Skiing & Final Packing

Unfortunately I forgot the camera but Billy and I went skiing at Bear Valley. It was only his third time skiing but he made it to the blue runs. He is a much better at skiing than he thinks, at least at skiing, so I am excited to share my favorite sport with him.

Yesterday we spent the day checking items off our list and getting all of our papers ready to travel. We are both have some nervousness about what is to come but once we are there I am sure all nerves will go away and become nothing but excitement. Tomorrow we leave for Napa where we will spend the night with my aunt and Thursday we leave for Vietnam.

We hope we have said all of our goodbyes to everyone but please continue to follow the blog for photos and updates.

Cajun Dinner Party

My mom wanted to have a dinner party to celebrate everything Cajun so Saturday night was the big night. Billy cooked a three course meal along with appetizers and desert. We did most of the cooking on Friday and prepped the house so Saturday was an easy day to relax and just complete the finishing touches. Billy made shrimp toast, artichoke spinach dip, chicken and sausage gumbo, blackened fish with crab meat o'gratin, and pecan pies. The most labor intensive part was the blackened fish which he had to prepare as the guests were eating their salad.

Billy doing prep on Friday while listing to music. The part you couldn't see was him dancing.

Blackened fish ready to be pan fried.

Everyone enjoying the first course of salad (a true Californian thing).

Pie Dress Rehearsal

I didn't earn a badge in pie making or take that class in college so what is a girl to do when told she has to make two pecan pies? You call in backup!!!

As part of our Cajun dinner party on Saturday Billy wanted pecan pies, but the only problem is that I have never made a pie. My dear friend Elise and her two kids came over and helped me do a trial run of an apple pecan caramel pie as well as making two pie crusts for the pecan pies. Based on feedback from Saturday night they were hits. Elise was so generous she left her rolling pin, cheese cloth, pie pans, and instructions.

I think the pie was finger licking good!

Snow!

With only two weeks in Murphys we had a snow storm last week which blanketed the area. After the storm Billy even had the chance to shovel his first driveway. I came back an hour later and found him covered and sweat and telling me he will only own a snowblower if we live in snow country.

Snowshoeing

Last Saturday night while attending the Wild & Scenic Film Festival Billy and I won a gift certificate for two for snowshoe rentals and day passes so yesterday we had a go at it.

Bear Valley called for nothing but sun so we headed up to the mountain but not before stopping at SNAC to purcase new gortex snow boots. We had been talking during our trip across country about needing winter boots so now was a perfect imputus for purchase, or so we thought. The wise hikers always tell you not to break in new boots on your first hike and after 7km of hiking the advice proved our demise. We both new this was true, but thought we would run the risk. Needless to say our blisters and bruises are proof that you should follow generations of advice.

Beyond our few aches the day was spectacular. Neither of us had tried it before but we both loved it so much we want to go again. Snowshoeing allows you to see breathtaking vistas off the beaten path and have a tremendous workout in the process.

This was me taking a break to view the map and plan our next move.

Taking a break in the lunch hut.

What I looked at much of the way back to the car.

Home at Last

When I arrived at my mom's house I was greeted by what you see in the photos below.

Now in Murphys and I couldn't be happier that the Minnie Winne made the journey.



After spending 6700 miles on the road I often wanted to do this to Billy.

Even though I wanted to kill him on day two we survived six weeks together in a car, which is a huge task for most couples. We were both sad to see the journey end but the next will be an even greater challenge.

We are spending the next two weeks helping my mom with her paperwork, unpacking, doing our taxes, seeing friends, and soaking up the beauty surrounding us.

Happy Valentines Day

It is a little late but Happy Valentines Day to Billy!