What a beautiful winter!!!!!

Brisket and I went out on the lake ice to cross country ski.  It felt a little strange to be skiing out on the ice.  The lake has a thick layer of ice on it and somedays there are over 200 people on it ice fishing, etc.

This has been a much sunnier, milder winter than last year and we are certainly enjoying it.

Moby Dick

Call me Ishmael.....  I am proud to say that I finally read and finished Moby Dick.   I have tried twice before to read it and could never get through it.  (See Woody Allen in Zelig) Last summer we spent a week in Nantucket and I decided to try again.  I'm glad I persevered.  It is a great book, and surprisingly funny.

In the first chapter, Ishmael talks about how all roads and trails lead to water.  That is really true.  It seems like water of some kind is usually our final destination.  Whether it is the ocean, a lake, a river, or a stream.  We are drawn to water.

Avery and Ashton

I just got back from staying with Avery and Ashton in New York while Laurel went to Italy.  This is one of our outings to Whole Foods.  They are adorable and I had such a wonderful time with them.  Thanks Brad for getting up at 5:30/6:00 with Ashton so I could sleep until 7:00!

Iron Mountain

In October we spent a Saturday at Iron Mountain.  In the 60's (?) my Dad bought an old iron mine in the Uintah mountains with a friend.  It is completely surrounded by National Forest Land.

We love going there.  Jeff, Scott, and Bart cut wood.  We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.  And we did some clay pigeon shooting.  Very fun.

Rat Pack - Live at the Sands

Yesterday was Jeff's 50th birthday!!!!!!  We celebrated by going to Pat's BBQ in Salt Lake and then to the Rat Pack - Live at the Sands at Kingsbury Hall.  What a treat!  The music was all wonderful.  I only wish I had been able to actually see Frank, Sammy, and Dean in real life do the show.

As I was watching the performance I couldn't help but think back to another birthday party that Jeff had where we attended a performance of Fool Moon created by Bill Irwin and David Shiner.  I think Jeff and I saw Fool Moon 4 times in either New York or San Francisco.  Every time a performance came to town we would go to it. I think it is the funniest show I have ever seen.  I remember wishing that it would never end.   It is such a unique performance by Irwin and Shiner that it would be impossible for anyone else to recreate it.  So I'm happy I saw it when it was around.

Applesauce

Meriel and I spent General Conference Saturday making applesauce.  I don't really even like applesauce but it is fun to make and can.  And it turned out delicious.  We had a great time.  Good girl bonding while the boys tried to hunt magpies and ducks!

Keep on Trekin'

Jeff and I (mostly me) were put in charge of food for our Ward's youth handcart trek in July at Martin's Cove.  It was a ton of work, but also a lot of fun.  We didn't do any handcart pulling because we were busy with the food and setting up, taking down, and setting up camp.   We had a great time hanging with Ward members.  I spent an ENTIRE week before trek figuring out the menu, getting the food, finding coolers and freezers to store it in.  Then I spent the week after cleaning coolers and returning items.  Pictured are all the coolers drying after Jeff power washed them when we returned.  Also, Jeff, Monica Harper, Rich and Jeanette Wilder; Price with his lavender bandana, and the scout trailer - I became very attached to my make shift kitchen.