Wedded Bliss Road

Believe it or Not

2012-01-13T14:49:00.000-06:00

We had been fortunate to find very kind patient groomers for Riley. He's not exactly well-behaved for them - hard to imagine! Last time he went, a new employee was supposed to call and tell me he'd be ready in 15 minutes, but what he told me was that Riley was ready. I try not to leave him there any longer than is necessary (for their sakes) so I headed there right away. He saw me and flipped out. The next 10 minutes, I'm not sure how his groomer got anything done with him, but he looked great. I couldn't convince them that he'd crash when he got home, but sure enough, this is Riley about 30 minutes later. I sent it to them on Facebook as proof that he does stop moving...once in a great while.

O Christmas Tree

2012-01-11T14:39:00.000-06:00

"The little lights aren't twinkling."

"I know Art, and thanks for noticing."

Christmas Vacation

For the past several years, I've held my breath when plugging in the Christmas tree, always fairly sure that the pre-lit lights will have lived out their usefulness. This year was no exception. But all the little lights came on! I was impressed, this being the tree's 8th Christmas. A week or so after all the decorations were on, I noticed a few branches were dark. We bought one of those light test/repair guns, but no luck. A few days later, another branch joined the darkness. Then a few more. It was beginning to look like Christmas might be a little dark at our house! About half of the lights made it until Christmas day, and David filled in some dark places with additional strings of lights.

Not wanting to get rid of the tree, I spent about 4 hours on one of my days off after Christmas with a pair of wire cutters and a trash can, cutting out all 600 lights. By next Christmas, I'm sure I'll be glad I did it, but that sure isn't a fun task. No more pre-lit trees for me!

A Very Mickey Christmas!

2012-01-09T14:23:00.000-06:00

I was about 19 the first time my parents and I went to Walt Disney World in FL. We had a great time, but I think I remember Dad saying that it was the last time he was going to go. We've been back several times since then, the fourth in December. (And believe it or not, they've been a couple more times!) He's still saying this is the last time, but I'm not entirely convinced. I had to leave David at home to work...and because he refuses to set foot in Orlando. I missed him, but we still had fun! I was just going to be in Orlando two full days, so I got to pick my favorite 2 parks to visit - isn't it great to be an only child! I chose Epcot and Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM). Our Epcot day, there was a light rain falling in the morning. It didn't bother us, and it certainly kept the crowds down!
We got to ride more and do more of the attractions than we'd ever done because there was hardly any wait for anything.
We stayed long enough to see the fireworks and the glowing globe in the center of the lake. I love the big Epcot ball at night!
The next day we headed to Hollywood Studios. The weather was much better, and the crowd was a little larger. Dad wants us to believe that this was our rental car. :)
We had a great time at Hollywood Studios too. The lines were a little longer, but still not too bad. I was disappointed to learn that not only is the Golden Girls house no longer on the Backlot Tour, but it may be GONE! So sad. The light display was SPECTACULAR! When the lights first came on, the waiting crowd all breathed a collective "oooh." The history of the light display is pretty interesting. You can read about it here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/osbornelights.htm

I headed home after a fun-filled two days, and Mom and Dad got to continue their vacation in peace. ;) I had a great time! Guess time will tell if Dad will go back to Disney or not.

Four Years on the Wedded Bliss Road

2012-01-07T14:09:00.002-06:00

Time to catch up on this much neglected blog. I only managed 39 posts in all of last year. Maybe I'll do better this year - I'll shoot for 40 posts. ;)

Since I last checked in, we've celebrated our fourth anniversary, I went on vacation with my parents, we celebrated Christmas and New Year's, and enjoyed a visit with our friend who moved to Ohio. We'll soon be headed to Illinois for David's niece's wedding reception.

December 8, David and I celebrated our 4th anniversary. He brought me these beautiful flowers that look a lot like my wedding bouquet, and we had delicious beef burgundy for dinner.

For little favors at our wedding reception, we gave our friends and family a red ball ornament with our names and wedding date on ribbon tied on as a hanger. Not a Christmas has gone by since that someone doesn't mention that they thought of us when they decorated their tree. That always makes me smile. As we were getting the Christmas trees out of the attic this year, I saw a box of Christmas stuff that I don't normally get down. I sent it down the attic stairs to David, figuring I should go through it and decide what to do with the contents. What to my wondering eye should appear, but about 8 more boxes of those very ornaments! If anyone breaks theirs, we've got replacements handy!

Cave Springs Church

2011-11-17T17:13:00.003-06:00

Several years ago when we were planning a wedding, David looked up churches that were on the historic register for our county. We visited a few, including this one in the tiny community of Cave Springs. We peeked in it's windows, and even talked to a woman working in her yard nearby. I think I called the pastor, but it didn't seat many and didn't have indoor plumbing so we didn't consider it for long.A week or so ago, it was in our newspaper as the "Home of the Week." Restoration is in progress to save the old building that was built once the Civil War ended.
Last weekend, they held an open house, so we went to check it out.
It was decorated with simple Christmas decorations, keeping with the era in which it was built.
Despite the outhouse (newly finished!), I think maybe we should plan another wedding! What a wonderful old building.
Besides, it would give people something to talk about. How many weddings have you attended where you had to use an outhouse? ;)

Camping in Jasper, AR

2011-11-01T20:09:00.002-05:00

Last weekend we camped just outside Jasper, AR. It was a little cold at night, but the days were beautiful. The trees were bright oranges, yellows, and reds.
We drove on dirt roads and small highways to see the scenery and fall colors.
David got us cots for our great pumpkin tent, which made sleeping there much more comfortable. It was Riley's first camping trip, and he did pretty well. He's never slept outside and he spent part of the first night shivering on the cot. The second night was a little warmer though, and he was worn out.

It was a gorgeous fall weekend for a camping trip!

Odds and Ends

2011-10-22T17:43:00.003-05:00

Poor neglected blog...I can't imagine anyone is still reading due to the lack of updates. Mom? Are you there? ;) Keethas? Hello?You wouldn't know it by the blog, but we've had a lovely busy fall. We've gone to a few craft fairs, Mule Days in Ozark,
Decorated for fall...
Took a scenic drive to Oark, AR for some delicious burgers
Saw the Wiener Mobile crusing around Branson,
Toured the Coca-Cola bottling plant in honor of Coke's 125th anniversary,
Went to Silver Dollar City to the National Harvest Festival,
Spent lots of time outside with this guy,
Decorated some more, baked pumpkiny treats, planted pansies, bought mums, read lots of good books...Hope you are having a wonderful fall as well!

On Your Recommendation…

2011-10-04T19:12:00.005-05:00

For the past couple of years, possibly longer. A couple of friends have been talking about this little know burger joint in the middle of nowhere Arkansas. Oark, Arkansas, to be exact. Oark lies on a stretch of road that is popular with motorcycle riders and is often referred to as “The Pig Trail.”

View Larger Map

The Oark Cafe serves up a delicious burger that can only be outdone by the warm welcome and down-home hospitality of the owners. We had Riley with us Sunday afternoon so going inside to eat was out of the question. Allowing Riley to stay in the truck while we went inside was also not an option. No problem for the folks in Oark. Pull up a seat on the front porch and they will bring lunch out to you. The father of the owner was helping out in the kitchen but took a break to come out and talk with us. He made it a point to thank everyone who stopped and wish them safe travels as they left.

A big THANKS to Dan and Jeff for letting me in on this well hidden gem of a joint.

He’s a shot of Riley and Erin. This is on the upper Buffalo River at a low water bridge near Ponca, AR. When we have floated this river in the past there would be about a foot to two feet of water flowing where Erin and Riley are standing.

Willing Subject

2011-09-12T16:21:00.005-05:00

I received a new camera for my birthday. It’s 14 megapixels and replaces my old 4 megapixel camera. It’s waterproof and shockproof. Now all I need is a willing subject.

OH!

Never Mind!

Found One.

This picture is not that great but a cool shot of the sky.

Treasure Hunting

2011-08-16T17:25:00.000-05:00

One thing I've done this summer while keeping cool indoors is shop. A little online, but more fun have been a couple of antiquing days with my friend Christina.Here are Christina and I way back when...
And slightly more recently. In search of a picture, it has come to my attention that we are practically incapable of taking a picture in which we are both smiling with our eyes open.
Anyway, last Saturday we embarked on an antique and tea room day, and I brought home this coffee table. It wasn't in coffee table form though, it was in little desk form. David cut its legs down, and voila! Coffee table! My old coffee table has gone to live at Christina's house. Convenient, as I can visit it any time I might miss it. ;)
My online shopping led me to a new rug for Riley's room. It is soft and colorful. So could someone please tell me why Riley is currently laying off to the side?

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2011-08-15T06:02:00.000-05:00

Wilson's Creek 150th Anniversary

2011-08-14T17:43:00.004-05:00

This weekend, David and I went to a reenactment of the Battle of Wilson's Creek.The actual reenactment was a little too far away to see much, or keep our attention, but there were lots of other things to do and see.A photographer who looked like he had a story to tell...

