it's all gravy

Today, I went to the doc for my annual physical. It was rather uneventful, but the hour wait allowed plenty of time for thinking. Health is something that I take for granted. I can walk and run, work and play. I live without pain or a serious disease. But really, must the nurse take my weight as soon as I walk in the room with my coat and shoes on? 

I celebrated my health today with ham and cheese muffins. I have never made a savory type of muffin before, and they turned out pretty good. But they needed something more.

Gravy.

Oh, I haven't told you? Gravy and I have this thing. It's a one-sided relationship, really. And I am obsessed. Yum. Yum. Yum. It turns an ordinary meal into instant comfort food. It's thick and creamy and warms up my insides.

Two days last week, my lunch consisted of mashed potatoes and gravy. Let's be honest, it's more like a little mashed potatoes with my gravy. It's soup-ish. It's wonderful.

Not just any sort of gravy will do, however. My current favorite is not homemade or fancy-pants. It is Southeastern Mills brand gravy mix from the Amish store. The brown variety is the best for topping mashed potatoes, and the versatile country gravy was perfect for my ham and cheese muffins.

I doubt that the doc would approve of all of this gravy. She did, however, tell me to have a happy Thanksgiving, and my happy Thanksgiving includes a hearty portion of gravy.

Snowed In

Remember when I was so excited to have conquered February?

Well, by the looks of it, it may as well still be February.

The snow fell all night. Early this morning, I tried to get out of the driveway. I really did. I shoveled and shoveled, and my car almost made it to the road while Spur cheered me on, but it was all for not. Those tires just spun. Blue Betty just didn't have it in her.

So I retreated and assumed my position on the couch.

I had some fun with the dogs, too. They played like crazy. Bo loves the snow. Spur isn't so sure about the snow yet, but he is so cute bounding through the drifts. Although, he's not so cute when he grabs the glove out of my pocket and runs around with it in his mouth. Rascal.

Inside the house, I'm still gunning for sunny skies and green grass. I'm talking sweet to spring, trying to coax her over to this neck of the woods. It's real nice here; we've got pastels, banners, and flowers!

My force-grown indoor tulips have been a success!  I've dubbed them test tube tulips because I keep watch over the vases like a science experiment. About six weeks ago, I set the bulbs on a bed of pebbles. I kept them in our unheated upstairs for the first couple of weeks to give the bulbs a jump start.

First, the roots popped out of the bulbs and buried deep into the pebbles. Then, the stems began shooting up. Finally, the flowers bloomed! This is a super easy and fun way to get a taste of spring, even when the ground is covered in snow.

Ditching the Doldrums: How We Survived February

We made it! Hallelujah.

I had my doubts, but we overcame. It got real rough when, mid-month, my parents bailed. They traded the snow for the sand and flew off to Florida.

So what was our secret? We discovered a few...

Voracious games of ping-pong (in the creepy basement).

Before the snow flew, we hauled the ping pong table from the garage to the basement. It was real difficult until we realized that the table came apart...



Puppy kisses.

While it may not always be welcome, these guys can't bear to leave a cheek un-slobbered.


Sweets.

 It's no secret; I am a sucker for sweets. So when this bag of happiness appears in my front seat, I don't ask questions. Plus, the pretty pastels are a clear indication that spring, Easter, and sunny skies are on the way.


An adventure.

I need at least one adventure a month to retain sanity. This month, Kb and I took off to Culver Military Academy to take in a polo match. In all of my years of living in the horse world, I have never watched a polo match. Primarily, because it is out of my league. Even at this small event, European accents were overheard and ladies wore lavish fur coats. Nonetheless, the match inspired me to hop on a polo pony and hit that white ball with a mallet. After all, I love riding horses and playing soccer, and this is the perfect combination!


And we are on to March!

Centerpieces of Love

Love is in the air this Valentine's Day week. It's got me thinking back to our official love day. Our wedding was far from perfect, but it was all sorts of handmade lovely.

