That's me!
It's been a crazy couple of months around here. My boss went off for some fairly major surgery so 3 of us were left working most of the shifts. Nate has been working some long hours on school work - but he's finally done! Just a dissertation now, no biggie. His mother and grandmother hopped over for a rather lengthy visit that managed to draw us out of this little city and across the border to merry old England! Heathrow doesn't exactly count as "seeing England."
So we saw York and it was wonderful. The Minster is breathtaking, ancient and still holding services for it's parishioners. We even attended one! There is nothing quite like a psalm by Tallis when sung by an all male choir in the cathedral. Also fascinating were the Roman ruins recently discovered underneath the structure - including a still working drain!!! If you ever decide to come this'a way, plan to stop in York for a day or two. Wonderful city.
The Moms also spent a week in St Andrews with us, touring about and tasting all the pub food we could get into them, plus some delicious Italian dishes. You really should come visit since we now have all of these tried and true places to take you. You'll love it! Easter was superb as well as we not only enjoyed a supremely tasty meal prepared by my Nate, we were able to attend services at sunrise at the edge of a cliff at seaside, directly beside ancient cathedral ruins. And we took communion inside said cathedral, exactly as they would have 500 years ago. There is nothing better.
All of this chaos was certainly fun and, due to that recent discovery, very tiring. I have never been so willing to sleep in all of my life - that's saying something! As we go to print, I am now 9 weeks pregnant! I am a Mother-to-be!! I daresay I'm surviving this first trimester with flying colors as the sickness is at a minimum and all that I can truly complain about is being tired. But who can really complain about that when the next logical step is to announce that you're going to bed? I think I'm ok with that. I will however, be rather glad to stop working. It's just too bad I can't take off now and just work the summer since that's supposed to be the good time. Here's to the fall! And here's to hoping that a Stateside summer vacation works it's way into reality!!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
December Again!
This is such a favorite time of year - the pine scents wafting through the house, the sparkly decorations, hot chocolate on a daily basis, frost on the red berries outside. It's so lovely!
It would seem that St Andrews knew that today was the first of December. November had its chilly days and sometimes I didn't dress warmly enough but there were still plenty of nice, sunny moments with a warm breeze playing in my hair. Not today! I didn't venture out of the house until 11am but frost was everywhere, gorgeously glistening. The pond in our neighborhood had little patches of ice and the ducks were nowhere to be seen. I was bundled in my supremely wonderful green, wool sweater, a chunky brown scarf and my super cute burnt-red jacket but I was still just a little chilly. That may have had something to do with the fact that I was wearing a mini skirt and leggings but such things happen on laundry day. I tried to make up for it with thick socks and my fuzzy boots. :) It worked. Style happened.
I think we can legitimately move to Christmas now too, as we had our wonderful Thanksgiving last week. Time to break out the Christmas music!
It would seem that St Andrews knew that today was the first of December. November had its chilly days and sometimes I didn't dress warmly enough but there were still plenty of nice, sunny moments with a warm breeze playing in my hair. Not today! I didn't venture out of the house until 11am but frost was everywhere, gorgeously glistening. The pond in our neighborhood had little patches of ice and the ducks were nowhere to be seen. I was bundled in my supremely wonderful green, wool sweater, a chunky brown scarf and my super cute burnt-red jacket but I was still just a little chilly. That may have had something to do with the fact that I was wearing a mini skirt and leggings but such things happen on laundry day. I tried to make up for it with thick socks and my fuzzy boots. :) It worked. Style happened.
I think we can legitimately move to Christmas now too, as we had our wonderful Thanksgiving last week. Time to break out the Christmas music!
Monday, October 26, 2009
I find myself keenly aware of passing time. The end of October is somehow upon us already - a whole month and then some gone by since we first set foot in this country. There is still so much to do! So much that we want to see, explore, discover - I wonder if we will have time for all of it.
Perhaps this is most notable to me as one year has already passed more swiftly than I thought possible. Each month I found myself marveling at the rapid pace yet I still looked at the coming months as plenty of time in which to accomplish what I wanted. How untrue that proved to be! The end of the summer was filled with rushing and scurrying about, never having enough hours in the day. I don't want that to be repeated this year. Somehow, I want to take it all in. Absorb it and breathe it and live it. Truly experience what we have in front of us.
The question will always be how. How to deal with the tasks that come along with being out in the world as an adult while still seeing the magic that is in the surroundings. How to juggle schoolwork and play time. How to see the world while living on a shoestring budget. A great many how's in this world and rather less of the answers. Perhaps this awareness will come into play. Perhaps it's just recognizing the whirlwind before it sweeps you along. At least you can see the ride for what it is.
Perhaps this is most notable to me as one year has already passed more swiftly than I thought possible. Each month I found myself marveling at the rapid pace yet I still looked at the coming months as plenty of time in which to accomplish what I wanted. How untrue that proved to be! The end of the summer was filled with rushing and scurrying about, never having enough hours in the day. I don't want that to be repeated this year. Somehow, I want to take it all in. Absorb it and breathe it and live it. Truly experience what we have in front of us.
The question will always be how. How to deal with the tasks that come along with being out in the world as an adult while still seeing the magic that is in the surroundings. How to juggle schoolwork and play time. How to see the world while living on a shoestring budget. A great many how's in this world and rather less of the answers. Perhaps this awareness will come into play. Perhaps it's just recognizing the whirlwind before it sweeps you along. At least you can see the ride for what it is.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Fall Means ..
caramel apple cider
brightly colored leaves
fluffy scarves with matching hat and gloves
warm, fuzzy boots
wearing a cute jacket everyday
hot chocolate
sugar cookies in seasonal shapes
M&M's in fall colors
apple pie
pumpkin pie!
