Sweet E & K hug

E & K hug, originally uploaded by THOS.

Welcome to Steamboat Springs, CO for a week of skiing and visiting with Jev and Sydnor.

E & K in spa

E & K in spa, originally uploaded by THOS.

After a hard day on the slopes Kelly and Ethan soak their bods in the hottub downstairs.

Heimat Christmas 04

Heimat Christmas 04, originally uploaded by THOS.

The Lowry clan plus Wash

Forever the climber

Forever the climber, originally uploaded by THOS.

He has been doing this for 25 years.

A (red?) banana, a tongue, a Van Dyke?

A banana, a tongue, a Van Dyke?, originally uploaded by THOS.

Just what kind of wierd satanic ritual is this?

Kate talks to Santa

Kate talks to Santa, originally uploaded by THOS.

"...and then I want an Alfa Romeo, and an ice cream cone, and a diamond ring, and ..."

Jake spins a yarn

Jake spins a yarn, originally uploaded by THOS.

At Ann and Ollie's lake house 'Taco-roll' Jake tells a tale about his life in the Windy City while Mike, Lorn, Etha, Lowry and Alaire are enthralled.

Pretty sisters

Pretty sisters, originally uploaded by THOS.

Happy to be together.

A face only a grandmother could love

A face only a grandmother could love, originally uploaded by THOS.

The awful family secret is finally revealed: Drew's 'hidden' twin Zeke showed up for the first time shocking the entire family.

Christmas feast for 15

Christmas feast for 15, originally uploaded by THOS.

Ham, peas, scalloped potatoes, cranberry-orange relish, Waldorf salad and three kinds of pie - mmmmm good!

Lorn started the wrapping paper ball fight

Lorn started the wrapping ball fight, originally uploaded by THOS.

Lorn, Ethan and Tom lobbed paper balls across the room during the present opening.

Our beautiful Fraser fir tree

Fir tree, originally uploaded by THOS.

Commanding the center spot in our music room between A's old harp and Santa's new cushion.

Mike & Sam busting rock

Mike & Sam busting rock, originally uploaded by THOS.

Sam, Mike's old friend from Boy Scout days, came over and helped break some tough ledge stone for Tom's water 'feature.'

A sports Kay's fancy hat

A sports Kay's fancy hat, originally uploaded by THOS.

Russ and Kay came for dinner and A decided this hat was 'her'

Mike and Tiki

Mike and Tiki, originally uploaded by THOS.

Michael and Tiki share a quiet moment in the sun before the celebrating hoard arrives. Tiki really enjoys playing on the Music Room carpet.

A knits Lorn's scarf

PICT0028, originally uploaded by THOS.

Angel helps with the knitting

Hudson's on the Bend Gala

Hudson's on the Bend Gala, originally uploaded by THOS.

December 17 at our office party dinner. M arrived from Stockholm just in time for our party. He is wearing his new leather jacket. Now, who is that between T and M?

Tiki attacks garlands

Tiki attacks garlands, originally uploaded by THOS.

While we were decorating the house Tiki has to help in every way he can.

December 16 at Dave's White Elephant Party

e&m at dave's party 04, originally uploaded by THOS.

Blog Ethics

Here is the best exposition I have found on this subject. http://www.rebeccablood.net/handbook/excerpts/weblog_ethics.html#content

What a woman!

What a woman!, originally uploaded by THOS.

My beautiful bride at the cabaret tent after the big Jacks party.

At Tommy & Laura's Party

A&T at Jacks Party, originally uploaded by THOS.

We ate sumptous food, danced to the band, listened to a fantastic blues singer, and visited with friends at Tommy and Laura's annual party at the Four Seasons.

Angel stretches

Angel stretches, originally uploaded by THOS.

He is tryyyng to wake up from his nap.

Christmas tree 2004

Christmas tree 2004, originally uploaded by THOS.

Home from the Popa Noel lot on 360 with a beautiful 8-foot Fraser fur. We will put it up this weekend and begin decorating the house.

First Sego Palm Fruit

sego bloom 2, originally uploaded by THOS.

Our sego palm (cycus revoluta) planted by the front walkway ten years ago has finally produced a huge crop of fruit, a mass fifteen inches across. The 'flowers' are fat succulent orange pods about the size of a quarter with a fine furry surface. We don't know if they are edible, but the wasps seem to like them. KVUE used this on the weather report December 22nd. Anyone want a seed to grow next spring?

Last rose of 04

Last rose of 04, originally uploaded by THOS.

Thanksgiving 2004

We had a very full weekend with a dinner for Myra and Van Williams, their daughter Robin and David Heeks, and Ethan and Kelly at home on Wednesday, a day on Kelly's aunt and uncle's ranch near Llano on Thursday, a feast in Dallas at the Mintons on Friday, a 87th birthday bash for Lorn at the Rummels Saturday noon, and dinner with the Mintons and Warren and Susan Johnson that night.