The reception was held in a large pavilion type barn. Because it was not an enclosed building, we could not do all of the set-up until the day of the wedding. I am blessed with wonderful cousins and aunts who decorated the barn, including putting the centerpieces together, while I was busy doing other day-of-wedding activities.  A friend of my mom's kept watch at the barn until the party arrived.

True to my (semi)organized self, I created pictures of what the centerpieces were to look like to give to my relatives for easy duplication on wedding day.

My dad put together these gorgeous flower boxes out of old wood from our barn, and my mom found plastic containers that fit perfectly inside the boxes so they could be easily filled with home-grown flowers. I swiped a five gallon bucket of old horse shoes from the farrier before he could take them to the scrap yard. Kb spent a few evenings scrubbing them up so they'd be fit to set on a table.

My mom scored several of these glass candle holders at Kohl's on clearance. They were simple and slightly elegant, amidst the rustic decor. Also in the picture is a table marker. My dad welded the horseshoes together to make a stand. In addition, I have found that they double as great bookends. :)

Aside from the flower boxes, these were my favorite. My dad sliced pieces of wood from the pile out back, and my mom and I gathered different sized glass jars from our neighbors and friends. One design tip that my mom made sure I knew was that items look best in threes.

(pretty pictures courtesy of Jennifer Van Elk)

And last but not least, we put together rustic metal pieces in groups of three of course. This satisfied another one of my mom's design tips: different mediums used together create a more balanced feel. We had centerpieces comprised of wood, glass, and metal.

Thought and effort were put into creating homemade centerpieces. My family, friends, and relatives all contributed to making the tables look fabulous. 

Ode to Bo

Today, Bo and I hit the trails in honor of the sweatshirt weather. You have to get out of the house when it's this warm in January, and Bo is always up for an adventure.

Have I mentioned that I love my dog? Well, I do.

A little over ten years ago, I remember traveling in the truck with my dad to a farmhouse in Goshen. We were there to look at their Siberian Husky/German Shepherd puppies. Now really, that never works. You can never just look at puppies. Sure enough, we picked one out, brought him home, and dubbed him Bo. He was to be my dog, and he was to reside in the garage. 

Looking back, I'm surprised my parents consented to my desire for a dog so easily. They have certainly regretted that decision many times since. Bo was awfully naughty. His "puppy stage" lasted about seven years. He quickly became house-trained but decided that he preferred to go to the bathroom in the garage for about five years. Anything in the garage that could be chewed up was destroyed, including my dad's ice fishing hut. Now that was a bad day. Bo could only be given hard, rubber toys. All others, including tennis balls and soccer balls, would be quickly destroyed and eaten.

Bless my parents for taking care of him while I was at college.

In addition, Bo loved to run away, and he was incredibly disobedient. Well, let me clarify; he was disobedient outside of the show ring. For four or five years, I competed with Bo in obedience, agility,  and other disciplines. He did amazingly well. It took A LOT of time and energy, but he won most shows. That Bo is smart as a whip. Smart enough to know that when he was loose in the yard, there was no reason to listen to anyone. True to his husky roots, he took off whenever given the chance. Until several years ago, when my dad brought home a wireless containment system. That thing literally solved all of our problems with Bo, and our family was significantly more peaceful. I brag on Petsafe so much, I ought to be receiving royalties.

At times, it may seem like a curse, but one of the best things about Bo is his energy. The dog never gets tired! He is the best running, hiking, and biking companion. One hot July day, we ran 12 miles. That's the farthest that I have ever run, but he could've gone further! Later that day, we had an agility competition, and he still had an abundance of energy. During the cold winter, I didn't run with Bo so I decided to teach him to jump rope with me to burn off some of his energy. He loved to jump rope, and it became a hit at trick competitions. 

