Just in Case

Just in case you have been wondering about my facebook post regarding my recent blind date.

My visiting teaching partner, Janice, has taken me in. She is such a sweet giving person. She like many friends is baffled that I cannot find a man. She thinks I am 'super cute, intelligent, got my sh*t together, fun, make good money'. . . the list goes on how great she thinks I am. I laugh. I honestly do not know why I cannot attract men. It is the honest truth. I think I am cute, fun, and smart.Well Janice has taken it as her mission to see me with a man.

She has known a single man in our ward. He lives with his mother due to her age and recent spouse/father death. He has a 13 year old daughter that comes to church with him every week. She pointed him out. I was jolted by his matureness. He does not have wrinkles and only a few strands of gray hair but he dressed stuffy. It hit me so hard that he is my demographic now. I am middle aged. Yikes. . . guess that means I have to date middle aged. Right then I missed Josh and his youthful ways. It hurt to admit that my dates are no longer exciting fun and young. sigh. I resisted the urge to be old so I took a pic of the back of Scott's head with my phone during sunday school--I felt younger doing something so immature.

I put Janice off for a couple months. When Josh got married I said Janice hook me up. So Tim, Janice's husband arranged the time and Janice and I made the food. We ate kabobs. Beef, chicken, shrimp, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, etc. (this is getting long). So we ate, and talked.

Scott came in a Jeep. I was feeling better already. We sat down to dinner and had a long dinner. All four of us kept talking and talking. We left the dinner table and brought everything into the kitchen. Scott thanked us for dinner and proceeded to stand with all of us in the kitchen for an hour! We moved into the living room and chatted for another hour. The whole dinner lasted 4 hours. He finally left. He said it was nice to meet me and that he had a great time. I truly think he had a great time. We had fun. Janice was ecstatic when he left. She took me home (since I am without car).

The next day she texted asking if he had called. I laughed. I am not at all concerned that he has not called. I know he had fun. I had fun. Lets just leave it at that. But Janice wants him to call so bad. More than I do. She snooped and found out he graduated high school 12 years before me. Tuesday she texted me his phone number urging me to call. I am not. I have called many men. It is time for men to be men and man up and call me. lol. It is killing Janice and my friends from work. I am going to remember the fun time. I am not going to worry that he has not called. I am not going to even begin to think how ugly, fat, annoying, self confident, and more negative things I am and that is why he did not call. I am still great and I had fun!

Happy Saturday to me! I could not resist these lovely flowers from the farmers market. I am going to miss the flowers that have decorated my home all summer when the farmers markets end.

Today I found white nectarines at the farmers market. I tried a sample and just had to buy a couple. They are oh so very sweet. Perfect compliment to their firm flesh. I am so happy munching on one right now.

Next I think I need to learn how to photograph food. . . I always just point and shoot. I should plate it and make it look amazing!

God is great! Mair is good and People are crazy!

Does Pie Mean Autumn? Or Brent?

Here is today's cooking installment. I made fresh raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry pies. I made up the filling recipe.  . . some lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon/sugar. I smells divine.

 

Oregon has some amazing berries. I found these at the local farmers market. I have become spoiled by the huge and varied farmers markets here. Every neighborhood has one. Flowers, plants, melons, beans, squash, nuts, onions, berries, peaches, apples, mint, basil, dill, are just a few of the things you can get here. At the one in my neighborhood you can also get fresh kettle corn, pancakes, sandwiches, pastries, breads, etc.

The artisans who make their wares come and sell them every Saturday from 8-12. It is a huge market place. A lot of them have samples. I love the peach samples. There are too many varieties. . . same with berries. I am really excited for my little pies.

A friend requested I cook when she comes to Washington and we get together. I admit I was shocked. I cant cook! I thought about how in the world she would even think that and I realized my blog is all about food. I did some retrospecting and food is a major part of my life. I love it. I love preparing it, shopping for it, planning for it and eating it! Mmmmm. I do admit I am a better baker than cook. But I loved watching Master Chef. I want to learn how to cook. I checked out a couple books from the library and read them. So now I need someone to cook for. I have to admit it is hard to cook for one. Especially when I can be just as satisfied with fish sticks. Living here has expanded my palate. I have tasted spices and combinations I never thought possible. Who knew I liked mint leaves in my spring rolls (cabbage, carrots, shrimp, lettuce, sprouts and mint). My previous conception of mint was for tea or dessert. Not lunch! But I love it! I love pickled carrots! I like lemongrass! I like basil beef! It has been so fun! Well I better go enjoy a warm pie!

(so my brother Brent's nickname is Pie. . . from the poem our grandpa quoted all the time....Blue eyed pickey pie run around and tell a lie. Brown eyed beauty do your mamma's duty. )

And one momemt of silence (or blank space) for 9/11

Labor Day Weekend

I went to Seaside yesterday. It was a beautiful yet chilly day. Look how sexy my Tundra looks laying on the beach soaking in some sun.  Ahhh the Tundra. How I love it. But it is time to say goodbye. This is a positive goodbye. I am ready. I am thankful for the extra time I have had with it. I know that I will miss it but due to my lack of finding another job and not bringing in more cash I need to cut back and the biggest part of my budget goes to the Tundra and insurance. It stands to reason that selling is a good thing. Plus the memories with the truck will lessen without the daily reminders.

I feel good about selling it. Yet I will miss it. Oh the complicated feelings I have. Ha ha haSo I have been having the best couple of days. My attitude has changed and while I cannot see how in the world I will ever marry and have sex again I know it will be alright. I can be strong. My life will be great. It is great! I mean I went to the coast yesterday and had a blast by myself. Got an ice cream cone from Tillamook Creamery. . . so tasty. It was a great day of waves and reflection.

So I found hops near Portland. I have had this obsession with this plant. Why? I am not sure. But it is fascinating to see them in the fields. Today I saw these mature plants and stopped to take a look. They are just amazing. I have heard that they are harvested by hand and that it is a messy dirty job. In fact it was on Dirty Jobs on the Discovery channel. The US main growers are Yakima Washington (go Emily) and Willamette Valley in Oregon (near me hee hee). The plants are complicated with the male parts and the female parts on separate plants  and it is fascinating. I know brewing beer is the main purpose but I like it. I think they are pretty.

All in all my world is great. I am so relieved to have found hope. It has been so depressing not to have any hope. It is such a vital part of life. I am so glad that I am able to find that hope. (And Josh is struggling and I am relishing in his hardships)

Then I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. I have had a hankering for them for months but due to the pumpkin shortage I have not been able to find a can of pumpkin. My sister Lori gave me a can from her food storage when I was in Utah and then my visiting teaching partner gave me a can for payment for painting her ceiling with her. How great is my life? I am so thrilled that I have these cookies, my truck and hops. . .