happy valentine's day

here are a few recent photos i've taken 

now and then, in and out, here and there

around the house..........

1. i've been working on learning about and creating french desserts because....well....the french are the masters. i recently made a successful chocolate mousse using julia child's recipe from Mastering the Art of French Cooking and made this beauty using sur la table's recipe for a classic french fruit tart.

2. margo, andrew and nigel on their way from houston to midland, texas for their second of four six-month postings with chevron. they are liking this low-key, cowboy hat donned texan town.

3. gabi, paul and i bike together when the weather is nice. this ride was a fun 17-miler on a warm saturday.

4. on my way upstairs, i was taken by this beautiful snowfall scene out the window.

5. a christmas gift from nicole, thom mayne's book, 100 Most Important Buildings of the 20th Century, a project she was heavily involved in creating at morphosis architectural firm.

6. returning from a frosty morning walk with my pup.

7. & 8. the calves are here! these frisky, adorable babes arrive daily at our friend's ranch down the road. it's one of the winter highlights around here.

9. BYU rugby came to boulder to play university of colorado so paul went to watch the game and meet up with his teammate and now head coach davey smyth from his own BYU rugby days. decades later, BYU rugby continues to be one of the best in the country.....the final score was 100 and something to single digits. um, so sorry CU.

10. we just had a very, very cold, snowy, hovering gray weekend.

11. fresh flowers and an orange/peppermint essential oil blend in the diffuser keep us feeling bright and cheerful in weather like this.

12. - 15. gabi invited girlfriends over for a galentines lunch party this afternoon.

16. excalibur, fairview high school's jazz show choir, featured each choir member in an evening showcase of solo performances. wow, these kids can sing! gabi opened the show with her performance (below) of - all about that bass.....you go girl!