Last year, Bo turned ten. It snuck up on me. He definitely did not act his age. But over the last year, he has noticeably grayed and while he still has a lot of energy, he can't quite rack up the miles like he used to. Regardless of his age, this dog is chock full of infectious joy. There is nothing like coming home from work to this guy. He gets so darn excited, and I can't help but smile.

Did I mentioned that I love my dog?

Chalkboard Bandwagon

Yep, I'm now on it. Generally, I avoid trends purely because they are trends, but this time, I let that trend in the house and I put right up on the wall. A hardware store's going-out-of-business sale lured me in. I snatched up that chalkboard spray paint at 40% off. Who can say no to that?

It took me a few days to decide what to christen with the chalkboard paint. I contemplated this...

 Isn't it cool?! Kb didn't think so.

I knew I wanted the painted object to display our weekly menu. On the weekends, I plan the meals for the next week and make my grocery list based off of that menu. I write down the meals on the back of my grocery list. Inevitably, I lose the list or it gets thrown away, and sometimes, I can't remember what meals I planned. Writing the meals down on a handy dandy chalkboard would eliminate that problem.

Whilst using the elliptical, I looked out on the porch and saw an old window that I had salvaged from the barn. It was just sitting there, awaiting inspiration. Instantly, I knew. It was meant to be covered in chalkboard paint.

Ta-da! She's rustic, yet edgy. She's functional, yet cosmetic. She's my new fave. Come on now; how could you resist this bandwagon!

Darling Darlington

So every Christmas a warehouse in Fort Wayne is transformed. It's once vacant space is filled with all sorts of goodies, from kid's toys to crafts, books to wrapping paper. You never know what special goodies await you at the warehouse-turned-Christmas-store called Darlington.

Oh, and the best part? Everything in the store is $1.59. Yep, that's 159 pennies.

Turn in the drive and you are greeted by police officer parking attendants. Enter the single door and you must clothe yourself with an extra measure of patience. Push your cart down the crowded aisles, and steer clear of the old ladies grabbing this or that. Visions of black Friday gone bad enter your mind.

But then.

you see it.

The cutest $1.59 goodies you ever did see.

And you realize what every child in the world needs for Christmas.

And you rifle through the boxes, creating quite a scene. 

And then, you realize that you must also get some for yourself. 

The nice worker notices your frenzy and pulls out a new box from the back.

And you go crazy. 

Because oh em gee, they are too darn cute.

When you get home, you barter with your mom to get your favorites.

 

 But deep down, you regret that you did not nab every last one of them.  

Lovelies Lately

1. I am a nerd at heart. I love researching and academic writing. I am currently applying for a master's program and the application requires a short research paper. Initially, I drug my feet, but now I've got the thirst. I'm excited for the opportunity to be a student again. Cross your fingers that I'll get in!


2.  This sauce is awesome. It tastes similar to Subway's sweet onion sauce. I have had it on pasta, sandwiches, and salads. Tonight, I threw together noodles, leftover turkey, and corn and drenched it all in sauce. Yum.

3. The weather this December has been superb. No hat or gloves required. I didn't even mind the rain this morning. Perhaps, Indiana has sensed my urge to pack up and move to more sensible climate and is, consequently, adjusting to my tastes. Yep, that has to be it.



4. Kb and I have been hiking a lot lately. I love it. We don't exactly live in mecca for hiking, but we have discovered a few gems. Last weekend, we trekked the precarious trails of Winona Lake. The trails are popular with mountain bikers.  Bikers and hikers share the same trails; they must simply travel in opposite directions. It's not so simple, really. Several times we swiftly sought refuge trailside. It was a great adventure.

5. And the lovely Kb did the dishes tonight. :)

The Buffet

 Before

              

                

After

It's finished. Well, not really, but I did stain it. And I'm thinking that I like it. 

I used Rustoleum brand stain in the sun-bleached color. It gave the wood the blue-gray color that I was looking for. It still needs some sort of knobby things for the drawers and cupboards. I am currently imagining a homemade thick rope handle, like this:

(http://remodelista.com/posts/5-quick-fixes-instant-rope-handles-and-pulls)

But I'm not ready to commit. 

