Groundhog Day Wednesday Skiing . . .

Public Enemy #1 on the loose again. This time using Madshus skis. This is the pair I purchased in Norway more than two decades ago when I learned to ski on the miles of groomed municipal trails just outside of Trondheim. No better place to do so given the extensive network that surrounds the city. Like yours truly, the skis are showing their age, but they still wax up pretty well and seem to have some life left in them. I'll take 'em up north with us in a couple of weeks and leave the Fischers at home.

The beauty of the Michigan woods in the newly fallen snow. Whether or not you love the winter to the same degree that we do, there is not denying the quiet majesty of a winter landscape. Stunning to observe through a window with a hot drink (or something medicinal) in your hand. We just happen to enjoy being out in the thick of it.

We've spent as much time as possible on our cross-country skis the last month here in The Grand Duchy. Conveniently, we had a major winter storm move through the Midwest today, which refreshed our snow pack considerably.

After a relaxed day at home with The Young Master, whose school was closed due to the snowfall, The Grand Duchess arrived home and suggested a pre-dinner ski around the neighborhood before the snowplows cleared the streets. How could I say no to that?

The Young Master begged off, but my wife and I suited up and enjoyed a wonderfully quiet hour plus gliding through the still falling snow. Not too shabby even without groomed tracks, and some pretty good glide in areas nevertheless.

As I mentioned to the Grand Duchess when we set off, I've always hoped we might live somewhere where we can ski from right outside our back door. Another dream of long standing finally realized late this afternoon!

We returned home as dusk fell about 6:15pm, changed into pajamas, and I whipped up a big bowl of rotini pasta, which we all enjoyed with pesto sauce at the dinner table. We have also reached a familial milestone of sorts too. The Young Master remained at home alone, without incident, for the first time ever.

Thank you Jesus!!! I thought we'd never get here.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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Mid-June Thursday Style. . .

A nother pretty typical variation on the theme for late spring, summer, and very early fall. I'm a huge fan of Madras and have several such shirts in the seasonal rotation. Lightweight, exceedingly comfortable, and even dressy when pressed and tucked in, which is the usual way of things here at Totleigh in the Wold. Now, if I had my druthers, I'd still rather be skiing the trails in the upper half of "The Mitten" (of Michigan), in the Upper Peninsula, or Ontario. But summers ain't so bad either, and I'd look pretty funny walking around in cross-country ski attire during June. -- Heinz-Ulrich

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