Happy New Year

Have fun kids. Like the past couple years, Cathy and I are having people over. This year will include such things as single malt scotch, lobster dip, and a chocolate fountain. Great stuff. Stop by if you can.

For those who haven't seen it, this year's holiday card:


If you guessed that we spent five minutes throwing this together in mspaint then you are correct. Give us a break, it was a busy year. I still think it's our best one yet.

Common Wildlife

Just got back from our Michigan holiday. As usual, there was an abundance of food and good times. Also as usual, I spent a good deal of my relaxing time watching squirrels and birds.


Northern Cardinal. Watched this guy and his wife eat berries just outside a kitchen window while we drinking our morning coffee. They tend to be relatively shy, so I took this photo through the window instead of stepping outside. Pretty common around here, although you won't really find these birds too far west.


I took a long walk on a local trail during the visit. The wasn't a person in sight due to the cold and snow, and that made for a peaceful and quiet walk. Along the way I did find this Downy Woodpecker looking for some treats under tree bark. Not that shy, but a bit frantic. I've seen them nearly everywhere I have hiked.


And of course there were a lot of a fat squirrels moseying around and giving me suspicious looks.

More Treats

Around here, there is a direct correlation between the holidays and treat production. Here are some of Cathy's recent creations for your viewing pleasure:


Mini cupcake cones. I feel like a giant when I eat these.


Peanut butter cookies, a favorite of mine.

We're going to Michigan to visit my parents for the holidays, which means good times, good food, and good beer are all in my near future.

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Trunk

Pie Components

Some semi-recent photos/trivia regarding the blackberry apple pie Cathy made for Thanksgiving:


The apples used were Northern Spy apples grown in Michigan. They say it's a good baking apple.


They were bought from here back in October (they also say the Northern Spy is a good storage apple). I think we spent the rest of that day eating donuts and looking for an imaginary cider mill from my childhood.

Autumn Deactivates

Autumn Acer palmatum.