Portrait of Two

Cheese Making

2011-05-02T21:41:00.005-06:00

I am currently snuggled up on the fouton with a cup of tea, my laptop, a david sedaris book, and my favorite little sister asleep next to me. Life is sweet.

Regardless of the grueling week of finals that I just finished (and that Adam is about to begin), being a student is pretty darn amazing. We work our tails off during the semester, passing tests, completing lab practicals, proving that we are worthy to be doctoral students, but then at the end of each semester we look forward to a summer break of sorts where we can put all of the old notes on the shelf and just do whatever:) It is quite liberating.

My 2 weeks of freedom (unfortunately Adam and I don't have the same break this semester) has brought me to my home sweet home in the mountains of TN where we have been planting potatoes, visiting with old friends, taking siestas, baking delicious dinners, playing soccer in the yard, etc.

Taking a nap at Joseph's regatta.

At the completion of our family soccer game (boys won:) Mom played too but she also played photographer.

In fact, I have even checked off one of the items on my to do list...tonight we made Mozzarella Cheese!!

yum.

Slicing the curd

Monitoring the temperature.

Straining the whey.

Molding the finished product.

I am crazy about these guys. (but we sure miss Adam, Pat, and Anna!)

The chickens are now free ranging around the yard, and for some reason I find them to be incredibly entertaining. Here they are just snooping around the front porch.

Sweet dreams from the mountains!

Looking Ahead

2011-04-22T19:37:00.006-06:00

Just a quick post before I hole myself away to continue studying for finals this coming week. Who knew that the human brain could tolerate so many facts, lists, concepts, images, etc. without exploding....yet.

Although I have 6 finals this coming week (4.5 of which are cumulative) all I can think about is how fabulous my dear friend's wedding will be tomorrow and all of the things we plan to do over my upcoming two week break. Here is the big list:

SLEEP! (boring i know, so let's move on)
Paint my dining room and bedroom - I have a dear friend from PT school who has offered to help with this because since we have bought our own house I seem to have gone colorblind. Literally, I feel like I have lost all creative inspiration...maybe it's just school.

moving on...

Make goat cheese. If only we had the fresh goats....someday:)
Brew a new batch of beer for the summer
Finish the Fountainhead and perhaps begin Tina Fey's new book. I have only read the back cover but it had me crying, so that's a good start.
Spend hours out in the garden with my love. Our lettuce and peas have begun to sprout but we have much more to do.
There are others but I think we'll just fly by the seat of our pants.

In the meantime, here are few of the distractions that are helping to get me through the week.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies...No wonder the pounds accrue during exam week:)

Trace Bundy on repeat - best study music. period.

Etsy - endless distraction

p.s. Happy Birthday to my favorite "little" (6'4") brother who turns 16 tomorrow! I feel old but mostly just so thankful.
p.s.s. Happy Birthday to the best mom in the world in 2 days! I am blessed.

2011-03-28T19:49:00.010-06:00

I'm on a new kick. And it literally tastes fabulous.

After lots of reflection and recent conversations with dear friends, I have realized how much crap I put inside of myself everyday. Now, I'm not fessing up to eating fast food everday or anything quite so American, but I have my fair share of indulgences that aren't exactly doing much for my brain, heart, muscles, etc.

Some of the things I am not so proud of:

Diet Coke (I don't need the caffeine after my two delicious cups of coffee every morning and it is loaded with artificial sweetener)
Ice Cream (in moderation fine, but I'm talking milkshakes that take up half gallons at a time)
Salt! (sad but true that this is one of my staples)
Peanut Butter (I have a weakness for peanuts and peanut butter, I don't know if it's the saltiness or what, but I can go through a jar faster than I will admit)
Frozen Lasagna (sad but true, it's so easy and so delicious)

So my new diet is not one centered on losing or gaining pounds. I'm just trying to be more conscientious of what I put inside of my body. I want to be energized. I want to live abundantly. I want the two of us to be out hiking in the mountains when we are 80 years old. (too much to ask??)

So Adam and I have made an unofficial commitment to eating more "Real Food" (thanks Dr. Axe) and eating less of the processed, hormone enriched, artificial junk that is so easy to grab off the shelf of Giant. Part of this starts with a comittment to taking time to actually make dinner even when I am tired after class. Part of it starts a mile down the street at Glut, our local food co-op, which provides local produce, grains, etc. for us to enjoy. And part of it starts in the soil outside of the backdoor where we are growing lettuce, peas, herbs, patatoes, etc.

Here's to an invigorating adventure!

To end on a delicious note... here are some of the yummy things that will be filling our bellies with on a more regular basis:)

Are you drooling yet?...

Headed Home

2011-03-20T11:15:00.004-06:00

Just sitting in the Nashville airport reflecting on the past week I have had to spend with family and dear friends on my spring break. I thought I would make a quick post but will admit that I am mildly distracted/alarmed by the mouse that I just spotted in the airport lounge...lovely. I think I will put away my trader joe's muffin and pick my feet up off the floor:)

Moving on.

The first half of the break was spent with my sweet mama in Sarasota where we enjoyed some much needed time together. All of the sunshine, good food, delicious wine, etc. was wonderful but it was mainly just the time together that was so meaningful.

After catching my fair share of FL rays (though I am still a pasty white:), I headed up to Chattanooga to spend 24 packed hours with my dad, brother, and sister. It was quick, but so fun to get some time with these three.

And lastly, I headed up to Nasvhille for the annual reunion with my dear dear high school friends. I can't imagine what life would be without these precious friends. Fun new addition this year is Baby Reecelyn that will be born to Tay and Joel sometime in early June. It is amazing to think of how long we have all known each other and all that we have been through over the years. I am thankful for the steadfastness of these friendships and I cherish every moment I have with these girls.

And now I am headed home. Looking forward to reuniting with Adam and enjoying a week at home together while he enjoys his spring break. I am so thankful for the people in my life that make it so sweet.