What I did commit to? Spare pieces of genuine drift wood that my parent's friends brought straight from the St. Mary's River in Michigan. 

My dad drilled some holes and ta-da...

A sweet centerpiece.

All it needs is a few pine boughs to rest upon. 

It's official. I've got the Christmas spirit.

Fabulous Fall, 2

This second installment has been a long time coming. We are in the thick of fall and all of its fabulousness.

Sarcasm? Maybe. Yesterday, I caught myself researching living locales with more mild climates. I let myself dream for just a little bit.

But, I have managed to contrive a few more positive aspects of the season.

1. Daylight savings time.  I am actually a fan of the time change. When the sun rises earlier, it makes me feel like I'm not waking up as early. And when it gets dark in the evening, it makes me want to curl up in a blanket with my hot cocoa, and then, go to bed early. I don't want to be out in the cold anyway!

2. Pretty scenes. While currently the trees are looking bland and naked, for a short time, they were donned in festive attire.  It made driving around the county a little more interesting.

There have also been some particularly gorgeous and vibrant sunsets. Our little house faces west, and we have an uninterrupted view of God's paintings. It's mesmerizing.

3. Birthdays. Kb and I both have fall birthdays. It's easier to ignore the blahs of fall when you're celebrating a birthday! We get to spend a little money on some "wants" and eat more sweets than necessary.

Last night, the fall birthday celebration was held with my extended family. The food and the company were equally fantastic. Luckily, I had a soccer game right before the party so I felt I had license to pig out. Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, and vegetables filled my plate for the main course. And then, there were the desserts. Oh the desserts! First, Grandma brought sliced apples and homemade caramel. Oh my stars; it was heavenly. But then, there was my mom's chocolate ice cream dessert layered with caramel and yummy crumbles. Normally, it's a Thanksgiving dessert tradition, but I very much approve of the decision to extend it to other holidays or every holiday. Unfortunately, I was stuffed after the ice cream. I didn't even get to the cake and cookies!

4. Comfort foods. I love the warm, rich, and hearty comfort foods of fall. Last week, I may or may not have had potato corn chowder for dinner four nights in a row...  My mom used to make that soup and it makes me feel all sorts of good inside. To Kb's relief, I did emerge from my soup coma long enough to make a new chicken recipe, crescent chicken. It was so easy and so good. This one is definitely going in our rotation. 

Did I mention we ate it all? Yep, the whole pan was licked clean.  No worries though; I spent a few extra hours minutes on the elliptical.

Fabulous Fall

Fabulous is too strong of a word, but I'm going with it because I dig alliteration.
It's difficult for me to find anything truly fabulous about fall, primarily because of what it precedes: the dreaded winter. However, this exercise has encouraged/forced me to see this season in a more positive light.

1. Washing dishes is more heart-warming. Literally. Since this chilly air has set in, I almost look forward to doing my nightly dishes. The warm water feels so darn good!

2. It's harvest time. I enjoy seeing the combines and tractors out in the fields, and I don't mind slowing to a crawl when I drive up behind them on the roads. It reminds me that I am living the country life, and I love it. In addition, once those fields are cleared, I can race my horses all across the countryside.

3. The horse show season is coming to a close, not only for me, but also for the Quarter Horse Show circuit. The All-American Quarter Horse Congress is October 5th through October 28th. And I'm going! I'm pretty excited. It's been awhile since I've been out of town, and Kb is even coming along!

4.  A new season of shows is on tv. My absolute favorite show (on our slim Amish cable) is Parenthood. I love the varying family dynamics. They question, disagree, and fight, but they never stop loving. The show also highlights the struggles a child faces who is on the Autism spectrum. All of the characters are complex and well-developed, and somehow they manage to bring me to tears every Tuesday night. 


It may be a short list, but my fall perspective is slowly shifting. And that's the real goal.