Five Years Ago....

Well, I am on a role!  I guess in this season of life, blogging is not something I do frequently.  I have tons of ideas to share and things floating around in my head but sitting down to the computer for fun is not always what I want to do.  I spend many hours a day online working.....so my downtime is often spent doing something other than starring at the screen!  Today, I had a few minutes and wanted to share a milestone in our marriage.

Yesterday was our fifth wedding anniversary.  It is hard to believe that we have been married for half of a decade.  He loves to tease that his life has been so hard as a married man but I know the truth!  Five years ago he officially acquired a maid and cook which is something he enjoys more than not.  I enjoy having a constant support system, a handy man, and someone to call me at work in the middle of the night to make sure I am still awake.  Thanks, Bubby!!

I am ashamed to say I was quite cranky on our special day :(  Working third shift on the weekends plus trying to stay up all day to do things at home and spend precious time with my hubby is hard for me.  It was the second annual family yard sale and I was trying desperately to hold true to my promise to help.  I did....sort of....by spending part of the day sleeping in Justin's truck.  Oh well!  We were blessed to be treated to dinner by Justin's parents.

One thing that I think is so neat about our relationship is our history.  We go back, way back, almost to birth.  We have memories from childhood of each other and that is so special to me! 

June 13, 1984

How about this one?  I used to hate this Polaroid!  Now it is a cherished memory.  Justin loves to point out that I have my legs wrapped around him.  Can I point out that he doesn't seem to be protesting!  Here's to five years of history, plus many more past and future. 

Time with Good Friends

During college I always thought I would move back home and settle in WNY.  Life didn't work out that way and living several hours away from my hometown, family, and many long-time friends is hard.  I love all of the people that I have met along my journey and cherish my time with friends who live close to my new home.  One thing (of many) that excites me is having people come visit.  Justin and I enjoy welcoming friends and family at our home for cook outs, ice cream making, and overnight stays.  The last few days we spent some time with one of my roommates from college and her husband.  Sarah is one of my dearest friends and we have been getting better at spending time together a few times a year.  Yesterday, we made memories at Knoebels and came to the conclusion that we are officially old!  All four of us were not thrilled with our handling of the thrill rides and we were quite content to take the train ride or antique cars.  I am so thankful that our husbands have many shared interests and get along so well--enough to challenge each other at bumper boats and remote cars/boats!

Cooling off at the North Pole.

cRaSh!!

How did we pass them?

The race is on!

Great memories with my friend!

I think I'm back.....

Wow.....that didn't last long!  I started this blog thinking it would be the answer to so many questions but after a few months I quit.  Well, I didn't really quit, it was a purposeful break for me to do some searching and praying to find out what the real purpose for this blog was and to look for more direction in my life.  When I started this blog, I thought it would be a way to share my pursuits in the kitchen and garden and prove that I could successfully provide for my family in that way.  I read so many blogs and see how woman stay home and serve their families there as well as bring in money through blogging.  What a great idea!  Almost a year ago, I dropped to part time at the hospital in order to pursue more teaching opportunities.  I love teaching, it gives me lots of flexibility, and the whole online thing works great for me to stay home--where I really like to work!  After all, I do have a Masters in Adult Education, might as well use it, right?

Then I read this book:  Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl.  At first I was blown away by how fundamental, traditional, and radical it all was.  Isn't submission for women of Biblical times or for traditional societies like the Amish?  I am educated and can think for myself.  What about the things I want in life?  As I read more, I saw just how much my rebellion against God and my husband could change my marriage and my life.  I was convicted and humbled.  There are so many things that I do and say that tear down my husband.  I want to do better; I want to be a good wife, a wife of noble character (Proverbs 31).  I realized I wasn't doing a very good job of that even if I thought I was trying.  My husband has told me time and again that I ask for advice and don't follow it (especially from him).  The only thing that he has asked of me is that I work full time.  He doesn't care what or where, I just need to work.  I keep thinking that I could work at home cooking, canning, freezing, making meals from scratch and that would be just as profitable as a job.  The idea of having children is always in the back of my mind and I want to be ready if that is ever a possibility for our family.  All of these goals that I was setting were not what Justin meant or what he wants from me.  This summer was a great time for me to do all of those things that I wanted and I thought that I would prove to him that it was worthwhile.  For the last several years, I have worked full time plus some.  I wanted this summer to be about me and the things I wanted but God was trying to show me something else.  Not that I agree with every word of the wife book (as Justin and I now refer to it).  Not that I have figured out how I am supposed to apply all that I learned from those lessons.  I do know that I have found a new focus and perspective and I want to be better at respecting my husband.  I am trying though I still have days were I revert back to my old self. 