Free time

2011-03-09T18:29:00.004-07:00

This is slightly embarassing but for the past day and a half I have been pasted to the couch, eating nachos and brownies and letting my mind wander as far from the classroom as possible. I finished my last midterm yesterday and I feel on top of the world. At the moment, I am reveling in these precious moments when I don't have a single assignment or obligation. I will enjoy it by sitting on the front porch in the rain with a really delicious pint of IPA or perhaps taking a walk with my best friend.

One of the best parts of knowing that my spring break starts in a mere two days is that on Saturday morning I shall fly to meet my mama for a week in Sarasota, FL. On the agenda: mornings of fresh coffee while enjoying the bay view, pedicures, farmers markets, seafood, siesta key, and I could go on...but I don't want to make you jealous. Following this, I will fly for a long weekend in Nashville with some of my dearest friends and sisters...the GPS crew. It will be rejuvinating.

For now, just a few things that have brought me joy over the past two weeks....

This beautiful quote by the profound Annie Dillard:

“I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am not washed and beautiful, in control of a shining world in which everything fits, but instead am wondering awed about on a splintered wreck I've come to care for, whose gnawed trees breathe a delicate air, whose bloodied and scarred creatures are my dearest companions, and whose beauty bats and shines not in its imperfections but overwhelmingly in spite of them..." Annie Dillard

My cousin Emily got married in Sarasota, which meant a weekend reunion of the five girls. I am so blessed to have four of the most beautiful cousins and closest friends, and I'll take any excuse I can get to spend time with these four.

Rachel, Becca, Emily, Ryan, and Me:)

Emily's wedding day was also my Grandparent's anniversary. I love these two and I hope that we look this in love when we reach our 6th decade of marriage.

And with the wedding comes the dancing.

Weekend

2011-03-06T05:59:00.004-07:00

Though there were plenty of moments where I felt like I was drowning in lecture notes and index cards, there are several reasons why this weekend has been fabulous so far. First of all, it is perfect outside. The kind of whether where you can't help but spend to much time out digging in the dirt and preparing seeds to go in the ground. I actually really love the winter, but partly because of these weekends where you realize how incredible 60 degrees feels and how great it is to go for a brisk walk with just a t-shirt on with the mild possibility of actually getting some sun. Mmmm, bring on the vitamin D.

Anyways, a few highlights from this weekend...

Getting some good study time out on the front porch.

I LOVE fried eggs on english muffins!

Even managed to get a little pleasure reading in.

Now it's Sunday and I have successfully saved a large portion of my studying for these next 24 hours. So it's back to this...

Happy Birthday!

2011-01-30T11:58:00.007-07:00

This may be a testament to how lonely I am for my best girl friend....

Happy birthday to my darling friend Kim! I've never met someone who makes me laugh so freakin hard that I am gasping for air and who radiates grace and love with everything that she does.

Now for the fun stuff. Just a couple of pics in remembrance of some of our best and worst times.

DC Cherry Blossoms - 2010

Buena Vista, CO - Summer 2005

Gauley River Trip - Fall 2006

San Antonio, TX - Spring 2009

Thailand Elephant Ride - Spring 2006

Who knows??

Summer 2007

Morning Glory

2011-01-26T05:00:00.002-07:00

I just have to share this muffin recipe that I have been obsessed with this month. I found it thanks to one of my favorite baking blogs, Joy the Baker. These are muffins that help to get me out of bed in the morning...perfect for sitting down with a cup of coffee to read the news.

Here's the recipe: http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/02/gnarley-muffins/

FYI: I substituted whole wheat flower for the flax seed meal and oat bran (because I didn't have any), and I used 1 mashed banana and 1 apple instead of 2 shredded apples.

May your morning be glorious:)

Winter Routine

2011-01-23T10:28:00.006-07:00

It is bitterly cold outside, which means that much of our time has been huddled under blankets with lots of wonderful books (the exception being those textbooks and notecards that make it in from time to time).

One of my Christmas presents that quickly became an all time favorite.

Finding a routine in the winter is a big challenge for me. I have high hopes of cooking a lot, having friends over, exercising daily (ha), tackling projects around the house, etc., but we have already reached the end of january and what have I accomplished?.....please refer to sentence #1 of this post.

We did make it outside today for a long walk around Hyattsville. We still love meeting new neighbors and this most frequently happens when we are out for a stroll. I have also found that these are the times when we talk about the future and all of the small things that we look forward to.

Today's topics: Bees, Chickens, Garden, Missoula, and Graduating

p.s. I am going to post pics of our latest projects soon, but here is a glimpse of my favorite space.

2011-01-13T21:27:00.001-07:00

i am thankful for every minute i have with this person.

Joyful Joyful...

2010-12-30T12:23:00.006-07:00

We just returned from 2 amazing weeks with family split between Chattanooga and Dallas. Oh the joys of being a student and looking forward to the end of a full semester. We relaxed on the couch for much of the time with good books (Harry Potter) and hot chocolate by our side...The rest of our time can be summed up as follows: SNOW!, laughter, dominoes, chickens, walks, frisbee, gumdrops, good wine, dear friends, and lots of caroling.

Enjoying the spectacular snow on Christmas day.

Adam spent 30 min letting Susie Q play with his hair. I was suspicious that he was mainly in it for the free head massage, but it was adorable nonetheless:)

Dad and Adam surprised us all with 4 hens and a rooster on Christmas. They were lovingly named Chester (rooster), Betsy, Sadie, Audrie, and Petunia and have already begun to lay eggs.

Contentment

We resumed our annual tradition of building delicious gingerbread houses that were dripping with gum drops and peppermint sticks.

I wish we could spend more time with these two. We laugh a lot together.