Horses in Wilson's Creek...
People dressed in period costume, camping as they might have in 1861...
Picturesque campgrounds...
More people in character...
Canons....and every imaginable civil war related item you might need, from books and DVDs about the war to a fabric store tent with period fabric for creating your own uniform or dress, a vintage baseball game, cloggers, and music. It was an especially big event this year for the 150th anniversary, but there is a big reenactment of this battle every 10 years. David and I attended 10 years ago, and plan to be there in 10 more.

Zippity Do Dah

2011-06-19T18:22:00.003-05:00

For Christmas I had the bright idea for my dad and I to go zip-lining for his Christmas gift. Six months later on Father's Day, we finally got to go! It was very fun. We first crossed 7 swinging suspension bridges. I think that was more unnerving than the actual zipping. It looks like a really long way down!
Dad was of course, very calm on his turns. I, on the other hand, couldn't figure out who was breaking the peace of the forest by screaming so loud. Then I realized, the scream was coming from me. :)
The first run was a little scary, especially as I ended up being first. The next three were smooth sailing and so fun.
It was a very good way to spend Father's Day I think!

The Many Faces of Riley

2011-06-04T10:56:00.000-05:00

Patient Riley

Thoughtful Riley

Smiling Riley

Sorry. I just can't resist. He's too darn cute.

Meet Me in Margaritaville

2011-06-01T10:37:00.000-05:00

A month or two ago, David got us tickets to see Jimmy Buffett in Dallas. At the time, it seemed we might not be able to go due to his work schedule, but miracle of miracles, his new job started and it turned out that we COULD go!
The party going on in the parking lot is always very entertaining. We wondered how early some people must have arrived to get all set up in their RVs and trailers and tents and... It is just a crazy place!
Please ignore my weird hair (humid and windy) and focus instead on the happy smiles of the couple seeing JB for the 6th (me) and 10th (David) time. One man had a poster saying it was his 43rd JB concert. I can't imagine!
The people watching is almost as entertaining as the concert itself. The guys in the fin hats are the "fin men" and are there in some sort of official capacity. Otherwise, the people dressed as pirates, parrots, cheeseburgers...well, they're just there for a good time.
It was an outstanding concert, as always.
On our return trip from Dallas, my phone rang. It was my dad, calling to tell us of a serious tornado warning a few miles ahead of us. We pulled off and waited for a while, then traveled on past Joplin. We saw the semi trucks lying on their sides on the highway and though how awful it looked. It was only in the days following did we learn that we learned that we were just about 30 minutes behind a devastating tornado that destroyed much of the city of Joplin. Our prayers and thoughts are with them still.

The Reader's Digest Version

2011-05-31T10:24:00.002-05:00

Since we returned from our vacation, seems that we've been on the go. In no particular order, we've...Attended Krista's annual Derby Party. Hats are strongly encouraged, but I didn't get one put together this year. It's okay...I still got to partake in the most delicious sandwich ever - a Hot Brown with turkey, bacon, and most importantly, gravy.
Attended two Springfield Cardinals ballgames. For one of those games, we had these fancy-schmancy recliner seats. I think I can never watch a ball game from regular seats again. It was wonderful!
Mulched the backyard. 6 cubic feet of mulch. And now...there are tiny maple trees growing EVERYWHERE in our shiny new mulch. It's driving me crazy!
Visited World Fest at Silver Dollar City. It was a rainy day, which was perfect as there was hardly any crowd. We always like to see the group from Trinidad and Tobago.

David also has a new job, which is great because he is home every night. He got to spend a full holiday weekend at home, which hasn't happened in several years. He's been grilling for us, as noted in the delicious picture in the previous post, I've been planting flowers, and we've been to a great concert (will get it's own post soon). It's been a busy spring, but we've enjoyed it!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

2011-05-28T16:23:00.001-05:00

Let the summer grilling season begin!

Tri-Tip on the Green Egg. Maybe not the prettiest picture but what’s that old saying?

Beauty is in the eye...

Arches National Park - The Grand Finale

2011-04-21T20:52:00.000-05:00

Arches National Park was our last stop before heading east toward home, and it was a spectacular finale.

Our favorite part was getting to climb around IN Double Arch. If you look closely, you can see the tiny dots of people on the right side of the first arch.

David in the opening of the second arch. I tried climbing up too to see what was on the other side, but chickened out. Climbing up wasn't too difficult, it was the return trip that made me nervous.
The famous Delicate Arch. We didn't take the hike right up to it, as the hike to the Upper Viewing location was plenty strenuous for us!
Here we are in front of the Fiery Furnace. Please ignore my dorky chin strap. It was really windy, so it was either wear the strap or chase my hat around.

It was a fabulous vacation and I hated to see it end. After we left Arches, we made tracks east to Denver and then to home. Time to start planning our next trip! Where to, David?

Highway 12

2011-04-20T20:27:00.000-05:00

Highway 12 Scenic Byway begins outside Zion National Park and continues to Torrey, UT (near the entrance to Capitol Reef NP) and was about as interesting as visiting the parks themselves. Can you spot the road in this first picture?I wanted a picture of this swiss cheese-like rock, but realized that it wouldn't look as big without some perspective. So I shimmied (no really, I did!) into one of the holes.

In the dry dry air, metal and wood things seem to last much longer. We spied this old truck from the highway and had to get a picture.

For more information on this scenic highway, click here: http://www.utah.com/byways/highway_12.htm. If you are out that way and don't take this highway, you are missing out on beautiful scenery! And the excitement of a road that rides the ridge of a mountain with steep drop offs on both sides. You don't want to miss that, do you? ;)

Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef

2011-04-19T20:13:00.001-05:00

I am one lucky traveler. David does an excellent job of planning our adventures, and I pack my clothes and get in the car. I'm spoiled, I know. I didn't do much (any) research on the places we were going. I thought, Arizona, Utah, Spring. And packed accordingly. Had I looked up Bryce Canyon on the internet, I would have learned that the elevation ranges from 8,000 to almost 10,000 feet and that the average high in April is 56. I would have learned that, but I didn't.So I was ill prepared for the 34 degree day that blessed us while visiting Bryce. I think that's why it wasn't one of my favorites. It's beautiful and breathtaking, but I was mostly just cold.
We didn't let the temps prevent us from taking a couple walks to lookouts where you can see almost forever.
After we got home, I looked at the weather forecast for Bryce to find that they were expecting 2-4 FEET of snow last Sunday. I am suddenly glad for the 34 degree DRY day!
We also visited Capital Reef National Park while passing through. It was neat because you can drive back into the canyons on gravel and rock roads. We also saw more wildlife there - mule deer, mountain bluebirds, and a marmot.
The remains of a community called Fruita are part of the park. This is the still-furnished school house.

Zion National Park

2011-04-18T20:26:00.000-05:00

Zion was one of our favorite national parks that we visited on this trip.There were lots of people, but not too many and the weather was perfect.
We rode the shuttle to the end, took a 2-mile walk back through the canyon to where the trail called the "Narrows" begins. Unfortunately the trail was closed due to high water. If not, I'm just sure we would have hiked it! What are you laughing at? ;)
Our hike, the shuttle ride, and the road provided us with beautiful sights and blue blue skies.
This is the view from one of the scenic stops looking down at another scenic stop. It's a LONG way down there!
The waterfall was so pretty. We must have a dozen pictures of it from all different angles. I would definitely go back there some day.

Burma Road

2011-04-17T19:44:00.001-05:00

As David, and Charles Kuralt, noted it's possible to stay on big highways and not see much of anything. Whenever we pass an interesting looking dirt road, David gets a little gleam in his eye. Usually we just travel on though. We have some place to be, not enough time to explore. With our change in plans due to the road to the North Rim being closed, we had a little unexpected time. Enough time to check out this narrow steep road call Burma Road.So off we went. We met one car full of young men going the other way, but that was the only other sign of life for quite a while.
The truck cooperatively posed for a few pictures.
We saw a sign noting that this was a burned area and to watch for fallen trees. We soon came upon a national forest employee who was working on clearing some trees from the road. He was very friendly, and answered all of our questions. He told us that the fire had been in 2006, and that every time the wind blows, a new set of burned trees fall. Sure enough, just a little way up the road a large pine had fallen and was blocking the road. Not deterred, David winched it out of the way while I walked around in the woods thinking how it smell like a campfire.
Here's a shot of some of the burned area. It was very strange to look across and see a whole hill's worth of trees blackened.
The fallen tree didn't slow us down much and we are almost at the end of the road where it would drop us back at a highway when we encountered snow. David worked and got us through a large patch of wet, heavy snow, but as we reached the top of the road, we could see that we couldn't make it to the highway that way. We turned around and headed back down. Even though we were retracing our steps, everything sure looked different from the other direction!

