What I miss...

• The sound of waves crashing along the shore of Lake Michigan

• Rollerblading at LakeShore Park
• Summerfest
• Kopps

• Leaves
• All the windows and sunlight in my old house

• Lying on the hardwood floor next to my fireplace
• Ordering in Chinese food
• Grilling out in the driveway

• Listening to planes fly over and shake the house
• Girls Greys Anatomy night
• Sand volleyball at Jerseys

• .But most of all....my friends...

SPRING!

It was in the mid 60's yesterday in Dalton, Nebraska!  I took advantage of the weather and did a little bit of weeding...ok, a lot.  I cleaned up the flower bed in front of the house and filled up FIVE barrels full of weeds and rose bush trimmings.  It was amazing at how quickly that cleaned up the front of the house.  There is a ton more to do, but I figure if I take it day by day it won't be so overwhelming.

Being a former Wisconsinite, I am rather unfamiliar with tumbleweed.  I had the impression those things only existed in Arizona. Well, I am quickly learning that Nebraska is overrun by them.  They are somewhat amusing to watch roll down a dirt road.  However, when they pile up in your garden, along your fence line, next to an open trailer, etc. it gets rather annoying.  I can't wait to watch them burn in our burn barrel.  Um, just so you know, our burn "barrel" is actually similar to the picture below (but about three times the size)...

Have I mentioned how much I love where I live?

Tonight we are expecting a snow storm that could give us anywhere from 1-9 inches (the weathermen here are as bad as Wisconsin), so it's going to be a while before I get to start planting anything.  I am going to continue to dream though.  I have so many seeds to start and plenty of tools (thanks to Ed's mom!) but am patiently waiting for April before starting anything.  Last year, I started too early and ended up having to repot a bunch of plants and it turned out to be much too much work.  So I'm trying to have patience...which is NOT one of my strong suits.

While doing a little outdoor spring cleaning, I noticed another horror.  Ed confirmed that we have moles making cute little piles of dirt next to the house.  First of all, the moles are not cute! 

Thank God I have yet to see one in the yard.  I keep hoping Callie or one of the cats will take one out, but no luck so far.  We have two mounds so far that look like this:

We only have the two so far but I'm expecting the nicer weather to be cause for the lil guy to invite his buddies over.  So, if anyone has tips on how to get rid of these things, please let me know...

Laundry/Mudroom/Workout Room/Pet Storage/etc.

I am considering redoing our "laundry" room.  Unfortunately, while putting some thought into this, I realized this room serves several purposes:

• Laundry Room
• Mud Room
• Pet area
• food storage
• feeding area
• litter box
• Freezer location
• Possible fitness room (the treadmill is currently stored here)
• I would also LOVE to use this room as a sewing room-I'm such a dreamer!

Overall, the room is somewhat of a catchall room (aka "junk" room). 

I recently went shopping in Loveland, CO and became inspired while visiting the back room of a story called Cozy Cottage.  The room had a cream color and then some distressed looking furniture.  I realized a few things.  Number 1-I love that color for a laundry room.  Number 2-I would like a table for folding clothes in that room. Number 3-There is no way I could afford to buy the table they had displayed.

SO, I am starting small and hoping to get the room painted soon.  Once painted, I am planning to put up a witty quote.  I am looking at Wall Words Website to find something cute to put up there.  I've used this company before to put the following quote up in my bedroom:  "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but the moments that take your breath away."  I highly recommend this company (I don't get any sort of kickback for this.)  They are based in the US, female owned, and offer great customer service and the best product!  Unfortunately, I've experienced what companies who attempt to immitate wall words product actually deliver.

Anyhow, I would really appreciate any inspiration ideas for that room.  Here's what I've found so far...

I love the Laundry sign on the shelf.

I'm considering leaving in a cabinet that we have in that room and covering the lower half with a curtain.  Of course, I'd need to sew that and don't have a place for my machine quite yet.

I am hoping that with a fresh paint job and some more inspiration, I may actually start enjoying doing the laundry! 

Saag Paneer

Madhur Jaffrey Indian Cooking

Just looking at this photo makes my mouth water.  Ed needs to go out of town for the weekend, so I'm seriously considering driving to Denver, CO with the sole intention of getting Indian food for dinner. 

