Quick Recap

I have lots of ground to cover and not sure exactly where or how to start.  Throughout my days I'll come up with amazing blog comments that correlate with the specific activities in our lives, but then when it comes to the end of the day they are long forgotten.  I need to keep paper with me constantly, so if I think of something I can jot it down real quick.  Although, I don't remember some of my thoughts-I will share with you that they were funny.  I chuckled at myself a few times, so I apologize for not being able to remember and share the chuckle with ya'll.

I think I'm going to start off with food.  I love food.  Love pretty much every type of food in every type of way (except plain ol jane broccoli-I need it cooked with seasoning, or mixed with something).  Anywho-Chinese and Mexican are some of our favorite things to whip up.  Some of our friends went to China Town in California and got us lovely chopsticks, and we figured it was about time to get them dirty.  We made Pork Lo Mein-Yummmmmmm.  We will make again.

Forgive my messy kitchen in the back there-but hey I'm only working with about 10 square footage.  As you can tell I got Seth in action and I was able to pose for my picture.  I'm going to say once more this stuff was divine.

Our next food item was Lemon Biscotti.  I have a passion for any dish with Lemon involved-Lemon just makes me feel good about life.  Can I again say yummmm and it was quite easy to make.  I wouldn't recommend drinking it with coffee-Lemon and Coffee just don't seem to match very well.  They are wonderful separate, although I didn't really think about that until after I had already tasted it.

As you can see I did the whole presentation thing.  I also have a picture of Seth 'acting intrigued' with the beverage and biscotti, but I'm sure he doesn't want me to post that one (even though I did post the one of him chowing down).

This is after I dipped the Lemon biscotti in the coffee and tasted it.  I had wanted Seth to get a picture of me in action of tasting this deliciousness, but obviously that isn't how it happened-this is when I realized 'Oh yea, this may not be the most complimentary food items'.

I'll wrap up the food section-somewhat-moving along to the pickin and eatin section :).

Seth and I heard about an apple orchard nearby-Paradise Valley.  I have been wanting to go for a while, and we finally decided to do it-go pick our own apples.  How fun! We could pick and eat something-perfect.  The lady told us to pick the apple, try it, like it-keep it, dislike it-throw it on the ground.  That is exactly what we did.

Such a great view!  

Testing it out.

What an attractive man.  Can't get enough of him-I guess that just happens to be why I married him :).

I thought the bright red apples on the trees and the half eaten/rotten apples on the ground were so pretty (for real).

We went with the intentions of getting only a pound and just mozing around the orchard, but of course we tasted and walked outta there with a little over five pounds.

This past weekend Seth went mule deer hunting with a friend and I babysat some cute lyoungin's.  They were so good for me and we had us a good ol time.  

Oh wait, I first HAVE to rewind.  We babysat these same girls a few weeks ago and put them to bed.  During this time the older girl told us we had to read to her from the Bible and after we read and were about to head out the younger girl said in the cutest 2 year old voice, 'Pay-Eka-Pay' (Pray-Erika-Pray).  Just how sweet is that?

Back to this past weekend.  Here are a few pictures.

The girls with their own pumpkins they picked.

Sweet sweet baby girl :).

Sunday afternoon we decided to get out for a little bit and enjoy the sunshine and warmth before it leaves us until July.  We went to a place where you can look over our Valley.

 One side of 'our' Valley.

View from the trail

Can you tell this picture is not posed and that Seth is the one that suggested we take it?  Seth just thought it would be fun to have a picture of us adoring each other :).

For my birthday-I received a cute cute shirt from my Aunt Macka-  I had to model it off so I could email it to my Momma, so I will now share with you all.  It is my initials as a Palmetto tree-how neat is that joker!  

Well that about finishes the recap of our past few weeks.  I'll try and do better with remembering my humorous comments for the blog updates.  Hope everyone's week is fun and productive!

In the words of my man-Go Tigers :).

The Cook's :).

This is How it Went Down...

So, this is how it all went down:

Seth-"Hey, Erika let's do a deep clean of the house this weekend.  I'll help-we'll get that back bedroom cleaned out too."

Me-"I don't want you to have to do all that.  I'll just set aside some time everyday and focus on one area, so by the end of the week I'll have it all done. You have too much work and school to do-I'd rather you not have to do the 'tidying' around the house."

