No, Joe and I are not moving. BUT. Since this blog is still under my maiden name...naughty...and I wanted to start a blog with a completely new premise...My blog has now moved to:
whatareyougoingtodowiththat.blogspot.com
I'm excited. I might even be better at posting on this one. We'll see. For any of you faithful folks who still check this poor, neglected blog, thank you for your perseverance. I hope the next attempt is much more exciting, interesting, and helpful. Bye!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
I Am Officially Married
Okay, Joe and I have really been married for getting close to one year now, but I have been ushered into womanhood. I have cooked a whole chicken.
I cook a lot. And I feel like I am a pretty decent cook, trying to be creative with ingredients, etc... But I have always shied away from "Whole" things. I don't cook whole hams, the largest I get is a quarter ham. I fillet my fish, because I don't like looking at eyeballs in my food. I might buy turkey sausage, but I wouldn't know what to do if I had a giant poultry in my freezer. What would I even cook it in?
But about two weeks ago, I took the plunge and bought a whole four pound roasting chicken. I felt proud. I took it home, stuck it in the freezer, and waited for the courage to pull it out, thaw it, and figure out how in the heck to cook the thing.
And last night was the night to cook it. It had been thawing in the fridge for two days, and the time was right. So I stuffed it with some oranges, rubbed some orange zest under the skin (along with some salt, pepper and pineapple juice), stuck some toothpicks between the legs to keep it from popping open (what newlywed has butcher's twine, let's be serious??). And actually, Joe did the honors of putting it in the oven, because I needed to go walk dogs.
And this is the result. I was pretty proud. So long, chicken. Hello Womanhood.
I cook a lot. And I feel like I am a pretty decent cook, trying to be creative with ingredients, etc... But I have always shied away from "Whole" things. I don't cook whole hams, the largest I get is a quarter ham. I fillet my fish, because I don't like looking at eyeballs in my food. I might buy turkey sausage, but I wouldn't know what to do if I had a giant poultry in my freezer. What would I even cook it in?
But about two weeks ago, I took the plunge and bought a whole four pound roasting chicken. I felt proud. I took it home, stuck it in the freezer, and waited for the courage to pull it out, thaw it, and figure out how in the heck to cook the thing.
And last night was the night to cook it. It had been thawing in the fridge for two days, and the time was right. So I stuffed it with some oranges, rubbed some orange zest under the skin (along with some salt, pepper and pineapple juice), stuck some toothpicks between the legs to keep it from popping open (what newlywed has butcher's twine, let's be serious??). And actually, Joe did the honors of putting it in the oven, because I needed to go walk dogs.
And this is the result. I was pretty proud. So long, chicken. Hello Womanhood.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
A Good Sunburn
Nibble.
Nibble, Nibble.
Nibble, Nibble, Nibble, JERK!
Yeah, Joe and I are getting into fishing. And although when we went to lake Red Rock on Sunday all we caught were sticks, I went again today to Rock Creek. And I done caught us some dinner, y'all! I felt pretty good until I had to try to fillet them myself...with a kitchen knife. Not the prettiest, but I got the job done eventually. I did get a crazy sunburn on my left arm and the back of my neck...kinda forgot my sunscreen. Sorry, Mom. So now I'm waiting for Joe to get home from work so we can cook 'em up and have a few bites. ha ha. get it? "bites." Funny.
Also, because I haven't actually blogged about this, I should let you know that one of my besties, Leanna, and Luke her husband had a beautiful little girl on March 23. I was there in the hospital with Kels and Danielle. She is just the most beautiful little angel. And she's going to be a fireball, we can tell already. We love her, Luke and Lee are so happy, and I'm so excited to be an auntie!
Also, don't judge me too harshly, but I've been listening to country music. Country and I have had an on-again-off-again relationship since childhood, when Tim McGraw's "Indian Outlaw" ruled my musical life. Yeah. I heard that song today, and it made me smile. But if you get a chance, my current song obsession is Miranda Lambert's "The House that Built Me." YouTube it.
