Week in Review - Feb. 24, 2012

What a weird week.  It started off great with a ski trip to Pennsylvania with friends, a holiday on Monday, great weather, etc. etc.  I was fully prepared to plow full steam ahead into my work week, but was stopped dead in my tracks on Wednesday with a nasty respiratory infection that has pretty much knocked me down a few pegs.    What's equally frustrating is that when I don't go to work, I don't get paid - an unfortunate drawback to a job where the perks include a flexible schedule and the ability to work when I want.  Sigh . . .  Can't have it all, I guess.

But on to some highlights . . .

2nd Annual Winter Trek to Pennsyltucky
This was our second trip to the remote farmlands of Western Pennsylvania, or as we like to affectionately call it - "Pennsyltucky".  Driving there is always an adventure.  Last year our GPS took us down a scary road and tried to take us into an even scarier tunnel.  This year we relied on MapQuest and cryptic directions from our friends like "Turn left at Yoder's farm" and "Hang a left at the tree that's shaped like a moosehead".  You get the general idea.  Every time we do this drive we end up taking a right turn where the directions say left and somehow we still always manage to find the place.  John remarked that if we were ever invaded by enemy forces we should just drive out here because no one would ever find us.  He's probably right.

But look how lovely it is out there . . .

So peaceful and serene . . .

Well - not quite so peaceful considering we had a very full house with eight adults and eight kids.  Come to think of it, perhaps this is where I picked up this nasty illness.  Hmmmmm . . . . .

Anyway - it was a great weekend, once everyone made it to the homestead.  Ella finally learned how to ski, the kids bonded over card games and playing pool out in the barn, the adults had a great time hanging out by the fire and sampling some homemade "medivka" - a lovely concoction that REALLY opens up the sinuses. Unfortunately John had to forfeit skiing due to an injured shoulder, but he made the best of it by hanging out in the ski lodge bar and watching hours of hockey so we really couldn't feel too sorry for him.

Fearless skiers - Jack, Stefchyk, Odessa and Lev.  

Conquering the mountain!

Cheese fondue - classic after-ski snack . . .

The only thing missing was a rousing game of pond hockey due to the freakishly warm winter we've had.  Oh, well - maybe next year.

I've run out of things to say
Yep, that's right.  I just don't feel well so I'm ending this post on a high note.  The rest of the week was a blur of coughing, sneezing, etc.  Yuck.  The words are not flowing today.  Sorry.