Tartiflette

Tartiflette
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

This potatoe and cheese dish is a winter speciality from Haute Savoie, the area of France where Anna Rae lived last year. It is made from a cheese called Roblechone (I may have spelled it wrong) and it is delicious!

Perchik and Hodel

Perchik and Hodel
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Taken after VHS performance of Fiddler on the Roof. Her singing was lovely, in case you wondered!

Rejection and Acceptance

Well, all the envelopes have arrived; both the thin ones and the thick ones. On the most memorable day she called me at work just as my young students were transitioning from 'Quiet Time' to Math. "Mom, I didn't get into Northwestern. Oh well." This stated without a hello and delivered in a flat tone. "Oh honey, I'm so sorry. You are still waiting to hear from 3 more colleges." I hang onto the silence at the other end, wishing I were there to give her a hug and wanting so much to know the right thing to say but also well aware that 25 kindergarteners are going to have something totally different from math on their agenda if I don't hang up soon. It's awkward and incomplete as I promise to call as soon as the kids are dismissed. The bell hardly rings and she calls again, is she crying, or is that laughing? "They want me mom! They want ME!" "Anna Rae, WHO wants you?" I ask in confusion. "The University of Chicago! This is SO worth it! So worth all the hard work of keeping my grades up!" and she's laughing victoriously. It's incredible, wonderful and totally deserved I say as I congratulate her. I try on this first day of getting the 'big news' not to be too practical or suggest she maybe consider less pricey options like the U of W here in Seattle or Gonzaga in Spokane; both place which also accepted her. Well, in following days we get their financial aid package and it is generous but The University of Chicago is VERY expensive and they expect the parent contribution to be twice what we consider tolerable. But we have raised her to aim high and this certainly is high! Take a look at University of Chicago website and see for yourself. We are VERY proud of her but those of you who know me very well know that I am a bit anxious for her too; anxious for the debt she may be incurring as she makes her scholarly ambitions come true. She is excited to be in another big city and in a top notch academic environment, not to mention how very happy she is to be near her Wisconsin relatives (That makes me happy too!)
I am just glad that she didn't choose to attend the Freshman Year in Florence program through NYU; that was another incredible acceptance letter she recieved. It was a totally unexpected offer; she had applied for the College of Arts and Sciences but they thought she was better matched to the general studies program in Florence (Yes, that is Italy!)
This has to be my 'big brag post' of the year. Although I think Chris and I deserve some bragging rights please do send your congratulations on to Anna Rae as she certainly deserves them!

Dirty Car

Dirty Car
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

This is what the car looked like by time we returned to Seattle. It is also one of the things I DON'T like about snow; it is so messy on the roads when it starts melting.

Me on the Methow Community Trail

Me on the Methow Community Trail
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Don't I look happy? What I did not know at the time was how sunburned I was getting.

The Creek Below

The Creek Below
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Sometimes peering between the rails is better than looking over them.

River

River
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

I think this is the Twisp River.

Methow Valley

Methow Valley
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Deer At a Bird Feeder

Deer At a Bird Feeder
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Deer were like vermin all over Winthrop. The deer were having a great time here, eating seed from a bird feeder. There was a dog inside the cabin going just bonkers barking at them and they did not so much as look his way.

Warming Hut

Warming Hut
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Blue Skies over White Snow

Blue Skies over White Snow
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Don't you want to be there? I know I do!

Tranquility

Tranquility
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Some time back we dropped our camera and the shutter doesn't totally close anymore and when it opens you need to push the sides open by hand. On more than one of these pictures it looks like I forgot to push open the shutter. oops!

Irrigation

Irrigation
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted anything! This series of snow pictures is from the trip Chris and I made to the Methow Valley over midwinter break. It was the most fabulous cross country skiing experience I have ever had. I skiied 24 miles in one day. Needless to say I was exhausted (and sunburned) at the end of the day. We stayed at the Chewich Inn which is a wonderful bed and breakfast with scones 'to die for'.