Nibble, Nibble.
Nibble, Nibble, Nibble, JERK!
Yeah, Joe and I are getting into fishing. And although when we went to lake Red Rock on Sunday all we caught were sticks, I went again today to Rock Creek. And I done caught us some dinner, y'all! I felt pretty good until I had to try to fillet them myself...with a kitchen knife. Not the prettiest, but I got the job done eventually. I did get a crazy sunburn on my left arm and the back of my neck...kinda forgot my sunscreen. Sorry, Mom. So now I'm waiting for Joe to get home from work so we can cook 'em up and have a few bites. ha ha. get it? "bites." Funny.
Also, because I haven't actually blogged about this, I should let you know that one of my besties, Leanna, and Luke her husband had a beautiful little girl on March 23. I was there in the hospital with Kels and Danielle. She is just the most beautiful little angel. And she's going to be a fireball, we can tell already. We love her, Luke and Lee are so happy, and I'm so excited to be an auntie!
Also, don't judge me too harshly, but I've been listening to country music. Country and I have had an on-again-off-again relationship since childhood, when Tim McGraw's "Indian Outlaw" ruled my musical life. Yeah. I heard that song today, and it made me smile. But if you get a chance, my current song obsession is Miranda Lambert's "The House that Built Me." YouTube it.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Pigeons: Saluting & Otherwise
Wow. It's been a long time. Here are a few highlights:
1. I finished a 6-week painting job at Theatre Cedar Rapids for "the Producers." It was fantastic. I think the biggest accomplishment in my career to date. Joe & I and my parents, brother & his girlfriend, Jess, Grandparents, & Aunt Mary & Uncle Andy went to see it last night. Fabulous. But a little racy, so take your party pants ready for some action.
2. My friend, Leanna, is about to have a baby any second now. She could be having a baby right now, who knows?! Congrats, Luke and Lee, I'm really excited for your little girl.
3. I was asked to go back to North Dakota to work at the Medora Musical again, and yessirree, I'm a' goin'! Yee Haw!!
4. oh yeah, I'll explain the Nazi pigeons: they were props for "Producers." Dancing, saluting Nazi pigeons. Funny. But so much fun to make. I have postpartum depression, I think. I had to give them over to the actors.
5. The "Otherwise" pigeon? Joe and I needed a vacation. So we planned a trip a few weeks out, and went on a 12 hour drive to Tennessee (near Pigeon Forge). It was A. Ma. Zing. The trip included: Four nights in a cabin in the mountains; hot tubbing; playing pool and air hockey; watching the olympics; more hot tubbing; seeing Smoky Mountains National Park; playing pool; Playing monopoly and getting addicted so that we had to stop at a Wal Mart on our way home and buy it so we could play it that night; and seeing Gatlinburg and taking lots of pictures. It was fun.
6. Joe and I have found a church that we both really really love. the people there are already like a family to us. We've had dinner at people's houses a bunch of times, been out to eat with others, I'm helping lead worship, which is really pretty fun and low-pressure (thank goodness!). But most of all we just love how welcoming the people there are. They don't care who you are, if you're in the building, they want to meet you and shake your hand and welcome you into their family. they are truly wonderful, Christlike people. God's love is so evident, as soon as we walk through the doors. We love it and we have been so blessed.
7. We did buy the orange chair from eighteen centuries ago, I'm sure you were all still dying of suspense. It is now Joe's throne. Right next to his candy jar.
8. I listened to a book on CD (leftover from our road trip) entitled The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and it was, in my opinion, really great. Set in Post-WWII England, it has great characters, written all in letter form (except for a bit when it switches to a diary). I liked it a lot a lot. If you're looking for a book that reads like a classic, but without the heady language, here you are.
And just a personal note: Joe and I are doing really well. He's going to Argentina soon for work for 1-2 weeks, and he's excited about that. I'm helping at the animal shelter in town just a bit, walking dogs, etc... it's pretty fun. So there you have it. You have officially been updated.
