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holiday snaps

2011 December 19

Greetings from 6512 feet where no one left the house all day yesterday. And I mean that in the most literal way, as in no one actually turned the knob on our front door and walked outside. Which is a crazy kind of equation that goes something like: 4 people + 13 hours + 800 sf = a tremendous amount of Crazy Eights games.

I really don’t even know how all that time passed, partly because I’ve got a little bronchitis scritching around my lungs and am feverish enough that everything appears a little surreal. It’s like I’m floating around inside an aquarium, bumping up against the glass, behind which my entire family plays Crazy Eights for hours on end. Except when a small person comes forward to kiss my forehead or some other non-contaminated place.

On the homestead:

Col and Rose got these mini file folders from our friend Maggie and have been adding important future dates for their stuffed animals.

~school party: april 9th (Col is still learning the value of vowels)~

~July 20th: eclipse~

:: We’ve been taking a lot of evening strolls to this neighborhood display, which always sends Rose into a tizzy over Christmas loyalties: “my favorite is the grinch…no, my favorite is all the candy canes…no, my favorite is the music…no, it’s Santa!”

:: Although we did start giving the kids allowance, it’s every girl’s right to earn a little extra money.

:: Locals, have you been to The Southwest Book Trader on east 5th St? If your love of books is greater than your fear of being accidentally buried by them, it’s a really fun place.

:: Christmas Jews sing carols while their mom gets a little choked up.

:: The kids have been playing so happily together. Seriously. When the kids finished their quiet time today, Col ran into Rose’s room and gave her a hug.

A big welcome to my new sponsor, Namaste Health Center, a holistic medical clinic offering naturopathic care, acupuncture and chinese medicine, hydrotherapy, herbs, nutritional counseling, homeopathy and kinesiology. At Namaste, the practitioners treat the whole person, not simply the collective symptoms (you can read about their approach here, which is so respectful and beautiful it makes me a little teary). I’m booked for acupuncture with Julia tomorrow! Namaste is offering to readers of 6512 and growing: 15% off homeopathic flu shots and 15 minutes of reflexology, free, with every acupuncture appointment booked with Julia Fisher. Yeah!

Dan is scheduled next week at the Namaste clinic for this strange and persistent growth.

:: Turns out macaroons are the perfect companion food to eggnog, mostly because when you separate out egg whites for macaroons, you can reserve the yolks for eggnog (eggnog recipe here).

As good as they look macaroons:

2 1/2 cups shredded, unsweetened coconut, 4 egg whites (beaten), 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar/honey, dash of vanilla and sprinkle of salt. Mix dry ingredients first, then add liquid, shape into balls, bake for 15-20 minutes at 325F.

:: Beware the fanged gingerbread men out there, dear ones; happy hanukkah, merry christmas, delightful solstice and everything else!

xo,

Rachel

ps: I have an essay in the edition of The Durango Telegraph that is out right now, and I hear the winter Edible San Juan Mountains (in which I wrote about eggnog kombucha or something equally strange) is due to hit the streets any day now!



38 Responses leave one →
  1. December 19, 2011

    I’m glad that I am not the only one who sometimes hides inside during this strange Durango Winter

  2. December 19, 2011

    I’m glad that I am not the only one who sometimes hides inside during this strange Durango Winter

  3. barefootnmama permalink
    December 19, 2011

    This is such a lovely space to visit. I’m glad I could steal a minute to stop by tonight. Hope you have a wonderful week:))))

  4. barefootnmama permalink
    December 19, 2011

    This is such a lovely space to visit. I’m glad I could steal a minute to stop by tonight. Hope you have a wonderful week:))))

  5. December 20, 2011

    Those fanged gingerbread men are worse than abominable snowmen, I think. I hear they can all be bribed with macaroons though. =>

  6. December 20, 2011

    Those fanged gingerbread men are worse than abominable snowmen, I think. I hear they can all be bribed with macaroons though. =>

  7. December 20, 2011

    Alright, how do we non-locals get to hear the scoop on your egg nog kombucha? That is definitely an idea I have never heard of before!

    I hope you’re feeling better very, very soon. May you receive many more kisses on the forehead until you do!

  8. December 20, 2011

    Alright, how do we non-locals get to hear the scoop on your egg nog kombucha? That is definitely an idea I have never heard of before!

    I hope you’re feeling better very, very soon. May you receive many more kisses on the forehead until you do!

  9. abozza permalink
    December 20, 2011

    LOLOL…”If your love of books is greater than your fear of being buried by them…” Hysterical! Love the way you write, Rachel!
    http://amysreallife.wordpress.com

  10. abozza permalink
    December 20, 2011

    LOLOL…”If your love of books is greater than your fear of being buried by them…” Hysterical! Love the way you write, Rachel!
    http://amysreallife.wordpress.com

  11. Christy permalink
    December 20, 2011

    That book store is the kind of place where once I enter, you can just count me out for about 4 hours. (And I would actually be there longer except someone would pull me out by then or they would need to close.) We have one locally that looks similar. I found one once visiting Monterey Bay on the way to the beach. (As in hey let’s stop and get a book to read at the beach) Two hours later my hubby was like “so used book store instead of beach?”
    Hope you are feeling well soon! The kids playing together independently looks like mama nirvava.

