We hit up a few yard sales again today with a portion of my birthday money. I had originally planned to save it all to buy stamping and card making supplies, but the need for instant gratification won out. Out to the streets we went. Fortunately it was already late and most of them had shut down for the day, so there were only a few left to pick from, which meant I spent less money! The trunk was full by 5pm, and I was down 19.25 from my wallet. Here’s what we got…

1st Sale: Total spent - $10.25
Griddle pan. (The one that came in our pan set has ridges and is very thin, this one is flat and nice and thick)
Red tea kettle that opens on top. (The one we got free last month only opens from the pour spout)
Fancy corkscrew. (Because the one we have isn’t very strong)
Smoothie blender (which works like a dream, we washed it up and put it to use with some strawberries and ice cream… I bet I could use it to puree veggies and sauces too!)
Printer. (I haven’t hooked this up to see if it works yet…)

2nd Sale: Total spent - $9.00
Cream colored crocheted afghan. (I love it, Chris says it’s ugly, but whatever… it’s beautiful!)
Bathroom sink and cabinet. (We’re going to paint it and replace the sink in the bathroom…it’s mounted to the wall and provides no storage.)
Paper towel holder.
Big flower pot. (Nothing I found at the local stores struck me… this one is plastic and green, but I just like it. I’ll be transplanting my herbs into it tomorrow)
Small painted terra cotta flower pot and tray. (I don’t know what to plant in this, maybe some more herbs, or lavender.)
Toaster.

Not a bad take, right? Especially considering earlier in the day we got an outside dog house, a cat scratching post, and a large water cooler for free for helping Chris’ Uncle move in next door. He’s most likely going to give us a good sized steel work table too, which will go in my office as a crafting table. I’m beginning to understand why people get addicted to yard sales. It’s an incredibly convenient way to shop. Chris and I have spent just under $150 (when you add in things we’ve found on Craigslist) and furnished the house. And when you get there late, they are wanting to be done, so they start giving you things for free… sometimes there is just a sign by the side of the road that says FREE. That’s always nice too, we got a queen sized comforter with matching shams and pillows, a rolling cart (we use it to hold laundry supplies), and books on the side of the road one day marked free.

We hit up 3 other sales today and didn’t find anything we needed at them. There was a cat kennel at the last one we went ran by, but they wanted $20 for it, and it was obviously used. Seeing as we paid $30 (or $40, I don’t remember) for Whiskey’s extra large basically brand new kennel, we just couldn’t spend that much on a small one for the cat. Oooh, that’s right, I didn’t tell you about the cat!

The night I got home Chris’ surprised me with a lovely gray tabby kitten that I named Huckleberry. It was a “welcome home” plus “Happy Birthday” gift. I was shocked, because he told me he’s allergic… but apparently he wanted to surprise me. And he did! She’s a cutie too. He also got me a patio set (a small round table and two chairs) that actually fits in our tiny kitchen, so now we eat at the table instead of the computer and television. We had pizza night (gluten free for me) and cherries for my birthday dinner. Oh, and he let me go see my Mom and sister for 9 days. A very long 9 days!

My Mom got me a pair of Birkenstocks, and let me eat her wonderful food (tomatoes, mushrooms, something other than mild cheddar cheese, fish, asparagus, rabbit, goose, clam chowder, seriously… we eat pretty simple so crashing at her house for 9 days was a blast) and lounge around watching 8 seasons of Charmed for over a week. While I was down there I went through a lot of my stuff and gave away 4 boxes of books… the local used store “bought” a few of them for in store credit… which I just put on my Mom’s account.. And then proceeded to spend more on used books than I had put on her account… so she let me used some of her in store credit too. I think I got 6 books? We had taco night (for my birthday meal) and watched several movies together.

My Grandparents sent me a nice card with some cash, as did my in-laws, and that’s what I used for garage saleing today. With the extra cash we stopped at the store and got ice-cream (oh my god, they had my favorite Haagen-Dazs that isn’t always on the shelf on sale!), strawberries, yogurt, and ice and went home to watch Atonement, eat steak, corn on the cob, asparagus, and baked potatoes… followed by smoothies! I tossed a chunk of a deliciously gooey huckleberry chocolate bar Donna sent me for my birthday (It came this morning by the way, Donna! It was scrumptious but sticky, so the rest of it is in the fridge at the moment) into the blender with mine and loved it.

