Words To Live By

For me: "You can't expect to be a lucky dog if you're always growling."
(This was in Britt's fortune cookie three weeks ago, but I think it was meant for me.)

For the boys: "The next best thing to playing and winning is playing and losing."
(This is to become our new mantra everytime we leave the house for a competition...)

To Tibet and Back for Our Anniversary

Happy anniversary to us.

Fifteen years ago today we were married. To celebrate, Britt and I met for lunch and ate at a tiny Tibetian restaurant near where he works. Lunch there is buffet only, so we each sampled everything (the best was okra with chickpeas), and I even sat facing a panoramic mural of the Himalayas. I think the whole experience qualifies as a trip to Tibet.


Tonight, we stayed in (my favorite destination) and had dinner with the kids.

Dizzy and Daffy on Opening Day!

Happy Birthday Dante

I remember your first birthday: you smashed your face into your cake. (Fortunately, your clever mom had gotten you your own little cake; so the rest of us were able to eat face-free party cake.)

We're all hoping that you're still coming to visit us this summer.

Hugs and kisses from all of us at Chateau Rideoux.

The Hamburger

A Timber Doodle in Our Backyard!

This is a woodcock. It was in our backyard yesterday! When peering out the kitchen window to survey the birdlife, we spied an odd-looking, lumpish bird strolling the fenceline and eating the occasional treat (bugs?). Consulting our Peterson's Guide, Britt determined that the bird was a woodcock! Our encyclopedic bird book lists the woodcock's "other names" as: ... Wood Snipe, Night Partridge, Night Peck, Timber Doodle, Hookum Pake, Labrador Twister, Bogsucker, Bog-bird, Pewee, Whistler, Big-eyes.

Probably this timber doodle was migrating. Even so, our backyard at daytime is not its typical habitat; a woodcock is actually nocturnal and prefers shadowy retreats: "usually in the swamps, but often in open upland woods."

Happy Easter

Q: Why do they only eat one egg for breakfast in France?

A. Because one egg is "un ouef."

Happy Easter from everyone at Chateau Rideoux.