Thanksgiving
red noses and cheeks
football!
warm blankets
festivals
apple dumplings
cozy fireplaces
scented candles
pumpkin seeds
apple picking
*sigh*
I love this time of year.
brightly colored leaves
fluffy scarves with matching hat and gloves
warm, fuzzy boots
wearing a cute jacket everyday
hot chocolate
sugar cookies in seasonal shapes
M&M's in fall colors
apple pie
pumpkin pie!
Thanksgiving
red noses and cheeks
football!
warm blankets
festivals
apple dumplings
cozy fireplaces
scented candles
pumpkin seeds
apple picking
*sigh*
I love this time of year.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Hooray for Fall!
This is one of my favorite spots to pass on the way into town. It's so incredibly simple and beautiful!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
25 Things I Like About Scotland
The first in a four part series of 100 items.
1) Abundant rose gardens
2) The possibilities for misty days
3) Advertisements for "wellies"
4) The cabbies
5) Brightly coloured doors
6) The ancient feel
7) The expectation of tea time
8) Using the train!
9) Anticipating Elizabeth Bennett around every corner
10) Little old ladies driving
11) Little old ladies taking their cart to market
12) Bikes with baskets
13) Teensy dishwashers
14) Weekly shopping
15) The wind
16) Scarves!!
17) Pastries, particularly the little chicken pies
18) Well behaved dogs
19) The bunnies
20) The Botanical Gardens
21) Double decker buses
22) An actual history
23) Cooler and milder weather
24) Posh fashion
25) The hedgerows
1) Abundant rose gardens
2) The possibilities for misty days
3) Advertisements for "wellies"
4) The cabbies
5) Brightly coloured doors
6) The ancient feel
7) The expectation of tea time
8) Using the train!
9) Anticipating Elizabeth Bennett around every corner
10) Little old ladies driving
11) Little old ladies taking their cart to market
12) Bikes with baskets
13) Teensy dishwashers
14) Weekly shopping
15) The wind
16) Scarves!!
17) Pastries, particularly the little chicken pies
18) Well behaved dogs
19) The bunnies
20) The Botanical Gardens
21) Double decker buses
22) An actual history
23) Cooler and milder weather
24) Posh fashion
25) The hedgerows
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
An Unexpected Adjustment
I need to make some bookends and it's like this - I love this country. I love exploring new places with my husband, being young and doing things we won't be able to do once kids come along. We are on such an incredible adventure!
Amoungst all of the excitement however, is an unrest and slight dissatisfaction. I feel almost ashamed to type it but there you go. I had not anticipated the confining nature of being married and attending graduate school, didn't even see it coming. Certain freedoms seem to be lost. We are in such a lovely place with new things to try while having the most constricting budget - it's frustrating. I want to make our home beautiful and must instead live under regulations from our housing authority. I want for us to look the part of graduate students and find that such a transformation is not yet possible.
I didn't realize how anxious I would be with such constraint. Frankly, I never expected to have such binds placed upon us. The day when schooling is behind us and steady income is at hand will be a glorious thing. To be able to govern our own home to suit our own tastes is a gift with a value I never realized. I cannot wait to have that.
Truly, St Andrews is a marvelous place. The atmosphere of the town suits us very well and we're excited about what the future here could hold. We're settling in, making wonderful friends, learning the town and making routine. Life as a whole is good.
Amoungst all of the excitement however, is an unrest and slight dissatisfaction. I feel almost ashamed to type it but there you go. I had not anticipated the confining nature of being married and attending graduate school, didn't even see it coming. Certain freedoms seem to be lost. We are in such a lovely place with new things to try while having the most constricting budget - it's frustrating. I want to make our home beautiful and must instead live under regulations from our housing authority. I want for us to look the part of graduate students and find that such a transformation is not yet possible.
I didn't realize how anxious I would be with such constraint. Frankly, I never expected to have such binds placed upon us. The day when schooling is behind us and steady income is at hand will be a glorious thing. To be able to govern our own home to suit our own tastes is a gift with a value I never realized. I cannot wait to have that.
Truly, St Andrews is a marvelous place. The atmosphere of the town suits us very well and we're excited about what the future here could hold. We're settling in, making wonderful friends, learning the town and making routine. Life as a whole is good.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Never have I ever .... until now!
We've been having a lot of fun adjusting to this new country of ours, though some things are more fun than others. For instance, I had never had the delicious experience of being the oldest and only married couple on campus for a week solid. We happened to arrive at the same time as all of the freshers so we were constantly surrounded by tiny, giggly girls and awkward, staring boys. The thought crossed my mind that we would be alone for the rest of our year here without a soul to talk to - no fun! Fortunately that changed as the rest of everyone came and we met others in the post-graduate department.
I have also never moved into what is basically dormitory housing to find a plethora of drinking glasses specifically designed with alcohol in mind. We have two whiskey shot glasses, four small wine goblets and several pint glasses. There hasn't been much in the way of tastiness to grace those glasses yet but we'll get around to it. By that time, perhaps we'll be comfortable toting our various beverages home from the store without the discreetness of bags like the rest of our town. Very interesting indeed.
Never before have I been able to see a sea from my apartment! We have the extreme pleasure of looking over the North Sea each and every day. There was one day that we could not see it but that was due to the amount of mist in the air so we couldn't really see much of anything at all.
