Birthday Cake, Pairings, and More

The gray skies and damp, cold air reminds me of Illinois at this time of the year.  Every now and then, the sun pokes out of the clouds, lighting up the hillsides and lake below Scott and Stephanie's house.  We are in New York's Finger Lake region.  

Janet and company enjoyed a delicious gluten free birthday cake.  Mmmmm, how I would like to have that recipe!!  For the frosting too, please. 

 

We were treated to a wine and food pairing yesterday.  With shiny wine glasses lined up, we were taught the various looks, smells, and tastes of wines and how the wine accents the food.  Sweet wine with blue cheese.  Who woulda thought?  But it works!!  A tasty raw oyster with white sparkling wine, some goat cheese with a Sauvignon blanc, sauteed mushrooms and Pinot Noir.  Then on to "dinner", pairing steak with cabrenet sauvignon, the unusual combination of riesling ice and goat cheese, finishing with a port and chocolate decadence.  

We finished the evening with family gathered round, more food, more wine, and gut-busting laughter through a game of "Cards Against Humanity".  Two more days of vacation left!!

Thank you Scott and Stephanie for a fun experience!

  

So, Where Did We Leave Off Last?

Ahhhhh.  Vacation continues.  A fine dinner was had by all in Naplate on Wednesday night with the Kinzer Clan.  So good to see Kristen, Mike and Mark.  Aiden was his happy self.  The Village Cafe makes excellent fried chicken and pork tenderloins.  We ate well.  Our happy waitress Emma, took the photo.

The day was laced in sadness, however.  Redford, Gary and Diana's dog, ridden with cancer and barely able to stand, he was relieved of his life's pain and put down this day.  Old, good, friend Redford.  He was a good, good dog.  Our dogs.  Our loyal, loving, unconditional-loving friends.  You, my dog friend, had a good life with Gary and Diana.  If there is such thing as a "next life", I hope to come back as one of their dogs!!

Up early for a flight to Rochester, New York.  Into a rental car and on the highway to arrive for Thanksgiving dinner at 4pm.  Not a bad way to plan this - walk in, sit down, eat a fine meal!! Oh, and drink great wine! 

Pictures to come of the Trumbower clan.  All gathered around mother Janet last night to celebrate her 81 birthday.  Hot turkey soup, trays of delicious treats, and a "happy birthday" song that sounded really good!!  Stand by for pictures!

Fall Vacation

Vacation can be as busy as a work day!  Going here, going there, meeting family, meeting friends, stopping by the old home place, hiking in the park!  So many things to fit into a day.  Of course, we are now on the vacation schedule - get up late, stay up late!  I write this overdue posting at 11:30pm after an amazing meal at Gary and Diana's.  Rain falls outside the window. Steady, cool, and very midwest-sounding.

Here are some quick pictures, for those of you who have been patiently waiting.  There are so many more!  I'll have to do a slide show or something.

We started our trip after landing in O'Hare, making the jaunt to Mother's house in Mattoon, Illinois, about a 3 hour drive south of the Windy City.  We arrived to join sister Sandy and husband Mark and dear George for a delicious Thanksgiving meal prepared by Mom.  Laughter, cards, and reunion made the night most memorable!  A family picture the next day, to have and to treasure.

After Mark and Sandy's Sunday departure, the four of us went for a walk in a pretty piece of property preserved by a sage woman and named in her honor: Douglas-Hare Preserve.  Learn more about this very nice place at Douglas-Hart

Yesterday, on a calm, cool temperatured afternoon, Mike and I explored the Upper Dells of Matthiessen State Park.  Walking down wooden stairs into the water-carved narrow canyon, we listened to water trickle along, ever grinding slowly through the rock as we balanced atop rocks, limbs and concrete rounds travering from pool to pool.  How did I miss this place of beauty and wonder?  Good grief.  It took many years and many miles for me to re-discover this neat little place.

Today we spent some time with a neat young man.  Meet Aiden, my kind of shy and very happy young nephew. Shown here with his "Na-Na", Grandma Linda.  He will be branching out into the big world next year - kindergarten!  He is a neat kid! 

The camera battery ran out of juice before I was able to download a picture of our very pretty and delicious meal shared with Gary and Di tonight.  I'll have to save for the next post!  

