Spring in Steamboat

Happy Easter!  I hope your's was lovely.  We had a great little weekend getaway to Steamboat Springs.  Since the snow pack is very sad and low right now and the last time I was skis this happened...

...we choose to focus on having a relaxing weekend.  We arrived Friday night after a beautiful drive through 2 mountain passes.  We spent the evening strolling through the ski village and ate at a local pub.  Saturday morning kicked off at Strawberry Hill Hot Springs, We were very impressed from first glance.

They really focus on keeping the setting natural and it was heavenly.

While it was very sunny in true Colorado form, it was a pretty chilly day with temps around 40 when we started.  We then splurged and each got a massage, which was also pretty amazing.  The little massage hut/hobbit hole was right on the river so there was no need for a nature sounds recording, the natural soundtrack was perfect. 
Then, as luck would have it, a musician that Eric has followed for years, Keller Williams, was putting on a free concert at the base of the ski hill!

As you can see we were as close as you can be, or "riding the rail" as it is apparently called.

It was a delightful and happy coincidence.  We then soaked up the rest of the sunshine and enjoyed the local fare.

We Then returned to our hotel where I made a very poor showing playing the original Trivial Pursuit.  Weekends are never long enough as we headed back home on Sunday and enjoyed a delicious Easter dinner with dear friends.  Overall I would count this weekend as a large success!

East Coast Nephews

I was able to spend almost a full week visiting my brother, sister in-law and nephews 1 and 2.  It was so wonderful to just be a part of their daily life and enjoy some much needed time off work.  It had been entirely too long since I had seen them and the boys had lots of fun showing me all their new tricks learned since our last visit.  The biggest news was #1's 5th birthday!!  His parent's were kind enough to postpone the friend party a week so I could go.  We went to an inflatable bouncy thing place, the kids were in heaven, and the adults also enjoyed a good bounce or 2.

We played at the park and I was terrified by #2's fearlessness, anything his big brother could do, he would attempt as well.

We were lucky to have great weather so we could play outside a lot.  But there was some inside play as well

I just love this photo, there are 2 photos of my brother and me at about the same age on our Mom and Dad's respective laps.  He is such a great dad, it has been fun to watch him take on that role.
Here is some more cuteness from our week

No I don't travel with my own stethoscope, that would be my sister's, there was much commiseration as she is finishing her last (!) semester of nursing school.  I stand by my opinion that no one can really understand the stress of nursing school unless they have endured it.  And I would like to provide a disclaimer that the over representation of #2 in these photos in no way relates to my love, #1 is just very hard to catch in a photo due to his constant movement.
On my last day one of #1's birthday presents arrived in the mail

 Such fun!  As a parting gift I made them a batch of my grandmother's Finnish coffee bread.  To my brother and me this stuff IS our childhood and our heritage (and maybe the culprit of the 3lbs I gained while on vacation), it's pretty special stuff and I was happy to share it with the next generation

It was so wonderful to get to know the boys again and appreciate their differences.  #1 is getting more and more independent and is so much fun to play with, I marvel at the way his little brain works.  #2 is now talking very clearly and cutely, I just loved hearing his voice, and often would smile at his pronunciation of "help" (I need heyup!) and he loves to snuggle. But, most importantly, when they call me "Tantie", it is music to my ears, and a role I take very seriously. Probably because I had such a special Tantie.  

Night Out in NYC

I just returned from an almost week trip out East to visit my brother's family.  Along the way it worked out that a world-traveling friend of mine from college is now stateside once again and residing in New York city.  So we were able to coordinate a girls weekend with a couple other old friends as well!  Although it was a short overnight trip for me, we made the best of it and had a great time.  After I arrived we took a stroll through Central Park.  I didn't take any photos as we were being hounded enough as it was by people trying to sell us things, I didn't want to enhance the touristy vibe.  It was just like the movies, I kept thinking of the end of Elf when Santa lands in Central Park, or the crazy pigeon lady from Home Alone 2.

 We then enjoyed some shopping and a light lunch before heading to the 9/11 memorial.  I was quite the ordeal to get into the memorial site as they are constructing new towers around the memorial and security is important, for obvious reasons.

I was a little worried that the memorial would be spoiled by the crowds and security, but once inside I was happy to be proved wrong.  It was a very reflective and respectful atmosphere.  And I thought the memorial couldn't have been more appropriate.  The two towers' footprints were into waterfalls with the names of the fallen surrounding. 

