The latest: leaf hunting and FAQ

Happy October!!!! My favorite month! 

Now that I'm in full fall decorating mode, I've been collecting pumpkins and gourds, candles, anything apple or pumpkin or pumpkin spice. I am thoroughly enjoying decorating our house! 

^^the house so far but truuuust me there are a few more pumpkins to come^^

A couple of days ago, I decided I needed some leaves to decorate and went leaf hunting through our neighborhood. Unfortunately about 1 tree every 5 blocks has kind of (but not really) changed colors so my search was mostly in vain, but I did find one tree that was bright red so I collected a lot of red leaves, 1 or 2 yellow ones, but no orange ones. Zip. Zilch. Nada. I hope some of the trees here turn orange too! (But I have a back up plan so we'll see how this goes, thank goodness for having family and friends in the Land of Fall Foliage). 

^^decorated mantel sans leaves as they are currently being pressed and dried^^

After I got back from my leaf hunting, I decided to do some exploring around our backyard and get some more ideas of what I want to do next spring. These are two of my favorite things about our back yard:

^^we have a rock wall!!^^

^^and little stone steps that lead to a little ledge (where flowers or something will be next year)^^

And now for the FAQ portion of my blog today. The two most common questions I have gotten since moving here are:

1. When do you start your job? (Or have you started? Or how is it? Or variations very similar to those)

No I have not started my job, yet. Yes it's annoying and a bit frustrating because being semi-employed but technically unemployed is a tad stressful. It's a government job so it TAKES FOREVER TO START. That's what Mark said, that's what one of his friends said, that's what my interviewers said, that's what everyone has said. Yes I have called and yes they are still doing background checks or whatever else they have left to do. No they didn't give me a time frame. I don't know. That's just how it goes. 

However. 

I am enjoying my time off. I have been going a million miles an hour since high school and to be honest, I am grateful for this break. And to be completely honest, a little part of me will be sad when I have to go back to work. So far now, I bask in my break. 

2. What do you do all day?

Interesting question and since being in my current situation, I now have a better understanding of why some people may find this question a bit annoying, and I feel bad for asking it once or twice before. I can assure you that while I do not have children, I keep myself quite busy and entertained. No I do not sleep in until 11 and then watch Netflix until Mark gets home. Actually, most days I don't watch TV or Netflix. Most days I wake up a little before 6:30 and go running with Tilly OR on the weekends Mark and I sleep in until...7:30. Occasionally I do sleep in until 8 and then stay in bed for a little while reading, checking social media, or Pinteresting. But I get restless easily so that doesn't last terribly long.

So, I wake up early and either run with Tilly, run solo, or do yoga. 

Then I get ready for the day and eat breakfast. Lately it's been (seasonal) a Pumpkin Spice bagel with whipped cream cheese. To. Die. For. I have leisurely mornings and it's grand. I read the paper or a book while I eat. I take my time doing my hair, sometimes I try new styles. I take my time picking out my outfits. In a society that sadly glorifies being brutally busy, it's nice not to be rushed. 

Then I usually run some errands. Fortunately, we live close to the library, post office, and grocery store so I either walk or ride my bike places. It's glorious! 

Often Tilly and I will do something before her girls nap or plan to do something while they nap. This is one of my favorite parts of my day!!! Earlier this week we went to Hobby Lobby. It was Tilly's first time!! 