Lorn & Kelly

Lorn & Kelly, originally uploaded by THOS.

Kelly and Lorn are having a good time over breakfast at IHOP on Mockingbird Lane.

A Nutty Guy?

Nutty Guy?, originally uploaded by THOS.

Ethan loves pecans and shelled a bag full at the Mintons.

Elizabeth and Ron

Elizabeth and Ron, originally uploaded by THOS.

Almost teenager Elizabeth spots pecans while daddy Ron knocks them down.

Catnap

catnap, originally uploaded by THOS.

After the big dinner party Elizabeth and Saddle take a nap on the couch.

Celebrating 87 years

Celebrating 87 years, originally uploaded by THOS.

Lorn wore a 'special' crown created by Lowry to celebrate his birthday while Etha reads the poignant and funny cards.

Coffee on Minton's Patio

Coffee on Minton's Patio, originally uploaded by THOS.

After a huge dinner the gang repaired to the patio out back for coffee and conversation. We had a chance to catch up on everyone's life, and Kelly got to know Ethan's cousins and their partners.

Cousins

Cousins, originally uploaded by THOS.

Are they really this happy or is it the wine?

Dustin and Lowry, Kelly and Ethan, Jake and Sara

Cousins cooking Thanksgiving dinner

Cousins cooking Thanksgiving dinner, originally uploaded by THOS.

Beth, Dustin, Ethan, Sara and Lowry are cooks superior!

Beth's beautiful table

Beth's beautiful table, originally uploaded by THOS.

Sis sets a marvelous table for the Mintons and T W Lowrys

Aren't they sweet!

Aren't they sweet!, originally uploaded by THOS.

They may make it after 6 years.

A and Warren joke

A and Warren joke, originally uploaded by THOS.

We enjoyed a second Thanksgiving meal at the Mintons with Warren and Susan.

After the rain

after the rain, originally uploaded by THOS.

The road to the south pasture on the Cox ranch.

Live Oak at sunset

Live Oak at sunset, originally uploaded by THOS.

A 4-trunk oak grove at Kelly's family's ranch between Llano and Brady at dusk.

E&K on swing

E&K on swing, originally uploaded by THOS.

Taking time for some 'swangin' on the front porch at the ranch.

Thanksgiving with Mildred and John

PICT0037, originally uploaded by THOS.

We spent the day out at her brother's ranch near Llano for talk, feasting and relaxation.

Purple America 2004

purple_america_2004, originally uploaded by THOS.

Here is an analysis of the vote in each county for the 2004 election. For county information go to http://interactive2.usgs.gov/faq/list_faq_by_category/get_answer.asp?id=785

Creek flood

creek flood, originally uploaded by THOS.

It rained over five inches on November 13th and the creek overflowed its banks rising to the bottom of the steps leading up to the meadow. By the next day it had fallen to the level in this picture, covering the stepping stones crossing the creek.

A heap

3 in one, originally uploaded by THOS.

Can you tell what this is? I'll give you a hint: Burmese, Maine Coon and Black ---.

A fun trip to Reno

We spent a long weekend in and around Reno, Nevada to attend the wedding of Mark and Erin Kitchen. Ethan was the best man, and he did a good job. We were seated at Mark's family table and enjoyed talking with his parents, Larrie and Julie. We dined on prime rib and drank wine and danced with all the younger generation, and we enjoyed getting to know Erin's parents, Dan and Denise. In our free time we drove over to Lake Tahoe, up to the Donner Memorial Museum by way of Mount Rose, had a picnic at Donner Lake, and enjoyed the views from Donner Pass. We wished we had brought our skis since several of the higher runs were open. We discovered Truckee, CA, a little one-street rail town where extra steam locomotives once were coupled to haul the heavy freight trains over the Sierras. The old roundhouse has been converted into a diner.

Breakfast overlooking Truckee River in Reno

Breakfast overlooking Truckee River, originally uploaded by THOS.

The view from the hotel restaurant where we had breakfast each morning. The special was 4 eggs, 4 sausages and 4 pancakes for $2.99. We split the fare and added a fruit bowl or orange juice. The food was unusually good and inexpensive. Of course, we had to walk through the casino to reach the restaurant.

Casino in Reno

Casino in Reno, originally uploaded by THOS.

The hotel casino was in a huge ersatz Italianate room off the lobby. The noise and smoke was oppressive, and the serious gamblers sitting there at all hours was depressing.

CA Zephyr in Truckee, CA

CA Zephyr in Truckee, CA, originally uploaded by THOS.

The California Zephyr on a run from San Francisco to Chicago (3 days and two nights). It has just come over Donner Pass for a quick stop in Truckee.

Donner Pass Bridge

Donner Pass Bridge, originally uploaded by THOS.

First snow on I-80 crossing the pass between Truckee and Soda Springs, California