Paper Pie

getting out there in it

We are a family that thrives on adventure, on getting out there in it as much as we can, and living outdoors. We had a trip planned (that we would be on this very moment) to ramble and camp around Utah's national parks, that we had to cancel for obvious reasons at some point mid-month. I'm not complaining, just sharing. I know that every single person amongst us has had to sacrifice a lot right now, has had to make disappointing decisions. I can deal with a little disappointment and postponing a trip is certainly small potatoes in the grand scheme of current events. The kids were naturally disappointed as well. There have been other plans that have had to be cancelled in the last few weeks, and even though we are homeschoolers, our current day to day is barely recognizable compared to our normal rhythm and routine. We've had a lot of family discussions about what is happening with the pandemic and what it means for virtually every family in the world right now (keeping it simple for them so as to not make them fretful and worrisome.) They are understandably upset and frustrated, making proclamations like, "Coronavirus is so boring!" and "When Coronavirus is over, I am going to..." always filling in the blank with some grand new plan.

On Friday night, when my phone blared with the emergency broadcast beep of tornado warnings of my youth (growing up in Michigan, as I did) and the modern day Amber Alert, I stopped what I was doing and hunted down my device to see "what now?" It was a message alerting LA county residents that we were to stay home, only going out for groceries, and necessary errands. And the last part, sunk into my heart a bit, "Beaches and trails are now closed." Last weekend we were able to hike in a little known local spot and we took a family bike ride around the wetlands, but now the mandates are more severe; Covid-19 is closing nature.

Right now, there is effectively no getting out there in it. Right now the government is issuing stay at home orders. And we are still in the early days of what I think will be a long haul of staying at home. Rhythm, rules, expectations, schedules, consistency -- it's all so important right now. But what is also so important right now is reading how the kids are doing in all of this, and how we are doing in all of this. Are the kids bickering more than usual? Is there stress and grief in your chest? Are you raising your voice more than you'd like? If so, don't be afraid to let it all go and get out there in it the only way we can right now... in our own backyards.

And that is just what we did yesterday. I told everyone that I was going into the backyard to build a campfire and I did not insist that anyone join me, or that they not. I let the laundry sit wet in the washer (horror!). I put off email and texting and many other items on the to do list. I grabbed my basket of crafts and just sat down. It was lovely, restorative and relaxing. My breathing slowed way down. My family joined me in the backyard, following my lead and leaving their cares as they passed the threshold from inside to out.

It was a great afternoon out there. The kids really wasted no time in stripping off their clothes to their underwear. They jumped in the trampoline like that for hours, getting out occasionally to let the hose "rain" down inside onto their heads, making the surface all wet and slippery so they were now bouncing and slip and sliding. At one point, they were poking around in the corners of the yard and they snuck up on a lizard and actually caught the little bugger for a few short minutes. As they examined him in all of his detail, mouths agape at his long, snake-like tail and incredibly intricate patterning on his scales; they noticed his long, nimble fingers and toes, his skinny body and beady eyes. Piper did her best sloth impression, splayed out in the sunshine most of the afternoon. Oh! And the mud, I can't forget that part. At some point during the day, I realized I had all that I needed to make some seed balls and got to mixing a bucket of compost and clay. As I was rolling the balls, the kids noticed what a nice texture this particular brand of mud was and asked for their own bucket. So they mixed up a nice batch and proceeded to mush their toes around in it, and their hands, and decided to effectively give themselves a mud bath. Rylie really has never grown out of her mud phase, and I love that! There is plenty of time in life to be clean, don't bother when you are nine years old!

Today, is a little more regular. School work is running smoothly, emails are sent, and the wet clothes have been moved over to the dryer (phew!). Isn't it sort of incredible, the difference that a day makes? Apparently, I'm still learning this lesson some 9 years into this parenting gig. Things can feel so overwhelming in the moment, so impossible. But time and time again, I know that these moments pass... that there are easier times just over the horizon. It can feel downright daunting to get to the other side of those moments gracefully sometimes. Most likely, these days are going to show up a little more often as we navigate these stressful times. Perhaps, the best thing I can do on days like that is to let it all go and to get out there in it. Our favorite place to be.

