There and Back Again

Fun with John last weekend, the Hobbit, unicycle football, and the Trail of lights!

Kitchens: Size Matters.

Brunch party and enjoyable lazy day today. I had high ambitions of making cinnamon rolls from scratch for the party this morning. I even printed off a recipe from the Internet. But, late nights provide late mornings and, well, thank you Pillsbury.

Let's talk about my kitchen. I would gladly live with teeny-tiny bedrooms and living rooms if I could have a ginormous kitchen. Kitchen space is important for cooking. I need a counter to chop and roll things on. I need cabinet space to store dicers and slicers. I need an oven that, for the love of all good things, would NOT set off ALL THREE FIRE ALARMS every time I bake for more than 10 minutes. Instead, here is what I currently have...

My back is against the wall here people...

I share a 2 bedroom, 700 square foot apartment with another person. And, in case you forgot how much 700 square feet is, go look at your garage and stuff 2 beds, a couch and a refrigerator in there. Okay, okay. I know I am some kind of ungrateful, spoiled, American. This is true. I just love cooking. Big kitchens make that past time more efficient, and loads of fun.

So, here are the Cinnamon rolls that the Pillsbury dough boy made for my lazy tail. Didn't they do a great job?

Get ready, Icing!!!!

Dear Man of my Dreams,

Can you please build me a kitchen like THIS???!!!!

And, can we get a big table for everyone to eat with us like THIS??

Once, I went to Nashville to visit Dave Mankin. We had the PLEASURE of eating lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's restaurant...at a table with 10 other strangers and a lazy susan housing all the food, just like THIS....

Or maybe I just want to be THIS!!! Pioneer woman. You are so cool. I want your job.

Motorcycles Are Cool

Glenicus is one of my favorite friends. Whether clinging for our lives up on half-dome, whale watching in the O.C., or riding in a motorcycle rally...Glen does cool stuff, and I'm happy to know him. I've been on motorcycles before, but never gone more than probably 30mph. Yesterday we were going over SEVENTY mph at one point, which is when I began to pray :)

Mom, I knew you'd worry so, SURPRISE! Isn't so much for fun to find out about this stuff AFTER the fact? Once in high school I went "bungi-jumping"(if you want to call it that, it was off one of those crane thingies at a go-cart track). I just brought in the VHS tape home that night and popped in the player and said, "Look what I did tonight!". Just lookin' out for your nerves Mom. You're welcome.

All of these were shot with my little old Olympus point and shoot. Pretty proud of that little guy. I bought it after Alaska because its small, waterproof, shock-proof, and I'm way more comfortable taking it on scary things than I am the Rebel.

Here I am at Glen's apartment. In Glen's jacket, helmet and gloves. Standing next to Glen's bike.

Here are some of the bikes lined up for the ride!

Some were more festive than others.

Here we are with motorcycle Santa! (I've been told my arm is freakishly long to take my own pictures like this).

Men in uniform? Where do I sign up?

Out of control. Chipmunks singing Christmas carols emitted from this one. Turn it off.

Look how cool my friend Glen is!

Cool by association!

"No, we are not done yet. Get used to all the pictures Glen."

A sea of bikes.

They said there were over 1000 bikes!

Bike ride hosted by the Marines. Everyone had patches and leather there but us. EVERYONE.

Me and a giant tank.

"Give me your best heroic pose!"

"This is my best heroic pose."

More bikes.

We had burgers after the ride and I got a T-shirt!

I think bikes are pretty all lined up and leaning the same way. Uniform.

Me and bikes.

What happens when you don't wash your car for months!! Don't worry, nothing two dollars and fifty cents in quarters couldn't take care of. I love washing my own car.

Stayed at Jeremy's last night and he and Alayna made dinner. Alan and Lisa came over and we finished the Cowboy game and ate the BEST FOOD EVER. I love my friends so much. Didn't get pictures of dinner with my Perry girls but I love them so much. I truly do have the best friends in all of creation. I wish we could all quit our jobs and just make meals and do fun things together all day every day.

Fall

Dear Thanksgiving, I miss you already. I love Winnsboro so much. I love being down there in the quiet. Less stress. Slower pace. We did these "science camp" things today after the kids took a two hour long standardized test. Not sure who's genius idea that was. But either way, I'm exhausted. Got there at 7:15am and literally no break all day long. Lunch consisted of me shoveling my food in my mouth for about 5 minutes and then racing to the bathroom. 24 weeks and 3 days left. Gracias a Dios.

I took some pictures when I could over the break. They aren't astounding but I wish you could have seen the colors up close. Nature is so pretty! Here are a few snapshots...

This was in the car on the way to the hospital. Talk about a gorgeous drive! Dad is a little over an hour away from his house. I hope he gets strong enough to go home soon.

This is a view from their front porch in the morning. Mom is right, next time I need to try and get some rocking chairs and teacups in this shot.

I...just adore a front porch view...

On Thursday, we drove to Corinth to have our Thanksgiving meal at my Aunt Chelle's place. So happy to see everyone and the food was delicious as always!

Gold.

House.

My mom, the dog herder. She can't say no to babies. They moved down there with just Sadie, and since then have added Dixie, Dollie, and Lucky.

Run Sadie, run!

Lucky hasn't quite figured out that fine line between "playing" and "annoying as hell".

Sadie is definitely the Alpha dog of the pack, even though she's 3x smaller than the rest. She's the oldest and the only one who gets to sleep inside.



Eagle. (I think...)

Berries.

Orange.

Into the woods.

Yellow.

My special Lucky Puck!