For the Girls

Last Thursday I left my two little hooligans in the capable and loving hands of my mother-in-law, Kay, while I hit the road for a trip to visit my gal pals from Wheaton College.  I think it's interesting to note the difference between the way that I left them (photos one and two) and what they were transformed into on Sunday morning (last two photos)!  Max is always full of mischief and rarely stops moving (note the blurry photo!).  He is also desperately in need of a haircut--poor thing. 

Ruby has a unique fashion sense and general quirkiness about her.  She loves wearing rubber boots, especially when it isn't raining!  She also has quite an affinity to opening umbrellas inside the house.  I guess she hasn't ever heard about the all the bad luck that goes along with that.  Although, now that I think about it, she really should have caught on after all the times I've hollered at her for scraping up the walls with her crazy umbrella.  Ugh.  I digress.

Anyhoo, the point is that I was a real lucky duck last week.  I flew up to Boston Thursday night and met my good friend, Jenn, at the airport.  Then we stayed up far too late gabbing with the lights out just like slumber party days.  Friday morning, we flew together to Kansas City, Missouri (NOT Kansas!) for a Women of Faith conference.  Once the five of us met up (Lindsay, Rachel, Kate, Jenn, and I) we headed to our chic hotel.  We all agreed we'd never been in a room so charged with estrogen as when everyone was trying to check in at once.  Eventually they started handing out champagne to calm all the frazzled nerves.  A move which could really go either way with a mass of women heading to a Bible conference!  Luckily, it seemed to work.

The conference itself was really wonderful with the concerts from Steven Curtis Chapman and Mandisa (from "American Idol") and wonderful messages from Lisa Whelchel (from TV's "The Facts of Life"), Sheila Walsh, Patsy Clairmont, and Marilyn Meberg.  I laughed and I cried and I came home feeling better equipped to be the mom, wife, sister, and friend I've been called to be.  

The time with my friends was wonderful.  With half of us married with kids and the other half still single, our lives are by no means identical.  Believe it or not I'm the only mom who doesn't work!  (I know, stay-at-home moms do work, but lets face it--it's different.)  Our Wheaton days seemed like yesterday to some of us and a million years ago to others.  We still felt the bonds of friendship though and were encouraged to hear about each other's walks.  Most of all, we reconnected in such a way that we feel like we actually know how to pray for each other and how to encourage each other better.  

Monday night, I came home to a sight I had longed for for four days-- Ruby on Daddy's shoulders shouting when she spotted me coming and Max running into my open arms just smiling and rubbing my face to make sure it was really me.  It sure does feel good to come home knowing you were missed and loved.  

So, we're back at it again and I am refreshed.  

P.S.  Thank you, Kay, for teaching Max to sleep in 'til 8am!  I am in heaven!

Sycamore Flats

Wow!  It's been a busy month.  I'm certain my lack of posts has NOTHING to do with the new DVR we have... no siree!

Really, we've been busy.  Did I mention we're buying a house?  Did I tell you I found a preschool for Ruby?  Did we cover my trip to the Midwest to visit my college friends?  I guess that would be a "no"!

Since I don't actually have photos of any of the aforementioned happenings, here are a few that Kay took while she was here taking care of everyone while I was gallivanting around the country.  These are actually from the day before I left playing down at Sycamore Flats on the French Broad River.  Don't be jealous it's so perfect here.  Just visit us!

Rock hoppin' with Nana.  

Ruby shouting with joy!  She just LOVED playing in the water, even if it was glacial...

Splish, splash!  Max is havin' a blast! 

We got a bit wet.  Here's Ruby sunbathing in her undies.  Thank goodness Nana had a few towels in her car!

Yes, I let him run around in a diaper.  It's better than sopping wet jean shorts!

Stay tuned for more from the Nutty Nelsons.  I'm going to try REALLY HARD to get back into the swing things.  I promise.

