Peonies and Pistols

Redirect

2010-09-19T11:22:00.003-06:00

Hello readers!

I have changed my blog over to a new URL on blogger until I can make a total switch (one day) to a new platform.

If you've been reading along here I hope you'll follow me over to my new page: Peonies & Pistols. It's all the same, just with a new URL!

So, please change your RSS feeds and bookmarks to reflect the new site.

Thanks for following!

Kim

A bird in the hand

2010-09-17T20:12:00.000-06:00

Or, I should say, a bird in the house, which is what we had a couple days ago.

Todd I were sitting peacefully working at the dining room table when whoosh! a bird came swooping through the dining room! It bumped its way around the chandelier and our heads before flying off to the sun room.

We took off after it, including Rigby who was very interested in the lil' guy. We found the bird resting on a window and...

We didn't quite know what to do. We didn't have anything handy to catch it with, you know, like a net, but Todd found an old towel that we thought might do. He sneaked up behind the bird slooooowly and ever so gently wrapped the towel around it and headed outside.

Todd sat the bird on the stoop to let it recover and do its thing. Poor guy, he was stressed! He was panting and didn't have the energy to even pull himself upright...

Finally, after a couple minutes the bird got it together and sat up...

Rigby had been watching the scene with extreme interest. In the sun room he stood on point, staring intently with nostrils flaring, as Todd approached the bird. And he wouldn't go inside until the bird flew off, which it did moments later.

Stay tuned for the next animal intruder story. I saw a mouse in our kitchen!

Picklefritz

2010-09-14T20:25:00.002-06:00

What the heck is Picklefritz?

Well, after dating Todd for a while now and visiting Wisconsin a few times I am convinced Wisconsinites have a diet of mostly cheese, beer, and pickled foods.

Todd's not too picky and enjoys just about everything, and in true Wisconsin form he does love a pickled something or other, to the point that his grandparents used to call him Picklefritz.

He really wants "us," a.k.a., me, to try canning, which I'm not opposed to and have always wanted to learn anyway. His mom even gave me all her old canning stuff so I have no excuse but to get my can on.

So, over the weekend, I decided to try my hand at it.

I chose a quick pickling recipe I've had hidden away in my recipe books for a while now. It's called quick pickling because it doesn't require the boiling of the jars and all that jazz. You just throw it all together in a jar and let it sit in the fridge for a week and...like magic!...pickled...whatever you chose.

In this particular instance the recipe called for green beans, which we had in Old Fashioneds at his grandma's house last year.

It is super simple, too!

The beans as they're getting snapped and thrown in the jars...

Beans swimming in spicy pickling juice. This recipe calls for LOTS of garlic and some dried hot red chilis...

And Todd can't keep his hands out of them! To really "pickle" they're supposed to sit for a week, but he keeps sneaking beans. I have no confidence they will make it to the end of the week. But I can see why. This recipe is truly fantastic! And, as I mentioned, amazingly simple!

I highly recommend it! You won't be disappointed.

New look

2010-09-12T20:10:00.001-06:00

I'm sure you probably noticed the change in the blog.

This is going to be a gradual change done in stages.

First, the name has changed.

Next will be the look. The current header is only temporary until (hopefully) my coworker can whip me up a really cool one. This will be at least another few weeks, however, because he just left on a two-week honeymoon.

And after that - the URL, which is the most out-of-date thing about this blog. It is no longer my Colorado Countdown and hasn't been for quite some time. I just couldn't hit on a new blog identity - until recently.

I didn't want my new blog to have the same theme as the last one - "big city girl" returns to the West. I wanted it to incorporate Todd more and it to be about our comfortable, happy little life.

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers. I love how old fashioned and homey they are. Jeff M. will probably never read my blog (not that he does now) because of the peony reference. I had a large peony in our garden in D.C., and he wasn't a big fan (I think secretly he loves it though...) Peonies are also the feminine and pistols is obviously more masculine, representing Todd.

Eventually, I am going to move the blog to Wordpress and find a place to host it. Blogger is making me crazy and it's time to move on. I want greater capabilities and pages and my own URL without "blogspot" in it.

So, the change has begun.

Please be patient as I make all these new moves. It's going to take some time to get it how I want it, but I think it will definitely be worth it!

Five alarm

2010-09-07T22:29:00.000-06:00

I love fireplaces.

Ever since we moved into our new house Todd and I have been itching to try our living room fireplace. This isn't a modern, new-fangled gas burner. Oh, no! This fireplace operates on old school chunks of wood. I think gas fireplaces have their, well, places, but nothing beats the crackle and smell of a wood burner.

The cool temperatures we've had lately gave us a good excuse last night to give it a go. Here's Todd lighting it up...

The set up...

Success! A very happy evolved man...

Rigby was not so happy. He has a weirdness about fire. He doesn't like it, or to be around it, or to hear it, or to see it...

But we were able to convince him to come near the flame with some well positioned dog treats. Ok. He still didn't really buy into it...

And then there was this...the smoke. Being our first fire in this fireplace it's obviously a little trial and error, but I'm surprised our alarm didn't go off...

While Todd fixed the smoke I made dinner and dug in. Whole wheat pasta with shrimp, olive oil, salt, pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, and sauteed onions, mushrooms and garlic...

And the all important wine...

I say again: I love fireplaces!

"Oh, there ain't no lumberjacks in the city..."

2010-09-01T12:54:00.000-06:00

That was the first line to a song my sisters and I made up on a trip to the mountains once when we were younger.

We had an entire musical going on complete with a picnic table as a Conestoga wagon, male and female singing parts, and typical musical dance moves like synchronized "cartwheels" across the picnic table benches.

Oh yes, we gave Rogers and Hammerstein a run for their money!

But, as proven by the following photos, there are indeed lumberjacks in the city: Todd being one of them.

Todd has spent a lifetime working with wood - marking, pruning, cultivating and cutting trees. AND he's from Wisconsin. All he's missing is a big blue ox.

He's been itching to go a cuttin' ever since we moved in to the Casper house, which has a giant wood burning fireplace. So, he and my old friend Jeff S. went out a couple weeks ago on a "man date" to chop and bring in some wood.

They got quite the load! Jeff really wants to use their new fireplace as a main source of heat, while I think we're only going to have an occasional fire. You know, the kind you sit around sipping red wine while the winter winds howl...

Some action shots...

I just liked this shot of Todd's lumberjack boot with the wood chips spraying...

Once Todd got the logs into more manageable chunks he'd split 'em by hand. He's got such amazing aim! More times than not he landed that ax right in the same spot. I'd be all over the place I think. And yes, we are doing this in our alley. We had several neighbors stop to chat - and admire our pile of wood!

A perfect split...

Rigby's not too fond of the chainsaw. He ran to me several times because I wasn't making such scary noises...

He is, however, very fond of this "stick". Look at his cute little tongue go!

The swirly colors of the bark on this chunk remind me of the hot springs in Yellowstone...

I was the stacker. This is the beginning of our wood pile...

And this is the end result! Todd proudly told me I did a good job stacking (which is apparently a skill in itself) and that I could be his LumberJILL...

Males: Oh, there ain't no lumberjacks in the city!
Females: Oh, there ain't no lumberjacks in the city!
Males: So, come on down and find a girl that's pretty...
Together: Cuz there ain't no lumberjacks in the city!

The choreography really brings it together...

Somewhere over the rainbow

2010-08-22T12:07:00.001-06:00

Check out this rainbow! It was so bright and...solid!

Todd even yelled at the neighbors through their window to come out and see how neat it was. I think they were in the middle of dinner...

Up close...

I love a good rainbow!

Frontier Days booty

2010-08-13T08:24:00.000-06:00

Cheyenne Frontier Days just isn't complete for me unless I find a special jewelry purchase or two at the Indian Village.

My goal is to get at least one thing each year I volunteer to mark my time at CFD. I've been doing pretty well, but sadly, I lost a ring I bought a couple years ago. It just disappeared - and oddly so has the post where I'm SURE I had a picture of it. Cue the Twilight Zone music...

This year, I attempted to make up for my broken heart over the cool lost ring and purchased three things. I couldn't help it! There were some irresistible deals I just couldn't pass up!

There are so many stunning pieces in the Village, but I have never spent over $100 on any one thing. One day, I will. I have plans to save a little each month so when CFD rolls around one year I can buy, say, a Squash Blossom. Or a turquoise and silver belt... Or a truly dramatic turquoise and/or coral cuff - one that makes you look like a superhero! Oh...the wish list goes on.

My purchases this year:

The double strand necklace was my first purchase. I was very attracted to the more rough cut turquoise this year and while I've always eyed pieces like the necklace and ring below I ultimately have chosen jewelry that was a little more symmetrical. The second purchase was the ring. After staring at my friend Rachel's finger all week with a similar ring on it I decided to see what I could find. I found this little gem and declared I was done.

But...then I decided to go back one last time to find Todd a hat band. He has a cowboy hat as part of his work uniform and I thought he'd enjoy something for it. The beaded band is what I ultimately found, but only after another irresistible find... That pendant.

The pendant on the left was a super steal! If you hit up the Village toward the end of the week the vendors are more likely to deal. The vendor at that booth gave Rachel and I 50 percent off anything we wanted plus an additional discount for being volunteers. I wasn't even intending to shop for myself that day! I just wanted a hat band! But with that kind of deal I wasn't about to just walk away.

Then there were the three turquoise drop necklaces I got for my sisters and mom. They were too good of a price! And were really pretty.

So, everyone got a little piece of CFD. And since I didn't buy it all for me I'm hoping for some awesome shopping karma next year... and a Squash Blossom...

Mellencamp melancholy

2010-08-12T15:45:00.002-06:00

Tonight John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan are playing at the Casper Events Center.

I desperately want to go for Mellencamp. I don't really care about Dylan.

You see, John Mellencamp was the first tape I ever got. It was from Santa in my stocking when I was in 2nd grade, I believe. That same Christmas my sisters got The Pointer Sisters and Bruce Springsteen. Can you say children of the '80s or what?

I have had a mild obsession with Mellencamp ever since. For awhile I owned about every tape you could of his. I played his songs on repeat. And when we moved from Indiana, his home state as well, to Colorado his music just meant something more.

I have never seen him in concert but it hasn't been for trying. Fate just won't allow me to go! Once, when I was in D.C., he played in Virginia. I wanted to go, but couldn't get out of work in time. Thank heavens I hadn't already bought a ticket!

Another time he was playing in Colorado. I think this was right around when I had just moved back West and was jobless. I couldn't justify buying a ticket and driving to Denver when I had no way to pay for it. How was I so responsible in my judgement??

Tonight is strike three. I heard a couple months ago he was coming and I was determined to go. But we had the Jackson wedding last weekend, I have a flat tire that needs replaced, I have to save for some trips coming up...

I just can't go.

My coworker Matt sent me an email earlier saying he had heard Dylan was playing and he wondered if I was going to go. I had no sooner explained I'd rather see ol' John Cougar, but couldn't justify the price to go when Matt emailed me a message he had seen on Twitter...

Matt's email:

I was just handed two tickets to a Bob Dylan concert in Casper TONIGHT at 6:30pm! Who wants 'em? They're free!

Find @UWInfoDesk on twitter!!!! HURRRYYYYYYYYYYYY

The first part is the actual tweet, the second is Matt's command to me.

I have never searched for, followed, and tweeted someone so fast. I told Matt I'm sure I set a record.

Turns out you have to pick them up in Laramie, which obviously doesn't make any sense for me.

So, here I am. Struck with Mellencamp melancholy.

One day I will see him!

I hope this isn't three strikes and I'm out!

Kitchen Cravings

2010-08-11T11:56:00.001-06:00

I have been having cravings for ethnic foods lately, something I love eating a ton of, but isn't readily available in ol' Wyo.

I will say, however, Casper does seem to have a pretty good taste for something different. There are several Asian restaurants here and lots of sushi - what I've really been wanting - and I've heard an Indian restaurant is supposed to be opening soon. Naan bread and lamb Vindaloo...here I come!

I've realized though, if I want something different I'll probably have to make it. I've got several recipes for Indian, Moroccan, Thai and other fun dishes, but haven't given many of them a try - mostly because I used to be able to just walk down the block and find a restaurant that suited any taste... at any time.

A couple nights ago, however, I made Pad Thai, a traditional Thai noodle dish with a little spice and lots of flavor.

Pad Thai is something I never really ordered at a restaurant because I think it's pretty bad for you there. I have tried it though, so I know what it should taste like and the following recipe hit the nail on the head. I was SO excited. And I didn't feel bad eating it because I knew what all went in it.

And it didn't really call for any crazy ingredients I couldn't find - except dried, minced shrimp, which I just had to do without. It didn't affect the taste any.

I think I found this recipe in Shape or Cooking Light or some other healthy magazine. Enjoy!

Shrimp pad Thai
12 oz. rice vermicelli noodles (I used the very thin, almost Angel hair looking noodles. It didn't come out bad, but I had to double the sauce to cover everything and it still seemed a little short. I think the next time I will use a wider rice noodle and will still likely double the sauce.)
1/3 cup peanut or vegetable oil
1 tbsp. minced garlic

Start doubling here:
8 oz. shrimp, peeled, deveined and not frozen
5 green onions cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups of bean sprouts, divided
1/3 cup Thai fish sauce (this stuff smells when you start cooking it, but you don't taste it later.)
2 tbsp. EACH ketchup and sugar
1 tsp. red chile flakes
2 large eggs slightly beaten

Cilantro leaves
(optional) roasted, unsalted peanuts
lime wedges

Soak the noodles in a large bowl of very hot water until soft, about 15 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pour in oil. Add garlic, shrimp, and green onions and cook about 2 minutes, stirring often.

Stir in 1 cup of bean sprouts, the fish sauce, ketchup, sugar, and chile flakes.

Push shrimp mixture to side of pan and carefully pour eggs onto the other side. Let cook undisturbed for about 1 minute or until mostly solid, then quickly scramble with the other ingredients in the pan.

Drain noodles and add to shrimp mixture stirring thoroughly.

Transfer to plates. Top with remaining sprouts, snipped cilantro and peanuts if desired.

Voila!

Just like the restaurants!

Jackson

2010-08-10T20:59:00.001-06:00

Kind of like Johnny Cash and June Carter - only we didn't get married in a fever.

