Endings and Beginnings

Every day offers new possibilities. For my honey and I 2010 begins where 2009 leaves off. Does this justify a celebration? Of course, especially for romantic reasons.

Who we’ve met – humans as social beings enjoy connections with others to share ideas and enjoy camaraderie. Our acquaintances expanded from attending a wedding, reaching out to new neighbors and regular visits to the public library.

What we’ve done – we share our accomplishments. We’re both looking to the future and everything we’ve done individually or as a couple is a joint effort. This year publications increased and I’m especially proud of inclusion in Cern Zoo (and it's top secret which story is mine until next year - perhaps you can guess).

Where we want to go – we prefer to not make resolutions though we do set goals. Our romantic destinations for the coming year include a moonlight picnic by the lake, toad hollow to learn more about ecosystems and human effect on them, to the top of a mountain (any mountain) and at least one public lecture.

How we plan to get there – laugh a lot. Rocky patches become less tragic when we take them less seriously. We enjoy collecting humorous anecdotes and share our memories. This year we’ve added to our “inside jokes” with a heart to heart with a monkey, the draw of our magnetic personalities to draw others to us at concerts and going up a tree and out on the limb

Why we choose to go forward together – Our commitment to each other is our absolute and to that end we make time together a priority. As situations arise we adapt physically and philosophically. May you take advantage of many opportunities in the coming year and joy in the ability to share them with someone you love. Join us as we find new dating possibilities that are environmentally friendly. Thank you for spending this past year with us.

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Need Warmth, Make Soup

Everyone has a go-to food or food pairing for comfort during tough moments. My food is the sandwich, hot or cold, sweet or savory, delicate for tea or hearty for tailgating. And sandwiches are wonderful during a storm, just in case we loose all means of cooking. The great things about the sandwich are versatility and portability. I can take it anywhere, use it for sustenance for any activity and leftovers make tasty filling. Mmm Hmm, mashed potatoes and sweet potato slices are good on pumpernickel bread with a touch of brown mustard.

I use sandwiches for dates too, on our last Friday evening stay-in date though when the temperature were expected to drop below freezing and the weather forecaster threatened snow for that evening all week, I made a slow-cooker stew. I started with 1 stalk celery, two carrots, 1 potato, ½ cup turnip, 1 cup cabbage, ½ cup cracked or bulgur wheat and enough water to make my 2.5-quart Crock Pot two-thirds full. I let the soup cook on high for four hours and added all the leftovers from the fridge (ok, so I need to be judicious not to let the slow-cooker overflow). I let the soup cook on high for another hour or two and then served it up with crusty bread.

The soup gave us a pre-romance glow. I’m experimenting on truing some leftovers into a sandwich filling. If that doesn’t work out, what better accompaniment for soup than sandwiches? May you always have warm toes, full bellies and wonderful evenings of romance.

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Shuffle, Forfeit and Dare

Popularity of televised high stakes card games allows for vicarious enjoyment of betting and winning. Perhaps not the greenest activity with a new deck used for each hand, but some casinos donate used decks to nursing home and there is recycling.

On a more personal level, my honey and I are using a 20-year-old deck of cards to enjoy card games combining skill, competition and winning. Numerous books written on the subject of card games provide standard rules of play. When playing as a couple, we negotiate and agree on rules before a game.

This last time we chose draw poker with the wild card determined by the non-dealer cutting the deck. Winner of each hand could claim a forfeit (truth answer, a kiss or touch and articles of clothing were fair game). Winner’s choice of pleasures or titillations. My honey insisted on a handicap to keep eyeglasses; seeing seems so important to a visual game.

If you are like us, winning is about more than who gets there first. Grab a deck of cards, (an old kid’s game works), a book of rules and imagination. Staying in for a chilly evening could be the most environmentally and romantically friendly activity of all.

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Swing My Way

“I’m dressed, my hair is done and I have on lipstick.” I let my honey know I was ready for our date.

My honey’s turn to come up with an idea usually results in spontaneous decisions. “I have a silly idea for something to do this afternoon.” I didn’t bother to ask ‘what?’ and my honey continued. “We could go to the park and swing.”

Ahh! An activity reminiscent of simpler pleasures. “Let’s go.”

The swings seemed to be hanging around hoping for someone to come along. The empty park indicated kids, teens and adults prefer motors and virtual games. To prove my supposition, six ATVs roared into the park from a path and the riders milled around for a few moments to stretch and have a drink.