All of that to say, I stopped blogging so that I could refocus.  At first I said I was completely done because it was selfish.  Besides, who really cares about what I have to say or what is growing in my garden?  I don't have anything more worthwhile to share than the women who are real homemakers and bloggers.  I figured I should just quit trying to be something I am not even though I reeeaaallly want to be!  I still don't know where I am going or what I am going to do to make sure I am fulfilling my husband's request.  School is back in session tomorrow.  I will be going, and doing, and running again soon!  I thrive when I am busy and feel like I have no free time.  That brings me to another lesson I am learning.  God has spoken over and over again to me in the last week or so.  His voice has come in many forms: online devotionals, radio programs, and in my prayer time.  Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).  No matter how hard I try, no matter what I do, no matter how far I search, He is still God.  I have always lived in a way that proclaims if God wants something from me or for me then naturally I should work really, really hard to get there.  The faster and more focused I am on the goal, the better His plan will work out.  This is so not true and lately my heavenly father has been asking me to just relax and let Him work out the details.  I don't know what the details are (oh, but I wish I did!) and I am not sure how to get there.  My job right now is to be patient and be a passenger.  Two other things that I need to work.....

Two Risottos

In an attempt to manage our food budget and make room for fresh foods in our cupboards and freezers, I am still looking for recipes to use items that I already have on hand.  It is amazing how many meals you can find in your house without making a trip to the store for special items.  So here is a little creativity and an adaptation of a recipe from a magazine!

A month or so back, I decided that I wanted to create a hearty one-pot meal.  I had a bag of barley pearls in the cupboard.  I tossed about half of the bag into some water and soaked in the frige overnight.  The rest of this is from memory.....I am trying to be more diligent about taking notes as I play in the kitchen so that I can share the recipe and make the same thing again later!

Mushroom-Barley Risotto

1 stick butter

1 medium onion, chopped

12 oz sliced mushrooms

1 cup white wine

soaked barley

water

In a skillet, melt butter and add onion and mushrooms with stirring.  Add wine and saute for about five minutes.  Add barley and one cup water.  Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally and adding water as needed.  Continue until barley is tender and onions and mushrooms are cooked, about 45 minutes.

I am positive I took pictures of the process and the final product.  Can't find them now!  I will post pics next time I make this risotto.  This dish was really hardy and rich.  Great for a fall or winter evening.  I served it with mashed sweet potatoes that were left over from another meal.  A nice combo!  This dish reheated very nicely and was just as good the second day.



I had a bag of pre-cooked shrimp in the freezer that were showing signs of freezer burn.  I had fresh snow peas from the garden.  This recipe looked so tempting!  Shrimp and Spring Vegetable Risotto

I didn't have any asparagus but I did have a green-turning-orange bell pepper that I substituted.  This is a great recipe to add veggies to, increasing the nutritional value.  I enjoyed the hot meal even on a 90+ degree evening.  Fresh, this was very creamy but reheated for lunch today, it lacked that creaminess.  The arborio rice had absorbed much of the excess liquid so adding more water or broth when reheating may help to enhance the textures and traits of a typical risotto.

Blueberries

I headed out early this morning to pick blueberries.  No, we haven't added blueberry bushes to our "farm".....yet!  I picked at a local farm with a huge patch.  About an hour and a half and $15.89 later, I had 9lbs of berries!

Gotta love this color!