Well, hello there!

Hi, friends! It's been a minute, hasn't it? It's been a couple of years since I have posted here, and I realize I never even wrote a "good-bye for now" post, I'm so sorry to leave you hanging like that. So much has changed since I last wrote here -- of course the kids have grown in leaps and bounds, barely recognizable from the posts that will live right underneath this one. And as you can see from the photo above, our family finally added a beloved doggie to the fold. Her name is Piper and she really couldn't be a sweeter companion to all 4 of us. Zipper is still kicking (though not very companionable to Piper.) But, everything that has changed in the past 2 years, is small in comparison to what has happened this month of March 2020! It's hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the month now, in what seems like an endless string of "all the same" days. I have found myself more than once in the evening hours, recalling chores or activities that I did the same morning and not quite sure how it could possibly have been the same day -- time is slowing down and stretching out. Anyway... these wild times we are living through beg to be documented, as well as shared, as the entire world is living a mutual experience. So, I've been thinking about this space...dusting it off...sharing my thoughts. I don't know how often I'll be able to show up, but I feel like I've made tremendous progress in just remembering my password (ha!). Most of all, I want to say hello and connect during this hard time.

As homeschoolers, our days are not all that different than before. Except, of course, our sudden reliance on Zoom for all of our enrichment and our limited options in getting out of the house when the need arises. I haven't been very fond of the advice, that comes hurling out of all corners of the internet, about how parents that find themselves suddenly homeschooling should be handling themselves. This time is so hard and taxing on all areas of life, that those trying to navigate 24-hour togetherness with their families, should not have to bear the extra burden of if they are doing it "right." Certainly, do what works for you. If a color-coded, incremental schedule works for you, if that makes you feel more in control and grounded, than by all means do that. But, if you find yourself being battered around by waves of anxiety, let me offer this: try not to worry so much. If you are working from home, homeschooling multiple children, worrying about loved ones, and wondering how your family will weather this public health and economic crisis, please go easy on yourself. We have stress and anxiety creeping in to our body and minds at every corner, if you can take that chaotic energy and process it into a feeling of peace and safety for your families, it will be the aid and healing that we all so deeply need right now. How do you do this? How does one turn anxiety into peace? By letting go and living in the moment... with patience and gratitude. In times like these, our accomplishments should be measured in breathing and being, and that's it (well, and that we all managed to eat, that is important, too.)

I'm not one to give advice. I believe wholeheartedly in personal freedom and with all of my heart know that we are all walking unique and individual paths as varied and infinite as the universe itself. But, it's hard to argue with the idea of being kind and good to yourself and those under your care. Because, those little ones under your care are watching, absorbing, and filing away your stress-management techniques for their future lives. Showing our kids how to be peaceful and gentle with themselves is exactly what I would like for them to take away from this inordinately challenging time.

Here's what I love about writing, whether it be here digitally, or written in my journal. It's about sharing my reality, or perhaps more accurately, my hopes for my reality, and by the very act of releasing it into the ether, an intention is set. After this long day of helping Rylie with her multiplication facts, and building out yet another Kiwi Crate with Otis; all while Ryan attends an "all-agency meeting" in the middle of the living room, feeling my chest tightening when I think about the impending economic fallout and what that means, quite literally, for everyone that I know, and worrying about our parents, grandparents, all the expecting mamas, and immunocompromised among us... perhaps the only comfort in all of this, is knowing that I am not alone with these feelings, that yes, in fact, these feelings are quite universal these days. And maybe there is one more comfort: that which is my family, my people... together doing the things we love and feeling incredibly fortunate for all that is good.

Health and love to you and yours as we ride through this storm together!