Glen Canyon

2011-04-16T19:34:00.000-05:00

Since the North Rim was a no-go, we visited the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area at our waitress's suggestion. The scenery was gorgeous - inspiring one of us to take on the "I'm on top of the world" pose. But we won't say who.
The Colorado rive winds through this area before it heads toward the Grand Canyon, making it, well, grand.
You can't tell from this picture how hard it was to get. It involved some climbing across damp rocks after setting the timer. I'm laughing in it because David arrived just as the flash went off.
The remains of a little village of Lee's Ferry are still here, including this old window. We took a little hike to see these and another to see the orchard and old lodge.

Navajo Bridge, Arizona

2011-04-15T19:26:00.000-05:00

Our waitress from the Lee's Ferry Lodge suggested a walk across the Navajo Bridge, so we did just that. It was less frightening than I expected, as it was pretty wide.Stepping to the edge was a little more of an adventure, but the view was so incredible that it had to be done.
David walked back the way we came, but I could not resist going all the way to the other end and taking a few silly shots while I was there.
I just liked the light and shadows for this last shot. The desert has to have some of the most interesting sunlight I've seen.
You can read more about the Navajo bridge here: http://www.nps.gov/glca/historyculture/navajobridge.htm.

Lee's Ferry Lodge

2011-04-14T19:08:00.000-05:00

The hotels we stayed at were all nice, clean, lovely places. But one really deserves it's own post, and it is the Lee's Ferry Lodge. To get there, you drive through reservation land to approximately the middle of absolutely no where. Then you drive a little further, admiring the way the setting sun turns the canyon walls a fiery shade of red. After the Navajo bridge, turn left. Pass the first lodge and drive a few more miles to the second one (and only other on this stretch of road). You'll first be greeted by a friendly Great Pyrenees mix, who is doing a great job of guarding the place as she turns over for you to scratch her tummy. To check in, you'll go into the lodge restaurant where they will pull out a large paper ledger to find your reservation. With pencil in hand, the host will put a check mark through your name. Not a computer in sight.
Next, they'll hand you a key - an actual key! - to your room. The dog will follow you there and wait outside the door while you unpack. Head back to the dark, woodsy lodge for dinner before crashing in the pleasantly decorated bed. The room looks more like someone's guest room than a hotel room.
After you wake up, head back to the lodge for a delicious breakfast.
Ask your waitress for ideas of what you should do that day, as she'll know. She'll also be the one to snort "Good luck with that!" when you tell her that you're planning to go to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. See, she knows something you don't and that is that the road to the North Rim won't be open until mid-May due to snow.
But she'll give you ideas for other things to do, and those things will be fun too.
Marvel at your good fortune to stay and sleep and eat at some place so far from anywhere. Discuss with your travel partner whether you could live somewhere so remote, and decide that it was wonderful to visit, but no probably couldn't live there.

Red Rock Country

2011-04-13T18:55:00.000-05:00

Last time we were in Sedona, it was July and just incredibly hot. I enjoyed it so much more this time! David's cousin, Paula, and her husband, Jess live there and were so kind to take us to lunch and on a tour of the town.

Having lived there for 14 years, they are a wealth of information that we wouldn't have gotten otherwise. And they're lots of fun!When David learned that they don't have (or need) a lawnmower, I thought I might have to fly back to Springfield without him to pack up the animals and drive back. I really wasn't sure he was going to leave! I can't say that I blame him. It really is a beautiful place.As we were leaving Sedona, this is what the GPS showed for the upcoming road.

Lots to see, even on the road "more" traveled!

Meet Me at the Mission At Midnight

2011-04-12T16:43:00.000-05:00

In need of a break from all things vehicular, David took me to Tumacacori, a misson begun in the mid-1800's. It's about 30 miles north of the Mexican border. Since I can't seem to get into the National Park website (government shutdown?), and we only borrowed the little booklet, I can't tell you much about this place, other than it was very interesting. And that a wedding was being set up there as we were getting ready to leave. A few things that I remember: The church was only part of a mission and was often built last as was this case.
Here we are, being a little silly (blame the heat) in the food storage area of the mission.
This was also the food storage area. I was fascinated by the light coming in through all the windows, doors, and open roofs.
I don't know this guy. ;)
Can you spot David in the picture above? That's his Gracie impression.
The cemetery. Two priests are also buried in the floor of the alter area of the church.
Before the NPS took over the mission and began work to improve it, countless people passing through used it for shelter. The picture above is taken from the robe room where priests would prepare for the church service. There is graffiti on the walls dating back to the 1800's, and the ceiling is black from the many fires built in that room for warmth by people traveling.

Even when the church was in use, there were no pews or chairs. The congregation would spend the entire service alternating between kneeling on the rock floor or standing. Hope those sermons weren't long!

Post title credit: The Refreshments, Banditos

The Road Less Traveled

2011-04-11T16:32:00.000-05:00

We took the truck rather than my sweet delicate little flower of an SUV so that we could do some traveling on the less beaten paths. Our first of these paths was a road leading from I-10 right into Green Valley, Arizona. Last year, the sun set while we were finding this road, so we drove it in the dark. We wanted to see what we'd missed, so we tried it again.
Dan and Leila followed us, since we thought we knew were we were going. The road was very rough in some places, but the views couldn't be matched by the interstate.
I was certainly glad not to be driving, and glad we didn't meet other cars on the mountain pass, but wasn't otherwise too nervous.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Like a Band of Gypsies We Go Down the Highway

2011-04-10T16:09:00.004-05:00

Enough with just the teasing...I've got a few dozen (it seems) posts in the works about our recent trip. A week and a half ago, we embarked on a seven state trip to the southwest. Some of those states were just a means to another state, and our main focus was on Arizona and Utah. You may remember that last April we took a similar trip. The Overland Expo is an annual event in Amado, AZ. I can't quite describe it, but it's kind of a show of equipment and seminars for what I think of as extreme camping. There are people and vehicles there that have, or are, circumnavigating the earth. Um...yeah. Really. There are also some that just take vacations or weekends in their snazzy off-road trucks. It's pretty interesting. It also takes place in a big field of dessert dust in the blazing sunlight. This year, the first day was 97 degrees. A dry heat, but quite hot nonetheless! The picture above is David and I at a rest stop near Tombstone, AZ on the first day that we traveled with our friends Dan and Leila. They're in the picture below with their Discovery. In all these pictures, the sky was just as blue as it looks. It's gorgeous. At the expo, lots of people bring their outfitted vehicles like these for display. You can poke around, look around, and ask lots of questions.And when the heat gets to be too much, you (or more specifically Leila and I) can take refuge on the deep porch of the Amado Territory Inn where it feels downright pleasant. Mixed in with all the truck pictures that David took were a few of this flowering shrub that I took. A little something for everyone!

Post title credit: Willie Nelson, On the Road Again

Wandering Toes

2011-04-04T23:02:00.004-05:00

Here are another couple little teasers/hints.

"Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."

~Charles Kuralt, On the Road With Charles Kuralt

Full trip report to come…

Where In The World?

2011-04-03T00:06:00.003-05:00

More to come...

St. Patrick's Parade 2011

2011-03-20T19:12:00.003-05:00

We had a great time at the St. Patrick's Day Parade yesterday. The weather wasn't great, so I didn't take any pictures of the parade from under the awning where I was standing/watching. Afterward we went to an old bar and had the best burger I've had in a while.
Somehow this picture of Krista, me, and Christina makes it look like the sun was shining. Trust me - it wasn't!
A few sweatshirts remain from when David and Todd had a firetruck that they drove in the parade every year, even though the firetruck has been gone about 10 years.
A highlight of our afternoon was being serenaded by the Garbanzos - a colorful collection of musicians who seem to know about five songs. ;)

Family Ties

2011-03-13T20:15:00.004-05:00

David and I got to spend a lot of time with both of our families this weekend. It is unusual that David's aunts and uncles are all in one place, so we always try to see them when they are.

(Georgene, Marilyn, Bubs, Jo)

We always enjoy listening to his Uncle Bub's stories. Even those that we've heard before are fun to hear again - especially to see how Bubs will embellish it this time!

His Uncle Paul is 95, and we learned that his longevity might be attribute to gravy! That's an idea that I can get behind!
Lots of stories were told, and we love seeing everyone. Hope to do it again soon!
Yesterday we celebrated my mom's birthday, but I failed to get any pictures. Today I went to lunch with some of my side of the family. Always good to see my grandad!

Con, Grandad, and Mom

And the peanut gallery (and our drivers!)

It was a great weekend, even if we did lose an hour!

Gentleman – START YOUR ENGINES!

2011-02-26T17:43:00.007-06:00

Admittedly we are not big race fans. However, a combination of cabin fever and the promise of automobiles hurdling thru the Ozarks backwoods has peaked our (maybe I should say “my”) interest. For several years there has been a sanctioned rally type event not far from where we live. It’s called the 100 Acre Wood Rally here’s a link: 100 Acre Wood Rally.

