tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89833552042907938422012-02-17T04:29:53.032+01:00Oh My Word!Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.comBlogger1821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-10795793268868607332011-08-05T15:27:00.000+02:002011-08-05T15:27:03.799+02:00Update!!
Woah! It's been a while guys!
So, how are you? How's the family?
I'm good. Things are crazy busy around here. I have a JOB! Working here.
Our church, and several other Orthodox parishes in the area, are working together to open a not for profit coffee house in downtown Harrisburg. Each quarter a local charity will be selected to receive all of the proceeds from the shop. I am VERYStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-49747378085475008202011-07-22T12:34:00.002+02:002011-07-22T12:34:00.424+02:00Lost my Filter
Everyone, ok, almost everyone; has a built-in "filter" of what to say, what not to say, and who not to say it to.
I lost mine.
For two years, I lived somewhere that most people couldn't understand a word I said unless I wanted them to. Then, when I was saying something that should be filtered, I said it to my husband who knows me so well that we can filter each other and understand the Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-86093801384530909432011-07-20T14:42:00.000+02:002011-07-20T14:42:14.540+02:00Last Day of X-mas in July!
Last stop on the Christmas in July roadtrip is Switzerland! This is on the way to Interlaken, which was our home base.
Don't stay there. It's not so cute and sooooo stinkin expensive. Fondue is around $100 for two- and that's just bread and cheese. BUT they have a Hooter's. Poor girls- it was snowing out and absolutely freezing and they still had on those crazy "uniforms".
Anyways, Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-73051101779076312312011-07-18T14:59:00.003+02:002011-07-18T15:00:22.414+02:00Part 3
After the excitement of the castles we decided to spend a day around Reutte and went on a hike. So, we left from our hotel, went through the village, and out of town. And then I spent the next 2 hours wishing I had snowshoes.
Our hike 2nd one down, Ruine Ehrenberg. Basically we walked through someone's backyard, up a service road, onto a trail, and straight up a hill. I lost a glove...Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-29937293457171699992011-07-11T01:30:00.001+02:002011-07-11T16:14:39.006+02:00Christmas in July, part Deux
There is a road leading up to Neuschwanstien, winding it's way up the side of the hill from the village. Some people walk, some people carry their kids on sleds (for a quick trip back down), and others take horse drawn sleighs to the top. No matter what you decide, be prepared for a stroll through a Currier and Ives painting.
Ludwig, also know as the Fairy Tale king, built this Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-45979707820224212202011-07-08T17:51:00.000+02:002011-07-08T17:52:15.933+02:00Christmas in July
Joyeux Noel!
I just realized that I didn't really blog our last Europe trip... which was Christmas. Sometimes, photo editing becomes such a task that by the end of it all I am so tired of looking at them that I just quit. Not a good excuse, but it happens. So, here I am in PA with some of the craziest humidity I have ever experienced, and I am going to talk about snow. YEH!
This is Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-33318858770881547242011-06-28T19:34:00.000+02:002011-06-28T19:34:31.054+02:00Tasty SurprisesI love surprises. Ok, no I don't. I am a planner, but this kind of surprise is always welcome. One of John's coworkers brought him two pints of black raspberries yesterday. YEH!
John wanted muffins. I wanted cake....Tony Horton (p90x) wanted us to have neither. So, as with all good marriages, we had to come to a compromise. Black Raspberry Coffee Cake. Cake that tastes a lot like a Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-25090869607265153132011-06-23T18:04:00.000+02:002011-06-23T18:04:36.746+02:00WildwoodWith decorating almost complete, we have begun exploring our new city. Little bit more time on our hands. Last weekend was beautiful so instead of going to King of Prussia (evidently a big fancy mall outside of Philly) we went to Wildwood Park just outside of Harrisburg. It is a nature preserve and marsh with great trails and lots of wildlife. Lots. Chipmunks,egrets, herrings, ground hogs, Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-9912307865851983612011-06-19T06:40:00.000+02:002011-06-19T06:40:10.508+02:00DadTo the man who will always be there to bait my hook (because I can't stand to do it myself);
who taught me how to doggie paddle, dive, touch the bottom of the pool, and body surf;
who spent hours on math problems that we just didn't get;
and, my favorite Neil Sedaka impersonator:
You will always be my Superman. Thanks Dad. Loved you then, Love you now.
Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-36763828733771446472011-06-17T20:45:00.001+02:002011-06-17T21:29:08.614+02:00Have your cake....A couple of weeks ago I was approached by a family at church to make their daughter's birthday cake. Honestly, I was pretty hesitant to say yes. While I love to make cakes and put lots of fluffy icing on them, I haven't done a ton of detailed cake decorating and haven't used my decorating tips since before we left for France.
I know. I will be going to pastry school and haven't used icing tips Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-46356829306828434912011-06-13T16:20:00.000+02:002011-06-13T16:20:04.769+02:00First Blooms
Thunderstorms and flowers make for great photos of our first blooms. I should have some yellow and pink cosmos soon.
Spider plants have buds and so do the snap dragons. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have some pictures of those!Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-48650954596036617392011-06-10T16:32:00.000+02:002011-06-10T16:32:12.304+02:00Things to Do When You're Home AloneWell, John is out of town on business for a few days. This is the first time in our almost 4 years of marriage that I have been home alone without him. Not. A. Fan. So, in case you are ever in the same situation, here are some things for you to do.
1. Catch up on your current favorite TV Show. For me, this week it's Prison Break. Most. Addictive. Show. Ever. I can't stop watching. If you happen Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-68467582842276109402011-06-10T15:50:00.000+02:002011-06-10T15:50:00.286+02:00Color worksSadie, modeling our new rug.