Waiting for the Shuttle

Mike and I drove to Salt Lake City last night, had a fun meal at a Brazilian place called Tucano's, a Brazilian Grill.  Check it out at Fun Place to Eat TOO Much!  Had a great night sleep in a king size bed (wonder if we could squeeze one it at our place....).  Up and Adam to catch the shuttle at 6:30.  Now at the airport, flight is still on time.  If you were traveling to San Francisco, you were just told to settle in.  They are looking at a 3 hour delay.  Argh. 

Here we are, all ready to fly!!  I booked these tickets in June.  We've been looking forward to this trip for so long now!!

FDIC Video

Why you should sign up for my class at this April's FDIC!  Short and sweet!!

Got Gas?

On our was to Salt Lake City this afternoon.  Flying tomorrow.  See you all soon!!  I love Thanksgiving!!

Change Happens

This week's news from my place of employment.
Chief Retires

Change happens.  It is a good time to recall all of the good things Chief Willy has done for Jackson Hole Fire/EMS as he departs for a new lifestyle.

We wish him all the best and thank him for the good changes that have come our way under his leadership.

Happy Trails, Chief!

Waiting

One of the things I like about traveling is having some down time.  We have been very busy at the Vision 20/20 Symposium and Steering Committee gathering in Reston, VA.  I arrive at my gate two hours ahead of boarding.  Pre check is a good thing!  The chairs around me are slowly filling up with western-like people; donned in blue jeans, hair flowing, no make up.  We are more casual out west.

The work of Vision 20/20 revolves around reducing risk for communities; specifically, home safety visits to check and replace or install smoke alarms.  Research shows that most smoke alarms are missing or so old they no longer function.  When was the last time you checked yours?  Is it older than 10 years?  Got one in the bedroom?

I am here representing the wildland fire world.  Still not sure how I fit in, but have gained a bit of ground on my place this year.  Wildland fire, rural, volunteer firefighter.  These are my key words in a group of super-smart, healed-in professionals.  I am humbled in their presence; often feeling quite like the country bumpkin!  The leader of the group is a western guy, Jim Crawford, who helps me feel like I fit - even though, as said, I'm not really sure how!

They flew me out here, they put me up, they fed me, surrounded me by smart people, and sent me home with new ideas and projects. 

Heading home to a hot tub!  I know, right???!!!  Been dreaming of a hot tub for years, saying, "you know we have arrived when we have a hot tub!"  A friend asked if we would take his hot tub.  It is a soft-sided thing with all the parts and pieces, hardly used.  Mike has been working on it.  The report today is that it is up to 92 degrees; still heating.  What an amazing addition to our life.  Still working on how to say thanks for this unexpected and soon to be enjoyed addition to our humble hovel. 

 

There is a perfect spot on the side rail for a gin and tonic.  Imagine a -5 degree night with snowflakes and I'll show you how wonderful a hot tub can be!!!  Just outside our back door, we will be able to enjoy the dark winter nights, gazing north to see the Big Dipper, just above the layer of steam.  I can feel relaxation as I imagine this!!  Thank you Bill and Gwen.  You really do not understand how wonderful your hot tub is going to be in our life!! 

 



Friday Afternoon Hunt

Having worked far too many hours this week, I took the afternoon off so Mike and I could go out hunting.  He has a limited quota cow elk tag for the same area we killed my bull in.  It was a nice afternoon.  Warm.  No wind.  Quiet.  Actually very quiet.  We got to the ridge -where this picture was taken - and daylight was fading. 

Then we heard it.  At first, I thought it was a bird.  But now, a cow elk was squalking just over the hill.  We tied up the mules and made the big sneak.  Mike set his rifle against a limber young pine tree - I worried it wasn't much of a rest.  A single shot and a group of 20 cow elk running around.  There is a couple of minutes of worry.  One doesn't dare shoot another - you could end up with two dead!  We fretted and walked around looking for Mike's hat, tossed off in the excitement of the hunt.  Hat found, we snuck to the edge of the knoll to spot a bit of brown in the sage brush.  There she was!  Mike's perfect shot made the anxiety evaporate and we began to work.  Darkness was coming quickly.  By the time we finished, we worked with headlamps (how smart were we to have our headlamps along?!!).  The carcass cooled in the cold November night.

Friends.  One is so lucky to have good friends.  I leave on a plane today and Friend Tom is helping Mike pack the elk out this morning.  Man oh man, do I owe him!! 

Got to get to the airport.  Some of our friends are getting some elk meat as a gift soon!  Thank you Miss Elk for giving up your life for us all!!

Michael Helps Make Important Video

Check it out!!  Mike is famous!!  Call to request an autograph!!  Enjoy this great video!!
Mike, The Famous Model!