* Today was a perfect fall day, warm and windy with gorgeous blue skies. I could feel Seasonal Affective Disorder kicking in after all the rainy days we had last week. Today was the perfect sunny pickup for my soul.
* Speaking of pickups for the soul… if I may use my neighbor and friend as an illustration… Kind deeds do not go unnoticed, they are definitely blessings. Renae recently posted about a gift received in the mail from Charity & Andy, a gift I’m sure she wasn’t expecting by any means. And then I happened to be in her kitchen when she noticed that someone (kitchen elves perhaps?) had scrubbed the place clean. Isn’t that so great? Serving someone besides yourself is always good.
* Today I decided that it’s okay that I’m not a great housekeeper because I would totally find way too much pride in my cleanliness if I was. When I clean/reorganize an area, I survey it from many angles and point out my handiwork repeatedly to my husband. See how the dirt and disorganization keeps me humble? Heh.
* Three year olds, who choose not to nap even when they really really need the nap, go to bed very early. And almost thirty year olds, who desire naps when they really really are tired and yet don’t get them, still stay up late.
* Friday Night Lights, the television program, is a perfectly decent reason to stay up late.
The Cookie Formerly Known as Chocolate Chip sits in crumbled chunks on Livia’s plate. Surprised she didn’t eat it, I ask what happened.
“I got all the chocolate chips out,” she says.
“Well, are you going to eat the rest of the cookie?”
“No. Just the chocolate chips.”
O-kay. There’s some serious chocolate-lovin’ going on in my house.
The other day when I picked Liv up from preschool she bemoaned the lack of chocolate pudding. I pressed her for more information and discovered they only served VANILLA pudding during snacktime that day.
Oh the horrors. Vanilla.
Like a kid in a candy store, my eyes light up at the New Book section of the library. While I view old books as treasures, I can’t help but delight in the shiny covers full of bright pictures and crisp fonts in the New Books section. Before I know it, I’ve got four books tucked under my arm, only 50% of which I will actually crack open. But it’s all about choice for me… IF I want to learn more about Taiwanese cooking, then what do you know? I’ve got just the book for it!
Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr was one of the lucky picks. Not only did I crack it open, but I read the entire thing and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The book’s title and subtitle (“On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World) grabbed my attention and didn’t let go of it until I had read the entire book and then perused Doerr’s website. The author has convinced me that when I get around to traveling the globe, Italy will be high on my list of Places to See.
Working my way towards that 50% quota, I then flipped open Timothy Egan’s The Worst Hard Time. This book is the choice for the One Book, One Lincoln campaign of ’07 and frankly I was surprised to find an extra copy at the library. After spending some time among all the boungiorno’s and ancient structures and pigeons and graffitti of Rome, I found myself feeling relieved upon opening Egan’s book and reading Willa Cather’s words:
“Between the earth and that sky I felt erased, blotted out.”
I had come home. The travels were great, as they always are, but the never-ending prairies and skies, the quickly changing weather and common sense mentality of the midwest is home to me. Even when it is only found on dry white pages between a shiny new cover.
Sayonara, Steve Pederson.
I’ll be the first to admit I don’t understand the politics behind Husker football. At any rate, it didn’t take a football genius to know that changes were in store for the University’s program after the big loss on Saturday.
This post is my chance to “look cool about knowing stuff early,” says my husband. But, as he noted in an email, I’ve already been beat by the Journal Star article referenced above. I’m using the post to fill my blog on an otherwise boring and empty (blog-wise) Monday.
Yes, people. I don’t have anything else I’d rather be doing right now. The dishwasher’s a’washin’ and the babe is a’sleeping.
I just posted a recipe for Lindsey Friesen’s Chocolate Bundt Cake on Needs More Butter. And though it made a delightful breakfast this morning, I only tagged it as “served at community dinner” and “dessert.”
Too bad there’s not a tag for “sweet-tooths may eat at any time of day.”
Livia, not certain about the dancing monsters behind mom’s back
It’s that time again… Time for another visit to one of the local farms with harvest festivities. This year I learned of the term “agri-tainment” (which our newspaper wrote as “agri-taintment” but surely that can’t be right!) and agri-taining it certainly was. The entry prices went up, there were no more free pumpkins from the fields, and the bounce houses were a dollar extra–yet, it was all for the support of a local business so I didn’t mind. Plus, the kids had SO MUCH FUN running around the farm and going on the hayrack ride. It was well-worth the few extra bucks I spent.
I should also note that I plan to attempt Jeannette’s delicious from-scratch pumpkin pie again this year. Last year’s pumpkin became decoration, so hopefully I’ll follow through in ’07. Stay tuned.
I suppose I’m ready to be 30 afterall… I just Sharpied black the bare midriff on Livia’s Happy Meal toy.
I’ve been on the countdown to 30 since December 7, 2006, the day after I turned 29. On the sixth of every month I have this eerie sensation: Goodbye, twenties. I’m going to be 30 soon. Don’t bother telling me how ridiculous I’m being because I’m fully aware of the silliness. And for the record, I have no problem with my friends, my husband!, and others turning 30+. It’s fine if y’all need to go ahead and grow up, but I’m not so sure I’m ready to head into my thirties. I’m going to be thirty-something. Like the TV show. Hmm.
Here’s where I want your opinion, dear friends, fellow bloggers and previously anonymous readers. What should 30 year olds not do that 29 year olds can? Is there an age where people should dress and “act their age”? What age is that? The real question I want answers to is, when should men and women stop shopping in the young and hip juniors department at Target? Bring on the widely varied responses. The more the merrier. And heck, we all have opinions on this stuff, so opine away.
My talented friend (and stylist) Carrie turned my hair a lovely deep shade of red yesterday. I felt like this was something to be done before turning 30. Why? No clue, but I like the way it turned out!
Class, this is Owen James Choi. Owen is new to town. In fact, everything about Owen is new. His skin is new, his eyes are new, his chubby little knees are new. His parents might be feeling kind of new, too. I already love Owen and I suspect you will, too. Make him feel welcome! : )
German Apple Cake
Needs More Butter continues to grow in number of recipes and inspires me to try new dishes from the Morehead and O’Donnell households. If you have a favorite dish you highly recommend, send it in my direction! r_l_t_@_tredways._org (get rid of the underscore marks and email away)