Yes, it is shag. And, yes it is gold. Evidently we are quite retro. ha. While at my Mom and Dad's for Memorial day, Mom and I whipped out a couple of pillows. That's right, I can now at sewing (to a very limited degree) to my hobbies. Hopefully, my skills will improve with time. It took me 20 minutes to do something that took my Mom a total of 2.
I think it's all Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-22625355359902663612011-06-08T15:38:00.001+02:002011-06-08T15:38:00.902+02:00The FarmJohn and I have joined a local CSA, otherwise known as Community Supported Agriculture. We paid a fee for about 4 months worth of fresh, organic, locally grown vegetables and once a week I go to pick up our box. So far we have had a LOT of wonderful lettuce mix, radishes, spring onions, bok choy, and arugula and are loving every single bite. And, of course, it is all "P90X approved". ( By the wayStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-61339161730354422142011-06-07T15:37:00.000+02:002011-06-07T15:37:00.496+02:00Still Growing...Look where we started!
This was taken before Memorial Day. I actually meant to blog it then. I'm sorry. I have decided that life in the US is just way more hectic than life in France ever was. I don't know why... but there is never enough time to get everything done.
And now:
So, I have successfully raised chives, cilantro, snapdragons, spider plants, cosmos, and some very healthy basil! If Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-39144611515905469632011-05-22T04:02:00.000+02:002011-05-22T04:02:39.669+02:00Working on CommisionI made a deal with my dad a little while ago: if I can sell their house- I might get something out of it. Steak dinner? Million dollars? Snickers bar? I guess we will find out!
Mom and Dad are looking to downsize and get a little closer to the rest of the family. If you happen to be looking for a lovely, lake front home in TN- I've got the place for you! (Do I sound like a car salesman yet? I Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-22816325026757041902011-05-20T16:25:00.001+02:002011-05-21T04:48:58.962+02:00Decorating!Guys, I promise, I took these pictures on Wednesday. I had this blog sort of written.... and then... I got my butt kicked. The hubs and I started P90X this week and Oh. My. Word. It is kicking my butt. I have been in bed by 9:30 every night this week, completely passed out and that darn ab ripper x makes me feel like a rubber band; complete jello.
Enough of my belly aching. It's good for me to Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-4520132342452267762011-05-11T16:01:00.000+02:002011-05-11T16:01:48.111+02:00The Headboard ExperimentWhen we bought our $40 headboard from craiglist I knew I would paint it. While I like the antique-look, it was a little too rustic for me. And, ever since I had heard about the "hammered" spray paint I had wanted to try it out.
I thought it would be painted as soon as we bought it but the weather had other ideas and since we don't have many places to store large objects in our apartment- it wentStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-6609312580394815052011-05-09T08:00:00.003+02:002011-05-09T08:00:06.761+02:00Update Monday: The New PlaceOk! I am finally at a point where I can share photos of the new place. All the furniture is in.. unless we add another bookshelf or something later. So, for the most part everything is settled. Yeh!
We have exactly one picture on the wall so don't judge. The walls are currently a reflection of the people who live here- pale, pasty, and lacking in coloration. As we gain on that, hopefully they Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-84762439646211595742011-05-08T06:00:00.005+02:002011-05-08T06:00:06.437+02:00Mom. She's the reason I cook,
(I even wrote a book about it!)
why I love to give gifts and see people light up,
why I enjoy the occasional Margarita, (Yes, that's me, Jack, and Mom)
She's the reason I'm a little OCD about cleaning and so many other little things...
So Mom, I hope you have a wonderful day. Without you I wouldn't be me.
Love!
and, everyone else, you should probably call your mom Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-74177613807149398312011-05-06T17:47:00.000+02:002011-05-06T17:47:21.699+02:00And now, for the big story this evening...I GOT IN!
This fall I will be going to school and I get to wear a chef coat, hat, and fun black and white checked pants! Woot!
And, now, I must go bake a celebration cake.... or some cookies... or maybe some ice cream..
Have a great weekend!Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-42010030584663131652011-05-05T16:46:00.000+02:002011-05-05T16:46:34.764+02:00Growing....I thought I should show you the progress my little plants are making. Thus far this is my most successful year of growing things and I am taking it as quite the victory considering the crazy cold weather we have been having. Let's just hope it continues.
The cilantro, basil, poppies, chives, and snap dragons are all coming up! I think I may have lost a couple of the others... We'll find out!
Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-46659643746044330702011-04-21T08:00:00.001+02:002011-04-21T08:00:07.185+02:00THE GrillSince we are finally living somewhere that we don't have a set "moving date", John and I have started buying furniture and house-stuffs that we want to keep. Hopefully for a long time. While buying furniture and settling in takes a while- the first place that is ever settled when we move is the kitchen. And, since we are Americans, part of having the kitchen settled is having a grill. Until now Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-27767405481872442392011-04-20T08:00:00.000+02:002011-04-20T08:00:08.293+02:00Spring?Since we left Nice, I have been waiting for Springtime. Unfortunately, spring in PA is not the same at all. I have yet to wear shorts, get a tan, or enjoy more than one beautiful day in a row. Actually, I can count the days that we have had temperatures of more than 60 on one hand. For a Tennessee girl who has lived on the French Riviera for 2 years....This. is. not. normal.