^^Annie and I were in cart #2 playing with owls and dogs and yarn^^

^^She makes me giggle! No joke, she would not put that branch down^^

^^One WIDE awake and one out just in time for nap time^^

If my afternoons aren't spent hanging with Tilly and her girls, I find things to do and usually have a post-it note or mental list of things I need or want to do or places I want to see. That's how I discovered The Scoop, the awesome neighborhood ice cream shop, or the Rockwood Bakery down the street. Sometimes I go for walks to explore the neighborhoods. In fact that's how I discovered another cute little park a few blocks down and over with 2 stone bridges and a quaint pond with weeping willow trees. Sometimes I go to the bookstore, more often than not, the library. I have about 7 books out right now that I'm plugging through. One day I went to the bakery down the street, ordered a croissant, and read for an hour. It was wonderful! Last week I spent a couple of days learning new knitting patterns so I can finally graduate from the garter stitch and scarves to bigger and better things. I researched books and patterns for a couple of hours and then went to a couple of knitting shops, bought some supplies, and am preparing to knit a hat. And yes the idea of successfully knitting a hat on circular needles excites me since it'll be a first for both of those things! I've only been putting it off for 9 years. I can't wait! Then I'll move on to mittens, and socks, and cardigans, and sweaters, and big blankets, and bags; I'm thrilled!!! Mostly I like to stay in our neighborhood because driving down Division (one of the main streets) drives me nuts. Congested and way too many lights. 

Tilly and I have plans to watch all three of the Anne of Green Gables DVDs. We started the first one yesterday. Holy catscans I had forgotten how much I LOVE Anne, Gilbert, Marilla and Matthew, Diana, and the scenery of Price Edward Island! 

Plus, Tilly's never been to World Market so that is also on the list. As well as another trip (or two) to Greenbluff! 

I still like to keep up with the dietetics world, so I watch webinars or actually read the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (or skim it...). And since now I have the time, I plan weekly menus and actually cook so we aren't eating at 8 or 9 like we did living in Texas! And I bake. Not a ton or perhaps as much as I'd like because I'll eat it all, or Mark and I will eat it all, or I'll bring it to Tilly's house and she'll scold me for bringing more treats over (heehee!). Lately I've been into crisps because they are easy and tasty.  

^^apple crisp and strawberry crisp^^

I have time to do laundry, clean, cook, and have some Gabe time. It's so nice because then when Mark gets home, it's all Mark and Gabe time, instead of spending most of our time trying to get some chores done and then being too exhausted to do much else but go to bed. 

And now to fold that laundry before Mark gets home...

Saturday Adventures

Today was great!

But this morning I thought I was going to die. 

Mark and I were lazily lying in bed when all of the sudden I saw Mark's expression change as we heard a weird noise on the roof. Mark whispered, "someone's on the roof!", jumped out of bed, grabbed a weapon and went downstairs to check it out. What a way to really wake up. I stayed in bed, paralyzed with fear, heart hammering in my chest, waiting to hear Mark shout or attack someone, while trying to convince myself no idiot would try to scale our house in broad daylight when I HEARD footsteps running on the roof and thinking I could at least glimpse at the culprit from my room (and slam and lock the windows so he or she wouldn't get in) I jumped out of bed and peered out to see this:

TURKEYS!!!! STUPID WILD TURKEYS!!!!!!!! A turkey was running on our roof and then flew down to meet his buddies just as I looked out our window. I had seen this rafter (yes we looked up what a group of turkeys is) of turkeys a few weeks ago in someone's yard while running and our neighbor had warned us about them but I didn't actually think they'd get on our roof!!! And we live on a busy street too! Mark offered to shoot one (joking, kind of) for a nice dinner tonight but I said no. But after I saw that one of those punks had broken one of my flower pots, I may have reconsidered. Fortunately for them by that time they have moved on to other yards. Jerks. 

I have been looking forward to this Saturday for weeks. When we moved (and even before) here, I scouted out and made a list of places to go and check out, plus people at church recommended a few places and one of them was Green Bluff Growers. It's incredible. If you've never been and you live in, near, or are visiting Spokane, definitely check it out. It's a huge association (~40-50) of local farmers that sell their produce year round or in season; that is a terrible description and doesn't do it justice. And I don't mean an on-the-corner-pop-up stand; I'm talking ACRES of  produce: apples (several different kinds I mean come on, we're in Washington here), pears, peaches, plums, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, huckleberries, lavender fields, pumpkins, squash, Christmas trees, etc., etc., etc. Now through October is the big fall festival so every weekend some of the bigger farms have corn mazes, pumpkin, apple, and pear picking, apple cider, hay rides, petting zoos, live music, food; it's amazing! Now I'll admit, my motive was to find a grower that sells legit, delicious Macintosh apples because this New England girl is feeling a little left out and deprived in the Land of Apples. Well, I scouted out the website and a brochure I got at the library and I found a few that sell my beauties! Mark and I invited our new friends and neighbors to come and it was the best day ever. We had a blast! 

