Snowshoeing toward 2011

We took presents and dessert over to my Mom's yesterday.  She was ready to turn off her tree lights!  My brother called as we walked in and it was good to talk to him and niece Mariana, too.

Ben looking very north-woodsy.

Me in the quicksand snow!

Jim poses like Captain Morgan.

The snow was so deep, just like quicksand!  I had to let Jim and Ben be the trailblazers. I managed to break into a run, but took a face plant in the snow.  It was funny.  I felt like Randy from "A Christmas Story" trying to get up!  There were a few skiers out and we saw a doe and two fawns.  It is a quiet and beautiful place in the winter.  We had the rouladen cooking in the crock pot all afternoon and we were ready for Christmas supper when we got home.

New beginnings...

We started our new year off with a brisk snowshoe hike at the golf course. It was really nice and sunny (and chilly). The snow was undisturbed except for the cross country ski tracks and critter prints. Jim took us under a tunnel near the tracks, which ended up by Main Street. Not bad, but we decided to hike across the lake/swamp to the car. The reeds were my height and I followed the guys, but had some problems staying upright. (QUACK!) By the time we got past the lake, I'd taken off my vest, jacket, scarf, hat, and mittens! Whew, that was work. We walked about 2 1/2 miles (a fat-burning pace).

Ben is back at school and Angelika (a German Amity) moved in yesterday. She works with the German language class at the high school.
I sewed St. Brigid together and I have to make a decision...because I added the extra rows to the sleeves, I don't like the underarm. I can solve this two ways--stitch a "cleaner" line to make an attractive transition OR take the sleeves out and reknit them. I'll have to take some time with this one.
The Kilimanjaro is started, and while the lace is easy to knit, I have to focus--not the project to take to Friendship Fridays! I'll stick to gnomes!