Well, after almost a year hiatus, I am back!! I hope to give this blogging thing a serious attempt this time around. I guess the "empty nest" stage of our lives have kept me busy (or maybe I just haven't had anything exciting to write about!)
Today was truly a milestone in our lives, as Eddie and I cut down our annual Christmas tree minus a child, a dog or a camera! Unfortunately, our dear, sweet chocolate Lab, Cocoa passed away this fall. She died on October 27th after a short bout with cancer in her right shoulder. She was 12 1/2 years old and she had a healthy, full life full of lots of love and attention. One month before the day she died, she took her last long hike with us to one of our favorite spots, Lily Pad Lakes. We must have known it was a special day because Eddie and I celebrated at the lake with some beers and chips and called Matt and Kealy from there. Even the dead battery in the car, upon our return, didn't dampen the mood!
But.....I digressed from my story about the tree cutting. We have cut our tree in the South Park Ranger District for the last several years, so today we headed to Fairplay, CO to get our permit and then up to Hoosier Pass for the short hike and hunt for the perfect tree. Before we left we tried to borrow a nephew (Oliver) or a nephew's dog (Porter) for company, but both had other pressing engagements, so it was just the two of us. It was a great day with lots of sun and near 30 degree weather. We found a beautiful 12 foot Spruce tree (yes, it is legal to cut Spruce in Park County!) Eddie has just completed the tree lighting with only one trip to Wal-Mart for an extra box of lights. I must now close and head up to attach the ornaments. Hope you will check back as I hope to add some photos, some recipes and other holiday goodies!
I hope your life has been full of lots of love and laughter in 2009!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Check out this blog and see how they're really done!
Well, I hope you all got a chance to try making a cosmo since you read my last post. We fixed them for our WILD Super Bowl party, which included 6 of us (8 if you count the two chocolate lab cousins) .....Eddie, me and the 4 Trowbridges (sister Sheila's family.) Even the two manly men enjoyed sipping a cosmo after chugging a few cold beers!
Eddie is snoring away on the couch, or I would try to include some Africa photos, but as of yet, I don't know how to download them to this website. Keep checking for those.
But instead I will share with you the blog site that was my inspiration for starting a blog....dooce.com ....or something like that. Try to google it. This zany lady has all these neat gadgets including "daily photo," "daily chuck" and "daily style." It is fun to check in with her and see what is new in those categories and if you are raising a small toddler you can probably relate to some of the stuff she shares about her days.
As for us "empty nesters", I skip her copy and just look at the pictures. Being a shopper, I like her "daily style" the most. In her past life she was a web designer or something like that, so her blog is a bit more professional than mine.......but hey........I'm working on it!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Time for a cocktail?
Whew! That last post was long-winded, so I promise to keep this short. I am off to my weekly yoga class, so just have time to share Brenda's Cosmo Recipe with you. As a bit of a side note to those that are not martini drinkers, neither were we until after a great ski day at A-Basin last season. Brenda, always a gracious hostess, invited us to stop off at her house on the way down the hill for a drink. We were hooked! We happened to have a martini shaker that I had won in a white elephant at work years ago, but you can just mix them in a glass and pour over another glass of ice to chill a few minutes. Best served "straight up," (no ice.)
BRENDA'S COSMOPOLITAN
2 parts (shot glass) vodka (best kept chilled in freezer)
1 part triple sec
1 part cranberry juice
Shake or stir in a tall glass or martini shaker. Then pour over a tall glass of ice to chill for two or three minutes. Then strain into two martini glasses and add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to each. You can wet the rim of the glass with lime juice and dip in sugar before pouring if you like. Add a twist of lime peel or a fresh strawberry if you'd like for garnish. Serves 2. ENJOY!
So, there you have it. Give it a try for Valentine's if you're looking for something a little different than champagne and strawberries.
Keep checking back as I will have Eddie help me post some Africa pictures soon. Stay warm!
BRENDA'S COSMOPOLITAN
2 parts (shot glass) vodka (best kept chilled in freezer)
1 part triple sec
1 part cranberry juice
Shake or stir in a tall glass or martini shaker. Then pour over a tall glass of ice to chill for two or three minutes. Then strain into two martini glasses and add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to each. You can wet the rim of the glass with lime juice and dip in sugar before pouring if you like. Add a twist of lime peel or a fresh strawberry if you'd like for garnish. Serves 2. ENJOY!