Home Sweet Sweet Home

2010-10-04T18:11:00.002-06:00

Two weeks have passed and we laugh at how much we have grown in such a short time. Can we just throw it out there that purchasing a home is no easy feat...and at times (over the past 2 weeks), we thought that it might just be impossible at this point in our lives. However, after an exhausting number of phone calls (with some rather nasty words exchanged), signing our life and future children's lives away, and many moments of feeling defeated, we were handed the precious keys to our new home on Sept 30th.

Balancing the stress of two full-time grad school schedules and purchasing a new home, all while having to pack up and move out of our beloved rental, was a bit more than our 25 and 27 year old minds could tolerate. Many tears were shed and expletives shouted, but somehow it has made the joy of completion even sweeter.

I realized a lot of things about myself through the process...one being that I have some sort of mental block towards asking for help. In spite of my insistence that Adam and I were fine and would get the packing, moving, cleaning, etc. taken care of, our friends insisted on being there for us. Last Thursday, we skipped class (a big no no in PT school) and bonded over the smell of pinesol, ammonia, and windex as we tried to make the deadline of our inspection.

We scrubbed nasty floors. We vacuumed up cobwebs. We ate cold pizza. We danced to Glee. We dodged the rain. We had a hell of a lot of fun.

I will post more pictures soon, but for now...here is our new adventure.

Mother

2010-09-20T15:44:00.005-06:00

It remains hard to believe that it was almost 10 years ago when I huddled at the end of my parents bed as they broke the news that Mom had been diagnosed with Chronic Meyloid Leukemia, a form of cancer that leaves you asking questions of how much longer does she have instead of how can she be cured. Leukemia is a viciously, pervasive form of cancer that reaches all corners of your body as it dominates your white blood cells...those cells that are supposed to fight for you, have somehow turned against you.

I vividly remember hearing all of the conversations about possible courses of treatment and how our family would go from here. Talk of chemo, bone marrow transplants, etc. became my world at that point in 10th grade. Right about the time that we found out that Mom did not have a bone marrow match, we heard about a new drug that was still in the testing stages but that was aimed at treating CML, the exact cancer that my mom had. Over the course of several weeks, we received word that Mom had been accepted in the study for this new "miracle drug" called Gleevec, and with no other options we went for it. We could have never imagined that this was indeed a miracle.

Praise the Lord that we can say that after almost 9 years of daily medications, unexpected side effects, and many many trips to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mom has officially been taken off of her medications and declared CANCER FREE!!! She will be monitored closely, but we could not be more thankful for the Lord's provision of the right treatment at the right time.

I am thankful every single day to be blessed with this incredible woman as my mother.

She is a beauty:)

I see that the life of this place is always emerging beyond expectation or prediction or typicality, that it is unique, given to the world minute by minute, only once, never to be repeated. And this is when I see that this life is a miracle, absolutely worth having, absolutely worth saving. We are alive within mystery, by miracle.

- Wendell Berry (Life is a Miracle)

2010-09-10T20:46:00.004-06:00

We are home from the wonderfulness of seeing family and friends during the two weeks that I had off from class and Adam had in between work and the beginning of school. I cannot tell you how precious the time was that we had to be home in Chattanooga.

Every time I go home, I am reminded of how blessed I am to be so in love with my family. I am thankful for the mornings, afternoons and evenings spent communing on the front porch or battling it out over an intense game of ping pong...the delicious meals we shared with fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden....the cuddle time I had with my beautiful little sister who amazes me with her joy and enthusiasm for life and for loving others....watching my dad and Adam slave away building a fabulous chicken coop where we anticipate gathering many delicious eggs from in the coming years....

It was hard to come home to DC and to leave so many people that I love. It was hard to face the reality of a new semester with the demands of late night studies and caffeine over doses. However, despite feeling the ache of saying goodbyes, I am excited for my new classes, reunion with friends, moving into our new home, and continuing to find our place in this beautiful city where we dwell.

Quite the team at work brewing a pale ale to be enjoyed this fall!

Skyping with Anna who we missed terribly this week!

Dad and Pat at work laying beds in the garden.

A little early birthday celebration for Susie Q who will be 12 in Sept!!!

I love these two more than I can say.

This photo is a reenactment of our christmas photo about 10 years ago.

Deep Creek Lake

2010-08-20T17:48:00.004-06:00

Spent several relaxing days at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland with the Richards family. We were so thankful for the time to relax together and have some fun with the family. It slows my heart rate to know that the only thing on the agenda is a morning on the front porch with a cup of coffee and a Kingsolver book followed by a walk or perhaps a little paddle boating on the lake. I have looked forward to these precious couple of weeks for the entire summer.

We are blessed to be a part of this family:)

A morning of boarding around the lake.

Morning on the porch...perhaps my favorite activities of all time.

Appetizers, craft brew, and card tricks

A dangerous but successful attempt at lighting the grills without matches.

2010-08-12T18:29:00.002-06:00

Well today marks the day where I officially become a 2nd year PT student. It is genuinely hard to fathom that a year could have passed so quickly. I feel like I was just learning the basics of taking blood pressure and heart rate, and now I am actually beginning to learn how to treat people. Amazing what a few years of a very expensive education can teach you:)

The next three weeks (until semester IV begins) will be filled with everything that I absolutely love but that I never have time for: a week at the lake with the Richards, a week at the LaRochelle homestead in Chattanooga, time with dear friends, many wonderful books, pedicures, & of course the occasional margarita or two:) I look forward to cramming an entire summers worth of festivities into just 20 days.

Welcome Back

2010-08-08T19:47:00.007-06:00

We met up with some sweet friends last night and I was encouraged to begin blogging again:) So here I am to give a brief picture update from this summer. More to come later this week when I have finished my 3rd semester final exams...yes, I am procrastinating at this moment.

This summer has been full of school and work but we have also shared some precious moments with friends, family, and each other. Enjoy the pics!

