This guy is Thorin Oakenshield, my playful and rather silly cat of two years. He is named, like all my family's pets, after a beloved literary figure, though he does not exactly live up to his name. (He might be a bit of a scaredy-cat.) He is a born mouser, however, which has made me very proud.
This is one of my favorite views in the world: the amphitheatre at Red Rocks in Colorado. Can you imagine how great some of the concerts here have been? The big, blue skies of Colorado and fresh mountain air are an experience I heartily recommend to everyone.
My first true passion is for medieval and early modern Europe, which means that, however inaccurate they are, I really enjoy going to Renaissance festivals. The food, the people, the (sometimes tacky) costumes-it's all fun! I also love traveling. I'd never be able to choose a favorite between Paris, London, Rennes, NYC, San Francisco, and any of the other places I've been. I guess that means I'll just have to keep going back until I can make up my mind, huh?
If one loves to eat, it stands to reason that cooking might also be favorite past time. This holds true in my case: I have tons of fun trying out new recipes! I especially love making Mediterranean dishes, but I remain challenged by baking. The dish you see here is a new favorite; it is roasted garlic beer bread with shakshouka (a tomato and egg dish that is popular in Tunisia, Israel, and other areas in the Middle East).