I love Nebraska, but I miss Milwaukee restaurants.  I would cook some of these dishes, but Ed isn't very adventurous in that department and it's a lot of work for just me.   Hmmm, road trip!

Oh and for those of you who don't know what this dish is....it's basically heaven.  The cheese looks like tofu (it's not tofu-it's so much better) but is so delicious.  The spinach is in a savory creamy sauce that once again is making me water.  Denver, I'll see you Saturday!

Go here for the recipe if you'd like to try it at home:
Saag Paneer Recipe

One lucky Skunk

Ed purchased a skunk trap. Callie continues to have an odor that limits the amount of attention I can give her. I just can only handle the skunk smell for so long.  I thought about spending some money on odor eliminator kits, but I am hoping in a week or two the scent will subside. 

*Tomato juice does NOT get the smell out

Skunk Recipe

Poor Callie was sprayed by a skunk this weekend. The #*($& got her right in the face! Today she had a shower...here's the recipe:

Step 1:

Rinse with 2 cans v8 juice

Step 2:

Wash with-

1 bottle peroxide

1/2 box baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 oz. doggie shampoo

Step 3:

Rinse with the juice from 1/2 a lemon

After she got out of the shower and I blew her dry, I realized the majority of the smell was still right between her eyes (you could even see the oil still on her fur). I shampooed that a bit more and followed up with some more v8 juice. I wish I could say she smells great, but for now at least my eyes aren't watering from the smell and we have our girl back in the house.

Ed

I stumbled upon this picture and it made me think of Ed. I thank God for bringing him into my life. He has become my best friend whom I admire and trust completely. The more I learn about him the greater my love for him becomes. I never knew how great a relationship could be until I moved to Nebraska. I couldn't be more blessed.
I pray that we live to take a similar photo some day.

My first REAL workout!

This is awesome! I signed up for a "smart card" to track my workouts. That includes access to a room without a bunch of meatheads working out. Here's what it is:
Express Workout
"Short on time but want a quick workout? Combine your cardiovascular and strength workout into a 30 minute workout with the new YMCA Express Circuit. This newly remodeled room is equipped with 10 stations of technogym strength machines and Schwinn Air Dynes for cardio. Thirty seconds per station will give 'Y' members a great workout. 'Y' members must be circuit room members and at least 12 years old to use express circuit."
I still need to adjust weights and the seat heights, etc so it takes me more than 30 minutes, but I did it today! I also did a 20 minute cardio warmup, 10 minutes more of cardio post the express circuit and some stretching.
I feel great! :) Now if I could just get this diet part down...

Orientation

Today is my orientation at the Y. I can't wait to get started!
Just found out Ed will be out of town on my birthday weekend (unavoidable trip), but I'm looking at the positive side. Not having him home will help motivate me to go to the gym and workout a bit to occupy my time. I wonder if I could get a few personal training sessions. Lord knows I could use some assistance with the machines...
Tomorrow is cleaning day! I'm hoping to get some yardwork done too this weekend. I'd really like to get some seeds started for the garden, but I have so many that I should probably organize what I have first. PLUS, I need to find a place to grow them where the cats won't be able to "play/attack" them.

YMCA

I did my first "workout" last night at the Y. I only was there for 30 minutes, but I figure it's better than nothing. I plan to go again tonight. I feel better already just knowing that I'm doing something! I'll be 35 in 8 days...time to get my life on track.
No more excuses...

Official Member

I am officially a member of the Scotts Bluff YMCA. I'm hoping to start my first workout tomorrow morning at 5am. We'll see though since that means I'd need to leave the house by 3:45am! Maybe I'll shoot for 6am. Enough with the excuses though...I'm getting in shape before summer creeps up.

Sigh...It's Gym Time

I don't like to work out
I love to cook and the eat what I make.

Unfortunately, that doesn't help me when I try to fit into new clothes.  So, today is the day. I'm joining a gym. I'm debating between the YMCA and a Bootcamp.  Anyone have a personal preference on which is better?

