CELEBRATIONS…IMPROVISED, REDESIGNED, AND A VAULT OF MEMORIES

This is our first COVID Thanksgiving Holiday with mask-wearing, socially distancing, and immediate family only. Marla and I truly miss celebrating with family, friends, and special dinners in restaurants. The times call for improvisation and a new dinner table aesthetic. For our anniversary dinner this year I came up…

MOMENTS TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN 2020

With the Thanksgiving holiday next week, I wanted to look back at the year and reflect on happy and important moments to be thankful for. With most of 2020 in a COVID maelstrom, everything takes on special significance. I’ll begin On January 3rd at the Brown Palace Hotel…

HOW TO TURN THE HAPPINESS DIAL HIGHER…FOR REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, AND INDEPENDENTS

I get it! You are mad as hell! Depending on your perspective you either feel President Trump’s conspiracy theories, lies, and dangerous actions are a major threat to democracy,…OR…you feel the election was rigged and people cheated for Biden. Our nation is as divided…

SENSATIONAL SUNSETS…a visual metaphor for positive change

I felt a post on SUNSETS was very apropos for our political world today. Marla and I are somewhat obsessive about experiencing the wonder of sunsets whether at home or far away. In a way, sunsets are a metaphor for our world at the moment. They symbolize the end of…

PRAYERS AND DREAMS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

Our monumental election is almost here and the wait is excruciating! It goes without saying we will be praying and dreaming for a better tomorrow. November 3rd is election day but it is also my Mother’s birthday. She was a stalwart progressive and a counterbalance to my Dad…

THE CREATIVE EYE…a VISUAL TONIC

We may not always feel very creative at times… but I believe we are all creators and designers in one form or another. We may be home chefs, parents, teachers, and students,… makers and builders,…artists, musicians, photographers,…caregivers,…and those of us simply navigating…

LUNCH BY BEAUTIFUL EVERGREEN LAKE, A $12.5 MIL HOME ON THE MOUNTAIN, AND A TERRORIZING BULL ELK!

Marla and I took advantage of a beautifully warm fall day to drive up to Evergreen for lunch, about an hour from our house. We chose the Willow Creek Restaurant with a great deck overlooking Evergreen Lake. This is a view of the restaurant from a hiking trail next to…

PART 2…AN EXPLORATION OF MY FAVORITE CULINARY DISHES: MAIN COURSES & DESSERT

This week I’m exploring my favorite main course & dessert dishes. Our favorite foods are a fascinating subject and much more than just the science of taste. The ingredients of why we love certain foods include our genes, age, environment, and into the mix we must add a…

AN EXPLORATION OF MY FAVORITE CULINARY DISHES. BREAKFAST, BREAD, STARTERS, SALAD.

I’ve been thinking a lot about food lately. Like most people, our restaurant activity has been almost nil due to the virus. We are cooking more. (Translation: Marla is cooking very creatively and… yours truly is “picking” up food!) This post is on my favorite…

IMAGES BRINGING ME JOY AND A SMILE

This moment calls for a post bringing happiness and joy. I love remembering the laughter,…something we need much more of right now! Marla has her happiness groove going at Patty’s house. Logan’s smile says everything. He loved Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands! Paxton…