Mama's Day

I had a beautiful Mother's Day filled with all of my favorite things: flowers, love, food, art, family, music, fun and lots and lots of snuggles! But perhaps the most rare and exquisite of all was the extra rest I soaked up while sleeping in until 8 AM! Upon waking to 2 excited children cheering "Happy Mother's Day," I was escorted to the breakfast table where my hot and delicious meal had been prepared and was waiting for me. The kids had made me french toast and yogurt parfaits. As we finished breakfast they very excitedly handed me gifts and cards. The day before they went to an art and craft festival and had their sweetness captured as portraits by the very talented Rosefur. While each one waited for the other to be painted, they were supplied with their own 3 x 5 art paper to draw upon and Rylie drew our family. After my heart finished swelling from their kindness, Ryan gifted me a portrait of myself a la Pop Up Charlie. Charlie will draw anything for you, just supply him with photos and brief descriptors. Ryan told him, "My wife loves knitting. She'd knit the whole world if she could." and sent him photos of myself and the kids and told him it could be as zany as he wanted. I quite like the results and it is cute the way Rylie thinks it is so hilarious. Humor and drawing play really big for her. After all of the sentimental and inspiring art, Ryan presented me with 2 tickets to see Brian Wilson's Pet Sounds tour. What fun to look forward to. How grateful I am for my amazing husband, he knows exactly what his gal likes.

After my people, bestowed me with such love and thoughtfulness, I called my mom and my mom-in-law. They both really loved their quilts and had a few tears. I felt such joy at the thought of both of them feeling our love over the vast physical distance between us. I am happy to think of the quilts as a symbol of all of the grandkids together in one place. After our slow morning, we headed out to our weekly trip to the Farmer's Market and did our shopping. Otis loves this place so much! There is so much to see and do. This week he spent the majority of his time playing the "Trash? Recycling? Compost?" game at The Green Tent, where the sweet women working indulged him endlessly. We also visited the ever popular Steve's Machines tent. After the market, the kids wanted to take me "to a picnic on a mountain but we don't want to drive on the highway." err... So we headed to a nearby park that is on top a really big hill and they were thrilled with that. We ate a bit of food and flew our kite. Otis rode his scooter up and down the big hills and for a while, and I even snuck in a quick bit of reading. It seems so exotic and special to steal a few daytime moments to sit and read quietly in the park. I've been solely on audiobooks for a while now, but I do so love to sit and touch the pages of a paper book. The sun was out, but it was not too hot. It was windy enough for kite flying, but not too cold. A perfect day that made this mama feel loved and blessed beyond measure.

Mother's Day Quilts

I hope all of the mama's out there had a wonderful and restful day yesterday! I wanted to share something here that I've been working on for a little while now but have not been able to talk about because of the element of surprise. A few months ago, with Mother's Day in the back of my mind, I finally decided to take the plunge on an idea I have had lingering for several years.

These lap quilts are for my mom and my mom-in-law with photos of all of their respective grandchildren. I felt like the kids were the perfect ages for a gift like this, though still changing by the second, they've all outgrown their infancy, but not quite through their teen years either, which is the case with the oldest of my mom's. I knew that these 2 very special women in my life and in the life of my children, would love to see all of their beloved grandchildren in one place, and in between some beautiful scraps of fabric I might add.


I have wanted to make these quilts for quite a while, but busyness and excuses have gotten in the way. Not the least of these excuses was figuring out how to print photos on fabric. I knew that I could buy the substrate and experiment on my home printer, but admittedly I was afraid of the amount of trial and error I'd have to endure. I also know that my obsessive attention to detail tends to make these sort of technical tasks quite painstaking. But then my Spoonflower magalog arrived in the mail, and it was while flipping through the pages that I realized I could upload my photos on their site and they would send me the fabric. Easy peasy. Also, if there were irksome details (only noticeable by me) I wouldn't be able to make changes without incurring more time and expense - an effective barrier to perfectionism.


