"Oh, Bring Us a Figgy Pudding!"
The beauty of winters in the high country
A friend in Bath, England, recently told me, “You’re so lucky to have the seasons!” “What seasons do you have?” I asked. “Rain, rain and more rain!” was her bleak reply.
Her comment made me think about how much I take our mountain seasons for granted. My rain-soaked British pal inspired me to make an inventory of some of my yearly joys: the first smell of spring rain washing away winter’s grit, long-awaited summer days filled with hikes and bikes on scenic trails; autumn’s red and gold foliage fireworks; and then winter, arriving like an old friend with cozy nights by the fire and powder days.
Home Ranch
In the November/December 2016 issue, as we shift our gaze to winter, we bring you a snowy resort getaway in Clark, Colorado—where families return year after year for the holidays. Chef Clyde Nelson (who skis to the Home Ranch kitchen) and his team work tirelessly to prepare the perfect festive fare, even going so far as dressing like elves to deliver breakfast to guests’ cabins. His modern take on figgy pudding is comfort food at its most joyful.
Photo by Audrey Hall
Magnificent mountain retreats featured in this issue include the 2016 Home of the Year in Jackson Hole, Wyoming—a home designed “not just for the couple,” says architect Paul Bertelli, of JLF Design Build, “but for their three children who will grow up here and use it forever.”
Photo by Gibeon Photography
“Family” is also a central theme in our story about a British Columbia slope-side retreat, as well as the tale of a “rustic Zen” home in Big Sky, Montana. The words of designer/homeowner Charlene Peterson (featured on page XX), ring true: “You never go to these places to be by yourself,” she says. “It’s about sharing.”
As we enter the festive, snowy season ahead, our team at Mountain Living celebrates that spirit of sharing. We wish you a wonder-filled winter, warmed by the company of family and friends and invigorated by the beauty of the high country.
P.S. A MOUNTAIN LIVING FLASHBACK
In 2000, when I was a writer for Mountain Living, I wrote a story, "Christmas in the Big Wood," about spending the holidays with my daughter at our Wyoming cabin. The cover shows the holiday decorations in the living room. Since then, we've sold the cabin and my daughter is now a young woman, but the story is still near and dear to my heart. You'll find the complete story at: Christmas in the Big Wood.
