Rhythm...

"Change always comes bearing gifts."  

                    ~Price Pritchett

Since we've moved, I have developed a rhythm to my days off and evenings.  However, it doesn't seem to include taking photos or blogging.  

We moved in on April 19th.  Most of the house is unpacked, with the exception of office supplies in the guest room, and most of the dining room as we search for the perfect china cabinet.  We've been grilling most nights that its been warm.  

I've made bread.  My garden is in, I may expand it this weekend, but we'll see.  I have herbs in pots on the deck.  We've had a campfire.  We've met several of our neighbors.  We bought a bed for the guest room, and comfy chairs for the front porch.  Our compost pile is started.  We have plans to put in raspberry bushes and an asparagus bed.  We explored along the creek at the end of our block (it leads all the way to the grocery store! And mint grows along most of it!) Some pictures are hung, others just sit in boxes.  We've entertained many of our friends and family. We're extraordinarily happy in our house, and have received so many blessings recently.

With all this excitement, there just doesn't seem to be a spot for blogging and photos.  I'm trying.  Last week, I had Monday off, and took several photos around the house.  I don't like how they came out, so I'm not sharing them. 

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of buying and moving into a new house, we're also planning our upcoming wedding for September.  Our financially strapped state government proposed closing the state park where our ceremony was planned.  Then they closed it, and opened it again within a span of a week.  Our deposit was refunded, and I gave it back and reinstated our reservation.  

I have a wedding dress, and an appointment to have it altered (3 weeks to loose weight!)  My bridesmaids all have dresses they're comfortable with.  We have our invitations, RSVP cards, and thank you cards, along with matching address labels.  We've booked our honeymoon (Vermont!).  We're working on ordering our favors, and we've shopped for wedding bands, although haven't purchased anything yet.

I guess its no wonder I haven't posted...Hopefully, our lives will continue to refine their daily rhythm, and I can get back to posting on a somewhat regular basis.

Have a great day!

Home...

It's so wonderful to have a place that is actually our own.  The other night, we sat in our backyard, and it was absolute bliss: warm weather, wine, and a good book, all lit by lantern light:

This was after a wonderful engagement party with both of our families (I balked at the idea of a bridal shower...sooo not my cup of tea)

My family

M

Mike's family

E

Every good party has a conga line!

I just like this picture: My siblings, and myself, 

with Mike, and my sister's partner too!

Saying Goodbye

Two weeks ago, I said goodbye to a dear friend of mine.  She was a resident on the unit where I have worked for nearly 4 years now, and she had been there since I started.  She and I just "clicked," not instantaneously, but over a period of months, as we got to know each other, and as I found my comfort zone and hit my stride in a new job.

I can't quite explain our relationship, except to say that for a woman who didn't know anyone's name at the nursing home, she called me (and only me) Geraldine for 3 years.  Never any other name, only Geraldine.  Now that's a bond.  

As I have adjusted to our unit without her, I realize how much she taught me about love, patience, and being yourself; and how much I am going to miss her. 

I love you Eloise, and I miss you, but I'm glad you've gone home to God and to be with your Mother whom you loved so dearly.  Godspeed.

Our House...

It's been quite a ride these past few weeks since we moved into our house.  I've finally uploaded the photos I took of our moving day (actually, Mike did...) I don't have that many photos, just a few of the empty rooms.  I will post "after" photos sometime.  I would have liked to take photos of people moving things, and piles of boxes, but it didn't seem fair to be snapping away while our friends and family were doing all the heavy lifting...

 Us in front of our U-Haul

The U-Haul backing into our new driveway

The previous owners left us a sweet note!

This is on the freezer door in the kitchen

My beautiful built-ins, going from kitchen to living room.

Side stairs on the right to the side door.

Stove, fridge.  The door leads to a back shed (great for recycling!) which 

leads to the back deck.

Dining room

Mike and my cousin in the living room

Mike, bringing the mandolin home

Poppy (my grandfather) on the back deck

Note the fenced yard!

Poppy peeking into the garage

The back shed looking in from the deck...kitchen door on the left

My awesome walk-in closet, it's in the hallway next 

to the bathroom.

Bathroom

Guest/Computer room

I'm also planning a small craft space for this room

Our room.

This was actually supposed to be the guest room, but the other room 

has the stairs going up to the attic and it didn't 

fit our bed like we wanted...

I love this room, it has an east-facing 

window for morning sun!

The third bedroom, it is our music studio.

Happy Homeowners!!

HOME!

We've done it.  We bought a house (See photo from last post).  It's an adorable colonial, right in the city.  It's convenient to work, and within biking distance to a lot of necessities: grocery store, pharmacy, ice cream shop, etc.   Hardwoods throughout, tons of closet space, updated kitchen, basement, attic, and garage.  We LOVE it!!!!! 

We hung out with our next door neighbors tonight, they had a campfire in their yard...they're really cool.   

Because of all this  transition, I've been neglecting online, I've been on vacation all week, unpacking and settling into our new house.  We couldn't be happier!  I'll post photos of the new place soon ! ( as soon as I unpack the camera cord!)

Could it be? Yes, it could.
Something's coming, something good,
If I can wait!
Something's coming, I don't know what it is,
But it is
Gonna be great!

PizzaPizza

We had just a wee bit of ham and pineapple leftover from our Easter supper.  

So tonight, I made Pizza.  Hawaiian Pizza.

First, I made the best pizza dough I have ever made:

It came out awesome, I don't know why, or how.  Perhaps the stars were in alignment? Or maybe all the kneading I didn't go by time, like I usually do, but by feel).  Also, my mom's been telling me for years to use this particular recipe...for some reason I never listened until now....Should've listened sooner!  Anyway,  the dough was awesome, it stretched beautifully, and didn't bubble up while cooking!! 

I call this picture "Pizza in afternoon sun."  The sunlight was coming directly through our back windows (we had the curtains open) and onto the stove where I was assembling the pizza...

A closeup of deliciousness to come...

Since it's just the two of us, and I only have one pizza stone, the rest of the dough I made into personal pizza size, and baked it off to freeze for quick pizza suppers later!

Aha! The final product! Isn't it beautiful???