Ten Great January Days

Sometimes life gives you some great friendships...the kind where you can see each other twice a year and still feel like it was yesterday.

More Roots

Raisin Fritters - apparently a New Year's tradition among Mennonites from Russia.  

We've made them for two years now and they're a pleasant part of my heritage in which I am happy to partake.

Getting Back to My Roots

Inaugural Tamale Event

Red chile sauce for pork 

Masa preparado

Shredded pork

Mixing spices into masa

Measuring masa for corn husk

Man overboard

Tamales ready to be steamed

Finished product

I may have even eaten one for breakfast Christmas morning.

Ahhhh

These are my favorite days in So Cal...bright sun, crisp air, gentle Santa Anas, snowy mountains...

Eiffel

Not exactly the setting in which I imagined I would see this tower.

Joann's

has just become my favorite store.

In my opinion

The ugliest tree in the world.