Are you asking the same question that I am currently asking myself?  WHYYYYYYYY?  WHHHHHHATT WAS SHE THIIINKKKING?  Yea-we're probably thinking the same thing.  I don't have much of an answer for you-I just know Seth works oh so super hard on his thesis-school work-taking care of me and all that goes along with that-and now trying to figure out our next phase of life.  I don't want him to have ALL of that on his plate plus on his down time clean our apt :). 

I couldn't have asked for Seth to have been raised any better.  Thank you Mr. Jimmy and Mrs. Cynthia for raising this oh so attractive man that loves to cook, bake, and will request to help me clean :).  

So, this is how it went down:

I have recently started to realize that I am having to 'suck in' more often.  Now, if you don't understand what I mean-usually I only do the 'sucking in' thing right after a meal.  Because I just ate and it was probably more than my fair share-so you have to suck it in.  

After finding myself sucking in while wearing everyday shirts throughout each day-rather than just after meals-I realized I may have a problem.  I was working out five days a week-but there was this time period that I just couldn't seem to just make the time to work out.  We were just so slammed pack and other things were priority over working out.  Anywho-after realizing this past Sunday the sucking in issue I stated to Seth, "I have to start working back out this week.  I'm making the time for it."  Seth replied with, "That's good.  Thank you for taking care of yourself for me."  I took that to mean "Why yes-I have noticed that you have been sucking in a lot more lately-and I think it is about time that you took control of this situation by working out."  :)-Now I'm sure you all know that that was in my head-not even close to what Seth said. 

-Monday I worked out for about an hour while Seth was at school/work.  

-Tuesday Seth was home and I just got that feeling that he wanted me to stay at home and watch him work.  I just felt that he wanted my presence with him-so I had to decline the workout.  Plus I was able to read-which I haven't been able to do much of lately because we are so booked up.

And this is how it went down:

Is it just me or is there just something about working out that makes you want to 1. bake something yummy and unhealthy and 2. eat some chocolate chip cookie dough ?  Or is it just me?  Anywho-I didn't have the chocolate chip cookie dough so of course I wanted something yummy and unhealthy....

-Wednesday (today) Seth picked me up from work (because my car is in the shop) and I went to work out for about an hour.  I came home and was going to just drink some refreshing h2o and maybe clean a little and get supper going.  Nope-not how it went down.  I came home from working out to find a recipe for Peanut Butter Apple Bars with a Peanut Butter Glaze Drizzled on top.  And that my friends is how it went down.  But I did forget to read the recipe all the way through and cut them right out of the oven (obviously because I wanted a taste) but I wasn't suppose to cut them until after they had cooled.  Now they are a big crumbly mess-but they can be a big crumbly mess in a bowl.

And finally-this is how it went down today at work:

Today at work I was slapped across the face.

Yes, slapped.

Yes, across the face.

Yes-Yes-Yes slapped across the face by a resident.

Yes-I slapped her back and ran.

Kidding-but yes I rared my arm back to retaliate and someone walked in the door-so I stopped and walked out.

Kidding again-but yes I did want to retaliate.  And No I did not retaliate.

I was highly ticked off at the moment but I later cooled down and laughed about my slap across the face.

That's all for my non-productive week and blog.  Thanks for checking out how it all went down :).

Just thought I'd share something you could laugh at-we look pretty ridiculous in this picture.

The Cook's :).

Getting Ripe

Bullet Point Items:  I like this-quick and simple way to provide information:

-Unfortunately, Earlene is still not being productive.  Although, it could be our faults as parents-we haven't been to visit with her since she's moved into her new roosting area. 

-Mother Nature and I aren't really on speaking terms at this point in time because she has brought winter upon Logan much too quickly.  This past Thursday we had low 40 degree weather and snow fall in higher elevation.  This morning-Seth and I awoke to high 30 degrees.  ICK.  
-My husband would LOVE to not turn on the heat in our apt until at least November.  We are trying to pull through, but I'll tell you-it's getting tough.  I've taken to wearing my warm fuzzy purple bathrobe around our apt and Seth just loves me in it-Kidding obviously.
-After church today-Seth and I came home, both with a desire to bake.  Which is what we did, and our kitchen is a whopping mess.  So much for cleaning everything up today.
-Seth and I canned three more pints of salsa on Friday, and again can't wait til we have a garden on our own so we can take to professional canning and become self sufficient :).
-We recently received a couple pounds of elk, antelope, and deer meat from friends of ours.  How exciting is that!  We can't wait to make our menu over the next couple of weeks and incorporate fresh game in it!