After several weeks of work, and hand-stitching into the wee hours, the quilts were finished just before the USPS priority express overnight deadline. These quilts left my hands and quickly made their way across the country to their respective new homes. They are not the most complicated or precisely sewn objects, but I'm pretty sure they are the most sentimental and meaningful projects I have ever sewn. I know that both my mom and my mom-in-law will be so appreciative to have this tangible symbol of family - a snapshot of right now. My greatest hope is that each quilt will bring these dear and special ladies a moment of joy and will be enjoyed for years to come. 

Chocolate & Suspenders

Our Easter weekend was simple and sweet, the best way I think. A few weeks back I had picked up a random collection of bunnies, chickens and I think there was a bird's nest in there somewhere, while thrifting. I lucked into an amazingly weird Easter Bunny crafted in the style of a nutcracker wearing a basket on his back which doubles as a candleholder. I mean, who wouldn't pounce on that? So on Saturday night we got out our beeswax and rolled up some candles for that guy. The kids love making these candles (not as much as they love lighting them) and I must say I do too. They smell so good, and this kit I had just happened to be pastel colors. A new tradition? Perhaps. 

The kids woke up bright and early on Sunday and immediately checked the backyard for any signs of eggs. They raced out to the dining room and found lots of goodies waiting for them on the table. Books, chocolate, mama-made pajamas and pants. But none of these really held a (beeswax) candle to the suspenders the Easter Bunny left. Rylie has been looking and asking for suspenders for about 3 years now. I've never really searched much online, but they are strangely hard to come by in store. Highly seasonal and this just happens to be the season. So yeah, she has not taken them off since, wearing them even with her pajamas. Her pajamas, I should add were my first pair I've ever sewn for her and my first time sewing with knits. The fabric is from the Sidewalk line by Rae Hoekstra of Made By Rae The pajama top is the Flashback Skinny Tee also from Rae. The pajama bottoms are the Sleeping John pants from Meg McElwee's book Growing Up Sew Liberated I am so pleased with the way they turned out. Everything about them —the fabric, the fit, the comfort, Rylie's reaction— is quite nice. 

Otis also got himself some handmades from the Easter Bunny in the form of bigger and better Busytown pants. When Rylie turned two we had a Busytown themed birthday party for her because she loved her Richard Scarry books so much. After the party, I made her a pair of pants from the length of Busytown fabric we used as a tablecloth at the party. She loved them so and eventually grew out of them and they were passed down to Otis. He has also since grown to big for them, but he loved them so much that he still asks for them regularly. The Easter Bunny knows all these details, so naturally made him a new and improved pair. This pair are the Pocket Pants also from Meg McElwee's book Growing Up Sew Liberated I love these pants! The fit, the wide leg, the detail of the "itch free seam" and of course the pockets! The trim and cuffs are from Rylie's rainbow birthday party tablecloth from when she turned four. This upcycling satisfies me to no end.

After brunch and a fun morning, we headed to our friend's house —friend's that really feel more like family. I added this little tidbit because there was another wonderful example of upcycling happening over there. After the memorial service of a dear Grandmother, my friend Mandy took the gigantic floral wreath that would have otherwise been thrown away (gasp!) and we all made small posies to give to her neighbors on Easter. Now isn't that simple and sweet?

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Gratitude. It's a loaded word, isn't it? There is an inherent guilt feeling that comes along with gratitude. Reminding oneself to be grateful for what is right in life instead of focusing on what is wrong, implies that our focus is flawed to begin with. However, the powerful messages from the dominant culture and other external sources can not be brushed aside. It's not popular to be satisfied and still, and a contented state of mind certainly doesn't drive our consumer economy. Considering how we are bombarded with these messages multiple times each and every day, it is no wonder that my past relationship with gratitude has been superficial at best. But I can feel change and transformation afoot in regards to being grateful. Real, deep perspective shifting change. And I am...well...so grateful!

