Frozen, in a number of ways.

And it came to pass that on the 200th day of our marriage, we awoke to the absence of heat in our darling home. We were out of oil... again, and for the 2nd time it was not our fault but that of the land lord. Ugh.

And this was the beginning of the downward spiral of our finances. Starting this day we swiftly ran out of money for the month of February, and it was still January!!

For instance my car was up for inspection in January, and of course it failed. This sort of reminded me of High School, when I would fail tests (only for lack of effort). Here it was: I failed! My car and I were in need of 2 tires, 2 breaks, 1 tie rod, and 1 front alignment. Pricey. Only now that my car is fixed, I feel like king of the road! I guess I didn't realize how bad my car was driving, or I wouldn't admit it to myself.

So hubs and I are living the poor life now.

So poor that I have had broken glasses since 2009 and have yet to go to the optometrist because I am afraid of how much it is going to cost us, even with the insurance.

So poor that we've had a GRAND PIANO which was given to us in the fall, and we have not had the money to get it tuned.

So poor that this past weekend, I learned how to cut my own hair. Of course I used youtube to educate myself. And you know what? I am very happy with the results! Who knew I could cut my own hair?

This is when my mother said "Poverty is the mother of invention" and as usual she is right.

If only I had a spinning wheel and a bunch of sheep and alpacas in the back ground and I could make my own clothing.

As this is Hubs and my first valentines as a married couple, I am trying to think of creative and cheep (duh) ways of making it special. So I am looking at recipes for a chocolate cake and other things, but I guess the best thing of all is that we are married! That is certainly enough for me, but the domestic goddess in me can't stop trying to make it special somehow... suggestions?



Just like our assents, the weather also has been frozen. (bud-dum-ching!) My last post talked about VA's record snow falls, but there has been more, and will be more. This week we've had in about 7 inches so far, and we're predicted to get 15-20 inches Friday into Saturday! I haven't had to go to work all week, and we're called for 1 hr delay tomorrow... but I will not be surprised if that changes tomorrow morning. This does mean, however, that we will be going to school a bit longer this spring.

I would like to point out that VA has had more snow that PA this year, which makes me feel like I've experienced a real winter. You know, building snow men, sledding, hot cocoa type of winter. And of course I am not missing anything by not living in PA...

...except my family of course, miss you guys! And Ground Hog's Day is a much bigger deal in PA. Here in VA it just sorta flew by with out notice.

Rain, Rain, go away... for an hour or two?

These little guys are popping up. Already! I just want to tell them to get back in that ground, that you're going to freeze your little buds right off! This is what happens when Virginia has had sub zero temperatures and record snow falls, for weeks on end, weeks! Then we get one day that breaks 40 degrees and these little guys think it is spring!

But it certainly feels springy around here. Never mind that school was canceled on Friday due to ice, and then another cancellation today due to flooding. The temperatures are still low... but it just feels like spring; and those little buds are just proving me that I am not the only one around here who thinks so!

The buds and I have been acting like it is spring. For example, on my 'snow day' on friday, I whipped open the windows, re-arranged the furniture, and did some honest to goodness spring cleaning! I even bought a new vacuum. That very same day I wanted to go on a walk with Hubs. A walk! For months now, I have been content to cuddle up with a blanket, and maybe take a stroll in the winter snow. And here I was, wanting an honest, healthy, heart-pumping, walk. Trouble is, it has been pouring down rain for the past 4 days. So I have a healthy case of cabin fever!

Rain... isn't that another sign of spring?
January showers bring February flowers... it just doesn't sound right!

Hungry Hungry Hippo!

Yawn! That is how I feel right now. I am tired and hungry, its funny how those two go together.

As I type am in the process of making dinner. Hubs and I really value eating dinner together, but he often works from 4-9:30 and we eat together when he gets home. Such is the case today... and all week!

This is really hard for me to handle.

It wasn't always so bad. At first I didn't really notice the effects. Loss of energy, headaches, general moodiness... pesky side effects of hunger.

So today I started dinner a bit earlier thinking that if it was done before Hubs returned home, I would go ahead and eat. But the guilt is consuming me, so instead I am just cooking all night long. Everything is getting cooked very slowly.

Good thing I am making soup.

French Onion Soup to be exact. My favorite.