My honey and I sat on the swings. We flirted. Then we determined who could swing the highest. I won. We synchronized our swinging. We tried everything we learned as kids, including the twist. My honey spun me around and wound the chains tight then let me go. I spun fast and then faster while the swing tried to return to the proper position. And when I was a touch lightheaded, we shared a tender almost first-crush kiss. No wonder young people think they know so much about dating; as we grow older we forget simple pleasures.

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Half-Naked Hiking

Ever feel the need to use romance as a form of protest?

We were protesting conformity when we went hiking on a Wednesday afternoon in bathing suits. Those serious hikers we met wearing their boots, khakis, bush hats and frame packs for a day hike looked askance at us. The two women in the group sneered at my bikini. “The sun is hot, you’ll get burned.”

I’m just snippety enough to suggest jealousy. On occasion I enjoy exposing extensive portions of my skin for the sake of good ol’ fashioned reckless sun worship. When I’m in just such a mood, I tend to not follow along with the unspoken rules created by enthusiasts of a sport.

I’m certainly not pretending I eschew the use of proper precautions like sunscreen, instead I believe sometimes the view even in majestic nature is infinitely better when not fully clothed. I dare to suggest with the right partner, the right time and the right choice of trail, hiking in a bathing suit (yup better with a skimpy bikini) is romantic. Our choice of trail was described in the brochure as ‘steep, strenuous, exposed with little shade’.

Park rangers and other safety professionals offer support and advice to make sure hikers stay safe whatever the choice of hike. We are responsible and carry enough water, wear sunscreen, take along a change of clothing and some food. My honey and I live by an additional caveat; life and love are serious, sometimes we make an effort to be silly and spontaneous. Even so, we know our bodies’ limits while enjoying pleasure of skin and flesh.

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Classifying an Enviro-Friendly Date

My honey and I have been asked one question on a semi-frequent basis. “How do you decide what is an eco-friendly date?” Our answer is simple; we have four parameters we judge.

What would make IT romantic? – Sometimes just chatting about the experience is enough of a connection, but we like to share the experience, maybe hold hands, get a chance to say ‘I love you’, sneak a smooch and just know we can reach out and touch if we like.

In the many shades of green, is IT sustainable or can IT be made more environmentally friendly? While I prefer non-motorized, high action sports and events, my honey enjoys horsepower of the non-four-legged kind. We compromise because awareness and innovation are great companions in all aspects of life. To eschew all pleasures for a cause leads to frigid (yes we mean cold) fundamentalism. Happy people spawn invention and creative thought. We would encourage anyone to enjoy any sport as long as you consider the impact and think of possible ways to make it better for the future.

Will IT be something to hold our interest over time? Will we do IT more than once? This might qualify as a two-for in our parameters. We have tried activities that aren’t for us with rented equipment, just to see if we might like the activity. We consider this the best way to start something new instead of buying all the latest gear and then deciding we’d made a poor investment. Most often we try out a sport or activity and then we try to scrounge the equipment. If that fails, we purchase used at yard sales or second-hand stores. Since my honey is an experimenter he loves to design, repair and retrofit (the hobby feeds the romance).

Is IT able to be enjoyed by individuals with different skill levels and abilities? Activities we enjoy in our twenties should be adaptable for our sunshine years. We believe grit leads to gratification and we want a lifetime of romance and activities in agreement with our ideals.

No matter what an individual’s commitment to being environmentally conscious, activities can be adapted for romance and to be environmentally friendly. If you are passionate about an activity, find a way to share it with someone you care about and impress that person with your concern for the future too. Happy dating.

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Ideas for Hybrid Love and Environmentally Conscious Dates

This list of ideas ranges from personal heart thumping to the ooh-aah feeling invoked by social responsibility. Not only should these ideas pump the heart but satisfy the green conscience. For those who prefer a real thrill of adrenaline rush maybe the additive effect of doing multiple of these activities at the same time will suffice or convince your date to accompany you on a challenge.

Kissing and snuggling – no matter where done, the thrill entices and the environment unharmed

Massage – find a favorite massage oil (almond is my personal favorite) and let the fingers soothe

Reading aloud to each other – the choice of reading material leads to romance unknown (for a decadent daily treat try reading in bed for a few minutes each night)

Kissing Tag and Scavenger Hunts – games recalled from youth can be updated with romantic and environmental themes

Cooking Together or Picnicking – who can resist the urge to feed the need for romance

Hiking and walking – for all skill levels from a nature path in the city or to the summit of a Fourteener in the Rockies

Tastings (Cheese, Wine, Olive Oil) – feed the mind, feed the palate, share your thoughts

Cleaning or Shared Chores – so maybe duties and responsibilities aren’t inherently romantic, but having someone to share them with and make it a game or race does make the chores easier.