Once I realized thatStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-86666855342267707352011-04-19T18:11:00.000+02:002011-04-19T18:11:30.485+02:00Sweet Birthday TreatsI made my own cake... Strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting. Even John-the anti-cake man- loves this cake. Not too sweet, not too heavy, essentially it is the Baby Bear's porridge of cake. And, my hubs bought me those tulips for my birthday too. Love him!
Cake recipe: Pink Lady Cake from Smitten KitchenStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-91717133225466007562011-04-18T14:14:00.000+02:002011-04-18T14:14:07.587+02:00Somebody had a birthday!And, it was me! Last Friday was my 26th birthday and my husband gave me a wonderful present, one that will be very handy in the coming months, a Kitchenaid Professional 600 mixer! Don't you love the wrapping paper? Shiny.
I was excited! Can't you tell? The color is called "caviar" and it's kind of a shiny metallic black. Lovely! Tomorrow, I'll show you the first thing I made with it! Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-3216175031275045282011-04-05T14:48:00.000+02:002011-04-05T14:48:51.026+02:00Fancy Pants SpaghettiBreak out your dress pants- this is not your ordinary spaghetti dinner. This is nice-bottle-of-wine,-impress-your-guests,-and-have-some-good-bread-on-hand-to-sop-up-the-goodness-when-your-plate-is-empty kind of spaghetti. (Because while it may be a fancy dinner, you have to be yourself...)
Like a lot of our dinners, this was a challenge to ourselves. Could we make spaghetti and meatballs from Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-4831379701537952272011-03-29T15:57:00.001+02:002011-03-29T16:02:29.406+02:00A Non-Celebrity Endorsment
Have you ever used something in the kitchen that you were just SURE would be a total gimmick and never ever do what it claimed it would? (That was a total rhetorical question... of course you have! Everybody has!) The better question is- Did it work? Odds are-No. Yet the handful that do work keep us going back to the kitchen tool aisle to see what else might work.
Now, I did not want to try outStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-6246363319168396072011-03-21T16:00:00.001+01:002011-03-23T19:58:01.538+01:00Full sized Appliances!! Oh My!Well, we are moved, still lacking a lot of furniture, but I am LOVING my new kitchen and John is LOVING his big ol' GRILL! We have had so much fun cooking in a space big enough for two people and a dog. It's a much happier experience for everyone involved- John and I aren't walking on top of each other and Sadie has more surface area for crumbs to drop.
The cookies for today were an idea that Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-69232402072691744612011-03-09T18:46:00.000+01:002011-03-09T18:46:50.168+01:00I Haven't Forgotten You!I promise! Thanks for being patient with me guys. Since the last post we have traveled across 5 states, seen some of our amazing family and friends and finally arrived in our new home. It's been a looooong few weeks. We still have boxes scattered everywhere and absolutely no living room furniture... but it will be a process. As for the area- We LOVE it. The people are nice, some good restaurants,Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-83950321820509166432011-02-18T10:56:00.000+01:002011-02-18T10:56:36.866+01:00Saying the "See you later's"I have a general rule. I don't say "goodbye". It's too hard, too final, too.... serious. So, for the past week, I have been saying "I'll see you soon" or "We'll see you later". And, it's true. John and I will be back. We are not gone forever from France, only for a while.
People ask us often whether we had a lot of friends in France and the answer, honestly, is no. We had a small group of Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-37002450052169995472011-02-14T23:17:00.000+01:002011-02-14T23:17:02.504+01:00Update Monday: Moved!Well, we are homeless. This morning 3 french gentlemen came and packed all of our earthly belongings into a 3 meter square box. How many Americans can say that all they own fits in a 3m box? We have learned the importance of downsizing, living with the minimum you need, and not getting very attached to things. A clutter bug I am not. Ah well, give me a few months.. things may change. ;)
The restStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-35349105324568189702011-02-10T22:09:00.000+01:002011-02-10T22:09:02.590+01:00The End of Boxed BrowniesWhen we first moved here, there was a huge learning curve with baking. The flour is different, they have different types of sugar, no chocolate chips, no cocoa powder, no vanilla extract (that is any good...) It took me 6 months to make a decent chocolate chip cookie. But, once I made that perfect cookie, it all started to come together.
My husband has said that necessity is the mother of Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-42342530675864191112011-02-09T16:24:00.001+01:002011-02-09T16:26:59.774+01:00What's a Buckle?Anyone who has ever moved knows the absolute joy of cleaning out the cabinets that last week in the apartment/house. Using the last of your sugar, flour, butter, pasta, tomato sauce, cereal, and whatever is left in the freezer, then trying to find a way to piece it all together into a meal or a dessert. Over the weekend I made brownies (which I thought I had blogged but evidently haven't. Soon!),Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-36552343005456086232011-02-09T13:26:00.000+01:002011-02-09T13:26:47.138+01:00Aww Man...I had post all ready for you guys today but blogger is not letting me upload the photos.. and what's a recipe without a photo?? Hopefully they will get this worked out quickly! While we wait, what do you think of the new layout? Better or Worse?