The event headquarters is Salem, MO, a sleepy little town in the south central part of the state. This must be the biggest annual event in Salem as witnessed by every business having a “Welcome 100 Acre Rally Participants” sign out front. The gist of the race is that there are timed trial sections of road all around Salem. The participants drive between these trial sections and then compete to see who can drive each section the fastest. When I say fastest – I mean HOLY CRAP! WHAT THE HELL JUST FLEW BY ME AT 100MPH?

It would be impressive to see these cars fly by at such high speeds on asphalt or concrete. But that is not what Rally Racing is all about. These guys are slinging these cars around corners, up and down hills and across water crossings on roads that consist of no more than graded DIRT and GRAVEL.

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!

This must be a pretty popular type of racing. We saw license plates from as far away as Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, and Ontario, Canada. Watching the race could only be done from certain designated locations with very strict rules as to where you could or could not stand. After watching a few of these cars fly by Erin was ready to give it a try. Look for her and I to be piloting one of these all-wheel-drive 4 cylinder land missals in next years race. Now, where can I find a racing jump suit in a portly size 60 long?

dd

Freshly Groomed

2011-02-21T15:41:00.003-06:00

I have been seized by spring cleaning as of late. Not even Riley escaped my quest for clean. Here is he, just back from the groomer. His wonderful groomer, Sarah, was saying that he is really good on the table and had lots of energy to play with the other dogs once he was done. Just as she said that, he made a beeline for me, jumping up and almost knocking me over. **Sigh** At least he looks good!

An Unusual Moment

2011-02-07T15:07:00.000-06:00

Henrietta, also known as BC or Brown Cat, rarely ventures downstairs. She prefers the relative safety of upstairs, where she is less likely to be chased by Riley. But Saturday she was spotted enjoying the sunshine downstairs. Gracie was as close to the sun as she could get without risking the wrath of Henny. I lured Riley over with the promise of a treat for this picture. ALL our pets in one picture! Probably won't happen again for a long time.

Out With The Old, In With the New

2011-02-06T14:52:00.003-06:00

Last year around this time, we attended the last regular season game in the old gymnasium, Weiser Gym, at our alma mater. Friday, we were invited to join my friend Christina and her friend Mindy in the fancy schmancy new gym - O'Reilly Family Event Center.We didn't just get to watch the game in the fancy new gym...we got to sit in a private suite! With comfortable leather seats...and a sink and a fridge. It was great! Thank you to Christina for inviting us.
Might be hard to go back to the regular plastic seats with the common folk though. ;)
Don't worry...we didn't let David or Mindy leave with the decorations.

Snow Day!

2011-02-02T08:13:00.002-06:00

For the second day in a row, I'm enjoying a snow day. Snowmageddon has hit southern Missouri. Riley spent a lot of the day going in and out, in and out, dragging in snow with his every return.
Finally, we decided to join him. He doesn't seem to mind the snow at all! I wish I could say that I've gotten lots done, but I haven't. Lots of sitting around, sleeping late, and napping. I think that's the only cure for cabin fever.

Picky Eater

2011-01-26T19:21:00.003-06:00

We have some of David's mom's cookbooks, like this Campbell Soup one. I was thumbing through it tonight, when I found a page she'd marked and made notes on. This is note made me laugh out loud! David says he remembers eating it and that she was right - he didn't like it! Guess I won't be making this one any time soon. :)

Just Say No

2011-01-17T18:27:00.003-06:00

Step one in the great Living With Less project is to be more deliberate in bringing items into the house. Reasonably easy to do while shopping, but what about the "free" stuff handed to you at various events? This weekend, David and I attended an RV show. The first 100 people through the door were gifted with free RV toilet paper. While in line, we decided we didn't really need nor want RV toilet paper to use in our imaginary RV, so I said no thank you to the t.p. man. He kind of looked at me funny, but we went on. One of the RV salesmen offered me a yard stick. Again, no thank you. "But it's autographed!" he protested while he still held out the yard stick to me. Smile, repeat no thank you! While we walked through the junk being peddled between the RV and boat section, a woman stuck out her hand with a small packet. "Would you like a sample of Scentsy!" It wasn't a question so much as an assumption. "No thank you!" She looked a little taken aback, as if shocked that I wasn't interested in a sample. Had I not been paying attention, I would have come home with RV toilet paper, a yard stick, and a Scentsy packet. I don't need any of those things, but they would have been mine to dispose of in some way, or to keep around cluttering up the place.

Today three boxes of housewares, a bag of clothes, and four coats made their way to an organization where hopefully they will be used by someone who needs them more than I do. One of my favorite declutter/minimalist type blogs is http://www.365lessthings.com/. Every week, she gives suggestions for mini-tasks like cleaning out your glovebox or pen drawer. Right up my alley!

Fun Filled Family Christmas

2011-01-11T18:08:00.000-06:00

Christmas at my Aunt Connie's was delayed by cold and flu bugs, so we got together for chili and other yummies last Saturday. John and Connie's house is one of my favorite places.
Downstairs my Uncle John has a "train room." He's spent lots of time getting everything just right and it is so cool!
Little Ryan loves to watch Thomas go round the track - he may become a train guy too! We had a great time with lots of good food.

Kitchen Art

2011-01-10T18:02:00.000-06:00

Use it up

Wear it out

Make it do

Or do without

I learned that little poem in a Culture of the Ozarks class, and I am always proud of myself when I can put it to use. I had wanted a rack to display my four old rolling pins, but hadn't seen one. At least I hadn't seen one that would hold four or more and didn't have a heart at the top. Recently, I was struck by inspiration. I already had the wire rack and it was hanging in the same spot with pictures and such clipped to it with clothes pins. I realized that I might be able to use it for the rolling pins and voila! Here it is:

The rolling pins are tied to it with simple twine. I like thinking about the women who wore the paint off the handles with many years of use.

The Anti-Minimalist Closet

2011-01-09T17:53:00.004-06:00

Riley's been front and center of the blog long enough - so long that he even got on the computer himself and left a comment! He is SO smart! So...welcome to my cleaned out holiday closet. :)Every year as I unpack Christmas, I vow to pack it back up nicely and more organized. By the time I put it away, my goal is to get it back in the closet as quickly as possible. But this year I stuck to my plans. I bought shiny new plastic containers, and retired the mismatched cardboard boxes to the recycling center.
I did the same thing with the fall decorations when there were only blue lids. :( Oh well.
I put my label maker to work and can now look forward to decorating next year with boxes that are organized by room. Silly, but it makes me happy!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T14:20:00.001-06:00

From the pets and persons of the Fremont House, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tour - Upstairs

2010-12-20T17:28:00.000-06:00

This is the last part of the Christmas Tour! This is at the bottom of the stairs.

This tree has a unique combination of old glass ornaments from David's family and Peanuts ornaments. Somehow they seem to work together.

Thank you for coming along on the tour! Have a merry Christmas!

Christmas Tour - Riley's Room

2010-12-19T17:24:00.000-06:00

Christmas Tour - Living Room

2010-12-18T17:19:00.003-06:00

Christmas Tour - The Tree

2010-12-13T12:10:00.000-06:00

For the past few years, the tree has gone in the dining room in front of the windows. It's artificial and pre-lit. Every year I cross my fingers as I plug it in, hoping all of the lights come on. So far so good!
We have lots of ornaments from David's childhood, like this truck, and lots from mine.
My great-grandma tatted this snowflake in 1981.
I like to get an ornament when we travel to add to the collection. This summer, we got this buoy in Maine. The ornament on the right is from Sedona the summer before.
When we were in New Orleans, we stayed on Bourbon street, and this is our souvenir ornament from that trip.
When we got married, we got lots of nice wedding ornaments, like this cake. Unwrapping all the ornaments is one of my favorite parts of Christmas decorating. Wrapping them all back up and putting them away...not so much.

Christmas Vacation - 2010

2010-12-12T19:07:00.003-06:00

We had a small group for this year's Christmas Vacation Party. We started dressing up in 2004, so we're having to get pretty creative in coming up with costumes that haven't been done before.
A friend at work had the idea for me to be the moose mug. David was a pool digger. His hardhat has a model pool on it. It's really cool, and really heavy!
Derek arrived as the jello that Aunt Bethany brings. He had cat food hot glued to his green clothes. The dogs thought his costume was great!
Todd came as Clark in his office with the model pool, and Krista was the police officer that arrives after Eddie kidnaps the boss.

As always, we had a great time and had lots of tasty treats!

Christmas Tour - The Kitchen

2010-12-12T09:18:00.001-06:00

Every year, I take pictures of our Christmas decorations. One reason is that I like them, but it's also really handy to know what goes where the next year. No one else may be interested, but I thought I'd give you a tour just for fun. :)

I bought all of the old Santa mugs at a couple of antique stores after Christmas one year. The Santa and Mrs. Claus salt and pepper shakers and the cookie cutters were David's mom's.

