too many photos

dancing in the kitchen while making cookies galore - normal business as usual at the j&t household. ;)

on the road to Bellingham

the road to grandma's house
the barn - years ago my uncles painted it for my mom's wedding, and we repainted it for my sister's
Jeff starting the snow run...at first it was hard to get it going

Dan almost taking out our cousins

the sledding group: David, Juli, Natalie, Joni, Katie, Kristi, me, Jeff, Pops

Jeff pushing mom and poki down the run

mom and poki running up the hill
blurry I know, but a comical moment

we were trying to slide down, but I fell of halfway

Juli and David

Poki loves the snow, he just has a hard time getting through it..

i had to show this off, my grandma did this tile work above her stove, she is one talented lady

cookies as done in the Brady house

one of four cookies I finished (at least 10 minutes a piece). i may be too much of a perfectionist. ;)

the reasons I don't celebrate christmas

First and foremost, the holiday was made up by the Roman Catholic church because they wanted a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They chose December 25th, because the Pagans already held a celebration to worship the sun god with a festival of lights. At that time the church was aware that the day wasn't actually his birthday, but they wanted to incorporate the Pagan holiday into a religious one so the Pagans would feel welcome in the church, without having to give up their celebrations.

Second, the Bible doesn't ask us to celebrate Christ's birth on any certain day (the exact day wasn't even recorded, possibly for a reason), and the idea of celebrating His birth by giving material gifts to each other doesn't make any sense. How does giving bikes, ipods and puppies have anything to do with Jesus?! Giving gifts isn't how you show love, or spiritual encouragement. Some may argue that the wise men brought material gifts to Jesus, but they were bringing gifts to a king and God knew that Mary and Joseph would have to flee and was preparing them accordingly.

Third, somewhere along the line a fat jolly man named Santa was introduced into the tradition of Christmas. He was given the attributes that only God can claim - omnipotence. Parents (and society) lie to children, they tell them that if they are good Santa will give them presents. If they write letters to Santa, they will get exactly what they asked for. Then at one point in the lives of these children, they learn the reality that Santa doesn't exist. How far is the leap that God doesn't exist either?

Lastly, and least important, is that Christmas has become a struggle to appear the most affluent and the most giving. The piles of gifts have grown larger and more expensive, and less from the heart. Employers have got in the 'spirit', throwing lavish parties for their company during the holiday season, while the rest of the year they treat their employees poorly. The month of December with holiday cheer, excuses whatever you do the rest of the year.

the head fell off..

The Olympics from the ferry

beautiful snow-laden trees!

snow!

In the past every time it has snowed I said we should go out into the hottub, but we never did. Well, today we did. Unfortunately, besides it being freezing outside, the temperature in the hottub had never been turned up since summer. 96 degrees doesn't feel warm when it's snowing. So we didn't last long and then had to run barefoot back to the house before we froze!

Earlier today we cut out snowflakes and snowman for our decor. Looks good, yes?
To top it off, we enjoyed hot chocolate while watching the snow pour down!

the dark back of time

"It is always said that behind every novel lies an episode, however pallid or tenuous or intermittent, in the life or reality of the author, thought it may have been transfigured. This is said as if in distrust of the imagination and the inventive faculties, and also as if readers and critics needed something to hang onto, to keep from falling prey either to the strange vertigo of that which is absolutely invented and without experience or basis-as if they did not want to feel the horror of something that appears to exist as we read it, that breathes and whispers and sometimes even persuades, yet has never been-or to the ultimate absurdity of taking seriously what is only a representation, as if they were struggling against the lurking awareness that reading novels is a childish pastime, or at least inappropriate to the adult life that is always gaining on us." -The Dark Back of Time by Javier Marias.

I love this, it reads as my thoughts on the subject. It exasperates me when people ask, "but what does it mean?" while looking at art, or reading a story. It is what it makes you feel. Whether the reader wrote out of real experience or with a particular emotion, what it means is how it makes you feel. Nothing more. Nothing less. Every piece of art doesn't need a title. It can just be art.

Jalapeño-Ginger Butternut Squash Soup

I made this soup last night and we loved it! At first it seemed a little spicy but it didn't build up too bad. I probably wont put in the whole jalapeno next time.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons grated ginger
• 1 jalapeño chile, seeded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 4 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into 2-in. cubes
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• Crème fraîche (optional)

Preparation

1. Heat olive oil in a 4- to 5-qt. pot over high heat. Add garlic, ginger, jalapeño, and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not yet browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cayenne and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add squash, broth, brown sugar, and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, lower heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until squash is tender, about 20 minutes.

2. In a blender, purée the soup in batches until smooth, then pour back into the pot. Stir in cream and adjust seasonings to taste. Serve hot, with a swirl of crème fraîche if you like.

wish lists

Does it defeat the purpose of present giving, if you make a list beforehand? When I was really little I started making up birthday wish lists and posting them on the fridge (partially because I had this fear that people would otherwise forget my birthday! as if i would let them!). I still continue to do this, and from my point of view it makes sense. For those who know me well, I can be quite fickle and it may be hard to figure out what I really want if I didn't write it down for them. However, this year Jeff is coming up with a list too, and I feel like if it is coming from the same pocket why don't we just buy it for ourselves. Of course then there isn't any surprise left at all. Hm.
What are your thoughts?

a photo i liked...

as we walked to thanksgiving dinner

one room down, # to go

This past month I have spent helping my mom redecorate a room I had totaled during my tween phase of loving panda bears. I put a horrendous green on the walls and border wallpaper. Mom wanted to keep the room the 'panda' room, so I compromised by repainting the walls with murals of bamboo jungle. After getting only two walls finished I was quite sick of painting bamboo but I managed to finish just before I went crazy. Meanwhile Mom stripped all the paint off the dresser, which now looks great!

i have lots to be thankful for...

Others have done this, and I thought it a wonderful idea, so here is a list of things that I am thankful for (in no particular order):

1. The occasional sunny day that brilliantly offsets the rain and gloom (today)
2. Jeff who adores me and who is my life
3. Parents who live close enough that we can crash their place for weekends and vice versa
4. This one is a little dreary, but I am thankful I can function fairly well most days
5. Friends who want to hang out with me, for hours
6. Family who love me and are proud of me because I'm me
7. Although I am sometimes annoyed of this, I am also thankful that I have a bad memory...I tend to have more optimism that way (I can't remember the bad stuff!)
8. That I have talents in so many areas
9. For the conviction I have in the things I believe, about whats right, about God
10. That I have dreams and goals (that are attainable)

'twilight' craze

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I heard many things about this book, all from people who loved it, but no one mentioned how hilarious it is!


View all my reviews.

dad's birthday weekend

We spent Saturday setting up our legendary lego-town at my parents place; an old ping pong table with a hole cut out in the center serves as the foundation. Legos have been part of my family for as long as I can remember. We tend to get it out around the holidays and spend the time fighting for pieces. :) A few photos of the demolition or construction:

Sunday we had a feast for Dad's 61st birthday.

Mom made an awesome cake. We didn't do our usual 1 candle per year...

in the kitchen

Today I spent the morning sitting at the kitchen table looking out into the back yard. I could see the wind blowing through the leaves, and I imagined I could hear the rustling leaves although the house was quiet. The sun was streaming down, ebbing as clouds rolled past. The light played on the walls as the trees swayed to and fro. The squirrels came up to the back door, begging for free peanuts. And a big beautiful bird sat and watched me.

awesome clouds

I revel in the magnificence of nature. There are a lot of ugly things that go on in this world, but at least up til now, I can rely on nature to be amazing and beautiful.