A photo of the Wellville's with their first batch of snow.  Even though it disgusts me the mountains are just breathtaking.

This past Friday I celebrated the ripe old age of 24.  Wowzers am I getting ripe.  Now, for another 7 months I am older than my husband-I don't particularly enjoy answering how old we are when I'm in the lead.  I like the 5 months where I can say we are both 23.  Now I have to say I'm 24-my husband's 23-and I always like to include that I'm ONLY 7 months older so folks don't get the wrong Idea.  My bud Laurie's husband has a positive outlook that I liked for the age of 24-it is divisible by everything (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24). :).

My husband, family, and friends made it a great birthday.  I received so much attention that I was in hog heaven-just kidding :).  I got loads of fun gifts from loads of wonderful people, but of course I have to gloat on my man.  He got me a cake plate (which I have been wanting since we were married) and engraved and rebound an old bible for me.  

My cake plate with Mrs. Cynthia's delicious birthday pound cake.

I was looking forward to this pound cake and would remind Seth that it was coming and it was mine (I didn't know I was getting it-I just assumed).  He told me 'Mom, only makes birthday pound cake for me', so I began to worry that I wouldn't get a birthday pound cake since I'm an 'in-law'- So glad I got a birthday pound cake! :).

My new bible with my new name on it :). 

Our church had books out in the lobby for a few weeks-people could get any books and just donate money for the books they chose (they were raising money for a mission trip).  I found this bible and although it was falling apart I wanted it.  It stays on a bookshelf and I use it for studying/comparing at times.  One day the bible went missing (and instantly I knew Seth must be working on it for my birthday-I'm intuitive like that-although he kept telling me I just lost it).  He found a guy that repairs books in Logan and had it rebound and my new name engraved in it.  I was so excited to get this bad boy.  Such a beauty :).

My parents have always taken my brother and I (and now Seth) out on birthdays, so they told us to go out for a birthday dinner on them (we can't break this tradition-even though we are thousands of miles away).  It was a tough choice, but I decided to go to our favorite restaurant Tandoori Oven.  It's a small Indian place right down the street from us in a gas station.  All I can say is you can't go wrong EVER when you eat here.  It is the number 1 restaurant in Cache Valley.

Had to take a picture of the food.  I had butter chicken and Seth got lamb tikla marsla or something to that nature.  The bread is called naan and it is just yummy and you eat it all on top of rice.  

Enough of me being ripe.  Let's converse about ripe pumpkins. :).

Seth and I went with Joe and Gina to pick some pumpkins.  We didn't happen to pick any-I think we've decided picking pumpkins and carving them just don't make it to the top of the list as things for Seth and I to enjoy.  We are more picking and eating type of people-and you can't eat those types of pumpkins :).  We plan to try and go pick apples next weekend.  So, even though we didn't pick pumpkins we had to get a picture of us holding them.

These two pumpkins were Joe and Gina's :).

We finally got to hang out with these North Carolina folks after weeks of us all being too busy.  We interrupted their movie date and made them have us over for dinner :)-kidding on the whole demanding part-they were kind enough to rearrange their schedules and cook us BBQ pizza-it was GOOD!  They recently have become an uncle and auntie!  Congrats guys!

Recently, we have started looking for tickets to get home for Christmas.  How nerve racking but exciting!

I finally got a picture with me and Eva Claire!  

Today during church Miranda got Eva out of the little seat thing (whatever those are called) and I contemplated walking over in the middle of the church service to take this child away from her mother so I could hold her.  I even asked Seth if he thought it would be weird and I guess we both came to the conclusion that it would be strange.  So, I had to constrain myself until the end of the service.  I then had Miranda take a picture of me and Eva-what a cute cute child she is-and she is constantly growing and changing.  Every time I see her she has grown significantly!

