The most sun ever, in Carbondale, CO

Ben, Willoree and I spent an amazing weekend in Carbondale, CO, with friends and more new friends and then soaked in hot springs all Sunday afternoon. It was a 2-day trip but felt like a week's worth of rejuv, and I'm so grateful for Saramanda, Corey and their four cute as hell kids for having us out. It felt like home...

Corey, incidentally, knows the Whites of Boone County, WV. He is a lawyer and spent a lot of time in the Boone County courtroom, working. Jesse gets into a lot of trouble, not surprisingly. And I mean no offense here - but I gather he makes as many "poor decisions" as you may suspect. Mamie White, when first she met Corey, told him something like, "You must be from out of town, honey, because they don't come as pretty as you around here..."

And it's true. Corey's a pretty person, as is Saramanda, and all their kids. And their house and food and dog and scenery. All pretty. The list goes on. Some people, man.

Highlights:

Mule deer lurking; fires burning, Star Trek, salmon, sunshine, hot springs, hiking, no phone calls, Elaine Pagel's book about Thomas, tasty omelets, all around good food 24/7, feeling loved, loving back, naps for pregnant lady, barefoot weather (and snow on the ground), a worn-out daughter, one mystical and very amazing dream Friday night, banjo picking, radiant floor heat, storytelling, pulling Angel cards, pumpkin pies, window panes larger than walls in our bedroom.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Loved it. A great kick off to my absolute favorite holiday.

Home (on the market, anyone...?) Gorgeous lighting, custom metal work, heated floors and cozy kitchen talk. The house reminded me of a boat, and was at one time the main family ranch house on the 450 surrounding acres. It's low to the ground and sprawling...a gorgeous place to be. And we had our own sun-drenched wing to live (and dance around in our underwear) in.

360 views of surrounding areas: Vail, Basalt, Carbondale, Mount Sopris, Snowmass...

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I can't wait to share and feast and to really, truly test out this liquid Calcium/Magnesium magical elixir I bought at the store yesterday. It's supposed to help a lady out who's suffering from heartburn, or indigestion, or whatever it is we call it when our stomachs are absolutely compromised by a growing and already probably huge-ish 8 month cooked baby ADD food.

But I adore being pregnant. My complaints are minor. I have a list of things I'm thankful for; every day, every year seems to grow longer and longer. You are on the list; I thank.