i remember 2010

Don't get me wrong, I love christmas. But it is a BIT of a work-out. Some people get real sentimental, even depressed during this week between christmas and new years. Not me..I think this is the Best week of the year!! I love it so much that today I am rather giddy with anticipation of a new year. First, I love to clean up christmas and then the house ( Nancy Sue and I always race to pack up..odd?! I think not.) Then my organizational personality goes into hyper-drive ( Sybil does drawers.) It is a Fabulous time of year to move BTW. I am energized,but also reflective. It was a perfect time for me to get married. It is like mentally streaking threw a snowy meadow (because i would never do that physically...snow is far to cold..maybe the beach.)

Devin said that I should write down my top 10 favorite meals of the year..

1.Best breakfast Must go to Betty's Kitchen in New Hampshire - believe me it is worth the drive!

2.Best local/organic/tasty lunch goes to The Glenwood in Eugene, Oregon. Simply groovy.

3.Kevin is quite sure that the very best lasagna he has ever eaten was in Boston's North End.

4.Lovely surprise..Udon soup in SeaTac with the rain coming down..cozy and yummy.

5.Best Pizza - and this is a Big category in the Haycock log - Rubicon Pizza up in Northstar/Lake Tahoe. Red Thai Curry.. UNBELIEVABLE!!

6.Kerriann found "deep fried pickles" out in Bar Harbor, Maine. That is on Her list, not mine.

7.Coolest award is another toughie, but I am going to go with 22* (that's degree) North in Kauai . Sustainable..gourmet..divine.

8.Best Blow-out Celebration..Maggianos.

9.Dessert-to-die-for has to be the Klamath Cafe's rhubarb/raspberry pie.

10. Any and Everywhere in Maine..lobster rolls and blueberries.

11. Best Atmosphere..I am going to have to go with eating dinner ( probably fried everything) in Memphis with an Elvis impersonator singing - no belting- out songs for us. It brought me Such joy!!

That all being said..who can truly pass up a homemade meal done up by chefs like Devin or Richard, items grilled by Daddy or chopped salads of Dallin's. Ah, there really is no place like home.

christmas 2010

a lovely winter solstice ..

attention..due to an incredible snowfall

there are no roses to make wreaths

and we certainly can't have any bonfire under the pergola. Winter Solstice must be celebrated in ones heart. Enjoy.

feliz navidad

The girls are worried that christmas in arizona is just not going to "feel" right. Maybe it is because I grew up in california and we certainly didn't have a "white christmas"there. Also - being a realist - I do know that not Every christmas is a white one in utah..we just like to think it was. The feel of christmas can be -and is - different everywhere I have lived. But I am happy and relaxed right now. I am in a "good" place both mentally and physically. I LIKE to hear the christmas songs on the radio..I am no longer changing the station when they came on. And all those songs have a different memory And place attached to them ( the smooth Bing Crosby songs are So my dad and the martini swirling 60s...John Lennon's "so this is christmas" is such a groovy,listening to the hi-fi in our woodside living room, "blue christmas" was when Kelly was a tiny little thing going through her Elvis phase, Kevin humming "grandma got run over by a reindeer" the years she came to visit etc. etc.) Music is a key part of feeling christmas.

I like how people put lights on their cactus..I really like that. Many lights on houses in the neighborhood - in fact, We are the ones who look like the "bah-humbugs."Lights look very festive down here in the desert and I say, bring it on. Have you seen that darling Target commercial with various shots of people uber decorating with lights..especially the barn at the end. The best "lighting" of course is the gorgeous sunsets each night with the sagauro cactus silloetted against the skyline. Never fails to hit my "ahhh" button.

We walked around the mall yesterday and Preston was So excited to see Santa. We walked right up,no waiting..we definitely weren't in utah. The little guy waves at the jolly one and says," hi Santa, It's Preston." Well Santa should know him I guess. Last year Pres wanted No part of Santa. Things change, places change..I'm just glad that I am not missing it!

And that is the bottom line. I am Feeling christmas because I am with the ones I love. Snow is good , but my little haycock family is all I really need.

holidays in the desert

the holidays in phoenix arizona 2010

Preston loved Tia Rosa...who didn't?!

Jane's first bites of pumpkin pie. Yeah, I know it doesn't look like her first bite!!

Poppy meets Cooper James.

The new little Bowen family. Check out Bo's groovy sweatshirt that is now immortalized in all the "first day" pictures.