Our 2 bedroom, 1000 square foot apartment in the middle of a dense urban center is never where I imagined my 40 year old self living and raising our family. But alas, here we are. The truth is, it's not a black and white issue, and I think that is why we have chosen to stay in this unlikely spot for the last few years and certainly for the immediate future. There are many factors at play that we've considered when making this decision, and I'd say the most prominent being the freedom it affords us, because quite frankly our long term dreams vacillate between two very polar extremes. On the one hand we would like to dig in to a large piece of land, 10 acres or so and make it our own, homesteading for the rest of our days. On the other hand, we would like to buy the perfect van and travel the world full time and long term. I know. We dream big and in different directions. In the meantime, we are living nothing like those 2 dreams, and I've learned to love, enjoy and accept where we are right now. I think the key to moving toward those goals, is to gradually move away from and resist fear, and allow ourselves to open more and more in the direction of love and joy. This is easier said than done and much like the sentiment of gratitude, quite loaded talk, but what does it really mean? You can't flip a switch and step into a life you love with all of the perfect circumstances as you've envisioned. You can however begin to examine the thought patterns, feelings and emotions that are making up each and every moment right now. What begins to happen is a gradual and subtle shift that can help us see things differently and can afford us the insight to make real and lasting changes in our lives.

I think what I am trying to say can be illustrated well with the example of our current living situation.
Is it small? Yes.
Is it too small for a family of four? Yes, definitely for some.
Is it in the middle of a polluted, over populated city? Yes.
Is a major urban area the best place to raise children. Depends who you ask.
When we leave our house, do we have to factor in extra time for gridlock and traffic jams?
Most of the time, yes.

Looking at our life and our city in this way yields a pretty bleak and hopeless feeling. But what if I think about what is good here, and what keeps us in this spot and not running for the hills.

Is the economy and job market robust, affording us the freedom and flexibility to eat organic high quality foods that nourish our bodies and to pursue the activities that we all enjoy the most and the time to pursue them together? Yes.
Do we have ample grass in the front and back of our home for our kiddos to run around outside under their own discretion? Yes.
Do we live in a climate of year round sunshine and mild temperatures? Yes.
Do we have breathtaking and abundant nature just miles away? Yes.
Do we have well established and strong connections with not only our landlord (whom does not raise our rent) but also our neighborhood and the community at large? Yes.
Do we live on a quiet street that feels almost (almost) peaceful, while at the same time being right in the heart of a world class city and all of the amenities that such a city affords?
The answer is a most definitive yes.

When I choose to see our lives and opportunities through these glasses, I start down the narrative of "why ever leave?" And I think for us, really right now we would like a place of our own. A place that we can call home and do with whatever we want. And that dream gets vey tricky in this real estate market very quick. And thus, confusion.

Every person is a unique expression of life, with individual needs, desires, perspective. Every person's journey will be different, but I think a common goal that we all may be trying to attain is authenticity - living a truer, deeper and more meaningful life. Part of that journey for me has been recognizing that it is not what a situation looks like, whether it be your home, your personal style, or even your relationships, but it is the way these things feel. This has been quite a shift for me considering I'm a designer and visual person by trade. But I think the real essence is more along the lines of being ok with where you are in a given moment. Realizing all is as it should be and everything is going to be all right. There is a lot to be scared about right now, but I resist that darkness, I resist it over and over, moment by moment.

I took the photos above this past weekend from my front doorstep. My front doorstep, where the view consists of street lamps, power lines and a multiplex across the street just a stone's throw away. My front doorstep, where the weather is fair and we play outside during all 4 seasons of the year. My front doorstep where the birds and squirrels are aplenty and delight us with their beautiful music all day long. My front doorstep, where the sky is fuschia pink with the West Coast sunset. My front doorstep, where, in that moment, I was so glad to call home.

The secret to having it all is knowing you already do.

