Christmas in.......

Guaruja, Brazil- My LAM guys are awesome! They really know how to put the worries away and just enjoy..... We worked hard. We played hard. Everyone checked out on Friday morning, but I decided to celebrate the end of 3 weeks on the road in style- a good book, a hammock, some live samba music, and a nice fruity drink.

Christmas in......

Copenhagen, Denmark- a week of Green Belt Workshops, Global Climate Summit chaos, dinners with my favorite colleagues, and shopping in my favorite boutiques. Christmas in this place is 1 of a kind!

Christmas in.......

Birmingham, England- A week of project work, yummy dinners, meeting up with some good friends, and the German Christmas Market.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ricardo came to visit and we traveled to TN (via Chimney Rock) to celebrate Rod's bday with Suzanne and Addie, made a quick visit to "See Rock City", and enjoyed a few days at home w/ Mom and Dad and some wonderful homecooked meals (ooohhhh so yummy!). We topped if off with a lot of shopping and a visit to the Oak Ridge Museum of Science and Energy (for the History buff!). Nothing like home for the holidays! look how little Addie is growing- it's so sweet to hear her talking so much. See you guys soon!

Tennessee Autumn

a week home also meant a visit to Pigeon Forge (shopping and the Apple Barn), Celebrating a very special birthday w/ mom (Dinner on Thursday with the family and a weekend at Opryland hotel!), and a Puppy Pawty w/ Gaines.

the Old Mill in Pigeon ForgeBirthday Dinner w/ the family

Dinner at Opryland Hotel
(more picst to come, Mom's were much better- I'm so missing my camera!) Baby Gaines 1st Birthday

an afternoon w/ the girls a shot with the birthday boy!

a new love for bumble bees

Halloween at home and a little Chuckie Cheese.

La Rioja!

I think this picture says it all. Amazingly beautiful and oh so deliciously sweet! =) But couldn't help but add a few other highlights from a weekend trip to Rioja. One of the most famous wine regions in the world- located in the Northern part of Spain and known for their outstanding red wines. They also have delicious food, amazing architecture, and some of the most beautiful vineyard landscapes. I know everyone raves about Tuscany. But I was more than impressed by La Rioja.

from the Rioja museum of wine culture

a hike to Suso and Yuso Monasteries

you know it's harvesting season when.....

Dinner at Los Agustinos in Haro, Spain. Originally a monastery, turned into hospital, turned into prison. And now one of the best restaraunts around. La Hospederia- the oldest winery in Spain, dating from the late 1800's. They still produce the wine as they did 100 years ago.

Marques de Riscal- designed by Frank Ghery (architect of the Guggenheim)

amazing hotel and my favorite spanish wine producer!

(thinking of going? make reservations months in advance!!) a view from the museum of wine culture