life list #29a: see a mountain goat in the wild

Are you mocking me, Goat?

It's been a long time since I wrote a Life List post, but as I was scrolling through my list of all the things I wanted (or thought I wanted) to do with my life since 2006, I realized I've checked off quite a few items in the last year. (I also realized it's time to revisit that list - there is some hilarious stuff on there and it might be time for an update!)

Anyway, I've been on the quest to see a mountain goat or a bighorn sheep in the wild since Larry and I first visited Colorado together in 2005. We've been to numerous national parks together and time after time, these creatures have evaded me. FOR NINE YEARS. It's become almost comical.

On my fourth trip to Colorado in July, I finally saw and photographed the elusive mountain goat on Mount Evans. With a summit at over 14,000 feet, Mount Evans is the highest paved road in North America, and my friend Sarah, who lives in Denver, assured me that every time she's been up Mount Evans she has seen mountain goats. Ah, but you haven't tried to see mountain goats with me, Sarah. Something *will* go wrong...

(Told you so!)

Looking for goats? Pondering the meaning of the universe? Appreciating the awesome beauty of the natural world? 
Nope, she was intrigued by that drainage culvert.

Our expedition to see the goats actually took two attempts over a span of two days. There were originally six of us who started out on this adventure, but due to flat tires and other mishaps, only three of us made it to the top. (The girls, obviously!)

It was worth it. Mount Evans was beautiful. And I FINALLY saw a goat. Not just one goat, but LOTS of goats, including the jerk who stuck his tongue out at me. Also, BABY GOATS.











My nine year quest to see a mountain goat is finally over. Life List #29: Finally see an elusive mountain goat or bighorn sheep in the wild. Take its picture. Check...

But I'm still searching for that blasted bighorn sheep!

in like a lion, out like a lion

During my third year at Syracuse University, it snowed every day for three months. Every day from January through March, I made a tick mark on my calendar when I woke up each morning (er, or afternoon...I was a college student after all...) and saw flakes falling from the sky. After graduation, I was happy to escape that frozen hell.

February and March 2014 in Virginia have felt a bit like that. Snowflakes falling from the sky seemingly every day. And yet, I didn't really mind. Oddly enough, this was the first year since childhood that I didn't hate winter. In fact, it was kind of cozy and really quite productive. Most of this is because winter has made me really appreciate the fact that I work from home when the weather is cold and snowy. If I had to scrape ice off my windshield/shovel snow/commute on frozen roads/freeze my ass off at the bus stop, etc, I would be back to my old winter-hating ways. But this year when it snowed, I could just stay home. I'd turn on the fireplace, drink hot chocolate, and work on projects from the comfort of the inside of my house.

The first day of spring was March 20th this year, but winter wasn't over yet. We had several more snowstorms after the equinox. The snow-covered trees are really quite pretty and I finally pulled out my camera to capture a few of these last snowy days. True to my commitment to stay inside and my tendency to be lazy, all the photos were taken looking out through our windows. Thank goodness for my 200mm lens:















Now that the world outside my cozy lair is finally starting to thaw, I suppose I'll have to come out of my introspective hibernation. I'm looking forward to reuniting with friends and living a more active lifestyle in the warmer months.

week in the life | sunday

Good morning!


It's another glorious day out!


Larry sleeps in.


So I paint my toenails on the back porch. (And admire my flip-flop tan!) The chipped red polish that's been on my toes half the summer has to go, in favor of my favorite (discontinued) shade: Vintage by Revlon. (It looks magenta in summer and cranberry in fall.)


Breakfast on the back porch.


Croissant with chocolate butter. It's AMAZING, even if Larry says it looks like a "bowl of dookie" and opts for cereal instead.


I drive to the Mosaic District to meet girlfriends for lunch at Matchbox. (Fun fact: Larry and I had our first date at the Matchbox in Chinatown in 2003.) I'm the first to arrive (this NEVER happens), so I sit outside the restaurant to wait for my friends.


When your friends are also bloggers, there's a lot of photography going on. Here's Sarah in action.


We all whipped out giant cameras at the same time. "Whoah!", exclaimed our waiter. It reminded me of an action movie when everyone draws a gun at once. Click!


I had crabcake benedict with breakfast potatoes and a lemonade. Might as well continue my gluttonous Sunday.


It was a wonderful afternoon of chatting, eating, and window shopping with Ashley, Sarah, and Sarah. We left promising, as always, to do it more often. (Color coordinating of outfits was inadvertent!)


Arriving back home.


While I was gone, Larry did the dishes, cleaned the stove, vacuumed, cleaned the bathroom, and made homemade guava BBQ sauce. We spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning up and prepping food together before Mom comes over for dinner.


I pick up the house (mostly Larry's shoes) and wipe down the kitchen counter.


Also, Larry is over Week in the Life!


Mixing a new cocktail for tonight: the Lilikoi Itch. Guava nectar, passionfruit juice, rum, vodka, triple sec.


Mom arrives. The dogs LOVE her. (Also, she has dog treats stuffed in her pockets and purse.)


Me and Mom.


Larry mans the grill. The ribs are marinated with sherry in a spray bottle.


We hang out on the patio before dinner, drinking cocktails and eating guacamole. Gravy gives out wet willies to unsuspecting guests.


Here's me shucking corn in a dress in front of a collection of dead plants and an unmowed yard. Glamorous, glamorous.


Sun starts to set. Per usual, it's dark before dinner is served.


Last summer backyard meal: Chinese-Style Ribs with Guava Barbecue Sauce; Spinach, Watermelon, and Feta Salad; Corn-on-the-Cob.


Mini coconut cake split three ways for dessert! (I am usually opposed to store-bought cakes, but make an exception for Wegman's coconut cake. Yum!)


Perfect company, perfect evening.


After Mom leaves, we retreat to the sofa.


The week is done. Here's what my To Do list and planner look like by the end of the week. I never come anywhere close to crossing everything off. And yes, I realize I should make a shorter, more prioritized, and more realistic list - but have always gone with the 'brain dump' technique instead. Lots of thoughts swirling in my head this week on how to make my days more productive.


End the week in bed with another episode of Scandal. Season 2 is getting INTENSE.

Another week in the life, done!

P.S. Did I mention that Larry is SO OVER Week in the Life???