cat & carbs

Pinot and I are keeping cozy these past few weeks while Derek is working extra long hours. We've had our share of rainy days, movie nights, and comfort food while looking forward to the weekends. Anything that requires dough or batter- I've made in mass quantities lately: cookies, apple pancakes, chocolate chip pumpkin pancakes, apple cider donuts, big salty pretzels with a cheezy dip, garlic naan (nom!). I've gone through more bags of flour in the past few weeks than I've used the rest of the year. They add some extra heft to my grocery-filled back pack, so I figure it all evens out. Let the fall feeding frenzy continue!   

après marathon

Pinot and I are having ourselves a rest day. Good thing it's chilly and rainy enough for us to cuddle up and take it easy. Derek laced up his sneakers already this drizzly morning for the first, post-race run (can't believe he got out before me). I'm looking forward to starting back to yoga classes tomorrow and my run home afterwards, but for now, a second coffee and a warm kitty are the makings a good marathon recovery day. 

christmas kitty

Pinot is experiencing the Christmas festivities for the first time. So far, she has only climbed the tree once, broken a single ornament, battled the stockings, been wrapped and jingle-belled, but her favorite holiday treat is nibbling the low hanging branches.

I finished two pair of jingle bell slippers, and in the kitchen, savory muffins, candied almonds, and chocolate chip cookies.

Holiday-prep around the house: eating clementines, snuggling under wool blankets, lots of Christmas music, coco, and kitty.

potted pinot

It's been a year since this little gray kitty moved-in to our house. I'm going to make it her birthday, and maybe give her the good cat food today and let her nap in the this dirty flowerpot.

picnic

After a great run, we headed out to the vineyard for our first Spring picnic and a nap in the sunshine while listening to the thunder above the mountains. It sure feels like Spring. Although we hoped to drive to Annecy for this picnic, the car wouldn't start- hopefully nothing major-so we walked a bit down the road to settle into a usual spot. Pinot came too, but hid under my dress or inside Derek's shirt for the afternoon.  We tried walking the cat in the vineyard...it went about as well as putting a cat in a harness can go.

Magnolia in bloom.

keeping warm

February is bringing unusually cold temperatures, but Pinot and I are keeping warm. Hope you are snuggled up and cozy too. Happy February. 

pinot gris

This is Pinot. You'll be seeing more of her on here. I'll try to keep the kitty pictures within reason, but she's terribly cute, and you've been warned.