Highlight of the summer = I have a new sister-in-law!!! Pat and Anna were married in May and we were able to meet up with them in Shenandoah Park before they headed off for San Diego. Love these two so very much.

Our favorite weekend hike at Great Falls National Park

Our dear friends Susie and Elon come to town!!

The fam comes to visit us in DC. Susanna was desperate to see Julia Child's kitchen, so we dropped by the American History Museum for a quick peak.

Dressed up 80's style to see the Legwarmers with my girls.

Picnicking outside of the Vermont house like old times...

Mom and her girls:)

Took 20 of my friends on a rafting trip to the New River in WV.

And celebrated my 25th birthday with some delicious beer and dinner with my love!

2010-05-14T18:56:00.006-06:00

I would like to say that I have some elaborate excuse for neglecting to post over the past three months, but this is simply not the case. This spring I fell prey to the demanding graduate school schedule and found it hard to think of interesting things to write on portraitoftwo when my days were consumed with grueling dissections and painful administrations of e-stim therapy.

This evening, after two glasses of wine and 3 episodes of private practice (I have already kicked myself for this), I actually went back through the posts of 2008 and 2009 and realized what a joy it has been to share pieces of our life on this blog. So this is my official apology for a nearly 4 month sabbatical. I will try to be more consistent.

To play catch up a bit...

I have finished my second semester of school and Adam is scurrying to submit final papers and assignments before he begins his internship at the NIH for the summer. Though we will both be working hard through the duration of the summer, we have high hopes for an adventurous summer in DC. It is slightly hard to swallow that 1 year ago we were preparing to embark on our ridiculously wonderful western road trip. C'est la vie.

I returned from 6 days in Chattanooga where I spoiled myself with pedicures and mother's baked goods while helping my parents to settle into their new home. In preparation for my brother's wedding later this month, we spent hours looking through old photos in an effort to make a slideshow for the rehearsal dinner. The following are a small collection of our favorites.

Now I am back in DC with two more days to spoil myself with extra sleep and no to-do lists. Ideas for tomorrow: garage sale hunting, sunbathing, and homemade pizza baking.

More Snow

2010-02-10T08:58:00.004-07:00

I guess this says something about the magnitude of the current snow storm that I am actually posting twice in one week. We are currently experiencing blizzard number 2 of the week, which has successfully made this the most intense winter in DC history. Our neighbor informed us that the only record they have of a comparable winter was from journal entries of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson!! I don't think that should count.

Partly because many of you have been asking and partly because I am starting to lose my mind, I have brainstormed up an ongoing list of our favorite things to do while barricaded at home. W are more than open to suggestions.

1. Sleep until we are no longer tired

2. Enjoy coffee and a book by the kitchen window

3. Scour redfin for dream homes

4. Begin and actually finish books just because I want to

5. Make delicious homemade Leek Pea and Sauerkraut Soup (recipe is courtesy of the Wednesday Chef)

6. Shovel the driveway multiple times in a day to feel like we are somehow making progress

7. Watch countless movies on netflix (Recommendations: Food Inc., The Visitor, 30 Rock)

9. Play in the snow until we have so much snow up our shirts and down our shoes that we can't bear the cold anymore.

8. Read through my favorite foodie blogs (Wednesday Chef, Smitten Kitchen, In Praise of Leftovers, etc.) and think of all of the delicious things i could make if only I could make it to the market.

9. Plan out our garden for this coming spring.

10. Research how to get a license for chickens in the state of maryland.

11. Bundle up and take walks around the neighborhood, enjoying the quite of a world with no cars.

All in all, we are thankful for the snow, the quite, each other, and the chance to be still.

Party Hats and Snow Boots

2010-02-06T09:31:00.004-07:00

I am so thankful to finally have a morning to sit with my mug of coffee and give you an update on the past couple of weeks. School continues to dominate the majority of our hours, but with 3 exams out of the way and 2 ft of snow barring me indoors, I have no excuse but to chill out.

Two weekends ago we made a trip down to Charlottesville to celebrate Patrick and Anna's engagement and Anna's safe return from Haiti. Though it was last minute, the rest of my family (minus Susie Q) also made the 8 hour drive up to partake in the festivities. We spent much of the weekend sitting around Anna's kitchen table, snacking on granola, talking and pouring over pictures from Haiti. On Saturday we hopped across the street (literally) for a big engagement bash with what seemed like the rest of the C-Ville community. There are a lot of people that love those two!

Now to bring this back to the present....I think I may have mentioned that DC was hit last night with 2 ft of snow!!!! and it is still piling on. They are saying it is the biggest snow in 100 years and perhaps will be the biggest snow ever. Whoever said that moving from Montana to DC was going to be a big adjustment? So far, with three big snows this winter, I can say that my favorite part about it is the fact that it has given us a chance to meet many of our neighbors. Whenever it snows, everyone finds their way outside whether it is to sled down the oliver st. alleyway or to shovel their driveway. We even had a neighbor glide by on her cross country skis.

This morning, after downing some banana spice muffins and trader joe's coffee, Adam and I bundled up and headed out to join in the fun.

2010-01-16T18:04:00.004-07:00

It has been a heavy couple of days. News of the earthquake outside of Port Au Prince was especially disturbing considering that my brother had returned from doing medical work in that city just two days before it hit and Anna, his girl:), was still stationed at the clinic. We all felt helpless as we made a multitude of desparate attempts to track Anna's whereabouts. After 7 anxious hours, Pat finally got through to her cell phone for just a couple of seconds but long enough to know that she had made it through. Although we rejoice with Anna's safe return, it is hard to form a proper response to the terror and despair that has filled Port Au Prince.

Partners in Health

World Health Organization

Doctors Without Borders

Here's to 2010 and Semester 2

2010-01-03T20:36:00.003-07:00

Tomorrow morning at 5:45 am I will wake up to my second semester of graduate school. I continue to be thankful for the program that I am a part of, the information I am learning, the friends I am making, etc. Though I lose sight of this truth more often than I care to admit, I am richly blessed by a Lord that continues to provide for me in ways that I don't deserve.

