Just like the Ben Folds...I have landed. In good ol' Steamboat Springs, Colorado that is. As I flew into Denver and then took a 3 hour ride on the Alpine Taxi to Steamboat, I reflected on many, many things. First, that it had been a year since my eyes had seen this BEAUTIFUL state. And when I say "beautiful", I'm not even joking. Actually, "beautiful" is probably not the most accurate word I could use to describe the surroundings I have the privilege to see everyday...magnificent, awe inspiring, marvelous...I could go on and on. I marveled at the large amount of snow I saw on the drive in. Here it is, almost July and there are areas that still have several feet of snow. Even the mountains surrounding camp are still ski-able. CRAZY. As a result the rivers around here are VERY high and it doesn't look like tubing down the Yampa will be possible this year, which is a river that runs right through downtown.
I also had a lot of time to reflect the ways in which life has changed since graduation. I still don't think I have a handle on the fact that I am d-o-n-e DONE with school. Everyone keeps telling me to wait until August and then it'll really be weird and surreal to see all of my friends going back to school while I....well, I'm still not sure what I'll be doing yet. Something. Anyway, many changes of the heart have been happening (and are still happening, and evolving) and this past week has most definitely been a time of prayer, journaling, and reflection. I can already tell this summer is going to be a HUGE time of spiritual growth...that is, if I can stop trying to push my agenda for one second and allow Christ to change my heart and mind.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Projects and things.
This past month has been a wonderful time of relaxing and crafting, two of my most favorite things. I didn't know HOW much I enjoyed home renovation until I got the opportunity to do it twice. There are few things as satisfying as talking about a project, acting on it, and then getting it done. Or at least 85% done. We're still thinking about what decorations we'd like to go into mom's kitchen...right now she's leaning towards scattering birdhouses and vintage bowls and things on top of the cabinets. I'm sure I'll be pleasantly surprised when I come back in August and see what she's done. The house we're working on at the lake still needs LOTS of work (most of which only my dad is qualified to do) but we're really pleased with how the painting and redecorating has been going so far. As far as my future house goes someday, I really wouldn't mind purchasing a minor fixer-upper...but that is WAY down the road.
I've also LOVED cooking and baking for mom and dad. Sure, it in NO way can fully repay them for all they've done for me, especially these past four years, but I hope it shows them at least a portion of my gratitude. I try to cook healthy, well balanced meals and they've been really great sports to willingly try everything I've made. I rarely make a recipe as written...I'm always substituting something, but more often then not it works out really well. Here are some of my favorite things I've made:
Mexican style chicken...a lot easier than I thought it'd be and SO tasty.
Homemade No Bake Clif bars...FABULOUS. I found the recipe here, made a few small changes and have made too many of these bars to count:
http://enlightenedcooking.blogspot.com/2008/06/homemade-cliff-bars-no-bake.html
Oatmeal Peach Blueberry Breakfast Bars
Black Bean Veggie burger...one of my FAVORITE things I've made so far.
Black Bean Brownie...yes, haters gonna hate but you can't knock it til you try it. Everyone whom I shared it with agreed you can't taste the black beans and they loved the fudgey-ness and slight coffee flavor of the brownie. Throw a little plain yogurt and fresh fruit on top, and BOOM. Delicious. Promise.
Leftover black bean burger turns into a yummy burrito, complete with a homemade whole wheat tortilla.
Of COURSE I had to make sushi with my best friend...we experimented with tuna and some Mexican inspired ingredients and rolled some pretty delicious combinations.
And last but not least, homemade ice cream, done in Ziploc baggies. Recipe here:
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/homemade-ice-cream-in-a-bag-684806/
I've also LOVED cooking and baking for mom and dad. Sure, it in NO way can fully repay them for all they've done for me, especially these past four years, but I hope it shows them at least a portion of my gratitude. I try to cook healthy, well balanced meals and they've been really great sports to willingly try everything I've made. I rarely make a recipe as written...I'm always substituting something, but more often then not it works out really well. Here are some of my favorite things I've made:
Mexican style chicken...a lot easier than I thought it'd be and SO tasty.
Homemade No Bake Clif bars...FABULOUS. I found the recipe here, made a few small changes and have made too many of these bars to count:http://enlightenedcooking.blogspot.com/2008/06/homemade-cliff-bars-no-bake.html
Oatmeal Peach Blueberry Breakfast Bars
Black Bean Veggie burger...one of my FAVORITE things I've made so far.
Black Bean Brownie...yes, haters gonna hate but you can't knock it til you try it. Everyone whom I shared it with agreed you can't taste the black beans and they loved the fudgey-ness and slight coffee flavor of the brownie. Throw a little plain yogurt and fresh fruit on top, and BOOM. Delicious. Promise.
Leftover black bean burger turns into a yummy burrito, complete with a homemade whole wheat tortilla.
Of COURSE I had to make sushi with my best friend...we experimented with tuna and some Mexican inspired ingredients and rolled some pretty delicious combinations.
And last but not least, homemade ice cream, done in Ziploc baggies. Recipe here:http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/homemade-ice-cream-in-a-bag-684806/
It may be hard to believe, but much more is going on in my heart and mind besides food and painting walls. God is definitely throwing me some curve balls, but thankfully he gave me a glove to catch them and isn't going to allow me to get my clock cleaned. I'll write more about that later, but for now, I must go back to the trenches...aka packing. I leave Saturday morning for Colorado and am probably only 50% packed. It still gets pretty chilly there at night so of course, I must take almost every item of clothing I own, including winter clothes. Sigh. Maybe someday I'll stop living in and out of suitcases.
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