Simple & Peaceful

We had a simple and peaceful Thanksgiving. I decided to make the traditional pumpkin pie because all the other food items were more non-traditional.

......and in the oven you go.

I think my Grandma Urata would have been proud of my effort. I remember watching her make pies when I was young - she made it look so easy. I used her filling recipe but added one special ingedient per Todd's mom. I forgot to sprinkle the spice on the top, but Todd said it tasted really good without it, so good, he didn't want whip cream on it either. Nailed it! There will certainly be a repeat perfomance, even if it's not a holiday.

New Good Eats

Eau Claire is a small place so when a new restaurant opens up, I like to try it, especially if it's like this new restaurant - Thai food. My colleague, friend, and partner in food adventures, Signe is always willing to give it a try.

 Egg rolls (super delicious and not just because it's fried), beef & shrimp stir fry and green curry. In the cute woven basket was steamed, purple, sticky rice - my fave!

Fire in the Sky

We were out one afternoon as the sun was setting early; walking Misty and Pancho through the nearby baseball park. The sky was beautiful - love these sunsets but you really have to take advantage of it because they don't last long.

Really?

My little girl is sometimes dramatic. Here she is paw on snout. It was too bad I didn't get this on video because she'd breathe in deeply and let out a big doggy sigh as if she were expressing the following: "Really, this is just too much. I work so hard at being cute and I just can't take it anymore."

Destination & Return

Finally arrived! This was a very cool Irish Pub with delicious food - I'd definitely go back. Yes, we know how to do meetings in Wisconsin (for the record, we ate but did not partake in the alcohol).

When I was a kid, the drive to someplace always felt longer than the drive home; possibly because you were excited to get there but not so excited to return home. 

Well, I was really looking forward to being home and kept checking the mile markers. Only a third of the way there..... just hoping to get home before it got dark. 

Oh Dear - a Dead Deer

Almost to my destination when I saw this common Wisconsin site.

 I don't think I could shoot another creature; I'd most definitely become a vegetarian, probably should anyway because the way our food is "produced" is not very humane either. I do have respect for people who can kill a creature for food. I guess I would if that was my only option because you'd have a very different level of respect for the animal who's life you took.

Road Trip

In early November I took a short day trip to attend a meeting on the outskirts of Madison, WI. It was a 6 hour round trip drive for a 4 hour meeting. I was hoping a colleague would join me so I'd have some company on the long drive but it wasn't meant to be. Got an early start and saw some beautiful sky.

Love the gradient of color in this one. No special effects, I have a cheap phone.

Still got to enjoy a last little bit of fall color.

Supplies

At the end of October, my co-worker told me our fave chocolates were on sale so I made sure to stock up before the sale ended. These chocolates are so delicious and well worth the higher price. I'm proud to say we still haven't eaten them all and I've shared them with others. Thank goodness for dark chocolate to help us through peak advising at work (in other words, this means my calendar is booked every half hour with a student from 8 am to 4 pm with a working lunch.

Winter Scenes

Many people don't look forward to winter, not me. Here are some beautiful winter scenes of our campus with the first, light snowfall a couple weeks ago. The infamous bridge, it's always colder on the bridge - but it's so pretty to look out at the river.

Looking north from the student center at our new plaza. The building at the left is where I work. The building to the right is our new Centennial Hall, under construction and slated to open for spring 2014 classes. Very excited because there will be an Einstein Bagel shop in it (yes, I do have my priorities straight). 



Dog Gone Fun

 Pancho, I just don't get it, I got the big bed for you 'cause you're the big dog.

Pancho knows who's top dog so he won't dare kick Misty off the big bed. He won't even move her stuffed animals so he can get his full body on the small bed. That's my Pancho boy - lovable and kind of goofy.