If you want to see these pictures in bigger glory, click on the damned things. I've done a batch upload because I'm lazy, and so they are somewhat miniaturized.
Go on, click them. You know you want to.
Some of the pictures may be duplicates. Pretend you've had a scotch and are seeing double.
Oh, did we tell you that Claire is trying to cultivate a taste for Scotch? So far, the pleasures of drinking Scotch for her are ranking right there with undergoing hemorrhoid removal.
This is the living room where we enjoy the fire. Maintaining the fire is a full-time job. Brandy, like the Vestal Virgin that she is, is High Priestess and Tender of the Flame. She is aided by Elizabeth and Miss Smith, who haul wood to the porch and then into the house. Elizabeth possesses Freakish Upper Body Strength. This is an important fact. Keep it in mind.
I did a lot of knitting over the past year. Here Elizabeth models her cat hat, and Brandy models her Aran sweater with matching scarf.
More cat hattage. Claire, have you taken yours off yet? It's hot in Tampa, and boy, will you ever stick out!
Miss Smith and Claire are bonding over a Zoltronian sisterhood ritual. We could explain, but then we'd have to kill you.
The fire! Note the dork-ass sign over the fireplace. It should be kindling. We have temporarily removed it so we won't accidentally start a fire with it.
Gorjuss is enjoying her vacation. So many aunts, so much attention!
For Gorjuss, life is just ducky!
Doggie photo shoot! You cannot take a bad picture of this dog.
The bunkhouse. Miss Smith sleeps alone in there now. Let's just say that we don't call her Mrs. Toot-hill for nothing. Claire may never get the white noise machine back again.
Gorjuss poses on Paula's bed. The dog snores almost as loudly as Max does.
Arrival luggage. We'll be going home with less. Much of this was food.
Annie Willsdottir Tuthill and Frau Lohmeier bond over a ski trail map. Annie is studying German. She will soon sound like a stormtrooper with her new German vocabulary words!
Suzanne explains that food without additives is really much better. Elizabeth is skeptical.
Hanging around, talking, and drinking. We do this when we are not eating or playing outside.
Gee, is there enough room for us to sit around, paint each other's toenails, and braid each other's hair?
Miss Annie Tuthill has a lifetime's worth of blackmail material now on her mother.
The fire! We live to tend the fire!
Elizabeth holds down the couch. It could fly off at any time, and she is aware of the danger. So, she sits there patiently and holds it down.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, our designated chefs prepare gourmet meals. We have divided cooking chores into chefs (Suzanne/Paula/Brandy) and clean-up artistes (Elizabeth and Miss Smith). This is a good division of labor which ensures tasty meals and clean dishes. Still, some of us secretly have a hankering for Miss Smith's famous noodles and broccoli.
Here Suzanne is the sous-chef for Rosa Saraceno Lohmeier's famous eggplant faux lasagne.
Suzanne takes good food seriously, and we thank her for it. Otherwise, left to our own devices, we'd be eating Twizzlers.
Preparing marinara sauce. Suz makes a mean marinara sauce.
Hmmm, can't you just taste it? **slobbers**
What's wrong with this table setting? It lacks Claire! Gosh, we miss you!
Mangia! Tutti a tavola a mangiare! (Sorry, Max, if this is misspelled.)
This is not a hologram of Claire, but pictures taken from early on when she was still here.
Would you eat dinner with these people?
Gorjuss would! One of these people (ELIZABETH) has no willpower to resist Gorjuss. Gorjuss knows whom to bug for handouts.
Mark Drummond, this one's for you.
This is where our houseboys Lars, Sven, and Olaf stay when they are not giving us massages, bringing us drinks, and fanning us with peacock feathers.
Miss Smith and Paula do exercises. This is just after we cracked off 50 push-ups.
And now, a very special treat! We have a code 917, which is a SNOWBANKING IN PROGRESS! In fact, to date, as of this typing, Miss Smith has been snowbanked by Elizabeth three times, because Elizabeth has Freaking Upper Body Strength. She literally lifts Miss Smith off the floor and drags her outside. We assist by holding open the doors.
And you thought our vacation was just filled with Zen-like moments like the one below? Sheesh, have we got you fooled.
Face it, it's really this way! It's a wonderful life with food and friends!
These pictures of Elizabeth with the brownies, ice cream, and sign are some of my favorite photographs ever.
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