city...

my bff since childhood, megan, flew in thursday from her round-the-world tour. I decided to surprise her and join the welcome wagon... in NYC. Last minute super sweet ticket on Wednesday and flight on thursday. Hometown friends- sean, sy and solomon plus megs sis are all part of the festivities. Its snowing in NYC right now. Happy Holidays!

roommates

I am blessed with some great roommates. Last night we (female roommates) recapped the weekend, talked about the ponderings we've had, areas we are working on and laughed at our awkwardness. This is family.

Ruidoso = Leah’s roots.

I was driving back to the downs (named such for the horse race track) and a moment of clarity regarding my roots came about. I was returning from a hike in the woods with my mom and ruby (who is amazing) in which we searched for pine knots (full of sap so they burn better and more fragrant) and pretended to be tall pine trees, swaying in the wind (ruby was the best at this). We collected enough to barely carry back to the cars. After our adventure I played 9 holes of disc golf with one of my best friends, his gf and dad amidst the trees and vegetation we grew up roaming through. And this is what launched my roots thoughts. Some of my roots I have prayed to be like that of the Enset tree in Ethiopia, so shallow that the tree is easily uprooted and therefore these habits or family traits won’t be part of my story forever (we all have a list I’m sure). Other roots I imagine weaving together, deep into the ground and anchored among rocks so massive that my life will forever represent these traits and traditions.

Roaming through the forest with my mom and Ruby reminded me of when I was Ruby’s age and my parents took us along while they cut wood for the winter. My older two siblings and I would be left to create a world where each tree bore fruit to be used in a potion or soup we might all imbibe, rationed of course, since we were castaway children left to fend for ourselves (imagination of a child… why did we always want to be orphans?). We created a world in the great outdoors and hours later we’d all pile into my dad’s truck and return home. Those are the roots that are still thriving as Ruby and I pretended to be trees in the wind and had to hunt for food before returning to the car. Thank you mom and dad for giving me roots… a stage for my imagination, a love for the high desert wilderness, and a vision for great things amidst simplicity.

from one of my kinder boys:

Thanksgiving is a time when you get together and share love.

yum

Last night Calley and I ran errands then fixed up a quick delicious dinner - sauteed shrimp in butter and garlic (did i mention it was oh so healthy?). Then, this morning we were practically snowed in (then the roads melted and it was only a feat to get from house to car) so I thought I should bake something for breakfast!! We had eggy dutch babies with homemade colorado peach syrup (i accidentally thawed my frozen peaches out yesterday so had to use them) and powdered sugar. Delicious and hearty for the snowy morning. Oh! And my roomie made some hot mulled cider. Winter wasn't so bad this morning. Last but not least, for lunch I steamed kale, cooked brown rice and "borrowed" some goat cheese for a scrumptious lunch - brown rice then kale, drizzled with seasoned rice vinegar and olive oil then topped with chunks of goat cheese.

These are my favorite weekends, those in the kitchen with friends. yum.

juice and my favorite part of the day

I juiced for the staff this morning. We had an abundance of fruits and veg leftover from our food service so I brought the juicer to school this morning. Yum. Some weren't so keen on carrots in liquid form, but carrot/apple is my fave!!


And now for my favorite part of the day: Relay races!
Lunch recess has a tendency to be chaotic, lacking much structure and on Fridays it resembles a war zone. Last week a 3rd grader challenged me to a race to which I responded "lunch recess. black top. be ready." We met on Tuesday for the battle of speed. I barely won. Then a 4th grade girl wanted to race (she beat me. I'm getting old.). Then most of the 4th grade wanted to race. Then there were too many to span the black top so I turned it into a relay - 6 lanes, 4 on a team and 3-4 officials. They loved it. I loved it. I was smiling at recess, which is rare. Good day.

ruby's growing up!

my beautiful little niece is growing up! Look at that contemplative glance.