Bonne Année 2012! Happy New Year 2012!

NOTE:  As of January 17, 2012, I have moved my blog to my new website:  www.onegirlsadventures.com

I will still be doing duplicate posts on this website for the next 6 months or so, but plan to close it down after that.  Please go to my new website and subscribe!!

MERCI BEAUCOUP!

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"Be always at war with your vices,

At peace with your neighbors,

And let each new year find you a better man."

- Benjamin Franklin

"..or woman."

- Jen Jedda

My prediction? It is going to be a great year.  I have no indicators that suggest its greatness other than it feels like it is going to be...which is enough for me! So lets get this year started!

Although I predict greatness for the year, I can't say I have lived up to its standards these first 4 days. I have mostly spent them in recovery mode from my trip back to the USA.  I have managed to get to the grocery store to restock my milk-that-doesn't-need-refrigeration supply, chevre, brown eggs and salami. Oh, I did buy fruit too.  But overall much time has been spent napping as well as in personal contemplation over what is worse, a hangover or jet lag (FYI - jet lag is winning the internal debate). I expect to be back on track tomorrow...which I have been saying for the past 3 days. *sigh*

Before all the great adventures of 2012 began, how about a little glimpse of Christmas in the town I grew-up! To quote myself as a 10 year old, even though I wasn't "Made in Montana, my personality was!"  So now you know who/where to blame... 

Main Street

 Hamilton, Montana

USA

Population 3,800

Founded 1890

If you are thinking, "Wow! This street looks wide enough to turn around a carriage pulled by 6 horses!" 

Then you are exactly right! The town's founder and copper magnet, Marcus Daly, made that specification when he had the city plans drawn up. Pretty sure he was the only resident with a carriage pulled by 6 horses back then...but heck, that is the joy of founding your own town, right!?

The mountains in the background are the Bitterroot Mountains.

Supposedly my Mom is waving at me from one of the street corners in this picture...but I still don't see her.

Christmas decorations next to the Post Office.

Right across from this spot is the town's favorite coffee shop, River Rising.

For $2.15 I am guaranteed a great cappuccino and to run into one of my old high school teachers or a parent of an old classmate. Around the holidays when a lot of people come home, I am particularly on the look out for old crushes or boyfriends. Usually I only see them after I have worked out and without make-up or a shower...brilliant. 

Ah, where I come from cleverness abounds!

These are a few of the "Made in Montana" delights!

If you can't read them, the first says, " My aim is to keep this bathroom clean...your aim will help." and the second says, "Changing the toilet paper roll will not cause...any brain damage."

I suppose they have the same problems in Paris...just not sure if I have seen any little signs in French that I can perch in my bathroom to address them.

My best friend, Amy, and me!

High School freshman year Earth Science partners, tennis double partners and partners-in-crime :)...I am pretty sure there is nothing we don't giggle at when we are together!

We had just come back from the new Brewery that opened in Hamilton (major event in town!)...and I am showing off the Bûche de Noël I made with love and only 3 ingredients (chocolate, butter and pureed chestnuts!). My Mom cut out the stencils for me to create the cute little holly leaf on top with colored sugar.

Coming home at midnight, this is what I usually found in my parents' living room...all 3 kitties sleeping on one chair! Besides Moe (the grey faced one) looking a bit strangled, the set-up looked rather cozy.

Perhaps they have become so close from all the camping trips that my parents bring them on...er, yes, you read that right...all 3 kitties regularly go camping with my parents.  Leashes are involved and everything.

I have just embarrassed my Dad :).

My Dad's favorite Christmas gift! A generator!

No longer does he need to haul the tree branches and logs near the house to power saw them into small pieces for the fire....he can go to them!  It will also be handy for recharging the batteries in their 22 foot camper trailer....DVDs and popcorn all night long now while deep in the wilderness! Hurray!

I was privileged enough to get a demo of this gas-powered device that might be even classified as "slick" (<-- my Dad's favorite word for any item he thinks is totally out of this world cool).

In this picture Dad is standing in front of his garden (which my parents call "the compound")...it is surrounded by an 8 foot tall fence to keep the deer out.  And it works.

The view I enjoy while sweating on the treadmill at the local club, Canyons.

So there you go...that is where I spent Christmas! And if you couldn't tell by the pictures, it is also where the sporting goods and livestock feed supply stores are the largest stores in town and where everyone does their Christmas shopping. It is where one can hear a response of "No, Ma'am. I am helpless." when asked by a shop clerk if "you need any help?" It is where the men at the local brewery talk about their latest elk hunting trips and the women warn their girlfriends not to date smoke jumpers. It is where the local take-out pizza shop posts about "the reason for the season," and the local satellite shop gives a free gun away with purchase. It is where everyone waves and greet one other and where friends look out for friends and strangers look out for strangers. It is a place that is as special as it is beautiful, and it is where I grew up!

Happy New Year, everyone!