So, there you have it. Give it a try for Valentine's if you're looking for something a little different than champagne and strawberries.
Keep checking back as I will have Eddie help me post some Africa pictures soon. Stay warm!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Surprise! I'm back at it!
Hello Friends and Family!
Not sure if I still have any (friends or family) after the long hiatus from the blog. I knew how you counted on it-Ha! I see my last posting was Nov. 18th-more than two months ago! WOW! The time flies! When I wrote in November I said I would include my cosmopolitan drink recipe for the holidays. Well, hopefully you survived the holidays without it, but if you need a quick pick-me-up in the New Year it could come in handy. They are a pretty pink color, so would be a nice treat for your sweetie on Valentine's Day. I promise to add the cosmo recipe later this week, but for tonight, a quick recap of the past two months........
Sister Lisa, Eric and family came out from Chicago for the Thanksgiving holiday on the Amtrack. They stayed at cousin Trina's beautiful new Breckenridge condo. We had some fun times and good laughs- I have the drawing of a turkey in black sharpie on my dining room table to prove it! They had fun skiing A-Basin, also.
Next on the agenda was an amazing trip to Africa for Eddie and me, on December 5-21st. We went to Tanzania and Zanzibar to see Matthew on his study abroad. He returned home with us and is now back at school in Maine at Bowdoin College. Kealy was waiting at home for us after her first semester at college at CSU in Ft. Collins, CO. She greeted us with a live decorated Christmas tree and cut-out sugar cookies. Such a warm welcome- we will have to leave the country more often! We had a very low-key Christmas at home with our nearby family including, Sheila, Willie and boys and Dan, Cheryl and Mitchell, along with several close friends.
After a few weeks of relaxing, skiing, and entertaining, both kids and I are back at school. Eddie stays busy and is hopeful that the real estate market will remain strong after the election of our new President and the unbelievably low interest rates. Last Tuesday, January 20th, was a day I won't soon forget, as I ate popcorn and drank Hawaiian Punch at 10 AM, with a class of 2nd graders as we watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Here's to a terrific start to 2009! Peace and prosperity to you and yours!
Patti
Not sure if I still have any (friends or family) after the long hiatus from the blog. I knew how you counted on it-Ha! I see my last posting was Nov. 18th-more than two months ago! WOW! The time flies! When I wrote in November I said I would include my cosmopolitan drink recipe for the holidays. Well, hopefully you survived the holidays without it, but if you need a quick pick-me-up in the New Year it could come in handy. They are a pretty pink color, so would be a nice treat for your sweetie on Valentine's Day. I promise to add the cosmo recipe later this week, but for tonight, a quick recap of the past two months........
Sister Lisa, Eric and family came out from Chicago for the Thanksgiving holiday on the Amtrack. They stayed at cousin Trina's beautiful new Breckenridge condo. We had some fun times and good laughs- I have the drawing of a turkey in black sharpie on my dining room table to prove it! They had fun skiing A-Basin, also.
Next on the agenda was an amazing trip to Africa for Eddie and me, on December 5-21st. We went to Tanzania and Zanzibar to see Matthew on his study abroad. He returned home with us and is now back at school in Maine at Bowdoin College. Kealy was waiting at home for us after her first semester at college at CSU in Ft. Collins, CO. She greeted us with a live decorated Christmas tree and cut-out sugar cookies. Such a warm welcome- we will have to leave the country more often! We had a very low-key Christmas at home with our nearby family including, Sheila, Willie and boys and Dan, Cheryl and Mitchell, along with several close friends.
After a few weeks of relaxing, skiing, and entertaining, both kids and I are back at school. Eddie stays busy and is hopeful that the real estate market will remain strong after the election of our new President and the unbelievably low interest rates. Last Tuesday, January 20th, was a day I won't soon forget, as I ate popcorn and drank Hawaiian Punch at 10 AM, with a class of 2nd graders as we watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Here's to a terrific start to 2009! Peace and prosperity to you and yours!
Patti
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Birthday dinner at Food Hedz
Hooray! Tonight I had the night off from cooking and went out to dinner with Brenda McDonnell, sister Sheila and our dear friend Ann Ray, who is celebrating a special birthday next Monday. We travelled two blocks to the Food Hedz World Cafe in a strip mall in Frisco, CO. If you haven't checked it out, you must. Fine dining in a very casual atmosphere with very fresh, creative food at great prices! Say Hi to Chef David and Hostess with the Mostess Patti (another Patti) when you are there! Check them out at http://www.foodhedz.com/ and check out the distinguished gentleman at the front of the photo - that would be Eddie! We were there with a group of Copper friends for a last minute reunion last spring.