A new experience I have more than thoroughly enjoyed was our mini pub crawl. This is not at all to say that I had loads to drink or did foolish things or go into any trouble. My enjoyment stemmed from the mere fact of being able to go with my friends to an actual pub and not leave reeking of smoking or having a headache. Smoking is banned in all shops here! The entire pub atmosphere is rather different than what you would find in America. During the day, it's a family friendly establishment and you'll often see kids there. Night time is more adult only but the seedy characters are missing. You can order food from a fairly extensive menu till rather late into the night and it isn't so loud that you can't have a conversation with the friends across the table.
I love this country.
I have also never moved into what is basically dormitory housing to find a plethora of drinking glasses specifically designed with alcohol in mind. We have two whiskey shot glasses, four small wine goblets and several pint glasses. There hasn't been much in the way of tastiness to grace those glasses yet but we'll get around to it. By that time, perhaps we'll be comfortable toting our various beverages home from the store without the discreetness of bags like the rest of our town. Very interesting indeed.
Never before have I been able to see a sea from my apartment! We have the extreme pleasure of looking over the North Sea each and every day. There was one day that we could not see it but that was due to the amount of mist in the air so we couldn't really see much of anything at all.
A new experience I have more than thoroughly enjoyed was our mini pub crawl. This is not at all to say that I had loads to drink or did foolish things or go into any trouble. My enjoyment stemmed from the mere fact of being able to go with my friends to an actual pub and not leave reeking of smoking or having a headache. Smoking is banned in all shops here! The entire pub atmosphere is rather different than what you would find in America. During the day, it's a family friendly establishment and you'll often see kids there. Night time is more adult only but the seedy characters are missing. You can order food from a fairly extensive menu till rather late into the night and it isn't so loud that you can't have a conversation with the friends across the table.
I love this country.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Perfect Weather
A tasty cup of tea.
A good book, perhaps one I've never read before.
Comfy clothes.
An art project. Or two if I'm feeling particularly inspired.
A movie as twilight decends.
That is what today should consist of. True, rain and thunderstorms is more than a little bit unusual for this time of the year, but that's what we find outside our windows today. It is drippy, grey and a little bit dreary. No matter! As you well know, this is not something I mind. The activities mentioned beforehand are some of my favorites and days like today are the perfect ones for them.
Instead of being at my house however, I find myself alone at work. Not a dreadful thing by any means and I did try to rise to the occasion. Rainboots and a scarf about my head made for a delightful walk over while a bright, summery skirt adds another spot of color to this sunshine filled room. This shop is truly charming. No matter what the outside happens to be handing out, the room is bright, cheery and refreshing. I adore working here. Even if I would rather be curled up with my husband and a cup of blueberry vanilla tea.
The end of the shift is still a couple of hours away and I am rather looking forward to it. Another jaunt through this pretty little town in the bright colors I have on today. An evening with Nathanael. A warm cup of tea and a movie as twilight decends.
A good book, perhaps one I've never read before.
Comfy clothes.
An art project. Or two if I'm feeling particularly inspired.
A movie as twilight decends.
That is what today should consist of. True, rain and thunderstorms is more than a little bit unusual for this time of the year, but that's what we find outside our windows today. It is drippy, grey and a little bit dreary. No matter! As you well know, this is not something I mind. The activities mentioned beforehand are some of my favorites and days like today are the perfect ones for them.
Instead of being at my house however, I find myself alone at work. Not a dreadful thing by any means and I did try to rise to the occasion. Rainboots and a scarf about my head made for a delightful walk over while a bright, summery skirt adds another spot of color to this sunshine filled room. This shop is truly charming. No matter what the outside happens to be handing out, the room is bright, cheery and refreshing. I adore working here. Even if I would rather be curled up with my husband and a cup of blueberry vanilla tea.
The end of the shift is still a couple of hours away and I am rather looking forward to it. Another jaunt through this pretty little town in the bright colors I have on today. An evening with Nathanael. A warm cup of tea and a movie as twilight decends.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Something is not quite right...
Let me begin by saying that I love our little apartment. It's cozy, finally looks how I want it, and most things have found a way to be organized. I love living there and being there with my husband. It really is great.
Downside - serious lack of insulation. Serious. There's a place on the floor where, if you set your feet about a foot and a half apart, you can tell where the basement and the apartment below us divide. How? One foot is merely cold, the other foot is frigid to the point of frostbite.
Another favorite spot we have recently discovered is the back door. We don't really use it much and it's basically just another part of the wall that we don't pay much attention to. However, it came glaringly into our vision the other night when Nate noticed that the bottom part of it looks like the inside of a freezer you haven't cleaned in awhile. Yep. At least a half inch of frosty ice on the piece of metal at the bottom.
The plastic sheeting over the old windows is foggy most days and the new windows have ice on the inside.
The furnace can't keep a constant temperature to save its life and the little space heater is trying desperately to make up the difference. Not working out so well but it's sure trying.
All told, we spend most of our time in several layers and wrapped in blankets. At night, we pull the space heater into the bedroom, crank the heat up to 70 in a last ditch effort before turning it back down and then close the door behind us. A new TV and VCR provide reason enough to retire early and the chance to be warm for a bit is incredibly enticing. We've even fortified one window with a spare blanket and used another two as thick rugs on top of the carpet.
It's an adventure and a good topic to blog about. I don't really mind all that much. It's when I can't feel two of my toes even after wearing socks and slippers all day that sort of gets to me.
Downside - serious lack of insulation. Serious. There's a place on the floor where, if you set your feet about a foot and a half apart, you can tell where the basement and the apartment below us divide. How? One foot is merely cold, the other foot is frigid to the point of frostbite.