I headed home to escape the sun and heat.  I froze three cookie trays full of berries for later use in baked goods and smoothies.  My afternoon project was a batch of jam.  I love the pinging sounds as the jars seal.  Such a great way to preserve and enjoy food :)

While picking, I decided we need to plant a few bushes in our yard.  I would love to be able to pick fresh each morning for cereal or other treats.  Justin and I had talked about it last year but never figured out where we wanted to put the blueberries.  Now that we have a designated "orchard" in the yard, I am thinking that would be a great place to consider.

First Summer Harvest

Lots of gardening to be done over the last week!  We planted some brussel sprouts and jalepeno plants that we had started from seeds in the house.  We were able to get some more seeds in the ground: corn, green beans, and cabbage, for late season harvesting.  Cross your fingers with me that we will not be fighting the tomato rot this year.  Last year I had black tomatoes, this year I want red!  My husband fertilized with extra calcium and we have several baby green Romas starting.  I hope to be canning them soon!

Last year, my favorite treat was the early snow peas.  They are so tasty fresh from the garden, steamed for dinner, or frozen and added to stir fry over the winter.  This season, our snow peas have not thrived as they did last year but I was still able to pick about 4 quarts the other day.  I should have another good harvest today or tomorrow so that I can pack the freezer with fresh veggies.

We have some beautiful lettuce that has been the base for salads this week.  I hope it lasts through this heat so we can eat up those greens for the next few weeks!  One of our favorite salad meals is Greek Chicken.  We marinate chicken in Greek dressing and then grill it.  Enjoy it with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, olives, onions, and feta cheese.  Delicious! 



More Bermuda Pics

I got distracted.....

I had two Trash the Kitchen days this week where I cooked up a storm before heading to work.  A few mornings were spent in the garden weeding, planting some late crops, and tending to what is already growing!  With that and working full time at the lab, I haven't gotten back to my picture posting.  Here are some more of the highlights from Bermuda :)

Life on the Celebrity Summit

Views of Bermuda

Lights of Bermuda

Many of you know of our obsession with lighthouses.  It is evidenced by my bathroom decor :)  My main goal while in Bermuda was to see both lighthouses, at opposite ends of the island.  Thankfully, the island is only 21 square miles so traveling to the far reaches was no problem! 

Our first day in Bermuda, we took the ferry and then a pink bus (gotta love the Bermudians' taste in colors) to the east end of the island.  We visited St. David's Lighthouse which is tiny compared to many, with about 85 steps to the top. 

This light is nestled on a hill with several privately owned homes which I assume used to be buildings associated with the light.  A quiet little area that is only disturbed by the planes coming into the airport near by and the scooter races down the hill.  We got to wait for the bus back with a group of school children.  Then we waited some more because there wasn't room on the bus with all the school children!

Our second day on the island was as beautiful as the first.  My husband and I visited yet another light.  This one has a much more impressive height and boasts views of the entire island.  It is the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world.  I am proud to say I made it up both lighthouses in Bermuda!  Here are some pictures from the Gibbs Hill Light.

This one is definitely making an appearance on my bathroom wall in the near future!

The weather vane that used to sit on top of the light.

By the way, if you ever plan a trip to Bermuda, check out the gift shop at the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse.  Great prices on souvenirs like mugs, tshirts, magnets, etc!

One last pic and another example of the colors of the island.  We (and when I say we, I mean my husband because I totally missed it!) found this little friend on the walk down from Gibbs Hill.  He was very kind to pose for some photos!



A Heart of Thankfulness

Life does not always play out as planned!  I am realizing that over and over this week.  We returned from our cruise to Bermuda the other day and I had planned to post about all of our great adventures.  My intent was to share beautiful beach scenes and family photos as I got back into the groove and continued with my summer to-do list.  A rainy day, flip flops, and a slippery slope has given me a new perspective! 

Right now my left ankle and foot are several shades of blue and purple.  My most memorable souvenir from Bermuda is a sprained ankle.  Despite the change in plans and setbacks of only being able to move at a snail's pace, I am thankful for so many things!! 

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.     1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

Maintaining a heart of thanksgiving allows me to focus on the important things in life instead of the things I cannot change.  My ankle and foot are not broken and I am able to hobble around for short periods of time without much pain.  I have seen a decrease in the swelling which was one of our big concerns at first.  My foot was huge and puffy!  Nothing seemed to help except sitting with it elevated.  That is the hardest thing for me to do!!  I do not like to be sedentary and I do not like to be dependent on other people. 