We temporarily adopt this kiddos as our own when we are with them.

 

First stop: Harvest House

So many cool pumpkins! Round, flat, white, orange, "warty"

Annie is a beast and an adorable one at that! She was picking up and pumping pumpkins like dumbbells. 

Pumpkin donuts made right in front of us and this one was still warm. 
Oh heaven.

Now we know how Tilly and Justin feel. 

Everyone kept looking at us and the girls so we pretended that Tilly was "Aunt Tilly"-ha! It was fun!

We love them!!!!

Next up: Forgot the name but they had a petting zoo, teepees, and I FOUND MACINTOSH APPLES!!!

Annie was not so sure about this ram.

The biggest sunflowers I do believe I have ever seen 

I adore this picture because I adore these three ladies, and, we are in a teepee.

Next: We were now on the hunt to find the cheapest cider and pumpkins. No go at this place BUT we found Tilly and Justin's future dog. 

Then we went back to Harvest House and bought our treats: apple cider, pumpkin donuts, and pumpkins!

And then a few of these guys rolled in:

Annie being a monkey. I just couldn't resist since the girls are still a little shy and won't do their tricks, as Tilly calls them, around us quite yet so when they do, I get very excited! 

Our goods from the day (ooooooh my lantus that kettle corn was so good! Well everything was!)

Opened the apple cider and we are pleased that it is tasty both cold and hot. 

Oh fall. How I love you.

C'est bon

I woke up dreaming about bechamel sauce. Mark told me he had dreams about cooking. 

We went and saw "The Hundred-Foot Journey" last night. France and gastronomy, two of my absolute favorite things. I was absolutely captivated and smitten the entire time. If you haven't seen it and are looking for a happy-go-lucky, fun, makes-you-feel-good cinematic charmer, this is it. Helen Mirren is brilliant. You'll love her character. And I currently have a woman-crush on Charlotte Le Bon and aspire to dress just like her character. Really, I just wish I were French, and I told Mark my dream of all dreams would be to live in a stone cottage in France. He replied, "I know." *sigh* I can't wait to watch this movie again. I even had an omelette that I tried to jazz up for breakfast (you'll get it when you see the movie).

My mom left on Monday and I came home and went back to painting. Thank goodness for my mom. Her visit came at theee perfect time. She came in, saw the house, and told me what to do. I had and have tons of ideas zipping around in my brain (can we say overwhelming?) but I needed someone with experience (it also helps that our taste is similar) to help me organize, critique, tweak, and make my ideas happen. I think I almost cried when my mom said, "let's paint your room!" So we did. And now, I am in love with our bedroom. It's cheery, dreamy, cozy, pretty. Oh I just love it! The second floor isn't very big; it only has the master bedroom, the master bathroom, and attic space. But, it's so neat. I feel like the second floor is its only little apartment, just missing a kitchenette. We still have to hang a few things so it's not perfect but here is one before and after picture. 

Before: 

Though this dark red color works because the room gets a lot of light, I don't like having an almost dried blood-colored room you know? And there's already a bedroom downstairs that is this color. Come on man, there are way too much colors in this world to have 2 bedrooms the same. Non.

 After

Much better, don't you think? 

I am so in love with it. We also ended up painting the ceiling, the trim, the baseboards, the doors, and the windows (because they didn't look so good). It looks so much better. Crisp, clean, and ooooh so cozy. 

More pictures to come and now I have a nice long list of painting to do. Mostly touch ups and I think it'll make me love this house so much more. 

Switching topics. Can we talk about friends? 