Overall, despite my moaning earlier in the week, I had a good birthday… it was just spread over several days, which made it much sweeter in the end. Thanks everyone, for your wishes and support. <3

I have a about a million and one things to write about regarding my vacation. Many are important (to me), and many are not. One clearly sticks out as the most deserving of a post, though. Tuesday, May 27th, my Mom, my sister, and myself drove up to Eugene to go bridal gown shopping. Yes, Becky tried on hours worth of dresses, yes, she bought one, no… I don’t plan to bore you with details.

Instead I want to remember lunch that day. It’s the only time I ate out the entire vacation. It’s the only time I’ve eaten out since going completely gluten free recently. Fear overpowered the wonderful smells at McGrath’s Fish House. While we were waiting to be seated I chided myself for not packing a gluten free lunch. This is going to be disastrous, I thought… already wondering how many of my vacation days were going to be eaten up by illness. Because face it, even if they did have something naturally gluten free, like a salad or fish… how was I to know that cross contamination wouldn’t happen?

Once we were seated I looked at my Mom, and then back at the menu. Lunch prices weren’t exactly cheap, and the things that weren’t breaded were 3 to 5 dollars more than everything else. The waiter came, and thought I knew what I wanted, but I wasn’t sure as to it’s safety status… it was entirely possible the seasoning on the fish contained something I couldn’t eat… so my Mom spoke up, and told him (His name was Angel, by the way, and he was one… super accommodating and sweet) I had a few questions. I rattled off my “allergies”… wheat, barely, rye, oats, cinnamon, and cloves… and Angel was like “Oh! You need our gluten-free menu!). I cried, seriously. I had no idea McGrath’s existed, let alone had not just one or two things I could possibly eat, but a whole menu full of them!

I poured over the menu and found several things that looked really good, but in the interest of saving money, and getting my food fast… I picked Cape Cobb salad. It was greens & iceberg, topped with baby shrimp and cedar plank grilled salmon, avocados, boiled eggs, provolone, and olives, with raspberry walnut vinaigrette. The waiter came back more than once, just to clarify that I wasn’t allergic to dairy or nuts and I was satisfied. A small part of me worried about the true integrity of the food, though. The past 6 or 7 weeks (or is it more now?) have been difficult and long… ruining my continued success by eating out and getting glutened would suck. The manager reassured me.

No one requested he come to our table, but he’d been in the kitchen and heard about my need for a gluten free meal, and came out to explain a few things. He apologized that a larger range of dressings weren’t available, they keep the majority of them by the croutons… and spent 3 days studying just how far crouton crumbs would “fly”, and what they would contaminate. He explained there are separate cutting boards labeled and kept in a different portion of the kitchen far away from the contaminated area used just for gluten free meals, and my salad ingredients also came from the safe part of the kitchen. More tears.

Honestly, it was the best salad I ever had. It will remain so for a long time. I ate with the knowledge that I was safe, and that was comforting. The obvious care and pride the manager and waiter took in their ability to feed made me warm. McGrath’s in Eugene is definitely on my go-to list for the next time I’m in Oregon (this August). Every time gluten tempted me during vacation, I remembered that meal… smiled, and passed over it, choosing instead to eat what was good for me.

Whiskey is finally potty trained! I know, two months is a long time… and I’m a little ashamed to admit just how long it took me. Never the less, my little boy is smart, and going outside. There are accidents still, mostly because I’ll be like can’t you wait, and ignore him… so he just pees. Grr. My bad, I am working hard to pay attention to his signs. He had his first bath a few weekends ago and hated it. Little does he know he’s getting another one tomorrow.

Chris’ parents will be here Friday night and they’re sleeping on the pull out, I know he’ll be all over them and I want him to smell good. I’m trying to get the house clean for their visit, it IS clean, but it’s not Mother In Law clean, you know? I don’t know why I’m freaking out, my MIL is not a good housekeeper, never has been… but I want her to be impressed. Chris brought home the hammer drill from the shop today and we hung up the ironing board, fixed the fireplace and shower curtain rod. I want to finish washing down the bathroom walls, and the kitchen baseboards… and maybe straight up the office some… and then I’m done. For today, at least.

