I’m not sure I’ll ever have a week filled with such an eclectic mix of experiences…ever?  In the course of one week, seven days I found myself at a dear friend’s birth of her third daughter, alone on endless groomed ski trails, in the Seattle Public Library, enveloped by the darkness of countless movie theaters (who says you can’t see every film nominated for Best Picture in one weekend?), in the loving company of my Sister-In-Law who lives in Italy, in search of the perfect bottle of scotch, and then having one of the most unusual dining experiences of my life.

Can we all say out loud together, “The Corson Building!”  I have never felt so welcomed, so well fed and dare I say, entertained at an eating establishment before.  Thank you, Wylie, Emily, Mark and Kyle and all the folks I met at our family style table of ten.

Oh, and then I bought a car.

Homemade pizza, chocolate ganache cake with four candles and two dear friends (thanks for coming over Nicole and Isolde!).  Birthday perfection for a January, jumping bean and now this Mama is off to rendezvous in Seattle with one very special sister-in-law.  Because even us Spring Creekers crave some City time.

Happy Friday morning sunrise, from our porch to yours.

Each year in December we travel four hours to the East in order to celebrate Christmas with the extended Belsby clan.  Grandma Louise graciously hosts Christmas dinner for upwards of 15 people, but before opening presents or eating the grand meal the children must do chores for the Norwegian Barn Elf, Nisse.

Of course it is freezing at chore time and all the kids are wearing their holiday best which rarely equates with warmth.  So we bundled up and filled the stock tanks with water for the horses, gifted the barn kitties some choice scraps, threw grain for the wild birds and pheasants, brought fresh, sweet oats for the horses and cows and gave each of the four ranch dogs a treat.  The last chore of checking on and feeding the heifers, young female cows pregnant with their first calves, lands us at the main barn where we thank Nisse for watching over the family farm; beasts, bovine, fowl and all.

Hot chocolate warms us up when we all make it back to the house followed by elk, pork and turkey roasts harvested on the property or gifted by neighbors.  Mash potatoes and gravy flowed, my sister-in-laws amazing salad was devored, enough wine flowed to keep Grandma Louise happy without upsetting the Mormon elder present and after a long day of waiting we finally joined hands and circled the Christmas tree while singing carols and opening gifts.

Till next year, Nisse.  Thank you for doing such a good job watching over the family farm- beasts and humans alike.