XC SKIING MANIA !

We have snow! It is SO exciting! Chuck and I went out cross country skiing for the first time this season yesterday. Chuck was able to use his own equipment for the first time (an early Christmas present)- last year he just rented.  He wanted to try out the sport and see if he enjoyed it enough to invest in equipment. We had both forgotten what an intense workout it is- we both came home soaked we were so sweaty!  We did really well- first time out in 10 months and neither of us fell down. Such a change from last year- it seemed all I did was fall down! Right from the beginning I felt really comfortable on my skis, which bodes well for the rest of the season.  Hopefully I will be able to improve a lot this year and get a lot smoother and faster. I go so slow right now, it's embarrassing. But at least I am upright!!  We both aspire to graduate to "skate skis" once  we are proficient at the "classic Nordic" style.

We are so blessed to live on the golf course where they groom a cross country trail daily.  It wasn't even on our radar when we were looking for a house, but it has been such a fun addition to our lives (and just about the only exercise I get!).

RUSTIC CENTERPIECE

We love our Park City home. We wanted to live in the mountains, and wanted a home that exuded that rustic vibe. The first piece of furniture we bought for this house (before we even moved in) was a large rustic dining table.

We have been searching for the right centerpiece for the last year. It would need to be massive to hold its own on the table. It would need to pick up the colors in the room (dark red, mustard yellow with green accents). And of course, the rustic vibe.

We have a favorite furniture store here in Park City named Mountain Timber that reflects the style we are trying to create in our home.  In fact, we did buy that dining table there when they were having a 50% off sale.  Usually the store is way too expensive, but we love to browse for inspiration.  We love the accessories on display as much as the furniture.

We were thrilled to find just the right centerpiece for our table- until we noticed the price tag. They had several on display all between $500-$600!!  Yikes! 

We took lots of pictures and wondered if we could recreate it ourselves. Both Chuck and I started our respective internet searches.  Chuck hunting for the wooden trough that the arrangement was placed in.  Me looking for the trough fillers. 

We determined that we could recreate our dream centerpiece at an affordable price. Even considering it included having the trough custom made to the size we needed and stained our choice of colors. It took about 3 weeks for the wooden piece to show up, but it was exactly what we wanted. 

It took me a little longer to collect the materials to make the arrangement. Some came from the internet, some came from thrift stores, some came from a craft store. Most all of them were natural elements, dried gourds, seed pods, dried artichokes, pinecones, etc. When I gathered everything I needed, I realized the dried items were too drab in color. I grabbed a can of spray paint and a can of spray tint and went to work.

This is what we ended up with...... and we couldn't be happier.  We really love it.  I have to add the disclaimer that it really looks better in person.

Now, Chuck thinks we have the skills to start a new home business....

FREMONT FUNK

 The first week in October is a good time to go back and visit my kids living in Washington. Jared's birthday is October 4, so a celebration was in order. Plus there have been lots of changes since I was last there.. Jared has a new job and a new girlfriend that I wanted to meet (I REALLY like her) and Becca had moved to Renton, so I wanted to see her apartment and meet her roommate.

  While all my objectives were achieved, it wasn't the most pleasant week. I am pretty sure I was exposed to the flu on the flight to Seattle, and sure enough 4 incubation days later I was sicker than a dog. Poor Becca had to give up her bed and sleep on the couch.  I was so sick I couldn't stomach (literally) the idea of getting on a plane to go back home, so I had to extend my stay an extra day until I could remain upright without all my insides trying to get outside, if you get my drift......

However, on Monday of that week before I really got sick and was only feeling a "little off" Becca and I had planned an excursion to the Fremont district in Seattle. Even though I had lived there for 30 years it was one area of Seattle I had never explored except for the obligatory pilgrimage to the famous Fremont Troll.

Mission accomplished. We had a really fun day, even though I was feeling a little under the weather. The retail stores in Fremont have ridiculously high prices, so we ended up avoiding those, even though Becca and I love nothing better than to shop. And we tried, we really did, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money.

We spent the day doing a free walking tour of all the funky art installations around the neighborhood.

It all started at the rocket....

An actual cold war scrap pile leftover that the small business owner co-op of Fremont decided to adopt and install on a street corner. It kind of sets the tone for the mind set of Fremont residents- quirky.

a darling art installation that is a throw back  referring to JP Patches, a Seattle children's TV show institution in a bygone era

Next stop- "Waiting on the Interurban"

The fun part of this art installation is that the local residents dress up these commuters to reflect the season.

then there is the statue of Lenin.....

not sure why Lenin..

but on a cool side note, just before we posed for this selfie we got to meet a darling Bernese Mountain Dog that was sauntering by (one of the highlights of the day).

This statue stands outside the Brooks Running Store. It is made out of donated medals and awards won by local runners.

a closer look..

The famous Fremont Troll with the full size VW beetle in it's clutches

now looking the other way down the street-

cool perspective...

another art installation entitled "Space"

The rest of the walking tour took us down towards the Lake Union ship canal.

I know it's hard to tell but our selfie includes a mamma and baby dinosaur made from live, growing ivy.  The metal frame for the two resided at the Seattle Center at one time. When it needed a new home, once again, quirky Fremont had it relocated to their neighborhood. Ivy was planted at the feet and it took 12 years for the ivy to engulf the frame.  Volunteers keep the ivy trimmed.

