Snow!

Finally some substantial snowfall has arrived.  It began slowly around 8 a.m. and by 10 a.m. it was sticking and everything was blanketed with white.  Mark and I ventured out to do some shopping and then Mark took me out to lunch.  The boys called us to let us know that we were not going to be able to make it up the hill.  They were right, we only made it part way up and had to park and walk the rest the way up.

I can say that this year I am more used to the snow and the cold.  I enjoyed the soft powder-like snow beneath my feet as I walked in it.  I enjoyed the quiet and beauty it brings.  Now ice, well, I am not a big fan of ice as it brings too much danger for my taste.  Slipping and sliding about is not my cup of tea.  Here below are pictures of Daisy kitty's first snow.

Brandon took this picture of Daisy on the deck in the morning when the snow first started actually blanketing.

Here Daisy decided to taste the snow. 

This was taken in the afternoon when the snow was deeper.  Daisy watches the flakes coming down.

Celestial Seasons Tour

Well, today we took a family day trip up to Boulder to take the tea tour at Celestial Seasons.  The moment I arrived I was excited.  The plant is in a beautiful location and as we walked up to the front of the building we could smell the wonderful aroma of herbs & spices.  We signed up to take the tour and for tickets they give each person a sample packet of tea.  The tours run every 15 minutes and each tour group is given a different pack of tea.  Our tour group got packets of Sleepy Time tea.  We were also given a small cup with which to sample different teas they had set out in the lobby.  I was in heaven!

Here I am with my "tea" ticket and my cup to sample tea.

On the tour we saw huge bins full of herbs, spices and teas.  All of those bins last at most 4 months, after that they are refilled.  We got to go in the tea room and learned about black tea, green tea & white tea.  Green tea has the least amount of caffeine, black tea has the most and white tea is in the middle.  Green tea has the least because the leaves are steamed.  Black tea has the most caffeine because the leaves are dried.  Then we went on to the "mint room".  As soon as our tour guide opened the door we were all hit with the aroma of mint.  It was so strong that it cleared our sinuses and made our eyes burn.  It was fun though.  After our tour we then went and had lunch at the Celestial Seasons Cafe.  The food was reasonably priced and very tasty.

The walls of the cafe are painted with artwork from their boxes of tea.

Here I am outside the Tea Shop.  There were so many pretty things and every kind of tea.  I picked my favorite Mandarin Orange Spice and trying a new one Sweet Apple Chamomile.

Winter Walk

Mark is off this week and we are getting to spend some special time together.  We went out to lunch, did some shopping, went to Starbucks to get a hot drink and then we went to Crown Hill Park for our winter walk.  Here are some pictures from our walk.

Me with the sun setting in the background.  Mark liked the reflection on the water.

The color of the foliage.  The deep rust with golden grass in back is striking.

Can you make out the bird amongst the branches?  It is a Magpie.

The Canadian Geese have come back to Colorado.  Here some stand while others float as only part of the lake is frozen.

In the distance you can see the Rocky Mountains are covered with snow.  So far there has been very little snow in our area.

Here is my dear husband on the trail.  We had a wonderful day together.

Looking across the lake toward the bell tower in the distance.  Winter has certainly arrived.

Colorado Christmas

Well, our Christmas came and went.  I missed my family back in California quite a lot.  The four of us had a very relaxed and quiet Christmas.  We heard from friends and family via phone which was very heart warming.  Here below are a few pictures from our first Christmas in Colorado.

Brandon on his 16th birthday with his traditional gingerbread cake.

Here is Daisy kitty under the tree.  It was her first Christmas and she loved the presents.

Here I am with Eric on Christmas morning.  Eric is getting after me for posting this picture, but he looks handsome even though he says his hair is messy.

And here I am with Brandon opening his present to me on Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas!!

I finally got around to baking some cookies...Snowballs...my favorite.  I have so much cooking ahead of me I am overwhelmed.  In California we go to my sister's for Christmas dinner where my brother in-law prepares prime rib and then all of us other family members pitch in by bringing a dish.  I always brought the Christmas salad with cranberries & apples.  Everyone loves it and I am the only one who knows how to make it.  Oh, how I will miss Christmas dinner with family.

We are maintaining some of our old traditions as well as making new ones. One old tradition is to have Christmas Soup otherwise known as Root Soup on Christmas Eve.  It has beets in it so it turns a lovely red color.  I serve it with a dollop of sour cream in the center.  It reminds us of our Savior, whose blood makes us white as snow.  Since Christmas Eve is Brandon's birthday we have gingerbread cake.  I always decorate the cake like a gingerbread house.

Here is my little Brandon when he was in Kindergarten with his gingerbread birthday cake.  This birthday he turns 16 and he still wants his gingerbread cake with all the goodies on top.

