Gingerbread, Hobbit-style

Here's this year's batch of LOTR-inspired gingerbread; we left architecture behind and tried figures instead.  MUCH easier, though with fewer stories to tell. Made by Erin, Anne and Al, respectively. (Alana left for a wedding in Chicago before we got to it, and Ack was felled by pink eye.) Our Fellowship was battered but prevailed!

A hobbit, Lady Galadriel and a one-armed uruk-hai (a type of orc).

Gandalf, with hat and staff

Sideview - so you can see the deadly lance

Almost Solstice

9am - just the start of the blizzard

Signs of the season at our house, outside and in...

One Favorite Tree

Our Other Favorite Tree

Where are we?

Anne and I were in San Fran for the weekend. Intent was to go mushroom hunting but rainy weather prevented that. So, we toured around and relaxed. He is a satellite image of where we were (look for the blue dot) taken from the SSEC/CIMSS SatCam iPhone App. Anne returned to Madison but Ack remains out here for a conference.

Hiking in Salt Lake County

 Within an easy drive of their house, a beautiful hike.

Planning the route

Straight up then straight down

Looking back toward the city

The reward of the hike

Happy hikers

Erin's New Neighborhood

Down the block:
The Violin Making School of America

Erin and Al live in downtown Salt Lake now, with lots of interesting places nearby.

Right next door: now defunct, too bad.

Right next door: delicious! Their apartment building behind.

Send them a letter and here's where it'll go.

Good Things

Last week, the exhibit I organized, "Wisconsin Folks: Masters of Tradition," opened at the airport. We had a very fun opening reception with performances in the terminal and a party back at the house. The exhibit looks great and will run for 6 months.

On Friday, Ack had the latest of his 3-month checkups and got another cancer-free report card. Yea!

Eileen & Alan Tie the Knot! Fave Fotos 2