May 2010 be a year that brings new mercies to each of you.

Holiday 2009

2010-01-01T20:10:00.006-07:00

The past two weeks have flown by but this holiday season has been a blast. it seems like time with family becomes that much more precious as each year passes. We spent the first week with my wonderfully enormous family down in sarasota, fl and are now finishing up our last couple of days relaxing in dallas with the richards.

The make shift santa setup.

Pre-run warmup on siesta key. Enjoyed several of these family runs.

Lunch at La Americana

Spent an afternoon at the Sarasota Succulent Garden

Mom and Dad dancing up a storm to "Goodbye Eddie".

Love these girls. Becca and Ryan (two of my fabulous cousins)

My 103 year old great grandmother made a surprise appearance at our Christmas dinner.

Annual poker game.

4 crazy kids, very happy to be reunited.

Afternoon at the Selby Botanical Gardens.

think before you speak...

2009-12-16T20:33:00.004-07:00

It is hard to believe, but tomorrow morning will mark the end of my first semester as a PT student. The semester has been very challenging, but it has absolutely flown by. Last week held the much anticipated Standard Patient Interaction (SPI) that serves as a cumulative practical for all that we have learned this semester. I had the chance to perform an initial evaluation on a very sweet man who was quite patient with me as I fumbled through the encounter. The highlight of the interview, was when I asked what he did for a living.

Patient replied, "I manage an Apple store in Georgetown."

I enthusiastically responded, "That's fantastic! I love apples. They are so delicious!"

His response was to give me a look of bewilderment.

In that brief awkward moment, I relieved that this was not the manager of the quaint, country orchard I had somehow been picturing. This was the manager of the world's most popular brand of electronics.

"Oh, you work for the Apple computer store. I love those too!"

Then he just chuckled and we went on with the exam.

It is the simple joys that keep me going.

Turkey Day 2009

2009-12-05T06:43:00.003-07:00

We had yet another wonderful Thanksgiving in Salt Lake City this year. In addition to spending time with dear family, we were thankful to have some precious time in the west again. We love our new home in DC, but the beauty of the snow peaked mountains is hard not to miss.

One of the highlights of the trip was our Turkey Day hike up to the radio towers, two giant sheets of metal that sit atop a neighboring mountain/large hillside, providing a good destination for motivated hikers. A highlight of the hike, was seeing our ironwoman friend who is probably in her mid 60's and finds it enjoyable to run up the mountainside, leaving us in her dust every year. Who knows how often she takes this route, but for us, she is someone we look forward to seeing each year.

Making our way back down to a delicious feast.

The yummy place settings we had, compliments of Annie! Needless-to-say they did not last very long.

2009-10-29T05:58:00.003-06:00

I can't believe I get to walk by this every day. We live in a very beautiful country.

Harvest Reunion

2009-10-23T16:23:00.005-06:00

I love October! This past weekend we drove 2.5 hours south to spend a couple of days with the LaRochelle family in Charlottesville, VA. My dad and little siblings were on fall break, so we opted to spend time together picking apples, ice skating, bottling cider, etc. in celebration of the harvest season.

I have been sick with some kind of chest cold, which was disappointing for the much anticipated weekend, but there is something so healing about things like my mom making me tea and rubbing my shoulders. Being babied is the best medicine sometimes.

I am amazed every time my family reunites because my little brother is always not-so-little anymore and my sister is like a little version of me. Our precious time together is always a little bit chaotic, but it is what makes every minute so damn fun.

We headed up to Carter's Mountain on Saturday for a little apple picking. We probably spent more time napping and enjoying the view than we did actually picking but we left with 4 hefty bags of crisp, delicious apples.

Joseph and Susanna made two fabulous batches of applesauce, both very different, but both very good. All of us seem to have a thing for being creative with food.

We spent Sunday afternoon tearing up the ice skating rink. We may be chaotic but we sure know how to have a good time.

2009-09-26T18:16:00.003-06:00

Man, I have been so consumed by new classes, new friends, and new places, I have neglected to write an update.

We are fully in the swing of things here with the average day proceeding as follows:

5:45 am Wake up

6:45 am Bike to Metro

7:30 am Get a little exercise in before class

9:00 am Class

5:00 pm Finish class and hop on the Metro

Study back to back in our office for several hours with an occasional break for an episode of "the office".

11:00 pm Sleep

That might sound over the top or you might be rolling your eyes and thinking "get over it," but we are actually having a lot of fun as we stumble through our new routine. We could not be more thankful to be able to spend our time studying what we love, regardless of the stress it may bring.

Having bragged about how busy we are, its probably time to move on to more exciting updates... The wonderful Peggy La (aka Mom or Pegster) came to town this past week for my White Coat Ceremony at GWU. I have officially taken the oath of a life of service in the health arena:)

Mom, Adam and I spent a lot of time roaming the Capitol, visiting monuments, eating yummy food and doing just about everything but cracking the books. It was great to have a distraction for a few days and have time to show her around our new home. We are so blessed to be a quick plane flight away from family and we fully intend on taking advantage of this.

In search of some peanut m&ms on the Mall.

City Folk

2009-08-29T18:41:00.005-06:00

It is no exaggeration to say that the pace of our lives just stepped up about 10 notches. After two months of fun, we are buckled down for 4 years of rigorous studya.

This past week we have been busy with orientation, registration, and completing our small office where we will spend a majority of our time in the coming months. I am still getting used to the metro that I will be riding every morning for about 30 minutes. I have already found that there is something therapeutic about riding on a noisy train full of strangers where I can drink my coffee and read a book/after class. It is funny how we have adjusted so quickly to a lifestyle that is far different from what we have come from. Though we miss the natural beauty and slower pace of Missoula (and of course our friends there:), DC is overflowing with museums, music, culture, good food, and interesting people. I think it will keep us quite busy.

