Hard working folks

Bill and I are getting ready to leave the country in a little more than a month, so we are working overtime to get our house in order. After a long day painting, laying baseboard, and cleaning lots of old messes, I was ready for a cheap and delicious burrito.

Bill smartly pointed out that we can have delicious and healthier dinner here, so we threw something together. It wasn't the tastiest concoction ever created, but it sure was pretty! Mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes over creamy polenta, accompanied by a red blend wine from the Umpqua Valley.

The blog conundrum

I have posted on this blog less and less (the few readers I have left will attest to that). I don't post a lot because I say to myself, "Nothing has really happened to me lately, so what do I have to say?" And then I don't post anything at all. That is so short sighted of me, however, because I realize that even though my life is pretty mundane, it is still a pretty fun time. I have a great camera that is at my disposal 24 hours a day, I live in a beautiful area with some crazy dogs and a hard-working man, and I work hard to stay busy with gardening, motorcycle riding, and cooking. What wouldn't I have to post about?!

I have old pictures to post from spring break and before.... and from now on, I am going to do my best to post once a week. Not only will my mom appreciate it (Hi Mom!) but it will be good practice for me. Part of the reason I started this page was to show people I cared about what I have been doing with my life. I think I am doing something here.....

Here are some wonderful pictures of family and month-old adventures.

I just feel so lucky. We get to have so many adventures and so many people who love us. Not taking pictures of our good fortune is foolish.

See you in a week with more pictures! Love you all. Thank you for your patience!

So... this happened in February.

We started our winter with a visit from Matt and Angela. It seems silly to write about now because it was so long ago.... but it was wonderful to see our friends again. It makes me realize that all little things are worth writing about and remembering. Not that visits from cherished friends are little.

Afternoon dogs

This is really just a test to see if my phone is connecting to my blog. Otherwise, these are our lazy dogs waiting for something exciting to happen.

Heart-soaring view.

Bill and I were able to get away this weekend to some Oregon wine country, and we had the most lovely time. We were able to see William for breakfast and then spent Saturday exploring the countryside. The Willamette Valley in Oregon is a truly beautiful place, especially the last days of winter when spring is trying to burst out of the ground and the air.

We ended the day at three different wineries, Noble Estate, Chateau Lorane, and Saginaw Vineyards. We chatted up the employees and even the vintners themselves (at Saginaw). If you ever have a chance to wander the back roads of the Valley, I highly recommend it. This is a picture taken from Noble Estate. We tried a lot of their wines, and loved their Estate Pinot Noir and their Cabernet.

Because of our upcoming summer trip to Germany, I promised Bill a small garden this year. Although I think that is going to happen, I am already starting to think about how things are going to work this summer. To make matters worse (better?), we bought a little greenhouse this past week. We will probably put it up before Spring Break so that we can start planting once we come home. Now I have to decide what I am going to fill it with!

More to come on that. Now I must learn some more German so I can understand what is happening this summer. We leave in four months. Wow.

Love!

January. Wow.

The first semester of the year ended today, so that means we are on the downhill slide of the school year. I can't even tell you how weird that feels. This has been a harder school year than most, whether it be the six period day for teachers or the 370 kids for me. It is hard not to be a little negative. But we have joys, many many joys.

This winter we have been having the oddest weather. There was no snow at all until this past week and a half. So before the snow started, we took advantage of what warmth we could. Matt and Angela have told us that they are going to be visiting us in February, so we decided to brew a beer for them. I could take pictures all day long of Bill brewing. We made a HellesBoch on the last three day weekend, and it is percolating in the garage. I know this picture looks sunny and warm, but it was really about 35 degrees out. Brr!

The garden is going to look a little different this year because Bill and I will be gone for a month to Germany in the summer. So I am trying to decide what the "essentials" are for my garden. I will probably take a break from Leon's Beans, but Bush Beans are a must (for the Dilly Beans in the late summer). I need to have a couple of tomatoes. I couldn't stand August without some gypsy peppers, and I will crave some zucchini and yellow squash when we return from our trip.

Last year at the end of the growing season, I told Bill there would be no garden this year. That we would let the soil rest. Bill seemed to be fine with that idea, as he was probably looking forward to a spring without me running up to the school's greenhouse or dragging in pots and pots of vegetable starts into our bedroom. He knows though, that it is impossible for me to do that. I will start my obsessing in February or March. I have decided not to order seeds this year and plant from my own propagation or starts in May. I will pare down this year. It won't be an overgrown mess. Oh, and of course there will be some basil. Seriously....

While we were out under the sunny patio, even if it was cold, I figured I would shell some beans. No matter what I plan on doing with this summer, I can't not attempt growth.



Two posts in one month. I knew I could do it.

Love to you all,

V

Sitting/Scheming

Here is the start of another year and I am already feeling bad about not keeping up with the blog. I have done a particularly terrible job of writing down my thoughts lately. 

We had beautiful cold and sunny weather for all of November and December here, and until this week it looked as though January was going to be the same. I can't believe I am going to write this but I actually missed the snow. It's absence made me feel like I was living in a really cold part of southern California. Happily, the snow has arrived. I will probably hate it in a week.

I have been going through my usual winter malaise the past couple of months. I don't know what it is, but I get to January and February and feel restless and ready to do something else. Last year at this time I decided to apply to a PhD program (and was actually accepted!) but realized that it wasn't what I wanted. This year I am looking into different certificates I could get in case I wanted to do something else, or looking up jobs online trying to see what else I am qualified for. Another school or another state or private sector.... anything? Bill just smiles at me when I come up with a new scheme.

And then I realize I am driving us both crazy. I realize that I need to calm my mind and be okay with where I am because honestly, I really like where I am. I am happy and comfortable. I like my job more than 50% of the time, and I love the people I work with. I would like to know once and for all if this craziness is just me or do all professional people do this?

This year is one bound to be filled with overwhelming joys. I need to be grateful and sit with that happiness.

With love for you all,


V