1. I finished a 6-week painting job at Theatre Cedar Rapids for "the Producers." It was fantastic. I think the biggest accomplishment in my career to date. Joe & I and my parents, brother & his girlfriend, Jess, Grandparents, & Aunt Mary & Uncle Andy went to see it last night. Fabulous. But a little racy, so take your party pants ready for some action.
2. My friend, Leanna, is about to have a baby any second now. She could be having a baby right now, who knows?! Congrats, Luke and Lee, I'm really excited for your little girl.
3. I was asked to go back to North Dakota to work at the Medora Musical again, and yessirree, I'm a' goin'! Yee Haw!!
4. oh yeah, I'll explain the Nazi pigeons: they were props for "Producers." Dancing, saluting Nazi pigeons. Funny. But so much fun to make. I have postpartum depression, I think. I had to give them over to the actors.
5. The "Otherwise" pigeon? Joe and I needed a vacation. So we planned a trip a few weeks out, and went on a 12 hour drive to Tennessee (near Pigeon Forge). It was A. Ma. Zing. The trip included: Four nights in a cabin in the mountains; hot tubbing; playing pool and air hockey; watching the olympics; more hot tubbing; seeing Smoky Mountains National Park; playing pool; Playing monopoly and getting addicted so that we had to stop at a Wal Mart on our way home and buy it so we could play it that night; and seeing Gatlinburg and taking lots of pictures. It was fun.
6. Joe and I have found a church that we both really really love. the people there are already like a family to us. We've had dinner at people's houses a bunch of times, been out to eat with others, I'm helping lead worship, which is really pretty fun and low-pressure (thank goodness!). But most of all we just love how welcoming the people there are. They don't care who you are, if you're in the building, they want to meet you and shake your hand and welcome you into their family. they are truly wonderful, Christlike people. God's love is so evident, as soon as we walk through the doors. We love it and we have been so blessed.
7. We did buy the orange chair from eighteen centuries ago, I'm sure you were all still dying of suspense. It is now Joe's throne. Right next to his candy jar.
8. I listened to a book on CD (leftover from our road trip) entitled The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and it was, in my opinion, really great. Set in Post-WWII England, it has great characters, written all in letter form (except for a bit when it switches to a diary). I liked it a lot a lot. If you're looking for a book that reads like a classic, but without the heady language, here you are.
And just a personal note: Joe and I are doing really well. He's going to Argentina soon for work for 1-2 weeks, and he's excited about that. I'm helping at the animal shelter in town just a bit, walking dogs, etc... it's pretty fun. So there you have it. You have officially been updated.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
When One is Excited...
I find that when I am very excited about something, I bring it up more than is necessary. And those poor folks who know me are forced to endure more information about the same topic (or at other times, a repeat of the exact same information, because I forget who I have told, because I have told so many people). So in order to make it less painful, because we all know that no one cares nearly as much about the things we do, as we do...tracking, tracking, comprehension!... I am adding multimedia to this post, which I rarely do. But I also rarely do repeat topics, since the same day has never happened to me twice. Strange, that.
Anyway, at the risk of being a broken record, I took some pictures of our new apartment. Our apartment as of this Saturday. Enjoy, and don't throw rotten tomatoes at your repetitive blogger friend. Though it is especially ridiculous that I am repeating myself because I hardly blog once a month. If I was a Becky Love, or a Justine, then it would be more acceptable because they are faithful bloggers, and grace is given to the faithful. But the wayfaring fools walk into judgment and are destroyed. I am reading through Proverbs. Can you tell?
Forgive the low quality of the shots...I just had my point and shoot, and I couldn't get entire rooms in the pictures, you know how that is. I tried to capture the highlights.
First picture: The outside of the building. our apartment is the second floor of the building, the one with the three windows. History Buffs (not that you read my blog...): It's on the National Registry of Historic Places, and was an office building. It's the Macdonald and Bower building or something, built in 1896. There's that. The windows are our living room.
