Being domestic...

So I finally had time today to get several things done today: oil change and vehicle inspection (I've been driving around illegally since October started-oops)...3 loads of laundry, I cleaned the living room, dining room, bathroom, and kitchen (for some reason I always save my bedroom for last- which is why it never gets cleaned :) )...and I made pumpkin bread/muffins. I'm headed over to Pam's for the night- Girls Group starts tomorrow and we have planning to do!!!! I'm excited about the new girls who are joining and can't wait to see what God is going to do with our group this year.

Baked pumpkins



You scoop out the soft stuff from the baked pumpkin and then put it through a ricer (the device on the left hand side of the picture) to give it a smoother texture



Finished product! The brown spots on the muffins are a streusel topping...I tend to put too much butter in my streusel topping so its gooey before cooking..however, this allows it to soak into the muffin more, so even though they looking kinda leprosy-ily, they still taste good...notice the missing one? Yum! These are for distribution...

PA part two

Jana and I saw these really neat looking mum decorations outside a cafe, so she bought a pumpkin and some mums and we proceeded to make one to put outside their place after church on Sunday. The neighbor kids joined in and we had a pumpkin carving fest...too bad Houston doesn't have a fall, I think I would enjoy that season very much...we don't really have a fall in Arizona either. Although, I did buy two pumpkins the other day (they are currently baking and will be made into pumpkin bread today) and Home Depot had mums...after the PA experience, it seemed a bit odd to be buying a mum while still wearing flip flops, but hey, you gotta be thankful for what you have :).

Pumpkin guts...its been awhile since I have done this



Jen put a sailboat on her pumpkin...although we all thought it kinda looked like a Cyclops pumpkin...


Jana and I and the finished project. Isn't it pretty?


Oh, this is Scott and Jana's dog, Sophie. She's a sweetheart.

Adventures in PA!

So I am currently in Lancaster, PA visiting my good friends Jana and Scott. I haven't seen them since their wedding almost a year ago, so it has been a TON of fun catching up with them and with their family out here. I flew in on Thursday night and on Friday, Jana and I played tourists shopping at the Kitchen Kettle Village (yum, apple and pumpkin butter!) and I dragged her to several quilt shops...I've got a new project in mind and I was actually able to talk to some of the ladies in the shops and discovered that my project won't be as challenging as I thought!

Okay, I really look like one of those red/purple hat ladies...but I was just trying on an Amish hat...

We joined Jana's family and Scott's brother and his wife Heidi at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord that evening for dinner...about as much Dutch food as you can imagine. Sooooo good. Today we took the train ( I love trains- I really wish Houston had them...or rather Texas in general) into Philadelphia so I could be a tourist. The big ticket items were to see the Liberty Bell and for me to re-enact a few scenes from "National Treasure". No, it's not my favorite movie, but I was really looking forward to being a bit goofy and running around Philadelphia :)

Me, Jana, and Scott waiting for the train in Lancaster

Jana and me on the train (we have a long train history :) )

Reading Terminal Market

Me re-enacting the scene in National Treasure where the girl is hiding in the flowers in the Reading Terminal Market and Riley comes up behind her and scares her....

Me in front of the Liberty Bell...I was unintentionally blocking the crack (thanks Scott for telling me..- it was also a lot smaller than I expected, the bell, not the crack)

Okay, remember the scene in National Treasure where they go into Urban Outfitters (seen above) and then look at the time on the clock tower on a $100 dollar bill using a water bottle? Well....

(okay, no, I wasn't looking at a $100 bill...but that's not the point...look, I even got the leather jacket on! :) )

After touring the Mutter Museum of medical oddities (slight gross, yet slighty fascinating...) we high-tailed it to the Rodin Museum (see The Thinker above) before catching the train back to Lancaster. Fun times!

Random

I am too tired to post anything of scintillating interest...but I recommend the movie "Fireproof".

Mud Run!

So, because of Ike, the Hi-Fi Tri on Galveston has been canceled. So, instead, I am signing up to do the Mud Run with a group of gals from work. It's a 10k obstacle course...in the mud! Running and getting dirty, sounds like a recipe for fun!

And of course, my half-marathon training will start soon... :)

My head has exploded...

So I walk into my apartment and...I HAVE POWER AND INTERNET!!!!!!


WAHOOOOOOOO!


Praise God!

Perpetually grinning now :)

Home tomorrow!

I am so excited! I am going home tomorrow! Still no power, but I figure I can "tough" it out for awhile. The gym at work is open for folks without power to charge cell phones, use the internet, and shower, and it is only 3 miles from my house. My friends, Christina and Paul, have also opened up their home to me (and I will be borrowing their camping stove) and they live about 15 minutes away (trying to conserve gas!). Work opens on Monday.

Today I whiled away the hours camped out in a bakery reading through a stack of books and drinking the never-ending cup of coffee :). Then I stocked up on dry goods, water, and ice. I'll be home-sweet-homing it this time tomorrow night.

I am so thankful for Angie and Andrew housing and feeding me for the past week. They are great friends and have been wonderful company. Thanks guys!