I think I like it. Simple. Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-61139378625922546892011-02-04T08:45:00.000+01:002011-02-04T08:45:02.571+01:00Week in ReverseWell, this has been a fun one.. I really have had every intention of blogging in the past week but there have been just a few things going on.. Here's the rundown:
1) Last Thursday/Friday - Severe stomach ache sets in, can't hardly stand to touch my stomach. Think to myself "eh, it will go away."2) Monday, lunch with friend in Nice, work at library, all while wearing 4 inch heel boots (6 hrs). Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-89454630963978889122011-01-24T11:48:00.000+01:002011-01-24T11:48:43.580+01:00Update MondayBefore I start a new week of blogs I thought I would fill everyone in on what's happening in France (and the US). This past week John, Sadie, and I flew to NYC and then drove to our future hometown- Mechanicsburg. My parents met us there for the weekend and to pick up the doggie. We had a great time looking around the town, trying some local restaurants, and making multiple trips to Target. ( ohStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-39675655402294984422011-01-14T09:45:00.000+01:002011-01-14T09:45:36.550+01:00Floods and ThoughtsGood morning guys! Special request for you! I have a friend named Annie (Hi Annie!) who lives in Brisbane, Australia who could really use our thoughts and prayers today! As many of you know, Australia is dealing with some record flooding and many people are displaced or missing. All I ask is that you remember them as you go through your day and, once this is all over, remember all Australians whoStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-43171992446317441972011-01-11T14:07:00.003+01:002011-03-30T20:18:32.335+02:00That Dorie.. She's good.When you start looking at food blogs online, there are a couple of names you are sure to run into- David Lebovitz, Dorie Greenspan, and Pioneer Woman, just to name a couple. And, I have to say, they are quite good at what they do. But that Dorie. She might be the cream of the crop.
I know.. I sound 80 years old when I say that. I'm probably the closest to a 50's housewife you'll ever meet... I Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-69079068484388988932011-01-06T15:42:00.000+01:002011-01-06T15:42:54.654+01:00It's Christmas!! Again!!Hurray! I have good news. Not really good news for you guys.. sorry.. but it is good news for me! This year John and I ordered several of Christmas presents for each other from the US because my mom was sending us a Christmas box. We thought she could just throw in a couple of extra things for us along with all the goodies she was shipping over anyways. It was shipped with PLENTY of time to get Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-24384463268990338272011-01-04T13:20:00.000+01:002011-01-04T13:20:19.424+01:00Moving.I have mentioned this in other posts but haven't directly stated it. Big changes are happening at Le Maison De Halliburton. Most of you know, but in case you don't, we moved to France in March of 2009 for a two year contract with John's job.. which will end in March of 2011. Things have been happening behind the scenes over here and as of February 19th, we will be residents of Pennsylvania.
Yeh.Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-9759951006202703662011-01-04T13:07:00.000+01:002011-01-04T13:07:09.355+01:00Last Journey Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all have had a wonderful start to 2011. Wow. 2011. 2 years ago I was getting ready to move to France. This year, I am getting ready to move back to the states. Time definitely flies when you are having fun!
Speaking of fun, we just got back from our very last Europe trip... for a little while...John had wanted to take a road trip, I wanted to got to Austria Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-10780534543081548322011-01-01T10:44:00.001+01:002011-01-01T10:44:00.380+01:00New Year BlessingMay God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-53575004563921139422010-12-27T09:34:00.001+01:002010-12-27T09:34:00.211+01:00Pâté? Bleeeh.The one criteria that John and I have for food is... We'll Try Anything Once. It works out pretty well. Anyone can handle one bite of something, no matter how nasty, gross, slimy, or otherwise disgusting said bite might be. And if you don't like it, you never have to try it again.
In France, we have been exposed to a lot of food that we would never have tried otherwise. And, I've never had Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-1135663901732916612010-12-21T12:04:00.000+01:002010-12-21T12:04:50.262+01:00Getting in the SpiritTo help us all "get in the spirit" of the Holidays, here are a couple of things that have crossed my path. And, one of my favorite Christmas songs.
When four of Santa’s elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas pressure. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more. Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-14502242663521067402010-12-21T11:38:00.000+01:002010-12-21T11:38:41.491+01:00The Ugliest Soup That You Will Ever LoveThere are some foods that just don't look so good.. but taste amazing. This is one of them. But, once you taste the delicious blend of spices combined with the nutty flavor of chick peas.... you will fall in love.
While it simmers, the whole house fills with the smell of cinnamon, cumin, and garlic leaving you to drool until it is finished. It is the favorite soup of the season for us this yearStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-8734116495101963572010-12-10T12:48:00.000+01:002010-12-10T12:48:59.745+01:00Chicken Noodle SoupI think in the world of blogging I could quite possibly make a name for myself as the Soup Queen. I love soup whether it is cream or broth based, vegetables only or with some meat, super smooth or a rich stew; you name it more than likely I will love it.
One soup that everyone should probably have in their bag of cooking tricks is chicken noodle. And no, I do not believe that opening a can of Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-62143632220375835012010-12-03T13:27:00.000+01:002010-12-03T13:27:31.202+01:00Oookies
No, that is not a typo. I promise, that is the real name. Along with the names chocolate oatmeal cookies, no bake chocolate cookies, cow pie cookies.... and I know I am forgetting something... If anyone else knows a name for these delicious little guys let me know! John gave them the name of "oookies" when he couldn't read my handwriting on the recipe and it is now the official name for them Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-28520276952976230362010-12-03T13:08:00.000+01:002010-12-03T13:08:39.684+01:00Winter Dinner I have wanted to share these recipes with you for several weeks now but until this week I couldn't get the rain to stop on days when I was cooking so I could take pictures. ( I think you can tell that I don't like the rain. It hinders my plans.)
The Cheesy-Chive muffins on the right side have quickly become a go-to side item for our winter soups. They are mild in flavor and bring out the Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-65749368256984181152010-12-01T11:00:00.000+01:002010-12-01T11:00:31.119+01:00Corfu, GreeceAh! I completely forgot to write about this one! There is a really good reason for it though- we didn't like it so much. So, while I would highly recommend our cruise, the staff, and three out of the 4 ports of calls; I would NOT recommend Corfu. It's not a really pretty part of Greece. And, that's all I have to say about it.