Also, I am continuing to keep my tradition of watching my favorite Christmas movies.  I watched the Christmas List with Mimi Rogers.  And then I watched The Nativity Story.  Oh how that movie moves me to tears when I watch it.  I can't help telling the Lord I love Him when I watch it.

We all have happy memories of Christmases past and traditions that bring warmth to our celebration.  These are the things that make the present full and rich.  May your Christmas be blessed with many happy memories and much love as you celebrate our Savior...Jesus.

Haven't Been Myself

This Christmas I am homesick.  I am not my usual holiday self.  My mind is flooded with memories of Christmas at The Little Blue Cottage.  Sometimes tears come to my eyes and roll down my cheek.  I miss the comforts of The Little Blue Cottage.

Hearing about the buckets of rain that California has been receiving makes me feel like I am missing out.  I love the rain in California!  Here in Colorado it has been very dry.  There has been very little snowfall in the Denver area.  This is not a typical winter for Colorado, even so, we are enjoying the lack of snow because it reminds us of California.  However, there is no lack of static from the dry air.  I loathe my fine hair sticking to my forehead. I can't even pet my kitties without either of us getting shocked.  We have to run a humidifier to get relief. 

Sometimes I find myself asking "Why am I here?"  I guess that is not a good question to ask because it doesn't really matter...I am here.  It is normal and natural to lament for the familiar, but then I think on the children of Israel and how they wanted to go back to Egypt.  The Lord had something better for them up ahead they just had to believe, but they doubted.  Abraham left his hometown, he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.  Trusting, moving forward, believing these are all powerful tools in faith.  As 2010 comes to a close and we move ever closer to our 1 year anniversary here in Colorado, I have every reason to believe that He has something wonderful for us up ahead.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

Oh Where, Oh Where Have I Been?

Hello, is anyone there?  It has been so long since I lasted posted no wonder I am hearing crickets.  We just recently celebrated Eric's 17th birthday.  I cannot believe the little boy I received into my home when he was 2 years old is now 17!

 My little Eric celebrating a birthday at The Little Blue Cottage.

The past two days we have gotten a bit of snow, thus the new header picture.  I have been busy with Christmas cards and shopping.  Plans for the boys' birthdays and a few days of not feeling well thrown in as well.  I made my famous Christmas peppermint bark which was quite an accomplishment..  I have continued to keep an eye out for a home.  Recently many short sales hit the market, however, we have decided that we do not want to go that route (if we can help it).  Many homes have come and gone and here we are stilling waiting to find our home.  I never thought finding our first home here in Colorado would go the way it has gone.  Even so, we keep plodding down the path.

As I said before, I've had some times of not feeling well.  Unfortunately, it seems that part of this time of year involves illness. A flu bug is going around and I finally caught it.  I had to cancel an appointment and Mark came home from work to take care of me.  Spent all day in bed and slept despite a road crew in front of the house putting in a new water line.  Also, memories of all our Christmases at The Little Blue Cottage have been coming to mind.  My mom wants me to come home for Christmas, but Mark is saving up for us to go to California to celebrate my 50th birthday in the spring.  So we will stay here and enjoy our first Christmas in Colorado at House on the Hill. 

Hubby buys Diamonds and a Christmas Tree!!

The awaited gift finally came today...my new ring!!!  Mark took me shopping at Jared.  ;-)  Even though white gold is the popular choice...I chose yellow gold.  There were not many settings in yellow gold so I only had a few choices.  I chose a simple setting as I think anything else would be too flashy on my little finger.  The setting has 7 diamonds just like my old setting had.  When we got in the car Mark put the ring on my finger and said "With this ring I thee wed."

The lady that helped us at Jared was wonderful.  She found that my diamond was chipped from getting run over in the parking lot at the grocery store.  She showed me in the microscope, (the other jeweler I had gone to said it was fine).  Even so, it makes it all the more dear because I got it back.  I will always know that God gave me back my diamond, because when I realized it was lost I said out  loud that if I ever got it back it would be because of HIM.  Well, I got it back and now I will wear a constant reminder on my finger that HE loves me!  I am so happy with my new ring that it brings tears of joy to my eyes.

Here below is our Christmas tree here at House on the Hill.  I went to Bible study last Saturday and when I came home Mark had bought a Christmas tree.  As you can see in the pictures below Dusty and Daisy love the tree.

Quietness

In times of waiting there is quietness.  I can hear His still small voice speaking to me.  Unfortunately, my flesh keeps tugging at me.  I grow so weary at times.  Here are a few verses that inspire me:

Isaiah 31:15:  "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..."

Isaiah 30:21:  "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, this is the way; walk in it."