Another favorite spot we have recently discovered is the back door. We don't really use it much and it's basically just another part of the wall that we don't pay much attention to. However, it came glaringly into our vision the other night when Nate noticed that the bottom part of it looks like the inside of a freezer you haven't cleaned in awhile. Yep. At least a half inch of frosty ice on the piece of metal at the bottom.
The plastic sheeting over the old windows is foggy most days and the new windows have ice on the inside.
The furnace can't keep a constant temperature to save its life and the little space heater is trying desperately to make up the difference. Not working out so well but it's sure trying.
All told, we spend most of our time in several layers and wrapped in blankets. At night, we pull the space heater into the bedroom, crank the heat up to 70 in a last ditch effort before turning it back down and then close the door behind us. A new TV and VCR provide reason enough to retire early and the chance to be warm for a bit is incredibly enticing. We've even fortified one window with a spare blanket and used another two as thick rugs on top of the carpet.
It's an adventure and a good topic to blog about. I don't really mind all that much. It's when I can't feel two of my toes even after wearing socks and slippers all day that sort of gets to me.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas for real
It was good!
:)
The sparkle wasn't like it used to be, but I truly enjoyed our first married Christmas. All of the presents were wrapped and waiting, parties were planned and attended, the apartment was cleaned.... it was all lovely. We even got a song message from the party people in Pennsylvania. I think that may have been one of the moments that made it really feel like Christmas. Made me cry a little bit too.
It's still strange not being at my parents house this year but I find that I don't really mind. We had a good time with Leilani and her family on Christmas Eve - even got some presents. Really wasn't expecting that one. And Christmas morning was lovely. A little too relaxed and rushed at the end but not enough to make it bad. We got up late, opened wonderful presents, cleaned up and got on the road. The Squires adopted us for the day so we had lunch with them and then spent the rest of the day loafing. It was very relaxing.
And now I'm at work. Only one lady has come in so far and I rather doubt anyone else is going to come. It's the day after Christmas!!! I don't really know why we're open in the first place - no one else is. Regular opening time too. Bah. I'm getting paid so I'll not complain too much. Have to eat somehow!
:)
So we hang around here for the rest of the week and then head back East. Out of this icy flatland and back to hilly scenery for two more Christmas days. Not a bad plan really. We'll end up with five Christmas's altogether and that is not at all bad. Nope! We get to have our own time together and make new traditions and still be taken care of by parents. Best of both worlds.
Merry Christmas everyone.
:)
The sparkle wasn't like it used to be, but I truly enjoyed our first married Christmas. All of the presents were wrapped and waiting, parties were planned and attended, the apartment was cleaned.... it was all lovely. We even got a song message from the party people in Pennsylvania. I think that may have been one of the moments that made it really feel like Christmas. Made me cry a little bit too.
It's still strange not being at my parents house this year but I find that I don't really mind. We had a good time with Leilani and her family on Christmas Eve - even got some presents. Really wasn't expecting that one. And Christmas morning was lovely. A little too relaxed and rushed at the end but not enough to make it bad. We got up late, opened wonderful presents, cleaned up and got on the road. The Squires adopted us for the day so we had lunch with them and then spent the rest of the day loafing. It was very relaxing.
And now I'm at work. Only one lady has come in so far and I rather doubt anyone else is going to come. It's the day after Christmas!!! I don't really know why we're open in the first place - no one else is. Regular opening time too. Bah. I'm getting paid so I'll not complain too much. Have to eat somehow!
:)
So we hang around here for the rest of the week and then head back East. Out of this icy flatland and back to hilly scenery for two more Christmas days. Not a bad plan really. We'll end up with five Christmas's altogether and that is not at all bad. Nope! We get to have our own time together and make new traditions and still be taken care of by parents. Best of both worlds.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Christmas? Really?
It doesn't feel like Christmastime. The concert last night and the concert Friday night didn't work, changing the background here didn't work, and the complete lack of snow certainly isn't helping. Even my little decorated apartment isn't cluing me in. Perhaps the lack of a tree is influencing as well. Is Christmas really next week?
I'm not sure I believe it.
Remember Christmas as a kid? All of the sparkle and anticipation. Parties and decorations, staying up late, hot chocolate and cookies, listening as closely as you could when you fell asleep to hear those bells.
Growing up is a funny thing. I love working. I love having our own little place and making sure that everything is as it should be. As close as it can be anyway. :) I love having meetings and grocery shopping and cleaning and all of the things that make us grown ups.
But.....
I wonder if that has something to do with this feeling. I wonder if all of that hides the sparkle I usually see this time of year.
Mission: find the sparkle again. Really look for it. Show it to others. Make it come back.
This post seems a bit sentimental and overly nostalgic bordering on cliche but it certainly isn't intended that way. I really do want it all back.
I think I'll plan on listening for those bells again. No matter where we find ourselves on Christmas Eve.
I'm not sure I believe it.
Remember Christmas as a kid? All of the sparkle and anticipation. Parties and decorations, staying up late, hot chocolate and cookies, listening as closely as you could when you fell asleep to hear those bells.
Growing up is a funny thing. I love working. I love having our own little place and making sure that everything is as it should be. As close as it can be anyway. :) I love having meetings and grocery shopping and cleaning and all of the things that make us grown ups.
But.....
I wonder if that has something to do with this feeling. I wonder if all of that hides the sparkle I usually see this time of year.
Mission: find the sparkle again. Really look for it. Show it to others. Make it come back.
This post seems a bit sentimental and overly nostalgic bordering on cliche but it certainly isn't intended that way. I really do want it all back.
I think I'll plan on listening for those bells again. No matter where we find ourselves on Christmas Eve.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
a non-post
I don't find myself in a particularly "blog-y" mood but changing my background while still having a post about fall just didn't work for me either. Here's a few updates just for kicks:
-We've had several snowfalls already though once December came, the snow left and the temperature climbed. Very strange.