See? Not even a picture.
Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-15134075667597060412010-12-01T10:28:00.000+01:002010-12-01T10:28:34.192+01:00Snow DayJohn and I love snow and mountains. We are not so much the fans of rain. Which is really all it has been doing here lately. What it's doing today actually. Really makes our apartment feel about the size of a closet. Ok! Well, back to the snow! Last Sunday the three of us headed for the hills. (Sadie loves snow too. She doesn't care so much for the mountains.) John had wanted to visit a village Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-41368993667329735982010-11-20T17:01:00.000+01:002010-11-20T17:01:21.551+01:00Santorini, GreeceThis was my favorite port by far. Amazing weather, amazing scenery, amazing wind, amazing EVERYTHING. I loved this place. Once again, we took the advice of our friend who had been here previously and did something different. He suggested a hike that goes from the tender-port of Thira to the end of the island and the town of La. A one way trip of 7 miles along the edge of an island formed by a Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-74611055107301099832010-11-18T11:42:00.000+01:002010-11-18T11:42:17.698+01:00Ephesus, TurkeyEvidently it is now winter in Nice. The winters here are pretty mild but it rains alllll the time. Today is our 4th day of rain this week. That's 4 out of 5. The good news is that the mountains are going to have plenty of snow after this!
In honor of our rainy day today, I thought I would share the next port from our cruise- Kusadasi,also known as the ancient city of Ephesus. It was also the Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-58848850390544881282010-11-16T13:38:00.002+01:002011-06-28T19:36:26.650+02:00Nutella Chocolate Chip CookiesYes. These are really as amazing as they sound. I found a recipe for these on one of my favorite food blogs, Serious Eats. While their articles are pretty good, "Photograzing" is my favorite section. I have found a lot of really awesome recipes through this part of the website and I'll be sharing a few more of them with you later on.
I know I have already posted once today, but I am soooo far Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-90544509802848520752010-11-16T10:18:00.000+01:002010-11-16T10:18:56.891+01:00Dubrovnik, CroatiaOur first port of call on the cruise was Dubrovnik, Croatia. One of the secrets to a good cruise, in my opinion, is to do your own thing. Use the boat as your ride and your place to stay but don't do their excursions. We only took one excursion from the boat and really wasn't that great. Research where you are going, find out what you are interested in seeing, book a private guide (often the sameStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-48013412802832982702010-11-15T10:50:00.001+01:002010-11-15T10:52:14.926+01:00Catch-up!Ok! I have so much to tell and no idea where to start! I have been cooking up a storm and I still have to tell you about our cruise! Today- cruise. Tomorrow.... We'll see how I feel.
After our lovely experience on the train in France and Italy, we had a wonderful couple of days in Venice. The weather was nice, it wasn't crowded, and it didn't stink. I found a simple hotel for us on the island, Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-26556323649139905302010-11-05T10:11:00.000+01:002010-11-05T10:11:49.321+01:00The National Sport of FranceSome might say that the national sport of France is football. (Soccer to my American friends.) Some might say that it is drinking wine or eating cheese. My response to all three of these options is- HA. I know their sport of choice and is a good old fashioned strike complete with signs, face paint, yelling, and parades.
My parents had a really lovely experience with the strikes in France whileStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-47685156029264048332010-11-04T11:16:00.001+01:002010-11-05T10:13:20.045+01:00Things You Have to See in Nice!John and I have a "master list" of all the places we take people who come to visit. Usually, due to time, we have to pick and choose where go. Luckily, when my parents came to visit, we had plenty of time to see just about everything. So, while I'm telling you about their visit, I'm also going to share the master list! ( You know, in case you want to visit and I'm not here to show you around.)
Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-22035773442066871422010-11-02T13:48:00.001+01:002011-02-11T11:43:55.195+01:00Rain.Today is my Monday. Yesterday was a holiday in France so John was off for a long weekend. Don't get excited. We didn't do anything fun this weekend. It rained. And rained. And rained. I don't think I have ever seen it rain like this here. John, Sadie and I were all completely stir crazy and it's France so OF COURSE nothing was open. My biggest pet peeve about this country, besides the lack of Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-69297037724605298542010-10-31T17:52:00.000+01:002010-10-31T17:52:59.366+01:00Happy Halloween!I hope everyone has a wonderful, full-of-candy Halloween! Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-69834409764262265842010-10-26T14:17:00.000+02:002010-10-26T14:17:28.341+02:00A PreviewI am working on pictures this morning.. and afternoon.. and tomorrow.. and the next day... until they are finished but thought I would give you a little preview of what we saw and did. More later!
The Market in Nice.
Sadie thought about buying some spices...
My wonderful family!
We had some crazy weather while Mom and Dad were here. This is in Antibes- just down the road from Nice where the Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-35979858195410010002010-10-25T13:19:00.001+02:002010-11-05T10:14:58.502+01:00I hate it when Vacation ends..Well everyone, I'm back. I am not sure how excited am about that though... For the past two weeks, my parents have been visiting. The first week was spent in Nice and the surrounding areas. Last week we all went to Venice and then hopped on a boat to sail around the Mediterranean. It was WONDERFUL. Mom, Dad, John and I all had a wonderful time and saw some amazing sights.
This morning, my Mom Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-47963689761628199082010-10-07T09:40:00.000+02:002010-10-07T09:40:14.029+02:00HiatusSorry everyone! I will be taking a blog hiatus for the next 2 weeks.
