Effortless Cardi

I started this back in September and I don’t know why I put her down, but I did. With 2012 here and I have, yet again, set the resolution of finishing (or frogging) all of my UFO’s, I know that this is one project I must finish.

I really like this yarn. It’s soft and knits up quickly. The color in the photo doesn’t do it justice; it’s just not that orange!

Anyway, I will probably never knit a sweater from the bottom up again. Just like with socks, I need to be able to try things on as I go. Just the curse of being tall!

 

Hotel Room Gourmet

I’m taking a break from the #30DaysofGOOD challenge today, because I think it’s just too much of a stretch. The challenge is to document a neighbor.

Well, yes, I could document someone standing next to me in City Market; the doormen at the St. Regis across the street; or even the evil boiler that has the traits of the worst neighbor ever! (Wakes you up at all hours, plays a thumping beat, doesn’t keep it down even when you pound on the ceiling.)

But no, I am taking this challenge as documenting my life. And my neighbors are important people in my life, so to minimize that relationship is not worthwhile for me.

Instead, let’s chat about the Hotel Room Gourmet. Yesterday, I created a spicy Mexican Chicken and Rice dish that was delicious, healthy, and easy.

Tonight, it’s all about Meatless Monday. So into the crock pot I dumped the ingredients for a Minestrone. It smells like heaven! I’ll add some cheese tortellini at the end of cooking to give it a little more oomph. The only thing we don’t have is a bit of Parmy to sprinkle on top.

And I am STARVING! Daisy and I went for a 7 mile walk, then did a bunch of errands on foot around town to max out at almost 10 miles today.

Time to eat! Photos to come!

 

 

30 Days of Good Day 20

Today’s challenge is to document the inside of your refrigerator. If you have been following my posts, you know that we are working and living in a hotel for the next few weeks. Luckily, our room did come with a fridge, albeit a small dorm size one. The other fly in the ointment is that it froze every item that I bought yesterday because it was set too cold. So while it seems a little bit empty (I had to throw away the lettuce after it became a solid sculpture like object), we still have it stocked with quick grab and go kinda stuff.

Working ski races doesn’t always leave you for much time in the mornings, so burritos and yogurt are on hand. Lunch is meats and cheeses with hard rolls – very European - although, that’s probably what they would have on their breakfast table as well.

Day 19′s photo made it into yesterday’s GOOD side-show! That’s twice this month using the built-in camera phone and really only using an old photo once.

Next on the agenda: The Hotel Gourmet!

 

 

30 Days of Good Day 19: Document a room in your house

Today’s challenge is a bit tricky to accomplish because of two things.

1. We are on the road for business
2. The room that I really want to capture won’t be hopping until Wednesday or so.

For the last three years, we have traveled to Aspen for the Ladies FIS Alpine World Cup. John cables the hill for Swiss Timing, television, communication and I help in the finish. We then move into the role of timers for the NorAm races that happen just after.

During the time that John is cabling the hill, I operate the Hotel Room Gourmet and will probably be posting some of my blog action around that as well. Yes, dinners are produced using a microwave or a crock pot. It’s expensive to eat out in Aspen every night and as you all know by now, I really like to control what goes into my body during these high stress times so that I at least FEEL a little bit better about what we’re eating.

We’ve stayed at this wonderful bit of history in Aspen: The Mountain Chalet. I think it was built during the 50′s and it is the closest thing to a German hostel in the states. The owners and staff are wonderful and you really do feel like you are coming home when you stay.

If I had my way, the room I would have documented would have been the lobby area. Here is where everyone gathers to chat, warm by the fire, enjoy afternoon cookies and cocoa and during the busy times, enjoy some Gluhwein. Heaven!

It won’t really get going until everyone begins arriving for the Thanksgiving holiday. So maybe I will update this post once guests start arriving.

Until then, here is our “house” for the next three weeks: Kitchen, living room, office and bedroom all in one! Thanks Aspen Ski Corp for the accommodations! We love staying here!

 

#30DaysofGOOD Day 18: Document Boredom

I know I’ve been kinda slacking on posting here, but you can always follow the photo posts at my Instagram or Twiiter accounts. Need more info on where those live? PM me.

Today’s challenge is to document boredom. As we prepare to leave for work, everything is packed with the exception of these few items that were overlooked. Now they sit patiently waiting for John to come home so that we can leave.

 

30 Days of GOOD Day 12

Document the highlight of your day.

Kicking’ it with my favorite guy in yet another hotel room while working.

 

30 Days of GOOD Day 9

I live in Telluride. Well, technically, I live in the cheap seats of Mountain Village. No one knows where that is. It’s kinda like going to Beaver Creek, but telling everyone that you are in Vail. Vail, they know, Beaver Creek? Mmmmm, maybe not.

Anyway, I am awestruck every time I walk out my front door. How could I not be?

When I fist moved here, I worked for central rez and actually sold trips to people around the world. It was an easy sell…I grew up in Maine, lived in Breckenridge and Park City, have skied all over the country for work. But I landed here (with a big tug from my to-be-husband). I used to tell potential guests that if you wanted to ski your legs off and NEVER stand in line, this was the place. Oh, and the views didn’t suck either.

I told people that standing on Main Street (really Colorado Avenue), was like standing in a ViewMaster. (Remember those things with their surreal 3D look at the world?) Well, that’s exactly what it’s like…REALLY!

Anyway, I wanted to take a picture of the Wilsons because I get to wake up to them every morning on my dog walk/run. But today, the light wasn’t right. As luck would have it, my friend Ann and her dog joined us for a noontime walk. Up to the mine we went and I had my inspiration.

The spires really amaze me around here. They’re like giant, red, upside down icicles embedded in the side of a peak. And they are all around here. And they are BEAUTIFUL. Strong, yet not impervious to the elements.

Love living here….

 

30 Days of Good Day 7

Today’s 30 Days of Good task it to document autumn. I could have cheated and used some photos I had from a few weeks ago when the leaves were golden and the sky was blue, but this challenge is about documenting your life. The way I interpret this, is that it’s about your life TODAY. Not yesterday, last week, last year, or last decade.

We had a short summer in Telluride this year. The last measurable snow storm of the winter (2010/2011) was on June 15th during Bluegrass. And yes, I was outside, and yes it was beautiful, but JUNE 15th! YIKES! Consequently, our first measurable snowstorm of the 2011/2012 season was on September 15th. And while we dodged some of the early front range storms, it’s been off and on as far as wintriness goes since then.

So, despite my best efforts to bring some autumnal look to our deck (mums, pumpkins, etc.) it snowed the day after I picked them up from our local garden center.

This is my documentation of autumn in Mountain Village…frost on the pumpkin!

 

30 Days of Good Day 6

Today’s assignment: document art. A few things popped into my head – most of them the monster sculptures that litter our town center. Or maybe the little bronze statue of a girl waiting at the bus stop who gets an update daily – maybe a scarf or sweater or even a catcher’s mask.

But instead, I chose the one piece of art that I actually OWN that is numbered. It came as a gift from my dad and reminds me of myself as a very, young girl. The pigtails were my signature for years.

It’s a black and white numbered etching (I think…I’m no art major), but I’ve always loved it and it’s one of the first things you will see when you walk into our house.

 

 

30 Days of GOOD Day 5

Today’s assignment was to photograph something new. The first few photos I saw were of coffee, pastries, or coffee AND pastries. (Lame.)

We were lucky enough to actually have a new experience! We’ve never scored a cyclocross race and today, we did. Of course we have to continue on with the snowy theme in preparation for our first winter event less than 10 days away.

So while I’d rather be in Hawaii, it’s time to say “Bring on the snow!”