This was the Survivor Tree.  Reduced to a stump after the towers fell but still standing, it was removed and nursed back to health, then returned to its previous spot where it is thriving.

I'm very glad we chose to visit this memorial.  It was a very emotional and humbling experience but such an important part of our history.
 
We then headed back to Julie's apt and got ready for our evening out.  We had THE BEST sushi I have had to date.  I am worried that all future sushi is ruined for me. 

It was a great visit with great friends

The topics of conversation have changed from boyfriends, parties, and classes of our college years to marriage, family planning and whether or not we should be using wrinkle cream yet,

But I wouldn't have it any other way, that's the great thing about old friends isn't it?  You can pick up right where you left off and proceed without a hiccup.  We have vowed to make this a more common occurrence and I hope we can stick to it.  Who knows what our next main topics of conversation will be?

St. Patrick's Day

Happy Americans' Irish Stereotypes Day (after)!  St. Patty's Day is a big deal in this state.  We don't have a 4th of July parade, but you better believe there is one for this holiday!  We decided to go though (We have had to be in them before for Eric's employer, but they weren't sponsors this year (Thank goodness)), I always enjoy a good bagpipe band

  That is about the only kind of decent photo I got.  We didn't get there early enough to stake out a prime parade route spot, and I didn't feel like throwing elbows with 6 year olds!  There were some fun floats though, scattered among the local politicians and car dealers.  We then decided to be mature adults and head home rather than overindulge in green beer then have to wait 3 hours for a cab.  Besides, I had a date with a corned beef roast. 

In the past I've always thrown it in a crock pot and let it do its thing.  This year, I tried Rachael Ray's  method and braised it in Guinness on the stove (I did not do the home brine, too much work and no fridge room).  It was easy and tasty, although the cabbage picked up a little bitterness from the beer. 

I heard on the news that this is a completely American tradition.  Oh well, it was yummy.  I also made a variation on Irish soda bread.

It was super easy and very good.  My glaze didn't turn out as thick as it was supposed to though (I admit, I didn't measure the liquids, just an eyeballed splash).  It reminded me of a scone, only hints of sweetness in the bread and from the glaze.  I had a piece for breakfast this morning.  I think this will also become a tradition for us. 

In other news, not much else exciting happening here.  I'm on a stretch of shifts in preparation to take a vacation out east next week.  Nursing shifts are easy on your PTO bank, I'm taking off 8 days and only using 3 days vacation!  Oh, and we saw Radiohead last week

I need a camera with a better zoom.  It was a pretty great show, those screens actually showed real time close-ups during the show and were on pulleys so they got re-arranged.  This is the first time they have come to CO since 2003 (which Eric often ranted about). The show was on my 1st nephew's 5th birthday.  It was nostalgic remembering the night he was born, I was also at a concert that night, on crutches post-ACL tear.  I don't remember too much of that show (I think it was Sound Tribe Sector 9) since I was glued to my phone all night for photos and updates.  I'm sure his mom has a much different story for the night he entered this world and stole all of our hearts, though mine involves less pain (even with a knee injury!).

Hops and Heifers

Recently we got the opportunity to spend the day with the good folks at Oskar Blues Brewing and it was quite fun.  This company is more than just a brewery, they are embracing a sustainability model that their owner calls "the triple lindy".  They started with the brewery (obviously), added a FANTASTIC restaurant that not only features all of there beers, but 40 tap handles exclusive to craft brews, and then, most recently, started a farm! So lets start with the farm. 

Meet, Pancetta, Pork Chop, and Bacon.  I was a little creeped out that they came to sniff my pork breakfast burrito and really wanted me to share.  These guys are fed with the prep scraps from the restaurant and will, eventually, be main courses there.  Our guide told a funny story about being the lucky one chosen to don these guys in Oskar Blues shirts for a beer dinner hosted at the farm, he said it took 4 people and 45 min.  The pigs were still wary of him.

Black Angus cows, don't they look delicious?  These beauties are fed with spent grain from the brewery (among other things to make them tasty) and will, like their pigs friends, be main courses some day.

About the time we were drooling over the cows, these little guys came for a visit after busting out of their pen.  I chuckled that they didn't run for freedom, but rather just wanted to hang with us.  We herded them back to their home, they made me smile. 