I'll have lots to tell you about when I get back though!
Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-45305477949214364222010-10-01T12:01:00.000+02:002010-10-01T12:01:21.968+02:00Make this!It will make all of your salads taste better. I promise.
This is the other recipe that I knocked out of the "To Try" folder on Wednesday. My basil was starting to look a little crazy and I had a couple of shallots that needed to be used as well. It is so good. That's all I can say for it. If you don't believe me... make it and prove me wrong. Or, believe me and make it. The point here is that Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-34247777970265295072010-09-29T14:02:00.001+02:002010-09-29T14:05:09.016+02:00Lime Mascarpone Blondies!I have a huge folder of recipes in our online bookmarks. John has made me divide them into categories because they were becoming.. unruly. (And everyone thinks I am the organized, ocd, neat-freak. HA!) They are currently divided into Baking, Dinners, To Try, and To Try When We Get Back to the US. (Ok. So maybe I am all of the above things.. but he is too! Only about different things.) Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-13968820386738405302010-09-28T09:45:00.001+02:002010-09-28T09:47:32.727+02:00Poll!Ok, I thought it might be fun to take a vote on what recipe I should make next and post. Here are the choices:
1- Savory Acorn Squash Pudding
2- Penne with Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese
3- Savory Cheese and Chive Bread
Can you see a theme? I'm in the mood for fall. Just let me know which one you would like to see here by leaving a comment. Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-72109547926961571122010-09-28T09:36:00.000+02:002010-09-28T09:36:55.278+02:00Take that Martha!Yes, you read correctly. I have beaten Martha Stewart at her own game. I have made a better cookie.
I found this recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies for about 6 months ago and have made them several times. They are pretty good. The original recipe is ok... probably one of the better oatmeal raisin recipes I have found but it needed work. They came out too cake-like. I like my ORC chewy and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-41421045975067518382010-09-24T10:14:00.000+02:002010-09-24T10:14:06.419+02:00SunflowerLast Saturday, while J was here, we took her and her friends to the flower market in Nice. I, unfortunately, did not bring my good camera. (What was I thinking?!?) But, I did take the little point and shoot, thinking that it would be ok for a few shots. Then the battery died on it. (Really?? My luck is amazing.) I did get a shot or two in before it crashed on me.
Aren't these amazing? Love Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-43841258453922853392010-09-23T09:31:00.000+02:002010-09-23T09:31:22.308+02:00A GuestOur vacation weekend was spent with one of my very good friends from college. She came through Nice on her tour of Europe with 3 other girls and it was so so great to see her.
J was not only a good friend in college, she was also my roommate. Well, when she was there, she was my roommate. J picked one of those degrees that you had to study for all the time so most of her days were spent in theStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-10695409138069107252010-09-20T09:53:00.000+02:002010-09-20T09:53:38.209+02:00Wish you were here!Well, our wonderful vacation week is over. So sad. John is already back at work this morning and I am getting back into my weekly routine. Walk the dog, breakfast, workout, dishes, laundry, etc etc etc. It really never ends.
One of my favorite vacation days was our trip to Jaun les Pins and the only sandy beach in our immediate area. And it is 25 minutes away. I guess that's better than 10 Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-53896683213591522432010-09-16T11:03:00.002+02:002010-09-16T17:20:49.837+02:00Sadie on a picnicFor lunch yesterday, the hubs and I went for a picnic in our favorite park. We packed up our french bread, french cheese, some melon, tomatoes (for John, not for me!), and, of course, our favorite fuzzy friend, Sadie. John took a book, his ipod, and a drawing pad to keep him busy after we ate. I took a book. I'm easy to please that way.
There was only one thing we forgot- a good distraction Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-13569598129000006322010-09-16T10:42:00.000+02:002010-09-16T10:42:54.834+02:00Love this place!A beautiful double rainbow outside our apartment a couple of weeks ago. Amazing.
Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-31480138332918480742010-09-14T15:21:00.000+02:002010-09-14T15:21:40.514+02:00Banana Banana BreadQuick recipe for you today since we are on VACATION this week. Woohooooo! I say that, but we aren't really doing anything this week. John and I went to Italy this morning, going to go into the mountains later this week, and then the beach. Oh, and a dentist appointment for me. Hurray! Love those. Really, I don't hate the dentist but I am not looking forward to this one. At all.
I made this Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-25460413325072021102010-09-10T11:32:00.000+02:002010-09-10T11:32:42.298+02:00Birthday Extravaganza!It's a tradition for me to make John a birthday sign.. I've done it every year since we got married. Last year I made it out of leftover cardboard boxes.... It was pretty. See? I think this year's is better.... Cake was good too. From scratch! Cake and Icing. Ohh man. Makes me want a piece right now. Maybe that will be my lunch.... Happy birthday to my husband! And, Happy weekend to everyone Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-1158104285734348142010-09-09T15:57:00.000+02:002010-09-09T15:57:01.265+02:00Big Day!Today I have:
Baked a Cake Wrapped presentsPut up a birthday signBought the last things I needed for dinnerCleaned the kitchen 8 times. ( I baked a cake, remember. It's a messy business.) Omitted telling John that one of his presents arrived today (Score one for me! I am not good with keeping gifts secret. I want you to have it NOW so I can see the look of joy on your face. Yeh. I love gift Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-74850599205366200172010-09-08T11:04:00.000+02:002010-09-08T11:04:29.902+02:00Evening in Nice It's so sad that we got the best dog possible on the first try. No other dog will ever be able to compare. Honestly, I'm not even sure our own children will be able to live up to this dog.
