Day 113 - Best Neighbors Ever

My neighbor Jim stopped over today with this amazing plate of homemade treats.  I can't even recount all the sweet, thoughtful things that Jim and Donna have done for me since I bought this house.  They are the best neighbors anybody could hope for!

Day 112 - Lunar Eclipse

Try as I might to get a decent shot of the eclipse, it was quite cloudy in Everett tonight.  As the shadow began to move across the moon, it became more and more overcast.  Oh well.

Day 111 - Winter Blooms

I headed to Sky Nursery to buy a Christmas cactus but the remaining specimens were few and very small. However, the primroses and camellias were spectacular.

Day 110 - Homemade Treats from Friends

Today I got to spend time with two special friends.  The scones are from a tea party at Holly's home complete with little sandwiches, Earl Grey tea, savory bites, madelines, mini biscotti and scones with raspberry jam.  The stollen is from my dear friend Laura.  She makes it every year and there's nothing better than stollen toast with butter.  Yum!  Thanks girls.

Day 109 - "Merry Christmas Ms. Wendell"

The kids were surprisingly generous this year.  Teacher gifts tend to trail off once kids enter junior high so I'm always quite touched by anything I receive.  The pile includes an interesting mix of homemade fudge, caramel corn and cookies, Starbucks and Regal movie gift cards, chocolates, truffles, a candle, a Christmas tree ornament and meatloaf and soup mixes.

This heartfelt, handwritten note from a very sweet young man was attached to his gift.

We have an amazing woman named Soheila who works at our school.  She came here from Iran. She gave me this wonderful collection of homemade cookies, teas and candies from her homeland.  So special and delicious.

This entry would not be complete without this picture.  I was on my way to Seattle and Mt. Rainier looked spectacular off to the south. This is what happens when you try to take a picture with your right hand over your left shoulder as you are driving.  I was amazed that I got anything!

Day 108 - Chili Cookoff

A couple of the guys at work decided we should have a chili cookoff the last day of school.  They solicited cooks over email and I threw my name into the ring.  Per usual, I chose to make a recipe that was totally new to me.  I came across it in the Parade magazine section of the Sunday paper several weeks ago.  The ingredients looked interesting and it was a recipe of Zac Brown's of the Zac Brown Band.  Apparently, it was a hit because I only had about a cup to bring home at the end of the day. Try it yourself (if you can read this) and see what you think.  I reduced the chili powder by about 2-3 tablespoons and it was still plenty hot.

Day 107 - Thanks PTSA

This is the second or third year that our parents have created a "holiday dessert bar" for the staff at our school.  They just provide boxes and an amazing array of cookies, candies and other sweets for us to eat and package up to take home.  There aren't many schools that get treated the way we do by our PTSA.