Happy New Year's Eve

Birthday Thanks

thanks to all for wonderful birthday wishes...a first on my birthday..vietnamese food.

as the sun comes up on christmas 2009

baking and playing

still smiles after the ultra competitve christmas eve games...

hustle and bustle of 12/23

Finally Home - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

finished....

good manor's welcoming holiday glow

goofballs

really...at good manor it is.

to be continued....

goofiness

thank you dear friend

winter walk

on secret path

Fall Ride

sunday afternoon in mid-october...after what seems like a month of rain i escaped to dillon for a relaxed afternoon ride as the colors are starting to turn and the air is turning crisper and crisper as we tick off the days of autumn...i rode solo today as dillon was just a short little side trip from my mom's house where vera was dropped off for an afternoon of pampering....i had forgotten about all the roots and mainly rocks at dillon but it was one of those days and everything rolled so smoothly under the tires allowing me to truly enjoy the beauty of the day and the solitude of the woods...seriously i only saw two riders during my time on the trails...but squirrels, they were everywhere darting up and down trees, across the trails, under the leaves, here, there and everywhere...i pulled to the side of the trail to let the two bikers pass in the opposite direction and randomly look down to see this heart rock staring back at me...one more thing to bring a smile to my face...

and to top of the ride, i get back to my mom's to find a hot plate of chicken and mashed potatoes ready for dinner and a tired, tired vera....i have been trying to motivate myself to post about squam but it still seems like just yesterday so my next installment will be all about my most memorable excursion to new hampshire.

Labor Day Weekend

Three and a half action packed days, not enough sleep but as I sit here ready to jump into the work week ahead, I do feel refreshed and ready to go. It could be the fact it"s a short week or that Lani will be arriving from Novia Scotia on Thursday or our upcoming departure for New Hampshire less than a week...but most of all it is the wonderful weekend filled with friends...old and new. The weekend started off with a wedding on Saturday, a quiet Saturday night with Kim and a good bottle of wine but the highlight was Sunday night's fire. We had our normal cast but extended a warm 2000 degree welcome to Jen, Stefani, Amy and Steve. We have started losing the sun earlier and earlier, the evening temperatures are cooling off all signs of the start of fire season at Good Manor - so keep those weekend night open because if we are in town there is always the possibility of a spontaneous gathering.

summer 2009

well i am back and can't believe i have not posted since may - but the summer has seemed to pass just that quickly. i had grand plans of posting of our wonderful trip through chicago and onto valley ridge for a week. but really what more can be said about valley ridge??? it is truely a place to get away, to feel the magic and beauty of what wisconisin has to offer and then add the smiles, love and laughter that kathy and bill to make the whole VR experience surreal and new time and time again. chicago was, well as expected, a lot of laughs and general foolery with laura and jane. we can alway shave a good time regardless if it is two hours or two days.

unfortunately, i had a mtb crash just before going to wisconisin so my riding was cut short due to some residuals and then was ordered off the bike until July -- man, was that tough - to feel OK but not have an outlet for all that physical energy---but do not fret I am back on my bike and note taking another chance to ride this year for granted.
the summer has been and interesting one for me to say the least. i have worked a lot on getting to know myself which has really enriched my relationships with many and opended the door to new ones...have i changed? have you noticed a difference?? maybe yes and maybe no - but i embrace the opportunity to be able to start each day with a smile on my face and an eagerness to start the new adventure of the day. so, ok. yes, I may have chnaged a little and a mere couple of months ago would not have published this for the world to see...i have learned that being true to yourself can make all the difference...i will embrace my life for what it is and make the most of everyday....enjoy a few shots of summer mixed in a slew of self portraits courtesy of my blackberry, darius.