This was also an after Christmas purchase one year. I thought the Raggedy Ann was cute.

This is a little tree on top of the fridge. It was the centerpiece for the bridal shower that my Aunt Connie hosted for me. It's got a little string of 25 lights and homemade and kitchen-themed ornaments. I looked everywhere for the old looking kitchen utensils and couldn't find them. When I mentioned this to my friend Robyn to ask her to keep an eye out for me, she said "I have those! You can have them." I just love this little tree!

My mom gave me this spoon ornament. I liked it too much for it to get lost on the tree, so it hangs from a cabinet in the kitchen. It's got a tiny tree with even tinier ornaments painted on it.

The little village is in the window all year. Just the tree and the candle are added at Christmas. I've seen some really neat candles for windows, but changing them out would require quite a few. I like these old ones anyway, and from outside they look great.

This new towel came from Prairie Garden when we went to visit David's sister and family.

Mr. Snowman makes an appearance every year. This year, I added the placemat under him. I've had a set of them for a few years, but rarely get them out.

That's it for the kitchen!

Just Because

2010-12-11T08:13:00.000-06:00

Because

I think

they're cute.

New Orleans - 5 Years After Katrina

2010-12-10T05:37:00.001-06:00

Image from here: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/katrina-anniversary-photos-460910

The last time David and I were in New Orleans was February 2005, about 7 months prior to Katrina. I remember watching the news in relief when it appeared that New Orleans had been mostly spared the worst of it. The next day, the news was vastly different. The city was hit, the levees were failing. 80% of the city was flooded. The images and video that came out of New Orleans in the following days and weeks was horrific and haunting. It was difficult to believe what was happening. Impossible to think it was on American soil.

It has been just over five years. The people affected no longer appear on the news. It's faded from our memories and thoughts. To visit the French Quarter, you could imagine that it never happened. Shops carry bumper stickers that read "I drove my Chevy to the leveee, but the levee was gone." One restaurant had a door hanging on the wall with the too-familiar X noting who had checked the house for people - living or dead - and the results of the search, but it could have been just art. Bookstores carried books written about it - 1 Dead in Attic: After Katrina and Not Left Behind. Without those few reminders, it would be easy to pretend that happened somewhere else.

If you leave the Quarter and venture very far away, just blocks really, the evidence it still there five years later. Bright shiny new houses, built on stilts a few feet off the ground. Between the new houses, hollow shells of homes that haven't been lived in since Katrina, still decorated by the markings left by those searching for people and for bodies.

Wherein We Stuff Ourselves Silly

2010-12-09T05:25:00.001-06:00

After leaving New Orleans, we headed north to Tunica. We're hardly big gamblers, but you may have noticed that we are big eaters, and Paula Deen's buffet was calling to us. I was so excited I could hardly stand it. And wouldn't you know! I got to meet Paula Deen's cardboard cutout. Despite my half-hearted attempt to pace myself, I still ate way too much and was a bit miserable. It was worth it though. My top three favorites were: fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, and fried catfish. Yes, I realize that "fried" is a part of each one. It's a sickness!
As I said, we aren't big gamblers (mostly because I am way too cheap for that!) but when in Vegas, er, ah, Tunica, do as the Romans. Wait - is that how that goes? We found a few penny and nickel slots. David is very lucky with the slot machines - he won about $30! The last time we were in Vegas he won $200 on the HeeHaw nickel slot. Of course, we didn't leave with any of it. We let the Paula Deen penny slots take it all. There is just something fun about watching rows of butter, sweet tea, fried chicken, and pie line up!

After spending the night at Harrah's in Tunica, we headed home to our house and pets. We had a great vacation! Thank you David for making all the arrangements!

Three Years!

2010-12-08T08:11:00.001-06:00

Happy Anniversary David!

Trollies, Tasties, and Trop Rock

2010-12-08T04:59:00.000-06:00

On our third day, we awoke to clear blue skies and a pleasant day. A good day for a trolley ride! We rode from Canal Street to the end of the line in the Garden District, then got back on and rode back. We oohed and aahed at the big houses and pretty private schools in the Garden District, but found the people getting on and off even more interesting. From the land of suburbia where no one we know uses public transportation, it is hard to imagine taking a trolley to and from work every day.After the trolley, we ate lunch at Johnny's Po-boys where you could choose from about 30 different sandwiches. They were giant, and so delicious. And the fries! Somehow they were soft and velvety on the inside and perfectly crunchy on the outside. We arrived just before the lunch crowd, but by the time we left there were people waiting for a table.
Here we are on our balcony. It was a great view of the city!
I'm not quite sure what this building is - a history museum I think. It's next to the St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square. Don't worry - the canon didn't really get David. ;)
Inside the St. Louis Cathedral. They don't build churches like this anymore!

For dinner, we ate at Margaritaville - I know, big surprise! It was really tasty - and quite empty! I guess Wednesday night isn't their busiest time.
I kept hoping for Jimmy to make an appearance as he is rumored to sometimes do at his restaurants. Jimmy never showed, but we did have a great time listening to Joe Bennett. As David said, it was like having our own juke box! There were never more than 8 people in the lounge where he was playing, so we got to make lots of requests. In addition to a lot of Buffett songs, he plays his own "trop rock" songs. David bought a CD and we've listened to it now a few times. It's really good! Joe's website is here: http://www.headpirate.net/

Flashback

2010-12-07T19:57:00.002-06:00

On this night, three years ago, we rehearsed...

we ate pizza with friends and family...

and we prepared for the big day to come.

N'Awlins Day Two

2010-12-07T04:39:00.001-06:00

We woke up to a much quieter city than the one from the night before. Seems that folks in the French Quarter don't get up terribly early. A cold front was coming through, and the balmy heat from the day before had become a cold windy dampness. That didn't keep us inside though.We set off to see the sights, including this bicycle decorated with beads, and the mostly empty French Market. They were just getting set up as we were through. And if we Missourians thought it was a bit chilly, the people in New Orleans thought it was downright arctic!We stopped for a picture by the Missisippi before stopping for a tasty lunch of fried shrimp po-boy (David) and hot sausage po-boy (me). So yummy. I even ate one shrimp from David's sandwich. We continued on past the St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, especially beautiful on the gray day.After a nap (me) and some people watching from our balcony, we headed out again. After dinner, we headed back to Bourbon street to Maison Bourbon. We were here the last time we were in New Orleans and really liked it. Rather than the blaring music coming from some of the clubs, Maison Bourbon has live jazz. It's what I imagine New Orleans was 70 years ago. I took this picture when we arrived, and before we left, I think every seat was filled. I'm sure they get tired of playing When the Saints Go Marching In for the tourists, but it sounds better there than anywhere I've heard it.

Before we left, when people asked what we were going to do in N.O., we told them eat and walk around. So far we were right on track!

Joyeux Noël from New Orleans!

2010-12-06T07:16:00.000-06:00

Last week while David was on vacation, we took a little trip south to New Orleans. The last time we were there was in 2005, a few months before Katrina. We drove, as we'd rather drive than fly.

As we neared the exit for Keetha's town, I remembered a post she wrote about a restaurant full of tasty fried goodness. Miraculously, I remembered the name and even better, the GPS knew it too! So we headed off I-55 to Belzoni, MS to The Varsity Restaurant for a late lunch. As we stood outside near the order window, looking lost and confused, an older man in a pickup truck had mercy on us and told us that we could go inside from the entrance in the back. If not for him, we might still be standing there! In my haste to consume my delicious fried chicken strips and fries, I failed to take a picture, but they were everything Keetha had said. So delicious! You can read about one of her visits (and see a picture of the yummies) here: http://www.keetha.com/2009/03/its-worth-it.html. We were through the area at odd times, but I hope next time we can catch up with Keetha! After arriving in New Orleans and checking into our hotel, we set out for the obligatory beignets from the Cafe Du Monde. Jimmy Buffett sings about them, so they've got to be good! They're a fried dough, doughnut like, but heavier and with no hole.
We walked off our beignets (well, tried) and returned to our hotel. We had a balcony over Bourbon street, which was great for people watching! I think our room had a tv, but who would need one with this view?
This wouldn't be a good room for someone who needs silence to sleep, but we didn't mind the noise. After a day of traveling and a dinner of fried dough, nothing could have kept us awake! Stay tuned for Day 2 of our trip!

Riley Learns about Santa

2010-12-05T16:09:00.002-06:00

What's that you say? Santa? Never heard of him.
Oh, I see. Stranger comes down the chimney and leaves presents, but only for GOOD dogs? Why didn't someone tell me this before I started chewing on Santa's hat? Would that have been too much to ask?

The BAYBY!