But my friend Kara did in Jackson Hole, Wyo., which is where Todd and I scooted up to for the weekend! I was super excited to see her get married and be with all my old D.C., friends - and for Todd to see this part of the state, something he hasn't had a chance to do yet.

Todd and I had planned to camp Friday night in the Teton National Forest. We've had a few attempts at camping this summer, but both have ended badly - one with us coiled up in the front of the truck and the last with us laid out in the back of the Subaru.

No luck again this weekend. We forgot the tent. Almost to Shoshoni, Todd asks, "We have the tent, right?" to which I replied, "I don't know...we do...right??" I packed the car, yes, but Todd had piled all the gear by the front door before going to work. I figured everything we needed was there - not at the bottom of the stairs.

Consequently, we crashed with my friend Lori in her hotel room. Not quite roughing it...at least not for us. Lori may have a different opinion.

The Grand Tetons...! Pretty, huh?

The same Tetons only much more sinister. Todd snapped this on our way to Teton Village for the night-before reception...

We didn't see a moose. Or a bear. I am destined to never see a bear...

Ok, we saw one moose at the Mangy Moose bar in the Village. But being stuffed and hung from the ceiling doesn't really count...

The next morning we headed to the town square and had breakfast at this great little place called Cafe Genevieve. It was so cute - and good - and I was crazy jealous of the hostess' clothes. We went back the next morning too and she looked even cuter than the day before! I hate how everyone in Jackson is so effortlessly mountain-laid-back with style! (Translation - I want their closets.) We meandered through the Jackson farmers market...

And took pictures under the famous antler arches...

And more photos. This was very game warden appropriate, don't you think...?

My friend Kara, the blushing bride...

The wedding was at the Tennis and Golf Club, which was nothing short of amazing. What a backdrop for the bride, huh?

The D.C., fam! This picture makes me so happy! We're missing a few folks though...

Sunday morning Todd and I took a different route home. On the way to Jackson we took the more northern route through Dubois, Wyo. On the way back we dipped into Pinedale and Lander. We stopped for some impromptu fishing outside Jackson...

The Great Outdoors...

I didn't fish because I didn't have a license. A big no-no, particularly when your significant other is a game warden...

In Pinedale, Wyo., we stopped for lunch at the Wind River brewery...

And had a pretty nice time sampling beers and eating outside - until the bill came. Our waitress, though nice, hadn't listened to a thing we said. One order of the sampler - not two. We got the bill cleaned up and moved along...

As we were heading into Lander, Wyo., the tire pressure light came on in my car. Come to find out, we had a flat. Seriously?!

Todd put the spare on in the parking lot of a convenience store...

And we were off!

Linds H. has a photo of this and I've always loved it. So, I decided to copy her and take one of my own. The sign is for a house at Sweetwater Station that has a barn full of books for sale. I really wanted to stop in, but the time we lost fixing our flat meant the place was closed. There's an interesting article on the ladies who run the shop on Wyofile...

FINALLY we pull into town on our spare and pass this scene on the way to the house...A reminder to Todd that work lurked just around the corner...

The one scratching makes me laugh... Oh dear...

Wisconsin back track

2010-08-06T09:30:00.002-06:00

A couple weeks ago, Todd and I were off, once again, to Wisconsin for a wedding in Green Bay.

But as soon as we got home I was out the door to Frontier Days and had no chance to post about our last Midwest excursion.

Here's a recap:

The first night we "camped" once again. Not quite the camping experience we had the last time, but not too far off. This time, we had a bit more room to spread out in the back of the Outback. We pulled over in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This is what it looked like the next morning...

Todd and Rigby...

Me...

There's a delicacy in Wisconsin I learned about for the first time. We were at the butcher shop and Todd said, "Let's get some wildcat." I thought, like what I believe most normal people would think, that it was going to be ground bobcat or something else feline. Todd had fun helping my imagination run, well, wild, before explaining what it was, which is raw, ground, top of the line sirloin mixed with onions and a bunch of spices...

Now, I LOVE sushi. I'll eat raw fish, no problem. I want my steaks medium rare leaning a little more on the rare side. But completely 100 percent raw burger on a cracker? I had a bit of a mental block. But I tried it...

And while I can't say I LOVED it, it wasn't bad. I would try it again. But it is weird to think about...

On a more yummy note, Todd's dad was a blueberry growing pro. He was known for his ability to grow some good berries. There are blueberry bushes all around the house, and we also filled up on those!

And don't forget the cheese. I had yet to go to a cheese factory or dairy, so Todd and I stopped by Mullins Cheese on our way to the wedding...

Cheese there is so cheap! For my old Dupont Dwellers let me equate: It is WAY better than the secret cheese bin! Full chunks of cheese for a slice of what it normally goes for in other parts of the country! I like the dairy cow scene above the cooler...

This is a bag of whey. I wondered what in the world someone would need that much for - then saw a sign that said great for smoothies. That made sense...if you were a smoothie shop.

And the cheese curds! These were actually still warm! So they were quite squeaky!

Just start calling me Miss Muffet... though I don't yet own a tuffet.

It's Frontier Days!

2010-07-26T22:52:00.003-06:00

And I have been so busy I haven't been able to post!

Here is my haphazard collection of photos so far.

Want to know why there a) aren't many photos, and b) I'm not posting frequently...? It's because my coworkers and I are running all over the park managing the CFD facebook page! We're getting TONS of great video and photos to share with fans. Consequently, that's been occupying all my computer time! Check it out...!

Ok - quick catch up:

KISS played on Friday night for the first concert of the week to an absolutely ROARING crowd. I got to see them (albeit through a window) behind stage! They did walk in front of me to the vans they ride in to the stage. That was cool...

Stage set-up for KISS's show...

These two horses just cracked me up fighting over that dish...

Some country dancin' at the Buckin' A Saloon in the Midway...

Horses from the Wild Horse Race zooming past in the back stretch...

What the first Pancake Breakfast of the week always looks like for me. I have to be there by 4:30 a.m. with my news crew, which has been Channel 4 of Denver for the past two years...

The Depot Plaza pre-dawn with the news cameras set up...

A few more folks...and a little more light. There were over 8,700 folks fed today...

Cody Sosbee, the CFD rodeo clown...

I not only went behind the chutes for this shot but underneath the stands...

Just some cool pics of a ride...

Same ride...

More of that ride...

The last bit of that ride...

Cowboys behind the chutes...

After a bull ride...

I'll have a lot more to share, but after being up before dawn with my news crew I'm too tired to load right now. Stay tuned!

Todd's a hater too

2010-07-20T11:54:00.000-06:00

A couple weeks ago we pulled the stupid Fabulous 400 out so Todd could see if he could figure out why the big oven went kaput.

In moving it, we figured out where the 400 comes from – it easily weighs 4,000 pounds.

Replacing this thing is such a kitchen conundrum. See the cabinets that are under the Fab...?

Those will have to come out with a different stove. And I’ve already mentioned the fact that the 400 is 40-inches wide means either a) we spend about a million dollars on a new 40-inch stove (that size is considered professional or commercial grade), or b) we get a 30 or 36-inch stove (normal sizes) and have a corresponding 10 or 4-inch gap to fill between the stove and the other cabinets.

We’ve brainstormed that the gap could make a good cookie sheet cabinet, but then there’s the countertop that would be short… ARGH!!!

Do you see where my deep-seated hatred for the Fabulous 400 stems from??

After tinkering with it to no avail then hoisting it back…Todd’s a hater now too.

Mr. and Mrs. Clean

2010-07-09T17:06:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was maybe one of the happiest days of my life:

Our washer and dryer arrived!

Ok, it might be a little dramatic to say it was one of the happiest days...but it's right up there.

We've been without a washer and dryer since May 28 when we closed on the new house. As you can imagine, we've amassed quite the mountain of laundry. We did do a few emergency loads at the Cheyenne house on one of our trips down to get stuff, but that didn't really make a dent.

We ordered the new appliances about three weeks ago and have been awaiting their arrival with as much excitement as a kid looking forward to Christmas.

The big delivery stork with our exciting arrival...

We debated for months about what set to get. Do we drop big bucks on the front loading kind? We were hesitant...but it saves money over time with water and electric efficiency. You don't know the back and forth we had! We finally decided on a sale price front loader...

Up and running! But we almost weren't. Before we could get going we discovered they delivered an unmatched set! The washer was correct, but the dryer was not what we bought. We called Sears to check, and as it would happen the sales lady ordered the wrong dryer. I nearly had a coronary. She told us we could keep the wrong dryer - and use it - until our new one came in and we could make the exchange. Lucky for her she offered that solution...I was ready to drive to the store and raise hell! We were NOT going to wait any longer for clean clothes (I know you're thinking what's wrong with the laundry mat? Aside from the obvious 'lots of things' it was down right expensive! We tried going this route and walked out. I'm fine with paying a couple bucks to clean my clothes, but $5 or more?? I think not.)

The funny thing about these? They play what I call a Pied Piper tune as you're unloading. It's funny and annoying all at the same time. But I'll put up with it for clean clothes.

Happy belated 4th

2010-07-08T22:11:00.000-06:00

I know this is several days past due, but now is the time that I have time to wish America happy birthday!

For the Fourth I spent Saturday and Sunday at Alcova lake with friends. A couple I went to college with has a cabin there and they very graciously invited me and several others to come hang out. Todd had to work the lake most of the time, but was able to meet up here and there to say hi.

Jonna's dad Wayne became our Lady Liberty when the boat light snapped off. He diligently held the light until we found a fix...

This was our fix. Medical tape. Worked like a dream...

There were two boats of us that went out on the water for the fireworks show Sunday night. Notice the dark boat pulled along the white one? That's Todd pulling over one of our fleet. Just a simple life jacket check...nothing to see here...

Jonna and her fiance Eric. How romantic...!

Fireworks on the water! Happy belated 4th!

Todd Cousteau

2010-07-01T22:15:00.000-06:00

Todd is a highly credentialed diver!

I knew this, and knew about his easily half-ton scuba trunk with all his gear packed inside, but I had never seen him dive.

Until last week.

He volunteered to help the (water) ski club at Alcova look for a cable used to tether their slalom course, which had been cut by vandals and was resting somewhere on the lake bottom.

Getting geared up...

He's under - somewhere around that flag. It initially made me a little nervous to watch because I wouldn't want to be down there, but also I was worried he might drown. He didn't, of course...

Todd Cousteau...!

He didn't find the cable, which was fine. But we did get brats and kraut with one of the members and his wife at their camper!

Slumlords

2010-06-29T17:52:00.000-06:00

That's what Todd and I have become!

Not really.

But we have become landlords.

Our darling Cheyenne house rented yesterday - a HUGE relief! With the new house mortgage starting this month it was absolutely essential we get the Cheyenne house rented. Otherwise, I joked to friends, the next time they saw me I'd be super thin from living on Ramen alone.

We think we have good renters, but we're still a little nervous. Handing your home over to people you don't know is kind of disconcerting. You hope they don't destroy it or do stupid things to it.

The renters are a young couple who are expecting a baby in August. I think the girl is very excited and proud of her new home, which makes me feel better. That and the fact she was already weeding the flowers last night - a day and a half before their move-in! She's obviously motivated.

So, here's to our first foray into property management.

I hope our lil' home survives.

Just LeDoux it

2010-06-27T11:54:00.001-06:00

Last weekend, as I was heading back from the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters' conference in Sheridan, I decided to stop in Kaycee, Wyo., and take a peek at the new Chris LeDoux statue.

Chris LeDoux, for those who don't know, was a famous country singer and winner of the World's Bareback Championship in 1976. He passed away a few years ago and was from ol' Kaycee.

There was a big memorial event for the unveiling and, I heard, Garth Brooks was even there. Pretty cool.

Range rover

2010-06-26T13:23:00.006-06:00

I can look past most of the things around the new house that need addressed: Carpet removal, the need to paint, a fully-concreted backyard...

But the thing that makes me absolutely crazy is:

The Fabulous 400.

It is a beast. And I find it to be anything but fabulous.

I can see how back in its day it was probably a very progressive appliance. It has a rotisserie. That could be neat. It folds up like a Transformer (It's a cutting board... No! It's a trivet... No! It's a full oven and stove top in one!), which is creative.

But at the end of the day, it is simply the bane of my culinary existence.

When we first looked at the stove we had no idea how it worked. Where in the world do you boil a pot of water, for example?

After some tinkering we found you have to uncover the coils hidden neatly under the cutting board/trivet pull-out. Oh, of course! (smacking head sarcastically)

But that feature only gets in the way! It's awkward to lean over. And I hate having to go the extra step of pulling it out when I just want to quickly, say, heat a kettle of water for tea. So, I leave it like this...

But the most pressing issue is it doesn't work.

Our first night in the house we made a frozen pizza in the large oven on the left. And it worked - fabulously.

The next night, wanting a home-cooked meal, I put a meat loaf in the same oven. Everything was cooking nicely when out of nowhere the 400 started buzzing. At first I thought it was a timer going off. I fiddled with that for a bit, then realized the oven was no longer on and the meat loaf was cooking on the slowly fading heat I had initially set it to.

It hasn't worked since.

Fortunately, there is a second, smaller oven on the right. But cookie sheets and other pans are too big to fit in there, so I've either had to not make something or find a creative pan to put it in.

We're going to replace the ol' Fab with a normal gas - not electric, which I hate - stove.

But to add insult to injury, the ol' Fab is 40 inches wide! Today, that size is reserved for commercial or professional grade stoves, which, as much as I would love that, I do not love the cost: $5,000, $10,000, $15,000!!

What we don't understand is, the kitchen is remodeled with new, nice cabinets that were built around the Fabulous 400. Why, oh why, wouldn't you replace the stove with a normal one and build the new cabinets around that?

It's mind boggling.

Fabulous my foot...

Carpetbaggers

2010-06-22T19:26:00.001-06:00

The house.

It's all this is about because it's all we do, think about, work on...

When we got home from Wisconsin and Illinois last Monday, I went immediately to work the next day on an ag trip and Todd went to work ripping up carpet!

When I came home that night there were beautiful hardwood floors gleaming at me from the upstairs guest room. I was ECSTATIC! Every square inch of this place is carpeted - minus the laundry room (yes, kitchen and bathrooms are covered too!) - and it just feels so heavy and outdated.