I don't know if I've turned into an introvert or what but I think that making friends as an adult is a tad more difficult than back in school days. Long gone are the days of bonding over Nancy Drew books, N'SYNC, same classes, sports, dreaded teachers, nail polish obsessions, etc. Plus, I find Mark and I are kind of in an awkward stage of life because we're married with no kids so that kind of wedges us out of some circles. Not that we feel shunned or excluded because we don't. Plus, I'm currently partially employed but not working quite yet so I am not really meeting anyone tons of people except at church. Although, Mark and I scoped out the young couples with no kids and the young couples with one or two kids and thank the stars there are some here!!! Now how to approach without appearing overzealous? It's a struggle I tell ya! A struggle! And a ridiculous one at that.  

Well, as luck would have it, I made a friend. AND we live on the same street. AND she's so cool!! I pretty much tried not to act like a gleeful third grader but after we exchanged numbers I couldn't help but act like one when I told (or exclaimed, cried out excitedly, beamed) Mark, "I MADE A FRIEND!" We went running this morning and it was glorious. Not so much the running because, well, running up hills when you've been running at or near sea level for the past 3 years, AND trying to talk (animatedly), AND being slightly out of shape, makes for a nice challenge but it. was. GREAT! Yay for friends! 

Then, after finally receiving a piece of official mail to prove I now live in Washington, I rode my bike to the library and got myself a library card!!! Our neighborhood is amazing. Tree-lined, quiet streets and the weather is crisp and very fall-like today. GLORIOUS. These library workers are either going to love me or hate me because I requested a lot of books today. Also I borrowed "The Hundred-Foot Journey" because I heard it was better than the movie and since I am so infatuated with the movie, I think I'm going to love it! Plus I got a few more books...and they may or may not be related to France/cuisine/cooking and the like. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have books to read (and probably a few more to request...heeheehee)! 

Ready...set...craziness!!!

Holy catscans. HOLY catscans. This next month and a half are going to be craaaaazy.

We're moving. Yes. FINALLY. THANK THE STARS!!! HALLELUJAH!!! HOOORAY!!! WAHOOO!!!

So, in August...we're moving to WA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Friends, I'm SO excited!!!! I'm pretty antsy and anxious to get there. San Angelo has been fun and we've made the most of it...but I am SO ready to bust out of here. So now the hunt for a house and a job, and the (DREADED) packing begins. BUT HAPPY DAY!!! SEASONS! WATER! A COASTLINE NOT TOO FAR! HOOOOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Speaking of coastline...over Memorial Day weekend we headed to Galveston, TX. It was a blast. We toured the harbor, saw dolphins, toured an old ship, ate TONS of seafood, did touristy stuff, went to the beach, and ate more and more and more seafood. It was a wonderful vacation and it was delightful to see the ocean again. And the seafood...goodness gracious I could live off of shrimp for the rest of my life. So, we brought 3 pounds back home with us! 

Then, two weekends ago I headed to Tucson to see one of my best friends get married! 

It was fabulous and so fast! Everything was wonderful! I was honored to be asked to do Clary's flowers for her. Oh my goodness it was A BLAST!!!!!!!!!!! I love floral design!!

And it was SO fun to see lots of old friends! 

AND, in exciting news, beginning August 4th, I will be going full-time at the flower shop until we move (which sadly, may not be very long). We're still waiting on final dates of when we have to leave San Angelo and report to Spokane. Regardless, I'm delighted! I'm hoping to find a floral design/flower shop job in Spokane to continue to learn and develop my skills. I love it so! 

We'll be heading to Dallas for the Fourth and I can't wait! Then in a couple of weeks I'll be visiting one of my other best friends, Amy, in Myrtle Beach. I'm wicked excited to see Amy and the beach again, and we've already made plans of what we're going to do (most have to do with food! Ha!)! 

And, I again can't tell you enough how excited I am to get to Washington. I've already have made plans to see Seattle (never been), Portland and the Oregon coast, northern California, and have made lists of places to see in Spokane, places to eat, and things I'd like to do. Spokane I can't wait to see you!!!!!!!!!!! If you have suggestions of places to see, things to do, etc., please do share!

So, on to house hunting, job searching, and...packing....we go!