Monthly Archives: May 2008

Memorial Day Camping

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Vermont’s State Parks opened their doors to the public this past weekend! Ahh, I was looking forward to this weekend forever. Sort of. I was long overdue for some personal time in the forest. For me, it’s pure therapy. I enjoy camping because I can leave technology behind, along with all responsibility. It just feels good to be enclosed by a starry sky, towering birch trees, and the sounds of water running down the stream. I love it all and I need it often. (Did I mention that I hate mummy bags? They are the worst…and I wanted to rip it into shreds the two nights I slept in it. It felt as though someone wrapped me up in rope and I couldn’t move all night, kind of like a mummy! Novel. :::Sigh::: and :::gag::: on mummy bags!) Rick and I packed our bags on Saturday morning and headed to Underhill State Park for a weekend of camping with some of our great friends. The campsite was clean, convenient, and affordable.

I love this snapshot of Rick, as he begins the building of his tripod.

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I came home to this…

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…last night. I left around noon yesterday, and Rick stayed home to take care of biz and such. I met up with him for dinner and we both came home around 8:30, I walked in and there it was, in all it’s campin’ glory: our tent, set up in the middle of the family room! I initially didn’t notice it when I walked in and when I did, I laughed so hard! “So babe, wanna go camping tonight?!” He cracks me up. Well, I am grateful for a husband who double checks things to make sure they’re good to go before it’s too late.

One Year Ago Today…

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…I was packing up my life into my Honda Accord and heading for new adventures in Dana Point, California. With the sunroof open and shades on my face, I headed south on I-15 for 600+ miles. I was totally thrilled about my new job living on the beach and learning to surf. It was all too good to be true. No, seriously, it was a sweet set up. Upon my arrival in California, I headed to San Francisco and Washington D.C. trying to determine my options with potential men in my life, and all this business we call “dating.” (On a side note, I am so glad I no longer have to suffer through endless first dates and repeating my life story to perfect strangers over a steamer or a mediocre dinner, pretending to like it all. Ugh!) Continue reading →

Raw Carob Peanut Butter Bites

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As I was re-organizing the cupboard last night, I discovered my long lost bag of raw carob powder. Anxious to put it to use, I came up with a lil’ something sweet and nutty. I have been feeling overly sick of processed foods. (And here I sit, waiting for a pan of brownies to finish baking in the oven so I can make a “Black Forrest Trifle” for a get-together tomorrow.) The constant battle of balancing fresh foods with the rich and delicious confectionery concoctions (that I have a hard time resisting!) is ever vexing and a tease to the sweet tooth. Ah well. Eat these:

Raw Carob Peanut Butter Bites

1/2 cup pure peanut butter
1/2 cup pure honey
2 T. wheat germ
2 T. wheat bran
2 T. raw carob powder
2 cups whole oats
splash of pure vanilla extract

Mix the peanut butter, honey and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Combine remaining ingredients in a separate bowl and then add to the honey and peanut butter mixture. Mix well. The mixture will be crumbly, no worries! Using a tablespoon, scoop out one spoonful and form into a ball with your hands. I keep mine in Tupperware in the fridge. The nutty flavor of the wheat germ melds wonderfully with the honey and carob!

Makes 18 bites

Rick likes ’em. ‘Nuff said. (wait, I do too!)

So I am tickled pink that my sister had her baby on May 14th. I can’t stop thinking about Margot, and her delightful lip perfection!

Dad’s Enchiladas and Refried Beans

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My dad lived in Guatemala for two years and learned how to make great enchiladas! We were raised on these enchiladas and to this day, I still love them! Continue reading →

Grilled Reuben Sandwiches

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Arnold Reuben (1883-1979), opened a deli in New York City in 1908. After a few relocations it settled in its final home at Madison and 58th, where it stayed for the next three decades. As the story goes, in 1914 an actress by the name of Annette Seelos, who was working on a Charlie Chaplin film at the time, stopped into Reuben’s. Allegedly she stated: “I’m so hungry I could eat a brick.” Reuben took some rye bread and added Virginia ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing. Seelos was so pleased with his concoction that she requested it be named after her. Reuben, taking his due credit and rebuffing her narcissism stated: “The hell I will. I will call it a Reuben’s Special!”

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We are living in an Easter Egg…

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Happy Thursday! It’s absolutely beautiful here in Vermont! My seeds have sprouted and my cilantro is taking over the window box. With all the excitement of my seeds sprouting, I have since planted more seeds and I am anxiously awaiting for them to pop through the dirt. However, the window boxes were sold out! That didn’t stop me. I used yogurt cups to start some new seeds (pop some holes in the bottom so they can properly drain). Also, I used a cardboard egg carton to start some other seeds and that’s been great because it didn’t cost me a cent!

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?

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Many of you bloggers out there check your blog stats, referrers, etc daily, maybe even hourly, if you’re obsessed. (Hey, I do sometimes, too!) At any rate, I have noticed a common thread in my Search Engine Terms. The 3rd most commonly searched term that directs people to my blog is GINGERBREAD HOUSES. Seriously? Everyday I have several people who happen upon my blog who are looking for gingerbread houses, pictures, recipes, icing, etc. Who is making gingerbread houses in March, May, and all months of the year besides December? I was just wondering…it just seems a little bizarre…but that could just be me. No, it’s not me, I still think it’s unusual.

What is your #1 search engine term?

The Haircut…

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Over 6 inches of my hair feel to the ground a few weeks ago. It was time to let it go. I know when I pull my hair in a pony tail every day, it’s time to reconsider my hair-do. I am going for virgin hair too, so no more coloring for this chica! No one has cut my hair, besides my sister, Annika, for over 15 years! I know, I am a brat when it comes to my hair. (Wait, I take that back. A stylist in Russia cut my hair once, and it was disastrous.) I just didn’t realize how spoiled I was to have a very talented hair dresser in the family, until I didn’t have access to her haircutting skills. I took her for granted!  Everyone in our family is spoiled to sit at her feet, and let her hands work magic.

Ah, May is Marvelous..

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and frankly, there is a lot to be smiling about. However, there is one thing that continually bothers me: allergy season. It feels like I have ants crawling around in my throat, the pressure in my ear holes makes me wonder if I am on an airplane, and chronic phlegm isn’t helping the sitch. My head feels like a bowling ball and my swollen glands, that’s another story. Seriously, it’s consuming my life. I have been sneezing for weeks now. I clean houses, and all this dust is getting the best of me. For two weeks I have felt that I am on the verge of getting really sick. It just hovers over me, teasing me, and it’s not going away. Wah. Give me the strength!

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