-I love my work! I love working with all of the groups that come in. Trying to get handprints from the babies is another favorite. They're so adorable.
-Our little place is all decorated for Christmas. I had just enough to make the whole place pretty and I love it. Perhaps I'll remember my camera one of these times and I'll post some new photos in here. My favorite feature is our wreath in place of a tree. I very much wish we could have a tree but we just don't have room. Next year!
-I don't know if we'll be going home for Christmas this year. Nate wasn't able to ask off work since everyone else already had. We might get lucky again and be able to leave last minute but there's no telling. That's sure to go over well with my parents.
All in all, life is so good. I love my husband. I love using the word "husband." We have a lot of our friends here though we miss the ones that are elsewhere. Stephanie is here! Just for the day but it's better than nothing.
Hooray for friends.
-We've had several snowfalls already though once December came, the snow left and the temperature climbed. Very strange.
-I love my work! I love working with all of the groups that come in. Trying to get handprints from the babies is another favorite. They're so adorable.
-Our little place is all decorated for Christmas. I had just enough to make the whole place pretty and I love it. Perhaps I'll remember my camera one of these times and I'll post some new photos in here. My favorite feature is our wreath in place of a tree. I very much wish we could have a tree but we just don't have room. Next year!
-I don't know if we'll be going home for Christmas this year. Nate wasn't able to ask off work since everyone else already had. We might get lucky again and be able to leave last minute but there's no telling. That's sure to go over well with my parents.
All in all, life is so good. I love my husband. I love using the word "husband." We have a lot of our friends here though we miss the ones that are elsewhere. Stephanie is here! Just for the day but it's better than nothing.
Hooray for friends.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wisps of Memories
I think autumn came today. The sky is full of cold clouds racing overhead. The wind has arrived with gusto and insists on blowing any girls hair into whipped frenzy. Colors have started to appear on trees and a few leaves have made their way into piles on the ground.
Walking along with my hair twirling about my face, I caught a scent of something ever so briefly. It was like a memory sitting on the edge and trying to dive into the now. The moment ended quickly and left me wondering what it was that had crossed by me and my little nose. I suppose I won't ever really know but I am now flooded with memories. Fall memories. My favorites.
Raking piles of leaves in the backyard to jump in but stopping that activity as soon as I realized those leaves weren't soft pillows
Pulling out the box of sweaters for the first time that season
Wrapping up in a puffy vest, scarf and my sweet hat for a stroll about the village
Football games with the band playing and eating pizza from the best shop in town
Coming home to find fall themed cookies decorating our dining table
Bonfires
Apple cider with caramel
Hot chocolate with marshmallows
A trip to Chicago with wonderful friends
Walking to work every day
Apple pie
Surprising Nate and touring Greenville
I love fall. It's almost absolutely my favorite season. Now I really need to get my hands on some apple cider.
Yum.
Walking along with my hair twirling about my face, I caught a scent of something ever so briefly. It was like a memory sitting on the edge and trying to dive into the now. The moment ended quickly and left me wondering what it was that had crossed by me and my little nose. I suppose I won't ever really know but I am now flooded with memories. Fall memories. My favorites.
Raking piles of leaves in the backyard to jump in but stopping that activity as soon as I realized those leaves weren't soft pillows
Pulling out the box of sweaters for the first time that season
Wrapping up in a puffy vest, scarf and my sweet hat for a stroll about the village
Football games with the band playing and eating pizza from the best shop in town
Coming home to find fall themed cookies decorating our dining table
Bonfires
Apple cider with caramel
Hot chocolate with marshmallows
A trip to Chicago with wonderful friends
Walking to work every day
Apple pie
Surprising Nate and touring Greenville
I love fall. It's almost absolutely my favorite season. Now I really need to get my hands on some apple cider.
Yum.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Settingling in
We moved!!!!!!
Just last Thursday, Nate and I moved into our first apartment. It's little, cute and slightly cramped but I love it. I love being in my own home. I love that our landlady let us paint. I love that I can put up our artwork. I can host parties and have people over. I can make dinner for just the two of us. I can even clean my own home!! Who knew you could be excited about that?
The best part of this whole thing - we aren't in South Carolina.
Nope.
We moved to Winona Lake.
Yep.
Winona Lake. It felt like coming home when we were driving up. Even though those cornfields are still as flat as can be, it still felt right coming here. My friends are here. Good memories are here. Winter will be awful I'm sure, but this is still the best place to be.
The crazy part is that this switch happened in less than a week. It took one day of talking the subject over to change the listings we were looking in, another two days to find the perfect situation for us and another two days for our application to be accepted. Our new direction seemed to be fairly obvious as we had just spent a month looking in the Carolinas and hadn't managed to find a thing.
So here we are. Moving in. Working to make everything fit. Enjoying being with the wonderful people here. Living.
It's good.
We're home.
Just last Thursday, Nate and I moved into our first apartment. It's little, cute and slightly cramped but I love it. I love being in my own home. I love that our landlady let us paint. I love that I can put up our artwork. I can host parties and have people over. I can make dinner for just the two of us. I can even clean my own home!! Who knew you could be excited about that?
The best part of this whole thing - we aren't in South Carolina.
Nope.
We moved to Winona Lake.
Yep.
Winona Lake. It felt like coming home when we were driving up. Even though those cornfields are still as flat as can be, it still felt right coming here. My friends are here. Good memories are here. Winter will be awful I'm sure, but this is still the best place to be.