This is a section of the inside of the living room...I like the wood on the ceiling.
And here is the eating area/kitchen. I'm pretty much in love with the wood floor.
(for those who like to visualize, the rooms just go from front to back. The living room is behind me in this picture, and the door at the far side is the bedroom, and the bathroom is through the bedroom to the left...in case you want to know)
The brick wall in the bathroom.
Those are the highlights. The pictures don't really give a full picture (ha ha, bad, bad, repetitive pun), but you get the idea. We're excited.
On a different note, I just wanted to share (while I'm on my multimedia kick) my morning commute on Monday. It was 7:15am, driving East on I-80. It was absolutely beautiful and made my morning drive very special.
...Sorry, Mom, I snapped the shot while driving...I suppose that's not what you had in mind when you and Dad gave me a camera for Christmas... if it helps, I didn't even look, I just held it up and took the picture.
And the last note is a question. I read a lot of blogs researching different things, and I always find it interesting when the blogger poses a question for their readers. There are such interesting responses sometimes, especially when it's a style opinion (Not that your opinion will make my decision for me, but it's fun!) So here's my possibly-doomed-to-failure attempt.
There is a chair that I found for $9, that I didn't buy, because I needed to consider. Let me give you a description by using a metaphor (or some other literary device, whatever it's called): My Mom at a white elephant gift exchange ended up with a 2-tiered bright orange relish dish. It is definitely a product of the 60's/70's, and it's FABULOUS! However, people didn't understand why she wanted it, because it's so UGLY! However, when put into a different environment, the piece can suddenly gain great character and uniqueness, which that one definitely did. Well, I think that this chair would do the same thing, even if it is (just like that relish dish of my Mom's) BRIGHT ORANGE. It can always be re-covered, but I'm currently planning on a blue-orange living room, so there's potential as-is. What I'm saying is, for $9, I think it's worth a shot, but I'm not quite sold on it. and it may be gone already. But I'm just seeking opinions... Do you see great potential or just a nasty orange monstrosity?
READY....
GO!
That's all, y'all.
Anyway, at the risk of being a broken record, I took some pictures of our new apartment. Our apartment as of this Saturday. Enjoy, and don't throw rotten tomatoes at your repetitive blogger friend. Though it is especially ridiculous that I am repeating myself because I hardly blog once a month. If I was a Becky Love, or a Justine, then it would be more acceptable because they are faithful bloggers, and grace is given to the faithful. But the wayfaring fools walk into judgment and are destroyed. I am reading through Proverbs. Can you tell?
Forgive the low quality of the shots...I just had my point and shoot, and I couldn't get entire rooms in the pictures, you know how that is. I tried to capture the highlights.
First picture: The outside of the building. our apartment is the second floor of the building, the one with the three windows. History Buffs (not that you read my blog...): It's on the National Registry of Historic Places, and was an office building. It's the Macdonald and Bower building or something, built in 1896. There's that. The windows are our living room.
This is a section of the inside of the living room...I like the wood on the ceiling.
And here is the eating area/kitchen. I'm pretty much in love with the wood floor.
(for those who like to visualize, the rooms just go from front to back. The living room is behind me in this picture, and the door at the far side is the bedroom, and the bathroom is through the bedroom to the left...in case you want to know)
The brick wall in the bathroom.
Those are the highlights. The pictures don't really give a full picture (ha ha, bad, bad, repetitive pun), but you get the idea. We're excited.
On a different note, I just wanted to share (while I'm on my multimedia kick) my morning commute on Monday. It was 7:15am, driving East on I-80. It was absolutely beautiful and made my morning drive very special.
...Sorry, Mom, I snapped the shot while driving...I suppose that's not what you had in mind when you and Dad gave me a camera for Christmas... if it helps, I didn't even look, I just held it up and took the picture.
And the last note is a question. I read a lot of blogs researching different things, and I always find it interesting when the blogger poses a question for their readers. There are such interesting responses sometimes, especially when it's a style opinion (Not that your opinion will make my decision for me, but it's fun!) So here's my possibly-doomed-to-failure attempt.