2010-11-21T19:42:00.003-06:00

This past weekend, David, sister-in-law* Emily, and I went to Illinois for an early Thanksgiving with David's sister and family. We had a great time and got to enjoy lunch at Five Guys on the way. The highlight of the trip, though, even better than Five Guys, was meeting David's great-nephew for the first time. Luke was born in July, and we were excited to see him in person. In the many years I've known David, I don't think I've ever seen him hold a baby. When his niece plopped this guy in David's lap, he couldn't say no. He is a very cute, very sweet and agreeable baby.

We had a great time with Sarah and family. Our first night, we ate some excellent barbecue Black Dog Smoke and Ale House, then visited David's nephew at work at Jupiters. The next day we visited David's niece at Curly's, the sports bar that she and her boyfriend run. We had a delicious early Thanksgiving dinner prepared by David's nieces before we headed home.

*Emily is David's brother-in-law's sister, but I'm not sure what that makes her to me so I'm going with sister-in-law. Family is family, no matter the title.

I MADE IT! I MADE IT!

2010-11-21T14:41:00.003-06:00

A big THANKS to all who voted. The picture of the Land Rover Discovery made the 2011 Expedition Portal Calendar. I’m the December Picture. The picture was taken in rural southern Christian County on one of only a few remaining steel bridges in this area. The bridge is over Swan Creek (John, Connie – correct me if I’m wrong). You can see all the pictures that will be in the calendar at this link:

http://www.cafepress.com/AZLetendre

Some incredible photography examples here. Maybe Erin will make less fun of me now when I insist on taking pictures of my vehicles. I doubt it...:)

dd

Vote for David's Pictures

2010-11-11T15:40:00.000-06:00

David has a couple of truck pictures in a contest on the Expedition Portal website (http://www.expeditionportal.com/). If chosen, his pictures will be on a 2011 calendar available on the site. If you have a moment, we’d really appreciate your vote. There’s no big prize to be won, but for David the thought of people looking at one of his vehicles for a whole month is prize enough.

You can see all of the options here (there are 54 from which to choose). David’s pictures are #11 and #12.

http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd132/AZLetendre/2011%20Expo%20Calendar/?action=view&current=d10d4df6.pbw

To vote, click the link below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C25KDFB

The survey will ask you two questions. The first question if for the picture that should be on the calendar cover (David and I chose picture number 47). Second, you may choose up to 12 additional photos for the individual months of the calendar. If you just wish to vote for David’s pictures, vote for #11 and #12.

You can vote once per computer, so if you use multiple computers, you can vote multiple times!

Cozy

2010-11-08T19:34:00.002-06:00

I'm not a fan of the time change back to regular time. I'm also not a big fan of turning on the furnace for the first time to hear silence. I love fall though. It's warm and cozy. Best of all, we have a dog who is confused by the time change wants to turn in early.
*This isn't a picture of Riley on the couch, because he's not allowed on the couch. I wouldn't even think of giving him a pass on that rule just because he's so cute. Never!

Riley

2010-11-01T17:16:00.002-05:00

Last year just before Halloween, this little puppy joined the family. Here he is, one year later. He's finally grown into those paws!

5 Years

2010-10-31T08:53:00.003-05:00

Five years ago, my old house and David's old house were packed into boxes and bags - much to the annoyance of Henrietta and the confusion of the 3 month old Gracie.
On October 29, 2005, our friends and my mom and dad descended to help move and clean up the old house. The great thing about our friends is that you don't have to ask them for help. They just show up and start.

The night that we moved, David began digging holes for fence posts by the light of his truck headlights. The next day, it was determined that bigger equipment would make that job go faster. Or, David just wanted to drive one of these. I'm not sure which.

Over the next months (year?) our weekends were spent making a minimum of 3 trips to Home Depot and Lowe's every weekend. Goodbye to ugly wallpaper and dated fixtures. Hello paint brushes, wallpaper stripping, and paint chips.I lived with the blue in the cat room until the next summer. My Mom, Aunt Connie, and Grandmother came and stripped wallpaper in that room and in my bathroom.
Oatmeal colored paint and new carpet made a lot of difference!I wish I'd taken pictures of our bedroom on the day we moved in. The curtains looked like 80's prom dresses. They were pretty awful. No picture though as I took them down as David was steam cleaning the carpet before we moved furniture in.Eventually, we added a real headboard and dresser, changed out the wimpy ceiling fan, painted, and hung curtains.I remember my dad shaking his head in disbelief while we were doing all this work. "I thought you liked this house?" he said. "I liked the potential of this house!" was my reply. And after 5 years, I'm pretty satisfied. But...I'm still not finished.

Traveling A Little Lighter Update

2010-10-26T17:13:00.003-05:00

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. ~William Morris

I'm still plugging along, cleaning up and cleaning out. It's certainly not my goal to live like this picture, but eliminating some clutter makes room for the things that I really like or use a lot. The fall swap helped rehome some things that I really liked, but no longer needed. Other things are going straight to the Goodwill pile, and some I'm posting on Facebook to see if friends want it. Feeling lighter already!

Picture credit: http://www.homedesignfind.com/how-to-tips-advice/design-dilemma-overcoming-decorating-paralysis/

Golden October

2010-10-15T16:34:00.003-05:00

Fall Swap

2010-10-10T18:38:00.004-05:00

I read an article in a magazine about having a "swap party"with friends. Here's an article in Real Simple magazine, although I don't think that was the one I read.

We had a few light snacks - nothing fancy.Everyone brought a few items to add to the swap - the article suggests 1-10 I think and we pretty well stuck by that.
When it was shopping time, everyone took a bag and started picking things out.

It was fun! Might even do it again - something tells me that I could find more things to include!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

2010-10-10T18:22:00.003-05:00

Just catching up! I forget how busy October can get, but I love it! Last weekend we enjoyed a campfire and chili at my aunt and uncle's with my parents on Friday night. On Saturday, David and I went to Farm Fest, where every year we pretend to be farmers, then on Sunday Christina and I attended the annual Ozark Craft Festival (where we bought nothing - yay us!)

This weekend we went to Monett for a delicous pork chop dinner (my birthday dinner request), to Apple Butter Makin' Days in Mt. Vernon, and had a fun fall swap with friends and family. That last item gets its own post, so stay tuned!

A Bump on the Road to Living With Less

2010-10-08T16:02:00.002-05:00

Last week, Christina and I went to the Ozark Craft Festival. Lots of really cute things...lots of really awful things. There were lots of decorative things that caught my eye and tempted me, but I stayed strong. We both did - we left empty-handed except for my Coke and burger for lunch.

Today, David and I went to Apple Butter Makin' Days. We ate some goodies - fried potatoes and a ribeye sandwich, homemade ice cream. And left, again empty-handed. But then I asked him to stop a neat little store that I rarely go to. Her hours just don't match up with the hours I am through that area. As always, I was the only customer which always makes me feel compelled to buy something. And I did. On impulse, I bought a cute sign to go over the kitchen sink.

It doesn't even fit over the kitchen sink - too long. I could hang it, but then could not open two cabinets. So now I have a stinkin' thing bought on impulse and I don't even have a place for it. I'm annoyed with myself for not exercising more self-control. I guess there will be bumps on this road to living with less. I will occasionally still make a purchase that I'll regret. I just hope there will be fewer!

Living With Less - An Introduction

2010-10-05T17:39:00.003-05:00

This post swims around in my head from time to time, but always gets too lengthy. It keeps coming back to me, whispering in my ear to share it, so I've decided to do it a little at a time.

Stuff. My relationship with my possessions goes back a long way. I'm told that when I was little (3 or so), I cried on vacation because I missed my toys. For several years around age 12, I arranged my Christmas gifts on the sofa so that I could take pictures of my haul. If I can find any of those, I'll scan them so you can see. I really liked my stuff!

Recently, I've started to be a little more aware of the sheer quantity of stuff that I have. To keep the house from looking cluttered, closets and drawers have been filled to overflowing. I can hardly watch an episode of Hoaders without starting to clean out something. I've been reading several blogs on minimalism and decluttering - some extreme minimalists who can carry all of their possessions in a backpack to others who seem more like me.

People who know me and who have spent time in our house might think that me and any form of minimalism can't possibly exist in the same sentence. By no means do I have plans to scale down to a backpack, but I can let go of some things that I don't need and I can try to bring fewer things into the house. I can choose to live with less.

Feels Like Fall!

2010-09-26T19:30:00.004-05:00

It's been a great weekend! Finally the weather feels like fall. Saturday we picked out a mum and pumpkin and I planted pansies. The mum should be opening soon!

We also went to Dog Fest. It was quite a tangle of dogs!Sunday I went to Silver Dollar City with friends and rode every ride we could. There were hardly any lines, so we rode some things more than once. The weather was surprisingly cool, but we didn't mind.
What a surprise! A picture with my eyes closed - gee that almost never happens. Ha!
When I got home, I baked the first pumpkin bread of the season. Now the house smells so tasty! I don't love that fall leads to winter, but I sure do love fall.