The crazy part is that this switch happened in less than a week. It took one day of talking the subject over to change the listings we were looking in, another two days to find the perfect situation for us and another two days for our application to be accepted. Our new direction seemed to be fairly obvious as we had just spent a month looking in the Carolinas and hadn't managed to find a thing.
So here we are. Moving in. Working to make everything fit. Enjoying being with the wonderful people here. Living.
It's good.
We're home.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Nesting
That's what they call it when a new mom is waiting to give birth. She gets the nursery ready, reads all of the books, takes the classes and talks to everyone she can to get ready for her new arrival.
What do you call it when you desperately want a home? How do you get ready? How do you prepare when you find yourself in limbo?
We have no home and few options. A good one just came through today and I hope the follow-up works out. The last few weeks have been discouraging. Lots of looking and calling and making lists but nothing seems to pan out.
The end of this particular tunnel may be coming into view but it's still fuzzy and far-off. I have a pile of belongings sitting in Western Pennsylvania just waiting. Just sitting. Gathering dust. All of those presents are states away from where they should be.
I just want to set up my home. That's all.
What do you call it when you desperately want a home? How do you get ready? How do you prepare when you find yourself in limbo?
We have no home and few options. A good one just came through today and I hope the follow-up works out. The last few weeks have been discouraging. Lots of looking and calling and making lists but nothing seems to pan out.
The end of this particular tunnel may be coming into view but it's still fuzzy and far-off. I have a pile of belongings sitting in Western Pennsylvania just waiting. Just sitting. Gathering dust. All of those presents are states away from where they should be.
I just want to set up my home. That's all.
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Real Update
I feel like I've been gone from here forever. Some silly part of me actually thought I would be able to update during MasterWorks much more frequently.
Right
Another silly part of me thought I would be able to jot a few notes out here before the wedding. You know, just some small thoughts on my last days as a single woman and all that it would mean.
Right
I even thought I might do some updating on the honeymoon.
Right
So here I am. It's been weeks since I last posted. So much has happened. My life has completely changed!! I am a married woman. I have a husband (I like him a lot!). I have packed up all of my earthly belongings into bags and boxes and left the majority of that in a pile at the Cooke Homestead. I sit at a friends computer in Wisconsin and realize that I am currently wandering with no home to go to.
It's an amazing feeling actually. We have no ties to anywhere. Money will become a problem at some point but we could travel for quite some time and be ok. I think I like it this way. Especially since we have two more stops to make along the way. Friends are getting married this Saturday and then we'll head to Washington DC to visit family. I'm really looking forward to that part of the trip. It's been quite awhile since I've been there and I love that city. There's so much to do!
And now to fill in a few details of the past months.................
MasterWorks was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had and certainly the hardest to date. Most days were very difficult and I went through several crying jags. Mostly, I felt sorry for Nate. He had never seen me like that and was the one to take the brunt of nearly all of my emotions. Boy were they all over the place. It was not unusal to go from euphorically happy to clinically depressed in the space of a minute. By all accounts though, the Festival was a success. People were constantly commenting on how well things were going. I always knew how badly something had actually gone but it was nice to hear otherwise. We presented a good face - I could never ask for a better crew. They are the reason I made it to my wedding.
The reason I made it through the wedding itself was - the amazing Sarah!!! Nate's sister saved our lives. I was doing well with the details and things were pulling together. The puzzle was basically falling together and I liked what I saw. Honestly, I could barely believe how calm I was about things. Stressed, yes. But somehow ................ calm. I have no idea how that was working. It's a good thing we had Sarah though. She sent us the longest to-do list I have ever laid eyes on with details we just hadn't thought of. Nate and I worked on it a bit and sent it back. She proceeded to show up at the Homestead with an even longer edition of that list! I didn't think it possible. That list made the weekend happen. The "important" people had folders and written out duties, the kids ran around like crazy helping us, and everyone that set foot in the house was more than willing to voluteer another pair of hands. I saw Uncle Mike pulling roses apart for after the reception.
I think that was the most amazing part of the whole experience. Those people were there for us. They wanted to be there. They wanted to celebrate with us.
They loved us. They still do.
No matter how many times we stepped on their hearts over the years, they still came. Family and friends both. Even looking back on it all, I can still barely grasp it. They came to the rehearsal, the dinner, the whole ceremony and reception. They truly wanted to be there.
I looked over the crowd at the rehearsal dinner at one point and noticed the groups of people that were mingled together. Granted, they were sitting in little clumps with those that they knew but we had so many different parts of our lives in one room - MasterWorks, two families, school, old friends and a pastor. It's almost a joke. I doubt those lives will ever collide quite like that ever again. I never would have suspected that we had impacted that many lives.
The ceremony and reception were ever stranger with the amount of different people there. I noticed the MasterWorks people and Geneva people had chosen tables directly next to each other. Very strange!
That day was so wonderful. The house of girls started getting ready at 7:30. With the amount of people we had there, we had to start showers that early. For all that we had to do, it was fairly leisurely. We popped in a movie (Saved - hehe), had some brunch, did hair and makeup and got dressed. The dressing part was almost a problem as we started running out of time then. But we all finished up and piled into cars only 20 minutes after we wanted to originally. We took some pictures at Harbison Chapel at Grove City College. It was absolutely beautiful - I can't wait to see what Caryn captured.
Then off to the church to wait. I had a lot of fun sneaking in even though it turned out that I didn't need to. It seemed like a long wait especially since I wasn't upstairs helping. That may have been the strangest part. I wasn't managing a thing, someone else was. The biggest day of my life so far and I wasn't in charge. I'd say that's a good thing!