I thought I would post a couple of pictures to document our life in DC so far. A couple of these are from our time up in New England with the LaRochelle clan.

Enjoying some delicious Ethiopian food off of Logan Circle.

One of the many incredible fossil exhibits at the Natural History Museum. Pat and I were there for hours

Picking a pail full of apples for our rhubarb/apple crisp fresh from the backyard of 88 Bellevue (home to the marvelous Grandma LaRochelle)

The masterpiece.

Hanging out on the porch with our beautiful grandmother.

Saying goodbye

Brewing his first batch of beer...a yummy cream ale.

Bottling the near finished product. Now we just have to wait 10 days to try it!!

Full Disclosure

2009-08-02T18:32:00.003-06:00

I have just come to the end of two amazing weeks spent with family and dear friends. I do feel the need to pay tribute to my dear husband who has spent the last week moving all of our things across the country and into our new home in D.C. while i have been lounging on the beach and dissolving my hideous tan lines. I still feel periodic pangs of guilt when I think about the endless hours he spent driving the U-Haul through the Midwest.

Now, I am anxiously sitting in the Tampa airport, eager to get back to my best friend and my new home. It is still hard to believe that tomorrow I will wake up in the heart of a very big city with very cool things to explore.

p.s. We do have an extra bedroom, so if you are in the area, please come and stay with us!

Encounters with the Wild

2009-07-13T22:33:00.002-06:00

Well, the end of our trip has taken a slight turn. We set up our tent and hammock in a campground outside of Trinidad, CA. Spending the evening reading among the redwoods was just what we had planned until we heard a screeching sound coming from the campsite adjacent to ours. The best description I can give is of a cat being run over or chased by a dog. As soon as I heard the eery noise, I recalled that while checking in, the manager of the campground had been conversing with a state trooper about a rabid fox that was roaming the surrounding area. This may sound negligent but it did not really register as a concern.

Sure enough, our tent neighbors came bounding out of their tent waving a machete and claiming that a fox had been trying to scramble through the ventilation flap into their tent. We jumped into our car to find the manager and as we drove past the bathroom there were three screaming girls running from the showers with a limping fox following in hot pursuit.

The fox somehow made its escape but the manager assured all of us that he was handling the situation and we were not to worry. I will admit that it took quite some time for Adam to calm me down and convince me that we would be safe in our tent (time was 9:45 pm).

From this point on, all I remember is that at about 10:15 there was a slight thump outside followed by the same scrambling and squealing that we had heard earlier, except that this time the creature was inside of OUR rain flap. I would like to say that I jumped into action with my adrenaline pumping to battle the rabid animal, but for some reason my mind and body thought it more appropriate to lay prostrate yelling profanities while Adam administered the real beating.

The twist in the story actually comes in here. Within seconds of the creature retreating from our tent, we realized that instead of a fox, we had been attacked (and sprayed) by a rabid skunk!!

Needless to say, we packed our bags and spent the next 24 hours trying to find a way to deodorize ourselves and our gear.

With only three nights remaining in our trip, we have decided to bag our reeking gear and spend the next few evenings in quaint hotels on the coast of Oregon. Why punish ourselves with the painful task of deodorization when we can always take care of it some other day?

Experiencing City Life

2009-07-06T09:28:00.005-06:00

I am a bit behind on my updates so I thought I would go ahead and jump to more recent events. The past week and half we have been relaxing on the coast and camping in some of the beautiful coastal state parks of CA. Touring the magnificent Hearst Castle, observing the curious habits of the elephant seals, wandering through redwood and sequoia forests, and dipping our toes in the pacific eventually led us into the heart of San Francisco where we spent the past four days.

I had a small pit in my stomach as we navigated our way through the maze of downtown, trying to locate our hotel. We are about to move to a city of comparable size/population (at least in the opinion of a mountain girl) and I have been nervous that a visit to San Fran might turn me into an anti-urbanite indefinitely.

However, the pit was gone after a little less than 2 hours and I realized and I kept saying over and over again that "I can't wait to live in D.C." I agree that living amongst millions is busy, hectic, somewhat anonymous, etc. but there is something attractive about it, nonetheless.

First night we entered into the lottery for last minute tickets to Wicked, and we were the first names called!!! I think it now rivals Les Miserables in my ranking of Broadways. The evening was a blast!

We spent Saturday morning sharing coffee and a loaf of sourdough at the Farmer's Market on the Pier. Even in a city that spans miles and miles, the turnout to support local farmers was impressive.

We strolled through the Castro district and saw the famous theater and Harvey Milk Park. If you haven't yet seen "Milk", you definitely should.

We watched the San Francisco Mime Troup at the Mission Delores Park.

We shared a delicious ice cream sundae in Ghirardelli Square.

Best of all, we had a picnic on the grass at Fisherman's Wharf and watched the Independence Day celebration and fireworks. Best fireworks we have ever seen!!

Celebrating in Style

2009-06-28T11:06:00.005-06:00

We tried to plan out where we would end up on our anniversary, but for some reason the itinerary always put us at a different location: Zion, Bryce, Las Vegas, etc. We were pleasantly surprised when we found ourselves driving into the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on June 22nd. We were fully aware that the Lodge would be booked, probably with a 12 month waiting list, but we thought just being there on the edge of something so vast and awesome was celebratory. It only got better when we found out that they had one Frontier Cabin available due to a last minute cancellation!

So we celebrated in style with a bottle of Grand Canyon Champaign, dried mangos, and turkey sandwiches, all enjoyed with a spectacular view.

The following morning we hiked to the bottom of the canyon and back on the North Kaibab Trail. Ten grueling miles (5 straight down and 5 straight up), but incredible nonetheless.

