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Dan & G have been going to the indoor rock wall most Sundays. Sometimes Jamie & Becca go too. They all passed their Belaying class this weekend and got their green tags. Now they can climb any of the walls, not just the ones with autobelay. Next step: Trying it outdoors ...

Chili

Dan and I were invited to a Valentine's Day wine & chocolate tasting. While the hosts set up the four flights, we were asked to bring something chocolate-based as well. I decided to go with a savory dish because I figured most other people would bring sweets/desserts. After some Internet research I decided to go with chili, then looked at various recipes. G and Dan helped me put it together. It turned out awesome! You can find the recipe here. Next time we make it I will probably use less brown sugar in the spice mix and leave all of the seeds in the jalapeños.


Chopping in tandem



Ready to go

Happy Valentine's Day

Mud Season

It's not always so beautiful here ...

Toys in the Attic

For the past 10 years, my friend Dawn has periodically, and with great relish, posed the question, "How's that attic coming?" For the first time, I can't wait for her to ask, because thanks to Dan's cousin Graham, it will be DONE! We've been lucky enough to have him while he's home for a few months before he heads back to Alaska. He's done all the fine woodwork that's been unfinished lo these many years -- doors, windows, windowbox, trim. We've had several plans for the room, but at this point it is going to be a Wii/slumber party room for G and her friends to hang out. Yay to Graham for taking this on!



G & Graham and some of his handiwork

Rosy-Fingered Dawn

7:04 a.m.










I haven't posted in a while because there hasn't been much going on. We've had several weeks of subzero/single digit temperatures, so we've been pretty much housebound. G got braces, so she's not letting me photograph her. The Forensics tournament season started, so we are both busy with that. We're still here, just not doing anything interesting.