Winter Garden aGlow

We decided to continue with the magical feelings of yesterday and headed to the Idaho Botanical Gardens last night for a little date. Winter Garden aGlow is one of my all time favorite festive community offerings and one we sadly often skip out on. Simply talking about going and actually driving down there and paying to walk around in the cold for an evening are two very different things. So, high-five to us for spontaneity (a quality that this pair of introverts can sometimes lack a bit of) and finally doing something we've been talking about all season! The day just felt right and we didn't want to pass that up.

Unknown to us, Monday night is discount night at the gardens so there was quite a crowd. I had pictured the two of us walking around in beautiful winter stillness and quiet enjoying the lights and taking everything in. But the reality was a lot more of — awkwardly trying to get around groups of people taking family photos, kids chasing each other and bumping into us, and listening to screams, crying, and complaints over not getting a cookie. Don't worry though, I still enjoyed myself. The thermos of chocolate coffee Will packed us helped (even if the crowds of people had me wishing I'd put some brandy in it, too).

Those lights were something magical and I'm glad we didn't miss it this year.

How have you been celebrating the season?

xx Emorie

Magic

A dense thick fog settled in over the valley late last night just as we were driving home from family dinner at Will's parents' house. Everything is covered in an extra beautiful layer of the whitest frost today and the fog hasn't let up a bit. We took Pippin out for a little walk this morning in it to fully see all the magic up close and it all felt rather surreal. I'm feeling a little sick today so I probably shouldn't be spending too much time in the cold, but I couldn't help it. Fog and white snow is quite a killer combination.

I love foggy winter walks and especially you.
xx Emorie

Winter Flashback

I've been missing Moscow's winters like crazy lately. We hardly see much snow here in the Boise valley, and the cold just isn't as fun with out magical fluffy powder to skip through. I've been day-dreaming, so often, of a long snowy walk through the arboretum and the countryside with a hot thermos in hand. Or a quick trip up Moscow Mountain for pine cone hunting (for our homemade Christmas garland of course). Above all, I miss our tiny little apartment in that beautiful old house that we called home. Watching the snow fall out the windows and bury the giant walnut tree. Taking the cushions off the couch for snuggles in front of the fire. Stringing everything with lights.

Boise, I like you, but you best believe I can't wait to live somewhere that dumps buckets of snow, again.

xx Emorie

P.s. Pictures were taken in January 2012, which seems like a whole world ago.

Tree Lighting

Last night we went out to see the tree lighting at The Village. The only tree lighting I had ever been to is the lighting that happens down in The Grove (downtown Boise) every year, which I've been to many times. I thought it'd be fun to switch it up and go to the first ever lighting at The Village, and Will thought it a great idea to not have to drive as far. We missed most of the celebrations (I guess they started at 5:00?) but it was still nice to walk around and see all the pretty lights. They've got that place all ready for Christmas with lights strung across the streets and through the trees, a small outdoor ice rink, a little cottage for santa, and now a beautifully light tall Christmas tree. Despite the huge crowd of people, it all felt a little magical.