Here is how it is done:




PT House French Onion Soup

Ingredients:

1 26 oz. container Beef Broth
1 26 oz. container Chicken Broth
5 White Onions
1 Red Onion
2-4 Garlic Cloves
Red or White Wine
Thyme
Sugar
Salt
Pepper
Italian Bread
Munster

1. Roughly chop all onions and garlic. You may use any combination of onions, I like to have one red onion for flavor and color. Add a pinch of salt and sugar. Saute in a large pot on low for 40 mins to 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

2. When onions are mushy and transparent, bring heat to medium-high, add a splash of a wine of your choice. My favorite for this dish is Yellow Tail's Shiraz. Stir mixture, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to pick up anything that may have stuck (you know that delicious brown stuff!) Add beef and chicken broth. Add 1 Tbsp. of thyme and let simmer.

3. FO Soup is traditionally served with bread in it, under the cheese. You can either buy croutons and use that, or you can make your own. Slice Italian bread, spritz with Pam or Olive Oil, and add salt and pepper. Toast in oven under the broiler - but keep a close eye on them so they do not burn. Remove when a crusty light brown, and cut into cubes.

4. To serve ladel into oven safe bowls, add bread cubes, and top with cheese (I perfer Muster, but use your preferred white cheese). Place bowls on a tray, and put them under the broiler until the cheese is melted, and browning slightly.

Enjoy!


PS: I am serving with Turkey Melt Sandwiches, Yum!

Confession

I would like to own a Bed and Breakfast

I think I have good taste in interior design and presentation.

I also think that I am good at making people feel welcome.

I am also a good cook.
Although not all that experienced or professionally trained.

I think there are some barriers between me and my dream.

I don't have enough money to own one home let alone two.
I have no experience in the hospitality business.
I don't live in an area where (in my experience) this type of business is very successful.
And I don't know the first thing about opening a business, except that I need money.

So, for now it is a dream, and these photos are a bit of inspiration.

The All-around Woman

Something has happened to me. Something drastic. For some reason, I want to achieve perfection in everything I do, every aspect of my life. What is with that?

In my teens I had this perfect attitude of "This is what I can do, this is what I want to do, and this is what you will get from me" and I did not have this burden of caring about performing greatly at everything... my report cards were are a wonderful example of that. And I did not mind.

Now, NOW all of a sudden I have this desire to be perfect! Geez.

This dawned on me last night (after watching the Biggest Loser) when I said to Hubs:

"I think I want a treadmill... but I don't actually want it in the house because it is ugly. I just feel like I need to run and I don't want to do it out side with the creepy men" (because its true, the men in my town are not subtle)

"But, you're fine, you look great!" Said Hubs

"...But I want to exercise to be healthy, not to be hot!" Men, always thinking of the same thing...

Then I realized the demands I am putting on myself. I want to be physically fit, cook fabulously tasting, healthy, and cheap meals, be a great teacher, and be a great wife. At home, it kills me that I can not keep up with the house... the cleaning, the decorating, the laundry.

I wish I could stay home, and be a super-home keeper.

And I love doing all of these things! But I am feeling overwhelmed at tired. So then I give Hubs a list of things to accomplish (aka: the list of everything I do not want to do). And he is a big help. He is so sweet.

But I still want to do more! I think there was a switch that went off in my head when I got married that did this all to me.

Any working women out there with advise?

1940's Vintage

This weekend, courtesy of my community chorus, I took part in a 1940's Christmas Tea themed: "I'll be home for Christmas"

A solder stationed in France during WWII makes a surprise visit home to his wife, played by yours truly, and crashes the Church's Christmas Eve service.

Schmaltzy, and mellow dramatic, and all that.

Problem was: how to do my hair?

So I searched for some youtube how-to videos and found this:




This lovely lady is Casey, and she saved me from having wrong-era hair.

She also has a blog

I am so glad that I found her, she has upped my glamor abilities!

Also I got so many compliments on my outfit and hair do, I think the whole 1940's image looks good on me.

Here is that much awaited picture:

Hubs and I as WWII heroes!

Welcome 2010

I love fresh beginnings, and 2010 couldn't have come soon enough. A new year, and a new decade.

Now 2009 wasn't a horrible year for Hubs and myself, after all we did get married!
But I think everyone can agree that it was not the best year.

Hopefully 2010 will see us saving money... for a change (this is indeed very hard for me).
A new car will be needed.
New eye glasses also.
And a new laptop... the one I am using right now has no period key, no alt key, and the space bar often does not work, also the battery does not recharge while the computer is on.
Oh yes, and a job for Hubs.
Also more fun between our job shifts!

It is fun to imagine what 2010 will bring, and the decade too. Where will we be in 10 years? A new job? Owning our first home? Kids? (oh my!)

Happy new years to all of you, and good luck!