Canoeing – in solitary, with paddles and silence enough to hear the ripple of the water when a fish splashes

Photography – whether you want to be the model or try your hand at nature photography, bone up on the basics by reading a photography magazine. Some people earn extra income from photos.

Tours - Maybe visiting an organic farm or touring a factory. Might even include adventure or green vacation packages or guided sports, the activity level is easy to personalize.

Shared Learning – geared to personal interests whether you’d like to learn more about renewable energy or take a yoga class. Learning together means sharing thoughts aloud and having something to talk about later.

Volunteering – have you always wanted to participate in trail maintenance or clean up (my favorite site is Volunteer.gov – many of these opportunities are longer duration)

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A Visit to the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)

The visitors’ center at NREL South Table Mountain Facility in Golden, CO is an excellent starting point for an introduction to renewable energy. Research at this facility has won numerous scientific awards. The interactive exhibits and models provide easily understandable application of principles.

Our visit was educational, but romance is what individuals add to an experience. My honey and I made our experience a real date by talking about each exhibit and discussing what take-back-to-our-lives messages we learned. Whenever an exhibit was hands-on, we took turns and then pitted our brains against each other’s for the quiz at the end. We admit the questions could be answered by attentive elementary school students. We each got one wrong, because we over-thought our answers. We returned to the exhibits to make sure we understood.

Romance is more than snuggles and love; it’s shared experience and learning new things together too. For a similar experience in any area, check local listings for companies specializing in renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, hydrogen, biomass, ocean and hydropower). Ask if the company offers tours or workshops. Remember options through the electrical energy supplier as well.

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Skate Park Moments

Thanks to the popularity of sports on wheels, cities have added skate parks to the public domain. These parks aren't just for skateboarders and the youth. Depending on the time of day the park might be the refuge of just one skater. As a skater I’ve evolved from skating on ice on frozen ponds during the winter to indoor roller rinks and then to the outdoors on roads and trails. Sometimes I even have the skate park to myself.

Skates come in a variety of shapes and styles specialized for the intended use. When I first started ballroom style dancing on skates I took lessons at the rink. My skates were the standard roller-skates also called quads and remain my preference for dancing. When I go to the skate park I put on my inline skates with the softer wheels to make the road ride less bumpy. I love switching from speed skating to get to the park to the jumps, spins and invariably a few falls.

My honey first skated on hockey skates and prefers speed. Our two styles can be compatible, but certainly doesn’t make us suitable dancing partners on wheels. We enjoy the park separately. He skates the perimeter and revels in the speed of the concrete surface. Sometimes he just sits and watches me. Other times we skip the park and race.

On our last skate date he told me something he’d never mentioned before. I was practicing a new move and he beckoned me to him.

“One time before we met I was picking someone up at the rink and I saw you skating with a partner. I thought ‘wow, she’s really good.”

I don’t recall being that great. I suppose like beauty that judgment is relative to the observer. I keep practicing and every week I improve. The skating isn’t what brought us together, but it is something we can share.

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Brewery Tour

My honey wanted to share an experience from his past with me and suggested a brewery tour. He called the guest relations number for the information and made plans for us to tour one early afternoon. I’d been on two factory tours in my life, one to a pulp and paper mill and the other to a food processing plant. I wasn’t sure what to expect.

The self-guided audio tour wasn’t working that day and the tour guide said they were giving tours old-style and told us how much she and the other guides were enjoying giving the tour again. We learned the ingredients for making beer, saw the process that takes time and patience. My favorite part was learning about their recycling procedures, water treatment and energy production and use. At the end of the tour we were able to try samples. I was impressed by the complexity of the process for a drink that has been a staple beverage worldwide for centuries.

Want to tour a factory? Choose your favorite product or one you would like to learn more about. Call the guest relations number or visit the website for tour information. Some companies may charge a nominal fee though most tours are free because the manufacturers benefit from showcasing their products. My honey enjoyed the samples and company history so much he chose to switch brands and I can vouch for the flavor of the non-alcoholic beer.

Manufacturers are pleased to present their environmentally conscious procedures and future plans to produce their products. Learning together is a good activity for couples or families especially on vacation/holiday.

