Let me start with last Thursday. We babysat. Remember that night that I babysat and the baby cried all night long, and I was exhausted and ready to cry myself? We babysat the same kids on Thursday evening, but the baby did so much better. She slept almost the entire time, and only fussed a little bit when she woke up and I changed her diaper. And then she fell asleep in my arms! And then the parents came back.
The boy was hyper as usual, but no unruly. He watched Horton Hears a Who. Twice. He REALLY likes that movie. He was a tiny bit cranky because the night went so late, and he was pretty tired, so he didn't fuss when it was time to go (like he usually does. He hates being away from Art's nerf guns).
So Thursday night was a good night. Friday night, Art and I went out on a date, to a restaurant called The Copper Hog. They serve authentic, UK-style food. (Did you know that in Europe, a lot of places serve fish and chips with mashed peas? So weird!) We didn't get fish and chips, but we did get curry fries with chicken. It was quite different, and really really good.
We got steak for our main dish, and it came with some broccoli, and when I bit into the broccoli, it was dry and crunchy and flavorful, like a chip! Broccoli chips! I loved it. I want to make broccoli chips for myself some day. Very soon.
Saturday was glorious. I got to sleep in and snuggle with my hubby for a while. Something we almost never get to do. I had a manicure at 1:00pm, and even though it was a basic mani, my nails look so pretty! I don't put color on my nails, because I want them to look neat and professional, so I chose an opaque, pearl-esque polish. I always try to keep my nails looking good, but right now, they look especially good.
We had the most gorgeous weather on Saturday, so even though Art and I drove past the grocery store on my way home, I asked him to drop me off at home so I could walk to the grocery store, to pick up a few things, and to enjoy the sunshine and warmth. So that was heavenly. Plus I bought eggnog. :D :D :D :D :D We like us some eggnog, yes we do.
The rest of Saturday was spent relaxing, and hanging out with friends, and watching UFC, and baking. (Because no two things go together more perfectly than baking to the sounds of two guys beating each other up.) Anyway, I had to bring something to eat for church the next day, because we were meeting as small groups instead of one congregation. It was 10pm, and I had no idea what I was going to make.
I opened my cupboards for inspiration, and behold: 3 cans of pumpkin! I immediately knew that I was destined to make pumpkin cookies, so Sozan and I drove off to Haggen at 10:30pm, picked up some ingredients, and I was baking cookies till midnight. And they were DELICIOUS! If I do say so myself. Although, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who thinks so, because they were gobbled up pretty quickly on Sunday morning. And don't worry, I will definitely share my recipe with you.
So Sunday started out pretty good, with those pumpkin cookies, and breakfast with a small group of people from the church. It was really informal, and I'm so glad that Art and I finally got to meet some people. We barely know anyone there! Hopefully we are now on our way to making some new friends.
The rest of Sunday was pretty much spent with Art watching football, and my listening to more Mark Driscoll sermons online, and looking up more recipes. I was suddenly inspired to learn how to make easy, nutritious, delicious meals. And what I found so far makes me very happy, and actually excited to get into the kitchen.
Tonight I tried out my very first full meal: beef and broccoli. So easy, so quick, so completely healthy and balanced, and it tastes SO good. As a matter of fact, I'm eating my second helping as I type this. It uses olive oil or vegetable oil for fat, broccoli for carbs, and beef for protein. Plus soy sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic for flavor. Genius! All three basic nutrients in one dish. I'm so proud of myself, because I used to say that I was a bad cook, and that I hated cooking. But every time I try something, it works! I just had to get inspired.
I'm thinking that maybe tomorrow, I'll try doing the broccoli chips. The whole broccoli thing is an especially big deal, because it's so healthy, but I hate eating it. I was determined to find ways to prepare it so that I would love it. So far, so good.
Stay tuned for some recipes, and more adventures as I discover that I'm not a horrible cook!
October 26, 2009
October 22, 2009
A Nice Rambling Post, For a Change
I've been taking an unplanned break from the internet for the last little while. Well, not a complete break, but I've been spending a LOT less time on blogger and facebook and such.
Lately I've been listening to Mark Driscoll sermons online. Specifically his Proverbs series from 2001/2002. Specifically the sermons on how to be a Proverbs 31 woman. Women and Femininity, Women and Homebuilding, Women and Motherhood...it is really good stuff. And to make it so perfectly complete, while I'm listening, I'm also knitting. :)
Btw, just in case anyone thinks those sermons seem sexist or demeaning, just do me (and you) a favor by listening to the them before you pass judgement. He explains how a woman has unique gifts that provide her with endless opportunities for ministry, both to her family, and to the world. She is anything but a mindless slave to endless chores. And these sermons are no guilt trip. I feel built up, and inspired to be the kind of woman that Proverbs (and Ruth and Esther and Song of Solomon) talk about.
And speaking of knitting, my mom wanted me to say what it is I'm making. And unfortunately for you, I'm not telling. :) It's a surprise. No I'm not pregnant. I'll tell you all about it when I'm done.
I realize that I don't talk about work much. Work has been really slow, and I have a lot of down time, but because of the big changes that are coming up, I still have a job. We are being switched over to a new database at the end of November, and my training finally just started.
There are some really good things about it, there are a few bad things about it, and in our department, we can definitely see how this new database could create some huge problems for us, and our customers. Which means that next summer, we will have more work to do than ever.
