Annual Sappiness

December 31st always signals a time of reflection about what is important and the joy and sadness of the past year. I take great pleasure in remembering all the laughter that was shared with family and friends in 2010.

This year, I was fortunate enough to see several childhood friends that brought tears to my eyes from laughing so hard. Visits with friends from far away places reassured me that we share a great bond that never seems to fade away. Those that live closest to me remain as some of the most supportive people in my life and oddly, some of the hardest to make time to see. This is something that needs to be remedied in the year to come. My budding relationships with those in the community at the library, book club and knitting group are ones that I look forward to developing in the year to come. All of these friendships mean the world to me and I realize how lucky I am to have them.

Tonight, we will make a toast in honor of our friend Dennis that we lost this summer. You are missed.

Happy New Year! May 2011 bring you and your loved ones lots of laughter and good health.

Ski Partner Pets

Just yesterday, Drew and I were talking about training our cat to hang out in a pack basket during Nordic ski adventures. Yes, I am well aware of the "crazy cat lady" label that would come with that.

Today, I forgot about the whole cat on my back thing when I became slightly jealous of Jen's speed down the hills with her dog assisting. You see, that's Jen way in front with Hadley and my slow body being left way in the back. Each and every hill.

Our 9 pound cat might give me a little extra weight to go a tad faster, but I don't think it would equal the speed of a husky racing and pulling me down the descents.

Honestly, I don't know if I could handle an added obstacle to my downhill skiing. I have a hard enough time as it is staying upright over hidden rocks and roots, with or without a dog or cat. I should add that Drew and Mike didn't have an animal pulling them along and somehow they also managed to beat me to Marcy Dam. No worries, I was smiling the whole way.

Happy first day of Winter from a lady, crazy even without a cat on her back!

Covered Bridge Mystery

I notice things that most people never see and I guess I ponder things that others would never waste their time thinking about.

Like today for instance, I took great pleasure in being the first one to cross the Covered Bridge. When my footprints sank into last night's snowfall at the bridge's entrance, I wondered how long it had been since someone else had walked across it. Then, just a few strides in, I noticed something so peculiar. There on the ground of the Covered Bridge was a small pile of pencil shavings resting atop fresh snowflakes.

Weird, huh? I glanced around looking for other clues to provide me with some background information on the remains of this No. 2 pencil. There was nothing other than an old cigarette butt further down.

I don't know why, but I've always thought that at some point in my life I might be needed in a crime scene investigation and the FBI might ask me everything I know and can remember. I am observant and think that I'd make a good lady detective.

Not that I would ever, ever want this to happen, but if some child was abducted and they found her backpack with a pencil sharpener inside and evidence that it had been used just hours ago, my observations would be useful.

I'm just saying, sometimes it's good to question things.

Upper Jay Pegasus

I know it is the season to watch out for Santa's flying reindeer, but apparently you also need to be on the look out for the pegasus of Upper Jay!

Christmas Tree Mission 2010

After last year's $7 bargain tree, we refused to pay the going rate of $25 - 50 and decided we'd take a walk in the woods with a saw in hand. Don't worry, we had permission at a secret location in Keene.

We contemplated cutting down a conjoined twin tree, but their trunks were connected at the very bottom and it would have made the tree stand's job difficult.

The forest was scattered with tons of scraggly looking trees that we considered, but we kept on hiking in search of the "perfect" tree. We also kept thinking the tops of the trees looked the best, so that is exactly what we did.

We found a medium sized tree that had dead branches on the bottom and a decent sized top. Drew sawed the tree down and then proceeded to cut it in half. The top half fell on my head, but I don't think it caused any damage. Here's the trimmed up tree being held by its proud owner.

We thought we had done a pretty good job until our 6 year old friend came over and said, "Where are you supposed to put the ornaments? There aren't any branches."

After decorating it, I think we proved her wrong. For a free tree, it looks pretty dang good.