2009-06-20T09:21:00.004-06:00

Yesterday we felt like we just drove and drove and drove but it was absolutely wonderful. Our route took us along several of the scenic byways of southern Utah, which meant we had the roads all to ourselves while marveling at some of the most breathtaking views in the nation.

After a very fun night with cousins in the southwestern corner of Colorado we spent the first half of our day at Mesa Verde. We had a terrible tour guide who talked at a snails pace and prefaced every speech with something like "Now I am going to tell you two important pieces of information...". It was hilarious.

From Mesa Verde we drove back into Utah and up the Moki Dugway and Hwy 95 to Capitol Reef National Park. I also forgot to mention that we are almost finished with Steinbeck's East of Eden and we are completely hooked. If you haven't read it, please please do, and we would both recommend popping it in your cassette player while driving the backroads of the great west.

Enjoying a peaceful evening at the wind whistler campground.

Our hike in the Needles portion of Canyonlands National Park

A brief stop at Natural Bridges National Monument.

First Couple of Days

2009-06-18T22:23:00.003-06:00

Just a couple of pics from the start of the trip. Aside from a broken tent (that adam rigged with a hefty stick), everything has gone smoothly so far.

Packed Bags

2009-06-13T22:14:00.004-06:00

Today was my last day in Missoula. I can't believe I am saying that, but i really did have my last Montana day for a long time. Adam will be coming back to pick up our things later in the summer but this is it for me.

I will say that this final day was delightful. After enjoying breakfast and coffee and doing a quick search on craigslist for DC apartments, we headed downtown to the farmers market. We purchased some fresh salad and cucumbers for lunch and said some last minute goodbyes. The Saturday Market has become a ritual for us that we will miss dearly.

We also got some excellent (at least we think as much) book tapes that will be our soundtrack for the next five weeks on the road. East of Eden, The Holcroft Covenant, The River Why, and Red Storm Rising will hopefully keep us going through the deserts of southern Utah and the coast of California.

Lastly, after a rigorous afternoon of packing, we enjoyed a peaceful dinner on the front porch while watching neighbors stroll by and the sun go down. We are happier people for having lived in this place and only hope that life will lead us back here someday.

For now, on to the next adventure...

On the road again...

2009-05-07T20:31:00.005-06:00

The past few weeks have been a blur. Work, school, travel, studying, work, etc have been consuming our days to the point where sometimes I will wake up at 5:50 am and not see Adam until 10:00 pm. This may sound dramatic, but I am not okay with this chaotic pace and will be incredibly relieved when we can find reprieve.

Now that I have vented my exhaustion, I will admit that amidst the business of April and May, I have had quite a bit to look forward to. Adam and I decided that in celebration of two fabulous years of matrimony as well as in preparation for 4 tough years ahead, we shall embark on a 4.5 week road trip of the great west. We thought that in conclusion of 2 great years in Missoula, we would take advantage of our current geography and hit the road to soak up the beauty the western states. Our current plans (or lack thereof) are to hit the road in mid-June and drive down through Utah, visiting Canyonlands, Bryce, Zion, Arches, Cedar Breaks, etc. Once we hav

e made it to the bottom and back of the Grand Canyon, we will cut across to the coast and head up highway 1 until we reach Portland.

If anyone knows of cool places to eat, drink, surf, hike, sleep, etc., we would LOVE your suggestions.

Extravagances

2009-04-04T21:22:00.005-06:00

"The extravagant gesture is the very stuff of creation. After one extravagant gesture of creation in the first place, the universe has continued to deal exclusively in extravagances, flinging intricacies and colossi down aeons of emptiness, heaping profusions on profligacies with fresh vigor. The whole show has been on fire since the word go!"

Annie Dillard

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

Curious about the Green Thumb

2009-04-03T21:57:00.005-06:00

So, I have had several people ask about the progress of our indoor garden plot and I thought it best to just give you a brief picture overview. I get periodic updates on the actual size of our garden and the latest number of species in our 800 square foot apartment is approximately 140. It continues to amaze me how Adam can take a small, shriveled leaf or clipping and within weeks there is brand new life sprouting out of the soil.

I will give myself a brief plug because I have not reached the level of full time greenhouse caretaker and find joy in any success. I am usually much more content to watch the planting, watering, and waiting process, rather than participate and, heaven forbid, risk plant injury or death. However, despite my insecurities when it comes to our gardens, Adam was gone for a week to Portland, and he returned with not a single tragedy to grieve. Granted, my only job was to water specific plants that were in the germination stage (about four out of the whopping 140) , but I am proud nonetheless.

If you are not a plant lover or struggle to find joy in new green growth, take it from a novice who has the most rudimentary of skills when I say that it is all worth it. From one puny aloe plant 3 years ago, we (mostly he) have learned to treasure the greenery that blankets our windowsills and dresser tops. And, we like to think that in some small way we are contributing to the beauty of the earth.

Now, enjoy a little picture tour of our progress to date.

String of Pearls...One of my favorites.

Some of our babies

Is it possible?

2009-03-09T22:43:00.008-06:00

Well, if you can believe it, we have come to the end of this long saga of decisions and deadlines. After many hard but fruitful conversations over the course of the past 6 months, we have made a final decision on where we will spend the next half-decade of our lives together. Out of a pool of 16 different schools, representing approximately 12 different states, we can say with much excitement that we are headed to the nation's vibrant capital, Washington D.C.!! Adam will be attending the University of Maryland for his PhD in Communication Studies and I will be enrolled at George Washington University for my Doctorate of Physical Therapy.

We would like to thank all of you who have prayed with us and for us throughout this process. We have been so blessed by your support and encouragement. Most of all we have realized "Great is His faithfulness!"

Happy Day

Spelling D.C. Backwards.

