Home again, home again

Nate came home safe and sound from his trip to Portland. I enjoy having my buddy back to warm my side of the bed before I get in, plus he brought me these...


from Voodoo Doughnut.

This quirky independent doughnut shop has been featured on a number of food and travel shows. I've wanted to go there for a while should I have the chance to visit Portland again one day, so you can imagine my disappointment when we decided it would not be practical for me to join Nate on his trip. Luckily that disappointment was erased as my sweet husband carefully wrapped up the doughnuts in their white paper bag, stowed them away in his backpack, and flew them home. That is true love right there.

Let me tell you the bacon maple bar, while strange looking, is mouthwateringly delicious. Crisp thick bacon with just a hint of smoke, not-too-sweet maple glaze, and soft fresh yeasty dough, it's like a breakfast platter in your hand. As Nate told me about his trip I devoured my delectable treat only to realize after the fact that I hadn't taken a picture of it. Thankfully Voodoo Doughnut and the internet filled in where I fell short.

I guess in the end time apart wont be so bad as we appreciate our time together that much more...plus there's the possibility of goodies. Wonder what he could bring me back from Tucson?

I'm all alone, there's no one here beside me

My husband left me yesterday.

It's only for 42 hours but regardless he's gone. He's off galavanting through the streets of Portland, meandering the mountains and coast line, eating yummy Tilamook factory ice cream and squeaky cheese, while I'm here. Home. Alone. For the first time since we got married. Sure he's worked a few late shifts at the hospital, but he always came home that night.

It's funny how quickly we develop a routine and how odd it feels when that routine is disturbed. Surely dinner can't be over, Nate hasn't come home and who is going to do the dishes? Surely it can't be time for bed, who's going to kiss me goodnight, tuck me in, and keep me warm? Yes it is time (and don't call me Shirley).

Lying in bed, trying to fall asleep, all my senses felt heightened. The house seemed dark, too dark. The silence sounded too quiet making all pops and creaks magnified. Even the normal sounds of my digestive system sounded amplified to startling levels. Nights like these make me wish we had a dog, or a gun, alas the mega Mag light will have to suffice.

To enjoy my 42 hours of ME time, I did make myself a treat of some of my neglected food friends. Lemon dill baked halibut (Nate dislikes things from the sea), and a sauteed vegetable medley of grape tomatoes (the only good tomato for Nate is a processed one) and cremini mushrooms (there's usually not much fungus among us). Deliciouso! A meal so nice I think I'll make it twice.

Over the years I'll get used to the nights apart as we enter residency and nights on call will take their spot in our routine. I get a second shot at this whole alone thing in a few weeks when he goes to Tucson. I think fish, Mag light and I will become fast friends, though never fully comparing to or replacing my best friend, I still prefer him over anything any day.

All you need is...

Love for...

Cheesesteaks!

Reading Terminal Market

Liberty

Valley Forge

Architecture

and pumpkins!

Thanks Philadelphia we had a great time.

Now this is the story...

Oh in West Philadelphia, born and raised...

on a playground is where I spent most of my days...

chilling out, maxing, relaxing...

all cool..

and all shootin some b-ball outside of the school, when a couple of guys who were up to no good started makin trouble in my neighborhood. I got in one little fight and my mom got scared and said, "you're movin' with your autie and uncle in Bel Air."

I drove up to the house round 7 or 8, and I yelled to the cabbie "you home smell ya lata!"...





Looked at my kingdom and I was finally there to sit on my throne as the prince of Bel Air.

We're in Philly

 

Some of the trees got my memo about fall colors...a number of others didn't, plus we have the beginning of a nor'easter storm is on its way.

She's Crafty

Before I got married, while I lived by myself, I got a little stingy about decorating for the holidays. I didn't see the point of going through the effort of pulling out all the decorations for just me. Thus I was scrooge of Valentine's Day, Halloween, and (GASP) even a Christmas. If you know my mother, you know the care and joy she has in decorating her house. A crafty and artistic woman by nature, there was always something being bought, sawed, painted or glued for the holiday season. My lack of crafty decoration nears sacrilige and I'm a bit surprised my mother hasn't disowned me for it.

Seeing the error of my ways, this year for Halloween I decided to try and make appropriate reprimands. Michael's has been my second home and Martha my muse. For weeks the spare room served as a staging area with bags of goodies waiting to emerge come October. I had my initiation with Modge Podge (Nate thought I was making up words until I showed him the bottle). I bought an exacto knife. I let Home Depot do the sawing but I did the sanding and painting. I even got in touch with my digital crafter to decorate the blog, which surprisingly took more time than regular crafts since I'm inexperienced at all the goodness that Photoshop Elements has to offer.

Hopefully all the work is reparition enough for my years of inactivity. Now for a headstart on Christmas.

Finally Fall

FALL IS CREEPING into the Valley of the Sun, and I have to admit it's one of my favorite times here in Arizona. The first inclings of fall signal the light at the end of the tunnel, the coming sweet reward for enduring the refiner's fire of summer. Respite is on its way. The sweet summer treats of strawberries, cherries, and melons disappear from grocery store and are replaced by pumpkins, apples, pomegranates and squashes of all different shapes and colors.

Fall in Arizona means double digit temperatures, lower electric bills, open windows and fresh air. Fall in Arizona means coming out of summer hibernation and enjoying the outdoors again with bike rides, hikes, and nights relaxing on the back patio. Fall in Arizona means ASU football and letting the kids go trick-or-treating without wearing a big jacket to keep warm.

There's only one thing I miss about fall that we don't get much of in the valley, changing leaves. To find evidence of autumn leaves you have to head North, and even then it doesn't quite compare to the autumn leaves elsewhere. This is one thing I'm earnestly looking forward to in our upcoming trip to Philadelphia. So listen up Philly trees, you have 2 weeks before I get there and I expect to see a full fall spectacular. Rich reds, bright oranges and golden yellows, the WORKS! I don't know when I'll ever make it back out your way thus making this possibly a once in a lifetime trip. Don't be shy or modest, show me what you're working with.