Checking on the neighborhood.
My two Favorites. Please ignore the box in the background. We order Sadie's food and I hadn't thrown the box away yet.
Beautiful Sky.
Really? Can a human kid be this cute? Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-51372647679656813952010-09-07T09:50:00.000+02:002010-09-07T09:50:53.349+02:00For Sale!For anyone who might be reading this in Nice, or anyone who is willing to pay for the shipping, the hubs and I are trying to sell a couple of things. Since we will be moving back to the States in about 6 months, we are already trying to downsize some of the items that we have to take back. Plus, a little extra cash is always nice!
Quechua 2 second tent
2 people and a dog fit in here! 35euroStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-61367228354832096702010-09-06T13:43:00.000+02:002010-09-06T13:43:58.975+02:00On a Personal NoteI wouldn't normally make the blog so personal, but I think today I will make an exception. My husband, John, and I had a rough weekend. As did many of the people that we know back in the US. Our wonderful friend and former pastor passed away. Jonate was only 31 years old and he and his wife had just had their first child. He was an amazing influence on both of our lives and taught us and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-67745404190458198792010-09-01T11:03:00.000+02:002010-09-01T11:03:02.945+02:00Simple, fantastic CouscousNow that everything is finished with the Paris trip and we are busy planning our other trips for this year.... and praying we don't deplete our savings in the process.... I thought I would share a FANTASTIC summer salad recipe with you. Great for Labor day cookouts, casual dinners, and picnics!
Chick Pea and Couscous Salad
Serves 6 ( I mean, it makes a LOT of salad!)
1 1/2 cups cooked Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-73280812169462672022010-08-31T12:18:00.002+02:002010-09-01T21:37:53.346+02:00Mont Saint Michel, Last day of the trip!When we left Omaha beach, we were in a pretty big hurry. It was already 6:00pm and we had to be at our BandB by 8. It is normally an hour and a half drive between the two places (Normandy and Mont Saint Michel) BUT our GPS wanted us to drive on a nonexistent road AND we discovered that the ac adaptor was broken and our GPS was going to die before we made it to our destination. Joy of Joys. AlwaysStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-82979988422715815202010-08-30T11:09:00.001+02:002010-09-01T21:39:57.949+02:00ArromanchesAfter spending Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday running around Paris and Versailles at full speed John and I were very very thankful for a couple of days at a slower pace. We had scheduled to rent a car Thursday morning in Paris and, after John turned a 10 minute walk to the rental place into a walk, subway ride, more walking, and then a subway ride BACK to where we started, we were on our Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-56928299659093419562010-08-27T11:22:00.000+02:002010-08-27T11:22:30.325+02:00A Few More Parisian MemoriesOur last 2 days in Paris were not actually spent in Paris and I'll be telling you all about them next week. So, since it is Friday, I thought I would wrap up our trip with a few pictures of us, talk about a few more places we went, and a few of the things that we ate while there. John and I had a wonderful, very busy, very full trip to Paris. We came home exhausted and needed another vacation. (Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-74099578727320916832010-08-26T09:01:00.001+02:002010-09-01T21:36:49.300+02:00OMW edition 101Yesterday was my 100th blog! (I didn't even realize until I was writing this one!) Can you believe it? That's quite a lot of posts, in my opinion. Ah well, I have plenty of time on my hands to write I guess! And, plenty of things to write about!
So, today, I continue with Paris!
This was taken in the more industrial part of Paris. It is the EDF building- Electric Department of France.
Notre Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-48276979842287810262010-08-25T10:17:00.004+02:002010-08-25T10:17:01.060+02:00The City of Lights. Cold Version.After our day in Versailles, John and I headed into Paris to stay with another friend. We dropped off our luggage at her apartment and headed off to... want to take a guess?.. Le Tour Eiffel. Lucky for us, our friend lives about 10 minutes away from the tower. Hop, skip, jump- we're there! And BAM! It's big. Bigger than I thought it would be. It "towers" (haha.. get it???) over the rest of the Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-54185932678063661142010-08-24T09:04:00.000+02:002010-08-24T09:04:52.567+02:00Hameau de la ReineThe hamlet of the Queen, designed by Richard Mique for Marie Antoinette, was built in the mid 1780's. Marie needed an escape from all of the formalities of court life so she built her own small palace and this hamlet complete with working farm. Here, she and her attendants escaped their regular lives and pretended to be peasants. It had a working farmhouse, mill, and dairy. (Of course, otherStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-76928064538673603632010-08-23T09:00:00.003+02:002010-08-23T10:12:54.051+02:00VersaillesOk! I promise, I am really back now! The past week has been crazy with picture editing, John being sick, me being sick, and our computer going on the fritz -again-. I had every intention of blogging all through the week as I had the pictures edited and it was just too much. 975 pictures makes for a lot of work and I am of the personality that it HAS to be done NOW. Otherwise they are staring me Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-44870456489462618642010-08-16T12:48:00.000+02:002010-08-16T12:48:20.529+02:00I'm baaaack!Hi guys! John and I are back from Paris! We had a wonderful time and I took a ton of pictures. To be exact- 975. So, get ready for a lot of pictures and a lot stories from our trip! Hopefully I can get a few pictures up in tomorrow's blog. Have a wonderful Monday! Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-91609838074147725372010-08-04T14:19:00.000+02:002010-08-04T14:19:59.305+02:00Well... It was almost perfect!We had a french friend over for dinner a couple of weeks ago; while the computer was gone.. So I decided to make everything as southern as possible. The menu: Fried Chicken, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Biscuits, and for dessert:
Chocolate Meringue Pie! Too bad the filling didn't set! It still tasted fantastic though. Next time, perfection! (Since it still has some "kinks" to work out, the Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-36724688539058184122010-08-03T09:35:00.000+02:002010-08-03T09:35:43.742+02:00First DayOver the weekend, John and I were talking about our first day in Nice and I realized that it hadn't been blogged. I'm not sure that it could have been any worse. After 18 hours in transit, we had gotten off the plane and were greeted with torrential rain showers. Hurray! We went through customs and baggage claim and hurried on to find a cab. And find one we did. A crazy young man drove us to our Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-4288935947759253412010-08-02T10:27:00.001+02:002010-08-02T10:28:44.312+02:00Road FlowersI can honestly say that Nice is the most beautiful place I have ever lived and that will probably be true for the rest of my life. With the beaches, sea, beautiful colors, and beautiful people; it is pretty hard to beat!