We put the tomato plants in the ground today, and the peas… we’re waiting on the herbs until we get a fence, to make sure Whiskey stays out of them. Chris put down more grass seed and sprayed Miracle Grow everywhere… the apple trees are looking fantastic… the blooms are delicate and white, and the petals are literally everywhere…the lilacs in the yards around us are blooming. I brought some in tonight and put them on the entertainment center. Gorgeous. Sometime before I leave we’re going to plant chamomile and lavender all around the house, and maybe leave a few spots open for my vegetables. I could still put them in, but I think I’ll be busy enough with my herbs and tomatoes… the peas are for Chris. He loves them.

Lately I’ve been spending some time reading a lot of stamping blogs. Inspired by Mary Dawn, I decided to spend my birthday money on getting started (and if I can wrangle it out of him, part of Chris’ stimulus check)… and tonight my Mom said she’d take me to Joann’s when I’m down there to pick up some of the bigger ticket items… there’s a small catch though, she’ll buy equipment and supplies, but I have to make the invitations for Becky’s wedding in August. Hopefully I’ll get good fast! You can check out my stamping blog (it’s sort of bland at the moment) here.

Thank you, by the way, for all your lovely comments on my Ow post. I love you ladies!

I’ve had entirely to much to drink. My eyes are heavy with sleep and wine, my fingers coated in butter, and mouth full of the lingering taste of arepas. Some stuff with cheese, some with butter, the last with jam. Licking my lips bring each of those tastes back into the lime light. Reliving the wine, my eyes close and I struggle to open them again. Cooking while drunk left the tips of my fingers burnt. Who needs a spatula when moving things from the frying pan to the baking sheet? Not me, not me.

Skidding across the floor on spilt oil has left my ankle wrenched. Delicious pangs of pain shoot up my leg every time it shifts in my flip flop. I was racing to the living room to get Chris’ phone as his alarm went off. My beloved fell asleep on the couch, after a long night of talking, and driving around aimlessly. We went far, windows down, the radio pulsing, and silence between us.

Earlier in the day we had his Uncle over for lunch, grilled chicken, cabbage, and watermelon… with a side of Whiskey yapping and strolling around the house next door. You see, Uncle M, who is only a few years older than us… will be renting the house next door starting June 1st. At first I was upset, didn’t we just escape this fool? But a few times now he’s been over for dinner. So kind and quiet, bringing me beer, which made me sick, and complimenting my cooking. Away from his family, he is no fool. Chris smiles a bit bigger with him around, and it is good… I will admit, to have someone we know near.

Days like today, and nights, sleepless as it was, like tonight.. Remind me of just how full my life is. The ache in my back from the gluten I ate by mistake earlier is ok. There is so much more to focus on. The sleepy smile Chris gave me when I inquired as to what time he needed to be up to go fishing. The soft whimper of the puppy as I shoo him into the crate.

The wonderful love from my friends. Mary Dawn, who messaged me out of the blue, Kelly, who for the past months has been a voice of clarity amongst the confusion that has become my life…Linda, who always has something positive to say… Honey, who says thank you, and asks to help… Bobby, the man I so rarely hear from. Random voices and words, each reminding me of how much I am loved. My mother, calling just to talk… Becky, who is so entangled in her plans for the wedding of the year in August… Nicole, expecting her first baby, pictures of ultra sounds and swollen stomachs found on my phone.

I take in every bit of kindness from these people, and my heart swells. So impossibly full of things I can’t believe I have the chance to feel. Tears, perhaps they are red, like my wine…roll over my cheeks, itchy and hot from cooking over a hot stove… reminding me of the blessings I have to count. Two hands and two feet just won’t do, I am afraid.

At the end of the month I am going to the coast to see my Mom and sister, and even Bill. My heart awkwardly beats, when I realize why. Two years, you know. May 31st. At this time last year I was still so empty, so desperately alone in a sea of people who cared to much. In the shower the other day, watching the last bit of dye from my hair run down the drain… I breathed, and felt whole. My spirit has knitted itself back together. There are still days of incredible emptiness, and despair, but most days I pull air in, and it stays… before it leaked out, slow, and so subtle I didn’t realize just what I was missing.