The next night we tackled the upstairs master. Only we took it a step further and decided to see what was hiding under the fake ceiling - you know, the kind made of cream colored tiles with gold glitter swirls through them? We've temporarily shut the door on that room and have moved on until we can figure out the giant crack in the ceiling...

But, the real carpet kicker has been the dining room. We have big area rugs for both the dining and living rooms which we've laid down to get out of the way. But they've only gotten IN the way. The dining room rug did nothing but get stuck to the carpet and bunch up around the table and chairs. That, combined with our four old chairs, six new (old) chairs from Todd's mom's, every possible piece of paper, keys, and electronic cord we own tossed in, created a horrible chaos that made Todd and I want to scream.

So, last night, we tackled the dining room.

Here's a before. That clean rectangle? That's where the rug was. All the disgustingness around it is from tracking in and Rigby shedding his winter coat over everything. We haven't bothered to vacuum, not even once, because we knew we'd be pulling the carpet out...

Another before from a different angle...

Pulling back the carpet. I shudder to think what's living in the mat...

The moment, instant, Todd pulled back that giant chunk of dirty mat I felt me - and the house - take a big breath. It's like you could feel the house breathing after being trapped beneath nasty carpet for all those years...

After much work pulling out staples and tack strips THIS is what we have!

And get a load of this photo! Doesn't it look like a glamorous ballroom? Minus, of course, the window fan and tools on the window sill...

There are some issues that need addressed. Like this...

And this...

And the approximately 135 holes left from the 135 screws Todd pulled out of the dining and entry way floors. There are still nails in there, but we're going to talk to a professional about all that...

It's definitely fun planning how it's going to ultimately look, but we've still got a long way to go!

Wisconsin (and Illinois) wrap-up

2010-06-16T22:03:00.001-06:00

Here's a wrap of our trip to Wisconsin and Illinois.

I'll just dive in...

...much like Rigby: Todd was selling his boat to my dad who was planning to come to Wisconsin to pick it up. Before he arrived, Todd wanted to make triple sure it ran ok, so we took it out for a ride. He put Rigby in the boat and as he pulled away we heard **SPLASH** and there was Rigby swimming to shore!

Let's check the logic: The river is less scary than the boat...??

Landlubber!

So, we discovered Rigby can swim - and that the boat doesn't sink...

Todd came back for me and another try for Riggs. We forced him into the boat again and took off. He did much better but was still pretty tense...

Two discoveries in Wisconsin for me, well, four, after Rigby's swim and the boat working well, were pickled brussel sprouts and cheese curds. The first I had never heard of and the second I had heard tons about, but had never tried. The brussel sprouts are delicious! They're used as garnishes in drinks like Old Fashioneds and I couldn't get enough!

I have wanted to try cheese curds every time we've been in Wisconsin, but we haven't gotten around to it. Todd and I picked this package up at the grocery store and let me tell you they're also a very yummy treat. These were still slightly warm and, as I found out, the fresher they are the more they squeak on your teeth when you chew! Yes, squeak. It's kind of like the sound of tennis shoes on a gym floor, only nowhere near as loud.

In fact, the back of the package says:

"You can be fully confident that when you select our cheese curds that they will be the freshest and the squeakiest available anywhere!"

We took my dad to a good ol' Wisconsin fish fry at this place. Yes, it was meet the parents weekend (sans my mom who was getting ready for the family reunion), so my dad and Todd's mom got to meet!

All week in Wisconsin we packed...

And packed some more! My days of packing and unpacking are just...endless. We were in Wisconsin to help his mom downsize and take some things back. My dad helping load the U-Haul while Rigby oversees the job...

Then it was down to Illinois for my family reunion! We always have it at New Salem State Park, one of those living history places where people are dying yarn and chopping logs for cabins...

Some of the fam walking the Village...(note the guy chopping a log)

Todd and I toasting with lemonade at the Temperance tent...

The spread at the reunion!

Some of the crew. By the way, it was like a sauna that day. Literally. I can never, ever, EVER live with that kind of humidity again. I know what the good life is like and there's no going back!

Saying the prayer before digging in...

Todd competing in the "washers" tournament...

On our way home, Todd and I stopped by Chimney Rock outside Scottsbluff, Neb. The 300 foot formation served as a landmark on the Oregon, Mormon and California Trails. I'd never been before and really wanted to see it...

You couldn't drive right up to the base, but there was a dirt road that took you part way. Todd hesitated because we had the U-Haul hitched to the back. I told him if Conestoga wagons could make it this far, so could we...

On the way up there's a little cemetery. Todd said this is where other people who had tried pulling U-Hauls up there were buried...

This was the oldest grave we found. Pretty neat...

We finally made it home about 9 p.m. after 2,700 miles on the road.

I am so happy to be here. Mess and all.

Bonnie and Clyde

2010-06-09T18:00:00.002-06:00

Todd and I are in Wisconsin!

And wow, does it take a long time to get here!

We left Casper at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning thinking we would get to his mom's around around 2 a.m. At about 12:30 a.m. we realized this was a pipe dream and at the rate we were going we wouldn't pull in until probably 4:30 a.m.!

We began weighing our options. We came prepared with camping equipment for my family reunion at the end of the week, so we started looking up campsites and state parks. After a wild goose chase or two for parks that ended up being a lot farther off the interstate than what we hoped, we finally found one.

We pulled in around 2 a.m. and stopped dutifully at the entrance station to check rules and campsite prices. We discovered there were no prices and one of the rules was no setting up camp after 11 p.m.

Huh. That's not gonna work.

We made an executive decision: We're going to pull in anyway.

We were tired. We weren't going to be there more than 3-4 hours. We weren't even going to bother with setting up the tent. We just needed a slot for some zzz's!

So...we slept and skipped. I admit it. And...I stand by it! I own our rule-breaking decision!

Todd waking up in the truck. Worst. Sleep. Ever.

Foggin' up the windows! Just kidding. Too tired for parkin'! See Rigby peeking up there...?

My side of the truck. Todd was all cramped after sleeping with the steering wheel in his lap. I asked him why he didn't just turn and put his feet up in the middle of the seat. His reply? He's not a 12-year-old girl who can bend like Gumby. I laughed - a lot...

Pulling out of our hiding place...

The coffee cup I had grand plans of using as a rinse cup for brushing my teeth! Two things I CAN'T STAND: not brushing my teeth or washing my face before bed. Neither of these things happened that night. I was broken hearted when I figured out our toothpaste was in the truck bed. We each chewed a piece of Orbitz mint-flavored gum instead... UGH.

Approaching the entrance to the park... Uh-oh!

I'm not sure if Todd is leaning back for me to get a photo, or if he's trying to not be visible as we pass by. The office doesn't open until 8 a.m. and it was 6:30 a.m. We skipped early to avoid our captors! To bad we didn't have Beyonce and Jay Z's Bonnie and Clyde song playing...

See ya' Willow River...!

Nice knowin' ya!

Over and out

2010-06-02T16:20:00.001-06:00

That's it. The end. Finito.

I'm DONE.

Todd and I moved another load from Cheyenne to Casper last night, I mean, this morning. We pulled into Casper at 3 a.m.

In the last week we've had no sleep, no stopping, and no idea where our stuff is.

After moving four times in eight months I think I can reasonably say: I'm over it!

I just want to be settled. And to have our house put away. And to go to bed at 10 p.m. and sleep eight hours. Is this too much to ask?

On an high note: We LOVE the new house. It's huge! And once we get some of those cosmetic upgrades done it will be amazing!

Stay tuned!

Homestead hopping

2010-05-31T13:23:00.003-06:00

I've taken a hiatus from the blog it seems because, well, there's been some other things going on. Like...moving into our new Casper home!

By the way - we closed on the house on Friday morning and my name was on there, so I am officially a first time homebuyer! Yay!

Wednesday night and Thursday at ol' 304 in Cheyenne was nothing but packing central. Our goal was to be on the road to Casper Thursday night, but we were apparently delusional. We packed until midnight on Thursday, got up at 4:15 a.m. on Friday morning and were on the road to Casper by 5:30 a.m. Why up so early? Our closing was at 8 a.m. We like to keep things exciting.

Here's our life since Thursday...

Ol' 304...

Our little mail slot. The mailman spelled Todd's last name wrong - it's 'el' not 'le'.

Me packing up our bedroom...

The first mow of the year. We were the worst kept yard on the block! But with not being there or it raining we weren't able to get it done. So, we took some time from packing to weed the flowers and mow the yard...

Packing up the trailer...

Our cute little living room in total disarray...

The kitchen...

Rhubarb from the backyard and a pie our neighbor Betty made for us with some of our rhubarb. If I had to pick a favorite pie rhubarb would be it. Pumpkin is a close second... I LOVE the color of rhubarb!

Taking a break to enjoy a piece of pie...

Rigby also taking a break. It's hard being a cute puppy dog...

The beginning of the purple flowers and end of the tulips that Todd and I planted...

Friday morning, 5 a.m.: Pulling away from 304...

The next few photos document what might be classified as a disaster zone. It's the new house with all our stuff - EVERYWHERE. The kitchen isn't as bad here. Not like it was...

But brace yourselves! The living room. We've slept on the air mattress the last few nights even though our real mattresses are in the bedroom. Problem is, we don't have the bed frame and it seems pointless to put the mattresses down just to pick them up again and situate on the bed frame. We have one more substantial load to get from Cheyenne and the frame will be included...

The dining room... You'll notice the place needs some cosmetic upgrades. I'll get into that later, but let me say: The formal curtains are going, the carpet that is over every square inch of the house (and covering perfectly good, beautiful hardwood floors) will be out, and any wallpaper will be ripped ruthlessly down. The chandeliers stay...

A prime example: Blue and white shag carpet covering wonderful hardwood floors...!

The upstairs bathroom. We've decided this will likely be a complete gut. It's awkwardly arranged making it tight and leaving very little room for storage. And who puts carpet in a bathroom? How gross around the toilet!

Speaking of the toilet... It's trapped between the tiled tub wall and the bathroom door making it a tight squeeze. And it prevents Rigby from his, what we call, Potty Petting Time (PPT). For some reason, the moment we make our way to the toilet Rigby makes a beeline for us so he can be pet. He started this at 304 where the bathroom was much more open. Now, he's having trouble squeezing around the door which seems to be kind of disappointing for him! And we've become so accustomed to PPT we feel bad for the lil' boy...

And, speaking of Rigby, here he is comfortably sitting on his new front porch. He loves to go out there and watch the world go by...

I've been jealous of folks who have dogs that are so well behaved they can be trusted to sit peacefully on a porch unattended. I never thought Rigby would be that dog. He's a very good boy, but he's also very social and usually can't resist the urge to meet and greet every dog and human within a one mile radius. At the new house he's been different. He just lounges out there. I've only sneaked out a few times to make sure he's still there...

Discoveries

2010-05-26T22:52:00.001-06:00

I've been hardcore packing our Cheyenne house this week and last night I came across a couple interesting things.

First, was a stack of notes and papers regarding the second time my vehicle was stolen in D.C. Yes, second. There was a total of three times. It was funny to see officers' names written on drink napkins - I remember very clearly that I was eating dinner with Carrie at an Asian diner when I got that call.

The other thing I stumbled across was my Colorado "book." In D.C., I had the D.C. "book" where I kept a collection of ideas for restaurants, bars, shopping, events, outdoor activities, etc. Friends looking for fresh ideas of where to go and what to do would call me for a suggestion.

When I left D.C., I passed that "book" to Linds C. and focused on a Colorado one; filling it with new stuff as well as ideas I'd collected even as I lived in D.C. The Colorado "book" also had ideas for restaurants, happy hours, cute boutiques, places to hike and other things Coloradans do...

And, since I expected to be living in Denver I had collected a lot of information about its different neighborhoods so I could know which one I'd love living in the most...

I just threw my collection out and have decided to let my subscription to Denver's 5280 magazine expire. I'm never going to live in Denver. Or Colorado.

And I discovered a while back I no longer want to.

I think I landed where I'm supposed to be.

Caught red branded

2010-05-20T18:33:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, Todd and I went to Jonna's family's branding. Todd had never been to a branding and I was excited for him to see what it was like.

Relaxin' and grazin' with no idea of what's to come...

Time to round 'em up!

The branding irons heating up...

Jonna getting ready to brand!

Jonna's brother Nathan (in the white hat) holding a calf down...

Todd helping Jonna get a calf down!

Still working on him...

He's down for the count! There's a lot that happens all at once: branding, tagging, vaccination, dehorning, and...castration. Hmmm...it's only 10 a.m. and I want Rocky Mountain Oysters. That sounds wrong. Like, how it's not "proper" to have a drink before noon...maybe a person shouldn't want RMO in the morning...

The branding was delayed earlier in the morning because of rain, which quit then started up again. The branding was put off completely then.

An action shot...

Four calves down at the same time! I actually participated for a while this year - I got to tag - which amounts to basically piercing their ears...

Jonna's brother Nathan again. I just liked this photo of him...

Shutting down early and letting the cows out of the corral...

Mooovin' out...

Jonna, her mom Gayann, and dad Wayne putting the final touches on lunch. Usually there's a big spread at the end of the event.

Too bad they'll have to finish them up later!

Tornado!

2010-05-18T21:18:00.011-06:00

We had terrible storms around Cheyenne today - including several tornado sightings!

I also watched one!

This is a photo of the tornado I saw. I only had my crappy phone camera with me, so my pics aren't that great. This is from Lind H.'s friend...

HE SPEAKS!

2010-05-12T20:58:00.001-06:00

Rigby has a bark!!

A full-fledged, throaty, big-boy dog bark!

This is MONUMENTAL!

We knew he had a voice. He's whimpered, whined, squeaked, and made little yips in his puppy dreams.

But a BARK??

Not once. Not EVER.

But our renter has a six-month-old puppy, Ella, who I think Rigby likes, but sometimes has a hard time having her around. I think it's the whole "this is my space, these are my people" kind of thing.

So, I just let them both in from going to the bathroom and out of nowhere there was a scuffle. A few deep barks and some growling. The workshop is dark so I couldn't actually see what went on very clearly, and I was so stunned I seriously stood there staring blankly at them before I said out loud, "Was that YOU Rigby?"

I know Ella's bark. She's still young and has a higher pitched puppy bark.

Then it happened again! Bark! Bark! Growwwwwl. And a little whine from Ella who was cowering on the floor.