Cider Days

2010-09-18T17:16:00.003-05:00

You know it's fall when the fall festivals begin. Cider Days on Walnut is one of the first. It's usually still hot, like today, so it doesn't feel especially fall-y, but you know it's coming.

There are lots of things to look at...like Scarecrow Village.

And lots of dogs - some all festive! Do you think this dog is embarrassed?

Good music - Lost Hill Bluegrass who we have had the pleasure of listening to two weekends in a row.

And a big crowd, thanks to the beautiful September day.

Birthday Week

2010-09-18T10:06:00.002-05:00

Because David's birthday and mine fall within a few days of each other, birthday celebrations can go on for a while. Last weekend we had his 40th birthday party, then I went to see Cats with my parents and Christina. David, oddly enough, declined to go. My dad didn't get that option, and I'm pretty sure he was jealous!It was a good show, and something everyone should see once. The actress who sang Memory was outstanding and there were lots of excellent dancers.On my birthday, I celebrated at work with a special lunch and some friends brought over pizza and ice cream so we had another little party. When David got home Wednesday, we went out for another birthday dinner. All the celebrating has been fun, but I guess it's time to get back to normal!

Fall Decorations

2010-09-14T19:05:00.000-05:00

Cute as a Bug on a Rug

2010-09-13T17:35:00.003-05:00

I'm afraid that if you asked David what my favorite topic of conversation has been lately, he might say "the rug!" I have been just a leeetle bit obsessed with finding and buying a new living room rug. But now I can stop talking about it, as right here it is on our very own living room floor!
I'm very pleased with it - the colors are just right and the quality seems good. I hope to have it here for a long long time.

Okay, David. That's it. I promise that's I'll find something else to talk about. How about shutters? ;)

BIG Gift

2010-09-12T19:27:00.006-05:00

The hit of the party was a gift from our friend Todd - a giant camp chair. Do you see that grin? David loved it!

There's even room for two! It's comfortable, but a little hard to get out of.With 6 cup holders, you could plan to stay a while!The big chair brings out the kid (and Lily Tomlin impersonator) in everyone!
Even our tiniest pirate got to try it out!
I think we should loan it out for Christmas card pictures.
Riley wasn't too sure about it, but he settled in for a nap by Todd.

The big chair is one of those things you couldn't even know you needed until it arrived with a big red bow!

A Pirate Looks at Forty

2010-09-12T19:07:00.004-05:00

David turned the big 4-0 on Friday, so we had a party for him this weekend. In case you aren't a Jimmy Buffett fan (although I can't imagine why not), he sings a song called "A Pirate Looks at Forty", hence the theme.
Some of our guests really got into the spirit, donning their pirate best.
Everyone seemed to have a good time, and I hope no one left hungry.
It was a beautiful September evening to sit outside. We were thankful for the weather - 34 people and one teeny pirate-in-training would have been a full house!
David even politely tolerated the singing of "Happy Birthday" though I'm sure it seemed like the longest song ever to him.
The giant chair in the background really deserves its own post, so stay tuned!

And now for something totally different…

2010-09-09T09:19:00.002-05:00

I came across this video while looking for something else. The initial shots of winding road first caught my attention but the sorrowful tune hooked me. Great shots of places that need further exploration.

Ghosts in the Hollow from Jim Lo Scalzo on Vimeo.

Riley vs. Crockpot

2010-09-07T17:25:00.003-05:00

Riley the Fierce is a little like me in that he doesn't like things to be out of place. Anything new is suspect and should be approached very cautiously. This Crockpot was sitting on the island, which caused him to bark every few seconds to alert me to its presence so I moved it to the floor. I thought if it was there, he could approach it and see that it was harmless. I was wrong. Crockpot is still very frightening!

The View From Here

2010-09-06T16:47:00.002-05:00

Good Night Riley!

2010-08-29T11:32:00.003-05:00

See the cute spaniels enjoying their LL Bean dog bed? While we were on vacation, we bought Riley his very own (slightly less fancy) Bean bed. He has completely ignored it since we got home. Emma laid on it briefly at Riley's birthday party. Finally - finally - one night this week he laid down on it. He was only there a couple of minutes before he was off to play with Gracie again, but maybe just maybe he'll figure out what it is for.

The Party Has Gone To The Dogs

2010-08-24T16:45:00.000-05:00

We couldn't let Riley's first birthday pass without a party.

He had a peanut butter dog cake, complete with his name.

His friend Emma and he ate their cake off plates - kind of.

Emma brought Riley a bag of tennis balls, but like a lot of kids at parties, had a hard time giving them to the birthday boy.Riley's grandparents came too and brought him a stuffing-free raccoon. He hasn't quite torn it up yet, although it has undergone a squeaker-ectomy thanks to Riley. He had a great first birthday!

Inspired

2010-08-23T16:32:00.003-05:00

My friend Robyn moved into a new house last weekend. I went over to see it and see if I could help. I got the very fun job of helping her do a little arranging and such - my favorite thing! I wasn't inspired to move -way too much work. But I was inspired to hang a few things here and to clean a bit.This afternoon I hung up a couple of souvenir plates that my mom gave me. I haven't used them here, so they've just been sitting in a drawer.
I also hung up one of the vacation pictures that I had enlarge - it's the bottom picture. Yes, Gracie helped.
I also gave the guest room a good cleaning. After trying a couple of different looks for the bed this summer, I put the original bedspread back on. I decided I liked it best.

My First Trip to Portland Headlight

2010-08-21T13:46:00.003-05:00

Our recent trip to Maine wasn't my first...here's my dad and I at Portland Headlight in 1977.

One Year

2010-08-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

Today, Riley turns ONE! Last October when he came to live with us, he was barely bigger than David's shoe. His paws were so big compared to the rest of him.
It seemed like he didn't do much of this:But he did sleep all night in his crate, barely whining at all when he went in. He played with his toys, but didn't destroy them.He still loves an adventure and is happy to hop in the car or truck never questioning where we're going. He enjoyed the snow and proved his ability to find a tennis ball even buried in the mysterious white stuff.

He graduated from puppy class, and is eagerly awaiting intermediate class. He was an excellent student!
This summer he has found a love of water and the lake. Turns out he is a very good swimmer!
These days he acts less and less like a wild puppy, and more like a laid back grown up dog. We are ridiculously crazy about this furry member of our family and spent much of our vacation talking about him and wondering what he was doing. Our house is hairier, muddier, and noisier because of Riley, but I can't imagine it without him. Happy 1st birthday, buddy!

Day 7 - Scranton, PA to Dayton, OH

2010-08-16T18:07:00.000-05:00

After leaving Mystic Seaport (and eating at Five Guys - YUM), we headed to Scranton, Pennsylvania were we planned to spend the night. Our Roadfood book suggested the Glider Diner for breakfast and it was great! I didn't take any pictures inside, but it was just what you'd expect from looking at the outside.We drove on a scenic highway along the Susquehanna River for a while before getting on the interstate and high-tailing it toward home.
We stopped in Dayton, OH for one last night away from home. It was a wonderful vacation, and I always hate to see them end. But, it was good to get home and see our pets. We missed them and I think they missed us too. Thank you to David for planning our trip and getting us safely there and back! :)

Day 6 Part 2 - Mystic Seaport, Connecticut

2010-08-15T17:54:00.000-05:00

One of the highlights of our trip was an unexpected stop at Mystic Seaport. Mystic Seaport is a living history museum on 17 acres showing coastal New England life in the 1800's. It is worth a stop!I loved this house. The inside was a bit dark for pictures, but it was interesting also. The ceilings were just barely high enough for David to stand and the furniture looked tiny. No Big Macs in the 1800's I guess!

This is the view from atop one of the giant ships they are restoring.

Loved the lobster traps!

Day 6 Part 1 - Portland Headlight

2010-08-14T11:40:00.000-05:00

One of the things we liked about staying with my aunt Beverly is that she has this funny pug named Lilly. Lilly rivals Riley in being spoiled and is very entertaining. She seems to understand what you're saying as she raises her eyebrows at you. Bev didn't want her picture taken, so I complied, but Lilly didn't seem to mind. :)After we left Beverly's house, we went to Portland Headlight to look around. It was gray and foggy, but still really beautiful.
I remember visiting it before, and if I can find the pictures I'll scan them in.
We were there fairly early, so it was quiet except for a few walkers and joggers.
Another item on our foods not to miss list was an Italian sandwich in Portland. It wasn't quite lunchtime, but who says you can't have a sandwich for breakfast? This was worth breaking the rules for. Yum!

Day 6 - Bangor to Portland, Maine

2010-08-13T17:22:00.000-05:00

After leaving Bangor, we headed for Highway 1 which winds through the coastal towns of Maine. We stopped at this state park for a break and a quick picture before it started to rain.The weather started to lighten up a bit and we stopped at this picturesque town to look around and buy a Christmas ornament. I bought an ornament on our first trip together 10 years ago and that has since become my souvenir search wherever we go. We left Highway 1 for a bit to explore Boothbay Harbor. This used to be a family summer house - wouldn't that be a neat place to spend a summer?
One of the must-eat foods on our trip was lobster rolls in Maine. I don't really eat much (any) seafood, but I ordered one anyway. And it was GOOD! Looking at this picture makes me want another. I'm sure that eating outside in the salt air watching the water had a little something to do with how much I liked it.