This new healing, I have to reach out every day and poke it. Hello, hurt, are you still there? Yes, comes the faint reply… I’m here, but you’re forgetting me more with each passing moment. Hurt, he’ll always be there, but instead of being a frozen stone in my belly, he’s becoming this warm, living part of me. Small, inconspicuous until I need to be reminded. Reminding that nights like tonight, days like today, weeks like this week, so full of ups and downs… are not to be taken for granted. Because that lovely, understanding man in the living room, he won’t be here forever. Neither will all of you. So I tickle, hurt, and say thank you. What I would do without him, without you?

At the beginning of this post, I had a point. My apologies, for losing it. When I finish the end of my glass of wine, I’ll stretch and ponder some more. But no, it’s corked and away…the last thing I need right now is more. I have enough. So much. Call me lucky, darling, who else is so blessed?

I still haven’t mastered gluten-free dumplings, but man oh man, do I have arepas and drop-biscuits down. Having my day to myself again has given me plenty of time, even while sick, to experiment, and oh… have I! A few weeks ago at Cash & Carry they had big cuts of meat on sale, so we got one for about $30… It made 12 steaks, 1 night of fajita meat, a gallon baggie full of stew meat, a round roast, and 1 long roast… which I made last night. The meat is a little tough, but still good… it just requires some careful cooking.

We already had the fajitas, and instead of using flour tortillas, Chris and I stuffed the meat and peppers into arepas and enjoyed. Since then I’ve made arepas twice again, and can’t keep out of them. Real food! Real bread! The texture is perfect. I slice them open and stuff with cheese, then cook like a grilled cheese sandwich… let me tell you, I am not missing bread anymore. They are good with just butter, or tomatoes, and avocados, yum.

The roast came out tough on one end, and it was huge… so I saved a good chunk of it, chopped it into little pieces, and simmered in the juice from the veggies all day in my little crock pot… with some fresh lemon thyme, and dried oregano, basil, and more thyme… oh, and left over garlic from last night! Then I made a gravy with sorghum flour, and added in the meat and juice…the beef was falling apart, and oh so succulent… the long cooking hours really made the gravy something else…normally we eat meat & gravy over mashed potatoes at least once a week, because it’s easy and cheap… but tonight I was craving biscuits in a bad way.

So I googled gluten-free biscuits, pulled up a recipe that reminded me of my mothers, and went to work. They are divine, simply some of the best biscuits I have ever had… fluffy, moist, soft…spooning gravy over them and mashed potatoes… oh yeah, we’re going to be doing that a lot more around here. Chris doesn’t like drop biscuits (he liked canned biscuits), and is still adjusting to the new textures of gluten-free food, and even he liked these…I am looking forward to getting up tomorrow and putting butter on one for breakfast…

And gawds, I am still sick. The coughing isn’t as hard, but a fit still lasts forever… my ribs are tender to the touch, and my shoulders ache… mix that time of the month in with it, and I hurt all over… but the sore throat isn’t so bad, I can talk, and I don’t feel like I’m walking around in a head fog. Of course, Chris has got it now, and we’re trying to keep it from getting as bad as mine… lots and lots of tea, cold medicine at night to make sure he sleeps, already have him on Mucinex since he is coughing some… and the Breathe Right strips at night… well, those are for me… so I can get some sleep! He snores so loud when he’s sick, and I broke my headphones a few weeks ago…

Although the late nights his snoring have caused for me have led to some incredible role-play in ruby’s room lately… so I can’t complain to much.

I have had the worst chest/head cold the past few days. So bad I lost my voice, and was text messaging Chris to have a conversation… and coughing up blood. It’s a good thing I’d already quit, because there is no way I could have talked for 8+ hours a day. We were so broke too, that I couldn’t get any meds. But then… I got a card in the mail from my Grandparents… with money.

I was supposed to do something “nice” for us with it. Hahaha… yeah, I went to the store and got oil, sugar, a tomato, some hot pockets for Chris, frozen gluten-free mac & cheese (it was ok), Muxinex, breath right strips, and some Irish cheese. The cheese was nice. Oh my god, so yummy. Seriously, I loved it. Chris took a tiny bite and hated it, but he’s not a cheese fan. It was worth the price, and definitely hit a 10 on my nice scale.

I don’t know if it’s the cheese, or medicine, or pot of tea Chris made me… helping me feel better, but I do… for the first time in days. Maybe quitting blogging every day has something to do with it too.