This time I knew. Rigby had barked.

Of course, I immediately called Todd. It was like our baby had said his first word.

But here's the mystery: Why has Riggs never barked before? He's been around far more aggressive dogs and never a peep.

So. It's confirmed. Our baby boy has a bark.

Doesn't that sound like it should be some movie title, like, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, or something?

Living arrangements

2010-05-10T20:49:00.002-06:00

Todd and I have a renter.

The guy is also a game warden and to help pay the rent on our Casper apartment - and to help him get into town and get his bearings - we asked him if he'd like to rent out our basement.

While it's been very nice to have our apartment paid for it has come with some frustration.

I have expectations that I really don't think are unreasonable: keep our common areas cleaned up, and be respectful of my space. I thought these generalities would be easy enough to accommodate, but, it turns out I've had to be pretty specific. Such as: If your dog comes in and muddies up the kitchen, basement stairs, laundry room, etc., please wipe it up. Or, as a solution to the big muddy boot tracks in the laundry room, how 'bout we say all work boots off in the workshop? Perhaps he could wipe down the counters instead of leaving globs of food dripped all over? Or maybe he could turn lights out and not open every door in the house while the heat is still turned up.

These all seem like pretty logical actions to me!

I've left a couple of written messages for him, but today, I had to have a face-to-face chat. I've been gone for nearly two weeks in Oklahoma and Casper. When I came home for lunch today I went to use the bathroom only to find the seat left up and, to be delicate, the toilet in need of a good wipe down.

My last straw.

This is MY space. MY bathroom. What is he doing using MY bathroom?? I don't go into the bedroom/bathroom downstairs. And I certainly don't expect him to be in mine.

It turns out he had his little brother and his bro's girlfriend over for dinner and a movie - which I don't mind - and he seems to think it got left up when they were here.

Ok...ok. But it'd be nice if you cleaned up after your guests, particularly when they're using MY things, right?

Todd assures me I'm not hard to live with and don't have unreasonable expectations, but maybe I'm just spoiled with Todd. He's uncommonly clean for a "dude".

I like our renter, and if he weren't living in my basement I'd probably like him more.

But right now, I'm REALLY enjoying my time alone in the house while he's out.

Happy trails to Oklahoma

2010-05-07T11:02:00.002-06:00

Wednesday afternoon was the end of my big trip to Oklahoma.

Wyomingites dominated the plane ride back, easily outnumbering the rest of the passengers. I love how we travel in packs.

An Oklahoma sunrise. I was on the 9th floor of the hotel and this is what it looked like out my window each morning...

A statue of Buffalo Bill outside the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. We had a big reception there one night. It was a pretty amazing museum with lots of gorgeous Western art...

I'm doing a Flat Stanley for my little cousin Ciarra. Only I've turned her into Flat Stanley-etta and made her into a cowgirl. I'm not good with arts and crafts so her face is kind of messed up. Here she is at the Oklahoma City bombing memorial...

The "entrance" to Bricktown, what's billed as the entertainment district in Okla. City. It was right next to the hotel, so I ate a lot of meals in this area...

Such as this place on the canal. I had a nice - but rather salty - Cajun meal here...

The American Banjo Museum is also in Bricktown. I tried to go in to take some photos for my sister Kelly who has a fascination with banjos, but I decided not to spend the entrance fee. I made up for it in getting her birthday present from there though!

This conference always has tons of tours you can choose to go on if you want. A few of us decided to take the "Rubbin' Buckles on the Ol' Chisholm Trail" tour - I think the name is funny. It was pretty interesting and, let me tell you, the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, Okla., is awesome! Very experiential. I highly recommend it!

The Heritage Center also had a wing filled with Western art. This piece was found in a barn and then restored! I so wish I could stumble on something like this! It was one of my favorites...

One night, a large group of us from Wyoming went to the stockyards and had dinner. There's a place called The Cattlemen's that is famous and is apparently listed in the book "1000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die".

So, of course we had to go!

Some Western-style transportation...

I bought this lovely piece at an antique store in Duncan, Okla. I LOVE Western jewelry and turquoise and sterling. Just guess, GUESS how much I got this for? $10!! I've worn it every day since. Doesn't my dinner napkin make for a lovely backdrop?

The crowning glory of the trip was meeting up with my old boss, former U.S. Rep. Joel Hefley and his wife Lynn. I just LOVE Mr. Hefley! He is SO great and I haven't seen him since he retired to a ranch south of Okla. City where he and Lynn raise horses...

Lynn, Mr. Hefley and I at Toby Keith's restaurant...

Ok-la-ho-ma!

2010-05-02T12:24:00.002-06:00

I'm in Oklahoma! Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain!

It's the National Main Street conference time of year and the Wyoming Main Street program asked me to come on their trip with them again this year.

Since Thursday, I've been traveling with about 50 people from around the state on a big coach bus. We've visited four small towns outside Oklahoma City to see how those communities are putting Main Street principles to use.

It's been a lot of fun, and let me tell you, I really like Oklahoma! The people are super friendly and have the best Southern accents - not too deep South and with some Western twang thrown in. Their towns are cute, and this part of the state, anyway, is not at all what I thought Oklahoma looked like, which was brown, dry, and in the dust bowl.

Here's what we've been up to...

Our bus...

First stop: Newkirk, Okla.,...

After a tour of the Newkirk downtown we headed to the Stagecoach for some BBQ. This place is award winning, taking national and state awards. They've even been on the Food Network...

Jane, director of the Evanston, Wyo., Main Street program and myself...

I just thought this was funny...

On to Ponca City, Okla.! After another downtown tour and some dinner at a local Italian spot, we had a private show at the Poncan Theater. This place was COOL...

We watched a Vaudeville-style show...

And got a thorough tour of the place afterwards. When they were renovating they found about 53 hand painted movie posters stacked in the rafters of a closet. I guess back in the early Hollywood days, movie posters were created like this and sent to theaters. What a find, huh? Local folks "sponsored" paintings for $1,000 which would clean them up and get them framed. The sponsor then got a plaque with their name beside the poster. Super neat-o...

The next morning (Saturday), we landed in Perry, Okla. Our first stop was a pioneer museum where many of us tried...smoked BEAVER! If you could get past the mental block you'd discover it tasted just like brisket. Not that I'd ever choose beaver over brisket, but I can at least say I've tried it...!

Later at the museum, a bunch of pioneer-dressed kids performed a Maypole dance before heading to the school house for a lesson by the m'arm...

Happy May Day! (And anniversary to my mom and dad!)

Wyoming Main Street in front of the Perry Carnegie Library...

The local diner, which has been around for 80+ years hosted us for some sangria. I have an obsession with old neon signs...

The cafe...

On to Guthrie, Okla. Guthrie used to be the Oklahoma state capital before it moved to Oklahoma City. This downtown was gorgeous! It was huge and had beautiful buildings. This photo doesn't do it total justice...

Another "eat" sign at the BBQ joint we went to for dinner...

Last stop on Saturday, Oklahoma City. The Laramie, Wyo., Main Street director and I made our way to the memorial for the Oklahoma City bombing. It's quite pretty at night. Many of my other photos didn't come out too great, but here's one to give you an idea. There's 168, I believe, chairs at the site - one for each person killed. The chairs are in rows and where an individuals chair is located represents which floor of the Alfred P. Murrah building they sat on...

More reporting from Oklahoma to come!

New home sweet home

2010-04-29T06:59:00.000-06:00

What else happened last week?

Well, as soon as Todd decided not to pursue Wisconsin we decided in the very next breath to put an offer in on that "Big Tree Area" house we were stressing out about.

They accepted our offer!

So, since then we've signed a contract with Rod, the owner, and have been finishing up the finance process. Our hope is to be in by the end of May!

The house is amazing, but it's going to take some work: It's covered in 60s fab carpet that we're going to take out so we can enjoy the awesome hardwood floors; it needs some fresh paint to liven it up; and the backyard - which is quite small and covered nearly completely with slabs of concrete - needs some help.

Those are our first projects. There are others, but the above will really make a major difference!

We have no idea yet what we're going to do with our beloved Cheyenne 'stead. Rent it out? Sell it off? Not sure.

Want a peek at the new place...?

Knock out!

2010-04-28T11:41:00.001-06:00

We have a winner in the Great State Debate!

Last week Wyoming finally got the KO.

Todd called for some final information from Wisconsin and they just couldn't give him the assurances he wanted/needed.

So, Wyoming it is! Time to hunker down and move forward!

Acquiring Zen

2010-04-22T17:12:00.001-06:00

Last night, my stress took a turn - for the better.

After months of worrying, strategizing, and making plans and preparations that would get overturned the next hour or day, I reached my limit.

You know about the move to Casper: Todd's job stationed him there effective April 1. The other part, that I haven't shared here, is that Todd has also been going through the interview process for a game warden job in his home state of Wisconsin. The Great "W" State Debate (WI versus WY) has been going on since December and last month it looked like Wisconsin was going down.

But Wisconsin is a fighter. Just when you think Wyoming's delivered the final blow Wisconsin jumps up with another swing.

If it were a boxing match it would be something like this:

Wyoming: "Take that Wisconsin! Here's a raise for Todd to make it more difficult for you to use 'better pay' as a reason to go back!" Jab, jab! Uppercut!

Wisconsin, after a brief rest on the side: "Oh yeah...?! Well, Todd's mom wants to sell the property!" Right cross.

Wyoming, reeling from this particular blow, comes back: "Ok. Ok. What about your sorry excuse for a pension and the elderly age Todd will be when he's vested!" Left hook.

This sends Wisconsin to the corner for a squirt of water and a towel down. "Whew. Almost had me, Wyoming. But take this - the family neighbor has passed away and Todd's always hoped to add to his parents' land! The wife's putting it up for sale!!!"

Wyoming: "WHY won't you just go down for the count already?? Ok. Kim's got a job here. Todd's got a now good-paying job here. Todd gets a Game and Fish-supplied home if he stays here. You can't beat these numbers, Wisconsin!"

But Wisconsin doesn't cave. Wisconsin knows how to mess with your head. It's not just uppercuts and right crosses, oh no. Wisconsin gets inside, playing on heartstrings and taking you for an emotional ride.

And that's where we've been.

We had no choice but for Todd to go to Casper, so we've been doing our best to make that work: I've been telecommuting two days a week from there, we've been living in our little apartment with Rigby, and have been trying to figure out which W state would win.

To top it all off we've been looking at homes in Casper, many of which are overpriced dumps that leave much to be desired.

One house, in "The Big Tree Area" really caught our eye, and for the last three days Todd has been going through the place and talking with the owner, all while we try to get pre-qualified before another person we know of makes an offer.

And last night was it. My breaking point.

I could feel the stress sitting in my chest. I drank a (large) glass of wine, took Rigby for a walk and then Todd called.

He'd talked to his mom. There was discussion of selling the property. I could sense he was torn.

It was in that moment, somehow, I found clarity. I told him he needs to get all his remaining questions and concerns about Wisconsin answered. If it means going there, we'd figure it out. The house we were trying to get pre-qualified for just didn't matter. If Wyoming won and we missed this opportunity, we'd have another. I have friends whose parents are realtors up there - we'd regroup with them.

In an instant my chest cleared up. I had reached a point where I knew we couldn't control it anymore. The only thing we could control was how we dealt with the decision. I truly gave the bigger decision - where we go - over to God.

I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true. And since I had that realization I have felt very...Zen.

I also don't think it's coincidence that Alison Krauss' song Jesus Help Me to Stand suddenly came on my Pandora.com as I am typing this...

Man of the house

2010-04-20T06:32:00.001-06:00

Rigby usually sleeps in the living room on his mat, but with Todd gone he's started something new: he follows me into the bedroom at bedtime and curls up on the floor next to the bed.

Maybe, since we've started camping in the Casper apartment, he's used to sleeping with us in the same room.

But I also wonder if the lil' boy is being kind of like a protector. Without the regular man of the house around, he's steppin' up!

Happy birthday weekend to me! And, oh yeah, Casper weekend #3

2010-04-18T21:47:00.001-06:00

Saturday was the big day...the big 3-3.

But, because of Todd's schedule, we decided to have a birthday dinner on Thursday night. I have been craving sushi, so invited a very eclectic group of Casper friends to have dinner downtown at House of Sushi.

I want to take this moment to say: Casper restaurants are good. They're open to new foods; and Asian cuisine abounds. To boot? Casper seems to "get" the idea of downtown shopping/eating and the importance - yes, importance - of dining outdoors.

House of Sushi didn't disappoint. And it was fun catching up with folks!

Friday night, we kind of celebrated again with a trip to the wine/martini bar Vintage. I have been curious about this place for a long while and it was well worth the visit. They have good wines, good martinis, good food, and a good atmosphere - and outdoor seating. What the heck more could you want? Oh, how about knowing the manager? That's nice too. She was one of my lil' helpers when I worked at Casper College after graduating from UW and we spent some time catching up.

The inside of the bar...

Our hummus plate. Delicious...

A wine flight - which I highly suggest doing...

And Todd's final drink - a bloody Mary. Look at that presentation!

Saturday - the actual day - I treated myself to an iced coffee at the Metro coffee shop I discovered downtown. I'm rather obsessed with this place...

Then Todd and I went out looking at houses. We ended the night with a burger and beer at the old Wonderbar downtown...

Talk about a happenin' place that night! Funny story: When I lived in Casper after graduation some friends - a couple from the sushi dinner - and I went to a Halloween party at this bar dressed as the Gang from Scooby Doo. We took first place and won a decent-sized bar tab!

Then tonight Linds H. and Jonna came over from Laramie to take me to dinner! We had a right nice meal at the Capitol Grille downtown Cheyenne.

And my birthday present...? You'll recall this book from this post...

All in all it was a great birthday weekend with lots of new discoveries and lots of friends!

What neighbors are for

2010-04-14T15:56:00.000-06:00

Last night I had to do the most cliche neighbor thing ever: ask to borrow a cup of sugar.

I was in the middle of making The Pioneer Woman's cobbler for Todd who had a bummer of a morning and discovered I didn't have enough sugar to finish.

The annoying part? I had just returned from the grocery store!

I grabbed a bowl and went over to Gary and Betty's (a.k.a. Gare and Betts as we call them secretly) to see if they would mind helping their poor neighbor

out.

