Happy, happy, happy!

The heater quit working here in Freedom last night.  Some kind of temperature sensor failing.  It got down to 7 degrees.  The dogs, Mike and I snuggled under our down comforter.  He turned the whole thing off during the night. 

When he turned it on this morning - it is working!  I love it when mechanical things "fix" themselves.  Happy news!  We snuck out in the darkness in the 7 degree calm (yesterday we hit the all-year high wind of 39 miles per hour - the hot tub cover blew off) and soaked in the 104 degree hot tub water.  The moon light dazzled bright the snow covered fields. 

A shower was had.  The heater, a boiler, heats our water too.  It was a hot shower!

Coffee, showered, and the magic view to the south.  Happy, happy, happy!  What a glorious morning to close 2017! 

We got to enjoy yesterday's Chariot Races.  Friend Coralia raced and won her run!  The track was muddy.  Here she is, glowing!  We love, admire, and greatly respect this gal!  She and her husband are passionate horse people.  He races too. 

Today we will welcome in the new year here in Freedom with dear friends Todd & Janet.  Steak, crab legs, and fat shrimp slowly thaw.  Bottles of bubblie and wine await their demise.  Janet is bringing her famous cannoli for dessert.  We will eat, drink, soak, and laugh in the new year.  You can't get a much better start than that!  

A few more pictures from yesterday's races.  May your heaters keep running, your wine cellar be stocked with delicious libations, your refrigerator full, and may you be surrounded by amazing friends and family!!  Happy 2018!

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

The alarm came in at 5:32 Christmas Eve.  Mike and I had just arrived at a Christmas Eve party where we were to wear our Ugly Christmas sweaters, which we both were wearing.  I had a couple of chances at the appetizers there before I had to leave for the call.  Occupants smell smoke and are evacuating the home.  Next the alarm company receives smoke alarm notifications.  Then they report fire sprinkler had gone off.  First due engine reports heavy smoke in crawl space.

To make a very long night of strategies and tactics sum up quickly.  Upon arrival, I took Incident Command.  We lost the house.  Per our local GIS, it is worth >$12 million dollars.  I would guess the artwork inside was worth that much or more.  The owner noted there was artwork that was over 2000 years old inside the home.

Mike arrived later to be an important responder helping immensely with air supply and water operations.  His vast years of being on the department make him an especially valued responder.  All have great respect for Captain Trumbower (including the Incident Commander)!

Here is the news report which I am so pleased that they actually reported what I said to the reporter correctly!  Big Christmas Fire

By the time it was all over, I had been awake for 31 hours.  I got home at 1pm, pulled my ugly Christmas sweater off, took a shower, and spent the rest of Christmas day sleeping. 

It's hard to lose a house when you are a firefighter.  We go home with our tails between our legs, heads drooping.  With fire in the crawl space and probably already into the walls upon our arrival, we had little chance of winning.  Still, a very very sad day for a family who put their love and hearts into a spectacular home.

Winter Came Yesterday!

The snow kept piling up.  Deeper and deeper as the morning crept toward noon.  Sixteen inches accumulated; on the roofs, on the driveways, on the alfalfa fields.  The west wind blew drifts behind fences.  As the sky cleared, cold temperatures whipped around the brave souls at the Afton Cutter Races.  A ground blizzard ensued.  The kids kept digging in the snowbanks, the burger lady kept making her famous Chariot Burgers, and the teams kept racing.  Here are some images from yesterday's event.

 The trailer where the burgers are made.  That bumper sticker is for you, Mom!

 Coralia wins big!

 Burger in hands.

 Look at the light on those horses backs!  Beautiful! The driver in the blue is putting his whip in his mouth right at that moment.

 Ground blizzard.  Mike helps the Robinsons get ready for their next race.

 Winter does not phase.

I love these dogs!!  Next picture, last race of the day.  The man on the left is the timer and teams are just about to cross the finish line. 

Today

Cooking Bliss

There is nothing I love better that amazing recipes!  To find and enjoy something so wonderful as, for example, the hibiscus habenero tequila recipe.  I have savored that amazing drink ever since the ingredients were discovered.

Dishing Magazine is a really great place to find incredible recipes!  Many of you will be getting a copy in you holiday package.  But if not, check them out online!  How easy is this - leaf through the publication and soon you will find a new something to create.  Check them out at the links below.  There is one for Jackson and one for Park City.  Super cool!!

(Click on the tab for the magazine to see all kinds of local restaurant recipes within!)

Jackson Dishing Site

Park City Site

Eat well.  Delicious and beautiful food.

Meteors in the Sky

The next couple of days offer a dark sky and the Geminid meteor shower.  Thanks to the Phaethon comet passing very close to earth, there is a very good chance for an amazing meteor shower over the course of the next few days.  Learn more at this link Geminid Meteor Shower

We have a new hot tub habit, thanks to summer time temperatures.  Who wants to soak in a hot tub after a hot, summer day?  So, we started soaking in the morning, pre-dawn.  Now with cold temperatures, we are finding ourselves enjoying the night sky both in the morning and at night!!  It doesn't happen that often, but when it does, it is a stellar thing to do (no pun intended - stellar, get it?!).

Anyway, look up to the night sky.  This could be darn amazing.  I am setting my alarm clock for 2am for Wednesday and Thursday night.  Let me know if you want me to call if the show is incredible. 

Star gaze away!  Here are some star gazing tips Star Gaze Tips

Wonderful Weekend!

What a great weekend!  Mike and I stayed Friday and Saturday night in Freedom.  We slept in both days until the morning sun topped the eastern mountain tops.  And then we stayed in bed a bit longer!  It was luxurious!

I am making silk scarves again this winter.  Big, warm silk scarves.  They start at 45" square.  Having purchased a used serger, I spent most of Saturday figuring the thing out and getting it set up for the silk I use for scarves.  By the end of the day, scarves were getting sewn perfectly!!  Yeah.  Here are the beautiful silks I'm working with.  Labeled - just in case you might want one or two!

Big news for the house.  We found our cook stove!  Of course, we had to buy one that was too big and may be now destined for the airplane hanger.  Still, this is the perfect stove!  Mike and I love the way it looks in the nook the Shinkles made for Jeanie's mother's stove (moved with them to their new home in Afton).  We are hoping to fire it up next weekend.

Christmas rushes into all of our lives.  Time goes by just too fast this time of the year.  We got out our cards and Mike is working on mailing today.  Remember to find time to pause and enjoy the moment.  It's not easy to do right now!!