Halloween 2009

Two cheerleaders, a good guy, a witch, a dog with an aftro and enough candy until 2010. Happy Halloween!

Snow Day: Day 2

Doesn't it seem a bit odd that Boulder has never had two snow days in a row (that's the word around Whittier Elementary at least) and we get this epic snow and two days off from school barely two months after arriving from Southern California. It felt like it was sent especially for us, 5 snow-hungry souls who needed a big winter weather fix (total inches: 23). Whomever sent the snow, thank you. We loved every minute of it.

Besser boys' first Snow Day: Day 1

Shiloh's attempt at a snow angel!

It started snowing Tuesday night and snowed through the day Wednesday. School was cancelled at 6 am and the boys spent the day sledding and eating snow and getting so cold their ears and noses turned purple. I took a lot of pictures of snow-- on branches, on wrought iron details, on children and dogs, on bicycles. I watched branches break off 100-year-old trees from the weight of the snow. I counted and measured the inches...3, 4, 5...10, 11, 12. I was very amused and totally enchanted, but also a bit perplexed. It's October 28th after all. I don't have any snow associations with late October. None. My snow memories begin in December and end in April. Nothing in the October files. About an hour ago we checked the Boulder Valley School District website: school is cancelled for tomorrow...again. The boys are headed next door for a sleep over (who needs to go to bed on time or do homework!). No school, no rules, no bed time....

And it's still snowing.

October 28th: SNOW DAY!!!

Snow, snow and more snow...

Winter Storm Warning in effect from midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT Thursday...
	Today Cloudy. A 10 percent chance of rain showers late in the after- noon. Highs 44 to 50.
	Tonight Chance of rain and snow in the evening...then snow after midnight. Snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Lows in the upper 20s. North winds 10to 15 mph after midnight.
	Wednesday Snow heavy at times and areas of blowing snow. Snow accumulation 3 to 6 inches. Highs in the lower 30s. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
	Wednesday Night Snow and areas of blowing snow. New snow accumulation 2 to 4 inches. Lows in thelower 20s. North winds10 to 20 mph.
	Thursday Snow likely. Areas of blowing snow in the morning. Additional snow accumulation possible. Highs in the lower 30s. Chance of snow 60 percent.
	Thursday Night Mostly cloudy with a 10 percent chance of snow. Lows around 18.

350.org Boulder event

The boys and Grant participated in the 350.org event in Boulder on Saturday. The event was organized to raise awareness of the need to reduce carbon emissions. They biked to a local coal plant, where they held a rally, chanting "Hey, Hey, Ho Ho, Your dirty Coal has got to go". It was their first peaceful demonstration and first hands-on lesson in environmental activism. Stay tuned for when Quinn starts his hunger strike in protest of the gluten- free menu at school.

Boys on Bikes

Sanitas Valley Trail

Shiloh and I went on a brisk run this morning up the Sanitas Valley Trail. Thanks to my new layers, 30 degrees never felt so good. Looking forward to another winter storm coming our way later this week.

Boulder Modernsim: Charles A. Haertling

Altadena house...

Boulder Haertling house

I was walking home from the trails today and stumbled upon this house. It took my breath away, not just because it is stunning, but because of how much it reminded me of our house in Altadena. After a little sleuthing on the internet, I discovered that it was a house designed by Charles A. Haertling, a Boulder architect and civic leader. The Menkick House was completed in 1970 and was sited in the middle of beautiful rock out-cropping. Haertling designed many modern gems in Boulder until his death in 1984 at the age of 55.

Hike du jour: Anemone Trail

After yesterday's inclemency, it was time to get out. Shiloh and I found a great hike (and some snow!) just up the road at Centennial Park. It was a nice break from the knee-bender Sanitas. I'm hoping to try a new hike every week and share it with you. This hike was an easy 55 minutes. I ran/walked it in intervals. We found bits of snow here and there but most of the storm from yesterday is a melting memory.

Outside-Inside

We've had another Colorado weather event. Yesterday it was sunny and in the 60s, today we have rain and sleet. I've received many inquiries about how I am handling the weather and although it is premature to boast that the weather suits me perfectly, I don't know what the fuss is all about. I guess if I hated cashmere sweaters and stripped tights and knitted hats and boots that feel like your favorite slippers, I would have a problem. But being inside making brownies and banana bread and green chili stew feels quite all right. My doors are closed, the fire in the living room is warming the house, the rain is falling lightly on the roof and it a feels quite all right.

Ping Pong champions!

Pre-Halloween anticipation

We are anticipating over 300 trick-or-treaters this year to our house on Mapleton Avenue. Apparently they come to our neighborhood by the bus load. I am getting prepared, albeit with a little apprehension (our last trick-or-treater was in 2002 in Silver Lake). Sooo, I have 900 pieces of candy stored in my closet (are you sensing my panic, er, excitement?) and my porch is starting to look a little spooky with the help of a 4-foot hairy spider. My lovely mother Janet is coming from NYC to hand out candy, dressed as the good witch of the East of course, while we roam the neighborhood. As for costumes, Quinn had his picked out after Labor Day, while Cole and Carson, not exactly time sensitive types, are still equivocating between cheerleaders or robbers. Stay tuned for the reveal...

When two seasons collide...

Today!

Yesterday!

Cookies

I took a cookie making class last night from a very talented woman, Julia Usher, who has just published a book called "Cookie Swap". She showed us how to make some fantastic and beautiful creations, and demystified the techniques required to make fancy cookies. Considering that my cookie repertoire consists of chocolate chip cookies and brownies, I'm very excited to test out my marbling skills.