window.  I miss having much smaller people to look after, I seriously do.  But the young ones growing in front of me, well they make me so proud.  This work, raising them, is downright hard.  But I am reminded often of its blessing and I love this journey dearly.

Tomorrow, though unknown, I am most looking forward to.  I know that we will find our perfect village home.  I know the kids will be safe and happy here, through high school and hopefully off to UVM **hint hint.  I look forward to seeing who the kids become and what they choose for their life.  I am okay to grow old with my Mr. I am excited to pass out Halloween candy to the neighborhood kids, together, when our kids are much older.  And I will strive to be  thankful at least once a day for the privledge to live this life of mine...

What are you thankful for?

Friday Fun Night...

So the fast few weeks have been a bear.  That saying,  "no rest for the weary"... that about sums it up. One task following another, sharing only mere glances with my Mr., and being all business with the children.  Homework, showers, consuming food, and bedtime.  This pretty much equals NO FUN AT ALL.

A family night was in order.  A celebration if you will...

for the love of fridays
for the love of pizza
for the love of a gigantic couch bed
for the love of redbox movies
for the love of cake
for the love of sparklers
for the love of the happy dance
for the love of family
for the love of cuddling
for the love of LOVE.

Pictures are grainy and dark, but I hope the happiness of the surprise Happy Friday Celebration shines bright through the not so great photos...

Witt family motto: Make Fridays Count!