Girls Trip - Day 1

 Ahh - the BEST way to kick of a new year?  A trip with the girls.  For sure, for sure.  I am soooo excited to get this one underway.  Kelly has made the supreme effort to drive four hours just to give little old me a ride today.  There are days when having only one car bites, and today is one of them.  She arrived last night and after some sleep, we are ready to drive (once again, out of the way - oh, poor Kelly) to Frieda's for the night.  Let's get this party on the road - some stops may happen along the way.

One Week Into 2024 - Back in Montana - Week 2

 Winter in Montana is always beautiful, but sometimes cold.  VERY cold.  This is my morning hello.  Now, in all fairness, it is much better than it has been --- check out the previous post - Brrrrr.

One Week Into 2024 - Back in Montana - Week 1

 January has arrived and, with that auspicious statement, we are off to Montana once again.  Two weeks with family and enjoying winter.  At least that is the plan.  Once again, we have a flight in the wee hours, so Mister is sleeping on the plane.  Seriously, we left the house at 3:15 this morning.  We are NOT typically mask-wearers while traveling, but there are two people coughing right behind us and we are off to see Mom, so don't want to risk hauling something fun up there.  Masks on --- let's do battle.

An Un-Christmas House - Peek Into Normal Life

 I've un-decorated the house today (rather unwillingly, I might add) and thought I'd share some pics of "normal life."  I've left some red around the house for Valentines, but other than that, it's pretty "normal".  I don't have the guest room finished yet, so no pics and I have a project all over the dining room, so it's not done yet either.  Other than that, here ya go:

Entryway - 

A Little Bird and Nutria Watching

 Out, out --- out of the house.  A stop at White Rock Coffee nets us warmth and caffeine before we check in on our pelican friends.  The first stop nets us a big zero.  It's full of people with giant cameras just waiting for the perfect moment and watching a couple egrets and hundreds of cormorants.  Not my cup of tea.  I do spot a line of white making its way around the lake on the other side.  Back to the car only to find that they are further out than I though.  Drat.  They are on the move though and maybe they'll get a bit closer.  Mister finds a park bench and a quilt in the car (it's chilly out) and we settle in with our warm coffee and just enjoy what nature provides to us.  

See my pelican friends?

Holiday Fountain Magic and Festivus for the Rest of Us

 It's Christmas Weekend so Mister and I are out and about a bit.  Today is the 22nd of December and since my sweetie took the afternoon off, we are heading downtown.  Come along for a walk and some pretty fountains, I hope.

Making Marshmallows

 Putting together packages for mailing is always a daunting project around here.  It means Chex Mix (done) and cookies (done) and gifts (almost done), etc.  It also means candy.  Today are marshmallows.  I know several people have asked for this recipe, so here ya go:

Ingredients:

2 tsp. butter

3 envelopes unflavored gelatin

1 cup cold water, divided

2 cups sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/8 tsp. salt

1 tsp. clear vanilla extract

Optional toppings:  melted chocolate, hot fudge and/or caramel ice cream topping.  Optional garnishes:   baking cocoa, confectioners' sugar, crushed candies, chopped nuts, colored sugars and/or sprinkles.

Here we go:  Line a 13 x 9 pan with foil and grease the foil with butter; set aside.