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Artistic Visions

While there is always the option of browsing through art museums and galleries, supporting local children can make for an interesting afternoon. Our library hosted a gallery showing of elementary students' art projects.

My honey and I wandered separately around the exhibit and paused to admire and study our favorites. On our second trip around the exhibit we held hands and pointed out what we liked about our favorites. The contrast in our favorite styles allowed us to develop and understanding of how we view the world and new insight on how we experience our relationship.

While my honey was draw to those pictures closer to realism, I enjoyed the pieces showcasing the raw talent of younger artists not yet schooled in the design principles of perspective and shading. Perhaps critics would be unappreciative of these works, but an art patron is not required to satisfy others. Enjoying a piece of art is truly subjective and we should each trust personal instincts.

If you'd like to follow in our footsteps, the experience can be replicated often for free anywhere. Contact local schools to ask if they host exhibits or student work open to the public. Other possibilities are science fairs, writing competitions, band and theater group presentation. Be prepared to pay a minimal fee for some public performances to help support the arts programs in our schools.

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Casserole Worthy of Romance

Casseroles have always been a comfort food even in times of bounty. They might have a reputation for being a plain food and not worthy of cuisine status, but most cultures boast at least one very popular casserole dish. The French enjoy cassoulet a rich stew with beans, vegetables and sausage. The Greeks, Mexicans and Italians have similar layered meat and tomato dishes; moussaka is made with eggplant, enchiladas use tortillas and lasagna has several layers of filling and noodles. Asian stir-fries or stews are served over rice to make a modified version of the casserole.

Sunday afternoons of my childhood were reserved for visiting. Often a variety of aunts, uncles and cousins gathered at my grandmother’s home for dinner. After grace, we waited patiently to pass our plates to Grammy and she would use a huge metal spoon to cut into a hot casserole and give us a big serving. We sopped up every drop of the juices with a thick slice of homemade bread. We always had plenty of filling food and through the years developed a craving for her casseroles.

I have modified my cooking to my grandmother’s skills. Her recipes were adapted to make do and those recipes have been passed down through the family. One casserole she called Seven-course-dinner consisted of seven basic ingredients, potatoes, rice, onion, green pepper, hamburger, tomato and bacon layered and baked until the bacon on top was crisp and the vegetables tender. This satisfying casserole stretches the more expensive ingredients. Though I’ve adopted a meatless diet, I still make this casserole with substitutions. When I create my own casseroles, I maintain the tradition and include at least seven ingredients.

This morning my honey and I raided the refrigerator and pantry for leftovers and other ingredients. We layered everything in the slow-cooker and added tomato juice. Then we kneaded the bread dough and formed loaves. Today is the day we spend time together twice, once to prepare and then later to share the results.

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Couples Tennis

Tennis might seem to be a sport of the elite athlete or the club member. I played tennis during my high school years and then only on occasion. The quick bursts of speed and stretching movements give a great workout. I wanted to add tennis to my workouts as a cross-training activity I could do with my honey.

A trip to the charity-run thrift store yielded two rackets at one dollar each. I dug through boxes in the shed to find the can of tennis balls left over from fifteen years ago. Tennis didn’t appear to be a bad investment so far and would be environmentally friendly with used equipment. Where to play? We found two public courts maintained by the city. Our best times to play were early on the weekends and at lunchtime during the week.

We followed all the rules of the championship game except we didn’t keep score. We figured we’d both win with a great workout. Now we understand why championship games have ball retrievers. Until we practice to the point of perfection at volleying our best exercise might be chasing the ball.

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Dinner and a Documentary

Lentils, onions, carrots and peppers simmered all afternoon and then I added tomato paste for my version of Lentil Sloppies to be served on homemade wholegrain rolls. My slow cooker was a gift from my honey. I think he considered it an investment in future dinners. We eschewed the dining table and curled up in front of the television with our comfort good to watch a science program on the future of trash.

Researchers are thinking creatively and about long-term goals to solve the current problems associated with waste including hazardous substances. The ideal goal would be to rethink practices to reduce the amount of trash created and to find less ecologically toxic practices for manufacturing.

To envision a future without trash might defy ingrained notions of a throw away society. I believe if it can be dreamed, it can be done. Convincing regulators and the public may be the challenge. All require an investment in the future and the ability to think over a longer term. I find it romantic that my honey uses this type of forward thinking when it comes to giving me gifts.