Our work will increase then, and the work we have now will take a bit longer with the new database, so those two factors combined mean job security for me. I'm still considered a seasonal, but my boss knows she will need my help once the switch is made. Once she can actually prove that things take longer, and therefore she needs more staff, I will be hired as full-time. And I'm praying that it happens before Christmas.
So if the change will potentially make more problems, then why are we making the switch? Well, we don't have a choice. We have a parent company that made this decision a few years ago, and all the rest of the companies have been using the new database for quite some time. Our company is the last to switch over.
And everybody is making a huge effort to keep spirits high, and encouraging everyone to see the positive, because as we all know, you attitude alone could be the difference between success and failure.
I'm not feeling the stress just yet. My training just started, and it was only for a few hours. Next week will be our department's in-depth training. I'm excited, because I'll be gaining some new responsibilities as well. And I suspect the change might be more easy for me because I haven't been here that long, so I'm not super attached to our current database.
Anyway, enough about work. The other day, I spoke about not having a camera, and for the most part, I don't miss it too much. Except it's Fall now. And it's so beautiful out here! I just want to take a million pictures of all the trees, wearing brilliant oranges and golds and reds. The trees are shedding their leaves pretty quickly now, but the sidewalks wear them just as nicely. It makes my bus ride to work so much more enjoyable.
I'm trying to drink it all in, because before long, the trees will be bare, and the skies will always be grey, and there won't be anything to look at, unless it snows. Which isn't likely. It snowed last year, but that's pretty unusual.
Well, this post has progressed from cheerful to downright depressing, so I think I will sign off. It's time to get back to the clickitty-clacking of my knitting needles. Which they don't actually do. If you're knitting and it's noisy, you're probably doing it wrong.
Lately I've been listening to Mark Driscoll sermons online. Specifically his Proverbs series from 2001/2002. Specifically the sermons on how to be a Proverbs 31 woman. Women and Femininity, Women and Homebuilding, Women and Motherhood...it is really good stuff. And to make it so perfectly complete, while I'm listening, I'm also knitting. :)
Btw, just in case anyone thinks those sermons seem sexist or demeaning, just do me (and you) a favor by listening to the them before you pass judgement. He explains how a woman has unique gifts that provide her with endless opportunities for ministry, both to her family, and to the world. She is anything but a mindless slave to endless chores. And these sermons are no guilt trip. I feel built up, and inspired to be the kind of woman that Proverbs (and Ruth and Esther and Song of Solomon) talk about.
And speaking of knitting, my mom wanted me to say what it is I'm making. And unfortunately for you, I'm not telling. :) It's a surprise. No I'm not pregnant. I'll tell you all about it when I'm done.
I realize that I don't talk about work much. Work has been really slow, and I have a lot of down time, but because of the big changes that are coming up, I still have a job. We are being switched over to a new database at the end of November, and my training finally just started.
There are some really good things about it, there are a few bad things about it, and in our department, we can definitely see how this new database could create some huge problems for us, and our customers. Which means that next summer, we will have more work to do than ever.
Our work will increase then, and the work we have now will take a bit longer with the new database, so those two factors combined mean job security for me. I'm still considered a seasonal, but my boss knows she will need my help once the switch is made. Once she can actually prove that things take longer, and therefore she needs more staff, I will be hired as full-time. And I'm praying that it happens before Christmas.
So if the change will potentially make more problems, then why are we making the switch? Well, we don't have a choice. We have a parent company that made this decision a few years ago, and all the rest of the companies have been using the new database for quite some time. Our company is the last to switch over.
And everybody is making a huge effort to keep spirits high, and encouraging everyone to see the positive, because as we all know, you attitude alone could be the difference between success and failure.
I'm not feeling the stress just yet. My training just started, and it was only for a few hours. Next week will be our department's in-depth training. I'm excited, because I'll be gaining some new responsibilities as well. And I suspect the change might be more easy for me because I haven't been here that long, so I'm not super attached to our current database.
Anyway, enough about work. The other day, I spoke about not having a camera, and for the most part, I don't miss it too much. Except it's Fall now. And it's so beautiful out here! I just want to take a million pictures of all the trees, wearing brilliant oranges and golds and reds. The trees are shedding their leaves pretty quickly now, but the sidewalks wear them just as nicely. It makes my bus ride to work so much more enjoyable.
I'm trying to drink it all in, because before long, the trees will be bare, and the skies will always be grey, and there won't be anything to look at, unless it snows. Which isn't likely. It snowed last year, but that's pretty unusual.
Well, this post has progressed from cheerful to downright depressing, so I think I will sign off. It's time to get back to the clickitty-clacking of my knitting needles. Which they don't actually do. If you're knitting and it's noisy, you're probably doing it wrong.
October 20, 2009
What Internet?
No time to blog, or even be on the internet these days. Too busy knitting! :D
(This would normally be the part where I show you what I'm working on, but you may remember that our camera got a little smashed up on a mountain. It's too bad my mom is paying for us to fly out to Manitoba for Christmas. Otherwise, she could buy us a camera! Just kidding. Love you mom!)
(Oh, and today is my sister's birthday. Happy Birthday Elleah! And she is due in less than two weeks!)
(This would normally be the part where I show you what I'm working on, but you may remember that our camera got a little smashed up on a mountain. It's too bad my mom is paying for us to fly out to Manitoba for Christmas. Otherwise, she could buy us a camera! Just kidding. Love you mom!)
(Oh, and today is my sister's birthday. Happy Birthday Elleah! And she is due in less than two weeks!)
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