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2018

Monday, December 24th, 2018

Happy winter from Colorado and welcome to our 14th annual Year in Photos! We hope this virtual greeting finds you all well. Despite starting 2018 with a lean snow season, followed by drought and wildfires, we are closing the year on a high note because the snow has returned and WE GOT ANOTHER PUPPY!

Feel free to comment at the bottom of the post and visit previous years listed in the sidebar.

The northern mountains of Colorado fared better than the rest of the state snow-wise and we took advantage of our below-average snowpack as much as we could. Jen in the backcountry, looking for turns. (January – Arapaho National Forest)

Jeremy enjoys a rare powder day at Eldora Mountain Resort. (February)

Catching a spring storm in Crested Butte. (March)

This year could have easily been called Fun with Fermentation! or The Magic of Microbes! Jen discovered the joys of homebrewing kombucha and baking sourdough breads. A bâtard, an épi de blé, and a roasted garlic, olive, rosemary, lemon zest, olive oil, and sea salt crown (boule).

Our neighborhood moose and her yearling make quick work of a neighbor’s aspens in Nederland. (April)

Jen finally found blonde morel mushrooms this spring! A lovely prize hiding in plain sight went into making this plate of handmade lobster morel agnolotti. (May)

Our summer monsoons never materialized to bring relief from the heat and unhealthy smoke from a relentless wildfire season. Hot winds whip up a yellow haze of pine pollen in Nederland, Colorado. (June)

In June, Jen noticed a shy puppy at RezDawg Rescue who had been waiting a while for her forever family to find her. We found her, fell in love with her, and brought her home. This is our sweet Yuki (means “snow”, “happiness”, or “courage” in Japanese) starting her life as a Colorado mountain dog. (July)

Yuki getting used to swimming and paddle boarding at Brainard Lake. (July)

Learning the scent of fresh porcini mushrooms in the backcountry. (July)

As it turns out, Yuki and Neva (aka Wingus and Dingus) help one another cope with their individual issues. Neva gives Yuki the confidence to be brave in this world while Yuki has a calming effect on Neva’s anxieties. A quiet moment in Crested Butte. (August)

Testing sleeping with two dogs in the tent overnight on our deck in Nederland. Neva shows Yuki the ways of hogging the sleeping bags and later stepping on the humans’ faces at 4 am. (September)

Building up Yuki’s hiking mileage in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. (September)

Colorado’s fall colors came on in a slow and steady burn. Admiring the glow under an aspen canopy in Crested Butte. (September)

Nature’s colorful display isn’t limited to the changing leaves. Nederland. (October)

With the arrival of early season snowfall, we were anxious to see if Yuki would live up to her name. She did! Adventure buddies at Lake Isabelle. (October)

Our pack in our happy place — in the mountains, in the snow. Indian Peaks Wilderness. (October)

Giving thanks. Crested Butte. (November)

Yuki prepares to experience her first Christmas. It’s old hat for Neva. Crested Butte. (December)

May your year ahead be filled with good health and much happiness!

with love,

Jen, Jeremy, Neva, and Yuki

Pssst! Yuki has a joke for you on The 2018 Cutting Room Floor.

past years: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005