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Flight of the ‘Rangs

We needed a wide open space to test the boomerangs we designed and built. Perhaps we were a bit optimistic about the flight capabilities, but nevertheless we chose the park and took my dog with us for a walk.

The spot we chose for flight test was in the center where we figured we could throw in two different directions, one into the slight breeze and the other one in the same direction as the wind current.

My three-winged piñata, as I christened the milk jug, yogurt container, paper-mâché boomerang, performed as I expected. It sailed great, didn’t return and hurt if it hit anyone. If I’d filled it with treats my dog would have had a good reason to sink her teeth into it. It made for a great game for as long as she wanted to fetch.

My honey’s more traditional style boomerang had wider wings, a longer wing span and the cardboard made it more rigid. On his first throw, the ‘ran soared out, made a turn and then flopped to the ground.

“That was probably a fluke, the wind caught it.” He obviously wanted a no-arguments win.

He threw in the same direction as the wind and had the same result except this time the ‘rang soared out, made the turn and came back part way before landing gracefully.

I hugged him. Yes I’m a good sport. “Your design is the clear winner for boomerang qualities.”

We took turns throwing our designs and the dog played along too. We had to call an end to the sport when my boomerang stuck up in a tree and his bent. My honey thought of design modifications. I’m betting we’ll repeat this date many times. My honey caught the design and boomerang throwing bug.

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Mwah to the World

We’re making our Romance Wish list for how to spend the winter holidays. Our list of priorities includes time together, to make only tiny environmental footprints and to spread the joy of romance.

My perfect holiday means indulging in favorite foods, cuddling beside my honey to read a book, running at least three miles and then working together on a project. In spite of the commercial appeal of giving and receiving true joy comes from simple pleasures and having someone to share them with.

Our romantic theme for this holiday season is renewal. Instead of continuing with routine, we plan to evaluate home and lifestyle to find sustainable opportunities for change and excitement. For us this means learning new skills. We are compatible because we have diverse and complementary interests that intersect at our love of learning.

Our gift to our readers is sharing a list of ideas related to education and knowledge we hope you can use to enhance your own romantic moments.

Take a class together

Tour a factory, museum or public visitor center related to renewable energy, waste reclamation and resource conservation. Feel free to borrow our list or make your own based on your priorities and interests

Learn to skills to enhance personal and career goals – computer programming, public speaking, fundraising, graphic design, dancing, acting and comedy

Private Think Tank. Tackle a problem together to find a novel solution. Our first project is more fun than life-changing, we plan to scour our belongings and trash then use only those materials to design and build at least two boomerangs.

May you all have more joy and romance in your lives in the coming year!

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Good Deed Leads to Decadent Treats

Local ordinances in most urban areas dictate sidewalks must be free of snow within 24 hours after a snowstorm. Local papers post regular notices reminding people of this responsibility. On my street some people choose to ignore the duty, others are unable to fulfill the obligation because of health reasons.

I decided if I can do the job with my shovel, I’m being environmentally friendly and saving the several elderly and disabled people on my street from possibly being ticketed. Shoveling down one sidewalk to the stop sign and them making the return trip on the other side of the street doesn’t take long. Bonus, my fitness factor improves and as a side-effect improves romance too.

Being a good neighbor doesn’t count as a romantic activity, well it might for some, but I’m only interested in romance with my honey. I asked him to join me. Who knew competition was just what we needed as a pre-date warm-up.

“Race you to the end of the block.” He issued the challenge.

I had my shovel poised and made the first scoop before agreeing. “You’re on.”

Half way down the street one neighbor wandered over to me. “Why are you shoveling everyone’s sidewalk?”

“Not everyone is able to, but I am so why not?”

“That’s good of you.”

While he stopped me to chat, my honey was getting ahead. “Look, I’m not trying to be rude but we’re racing and I’d like to win.”

The older man chuckled and let me go. “Give him a run for the prize.”

“You bet.” My short break gave me an energy burst and I flung snow faster than before.

That neighbor let some other neighbors know what that freaky-exercise-fanatic enviro-health nut neighbor was up to now. Not often do dates become spectator sports except on my street. Neighbors came out with shoves to pitch in and some just cheered us on.

With just two more front yards to clear, we were in a dead heat. I put my shovel point at an angle and ran to the end of the street with now flying like from a snowplow and then turned around to run back in the other direction.