There is a chair that I found for $9, that I didn't buy, because I needed to consider. Let me give you a description by using a metaphor (or some other literary device, whatever it's called): My Mom at a white elephant gift exchange ended up with a 2-tiered bright orange relish dish. It is definitely a product of the 60's/70's, and it's FABULOUS! However, people didn't understand why she wanted it, because it's so UGLY! However, when put into a different environment, the piece can suddenly gain great character and uniqueness, which that one definitely did. Well, I think that this chair would do the same thing, even if it is (just like that relish dish of my Mom's) BRIGHT ORANGE. It can always be re-covered, but I'm currently planning on a blue-orange living room, so there's potential as-is. What I'm saying is, for $9, I think it's worth a shot, but I'm not quite sold on it. and it may be gone already. But I'm just seeking opinions... Do you see great potential or just a nasty orange monstrosity?
READY....
GO!
That's all, y'all.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Big Changes, Little Time
Joe and I are moving. We'll still be in Grinnell, just across town in a different apartment. We're excited.
People ask us "why are you moving?" And honestly, I can give some boring answers having to do with boring little details, but really, we're moving....because we can. And we are excited to be a couple of crazy kids who just move because their lease is up and they can hop right across town to something new. And, for those of you out there who share my love for architecture and character in buildings, we're moving to a loft apartment with big arched windows in the living room, an original 1896 stone facade and wood floor in the kitchen, and brick wall in the bathroom. Whatever else it may be lacking, it has all the right things that make me want to take on any challenges that may come with it. Character and charm rightly ooooze out of the walls. The original brick walls, that is.
Also it is down the street from a cafe/coffee shop that also has smoothies. Our budget may be in trouble...
Discoveries: I am finding that Grinnell has a million little treasures that seem to pop out of nowhere. I have been here for a little over 2 months now, and keep on finding them. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Thai Basil: A thai restaurant in the middle of this little town BUYAH!
2. Farmer's Market on Thursdays and Saturdays
3. ARCHITECTURE IS AMAZING!! Seriously, I ride my bike through town and just look at houses. Old beautiful victorians are rampant here. Some are in great shape, some need serious work, but they are all beautiful in their own way. I love seeing the different eras represented on the streets as I pass.
4. The Fareway here carries a lot of local produce. Lately, they've had apples from a local orchard. I love that.
5. There is a lake about 2 blocks from our current apartment. It took us about a month to find that out.
6. Dari Barn. yes. It is delicious. You know, the teeny little ice cream shops that are only open in the summer. This one is a big deal. I get a small vanilla cone with Krunch on the top. Krunch (or Twinkles!) is candy-coated peanuts and sprinkles mixed together. It's awesome.
7. All of the events at Grinnell College are free to the public. That's theatre, sports, music, anything.
The jobs are going well. I'm finishing up building a design for Grinnell High School. I'm helping with the build and carving some column capitals. They're doing the Real Inspector Hound (Becky Love, I think of you!), and I'm hoping the set looks as good as it does in my head. We'll see.
Things with Theatre Cedar Rapids are going GREAT. I'm done with show #2, and going to start on #3 in about two weeks. Ahh, the beloved Annie.
hmmm...
Oh! I'm trying out my green thumb...mostly to see if I have one. But I'm doing okay! I have managed to kill only 1 (almost 2) of 3 plants from my wedding. Two are doing pretty good, though, so we'll see if they keep keepin' on. (I have better light in the new apartment, so I'm hoping that helps). But I also have a pot of chives, and they're doing pretty darn good! I've cut some off quite a few times, and they keep on growing! And my most recent acquisition is a "Corn Plant" with Pothos planted below it. The Pothos looks like a philodendron (I thought it was a philodendron, but I looked it up, and although they're very similar, it's definitely a Pothos...but it doesn't make any difference in care) and the Corn Plant looks a little like a palm tree, with a trunk and such, but the leaves at the top look like corn leaves. Pretty cool. And it really helps brighten things up. Growing things are so nice to have around, because it gives a place life and hope. I'm excited to see if I can keep them alive.