  12. Christy permalink
    December 20, 2011

    That book store is the kind of place where once I enter, you can just count me out for about 4 hours. (And I would actually be there longer except someone would pull me out by then or they would need to close.) We have one locally that looks similar. I found one once visiting Monterey Bay on the way to the beach. (As in hey let’s stop and get a book to read at the beach) Two hours later my hubby was like “so used book store instead of beach?”
    Hope you are feeling well soon! The kids playing together independently looks like mama nirvava.

  13. December 20, 2011

    I had to take a close up look at Dan’s back LOL :o) I at first thought to myself “what next”!! Seems I love the way your family is living and here comes something to get in the way..glad all is really going great and the kids love playing jokes too :o)..Have a Happy Holiday..

  14. December 20, 2011

    I had to take a close up look at Dan’s back LOL :o) I at first thought to myself “what next”!! Seems I love the way your family is living and here comes something to get in the way..glad all is really going great and the kids love playing jokes too :o)..Have a Happy Holiday..

  15. December 20, 2011

    awww, feel better sweet rachel. glad the siblings are getting along so well, especially when mama is under the weather. healing healing healing to you. xoxo

  16. December 20, 2011

    awww, feel better sweet rachel. glad the siblings are getting along so well, especially when mama is under the weather. healing healing healing to you. xoxo

  17. December 20, 2011

    Pull out that Ravensara essential oil I gave you. Put a drop in a tissue and stick it up your nose. Close other nostril and breathe for 5min. one-side; 5min. the other. Do this every hour and you should be breathing easily by the end of the day. You can rub it on your chest and the bottoms of your feet, again every hour. Steams, foot baths and of course warm herbal teas with Ginger, pepper, rose hips, lemon and honey…my kind of egg nog!
    Get well soon.
    Laura Matthews

  18. December 20, 2011

    Pull out that Ravensara essential oil I gave you. Put a drop in a tissue and stick it up your nose. Close other nostril and breathe for 5min. one-side; 5min. the other. Do this every hour and you should be breathing easily by the end of the day. You can rub it on your chest and the bottoms of your feet, again every hour. Steams, foot baths and of course warm herbal teas with Ginger, pepper, rose hips, lemon and honey…my kind of egg nog!
    Get well soon.
    Laura Matthews

  19. December 20, 2011

    Sweetness! All of it :) Hope you feel better very soon–I used to get bronchitis every single year until I became pregnant! Strange, but true.
    -Jaime

  20. December 20, 2011

    Sweetness! All of it :) Hope you feel better very soon–I used to get bronchitis every single year until I became pregnant! Strange, but true.
    -Jaime

  21. ike permalink
    December 20, 2011

    Love that gingerbread man-where can I get one?
    Baba

  22. ike permalink
    December 20, 2011

    Love that gingerbread man-where can I get one?
    Baba

  23. December 22, 2011

    Macaroons! Hurrah! Those I CAN enjoy while pregnant!

    I hope Dan gets better soon. Looks like it would be difficult to get around with that “growth” on your back. And I hope that you’re better soon, too!

    Happy solstice!

  24. December 22, 2011

    Macaroons! Hurrah! Those I CAN enjoy while pregnant!

    I hope Dan gets better soon. Looks like it would be difficult to get around with that “growth” on your back. And I hope that you’re better soon, too!

    Happy solstice!

  25. December 22, 2011

    ooo la la, the macaroons look awesome!! i love those days where i don’t step out of the house! speaking of stepping out…..

    you and your lovely family are invited to a family style new year’s eve celebration at our house! it’s a finger food potluck and bonfire in cramped quarters! from six until bedtime.

    hope y’all can make it!

    happy holidays!

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      December 24, 2011

      But 6 *is* our bedtime. Actually, we’ll be out of town, but thanks so much for the invite, sounds like so much fun. xo to you, Ivey!

  26. December 22, 2011

    ooo la la, the macaroons look awesome!! i love those days where i don’t step out of the house! speaking of stepping out…..

    you and your lovely family are invited to a family style new year’s eve celebration at our house! it’s a finger food potluck and bonfire in cramped quarters! from six until bedtime.

    hope y’all can make it!

    happy holidays!

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      December 24, 2011

      But 6 *is* our bedtime. Actually, we’ll be out of town, but thanks so much for the invite, sounds like so much fun. xo to you, Ivey!

  27. December 22, 2011

    Love the macaroons and eggnog combo. Why, Of course! And that house? WOW. Hope Dan gets to keep that growth around for awhile. It becomes him :)

  28. December 22, 2011

    Love the macaroons and eggnog combo. Why, Of course! And that house? WOW. Hope Dan gets to keep that growth around for awhile. It becomes him :)

  29. Dan permalink
    December 22, 2011

    Cracking me up, Honey you’re brilliant, and I love you, missyoumashyou~~

  30. Dan permalink
    December 22, 2011

    Cracking me up, Honey you’re brilliant, and I love you, missyoumashyou~~

  31. December 23, 2011

    We have entire days in a row where no one leaves. We love them.

  32. December 23, 2011

    We have entire days in a row where no one leaves. We love them.

  33. December 24, 2011

    Hey I was wondering if you knew of a willow tree anywhere in Durango that wasn’t on private property?

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      December 24, 2011

      Lots of willows along the Animas River. Does that help?

  34. December 24, 2011

    Hey I was wondering if you knew of a willow tree anywhere in Durango that wasn’t on private property?

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      December 24, 2011

      Lots of willows along the Animas River. Does that help?

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