2009-02-10T21:33:00.003-07:00

Just got back from a delightful weekend in San Antonio where I got to stay with Kim and John. Crazy that it has been over a year since we have seen each other. The purpose of the trip was to interview at Texas State University's DPT program but I got to chill with one of my best friends, survive an intense yoga session, bond with Griffin (Kim and John's adorable Boston Terrier), and make a sweet application video for the Amazing Race (Season 15 Baby!!!).

embracing domesticity

2009-01-20T20:58:00.002-07:00

It is slightly embarrassing to admit my great excitement when we received our new vacuum in the mail, but alas, I am grown and quickly growing accustomed to the joys of adulthood.

Here she is...our gently purring, surprisingly powerful Electrolux.

have yourself a merry little christmas

2009-01-05T19:18:00.005-07:00

Well, I am a little embarrassed by my lack of commitment. It has been almost two months since I have posted anything, which seems so ridiculous considering the amount of activity that comes with Nov and Dec - Thanksgiving, the first Missoula snow, family, Christmas, School, etc.

So now the question is where do I start. How do i begin to give an update on our lives of late?

Christmas 2008 = 7 days in Chattanooga + New Years in Atlanta + 4 days in Dallas

Whether it was battling it out in countless ping pong tournaments, baking endless batches of delicious cookies (gingerbread, double chocolate, pecan chocolate blondies, toffee, etc.), boxing vigorously on the wii, completing the annual Christmas puzzle, reading in front of the fire, or just spending down time with our dear families, I think we can both agree that this Christmas was absolutely delightful. Though we love our home in Missoula, it is bittersweet having to say goodbye to people that we love so dearly. The following are some of the pics from our time in Chattanooga.

Susie Q and I reading by the fire.

Don't let her sweet and gentle spirit fool you. Mom is a beast win it comes to ping pong.

Slightly awkward in my stance, but I came out alright.

The Bracket.

Joseph and Adam battling it out in the first round.

I have never seen two people so in shock over a Christmas. We have officially crossed over to the dark side.

Mom and Susie Q on Christmas morning.

Dad and Adam sharing a brew while Dad whips up some delicious pecan toffee.

Surveying their masterpiece.

Baking session #3, Chewy Gingersnaps.

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year.

winter sabbath in arlee

2008-11-09T21:47:00.010-07:00

We spent the afternoon/evening with our dear friends Elon and Susie out on their farm in Arlee, MT. They are without hesitation two of the most fascinating people we have ever met and have been some of our dearest friends. Our friendship began in a rather obscure and unexpected manner when Adam, Elon and I happened to be at the same discussion group over Michael Moore's movie Sicko. Soon after, I joined Elon at Rocky Mountain Biologicals, Inc. as the new Office Manager, where I spend my days paying bills, managing our marketing system, and keeping Elon under control.

So back to this evening...we met the Gilberts at about 3:30 up at their home (an old grainery) and immediately headed out on a beautiful hike up in the Mission Mountain Range in order to beat the dark. Our hour and half hike was followed by Elon and Adam slicing and saucing apples while watching Sunday night football and Susie and I began dinner preparations back at the grainery. The Menu...Curried Chicken Soup, Kalamata Olive Bread and Olive Oil for dipping, Fresh Salad with Feta, Wine and a Dessert of fresh Apple Sauce, Carrot Cake, and Ginger Tea. Following dinner, Susie took us through her massive collection of art and textiles from their years of living/working in India, Africa, and Laos, among other places.

halloween

2008-11-06T15:04:00.005-07:00

Unfortunately, Halloween came right before one of my big Anatomy tests, so Adam had to do quite a bit of convincing to get me to actually dress up and celebrate. We made a couple of new friends through our intramural ultimate frisbee team and they invited us to a potluck costume party. I am kind of embarrassed to say that on Halloween Eve, the two of us spent approximately 2 hours discussing possible costumes for the following days events. We thought of quite an extensive list but were limited by our determination to be festive on a budget of zero. After scrounging through the closet and making a quick trip to the grocery, we decided that I would go as Richards Simmons and Adam would be a Dictator (SEE BELOW).

that time of year

2008-10-27T20:27:00.007-06:00

This month has been crazy. It seems like 5 minutes ago I was saying "holy cow! October is here" and now all of a sudden the colors are fading and the snow is setting in. Despite how fast it has swept through, we have tried our best to embrace the joys of autumn. This weekend we ate apple cake and cinnamon baked pumpkin followed by an intense carving session, the results of which were quite fabulous (see below). Last weekend, when adam was gone to NJ, I attended the last missoula market until next may. I came home with delicious bitterroot apples, sweet onions, and a beautiful butternut squash (eat seasonally!!!), which we have already eaten.

2008-10-20T18:29:00.000-06:00

he's home

2008-10-18T22:37:00.000-06:00

So I bet at least a few of you remember last year when a good friend of ours from Arlee, MT gave us boxes and boxes of delicious plums, fresh from his backyard. After a brief panic at the thought of hundreds of ripening plums waiting in our kitchen, I decided to take on the task of making some homemade prunes with our new dryer. Though the taste of fresh prunes for the next 4 months may have been worth it, the monotony of pitting combined with 10 very raw, cut up fingers were enough to make that a one time show.

This year I tackled a new challenge. On one of our Saturday Market trips I happened by a booth where an old woman was selling jam. She had a little bit of everything: Strawberry, Strawberry Rhubarb, Huckleberry, Strawberry Huckleberry, Huckleberry Thimble Berry Peach, etc. The sad part is that each small jar is quadruple the price I pay for regular jam at Orange Street, so I had a couple samples (probably one or two too many) and left.

When I walked into our kitchen and smelled the overripe plums, well, I met my challenge.

2008-10-18T22:21:00.000-06:00

Well, I swore I wouldn't do this. Though blogging has been the new thing for some time now, I have been determined to observe from a distance, not daring to slop my thoughts across the internet for everyone on to see. However, considering how far we currently are from so many loved ones, I having finally come to the conclusion that an online gallery might actually be a wonderfully efficient way of sharing our lives with you. So here we are....the Richards.