Also, we have a little baby pumpkin named Alfred. But he's not growing. He's really dying since he got picked, only don't tell him, because I don't think he knows it yet. he's a cute little bugger.
So there you go. That's my inventory of green, rooted, happy growing things.
And I think that will end my post for now. Joe and I are doing good, loving our life, having fun whenever possible.
Until next time, see ya!
People ask us "why are you moving?" And honestly, I can give some boring answers having to do with boring little details, but really, we're moving....because we can. And we are excited to be a couple of crazy kids who just move because their lease is up and they can hop right across town to something new. And, for those of you out there who share my love for architecture and character in buildings, we're moving to a loft apartment with big arched windows in the living room, an original 1896 stone facade and wood floor in the kitchen, and brick wall in the bathroom. Whatever else it may be lacking, it has all the right things that make me want to take on any challenges that may come with it. Character and charm rightly ooooze out of the walls. The original brick walls, that is.
Also it is down the street from a cafe/coffee shop that also has smoothies. Our budget may be in trouble...
Discoveries: I am finding that Grinnell has a million little treasures that seem to pop out of nowhere. I have been here for a little over 2 months now, and keep on finding them. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Thai Basil: A thai restaurant in the middle of this little town BUYAH!
2. Farmer's Market on Thursdays and Saturdays
3. ARCHITECTURE IS AMAZING!! Seriously, I ride my bike through town and just look at houses. Old beautiful victorians are rampant here. Some are in great shape, some need serious work, but they are all beautiful in their own way. I love seeing the different eras represented on the streets as I pass.
4. The Fareway here carries a lot of local produce. Lately, they've had apples from a local orchard. I love that.
5. There is a lake about 2 blocks from our current apartment. It took us about a month to find that out.
6. Dari Barn. yes. It is delicious. You know, the teeny little ice cream shops that are only open in the summer. This one is a big deal. I get a small vanilla cone with Krunch on the top. Krunch (or Twinkles!) is candy-coated peanuts and sprinkles mixed together. It's awesome.
7. All of the events at Grinnell College are free to the public. That's theatre, sports, music, anything.
The jobs are going well. I'm finishing up building a design for Grinnell High School. I'm helping with the build and carving some column capitals. They're doing the Real Inspector Hound (Becky Love, I think of you!), and I'm hoping the set looks as good as it does in my head. We'll see.
Things with Theatre Cedar Rapids are going GREAT. I'm done with show #2, and going to start on #3 in about two weeks. Ahh, the beloved Annie.
hmmm...
Oh! I'm trying out my green thumb...mostly to see if I have one. But I'm doing okay! I have managed to kill only 1 (almost 2) of 3 plants from my wedding. Two are doing pretty good, though, so we'll see if they keep keepin' on. (I have better light in the new apartment, so I'm hoping that helps). But I also have a pot of chives, and they're doing pretty darn good! I've cut some off quite a few times, and they keep on growing! And my most recent acquisition is a "Corn Plant" with Pothos planted below it. The Pothos looks like a philodendron (I thought it was a philodendron, but I looked it up, and although they're very similar, it's definitely a Pothos...but it doesn't make any difference in care) and the Corn Plant looks a little like a palm tree, with a trunk and such, but the leaves at the top look like corn leaves. Pretty cool. And it really helps brighten things up. Growing things are so nice to have around, because it gives a place life and hope. I'm excited to see if I can keep them alive.
Also, we have a little baby pumpkin named Alfred. But he's not growing. He's really dying since he got picked, only don't tell him, because I don't think he knows it yet. he's a cute little bugger.
So there you go. That's my inventory of green, rooted, happy growing things.
And I think that will end my post for now. Joe and I are doing good, loving our life, having fun whenever possible.
Until next time, see ya!
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