Very suddenly, it was time to go. And it was really time to go. We got to the top of the stairs and Stephanie had to start walking. There was no time for quick fixes. My brothers pulled the runner down, closed the door and I got into place. It was perfectly timed - I used a song from "Pride and Prejudice" and the doors opened right on the swell. I actually did direct that. And then I was all but pulling my father down the aisle. I hope it looked ok. I didn't look anywhere else but Nathanael and I was smiling so big, I could barely see him. Silly squinty eyes.
The whole thing took 45 minutes but it went so fast. It seemed like only a few minutes before the music came on again and I was once again running down the aisle. I almost tripped that time. As I got to the back of the church, I realized I was shaking - not thinking well, not seeing very well and smiling enough to break my face.
A few pictures at the church, a few more at Harbison, the quickest four hour reception and a blur of faces later, we were leaving. We ran through a shower (a few downpours) of rose petals and then we were on the road. Our car was decorated with glass chalk, some pop cans and a length of plaid material. The sun was setting, it rained a bit and it was all perfect. We drove away as man and wife. That was all that mattered anyway. And it had happened.
So here I sit. A tiny computer in a friends appartment, miles away from my home state. An open window to let in beautifully cool breezes. An evening of fun exploring ahead of us. And a husband only a few inches away. A husband. Perfect.
Right
Another silly part of me thought I would be able to jot a few notes out here before the wedding. You know, just some small thoughts on my last days as a single woman and all that it would mean.
Right
I even thought I might do some updating on the honeymoon.
Right
So here I am. It's been weeks since I last posted. So much has happened. My life has completely changed!! I am a married woman. I have a husband (I like him a lot!). I have packed up all of my earthly belongings into bags and boxes and left the majority of that in a pile at the Cooke Homestead. I sit at a friends computer in Wisconsin and realize that I am currently wandering with no home to go to.
It's an amazing feeling actually. We have no ties to anywhere. Money will become a problem at some point but we could travel for quite some time and be ok. I think I like it this way. Especially since we have two more stops to make along the way. Friends are getting married this Saturday and then we'll head to Washington DC to visit family. I'm really looking forward to that part of the trip. It's been quite awhile since I've been there and I love that city. There's so much to do!
And now to fill in a few details of the past months.................
MasterWorks was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had and certainly the hardest to date. Most days were very difficult and I went through several crying jags. Mostly, I felt sorry for Nate. He had never seen me like that and was the one to take the brunt of nearly all of my emotions. Boy were they all over the place. It was not unusal to go from euphorically happy to clinically depressed in the space of a minute. By all accounts though, the Festival was a success. People were constantly commenting on how well things were going. I always knew how badly something had actually gone but it was nice to hear otherwise. We presented a good face - I could never ask for a better crew. They are the reason I made it to my wedding.
The reason I made it through the wedding itself was - the amazing Sarah!!! Nate's sister saved our lives. I was doing well with the details and things were pulling together. The puzzle was basically falling together and I liked what I saw. Honestly, I could barely believe how calm I was about things. Stressed, yes. But somehow ................ calm. I have no idea how that was working. It's a good thing we had Sarah though. She sent us the longest to-do list I have ever laid eyes on with details we just hadn't thought of. Nate and I worked on it a bit and sent it back. She proceeded to show up at the Homestead with an even longer edition of that list! I didn't think it possible. That list made the weekend happen. The "important" people had folders and written out duties, the kids ran around like crazy helping us, and everyone that set foot in the house was more than willing to voluteer another pair of hands. I saw Uncle Mike pulling roses apart for after the reception.
I think that was the most amazing part of the whole experience. Those people were there for us. They wanted to be there. They wanted to celebrate with us.
They loved us. They still do.
No matter how many times we stepped on their hearts over the years, they still came. Family and friends both. Even looking back on it all, I can still barely grasp it. They came to the rehearsal, the dinner, the whole ceremony and reception. They truly wanted to be there.
I looked over the crowd at the rehearsal dinner at one point and noticed the groups of people that were mingled together. Granted, they were sitting in little clumps with those that they knew but we had so many different parts of our lives in one room - MasterWorks, two families, school, old friends and a pastor. It's almost a joke. I doubt those lives will ever collide quite like that ever again. I never would have suspected that we had impacted that many lives.
The ceremony and reception were ever stranger with the amount of different people there. I noticed the MasterWorks people and Geneva people had chosen tables directly next to each other. Very strange!
That day was so wonderful. The house of girls started getting ready at 7:30. With the amount of people we had there, we had to start showers that early. For all that we had to do, it was fairly leisurely. We popped in a movie (Saved - hehe), had some brunch, did hair and makeup and got dressed. The dressing part was almost a problem as we started running out of time then. But we all finished up and piled into cars only 20 minutes after we wanted to originally. We took some pictures at Harbison Chapel at Grove City College. It was absolutely beautiful - I can't wait to see what Caryn captured.
Then off to the church to wait. I had a lot of fun sneaking in even though it turned out that I didn't need to. It seemed like a long wait especially since I wasn't upstairs helping. That may have been the strangest part. I wasn't managing a thing, someone else was. The biggest day of my life so far and I wasn't in charge. I'd say that's a good thing!
Very suddenly, it was time to go. And it was really time to go. We got to the top of the stairs and Stephanie had to start walking. There was no time for quick fixes. My brothers pulled the runner down, closed the door and I got into place. It was perfectly timed - I used a song from "Pride and Prejudice" and the doors opened right on the swell. I actually did direct that. And then I was all but pulling my father down the aisle. I hope it looked ok. I didn't look anywhere else but Nathanael and I was smiling so big, I could barely see him. Silly squinty eyes.
