This week, we had the pleasure of hosting some good,old friends here in our town. It is officially fall here so we get cool nights, dry days, the hot sun, and cool breezes. They busted out these boats yesterday and we had a blast floating around the flooded lake nearby. It almost felt like we were seaside. Fabulous memories forever. 
Having a guesthouse comes with a lot of work but there are perks. One of these perks comes in the form of finding and perfecting quality food to serve our new friends. This year, the score has been in mastering tiramisu. A tiramisu that we think would rival any tiramisu, anywhere. Oh, yes. It’s THAT good.
One week this fall, which was full of sun and beauty, I kept hearing about this tree house the kids were “building”. They are often “making” something and we later find it’s just a pile of sand or bricks or random wood pieces haphazardly arranged into something that MIGHT resemble a fort or a house if you closed your eyes and used your imagination.
Needless to say, by the time the kids dragged me out to see their latest creation, I was thouroughly impressed. Oh make no mistake, there are still some dangers! It definitely has a Pan and the Lost Boys vibe. But this one creation didn’t come with a single yell about moving stuff we will need later OR about the mess that will have to be cleaned up. Rock on, kids. Rock. On.
We had the pleasure this fall of hosting an amature botanist specializing in mountain herbs. I was in heaven. He was a wealth of knowledge and I was able to learn so much. I am much looking forward to cooking with these herbs and serving totally local made food with totally local grown vegetables and seasonings!
Sage
While we do not endorse the Tooth Fairy, we are realizing that things like the Tooth Fairy are coming to an end around here. Jubilee, our youngest, has started to loose her baby teeth! The first was on Monday and the second was easily pulled on Tuesday. Good-bye little kids; hello to these other kids!
In attempt to establish a more stress free zone, Nathan made this lovely place for me on the 3rd floor. A quiet place, inside, where I can both relax AND do laundry not having to worry about rain. Amazing! Too bad the wifi up there isn’t awesome…..
Horses are a huge part of local culture. In the past, they played a critical role in wealth, transportation in these hills, shepherding, and providing food and milk. Now, thanks to modern day advances, they’re not used as much in this capacity but they are still celebrated. Every year there is a large festival that will feature horses, riding, and other performances. We weren’t able to attend the actual festival this year but was able to attend a pre-festival in our village. What fun! The yound lady below is our employee. 
Jada has been such a precious girl this year; full of creativity, help, and order. We love you sweets!
Jada has had her first recital this year. After a whole year of mystery, she unveiled beautiful lines and wonderful, new dance ability. Yay Jada!
Almost every year, for the past 6 years, we’ve had the honor of hosting a group of students from around this country that do some experiental learning away from the city and in the mountains. This year was different because the kids and Patrice were able to travel with and join the group. We hiked, reaped and gleaned barley, handwashed laundry, killed and roasted lamb and were utterly blessed.