God has truly blessed me with the most wonderful and patient husband.  He truly complements me well!  The last few days of our trip were spent in our stateroom with trips out for meals.  No matter what I said, my husband would not leave me.  I tried to get him to go out and explore, attend events, and hang out with his family but he was faithful in his care for me.  We returned home and he managed to finish his chores outside and many of those that I wanted to do in the house before he needed to go back to work.  He made dinner, waited on me, pushed me in the wheelchair, and was there to support me every time I knocked myself off balance.  My husband has been great over the last few days even though I am a horrible patient and do not want to do as I am told.  He has done many things without me even asking, knowing that I HATE not keeping up with what I feel is urgent around the house (even though most of it can sit despite my sense of urgency!). 

We were able to have two awesome days in Bermuda with great weather.  I am full of gratitude for that and the fact that we have some positive memories!  Over the next few days, I will share more photos and stories. 

Bedside Lamp

Our bedroom formerly served as a walk in closet for the previous owners.  Walls lined with shelving and an abundance of clothes, many of which still had tags.  About 30 pairs of sunglasses and handbags.  It was amazing.....I am happy to say that I have contained my clothing to the small built-in closet and a dresser.  My dresser was a find on the buy, sell, swap board at one of the hospitals where I worked.  I purchased it for $25 to repaint but it sat in my friend's garage for awhile before I had a vision for it. 

It was a bit more of a project than I bargained for!  After removing the white paint, I discovered a dark red stain underneath.  I couldn't remove the stain so I figured paint should cover it.  Wrong!  That red stain bled through about three coats of primer and two coats of blue corn chip paint (I love the names for paint colors!).  I believe the third coat of paint finally did the trick!  The colors of the dresser match our bedspread that is an oversized Woolrich item spread that I found on sale at Target!  My texture of choice for the bedroom is burlap.  I used it to "sponge" paint on the dresser and cover the drawer knobs.  This was one of my favorite projects!

A few months ago I rescued a full-length mirror that had barely survived my college days and many moves after.  The mirror was fully intact but the backing was coming off and it needed some beautifying.  I reattached the frame and backing, painted the frame with paint left from the dresser.  I then added burlap and some painted dowels.

My latest edition to the burlap bedroom is a bedside lamp.  Until about a week ago, the room was lit by the ceiling fan light only.  This was great except the switch was by the door and not convenient for reading in bed, chatting before falling asleep, or leaving the fan on for warm nights.  We found a lamp base at a thrift store for $5.50 but no acceptable lamp shades.  I purchased a shade at Walmart for $4.50 which brought the total a bit higher than I wanted for this project.  I am thankful that the rest of the materials were ones I already had on hand:  paint (still tons left from the dresser), burlap, material from the curtains, and some ribbon from my scraps box.

I added texture to the base with paint and burlap.  Spray-on clear coat finished the project so that the paint would not chip off the ceramic surface.  I added a blue and brown tie to the shade with some hot glue.  I had originally pictured a more elaborate upgrade to the shade but opted for a simple look.  I wanted the focal point to be the texture of the burlap.  We are so happy to finally have a bedside lamp.  Now I just need to find/build that corner shelf behind the bed for it to sit on.....

Here is the final product! 

Chocolate Blooms

I was so excited to find the buds for these beautiful blooms on my hoya a few weeks ago.  I have always admired the delicate flowers of my mom's plants.  Small beaded stars that are so unique!  And that fresh hint of chocolate......how can you not fall in love with them?

My mom had given me cuttings from her rope-like hoya several years ago.  Unfortunately, it didn't survive the winters in our tiny brick rental when the furnace would breakdown and we had no heat for several days.  Then a friend gave me one of her plants that was huge and being attacked by her cats.  I repotted the plant and it struggled for a few years.  I am thankful that our new house has served as a good home for this plant.  It is now doing extremely well in the window above my kitchen sink.  It is actually taking over the space and I need to add something to the window frame to allow it to climb!