The quaint Fremont Bridge.  Look closer and you will see a neon Rapunzel in the bridge house letting down her hair.

Can you see her?  Who comes up with these things?

One last art installation. Unfortunately, I have forgotten the name of this one. But he is holding a lamp, and the sign instructs us to hold on to his lamp and say a prayer for world peace. Done.

I don't know if my prayer will be answered, but he is surely installed in a very peaceful and picturesque setting.

Our day had to end with chocolate, as all traditional days in Seattle should- whether it is hot chocolate at Starbucks, or a taste of Seattle's Best Chocolate, a trip to Seattle needs to be chococentric (I know its not a word).  Fremont is no different. Our last stop was at the Theo Chocolate Factory, where the tours are free.

 

This day began and ended with chocolate as every day should.

PUTTING THE "WILD" IN WILDLIFE

One of the reasons I love Park City so much is the proximity of wildlife. We. are. surrounded. No, let me rephrase that.... at times we are inundated. Autumn is one of those times.

Because the weather is turning colder, the larger game is coming down from the higher elevations, often with offspring looking for warmth and food.

Yes, those are moose. Yes, they are in my backyard.

Yes, as you can see by the grapes on the deck railing, we are feeding them (shhhhh... a big no no). A side note- they love apples, peaches, pears and grapes.  Bananas- not so much.

Wildlife can be a little hard on the landscaping...

But when they kneel to apologize, it's easy to forgive them.

Actually, what I have come to realize is that baby moose's legs grow much faster than their necks.  So while mama's neck can reach the ground to eat without kneeling, the calves legs are too long to do so. Weird, right?

Moose aren't our only entertainment right now.  It is the rutting season for the local elk population and the golf course is the local singles bar. 

In fact, our back yard seems to be speed dating central. The elk bugle is our lullaby every night. The herd of elk on the golf course during the day is annoying to the local duffers, because all play has to stop until they decide to meander on.  The golf course ropes off the greens in a feeble attempt to keep hoof marks from destroying the putting surfaces.

Ahh, if large game were the only thing looking for warmth this time of year..

Unfortunately, this little guy is not just a visitor.  He has taken up residence in our garage. I mean as in living there. He gets along great with our two outdoor cats, they share the same food dish and beds. He doesn't seem to be too freaked out by our human appearances in the garage.  He took over one of the cat beds on a garage shelf where he was sleeping every day (skunks are nocturnal) that I would get within 2 feet of as I got into my car every morning on my way to work before we even realized he/she was there.

I called the county animal control to see what my options were. Apparently, the options are co-existence or death. The county wont come trap it, so either I do it myself, or pay someone to do it. Trapping it myself seems a little iffy.. what do I do then? How do I move the trap without getting sprayed?  But trapping it is certain death as it is illegal to release a skunk or a raccoon within county limits because there are too many. So once it is trapped it has to be euthanized. 

It seems to be mellow enough, that coexistence might be considered if we could just teach it to use the litter box....

MUTT SEASON

I must preface this by apologizing for the silence since my last post. Life has intervened.  Ever since I went to work in May at the café, it seemed like I was either too busy, or just too darn tired to be in the mood to blog.

However, now that the busy summer season is past, things have started to slow down. Mutt season ( yes, that is actually what they call it up here) starts next weekend. At resorts, apparently there is a high season, a shoulder season and then comes mutt. Mutt= dead.  They are shutting the whole park down for 6 weeks. Closed up, shuttered, locked. (Which equals me being out of work from 10/30 through 12/13. Can't decide if I am happy about this or not.

Summer is tourist season for the park, and winter is training season for the Olympic athletes. No skiing in the park unless you have a coach. So while it may be too cold for tourists, there still isn't any snow for the athletes- hence mutt season.

I have only been working 3 days a week for the last month. Beginning of the weeks have been so slow, that on Tuesdays I actually work by myself- cashier and cook. It's kinda fun...

I DO MOM THINGS

This is work. This is me at work. This is the Café at the Utah Olympic Park.

It is fun, fast paced and I get to work with a lot of young people, mostly athletes.

I enjoy it, a lot. And I have figured out why....

cause I do mom stuff. I cook, I clean, I wait on people and boss teenagers around. I am very good at it. Why not, it seems I've been doing this my whole life. ONLY NOW I AM GETTING PAID FOR IT!

S'MORE TIME!!

Our busy Saturday with Rachel and the Grandkids included some morning work pulling weeds in the yard.  Grandpa told Evelyn and Douglas they were going to pay a "weed pulling game" and they were happy to participate.  Grandpa promised them candy rewards for the weeds they pulled.  Douglas pulled up a couple weeds and examined the dirt hanging on the roots and said "Papa- there's no candy under here!!"  Chuck had to explain that wasn't exactly what he meant.  They did enjoy helping out "Papa" and filled up that brown tote to the brim twice with weeds!

Our evening began with roasting s'mores over the fire pit and ended by hanging with Papa in the hot tub.

 

It was a glorious sticky mess- our hot tub may never recover!!