We stopped at L.L. Bean in Freeport. That is quite a place! Three large buildings full of Bean goodness. Our big purchase was a bed for Riley. Good news is that this bed will last forever, as he has shown no interest in it at all. Oh well, looks cute!Our next stop was dinner at my cousin Mike's house with his family, my aunt Beverly, and cousin Cathy. Dinner was delicious and lots of fun. We spent the night at my aunt's house, which was a welcome relief after so many nights of hotels.

Day 5 Stowe, Vermont - Bangor, Maine

2010-08-12T16:56:00.002-05:00

The drive out of Stowe was beautiful! Huge boulders, ferns, and trees dripping from the misty day.

We stopped by Rovers North so that David could drool on their Land Rovers. They were very nice. Greg, one of the salesmen, gave us a tour and let us look around. Maybe David will tell you all about that sometime.

This neat old railroad is the Fisher Bridge. It's no longer in use, but was the last covered railroad bridge in Vermont.

As we continued on to Maine, we saw lots of roadside antique places. It was hard to decide which ones might be worth stopping at, but this one caught David's eye with all the neat signs. We left empty-handed, but it was a really interesting place.

We ended the day in Bangor, Maine at The Charles Inn. It was an interesting place! Our key (yes, actual key rather than magnetic card) wouldn't work, so we went back to the front desk. The woman working that evening headed back up with us to show us the trick of unlocking the door. As we walked, she explained that this was Stephen King country. Soon, we opened the door into a neat room...that looked a little like the set from a Stephen King movie. Soon after we went to sleep, there was a persistent knock at the door. David opened to find a very surprised French speaking woman. All in all, it was quite an experience!

Ice Cream for Breakfast

2010-08-12T15:11:00.001-05:00

One of the must-sees if you visit Stowe is the Ben and Jerry's factory tour.

You aren't allowed to take pictures inside the factory, just in case you might be a Haagen Dazs spy. :) It was interesting though! Kind of Willy Wonka like. Funny how a giant vat of caramel looks slightly less appetizing than I expected.

At the end of the tour, you get to sample the flavor of the day. We sampled Milk and Cookies, which was somewhat like cookies and cream and quite tasty.

After the tour, we visited the graveyard of past flavors. Each gravestone has a witty poem about the flavor. I wish I'd take more pictures, as some of them were pretty clever. Some of the flavors didn't last long and you could see why. Peanut butter and jelly ice cream? Gross!

Day 4 - Began in the Adirondacks, Ended in Stowe, VT

2010-08-11T10:56:00.001-05:00

On day four of our vacation, we left Watertown, NY to drive through the Adirondacks. It was absolutely beautiful. Creeks and rivers everywhere. I would really love to go back there some time to kayak.
We had planned to ride the gondola at Whiteface Mountain, but a storm had moved in and we weren't able to go. The storm and rain continued while we rode the ferry across Lake Champlain. It was still neat, just really couldn't see much!
As we left the ferry and drove into Vermont, I was open-mouthed at all of the beautiful colonial houses. I think I could live there. Well, I could live there in the summer anyway. We ended our day at the charming Golden Eagle Resort in Stowe, VT. Our room was so cute with it's screen door and wallpaper.
Tomorrow we'll travel from Stowe to Bangor, Maine. Stay tuned! ;)

Day 3 - Began at Niagara Falls, Ended in Watertown, NY

2010-08-10T10:25:00.000-05:00

We got up bright and early, and having battled the crowd at the hotel breakfast were ready to battle the crowds at Niagara Falls. Except...there was no crowd. The parking lot was blissfully empty and we could walk around the state park and take pictures freely. Hooray for early birds!

Rumor has it that I have been to Niagara Falls before, but it seems that I was nine months and my memory isn't quite that good.

It was a spectacular site! And amazing just how close you can get to the river that leads to the falls.

Before we left on vacation, we bought a book called Roadfood. Since we were in Buffalo, NY it seemed only fitting to dine on the wings for which they are known. Our book directed us to the Anchor Bar on Main Street in Buffalo. It claims to be the place where the buffalo wing was created. 15 minutes after opening, it was already packed with locals and tourists.The wings did not disappoint. They were finger licking good - crispy, not too saucy, just the right amount of heat. Mmmm....I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Never mind that bone in the background. My plan was to take a picture as soon as they arrived, but photography was far from my mind when the plate of wings appeared in front of me.

Day 2 - Began in Ohio, Ended in New York

2010-08-09T10:15:00.001-05:00

Warning: Reading our vacation posts may make you very very hungry.

On the second day of vacation, we left Kevin's to head across Ohio, through just a little bit of Pennsylvania, and into New York. One of the planned stops of our trip was a truck stop. Yes, you read that right. A truck stop in the town of Northeast, PA. No, it isn't fancy or famous. David's route takes him through there every week and every week he and his co-driver stop at this unassuming place for chicken and biscuits. This delicacy is created behind the food counter inside by microwaving a large fluffy biscuit, scooping on some mashed potatoes, and topping it off with chicken and gravy. I know, it doesn't sound too exciting, but it was really good! We opted not to sit at one of the two tables just outside the bathrooms and ate instead in the truck. It was amazingly tasty and we plan to reproduce it at home. David tried once last winter, but I have some ideas and think it's time to try again.

Day 1 - Missouri to Ohio

2010-08-08T10:06:00.002-05:00

Our friend Kevin recently moved to a little town in western Ohio, so we spent our first night with him in his new place. He gave us a thorough tour of the town and area around it. It could have been Mayberry. It was the weekend of the town's annual Community Picnic, which begins on Thursday and has events and activities through Sunday evening. We've all been a little worried about him moving to such a small town, but I feel better now. A larger town nearby has a beautiful lake and a Wal-Mart. What more could anyone need? There are beautiful old churches on nearly every corner, and at least one place that serves really tasty burgers and fries. There's also a little shop called the Salt Box something or other which was conveniently closed when we arrived in town and strangely our route out of town didn't pass by it. Maybe next time! Thank you for the hospitality, Kevin! We'll be back!

We are...

2010-08-08T09:57:00.002-05:00

from a great vacation - 3700 miles through 12 states. Laid our heads to rest in 5 states, 6 hotels, and two nights with family and friends. Too much delicious food to count. 14,009 (approximate) gasps and exclamations of "Cute!" in regards to the colonial and salt box houses. Pictures will be added all week, so stay tuned! :)

Close Enough to Perfect For Me

2010-07-18T21:28:00.003-05:00

I'm over the other house. And our house seems to have forgiven me for ogling another. This house, just as it is, is close enough to perfect for me.

The dog, sleeping on a bed he's not supposed to be on, has a thing or two to teach me about being content where I am and with what I have.

Today I walked my dog, had brunch with my friend, took a nap, and walked the dog again. What more could I want?

Title borrowed from Alabama's song, Close Enough to Perfect For Me.

To Move Or Not to Move

2010-07-18T13:11:00.002-05:00

Just before anyone panics, the answer is NOT move. But isn't this house just about the cutest thing ever? It went up for sale in the fall, and for about 24 hours, I seriously began to consider moving. I recently found that it was still for sale. For another 24 hours, I dreamed and decorated and imagined. I've come back to my senses and do NOT want to move. David, if you're wondering, pretty much keeps quiet during my 24 lapses in judgment. Wise man! He's not really one to move a lot - this is only the third house he's ever lived in - so I think he hopes I'll come around and not call the realtor. When I decided, again, that we should not move, I began to think of all the things I'd like to do to our house. Shutters, new front door, bathroom floors, ah, the list goes on. Which is one thing that keeps me from moving - starting all the projects over. I look at every house for it's potential. The phrase "move-in ready" just makes me laugh.

Now, if anyone thinks that we should move, best just keep that to yourself. I could relapse at any moment! We're rapidly approaching the 5 year mark in this house, and I'm getting antsy! :)

New Pantry Floor

2010-07-18T13:01:00.003-05:00

Did you know that if you leave a cat in the pantry (quite by accident!) for almost 12 hours, she will try to dig her way out? It's true! The damage wasn't all that bad, but the old floor was kind of dated. Opportunity knocked!My dad put down new peel and stick tiles in my old laundry room and did a great job, so I asked if he would do the same in the pantry. Here's the new floor. Vinyl tiles that are supposed to look like wood are a little cheesy, but I like that it blends with the floor and woodwork.
Here's the circa 1976 faux brick. Lovely, huh? Somehow faux wood seems better to me than faux brick. Not sure why! Thank you, Dad. Looks great!

**Even with the old floor, the pantry looks so much better empty!