Betty was most accommodating.

I'll repay them with some cobbler.

Happy birthday Todd!

2010-04-12T22:45:00.000-06:00

Thursday was Todd's birthday!

I know, I know. My blog is still under construction and I haven't updated since last week. But I am now!

So, let's get started by wishing Todd a happy belated birthday!

We began the night with dinner at the Fire Rock Steak House in Casper, Wyo. I have really enjoyed this place. It's a nice restaurant with pretty good food - and a place Todd hasn't been to yet. We rounded up a nice group of his friends and colleagues and had a very tasty meal. Todd opening the birthday present I gave him...

A knife made of antler and inlaid turquoise in the shape of a deer track. It's by Barto Collectibles, a company out of Dubois, Wyo.

Todd turned 31 making him, according to one colleague, an old man. So, his colleague gave him a box of Iraqi Viagra...

Ok, the good stuff! Todd's dinner: the ol' 96er. Just kidding, it was only 20 ounces...

Mine. A slab of fish (can't remember what kind) topped with tomatoes, capers, basil and a lemon sauce. Um...delicious!

Todd's birthday dessert: a strawberry rhubarb tart. I had a bite and it was good too! I love strawberry rhubarb! And check out the globe of ice cream on top...

Todd wanted to do karaoke after dinner, so we ended up at this random place called Taylor's that housed several random people. This girl's name is Aline and she and her significant other were from Oklahoma. And get this: she lives about four miles from my old boss Cong. Hefley! She actually feeds their horses for them when they're gone! How crazy small world is THAT?? She and KJ had just run a load of bulls up to Thermopolis, Wyo., and were on their way back. I know she was telling the truth too because I saw Mr. Hefley's home number in her phone. We were both floored...!

The birthday boy singing it up. He was certainly on a roll...!

Happy birthday Todd!

I'm under construction!

2010-04-07T17:19:00.000-06:00

My blog looks a little jacked right now, but it's only because I'm playing around with it hoping to update it's look.

It's a constant quest.

Casper weekend

2010-04-06T22:05:00.000-06:00

So, the first weekend in Casper wasn't too bad. I mean, the apartment is crap and Rigby has to live like a captive while we basically camp, but beyond that - I could do Casper.

Here are some pics from the weekend...

I took Rigby up to Casper Mountain to get him - and me - out of the apartment and car...

Look how blue the sky is! No photoshopping...

The woods were alive (you have to sing this like it's from The Sound of Music) with people! Snowmobilers, cross country skiers, and dogsledders. I have ALWAYS wanted to do this...

Once, many moons ago when I lived in Casper, my friends Jeff and Linda and I went to breakfast at this place. It's still there! Saturday morning I took Todd and Rigby up there for breakfast...

How cozy, huh...?

Afterward we decided to do some exploring, so we headed up to Jonna's parent's ranch outside Kaycee, Wyo. They live out by the Hole in the Wall...

They're real deal ranchers and have lots of working ranch dogs like this lil' guy. His name is Ox...

Jonna's dad and Ox. Look at the way that puppy gazes up at Wayne!

He was so gosh darn cuddly! He just softly pawed at you, and snuggled, and sniffed your hair...

Todd and Wayne...

I'm bottle feeding a calf, something I've never done before...Her name is Jemima.

Yeah, Casper's alright.

Rigby Frank's diary...

2010-04-02T16:46:00.001-06:00

We are not under any circumstances supposed to have any animals of any kind in the apartment we're renting in Casper, Wyo.

The actual threat as we were signing the lease went more like, "If I even hear someone visited with a pet for even one second there will be a $300 fine!"

That should make most people reconsider the apartment. But we needed a place secured and we didn't have time to mess around looking for a month-to-month apartment that allows dogs and, oh, isn't $800 a month. Those places just aren't in abundance. So, we decided to go along with the Apartment Nazi and just smuggle Rigby in later.

We've started calling the poor lil' pup Rigby Frank in the vein of Anne Frank. Their plights are really very similar: Our apartment is upstairs like Anne's attic; he's being persecuted for something he can't help; he's hiding from an Apartment Nazi; and he's not allowed to make any noise - only unlike Anne, Rigby has to be quiet at night when the neighbors come home.

We've spent the last two days trying to make sure he doesn't wag his tail too loudly, doing recon before he goes outside, and literally covering his tracks in the snow so there's no evidence of him being there.

Todd has even taken to carrying him up and down the stairs to keep him from running like a crazy, pent up animal - which he is - and making all kinds of noise.

We smuggled him out for a bathroom break and a trip to Wal-mart this morning, taking such care to make sure he wasn't detected.

When we got home I ran in first and Todd and Rigby were supposed to follow. I heard the car door shut and Todd appeared at the bottom of the stairs empty handed.

Apparently, the downstairs neighbor was watching out his window, so Todd stuffed Riggs back in the car and came in.

OMG. Harboring a refugee is stressful! We haven't received a fine yet and fingers are crossed we won't. We still have hope Rigby Frank will make it through this war...

Rigby Frank being carried to his hide out after being discovered this morning...

Life as we know it

2010-03-30T20:58:00.002-06:00

So, today was it.

Todd moved up to Casper, Wyo., for his new work assignment.

I've been dreading this day. Which is one big reason I haven't talked about it here, well, at all.

What's the story?

Well, as most of you know, Todd was informed in December that he was going to be assigned to Casper April 1. This was a total shock. We had just bought and moved into our house, something we wouldn't have done if he had even remotely thought he wouldn't be stationed in Cheyenne.

We've been counting down to the time we'd have to upset our happy little life with Rigby at ol' 304 and...today was it.

All morning, as we got him packed and the basement cleared out for the renter who comes in tomorrow, I was bitter and upset. I didn't want us to get out of bed this morning because I kept thinking how it was the last morning in our house together, the last breakfast around our table, our last morning walk with Rigby around Lyon's Park, etc.

It just...sucks.

Nobody wants him to go either! The Cheyenne office loves him - there was a going away party last night and everyone was genuinely bummed he had to go. But such is the way with Wyoming Game and Fish. The wardens who don't have a district of their own get moved around each year until they land a permanent station.

On the bright side, my office is being really great about keeping me on. I'll be telecommuting two days a week from Casper, re-evaluating in May and potentially moving my position up there full time. There are a few other options going on right now with Todd as well that will factor in to all of this - but that's conversation for another time.

Until then, we'll be basically camping in a yuck-o little apartment we're renting month-to-month, smuggling Rigby in by the dark of night.

Get ready for the Casper Chronicles.

Goodbye Gwennie

2010-03-27T20:00:00.005-06:00

Who is Gwennie?

My Ford Escape.

Or, my ex-Ford Escape. I traded her in today for a Subaru Outback.

Gwennie (named after Gwen Stefani because of her song Sweet ESCAPE) has given me some trouble of late. Nothing horrible - like last year's engine mishap above, but more along the lines of being in need of some upgrades. And, her warranty is up in July. After said engine blow-up last year where the only thing that saved my butt was my warranty, I just won't own a car without one.

I was sad to see her go though. I really did love her.

She's carried a lot of things: Todd, Rigby, family, friends, in the above photo - a backend full of rocks for Molly's landscaping, and all of my possessions as I headed back West.

We've driven all around D.C., 'cross country with a U-Haul, around Vail, Colo., into Nebraska to visit Stacey and family and pick-up Rigby, into the mountains...she and I are kind of like that Johnny Cash song about being everywhere, man.

But to make our relationship work, I would have had to pump more into it in the form of tires, a windshield (cracked on a trip to Nebraska), and somehow figure out a way to cover her if she gets mad at me and blows a gasket - literally.

So, after months of research and weighing the pros and cons and expenses of keeping Gwennie as opposed to owning a different car, we decided to go the new route.

It wasn't what we set out to do yesterday, though. We were on our way to test drive a totally different vehicle when we decided to pull into the Subaru dealership for just a peep. After driving a few cars, comparing the Outback to the cars we thought we were interested in, and working a few numbers we ended up driving a Subaru home.

As Todd and I cleaned out ol' Gwen I was sad. I just kept looking at her remembering all our good times, like...

...the feeling of being free after I dropped off the U-Haul...
...or, when Gwennie got her Colorado tags and then her Wyoming ones...
...or, how we rocked out to Poison's Unskinny Bop as we made our way up the mountain to the Eisenhower Tunnel when I moved from Vail to Laramie, Wyo.,...

She was a good lil' SUV.

Au revoir, Gwennie! It's been fun! I know you'll have a good new owner in no time!

(This photo is being super weird and won't upload in the horizontal direction. You get the sentiment...)

Easy rider

2010-03-23T08:51:00.006-06:00

Rigby, in true doggie fashion, loves riding with his head out the window.

His ears flap and his nose wiggles out of control as he takes in all the smells coming at him.

He's just too cute. A lot of times we let him have his way for a little while and I just turn up the heater to keep from freezing as he enjoys the ride.

Pole vaulting

2010-03-21T22:26:00.001-06:00

Today was gor-ge-ous! After two days of snow and cold we welcomed back the sun and warm weather and spent the whole day outside.

It started off pretty relaxed - walk in the park, sipping tea and flipping through recipes, playing with Rigby...

Doesn't he look like an evangelical puppy? Like the hand of God is literally touching him and he's blessing the masses...? This photo cracks me up.

Todd loves dancing with Rigby. We get a lot of enjoyment out of it. I'm sure Rigby does too... Here, Rigby is walking "like an Egyptian..." HA! Ok. The longer we were outside the more Todd's attention turned to projects. See that clothesline pole behind Todd? We hate it. The plan has been to rip the clothesline out, so that is what Todd started to do...

First, he dug a hole around the pole with this spade...

Just kidding...

Todd evaluating just how planted this pole is...

I told him he looked like a pole dancer doing that, so he struck a pose...

Putting together a solution...

A lever and pulley system built of a 2x4, a chain and some nylon braided rope...

A closer look...This is not a light pole. It's made of solid pipe. Todd estimated it to be around 250-300 pounds!

Rigby and I hanging out while Todd's hard at work. It was just a break! I really did help - I was right there pulling up on the lever.

The contraption worked!

You can see Todd had to add a 4x4 piece of wood to the system to keep the boards from snapping...

One pole down. Of course, clotheslines require two poles to be effective. The second one is still frozen in the ground, so we'll have to do this all again.

You wouldn't think taking a little ol' pole down would make much of a difference in the space in your yard, but it does! No more ducking, walking and working around it. And...you can't even tell there was ever a gaping hole, can you?

An hour saved is an hour earned

2010-03-14T20:32:00.001-06:00

Daylight Savings!

It is one of my most favorite holidays of the year - and I do think of it as a holiday.

It's an official proclamation that warmer, longer, lighter days are ahead!

The only drawback is that it's dark again in the morning, which is a bummer. I love waking up at 5:30 a.m. to a lightening sky.

But those mornings are just around the bend!

(Headline credit: Todd. Isn't he clever?!)

Book 'em

2010-03-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

I love book sales and snatching up loads of used books. Only problem is, I'm not reading them at the rate I'm acquiring them. That's not stopping me though.

I went to the Kappa Gamma Delta book sale on Saturday, a 27-year-old event in town, and walked out with another box of books for my "library."

My friend Rachel told me about the sale last year, warning me it can get a little crazy. That's sort of funny sounding, right? I mean, how crazy can a bunch of book wielding readers be? When Rachel told me you basically go in, fill your box, and look at what you bought later, I was expecting eye gouging and some dirty elbowing.

It wasn't quite that bad, but people were definitely in it to win it. I had one lady take a book out of my friend Juliette's hand that I was going to take. She wasn't intentionally rude, I think she (weirdly) thought she was part of our conversation, but fact still remains - my name's Kim. Not her's.

Anyway, expecting a bit of a wait, my friend Juliette and I arrived early only to find this line already formed outside...

This is one of the rooms full of books. There were about 40 tons of books donated this year. Proceeds go toward education-related efforts; this year it will benefit education programs at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens' Children's Village.

Here's what $31 can buy you at this sale! I got lots of books on my "to read" list and a few more - without getting a black eye...

Backwards

2010-03-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

Apparently, I like to do things backwards.

We had a garage sale in December, and on Friday, a BBQ in the dead of March.

Todd's best friend Matt is in town from Wisconsin and we thought it would be fun to get some friends together to show him a good ol' Wyoming time. The weather had been amazing all week and a BBQ seemed like a good idea.

It blizzarded. The joke is, if we need moisture have me plan an event - and it'll snow. My Fort Collins birthday party last year? Blizzard. MS Walk with breakfast at my place first? Blizzard. BBQ at the end of a week of amazing weather? You already know.

But we decided to go ahead with it. Brandon was bringing his fire pit, so we'd have warmth, and with an attached workshop that opens to the backyard we would have shelter - two essential things for survival.

It snowed all day but cleared up right nicely for most of the BBQ. We were going to have all the food inside, but everyone was really hanging out outside, so we moved the food to the workshop. The buffet on the workbench...

LOTS of chips on the cabinet ledge...

The bar. On top of Todd's tool chest...

Gathering 'round the fire...

The Wisconsin Cheeseheads: Todd and his best friend Matt, on the left...

More fire...

The snow started back up with a vengeance. Matt was hardcore and stuck it out around the fire longer than the rest of us...

The last of the crew in the workshop before heading home...

A sea of dogs. Rigby, Nadi, Duffer, and Leyla...

Rigby with a well-deserved drink. It's hard playing host!

What other typically summertime events can I hold in the winter? Brandon suggested fireworks next weekend.

Head to the hills

2010-03-05T15:05:00.002-07:00

This is a crazy thing to confess, but in the time I've been in Cheyenne I haven't taken advantage of any outdoor activities at Curt Gowdy, Happy Jack or Vedauwoo, except one hike...once.

It makes me mad. I've tried to, but something - weather, other engagements - always seems to come up.

The weather was amazing last weekend, so Annie and I packed up the pups and headed for the hills.

Rigby and Duffer in the back of Annie's car...

Nadi...

An example of the crazy rock formations this area is known for...

Duffer was obsessed with this stick. She carried it with her most of our way in. I was impressed with how she didn't lose interest...

Annie with the dogs. Doesn't she look cute pregnant...?

Me and Rigs...

We think beavers must have mowed this area down...

The pups at play...

