holiday letters

Dear Trader Joe’s,

Thank you for making my year-round grocery shopping and eating such a joyful experience. I don’t even remember what life was like before I found you. And at this time of year, I want to thank you especially for Candy Cane Joe-Joes. I think you might put crack in them, but I won’t tell anyone.

And last but not least, thank you for introducing me this year to Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels. They are heaven in my mouth (and only 2 Weight Watchers points).

Love,
Liz

Dear G. F. Handel,

Thank you for writing Messiah. (I learned in a master class a long time ago that it is not The Messiah. Just Messiah.) It is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the Advent/Christmas season. Especially “And he shall purify the sons of Levi.” You really hit the nail on the head with that one.

I feel quite sure you and I would be friends if we knew each other in real life. Is it okay for me to call you George?

Love,
Liz

Dear Aaron Sorkin,

Thank you for writing The West Wing. Seth and I have been enjoying the reruns for a couple of weeks now. You are brilliant. I bow at your feet. That is all.

Love,
Liz

norwegian almond bread

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup melted margarine

Beat sugar, egg, extract, and milk, add flour and baking powder, finally add margarine. Pour into bundt cake pan sprayed with cooking spray (or specialized Scandinavian cake pan). Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes. Edges must be golden brown. Cool in pan before removing. Bread will break if removed too soon. Sprinkle with confectionary sugar. Cool cake in pan before removing as it can break apart.

Variation: before pouring batter into pan, sprinkle sliced almonds on the bottom.

happy halloween...

...from our little penguin!

Lots more October photos are up here.

happy october!

Today we went on a picnic near Sandia Crest! New pictures for October are up here.

Next week's plan: a pumpkin patch!

more photos than you could ever hope for

The last few nights after Anna's gone to bed, I have been organizing our photos on Flickr. Now, every (good) photo taken since Seth & I met in 2004 is categorized and labeled for your viewing pleasure. Whew - I'm just glad I've only had a digital camera for five years! :)

where have we been?

Iowa, that's where!

We went to Seth's parents' for five wonderful days and just got back on Tuesday night. Anna had a fantastic time exploring the farm, watching Grandpa's train set, and meeting lots of animals (Sophie the dog, Chewbacca the cat, and assorted farm kittens). We also enjoyed trips to Lauritzen Botanical Gardens and Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha just across the river. And, Anna got to meet her Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Hartwell and many other friends & relatives!

Bonus: Anna rode over 30 hours in the car and only cried for about an hour or two total. (When I say it that way it sounds so good - it sure didn't feel good for that hour or two, though!)

It's such a lovely time of year to be in the Midwest, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! Check out lots of photos here.

hanging on

It's been almost a month since my last post! Ugh... how did that happen?

Not much is new here. I'm crazy busy at work right now, though that should ease up by tomorrow. Seth just returned from six days with his guy friends from college (first to Indianapolis, then to Chicago by way of their college campus). He had fun sampling microbrews, deep dish pizza, and the Cubbies while I... did not. That's okay, though - he thoroughly deserved the trip and a break from his busy full-time gig as Anna's Daddy! We're glad to have him home!

I'm not going to lie: I could use a vacation. The last time I took off from work was my maternity leave, which I think we can all agree is wonderful, but does not qualify as R&R. Having said that, it is really restful to have summer weekends free. Instead of traveling and lots of running around, we have spent a relaxing summer just hanging out on the weekends, enjoying our sweet baby girl.

And speaking of Anna, she is amazing as ever. She loved her first experience with solid food - bananas, sweet potatoes, apples, and pears have all met with her approval. Avocados or green beans are up next. I need to upload pictures and will do that soon, including (hopefully) a short video clip of Anna's latest trick: blowing raspberries. Warning: a six-month-old blowing raspberries is about the funniest thing ever captured on video (although you might not be able to hear her as I am probably laughing hysterically)!

Tomorrow Seth and I go to Santa Fe for an early anniversary date, first to Cafe Pasqual, then to the Santa Fe Opera. We can't wait! (A big thanks to both sets of grandparents for providing the opera tickets and the baby-sitting!) So that will be a wonderful mini-break for us. And next week we celebrate four years of married bliss!