Playing Games

It sometimes seems that our days are filled with a constant stream of games from beginning to end. Whether it be board games, make believe, or physical rough housing, Rylie and Otis, like all kids, thrive on playing. They both enjoy active imaginations and can be happily entertained in their own world independently for long periods of time. Sometimes, one of them will make up a game and relentlessly campaign for a willing participant.


Such was the case this weekend when they found a bunch of cardboard boxes in the garage and set them out on the lawn as burning buildings. See the tissue paper flames? They started the game in the front yard where they would get the "call" alerting them to the burning buildings in the back yard. They then would run at top speed to the back with their croquet mallets in hand, ready to quite literally "fight" the fire. What exciting adventure for these firefighters. This game easily went on for an hour while I sat quietly watching and knitting from my perch at the back door.

Ryan and I are always getting roped into these game too and it seems that we inevitably end up pretending to be a horse, carting children to and fro. More often than not, I have a child hanging off my body somewhere. Otis also loves playing with the big black camera. He snapped the 2 photos above. 

Autumn At The Shore

Even though we are far from Autumn now, I want to share our camping trip to El Capitan State Beach that we took during Thanksgiving weekend this past year. You may remember our trip to this same campground about a year and a half ago, it is an incredible, majestic place. Our outing fell in that couple of months that I was on a bit of a blogging hiatus. Now that I am back at it, blogging that is, I wonder how I ever let that time pass without checking in here and there. Busy, I guess. But still, it feels great to be back. We are approaching the fourth year of this blog's existence and through the years Paper Pie has been so many different things to me at different times. Sometimes, it has solely been a place to record my projects and work. Sometimes it has been an outlet for my feelings (and work out my feelings) about motherhood, living a creative life and all the other stuff. It has seen the creation of two fabric lines and the birth of our most precious Rylie, and simultaneously a rebirth in myself. It has seen our living space in it's many states and forms and week to week, month to month, it has seen my knitting journey unfold. It's hard to believe it is four years now, but as long as I keep showing up it will continue and sometimes in order for it to go on, I need to step back, take a breath and make sure that it still means to me what it once did. What I am finding out is that it means even more to me now. Four years offers some perspective and what was once a record of my art and craft projects has become the story of us, our growth as a family and how we spend our days months and years. That is worth all the time, effort and keystrokes that make there way into this place with each post.

Anyways, that was quite an unexpected digression there, I want to tell you about the amazing camping adventure we enjoyed back in November with our family. We had never been this late in the season, but it was perfect. It seems to be somewhat of a thing that people do around here, camping for Thanksgiving that is. We did not go on actual Thanksgiving, but the Saturday and Sunday following. The crowds were thinning out by then and on Monday we had the gray and chilly beach to ourselves. See that picture of Rylie next ot the great big tree? It is the fourth one from the last photo. It reminds me of this photo a year previous and she is wearing the same sweater. Like her mama, she loves the big trees! We also fit in a trip to the Coronado Butterfly Preserve. Remember when we went there last year? I brought my zoom lens this time and got that shot above of one of the clusters amongst the Eucalyptus. Magic. There were less butterflies this year because Thanksgiving was a week earlier in 2012 as it was in 2011. As autumn turns to winter, the number of butterflies steadily increases until about late February when they leave and go back whence they came. I'm sure I said this in last year's post, but if you live in Southern California it is well worth the trip to check this place out. You travel down an unassuming neighborhood street in Goleta and park your car on the side of the road, get out and head up the big hill into the forrest. On the way you will pass the home of an old man that knows everything there is to know about the Monarchs and their habitat and he is eager to share his knowledge. He is short in stature with a cheerful open face and very large round glasses that are as sincere as himself. He was present at the site both times we have been there and both times he was wearing the same blue t-shirt emblazoned with large, bright orange monarchs. He is a forrest butterfly gnome, I think. If you go to the Autumn Beach, you'll see how this could be true. The chilly air, noisy birds and vibrant butterflies are pure enchantment. 

