Christmastime Happiness...

Chapin in the "good luck" tree.

One big happy family!

With Ellie Meyer...Chapin's longtime sitter and good friend.

Let the presents begin...

Lego's...His favorite!

Lego rescue boat from Abua & Granddad.

Carcassonne game from Krister, Sandy and Kira.  Chapin's new favorite game and he is not to bad at it.  He beat both Jon and I last evening.

James still is our Christmas kitty after all these years.  He loves Christmas morning with the boxes and bows.  His special treat showed up and he opened it all by his self.  Good kitty!

Catnip toy = Heaven!

At this point we have already been up for a very longtime...I do believe we look a bit tired!

Rescue boat building all by himself.

I HEART these boys!!!!

Christmastime is always fun and a bit hectic.  This year we were convienced not to enter into the craziness of it all...And I do believe we accomplished this.  Not to sound like a broken record, but we have so much to be thankful for that getting wrapped up in chaos just didnt feel right!

So we enjoyed having a peaceful morning to ourselves and a lovely group of friends by for the traditional Christmas brunch.  Chapin handled it all very well himself and had a blast building his lego's, airplane, etc.   We hope that this finds you all well and that you found peace in your celebrations.

Love to all - Turi, Jon & Chapin

Ready Steady...

Ready Steady...I do believe we are ready. 

Chapin certainly is. 

Oh the magic and wonder in his eyes...Cant wait till Christmas morning.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays

May Peace, Joy and Gratitude

Fill You Each Day!

Looking at the photos above reminds us how fortunate we are to have shared another fun filled year. Of course there are images throughout the year that didn’t make the cut…Another ski season, t-ball, visits from the Turkel grandparents and the summer trip to Wisconsin, which included great times with the Nevin side of the family followed up with a detour on the way home to Connecticut, catching up with the Turkel cousins. The summer in Virginia was marked with visits by friends from Oregon (the Tallmadge’s) and Colorado (the Hawley’s) and spent great times with both exploring the Shenandoah Valley, DC and catching up. At the end of summer Chapin started Kindergarten, his only disappointment is that he can’t go on the weekends. Unfortunately, the end of September ended with Jon getting hit by a car while riding my bike. By now the recovery is mostly complete, just physical therapy to go. On the upside, we have experienced the amazing support of family and community throughout the process. I thank you all for allowing us to see a world filled with caring and compassion, it is a wonderful sight. Now it’s time for snow and skiing!

Happy Holidays! Gratefully - Turi, Jon and Chapin

Tis the season...

Winter Wonderland...

Cheeseeeeeeeeeeee....

Proof of Chapin's excellent photography skills.

Have jeep will travel....Have tree let's decorate!

The boys!

Garland made from Bitter sweet...It is so very sweet with twinkle lights at night. 

There you have it!  Another spacious tree found in our very back yard.  Boy she's a beaut!

Train up and running...Chapin is very, very happy.

Oh the joy of the holiday through the eyes of a child.  A deep sense of joy and what fun we are having.  Chapin was very helpful in getting the tree and decorating it.  He sure is growing up.  We sure are thankful for so much this year.  It is a big gift in itself.  This gift of life and gratitude for it.

Peace and love ... Turi, Jon and Chapin 

Grateful Thanksgiving....

Not sure if there is a word beyond grateful or thankful, but we continue to be filled with a deep appreciation for each day.  Why should we or do we wake without this each day?  We have so much to be thankful for....Our health, our food, our home, our electricity, our cars, our sight, our smell, our touch, our family's, our fingers, our computer, our self, our SELF...............Obviously, we (Jon & I) were shocked into this sense of being and I hope we don't let it slip.   It is a much better existence holding on to gratitude each moment...Each sunrise and sunset...Each tree that has gone into deep slumber or bloom, each good and each bad, each smile each tear, etc...!

So, today we continue this gratitude and are very happy to have Jon's parents, Bill and Jeanne, here to celebrate Thanksgiving.  We are also, beyond extactic to have Jon out of his back brace for Thanksgiving day.  May each of us continue Thanksgiving everyday!  Peace and love...The Turkels

Morning invite to a traditional "fox hunt"...Horses and hounds gathering.  So not us, but beautiful to partake in this tradition in Clarke County.

The hounds were excited...As Chapin was too.

Look at this little man...

Spectacular country side of Clarke County.  It was like a movie scene!

Dinner was awesome...Simple, but amazing!

Occupy Your Being...

Come on...It is much better then doing!!!

Many Apples Up on Top...

Fall harvest of apples happened this year.  Yahoo! Not from our apple trees for the deer did accomplish gorging themselves...But from a work friend of Jon's that owns an orchard.  Weather conditions this year brought many apples to the ground.  So many of this ground apples are in perfect condition and they are unable to sell them.  So we picked and picked and picked...Oh yeah and picnic our lunch our away yesterday.  Today we make applesauce, dried apples and juice.   Busy, busy with all pitching in to help.

Late season Frederick County apples

Picnic in the orchard

One apple up on top

Look you, I can do two!

Two apples up on top...

I am so good they will not drop!

Master peeler getting apples ready for applesauce

Dried apples from the dehydrator

Applesauce cooking on the wood stove

Dried apples ready for storage, roughly 8 apples per jar.