My little buddy and I back at home. Rigby was pooped after such an active morning...!

Wienies 'n Things

2010-03-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

There is a place, actually a couple places, in Rock River, Wyo., I have wanted to stop in at for a long time.

This is saying something because if you've ever driven through Rock River you know it's a place you generally just drive through. It's a tiny town. But there is a bar and a little hot dog stand called Wienies 'n Things that I have been dying to go to.

I am completely drawn to these kinds of places. I love the local dive bars and diners with their...local color.

My coworker Matt and I first came across Wienies 'n Things on a work trip over the summer, but we didn't have time to go in.

I wasn't going to let that opportunity pass me by today as Linds and I drove back from Casper, Wyo.

The wienie joint...

They sell t-shirts that look very much like this. If they didn't have the owners' names on it I would TOTALLY have bought one...

Linds and I agreed these plates hanging on the wall were pretty darn cute...

Neither of us were very hungry so we just got an order of fries each. We were the only ones in there and, who I'm guessing must have been Shawn, one of the owners, had to fire up the fryer just for us. We kind of felt bad about him having to do that for our measly little order, but we couldn't leave there empty handed!

And because I have a love of all animated foods I made Linds take a picture of me with this. Poor girl had to tromp through about an inch of snow to do it too!

Imposter

2010-02-27T19:36:00.005-07:00

The moment I laid eyes on a squash blossom necklace it was the beginning of the end for me - I simply HAD to have one.

This epiphany occurred during my first Frontier Days a couple years ago in the Indian Village. Everywhere you turn there is amazing Western jewelry and hanging everywhere are squash blossom necklaces.

It's out of control - kind of like my longing for one. Every time I pass a display case with them in it I stop in my tracks and just want to die with desperation for it. I lovingly run my fingers over them. I try them on. And ultimately, at generally upwards of $700 a pop, I put them back...walking sadly away.

Todd has even said he thinks he might have to give me an engagement squash blossom versus a ring.

The thought gave me pause.

Then one day, a month or so back, Todd and I went to the Eclectic Elephant, an antiques place in town. And there in the display case lay a beautiful turquoise squash blossom - and a sign saying all jewelry 50 percent off.

O - M - G.

I knew I still couldn't justify the price, but I had the sales lady pull it out just the same. I just HAD to see what the discount would knock the price down to...

$3.75

$3.75???!!!

I was momentarily stunned - could I have some crazy, CRAZY find on my hands?? - before my good sense came back and I knew, with great disappointment, it wasn't real.

But did I care? I had to ask myself if I could in good conscience wear an IMPOSTER. Wouldn't I be a poser? A total wanna-be? Yes.

But I told myself I wouldn't wear it around town. I'd only wear it in states outside the Western ones. Nobody would know then...

I bought it. I just couldn't help it. How in the gol-darn world could I pass it up?? I put it on in the car and wore it ALL night long. Todd told me I was like a kid who couldn't wait to play with a new toy. I'm ok with that.

And one day...not being able to take it staring at me from my dresser any more...I wore it to work!

I was apprehensive. What would I say when people inevitably ask me where I got my squash blossom - because people always do. And they did. So, I came clean. But nobody judged. Instead, they cooed over it! One coworker even told me I should have it examined to see if it's worth more because, she said, she would never guessed it to be a FAKE.

What does it look like...? Take a gander... The flash lighting is really annoying, but you can still see it.

I still don't think I'll have the guts to pull it out during Frontier Days, but who knows? I'm so crazy happy about it I'm becoming almost brazen about wearing it.

Who'll know?

Beef Bourgin-WHAT?

2010-02-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

(Note: In a first-time ever move on the blog there is a co-poster! Linds H. will share her perspective of our adventure! Linds' commentary will appear in italics.)

I've seen the movie and read the book Julie and Julia, have read Julia Child's biography, have even seen the exhibit of her kitchen at the Smithsonian American History Museum (my fave of those museums, BTW), but...
I have never made a Julia Child recipe in my life.

There. A kitchenista's scarlet letter confession.

I've wanted to...but have just never done it. So, when Linds proposed making Julia's famous Boeuf Bourguignon (a word I can NOT say to save my life. Truly. If my life depended on it, I would be dead.) (Say it with me, people - bore-geen-yon - not that hard) I excitedly jumped at the chance. Not just because it was my first Julia recipe, but because Linds and I have never really cooked together - and of our girlfriend group of four we're the two that really cook a lot! I just thought it would be fun since Kim would be at my house for the day and overnight, and give us something to do indoors besides *just* drink. Turns out, it was the perfect recipe as it called for an entire bottle of wine.

The Great Book. I will be purchasing a copy of this soon... (Your birthday is coming - please don't.)

The famous recipe...The recipe is really quite simple and we were going to follow it to a T. I felt that, for my first foray in to French Cooking, the recipe shouldn't be messed with. I wanted to know what it was like when Julia made it...

Now, you would think for two gals who spend as much time cooking as we do we'd have very few questions. But right off the bat Linds and I had to confer on what we thought Julia was referring to as the bacon rind. We figured it was the fat, but exactly which section of fat? We finally agreed to just cut away everything but the actual meat. The recipe calls for the rind later, so we'd just use it then.

Except we couldn't. Linds unthinkingly threw it away. Oops. Oh well. It saved us a few calories, which is not very Julia-like, I know!

Linds and I had to confer once again about the browning of the meat. She was concerned it wasn't browned enough; I thought it was. Linds said they're supposed to be "super browned", but the recipe only says "nicely browned." I thought her need for something to be so brown was strange given she and her husband's opinion on what constitutes toast. They like warm bread, I believe in some color. It was a complete role-reversal for us! I said I would take the blame if the recipe was ruined... I take serious offense at that toast comment. Kim, the word "blackened" is usually only attached to things like shrimp, or tuna. Not bread.

Don't these look yum?

At this point we've added some salt and pepper, and some flour. The above browned veggies are in the pot and it's simmering nicely in the oven. Time for a break! Linds decided to take a pull from the bottle. We're fun in the kitchen and don't you forget it!

Not wanting to be outdone, I did the same. Only biting, as Linds said, "seductively," on a leftover piece of bacon. Wine, bacon and babes! Sounds like late-night Cinemax... Don't be fooled, though. Nothing remotely sexy about this. We at a lot of bacon that day. We didn't even have eye makeup on. It was Sunday for Pete's sake.

Ok. Back to the recipe. Next we threw in some crushed garlic, fresh thyme, the three cups of wine from the bottle sampled above, and some tomato paste you can see stuck to Linds' finger here. She should've been a hand model, don't you think...?

Now it's into the oven! Julia wants you to, "monitor the heat constantly"...but forget that! It has to simmer for three hours! We went shopping.

And when we came back - empty handed - we got to work on the next part: Preparing the mushrooms and more onions. Look at these beauties! I absolutely love, love, love sauteed mushrooms...

And the pearl onions. Don't they look delish? They were my favorite part.

The mushrooms and onions get dumped in to the simmering goodness, and that's all supposed to get strained to separate the juice from the solids. Then you're supposed to simmer the juice on its own, skimming the fat off the top. But there wasn't any. Oh yeah...! That's where the rind came in. Oh well. That rind would not have made a bit of difference. I meant to throw it out.

Finally! Only five hours later...voila!!

Linds boiled up some egg noodles to serve it over. Here's the plated version...

And the taste?

I think Linds' face says it all... Or maybe the way Nate is hunkered down over his bowl....

I am very happy with our experience and the finished dish. It was fun! And I finally feel like I've become a part of an elite-but-not-really group of Julia Child cooks; as though my kitchen resume has been bolstered.

I've made Boeuf Bourguignon! I'm so accomplished. Now, if only you could pronounce it.

Coming and going

2010-02-23T21:23:00.001-07:00

I love having a house in Cheyenne for one big reason: Lots of friends and family pass through town and stop by.

Over the last couple of months we've had lots of visitors with more to come. My parents, Candice, Kristy, Jenn and Mike, Jes`us, Lori, Elly, Todd's best friend next week, and maybe my sister and her kids at the end of March.

It's nice to be able to see everyone as frequently as I have.

Lori and Elly came over the week after my parents were here. We had pizza and Old Fashioneds, a Todd speciality, and I made them eat the rest of the German chocolate cake I made for my dad.

What good guests!

Elly...you made the blog!! :)

FOUND!

2010-02-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Or more accurately, acquired: My Trailheads hat.

I couldn't actually find my old hat, so I had to order a new one.

Its arrival was one of the most exciting things EVER!

Silence and noise

2010-02-19T22:36:00.000-07:00

I came home from work tonight and the house was just...silent.

That's because Todd left this morning for a weekend of work and took Rigby with him.

I kind of felt like I didn't know what to do with myself - I've grown so accustomed to having a presence in the house, human or dog, that it was weird to be here just me, myself and I.

It's funny to feel that way though. I've spent the majority of my years post-parental-nest living alone, and I could usually always find lots of ways to occupy myself, as I eventually did tonight.

I guess I just miss my boys a little.

But there is one thing both Todd and I agree is a positive about this weekend: The extra room to sprawl in bed!

Full size just doesn't cut it.

Very neighborly

2010-02-15T20:54:00.001-07:00

Todd and I have a neighbor, Angie, who is straight from Greece. She is the sweetest, little ol' lady who loves to invite us over for Greek coffee.

She called today to see what we were up to, soon after which we were sitting around her table with cups of chocolaty tasting coffee eating biscotti-like Greek breads. But not until she gave us a tour of the upstairs of her house - and a shot of Ouzo.

That's right. Todd simply asked about two vases she had in her kitchen window wondering if they were maybe for oil or vinegar. They were, in fact, empty Ouzo liquor bottles. That kind of makes her sound like a drunk, which I really don't believe she is. I think she's just had them for a long time, doling out shots to visitors and not taking "no" for an answer. She also told Todd to take the vase and me a leftover parting gift from a wedding, and wouldn't hear otherwise.

Angie is always baking and cooking Greek foods that she lavishes on us: breads, dolmas, a snack kind of like granola only made with wheatberries, and soon to come, she says: spanakopita, something I LOVE.

And she has offered several times for us to go back to Athens with her and stay in the apartment she still owns there - within walking distance from the Acropolis!

Now, that's neighborly!

Hangin' it up

2010-02-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

My dad's been longing to retire for a while now; and after over 30 years in the coal biz he's finally hung it up.

His last day was at the end of December, but my parents live in Missouri, so getting back for a lil' retirement shindig hasn't been easy to figure out. So, with my parents visiting this last week, I thought I could do a little something here at the house.

I decided to make a German Chocolate Cake.

This is something I've never made before, but it's my dad's favorite and I desperately wanted to have one made by the time they arrived Monday night.

So, on Sunday I did a quick search for GCC online and found one on Rachel Ray's site. It was Trisha Yearwood's special recipe, one she makes for Garth Brooks every year on his birthday. It looked easy enough - there was even video of Trisha baking it - and, from the looks of Garth these days, I figured it was really delicious!

Extenuating circumstances kept me from baking the cake on Sunday. There was cleaning for my parents' arrival, and the Superbowl...and the fact I forgot to sit the butter I needed out BEFORE the Superbowl so it would be appropriately softened by the time we got home. Oops.

Clearly not getting done Sunday night, I decided to get up early and bake it Monday morning before work. This is something I have done several times, and I never seem to learn: Making desserts before work...will never, ever work.

I did it anyway.

And, as to be predicted, everything was so frustrating. It took forever. It got so annoying at one point I called Trisha Yearwood a liar. She promised the cake wouldn't run over the pans...with the many whipped egg whites it would be fluffy and would rise ABOVE the pans but would settle back down.

Well, that didn't happen. Instead, chocolate cake ran all over the bottom of my oven, burning to little crunchy crisps that basically set on fire causing the smoke alarm to screech.

It was easiest to blame Trisha, and not the fact I probably overfilled the pans. Or that I went against my better judgment and didn't put the pans on cookie sheets. Instead, it was all Trisha's fault.

I didn't have time to make the icing over lunch, so, of course, it had to be made quickly before my parents got here.

Needless to say, the cake got iced while my dad wasn't looking.

And Trisha Yearwood isn't a liar. It's delicious. And my dad loved it.

My dad reading his retirement card with the cake and the six-pack of Cutthroat Porter Todd gave him...

My dad loves the Cutthroat Porter because it has fish on the packaging and bottles. I think he likes the taste too...

Happy retirement! To a rest well-deserved!

Trisha Yearwood's Not a Liar German Chocolate Cake

4 ounces sweet dark chocolate (Baker's brand has a German Chocolate flavor. This is what I used. I would also suggest breaking it up a bit so it melts a little faster.)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature (This is what I didn't do before the Superbowl - and you gotta.)
1/4 cup warm milk
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 medium egg whites (Save your yolks! They come in two ingredients down!!)
2 cups sugar
5 medium egg yolks (Here you go...)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk, well shaken
For the coconut frosting:
1 cup sugar
4 medium egg yolks (These are additional yolks. I separated the eggs and saved the whites for a different recipe.)
1 cup evaporated milk (I used the skim kind)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 ounces grated coconut (Check that the coconut shreds are kind of finely shredded. If they aren't you might want to SLIGHTLY chop them in a blender a bit. I think it helps the cake ice better.)
1 1/2 cups finely ground pecans (Do NOT chop these in a blender for too long...you'll end up with pecan butter. Which was pretty delicious too. Just not right for the recipe.)

Melt the chocolate in either the top of a double boiler, or if you're like me and don't have one: Put a heat-proof glass bowl in a saucepan and add water to the saucepan - not the bowl! - so the water comes half-way up the sides of the bowl - but not in! Heat the water on the stove to a low boil and place the chocolate chunks in the bowl. This will melt the chocolate without fear of burning it.

Stir the chocolate until it's smooth. Add 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of the butter and stir until it is melted and blended. Add 1/4 cup of warm milk and stir until smooth. Set the chocolate aside to cool.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Line the bottoms only of three 9-inch cake pans (I only have two, so I tried to make cupcakes with the remaining batter. Do not overfill the tins or they will run out too - just like the cakes did! Ugh.) with circles of wax paper, or grease only the bottom of each pan with solid shortening/butter and dust lightly with flour.

Sift or whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Whip the egg whites until stiff using the wire beater of a mixer. This takes about five minutes. They will get big and foamy. Treat them gently! You don't want them to fall! Transfer the beaten whites to a separate bowl and set aside.