Go Tigers :)!

Seth rooting for Clemson on Saturday.  I tried to get better pictures, but when we figured out what I was doing he would stop.  He is a cutie.

Whelp it is time for me to head on out and get some supper going and try to clean some.  Hope ya'll have a good week!

My first scarf of the season.

The Cook's :)

Canners

I have been trying to put off blogging again so soon, but I just can't withhold myself or you loyal folks that are kind enough to keep up with Seth and I.

Let's ease our way into this blog because it is going to knock your socks off.

First, I simply just can not wait until Seth and I have the opportunity to plant and care for our very own garden.  To plant the seeds, water those precious little babies, witness growth spurts, and pluck the gifts they provide.  :).  Eat what we are given, share, and use leftovers to get us through the winter months.  After visiting with Nichole's family and leaving with canned tomatoes and salsa, and having our neighbors bring us canned peaches Seth and I suddenly came up with a brilliant revoluntionary idea (out of the blue of course) to start canning ourselves.  Unfortunately, this wonderful idea came to us late in the season-so we don't have much more time to do this and everyone else in Logan, Utah seemed to have about the same idea as Seth and I.  Our stores are pretty much sold out on canning items (lids, jars, and canning utensils).

After debating what we could and would want to can we unanimously decided what other than salsa?  Now, Seth and I go through some salsa.  We just enjoy it as a snack and try to incorporate Mexican somehow into our menu every week, so it would be extremely beneficial to have salsa just laying around.  We already had plenty of tomatoes and bought extra from the market along with Anaheim and cayenne peppers, garlic, cilantro, and onions.  After doing a little research and contacting our references (Emily, Mrs. Cynthia, and my Momma) we began our first canning extravaganza :).  Here are a few pictures.  If you can't tell already I'm pretty intrigued and excited about this whole deal-which is why I couldn't postpone this blog any longer!

Peeling the skin off the tomatoes-We boiled them for about a minute.  Put them in cold water for about a minute and the skin off these babies just slid right off.

The 'maters boiling-Notice our childsize stove :).  This stove has been wonderful for us-but oh how I will appreciate my next stove being 'adult size'!

The 'Maters halved and de-seeded.  

Warming the cans and 'cooking down' the salsa.  Seth's creative and genius mother told us use a towel at the bottom of the pot since we didn't have canning racks.  

Putting salsa in the can as well as placing the lids on.

Putting the canned salsa back into the pot to boil.  This was Seth's job (because he didn't want me to burn myself or break anything) but I did get to pretend for a picture :).

Bringing to a boil.  See this pretty red pot?  This isn't our pot.  We didn't bring a large stock pot like this with us to Utah, so we had to borrow one from Michael and Miranda. 

Silly Seth and I didn't bring all of our kitchen pots and pans with us worried about space and if we would actually use them all.  Oh, how we regret it.  Seth's parents brought us a lot of things that we missed when they visited in June, but we are still wishing we had some things (example:  Our big stock pot).

Mr. Jimmy and Mrs. Cynthia-we've started coming up with another list of needed items and are hoping ya'll will make the trek 2100 miles for another visit along with our stock pot :).  

What a cute cute man I get to can with :)

The finished product :).  Sealed and all.  Isn't it just such a neat thing?  Seth and I did a small trial run yesterday just to make sure it would be good and doable.  We definitely have EVERY intention to make again next weekend-along with a bigger batch!

As I'm sure all of you would have done, we scooped some out for a taste test.  It was DELICIOUS (in our opinion). 

We were both proud little Cook's :).

Also, Seth will probably just have a fit over this-but I have to announce that our four year anniversary together is on October 5.  Even though we probably won't celebrate it-I can at least acknowledge it right?

This is our first picture together EVER :)-This is the night we first met through our roomies.  Julianne and Jay were dating and we went up for a CLemson game and after the game hung out with Seth and Jay.  Upon meeting Seth (although it doesn't really appear this way because his arm is somewhat around me) I thought he was a strange kid and never dreamed that we'd soon be dating :).  How fun that everything just falls into place and I couldn't be a happier girl than to be married to this strange kid!  Thanks Julianne and Jay for dating for that brief month or so, so that Seth and I could meet :).

The Cook's :).