It wouldn't really be a farm if they didn't also grow things.  Unfortunately, March is not the best time to see the bounty.  They do have a vegetable garden in the summer that supplies the restaurant.  And they grow hops.

Hops grow vertically on these poles and wires, I really hope  we can come back in the summer to witness them in all their glory.  This part of CO isn't the best climate for hop growing, so the brewery still supplements from other sources and saves their hops for special release brews in the fall.  Now on to the brewery!

We've seen our fair share of breweries but it is always a good time.  This brewery also has a small tasting room, Aaaaannnddd....

Skee Ball!!  Craft Breweries sure do know how to have fun!  They even have a league night. After a few rounds we had a "sensory experience" (aka., tasting) with the head brewer, Dave. 

A very delicious experience indeed.  Then we headed to the restaurant, no photos taken on this day, since I was too busy eating.  Here's a photo from a previous visit though,

Thanks for a great day, Oskar Blues!  And if you are out at your local liquor store (they have a pretty wide distribution net) and come across a six pack of Dales Pale Ale (it'll be in a can), go ahead and pick it up, you won't be disappointed. 

A Night at the Symphony

So Eric and I got to experience a pretty special concert last night.  The lead singer of his favorite band, Phish, was playing with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.  Now I love the classics, I grew up going to the U of I concerts and then was in band myself.  But this was the first professional orchestra I have experienced.  Oh. Wow. But let me back up.  We went with four other friends and had a lovely pre-show dinner.  Then we actually made it in on time before the show start, we knew how to stay classy!

We dressed appropriately which was fun.  Not everyone got the memo though (as can be seen by the girl in jeans in the background).  At one point I noticed a guy in a tux standing in the bar line with a guy in jeans and a hoodie behind.  And there was everything in between, it definitely made for interesting people-watching.  When the featured act's fan base includes (but is not limited too!) a bunch of hippies you never know what may happen.  Before the show started the producer came on stage and, basically, told everyone to be on their best behavior, it was comical.  But, back to the music...

I zeroed in on the harpist as I was trying to get the proper camera setting.  I just love the harp.

And there's Trey, although I'm sure you could figure that!  Oh the sound, I can't even find the right words to describe it properly.  It was so pure and perfect it brought tears to my eyes and triggered a constant state of goosebumps.  These musicians were so very amazing and talented, although I suppose that is a requirement when a part of a professional symphony!

Some love to the French Horns.

I can't remember his name but he was painting right behind us during the performance, talk about inspiration!

We had such a great time.  The arrangements were just perfect, I would never have guessed that they were the songs of a jam band.  And then they encored a Beatles song (Lullaby) and I about cried.  It was, by far, my favorite musical experience to date.  We will definitely be frequenting the symphony more often. 

Deliciously Evil

Chocolate chip cookies are the first recipe I remember following when I was baking with my Mom as a kid. We baked together so often that I eventually had it memorized, and still do.  When I moved to Colorado I realized that some adjustments may be required to my cooking skills to account for the high altitude (many of the advantages to  living a 5,000 feet, also we have more red blood cells, hooray for hemoglobin!).  When I researched this the answers were all very vague and basically amounted to, "you just have to play around with recipes until they work" by adding less baking soda, more sugar, etc.  Water definitely boils faster.  So my beloved cookies, while still delicious, always turn out very flat, and I can't bring myself to "experiment" with the recipe.  Which brings me to these amazing little squares. 

I had the craving for a dense chocolate chip cookie bar and knew that my recipe may not stay thick and chewy if I put the in bar form.  A little googling later and success!  I settled on this recipe. 

Um, yeah. The picture doesn't really do them justice. They were a little too good, I could not pass the pan without grabbing one, so I suggest cutting the squares small!  The only change I made to the recipe was that I did not melt and cool the butter, just softened in the microwave on defrost for 30 sec or so.  The dough is the consistency of traditional cookie dough so I just got my fingers a little wet and pressed them in the pan by hand, I greased rubber spatula may work too.

They were SO chewy and moist.  I had to take half of them to work the next day just to keep them out of my mouth.  And, the plus side to bars is far less work than batch after batch of cookies.  So, next time you have the craving or want to make some new friends, I highly suggest that you whip up a quick batch of these little devils.