Dinner at the Grove Park Inn

This past Saturday we took our first TWO trips to Asheville.  The first was for a "Spoil Mommy" shopping trip at the mall!  I got the cutest outfit and some great shoes (though I do have a few blisters today from them--I still love them!).  It was really a treat to pick out something that made me feel good and comfortable!

The kids were thrilled to pieces to discover that there was a play area at the mall.  Jared and I were relieved as well because it allowed me to shop in peace without worrying about hurrying.  I tend towards hurrying anyway and really needed a moment to myself without Max crawling under the changing room doors to visit Mommy (or someone else!).

The second outing, for dinner at the Grove Park Inn with everyone from Pharm Agra was amazing!  Three rooms full of wonderful, spoil yourself food.  I got to take Max on several walks (he was a bit bored!) and explored some of the hotel and enjoyed live music in front of a humongous fireplace.  I even managed to embarrass Max by dancing with him in public.  He was NOT impressed!  We also got to meet some of the people Jared works for and with and I'm happy to report it's a great group of folks from all over.  Many with little ones just like us.  

So far North Carolina is wonderful and getting better every day...

Sandwich Supper

Kay bought me Southern Living's All-Time Favorites cookbook for Valentine's Day and this recipe was a big hit!  It can also be found here.

Italian Club Sandwich

1/2  (16-ounce) Italian bread loaf

1/4  cup  Italian dressing

1/3  cup  shredded Parmesan cheese

1/2  cup  mayonnaise

1/2  cup  mustard

1/2  pound 

 thinly sliced Genoa salami

1/2  pound  thinly sliced mortadella or bologna

4  (1-ounce) provolone cheese slices

Romaine lettuce leaves

3  plum tomatoes, sliced

8  bacon slices, cooked and cut in half

Garnish: pimiento-stuffed green olives

1. Cut bread diagonally into 12 (1/4-inch-thick) slices; arrange on a baking sheet. Brush slices evenly with Italian dressing, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
   
2. Bake at 375° for 5 to 6 minutes or until lightly toasted.
   
3. Spread untoasted sides of bread slices evenly with mayonnaise and mustard. Layer 4 bread slices, mayonnaise side up, with salami, mortadella, and provolone. Top with 4 bread slices, mayonnaise side up; layer with lettuce, tomato, and bacon. Top with remaining 4 bread slices, mayonnaise side down. Cut in half, and secure with wooden picks. Garnish, if desired.
   

It's even better served with this delicious coleslaw!!

Sweet Restaurant Slaw

• 1 (16 ounce) bag coleslaw mix
• 2 tablespoons diced onion
• 2/3 cup creamy salad dressing (such as Miracle Whip™)
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

1. Combine the coleslaw mix and onion in a large bowl.
2. Whisk together the salad dressing, vegetable oil, sugar, vinegar, salt, and poppy seeds in a medium bowl; blend thoroughly. Pour dressing mixture over coleslaw mix and toss to coat. Chill at least 2 hours before serving.

I hope you enjoy this yummy sandwich supper as much as we did!

Home

Over the past few weeks, I've thought a lot about "home".  After all, home has never really been a place for me. In thirty years, I've managed to put down roots in nine states and two countries.  Questions about my hometown always leave me feeling a bit lost. Is that the place I was born? Where I lived longest? Or where I am right now?

In the end, I'm finding that my home has always been more rooted in people than a place and I'm thankful for that. Now, my home is found in my wonderful husband, Jared, and my two kiddos, Ruby and Maxwell. Home is knowing that my family and friends scattered around the world are only a phone call or an email away. Home is Jesus. He makes it okay.

So, with that said, let me introduce you to the new place we're putting down roots!

So far, we have rented this really nice 3 bed/2.5 bath home right in the thick of downtown Brevard, in Western North Carolina (WNC). We're only blocks away from a wonderful playground and pool. We are also almost next door to Brevard College, an excellent music school that also has some amazing Environmental Science programs. It's the perfect place for me to find a job someday--either at the college or one of the many environmental companies nearby.

