Powder day - sort of

A minimum of 4 inches of new snow constitute a powder day . This wasn't quite it , but pretty nice nonetheless. M & I share Sundays and Mondays off each week ( 1st time in 3 years ) and here we are today 29/11 enjoying empty slopes with acres and acres of the fluffy stuff. Brilliant. A couple of hours together on skis on Whispering Jesse , Sneakys, Sheer Bliss and Bull Run , and then another hour on snowboard back up at Elk Camp.

Following day , M back at work at the free coffee stand at the end of the mall waiting for custom - she's got hers you 'll see ! Well equipped to deal with the conditions though. Minus 14% Farhenheit one day last week . Note the radio phone at the ready.

Back in Snowmass - Thanksgiving

A wonderful celebratory event is Thanksgiving in the US calendar. Also a working day for M and me - 1st day back . But for double time and half for me , no complaints.

Got back on Monday night and 2 days to get organised after nearly 3 months away. Job training for us both on Tuesday combined with returning rental car ( we drove Denver airport back to Snowmass ) , getting work schedules for season ( 33 hours over 4 days - 2 days on the Town Park Station run , 1 evening shift on the demanding N1 and one PMC - pm cover therefore different routes for whole shift . Sun , Mon and Tues off . Mary has similar hours and off on Sun , Mon and Thurs.), fitting ski rack and getting ski gear up to our respective work lockers ), digging out car , lunch in mid shift at old favourite Spencers in the Centre, trip to Aspen to buy provisions, etc . Almost best snow cover conditions since records began.

Lake District and Mary's 60th

We revisited a favourite haunt of earlier days . We remembered the November weekend deals offered by Skelwith Bridge Hotel near Ambleside and took full advantage . A lovely weekend to celebrate the big 60 with Jane and Johannes with Meghan & Dennis , and Duncan & Katy sadly not able to join us.

1. Awaiting the bus from outside hotel to Dungeonghill.
2. Foot of Langdale Pikes - ready to go.
3. Summit of Harrison Stickle.
4. The view down to lake Windermere.
5. The birthday girl . Meghan & Jane had gathered video recording birthday messages from all over the world . Meghan had then put together a most beautiful video DVD showing hugely polished technical skills . Jane & Johannes brought down projector and screen and laid on a terrific show for us after dinner in the hotel . Quite memorable.
6. Near summit of Glencathra on the Sunday morning.
7. Heading back down a breathtakingly beautiful ridge.
8. back to Morrone befoe flying off following day from Aberdeen to Asheville, NC.
9 .Autumn colours outside Deerfield .
1o. Great granny `eye' with her Deerfield co-resident Essie and her son ( our Colorado friend and fellow Aspen ski bum of many , many years ) Jimmy enjoying yet another superb evening dinner.

Ireland -weeks 2 & 3

Hopefully we didn't get too much in the way. Staying in Dennis' brother John's house next door was a blessing for all of us . We kept busy and mostly useful I think , without getting on top of new Mum , Dad and babe.

Pics
1. Spreading mulch in Dennis & Meghan's garden and adjacent field. 4 bags of it - like the one above. Dennis' dad Flannan just kept it coming .
2. Precious Ted overseeing operations.
3. The finished article .
4 & 5. Proud parents with 2 week old Cormac.