In the mixer bowl, cream the remaining 1 1/2 sticks of butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the melted, cooled chocolate and the vanilla. Mix well.

With the mixer on very low, stir in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Do this by adding about a third of the flour and slowly stirring it in completely. Then add about half the buttermilk and stir it in. Continue adding flour and buttermilk in this manner, ending with flour. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and stir again.

With a long-handled spoon or spatula, GENTLY fold and stir the beaten egg whites into the batter until the batter is smooth with no visible clumps of whites.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans (this means less than half full or you'll be scrapping burnt cake bits off the bottom of your oven in the middle of blow drying your hair for work) and bake for 30-40 minutes. (I'd also set them on cookie sheets IN CASE it still happens to run over. May as well cover your butt.)

Bake on the middle rack of the oven, allowing at least 1/4-inch clearance between the pans and the oven walls. The cake will rise above the pan edges as it bakes but will not spill over and will settle back down as it continues to bake. The cake is done when it begins to pull away from the sides of the pans and springs back to a light touch. Cool layers in the pans for about 8 minutes.

Run a knife around the edges of each pan and turn the layers out. Cool layers completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, Tricia suggests combining the sugar, egg yolks, and evaporated milk in the top of a double boiler, but I say this doesn't work. This mixture needs more of a direct heat to get the desired consistency. I'd just dump it all directly into a saucepan and watch it so it doesn't burn. Just stir it frequently.

Stir with a wire whisk until the yolks are fully incorporated. Add the butter. Simmer for 12-15 minutes longer, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Add the vanilla, coconut, and nuts. Cool. Completely. Take it from me: if this is even remotely warm you're going to have a heck of a time keeping it on your cake.

To assemble the cake, place one layer on a cake stand and spread with frosting. Frost each layer completely, top and sides, as it is added to the cake.

Voila!

GCC!

You can have it for breakfast like my parents did this week. And for a snack...and...

Back

2010-02-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty remiss in updating the blog the past...oh...over a week!

That's because my parents were here...and I had a couple meetings in the evenings...

The blog just didn't fit in.

But I've been collecting post ideas, so I have an arsenal of things to share. Yippee!

Away we go!

An anniversary

2010-02-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

It's crazy to think Todd and I had our first date one year ago today!

How did the magic all begin?

My volleyball team played his, and separately our teams ended up at the same bar to have a beer.

That sounds so...something-you-wouldn't-tell-your-kids-when-they-ask-how-you-and-dad-met, but it was innocent and fun - and we had already noticed each other across the court.

He sat next to me and we hit it off, chatting and joking the night away. He asked for my number, saying he would call the next day, and lo and behold - he did!

I was impressed...what guy actually calls the next day?

Our first date?

Dinner at Burger King sushi, karaoke with my friends at Old Chicago, and a Bloody Mary at The Four Winds. With much foresight my friend Brandon told me that night I was going to have to marry this guy because he actually sings!

A year later we have a house, and a dog, and hopes of many more years together.

I really don't like volleyball, but am I sure glad I signed up (to be our team cheerleader) last year!

Wyoming wear

2010-02-03T12:53:00.001-07:00

This just made my day!

My ol' friend Mike and his son sporting some Wyoming wear I sent them. They live on the East Coast and have never visited the Cowboy State.

They love their Wyoming gear though, just like all us Wyoming folks do here.

Oh, man...the bucking horse and rider!!

Kitchen Conundrum

2010-01-31T14:35:00.002-07:00

I have lots of kitchen utensils, but there are a few things I want - very badly - that I can not, for the life of me, find. The thing that gets me, is the stuff I want is simple. I can not find simple. I can find anything BUT simple. It's annoying.

There is a recipe I wanted to try for supper tonight - seafood potpies - that I would like ramekins for. Simple, white, large ramekins would do just fine. I don't know why I don't already own some, but I don't, and I want them. This is not the recipe, but the ramekins would work! I want to make seafood potpies. If the recipe works I'll share it!

Todd and I went on a fruitless search today for them. Target had pretty much what I was hoping for, but only had two in stock which isn't going to do. After Bed, Bath & Beyond, Khols, Penney's and Dillards, we gave up.

I also want scissor tongs. Silver. Short. Rounded ends. How can this be too much to ask? None of the above mentioned stores had them either.

And finally, I want an extra large, antique biscuit cutter. I've searched the antique stores and have found smaller ones, but no biggie. It's really crampin' my biscuit cutting style!

The search is ongoing...

Tune(a) in

2010-01-30T21:06:00.002-07:00

There are a handful of things I've been craving lately: pork chops, stuffed peppers, and tuna casserole.

There is no rhyme or reason for my cravings. They're just there. And I've put off appeasing them until I can barely take it. So, tonight I caved to the call of the casserole.

I didn't want to make a dish that called for cream of mushroom soup, so I took to the Internet to see what I could find. What I discovered is there are a lot of tuna casserole recipes out there! And I didn't like just one. So, I took an ingredient from one, an idea for thickening from another, and so forth, until I concocted what I thought might make a good combo.

Then I asked Linds H. for her recipe. She's a good cook and I wanted to compare notes. Her's was completely different still!

I decided to give mine a shot.

I know what's coming next is not modest at all: It was freaking awesome! AWESOME! Todd and I were both very happy with it. And I was very proud.

Kim's Kicka$$ Concocted Tuna Casserole
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 c. milk (we use skim around here, which I figure makes up for the use of cream)
1/2 - 1 c. frozen peas
1 13.25 oz. can of mushroom stems and pieces + the juice
3 5-oz. cans tuna packed in water, undrained
16 oz. pasta of choice
pepper to taste
about 5 twists of a salt grinder
5 oz. pkg. of shredded parm
Plain bread crumbs

Throw your pasta in some water and get it going.

While the pasta is cooking, brown onion and garlic in a little bit of olive oil over medium-high. Turn heat to just a little hotter than low, and sprinkle flour over onions. Whisk in cream and milk, season with pepper, and bring to a simmer, stirring periodically to keep smooth.

Keep checking the pasta - you want it cooked to only slightly more than al dente.

Add the peas, mushrooms, tuna, and salt to the cream mixture. Simmer, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up tuna.

Drain pasta and dump into large mixing bowl. Pour sauce over the noodles and mix. Add package of parm. Mix thoroughly.

Pour casserole into a medium-sized baking dish and sprinkle with plain bread crumbs.

Pop in the oven and bake until bread crumbs are crisp and casserole is bubbling through.

Times two

2010-01-29T15:56:00.001-07:00

Two is typically better than one, right?

I'm happy I have two hands and two eyes (I would hate being a cyclops). Doublemint gum built an entire product and campaign on the idea that twice the mint would double your pleasure and your fun.

And let's not forget that Noah rounded animals up by-two onto the ark, which segues nicely into the idea of having two dogs.

I have decided two dogs would be better than one. Not because I don't love my one dog, but because I love him so much I want him to have a playmate.

I am completely stuck on this idea. When I first started talking about it Todd said he agreed, but now I think he was just humoring me. When I told him today we needed to call on some dogs this weekend he balked. But I'm not giving in.

Rigby's a social puppy and I think it would be good for him to have another dog around when Todd and I are gone to work all day. I also think it would help socialize Riggs with other dogs, something he's still not very good at. Everyone I've mentioned this to just happens to have two dogs and they agree - two is better than one.

So, our little household may be expanding...if I can pester Todd into being completely on board.

Lost!

2010-01-27T14:59:00.001-07:00

LOST!

My Trailheads running hat!

Last seen: In my coat pocket as Todd and I were grocery shopping on Sunday.

I have looked everywhere (except the laundry basket) for my beloved hat and it's nowhere to be found. I am very upset about this. This hat is PERFECT for long(er)-haired ladies who want to enjoy the outdoors and still stay warm - without the ponytail bump caused by other, ordinary hats.

Oh, Hat, wherever you are hiding, please come back!

Viva Las Vegas!

2010-01-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to Vegas for a few days for work and Todd came with me. While I'm a Vegas veteran, he's never been.

We didn't get out much during the day because I was busy at a trade show, and frankly, Todd was too. It was SHOT Show, the biggest trade show for the shooting, hunting and outdoor trades, and for a game warden it's like being a kid in a candy shop.

The view from our hotel window at night...

The view straight out of our hotel window...

Our first night we were so tired our group canceled our reservations at the fancy Tao restaurant for something more laid back. A cabbie told us to go to Ellis Island for the best ribs in the universe. We tried that and it was a DIVE! That alone doesn't bother me, I love trying local divvy places, but this place just wasn't going to fit the bill that night...particularly with the sign, "BBQ closed due to weather." Who knew it could rain cats and dogs in Vegas for a week! I took this through a chain link fence as we walked to the opposite end of the spectrum - the Bellagio.

After dinner at the Bellagio Cafe we strolled through the gardens, which is one of my favorite things in Vegas...

The next night our group remade our fancy Tao reservations, which by the way, is a delish place to eat!

The table ordered the giganto fortune cookie for dessert. Each side is filled with a different flavored cream...

And what outing isn't complete without a photo of Brandon with an abnormally large arm/hand...

Todd and I stayed out - until 4 a.m. - that night! Some late night pizza at New York New York was definitely in order...

Todd in front of the strip. Don't mind my finger in the photo...

Todd showing how "small" Lady Liberty is...

For some reason there was an invasion of Star Wars characters on the Strip...

Todd waiting for the Bellagio fountains to start up...

I love this show. It's one of my other most favorite things in Vegas...

Todd and I in front of the Paris fountain on our last day there!

Viva Las Vegas!

Playing footsie

2010-01-19T16:11:00.000-07:00

These are not my feet, but that's how my own tootsies felt after indulging in something I haven't since leaving D.C.: pedicures.

That doesn't mean I've let my feet go nasty and gnarled - I've been keeping up at home. But nothing compares to going to the salon to get your toes done. Nothing.

I love pedicures. L.O.V.E. them - in a way that just can't be expressed completely in type.

I love the choosing of a color (something I take as seriously as if I was picking baby names). And sitting in a massage chair reading trashy magazines with my feet relaxing in hot water, while ladies who speak another language chat with one another as if their customers aren't there.

Divine.

So, why haven't I done this since D.C.? Because I just couldn't justify the extra expense.

But I'm going to Vegas this week for work and Annie, my friend and coworker who is also going, and I decided we wanted to get pedis before heading out.

It was, to say the least, pedi perfection.

And something I won't go this long without doing again.

Ahhh............. *sigh*

I'm an aunt today!

2010-01-13T21:19:00.000-07:00

After having three boys, my youngest sister Stacey had a girl last night!

Tess Virginia Coffey.

Can't wait to meet you!

Failure

2010-01-12T19:09:00.000-07:00

I pretty much felt like a total failure earlier this week.

I made a little resolution that didn't last very long: to run at least one mile every day for a year.

I was inspired by Linds H.'s husband Nate who did this last year. And there's a lady on twitter who I follow and vice versa who is doing the same thing. Only she's at day 800 or 900-something and I made a little over day eight.

Since I've kind of fallen off the wagon with running consistently I thought this would be a great way to get me back on track.

But I didn't feel great on Monday and there my resolution went...down the tubes. So, after beating myself up for not going and a pep talk from Todd I decided to turn that frown upside down and rework my plan.

Now the goal is to make at least 365 miles this year, which should be completely attainable. Actually, I have a bigger goal than that, but I'm only choosing to publish the small one to avoid public humiliation if it doesn't pan out.

Recipe resoultion

2010-01-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

One of my new year's resolutions was to finally find a...resolution...to my recipe mess.

This is a mess that's been going on for, let's just say, some time now. They used to be organized, but after I started accumulating more and more recipes I decided the system could be better, and that's, ironically, when it all went downhill.

For the last several years my ever-growing collection has been stored in a one gallon Ziplock bag. It is a HUGE pain in the butt to go through any time I want to cook something. I've tried to find recipe books to organize it all, but it's like they don't exist anymore, and the ones I have seen I didn't like, so I've been left...holding the bag.

No longer!

My mom found me a recipe book for Christmas that works nearly perfectly. I had to put in several more of my own categories, and had to buy many more inserts for the recipes (and I still don't have enough), but it's a start. And a good one.

Here is the before. There were five more piles on the buffet...

And here is the after! The project isn't completely done. They don't all fit in the book, so there will need to be another, but at least it's not a Ziplock...

Now, a sampling of some of those recipes:

Todd has had a terrible cold for the past week, so I made some homemade chicken noodle soup last night. I love this recipe...

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 parsnip, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch slices (I didn't have one of these last night and it still came out great.)
2-3 carrots, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch slices
2-3 stalks celery ribs and leaves, sliced
1 large onion, chopped
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
6 1/2 - 8 cups chicken broth (use 8 cups if you throw noodles in)
egg noodles
Chicken (You can brown 3 boneless, skinless breasts then bake them to use in the soup, or just get a rotisserie chicken and chop up the meat from that. This is a really good option.)

Heat oil in a large pot. Add the parsnip and next 6 ingredients and saute about 5 minutes. Add broth and chicken and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer with the lid on until veggies are tender.

Cold be gone!

The next recipe is a brand new one for me, and oh man, is it good!

Italian Burgers (Cooking Light)

1 red bell pepper cut into strips
1 green bell pepper cut into strips
1 onion, cut in half then cut into slices
1 1/2 cups store-brand marinara
16 oz. hot Italian sausage
16 oz. lean turkey burger
whole wheat hamburger buns
Sliced provolone cheese

Prepare a grill or broiler.

Heat on medium-high a little bit of olive oil in a non-stick skillet. Add the peppers and onions, saute 10 minutes. When tender, add the marinara and cook until heated.

While the veggies are sauteing, mix the burger and sausage (removed from the casings) together thoroughly in a bowl. Divide into 6-8 patties and place on grill or broiler until done.

Assemble patty on the bun with one slice of provolone and top with pepper mixture.

YUMMILICIOUS!

Welcome home, hon

2010-01-06T18:33:00.006-07:00

With the title you might think Todd was waiting for me with a bottle of wine and roses.

But no.

The reality is - he's at volleyball practice and the only things waiting to greet me were these lil' guys:

This one actually startled me. I was very much NOT expecting this to be on my coffee table. I guess this is where all the bear burger we've been eating has come from. Excuse the tree still up. I'm harboring a faint hope that Todd, Rigby and I will yet get our picture around it...