We have been busily house hunting and even made an offer on a house yesterday-- YEEHAW!  I'll keep you posted on all that as soon as we know anything!

As you can see, there are trees everywhere and mountains all around. It's truly one of the most beautiful places I've lived yet.  Brevard is also home of the white squirrel! (A fact which is quite amusing to me!)  

I'd almost think the whole thing was a hoax, but Jared tells me that he has spotted a few already. Guess I just need to spend more time outdoors!

Brevard is situated in Transylvania County, home of the vampires (just kidding!).  Transylvania County is actually known for it's waterfalls --boasting over 250!  Most of the county is protected forest land and absolutely gorgeous.  The climate is mild and very attractive to our large retiree community.  It sort of feels like living in a town of grandparents--with a few rednecks thrown in for color.  People have been so friendly and we have really started to feel at home just two short weeks after rolling into town.

In our first few days in Brevard, we visited Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah National Forest with Nana Kay.  Just two weeks before when Jared came for his interview, the falls was frozen!  We were thankful to roll into town with some warmer weather.  We have also been so thankful to Kay who spent about 3 weeks with us helping me to pack up, survive the looong car trip with the kids, find our new home, and unpack.  She's a full service Nana.  ;)  Ruby is already desperate for her to come back for a visit.  As you can see, they got even closer while she was with us.  We all miss you, Kay!  And we sure do love you!

Stay tuned tomorrow for the return of Tasty Tuesday!  

Moving!

Sorry for the relative silence this month. We've had a few things going on!

The long and short of it is that we're moving to Brevard, NC in less than two weeks! Jared interviewed at small company called PharmAgra Labs last week and last night accepted their job offer. We are excited about the move. It's a small mountain town that should be a beautiful and wonderful place to raise a family.

I must admit, I'm more sad than I thought I'd be to leave Boston. I was rather startled to realize that we have made good friends and that we certainly have found our niche at church. It will be hard to say goodbye to everyone!

So, forgive me if I'm a bit silent for a while. I hope I'll be able to update some, but truth be told, I have a LOT of work to do. I think I better go get started!

Birdseed Biscuits

I'm having a slightly different kind of Tasty Tuesday today... it's one for the birds!

My mother-in-law, Kay, got me a subscription to Family Fun magazine for Christmas and my first issue arrived last week. One of the activities they had suggested was making "Birdseed Biscuits"! The idea immediately appealed to me--it's cheap, easy, a short time in the kitchen, and some time outdoors. Here's the recipe...

Birdseed Biscuits
(makes 4-5 3" biscuits)

1 1/2 c. birdseed
2 T. flour
1/4 c. water

1. Spray or wipe a metal cookie cutter with oil and place in on a foil-covered cookie sheet.
2. Pack the mixture in the cutter, inserting half a straw near the top to create a hole for hanging.
3. Bake the biscuit (with the straw) in a 170F oven until the biscuit is hard, about one hour.
4. Let it cool. Remove the straw, thread a ribbon through the hole, and hang it outside in a sheltered place.

As I don't seem to have any metal cookie cutters, I used one of those silicone heart-shaped muffin pans. It worked like a charm and I'm guessing it was a lot easier to "pack" than a squirrely cookie cutter would have been. I also used hemp string to hang the hearts up with since it's biodegradable.

We headed outside later that afternoon--it was in the teens that day I believe-- and hung our biscuits in a bush by our parking lot. It seems to be a shelter to many birds, even now that the leaves are long gone. The first day or two it seemed like they didn't notice it, but about two days after that 3 of our 5 biscuits had totally been eaten! I think we'll be making some more of these soon.

I had to end with this photo of Max. He decided to put Jared's wrap around ear muffs over his hat--I thought it was pretty cute, if not totally pointless! About a minute after this picture was taken he was wailing he was so cold. Guess Mommy should have put some mittens on him... oops!