The whole thing took 45 minutes but it went so fast. It seemed like only a few minutes before the music came on again and I was once again running down the aisle. I almost tripped that time. As I got to the back of the church, I realized I was shaking - not thinking well, not seeing very well and smiling enough to break my face.
A few pictures at the church, a few more at Harbison, the quickest four hour reception and a blur of faces later, we were leaving. We ran through a shower (a few downpours) of rose petals and then we were on the road. Our car was decorated with glass chalk, some pop cans and a length of plaid material. The sun was setting, it rained a bit and it was all perfect. We drove away as man and wife. That was all that mattered anyway. And it had happened.
So here I sit. A tiny computer in a friends appartment, miles away from my home state. An open window to let in beautifully cool breezes. An evening of fun exploring ahead of us. And a husband only a few inches away. A husband. Perfect.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Things I've Learned...
...while planning a wedding....
*Set a limit for your parents on how many people they can invite - otherwise your friends don't get to come.
*Expect to have your plans thwarted, especially when it comes to the color scheme.
*Find the sheet music to any song you ever liked the minute you decide you like it.
*Have an excellent CD collection or start working on your songs the minute after you get engaged.
*Keep it simple stupid (KISS)
*You WILL fight with your mother - it will not be pleasant
*Ever have a thought about your wedding? Write it down!! Then you can actually go back and prove what you were thinking even if it's just you that needs convincing.
*Start concrete planning with your fiancee two minutes after you get engaged, especially if you live farther apart.
...and seriously....
*I now know that Nathanael and I can weather just about anything
*Kisses can solve just about anything
*Set a limit for your parents on how many people they can invite - otherwise your friends don't get to come.
*Expect to have your plans thwarted, especially when it comes to the color scheme.
*Find the sheet music to any song you ever liked the minute you decide you like it.
*Have an excellent CD collection or start working on your songs the minute after you get engaged.
*Keep it simple stupid (KISS)
*You WILL fight with your mother - it will not be pleasant
*Ever have a thought about your wedding? Write it down!! Then you can actually go back and prove what you were thinking even if it's just you that needs convincing.
*Start concrete planning with your fiancee two minutes after you get engaged, especially if you live farther apart.
...and seriously....
*I now know that Nathanael and I can weather just about anything
*Kisses can solve just about anything
Monday, June 30, 2008
Quiet Reflections from a Troubled Soul
This particular evening was quite beautiful - a slowly setting sun cast noticeably golden rays that darkened to a burnt orange, the light blue sky was sprinkled with a select few clouds, and a light wind made me happy to be wearing a jacket. To make it all the better, my Nathanael was with me. My fiance, the man who loves me, the man I love, the man I will soon be able to call "husband." I've never yet been so happy to have him near me.
The past month can be appropriately labeled as "insane." I have become engaged, moved several times, accepted a job as Production Manager, started planning a wedding and am now running this festival. I was holding together and accomplishing much. I was generally enjoying it as well. What was there that was not to love? I was (and still am) to be married and I would be (and still am) receiving a significantly higher paycheck than I had expected. Then we came to this weekend.
The past 48 hours can be appropriately labeled as "horrible."
I never realized how many things can accumulate on one pair of shoulders. My crew is incredible this year and any of them will take on a task to keep it from becoming my problem. The shoulder space for me to lean upon is vast and sturdy, yet I find myself constantly thinking, planning and waiting for the next project or disaster. I never realized how tiring thinking could be. I am exhausted. I am constantly tense. I am afraid it will start to spill over onto those shoulders that I rely so much on. I am terrified of wetting those shoulders with the tears that come from my eyes. Who knew so many tears could be lurking behind two small eyes?
Psalm 30:5 - ".....weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." How long will my night be? I ask for peace and calmness often - how do I make my heart feel them?
This night is calm. The work load for me is light and most of the crew has gone to bed. Only a few remain awake, several of them here singing hymns as I type. I will probably be in bed soon unless my wonderful fiance keeps me up. (Not at all a bad thing since our time together has been cruelly limited these days.)
Still, I find my heart racing as I sit, my thoughts ready to swirl without me letting them, my mother just a phone call away, and the weekend looming ahead of me. The calm only lasts for so long.
The past month can be appropriately labeled as "insane." I have become engaged, moved several times, accepted a job as Production Manager, started planning a wedding and am now running this festival. I was holding together and accomplishing much. I was generally enjoying it as well. What was there that was not to love? I was (and still am) to be married and I would be (and still am) receiving a significantly higher paycheck than I had expected. Then we came to this weekend.
The past 48 hours can be appropriately labeled as "horrible."
I never realized how many things can accumulate on one pair of shoulders. My crew is incredible this year and any of them will take on a task to keep it from becoming my problem. The shoulder space for me to lean upon is vast and sturdy, yet I find myself constantly thinking, planning and waiting for the next project or disaster. I never realized how tiring thinking could be. I am exhausted. I am constantly tense. I am afraid it will start to spill over onto those shoulders that I rely so much on. I am terrified of wetting those shoulders with the tears that come from my eyes. Who knew so many tears could be lurking behind two small eyes?
Psalm 30:5 - ".....weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." How long will my night be? I ask for peace and calmness often - how do I make my heart feel them?
This night is calm. The work load for me is light and most of the crew has gone to bed. Only a few remain awake, several of them here singing hymns as I type. I will probably be in bed soon unless my wonderful fiance keeps me up. (Not at all a bad thing since our time together has been cruelly limited these days.)
Still, I find my heart racing as I sit, my thoughts ready to swirl without me letting them, my mother just a phone call away, and the weekend looming ahead of me. The calm only lasts for so long.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