My sidewalk was clean and maybe I must barely edged ahead. My honey hugged me. We would have been happy with the ‘thank yous’ but one of the neighbors offered tea and sweets. Always a good reason to share some time with others.

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You Tingle My Toes

My honey detests the term metrosexual, but enjoys pedicures. Especially if that massage is based on reflexology to hit the pressure points associated with healing or fitness of various organs of the body.

I’m glad neither of us have ticklish feet because at the end of a work week nothing is quite as relaxing. Even though I’ve spend a day at the spa for rejuvenation with a friend and we had a good time side by side in the massage chairs at the spa. I wasn’t sure if giving each other a foot massage would classify as a date.

I have to give a qualified yes. This can be a great romantic activity as long as both partners give and receive. Our shared version of the pedicure and massage started with a nice warm foot soak, massage with scented oils and reflexology by using a foot chart from a self-help book I checked out from the library.

Instead of one of us getting the works first followed by the other, we shared a tub of steaming water, perfect for playing footsies. Then we took turns with the massages. The floor of the den worked great with towels to protect from drips, the fireplace on to keep us toasty warm and lots of pillows to prop us into the perfect position for having our feet rubbed at the same time.

We fended the evening with mint lemonade and some spa type food. I made chipotle hummus to be served with cucumber rounds and miso soup. He made a grilled vegetable Panini ahead of time and let the flavors meld until we were ready. Life just felt a little fresher and truly combined relaxing and energizing.

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I Like My Photography with Passion

My digital camera means I don’t have to print or even save photos I don’t like when I’m editing. When I extol the virtues of my more environmentally friendly choice, my honey’s eyes glaze and his head tilts to the side. My honey doesn’t share my love of photography though on occasion he uses the camera function on his cell phone to preserve a memory. He supports my passion though and one morning he offered to act as guide and site locator for a nature photo shoot.

When we arrived at the fairgrounds/recreation area just before dawn, the moon stood out in white contrast against an inky backdrop peppered with stars. I took a couple shots and we headed off on the path winding around the edge of the golf course. He pointed out the fishing ponds and the people fly fishing in colorful gear. It would have made a nice contrast picture but it wasn’t the nature I sought.

The sun rose while we walked. Canadian geese landed in the pond. He pointed out mud puddles reflecting the sunrise and trees. As the light grew brighter, wild flowers painted the hills in shades of pink, yellow and purple. I found plenty of elements to photograph except for a perfect shot of the ponds. While I wandered beside a swampy area snapping pictures of bugs, he scouted other trails.

“Hey babe, you have to see this.” He beckoned me deeper along a path into a canopy of trees.

I expected a beautiful view. Instead he held my hand while we crossed a natural bridge over the inlet of a stream to the other side where a willow created a green bower. He pulled me in under the branches, held me close and kissed me. The dilemma with photography is finding a way to capture the magic of that moment in an image.

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We Woke up to a Snowy Day

Nature provides some naturally fun toys. Fluffy flakes and mild temperatures create perfect sticky snow conditions for building snow sculptures. Bundled up in thermal outerwear with gloves and hats my honey and I ventured out into the snow to play instead of getting straight to work.

My first attempt to roll a ball resulted in some clumping, but not enough accumulation to make a snowman. The snow wasn't yet damp enough to pack well. Time for some old-fashioned ingenuity. I flopped flat on my back and swung my arms and legs back and forth to create the indentation of a snow angel. Then I raided the kitchen for blows and molds to create snow blocks and a squirt bottle with water to help with the stickiness.

We piled blocks one on top of the other like laying masonry and the still falling snow was more wet to make an ideal mortar. My honey formed a small fort and I stacked the snow almost four feet tall to make a tomten (a Scandinavian elf that helps with chores and has a special affinity for animals). I used a garden trowel to carve the pointy hat, facial features including a beard and carved one arm raided to wave Hello. We neither helped each other or competed.

"Can you pass me the big bowl?"

"May I use the trowel?"

We worked side-by-side in companionship. He finished first and went indoors to make cocoa. I used the extra time to make a snow puppy to keep the tomten company. My honey came back outside, wrapped his arms around me and rubbed our noses together in what people call an Eskimo kiss. He charmed me to catch me off-guard long enough to rub a handful of snow in my face. Oh my, I wasn't taking that without a snowball fight.

Once thoroughly soaked and starting to chill we went inside to change into something warm and dry and sip the cocoa he made with cinnamon. Aren't the best dates really just a good excuse to cuddle anyway?

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