These are my options:
Scottsbluff YMCA
or
Ultimate Body Transformers Fitness (This would be the bootcamp)

Oh and one more thing...this is the look I'm going for:

The Girls Go Under

This morning I packed up Turtle and Maize (actually Ed packed them up) into my car and headed towards my work.  We drove together for an hour and fifteen minutes while they sang along with the radio.  We arrived at the Animal Health Center at 8am.  They are both getting spayed and their vaccinations today.  Perfect timing since we found a male cat hiding in the garage last night. 

I'll post an update soon about how the girls did...

Mmmm, French Dips

Ed and I love watching Man v. Food and recently watched him devour a French dip.  So, based on that inspiration, I did some searching on my favorite recipe site and found the perfect "recipe".  I considered it a recipe, but Ed reminded me that really it wasn't as much of a recipe as it was a set of instructions for putting together the sandwich.  Regardless, this sandwich was awesome.  I used hoaggie rolls that I toasted, some bottled au jus (which I didn't even know they made), packaged roast beef from the deli, and provolone cheese.  They were delish! We had them twice this week.  Last night we enjoyed them with homemade potato chips that I seasoned with salt and parmesan cheese.  Try the recipe and let me know what you think: French Dip Recipe on All Recipes.com

Valentine's Bliss

This Valentines day weekend could not have turned out more perfect.  Ed came home Friday evening with the most beautiful arrangement of flowers. 

3 birds of paradise, 5 roses and an assortment of other flowers.  We were on the road by 10:30am on Saturday and headed up to Lead/Deadwood, South Dakota.  The drive was beautiful, but there were some icy spots and several cars spun out of control. 

We saw several deer on the side of a hill on the way there. 

It took a while to find our cabin (it was a bit further than the directions stated), but once we arrived I was happy with our choice.  For $75 we stayed at a small cabin about 6-7 miles out of downtown Deadwood.  The cabin overlooked some large hills and a bubbling stream.

It was perfect. Once settled in, we headed downtown to find a place to eat.  We got "stuck" at the Lucky Nugget and spent a little money playing slots.  I got a little lucky on the Wheel of Fortune machine.  The Lucky Nugget is the actual location where Wild Bill Hickock was shot holding his famous "Dead Man's Hand." :

We headed down the road a bit and finally found a casino with black jack tables.  Ed and I sat down at a $5 table for about a half an hour.  I actually ended up ahead here too!  Then we went over to the Silverado for prime rib and crab legs.  The food was wonderful, but the redneck family near by got a bit annoying.  Really, anyone who considers the Haiti disaster as "population control" is simply an idiot.  We spent some more time in the casinos and then headed back to the cabin for the night.   In the morning, we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at the Cafe across the bridge from our cabin.  We then headed back home and saw many antelope on our way.

I forgot to mention that Callie joined us for the trip.  She was an angel.

 

Deadwood, South Dakota...Sounds romantic, doesn't it?

We're heading out to Deadwood, South Dakota Saturday for Valentines day weekend.  I'm really looking forward to my first real vacation alone with Ed. 


Historic Deadwood, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, is an old mining town formerly visited by Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock.  Today there are over 80 gambling halls, shopping, restaurants, museums, lodging and more.
 
We're staying in a small cabin. The Cabin  I'm looking forward to the drive-the scenery out this way is incredible.  I'll post an update on the trip once we return.

 

Happy Valentines Day!

 

 
 

A Wisconsin style restaurant in Scottsbluff, NE

I've enjoyed two incredible meals so far at the Emporium in Scottsbluff, NE.  Scottsbluff has been featured in Gourmet magazine for it's Mexican cuisine which doesn't come close to places like Conejitos and La Fuentes in Milwaukee.  Restaurant options in this town and especially the little town I live in are VERY limited (there are only two bars in Dalton that serve food).  So, when I entered into The Emporium near where I work, I was extremely pleased.  The food was delicious, service was wonderful and the atmosphere was similar to something I would enjoy back home.  The waiters/waitresses dress in black dress pants and dress shirts with white aprons and are very attentive.

The cuban sandwich that I tried for lunch doesn't compare to the one at Cubanitas, but it certainly is a nice change from the fast food options around here.  The dinner dish I tried was a Cajun seafood pasta that was just as good as any Italian dish I'd find back home.

I'm looking forward to dining outdoors in summer and think I've found my favorite little place for date night. :)