This critter is on the dining room table. I have no idea what it is. Mole...?

And I'm loving this one nestled against my Christmas poinsettia. It just adds something to the buffet, don't ya' think...?

Oh, the things you come home to when you're a game warden's girl...

Tea for two

2010-01-04T21:55:00.008-07:00

The world of tea is pretty fascinating, I think. How flavors are chosen and blended, and how people all over the world have incorporated it into their cultures...

I love tea. I always feel so much healthier when I drink it. I also love coffee, but I do for different reasons, i.e., tea just seems much more pleasant when reading a book. But I typically want coffee when I'm reading the paper in the morning while getting ready for work.

One place I've wanted to visit is the Celestial Seasonings plant in Boulder, Colo. I spent the weekend in Denver with Carrie and when she mentioned she'd like to hit up the plant to restock, I said I was in!

So, off we went Saturday morning to Boulder.

The place is kind of weirdly located in the middle of a neighborhood. It's surrounded by houses and if you didn't know better you'd think the directions weren't right. I wonder what it must smell like for the people living around there...

The first thing you want to do is make your way to the tasting room and get your name on a tour time. Then you want to join the throngs of folks milling around sucking down little cups of tea from the pre-brewed stuff and from the baristas...

They only have a few pre-brewed kinds sitting out, but they have a tasting menu that you can request a taste from. There are flavors here I've never seen on the grocery shelves! I was amazed at how many flavors they produce! Below, Carrie and I are about to taste Powerfully Plum, Acai Mango Zinger, and another I can not for the life of me remember. I do recall, however, we weren't big fans...

You may recognize this bear from the package of Sleepy Time tea. Speaking of their packages - for each tea released a different artist creates an original work of art for that box. Some of the original artwork can be seen in the tasting room. Pretty neat! Anyway, Carrie and I had to time our photo shoot with the bear just right. He's in the theater, where you go first on the tour for a background movie. We had to get in and out between tour groups! We're such sneaks...

There are several things from our tour I can't show you because we aren't allowed to take pictures. HOWEVER, I've discovered how awesome the Celestial Seasonings Web site is - they provide a virtual tour for you online! The fun thing you miss on the virtual tour is the Mint Room where they keep bags of peppermint and spearmint leaves stacked just waiting to be processed. When you walk in it's like you took a big whiff of Icy Hot. It was my favorite part on the actual tour.

Make sure to visit the gift shop on your way out. You can get some of those fun flavors there. I clearly stocked up!

Happy 2010!

2010-01-01T21:35:00.009-07:00

Can you believe it's 2010?!

Unlike other New Year's, I just wanted to have a fun, but chill, night. Usually, my New Year's Eve outings involve high heels, a lame (I can't do the accent over the "e" to describe the fabric) or glitter shirt or some other glitzy outfit, and a night of dancing.

Instead, Todd and I went snowshoeing then stayed with April and Craig at the amazing Fish On Ranch which they manage. We made dinner and drinks and played games until the ball fell in Times Square.

It was a great night!

This took us about a million tries to capture. I couldn't feel my hands by the half million mark, but we got it!

After freshening up in our cabin on the ranch we met up with April and Craig at the manager's house for some dinner and celebrating...

Here's the Miner's Cabin which Todd and I called home for the night. Not exactly a shanty!

Let's go inside the cabin. Here's the downstairs living room. Pretty cozy, huh? We lit a fire in the fireplace when we got home after celebrating. SO nice...

Here's the upstairs. That bed is maybe the most comfortable thing I've ever slept on...

Happy New Year from me, Todd and Rigby!

Tree-lite!

2009-12-26T09:56:00.002-07:00

Every year in D.C., there is a big Capitol Christmas tree lighting event. The tree is decorated with ornaments from kids around one state (next year it's Wyoming!).

It gets less traffic than the White House tree, but the White House tree has nothing on the Capitol tree!

I love that tree.

I was clearly going to miss seeing last year's Capitol tree, and I missed seeing the Wyoming tree too. This year, I wasn't about to miss our state one.

Todd, Nancy and I went to the Capitol on Christmas Eve day to see the tree and show Nancy the Capitol building...

Here's the state tree right when you walk through the Capitol doors...

An aerial view...

Todd for governor!

I can't help myself anytime I'm around large stuffed, sculpted, kitschy animals/characters. I love them! They crack me up! I will share a photo montage of me and overly huge animals in a future post. This particular buffalo is in the basement of the Capitol...

We were looking at all the Legislature photos around the building when I spied this honorable legislator's name...You think he got made fun of in school??

Marshmallow maddness

2009-12-22T20:24:00.012-07:00

I have done a lot of baking over the past few weeks, but the crowning glory is something I've never tried before: marshmallows.

I have never in my life considered making marshmallows. In fact, I have never in my life considered how marshmallows are made. I have just always assumed they were delivered to stores by the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters.

But a recent edition of Cooking Light magazine that had a marshmallow recipe in it got me to thinkin'. It looked surprisingly easy - not as easy as a giant marshmallow delivery boy, but a notch below. I'm totally gonna do this, I thought.

Then, much to my amazement, my coworker's fiance Marge brought homemade marshmallows to our winter garage sale. She and her mom make them every year!

I felt like I was about to belong to an elite society.

On Sunday I whipped up my batch of marshmallows. The cream was perfect! It tasted like the marshmallows we all know and love - only better! It was like I opened a giant jar of marshmallow cream. I considered making a fluffer-nutter.

I finally got the pan of cream out of the fridge last night to finish them up.

It's amazing! They are perfect!! I feel a little like a mad scientist.

The pan of marshmallow cream. I don't see why you couldn't stop here and just jar it and make fluffer-nutters every day for lunch...

After the pan of cream has chilled for at least 8 hours you flip it out onto a counter covered with a powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture. This keeps the marshmallows from sticking to each other. Then you start cutting them up!

More cutting. It's important to keep your knife covered in the powder mixture so it doesn't stick to the cream. Also, I didn't dump the entire bowl of powder onto the counter because it initially looked like a lot more than I would need. Then I had an idea: I should toss the marshmallows in a ziplock bag with the left over powder and give them a shake. Do this step. It made covering all the sides of the marshmallows really easy...

Move over Marshmallow Man! Check these babies out!

The recipe is actually called Toasted Coconut Marshmallows, but I did nothing with the coconut part, so I've removed anything relating to that from the recipe. It's from Cooking Light.

Cooking spray
2 1/2 envelopes unflavored gelatin (2 tablespoons plus 1 1/4 teaspoons)
3/4 cup cold water, divided
2 cups granulated sugar, divided
2/3 cup light-colored corn syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites
2/3 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch

Line a 13 x 9-inch cake pan with wax paper, allowing the wax paper to extend over sides of pan. Lightly coat the wax paper with cooking spray.

Sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water in a small bowl; set aside. (NOTE: The gelatin will start reacting and by the time you're ready for it it's like a giant Jell-O Jiggler.)

Meanwhile, combine remaining 1/4 cup of water, 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, and corn syrup in a large saucepan. Cook, stirring periodically, over medium-high heat until a candy thermometer registers 260° or for about 15 minutes. (NOTE: I do not have a candy thermometer which is partially why I'm so amazed these came out! I just let it boil for a little bit then took a good guess.)

While sugar mixture cooks, beat the vanilla, salt, and egg whites at high speed in a heavy-duty stand mixer with whisk attachment until foamy. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form.

Remove sugar mixture from heat; gradually stir in softened gelatin. Mixture will appear foamy. (NOTE: This is where it starts looking like a science experiment!)

Gradually pour the gelatin/sugar mixture into the beaten vanilla/egg white mixture, beating until very thick (about 5 minutes). Gently spread marshmallow mixture in prepared pan. Coat 1 side of another sheet of wax paper with cooking spray. Place wax paper, coated side down, over marshmallow mixture. Chill 8 hours or until firm.

Combine powdered sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl with a whisk. Sprinkle about 2/3 of the powder over a cutting board or counter. Remove top sheet of wax paper. Invert marshmallow mixture over powdered sugar mixture. Flip marshmallow mixture to cover both sides with powder. Using a sharp knife, cut mixture into about 1-inch squares.

Place the rest of the powder mixture and all cut marshmallows into a large ziplock bag. Shake gently to cover all sides of marshmallows.

Pop in a mug of hot chocolate or coffee! (Yes, coffee. It's delish!)

A capitol Christmas

2009-12-20T09:35:00.006-07:00

I think one of the neatest things about Christmas in the state capitol is the open house at the governor's mansion.

Each year, they open the mansion up to the public for a very nice spread of Christmas treats, decorated trees, a roaring fire and piano music.

I thought Nancy and Todd would get a kick out of going so we mosied on over and checked it out.

Nancy was tickled. She said she'd never done anything at any governor's mansion, so this was a treat. We tucked an "official" paper napkin from the mansion in her purse. Shhhh...

We've been trying to find time to take a Christmas picture to send, but it keeps not happening. I'm half inclined to just use this one. Only Rigby's not in it...

Merry Christmas from Wyoming!

Friday night fish fry

2009-12-18T07:37:00.008-07:00

As I learned in November, Friday night across the state of Wisconsin is fish fry night.

With Todd's mom here we decided to create our own Wisconsin fish fry at the house. We even thawed a bunch of crappies Todd caught in Wisconsin.

The battering process. Just dip each side in egg then roll thoroughly in plain bread crumbs...

Snap, crackle, pop! Drop the fish in a light layer of olive oil...

Whip up some coleslaw, steam some broccoli and butter some cornbread and voila! Wisconsin fish fry!

Friday Fish Fry Coleslaw

Nancy is a coleslaw lover, so I was flattered when she said she wanted my recipe. I can't remember where I found it - probably Cooking Light.

1 pkg. of pre-shredded cabbage/carrot coleslaw mix from the produce section
6 tbsp. light mayo or Miracle Whip (NOTE: I HATE beyond reason mayo/Miracle Whip. I hate the color, smell...sound...of it. But sometimes you can't get around it. I have wanted to try this with plain fat-free yogurt but haven't done it yet. Will report back when I do...)
1 tsp. celery seed
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tsp. sugar
3 tsp. apple cider vinegar

Whisk all ingredients minus the coleslaw mix in a small bowl. Thoroughly combine sauce mixture with pkg. of coleslaw in a larger bowl. Chill until ready to serve.

Christmas cookie madness

2009-12-16T14:32:00.008-07:00

Rather than buying presents for our grandmas, Todd had a nice idea to make boxes of baked goods for them.

In theory, this is a wonderful thought. What grandma wouldn't want a box of baked goodies from their grandchildren? However, this has meant I've been baking for four days!

It's been taking a while because we're also trying to get things ready for Todd's mom to visit. She gets in tomorrow. Fitting a batch of gingerbread cookies in around vacuuming, mopping, picking up, etc., has been pretty tight, as you might imagine!

So, after going through the millions of recipes I have I decided the cookie box should include: One mini loaf each of banana bread, some Wyoming-made candy from De's Candy here in Cheyenne, homemade marshmallows (which I've never tried making before and will hopefully get done tonight), and an assortment of decorated sugar and gingerbread cookies.

Todd helped decorate with me last night. I always think starting projects like cookie decorating (or making homemade Christmas cards with Linds H. from potato stamps we cut ourselves) is a good idea until I get about half way through and just want to quit...

Some of the finished product...

A close up...

More cookies! It's madness!

And yes. That is a Coors Light can in the background. That's some product placement, huh?!

Rockin' around the karaoke mic

2009-12-12T21:27:00.001-07:00

Last night was Todd's office holiday party.

It was a nice shin dig! Dinner and a DJ at the historic Plains Hotel equals a good night of fun.

But a great night of fun...? How 'bout some karaoke afterward!

We went with two other couples to one of the biggest dives in town: Scooter's. Oh man, is it sketch! But hardly anyone goes there on karaoke night, so it's great because you basically have the place to yourself!

Todd and I with a very un-holiday background at his holiday party...

Singing Picture by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow (with a much more interesting background)...

Jaimel, me and Susan singing Wide Open Spaces by the Dixie Chicks...

Now this is what I call a happy holiday!

Turning point

2009-12-09T18:50:00.003-07:00

(This is kind of a girly post...)

I went to the mall tonight to find some fun black pants for Todd's office holiday party on Friday night. Yes, I have plenty of regular black pants, but none that are fun.

I went into the fitting rooms at two different stores and was appalled, let me say that again: appalled by my reflection!

I have never understood the reasoning of the folks who design fitting rooms...wouldn't you want the most amazing lighting EVER to make people think they look awesome and then buy lots of stuff? Instead, the lighting is designed to highlight - accentuate, it seems - your every flaw!

That is exactly what happened tonight.

And it was a turning point.

I promptly put my clothes away and resolved to get back into shape.

What has happened to me?!

I'll tell you: I stopped working out consistently.

Running? Ha!

Weight lifting?? Double ha!

Hitting the gym to do something at least 4-5 times a week like I should be? That gets a great big guffaw!

So.

That's it.

I'm angry at myself for slipping like this and I'm going to take it out on the poor machines at the gym.

I make no apologies.

Ain't no Charlie Brown tree

2009-12-06T06:55:00.001-07:00

Todd and I cut down our tree yesterday outside Woods Landing, Wyo.

It is...perfect!

Our first stop for a tree. Nothing here...

We went a little farther down the road and there it was...the perfect tree, just calling to me to come home with us. Here's my Wisconsin lumberjack cutting down the tree with a hatchet. He said it was more woodsy than a saw...

Me with the tree post-cut...

Preparing for the journey home...

Our little snow dog. We were right by the side of the road, so thought it best to keep him in the truck...

On our way home we had a beer and split a burger at the Woods Landing bar and dance hall. I've ALWAYS wanted to go to a dance here! I'd love to rent one of their cabins and spend the night kicking up my heels in the hall...

The bar at Woods Landing...

This CRACKED me up! It's the basket liner our burgers came in. I love it when food becomes a character! It reminds me of the walls at Corona Village Andale Rapido in Laramie.

This one is just cute...

Todd decorating...

Me decorating. I don't have photoshop at home to fix the color...

The finished product!

Certainly no Charlie Brown tree!