Delightful Day

There is no better birthday present in the world than these two! And being the lucky girl that I am, my wonderful husband also made me that adorable little baking class gift certificate up there so now I can go and learn some new skills at an incredible school in Santa Monica. Remember when I was hinting around about how cool that would be?

I've been meaning to tell you about what we did for my birthday, but with the snowy getaway, New Year celebrations, cleaning, organizing, redecorating, prepping for our garage sale and general getting-back-into-the-swing over here, I just haven't had the chance to get my fingers on the keyboard. My happy day started with a birthday banner and prezzies, and then out for a very special and very delicious feast of a breakfast at FarmShop. It was so cold, so gloomy, and so rainy (just the way I like it, really.) After our meal, we did some window shopping/browsing and headed home to get ready for our movie. Ryan and I had a date and the rare treat of sitting in a theater. We saw Hyde Park on Hudson and I studied every inch of the clothing and set design like I was going to be tested later. What a breathtakingly beautiful movie, and a great story with outstanding performances to boot. After our movie we had mac and cheese and brussels sprouts at City Tavern and headed over to the new restaurant in town for an after dinner drink. We ended the night with a bite of my tiny cake and a wish. It was a perfect day in every way.

Snowy Getaway

We were lucky enough to turn over the new year in the mountains with our dear friends Mandy, Griff and Fauna. We spent New Year's together last year in the same, most magical, of places. I am hopeful that this could become a very special tradition for our families. Oh, I hope so, I really really do. We also snuck in a trip for St. patrick's Day last year, too. We love it so, and it is relatively close to the city. It was warm when we left LA, but as we approached the mountains, the clouds kept piling up on top of each other and the lazy hazy fog appeared that could only mean one thing: SNOW!! Our hopes and wishes of the past few days were gloriously granted.


It wasn't long before we saw kids and adults alike taking advantage of all of that snowy goodness. This particular hill was so steep and icy, I was very happy to whizz by as an onlooker from my toasty warm heated seat.

Pine Mountain Club is a private community nestled in the Los Padres National Forest in a deep valley on the San Andreas fault. It is a sleepy place of beauty, filled with vacation homes for rent and surrounded by mountains. Unlike other mountain communities in Southern California, PMC is not a mecca for winter holidayers from the city. That is why we like it, it is quiet, like really quiet (like the town's two restaurants are closed on New Year's Eve, quiet.)


We arrived at our very well-appointed rental just in time for lunch. 

After lunch there were puzzles to do, birds to watch, books to read . . .

and I sat and knit knit knitted my head off as I had a hat to finish.

After all of that fresh snow had fallen we had to get out and play regardless of what time the clock said.

In the morning when the static electricity has wreaked havoc on your already infamous bedhead . . .

. . . it's really nice if you can have your best friend there to tame it for you.

If it still doesn't calm after all that fuss, you can alwyas pull on your new hat!

After more snow play, our New Year's Eve was filled with cake-baking, spoon-licking, castle-building, book-reading, fire-making, teddy bear-carrying, and game-playing. We said goodbye to 2012 doing all of our favorite things with our favorite people. Perfection.

On New Year's Day, we went up up up to the very top of the big mountain wrapped in all of our warmest woollens and sleds in tow. It was cold up there, but filled with people young and old playing together. So many sweet sights as we climbed the mountain: tiny dogs in even tinier Scandinavian ski sweaters, tailgaters cooking food on barbecues that they hauled all the way to the top, cozy clad children sipping warm mugs of soup, fresh families hugging fresh snowmen. So many people taking advantage of the holiday and starting the year off with such fun.

I honestly could not have imagined a more picturesque, storybook setting to play, sled, and explore. We made our way through the snow on the top of the mountain and took in breathtaking views that surrounded us on all sides - ancient Ponderosa Pines, and lichen covered rocks. 

If you are wondering the perfect way to end an enchanting little respite in the mountains with your most wonderful of friends, the answer is with a moustache party (of course!)

 

***************************** HAPPY NEW YEAR *******************************