Is anybody out there

Good morning from the forest

This week was great!  Got tons of work done, got the dining room blinds installed thanks to a friend/neighbor, had a lovely dinner for said friend/neighbor and was basically a busy girl all week.  Here are the blinds - my gosh they make an incredible difference in the temperature of the downstairs.  Somedays it was 80 in the house when it was 40 outside.  No heat on just the good ol sun coming in the windows.  They also finish off the space.  They are wood look verticals and I like them so much and Steve's Blinds . com that I'm going to order the same thing, I think, for the upstairs windows.



In other news, I sent my application and resume to the Mt. San Rafael Hospital Board of Directors applying for a vacancy on the board.  Although its not a paying position, it will be great experience, it will allow me to meet many business people in the community and it will be a step toward achieving my community service goal.  I think I'll have to interview with the board so we'll see what happens (oh dear what to wear! lol).  The president of the board along with one of the other board members have given me glowing recommendation so that good.  I'll keep you posted.

There were other business related opportunities this week which most of you who read this already know so I won't be redundant, I'll just say it is nice to have your abilities acknowledged and apparently there are few people here with Master's degrees. lol.  Who knew.

We watched the Westminster Dog Show this week.  Max was totally into it - he didn't like the Portuguese water dog's hair cut.  Just sayin...
























A very interesting thing happened the other day.  When my friend/neighbor was over helping hang the blinds he commented on a box I have that was my adopted grandmother's.  I'd never paid much attention to it other than I liked it because it was unusual and because Granny put wheels on everything including this box.  So I opened it and found this metal tag!  How fun is this.  Trinidad Creamery Co.  Boy I have some research to do.

Thank you sister Deb for sharing my blog with your friend Connie.  I hope she enjoys it.  I would be great if when you get my blog on email if you could pop over to the website and comment on there.  Have you ever wondered why some peoples blog have advertisers and tons of people following?  Well its because of the comments.  The more people following you on the blogspot sight the more chance of advertisers paying you to advertise on your blog.  Now I'm certainly not expecting to get rich with this little hobby but it would be nice to know who is reading.  Also to those who are, please let me know if you want to see more pictures, recipes, stories, what would interest you and how may I entertain you? Please let me know you're out there...

Love and snow flurries,
Lanae

Its going to snow!

The weather forecast is for snow several days this coming week.  I'm glad.  Our forest is so dry and we need the moisture.  Last week it snowed one night but it wasn't much.  So I'm looking forward to snow days this week!!

It was a busy week, as always.  A bit quiet with Austin in Hawaii visiting family.  I had lunch with friends one day and yesterday was the Women's Group meeting.  I took the snacks which consisted of mini-quiches, fruit kabobs, salami/olive kabobs and a bundt cake.  Everything turned out good but I thought the fruit was especially picture worthy.

I took a quick trip to Pueblo on Thursday and picked up my window blinds for my french doors.  I love them.  Did a Sam's run (yes I miss Costco) and then returned home in record breaking time.  As I was turning the corner on my road I saw the deer family sans the daddy.  There were 2 does and 2 babies.  Stopped in the middle of the road, you can do that on the ranch, and took a couple of pictures.




















The big news for the week is that we've narrowed down the move date for sister Deb to relocate to Colorado.  I will be coming to get her and her haul truck in March.  The current plan is for me to arrive on the 13th, work at the office the 14th and 15th and the movers will load her truck the 16th and we'll hit the road.  Deb is moving into the Cokedale house and I think she'll love it.  Its such an eclectic community with nice people, some retired, some working.  She will be able to get a little dog, have room for her sewing and I am hoping she'll be happy there.

Well thats about it for this week.  I'll leave you with one photo of Max after his run in the woods which obviously takes a lot out of you!

Love and smiles,
Lanae

Can you believe its February?!

Well time does fly when you're having fun.  Actually, time flies as you get older.  Remember back when some days just creeped by, slow as molasses, with the thought that the weekend would never get here?  Now, before you know it, before you blink, its Sunday afternoon and the weekend not only arrived, it too flew by.

The forest was quiet this week.  Having been in Arizona the week before with doctors, tests, chemo, work, friends and family this last week was so very quiet.  Which was great because I've been sick.  Me, the one who never gets sick, has a nasty sinus infection and a voice that comes and goes like a teenage boy going through puberty!  When I talk I sound like a bad phone connection with soundless words just coming out of my mouth. I am truly breaking up. lol

While at Linda and Greg's in Prescott at the end of my Arizona week, their yard was finally finished.  Rock not only in but also the doggie grass.  That is some really cool stuff!  Can't wait to get some for Colorado.  Here are a couple of pics, Maggie on her new grass and Penny obviously enjoying it!  Oh wait, was she just wanting a tummy rub?

 

On Tuesday after I returned it snowed and boy was it beautiful.  Big giant snowflakes.  The dogs loved it!  Max, of course, left his keys in the yard and and to retrieve them from the snow.  Oliver just seemed intrigued.

The absolute highlight of the week, next to the lovely snow, was making and sharing dinner with Deb and Marilyn on Saturday night.  I made a new recipe.  Improvised a bit as the grocery choices here in Trinidad are dismal but it came out great with the girls saying "take a picture" as it came out of the oven.  I know you're dying to know what "it" is aren't you.  It was baked pasta with eggplant.  Actually the recipe calls for eggplant, turkey sausage, pasta and cheese but mine ended up with mushrooms and eggplant because the eggplant was very difficult to come by.  Its all cooked and put into a filo lined spring form pan and baked.  Cut like a pie and devoured with smiles.  I have to admit, it was so much fun to take it out of the oven and have it turn out so good.  Whew. Truly a pasta pie!

I returned to the forest with a huge "to-do" list from work so I best get at it.  Please let me know if you want the recipe for this amazing dish.

Love from the happy cook,
Lanae