The city goes to great lengths to stay clean and gorgeous year-round. There are men who walk around all day, every day and sweep the sidewalks. If I wake up early enough, I Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-66096585961942590192010-07-30T09:54:00.001+02:002010-07-30T09:55:35.016+02:00Cherry Cobbler for 2This recipe is an adaptation of a Momma Connie recipe. It is incredibly simple but I promise, it is one of, if not THE, best cobblers you will ever eat. My Mom usually makes it with peaches but cherries have been in season here recently so that is what I made. You can make it with any fruit that you have on hand.
Cherry Cobbler for 2
*Ok.. really, this should be more than 2 servings. John and I Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-47977109649684416632010-07-30T09:29:00.001+02:002010-08-28T14:21:51.515+02:00Yummy Chicken MarinadeBecause John and I are such faithful Southerners, we -had- to have a grill when we moved to France. So, we have a very small electric grill on our balcony that is super hot on one side, cool on the other, doesn't have a lid, and is generally a pain. But it works and cooks our steaks, chicken breast, pork chops, and cheeseburgers! (Oh, I will be so happy when we return to charcoal!)
We have beenStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-83925580840485042172010-07-29T12:04:00.000+02:002010-07-29T12:04:24.371+02:00Oh... my Dog..Sadie is a dog with a lot of quirks. First off, she doesn't really think that she is a dog. She talks (and yes, we can usually understand her), she wants to eat our food, she loves to sleep on our bed (when we aren't in it), and she would rather spend time with other people than with other dogs.
One of the more interesting things about Sadie is her love of pine cones. John and I can't quite Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-28381442218058335002010-07-28T08:55:00.000+02:002010-07-28T08:55:09.720+02:00Last garden picsLast one! So many of these flowers, so much fun to shoot, even more fun to share. Hope you have enjoyed the series!
Happy Wednesday! Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-66115842142550483582010-07-27T11:58:00.000+02:002010-07-27T11:58:16.632+02:00More Garden Pics!I just spent my morning editing pictures. Usually I would say this was a huge pain... I hate editing pictures. I just want them to look perfect when I take them and that's it. Unfortunately, they just look better with a little tweaking.(Maybe I should work on my skill.... no.... nevermind..) But, today's editing went much better than normal and it is all thanks to that great man I like to call "Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-44053740404592621182010-07-26T09:53:00.000+02:002010-07-26T09:53:44.001+02:00Rooftop Garden of Bruce and RoxanneI'm back! Sorry for the 2 week break guys! Our computer has been in the shop so I haven't really been able to update as much as I would like! Fortunately, while I had all of that time to myself, I planned out a lot of blogs in advance.
Last week I visited some of my favorite people in France who just so happen to have the most amazing rooftop garden. Bruce and Roxanne moved to Nice after livingStaceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-1316403056255590782010-06-25T11:30:00.000+02:002010-06-25T11:30:36.985+02:00Some PicturesHere are some pictures of a few of my favorite things! Our plants and our dog!
My Aphid killer
The plant with the purple flower is the reason for the marigold.
One of our pepper plants!
Sadie, in her favorite place. She can see everything that is happening from right there.
Love that big goofy lazy dog...
More plant pics to come!! (and there will always be more dog pics!) Wish you a Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-66082524242952929952010-06-24T09:42:00.003+02:002010-08-28T13:23:37.498+02:00Panna Cotta
John has had a lot more experience with French food than I have since we've lived here and every once in a while he comes home and says, "You need to try to make this." A few weeks ago, he came home talking about this dessert that he had at work called Panna Cotta. (Ok, so it's not French, it's Italian, but Nice used to be part of Italy..) I looked for a recipe, found one, and made it. I might Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-5119334807857814942010-06-18T14:45:00.001+02:002011-01-10T11:07:14.342+01:00Conquering My FearMy Granny Saylor always made the best rolls. I mean... really.. the best. Every holiday, those rolls were on the table. Hot, golden brown, made-from-scratch goodness. And, on special occasions, (Which it always was when she made these rolls.) she broke out the real butter. Yeh. Lethal combination. Before I realized how fattening they were, my Christmas dinner always consisted of rolls, green Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983355204290793842.post-25094547235290522972010-06-17T10:33:00.001+02:002010-06-17T17:55:03.120+02:00Velo Noir et BleuA few months ago, the city of Nice started a "green initiative" called Velo Bleu. It is a bike rental program with small stations all over the city of Nice. All you have to do is walk up to the big blue station with the big blue bicycles (velo bleu), hit the right buttons, call a number, and viola! You have a bike. Easy huh? John and I thought so too. So, we each bought a year membership and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18434640674178864303noreply@blogger.com0