Well, I will keep this short. Everyone is telling me I have way too much time on my hands to be writing daily blogs, but then again if you are reading this daily, you better get back to work, too!!!
Well, I will keep this short. Everyone is telling me I have way too much time on my hands to be writing daily blogs, but then again if you are reading this daily, you better get back to work, too!!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Hi Friends,
I guess the point of a blog is to do a daily (or near daily) entry, so here goes. After spending hours on the computer yesterday, researching and designing my blog, I headed to the kitchen at 7:30 PM with no idea what to have for dinner. Eddie suggested "breakfast for dinner"-not my favorite. I thought I could do better. So, upon deciding that I deserved to celebrate success at getting the blog on-line, I made a pitcher of cosmopolitans! Thanks Bren, for that recipe after a great ski day last winter. I will include that recipe as we get closer to the holidays, so stay tuned!
But with the creative juices flowing after a few sips of my martini, I decided to try a recipe off the chicken broth box. Now doesn't that sound appetizing!? HA! But, needless to say, it was delicious, if you like coconut and curry, and it was ready in about 15 minutes. I would highly recommend this for a quick weeknight meal. I had several responses from friends that want to try the pasta recipe, so if you missed yesterday's entry check it out, too. I really don't intend to add a recipe everyday, but this one was just too easy and tasty not to pass along. Eventually I will include advice, humor and wisdom from this empty nest.
Thanks for reading!
Patti
I guess the point of a blog is to do a daily (or near daily) entry, so here goes. After spending hours on the computer yesterday, researching and designing my blog, I headed to the kitchen at 7:30 PM with no idea what to have for dinner. Eddie suggested "breakfast for dinner"-not my favorite. I thought I could do better. So, upon deciding that I deserved to celebrate success at getting the blog on-line, I made a pitcher of cosmopolitans! Thanks Bren, for that recipe after a great ski day last winter. I will include that recipe as we get closer to the holidays, so stay tuned!
But with the creative juices flowing after a few sips of my martini, I decided to try a recipe off the chicken broth box. Now doesn't that sound appetizing!? HA! But, needless to say, it was delicious, if you like coconut and curry, and it was ready in about 15 minutes. I would highly recommend this for a quick weeknight meal. I had several responses from friends that want to try the pasta recipe, so if you missed yesterday's entry check it out, too. I really don't intend to add a recipe everyday, but this one was just too easy and tasty not to pass along. Eventually I will include advice, humor and wisdom from this empty nest.
Thanks for reading!
Patti
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Dedicated to the CUZ
This past week, Eddie was setting up his own blog to promote real estate in Breckenridge. Being ever the marketing expert, I suggested that I could do a recipe column titled "What's Cookin' in the County?" on his blog. NOT! It just wasn't the direction he wanted to go with http://www.summitcountyhome.blogspot.com/ .
So......voila....Live, Laugh, Love.....Leave...... My own blog to share my recipes, my thoughts, my limited French and my life after the kids leave.
This first posting is dedicated to our cousin Trina, who suggested Eddie set up a blog. Trina is a 20-year resident of Manhattan who just made a home purchase in Summit County, from none other than her favorite realtor guy, her cousin Eddie Bowers. In my first recipe column I will include the pasta I tried for the first time when "Cuz" was out accessorizing "Chez Trina" in October. We all loved it. It was an easy, nutritional pasta- a complete meal with a loaf of french bread and a bottle of red. Enjoy!
Patti
So......voila....Live, Laugh, Love.....Leave...... My own blog to share my recipes, my thoughts, my limited French and my life after the kids leave.
This first posting is dedicated to our cousin Trina, who suggested Eddie set up a blog. Trina is a 20-year resident of Manhattan who just made a home purchase in Summit County, from none other than her favorite realtor guy, her cousin Eddie Bowers. In my first recipe column I will include the pasta I tried for the first time when "Cuz" was out accessorizing "Chez Trina" in October. We all loved it. It was an easy, nutritional pasta- a complete meal with a loaf of french bread and a bottle of red. Enjoy!
Patti
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