So, what is SF?

"SF" stands for Sean-Friendly.

My husband, Sean, has a laundry list of food allergies.   A food that is merely "Gluten-Free" and/or "Soy-Free" and/or "Nut-Free" and/or "Whatever-free" will not necessarily be something that he can eat.  I came up with the term "Sean-friendly" as a lighthearted way to deal with an often frustrating challenge: how to feed my husband without killing him.  Or making him very sick.  Thankfully, after two-and-a-half years of marriage, I haven't done either!

There have been a few close calls, though. Just after making a delicious meal with lentils, as we were literally about to eat it, I actually asked him, "Can you eat lentils?"

"I don't know..."

"Oh...  I guess I have to make something else for dinner now."  

Good thing I did, because blood tests later showed that he is allergic to them.  Bummer.

Anyway, in full, here is the list of things he must avoid eating... as far as we know... right now:

• gluten (wheat, barley, etc.)
• soy
• peanuts
• tree nuts
• coconut
• citrus (lemons, limes, oranges)
• melons (honeydew,  musk, cantaloupe, etc.)
• pineapples
• cinnamon
• corn
• celery
• lentils
• garbanzo beans
• anything procsesed on shared equipment with the aforementioned allergens and not specified as certified "whatever-free," such as oats, which are almost always processed with wheat

We are uncertain of mango and other more exotic fruits, but getting tested for those is low on the priority list as long as we have an infant to take care of! Thus, all the SF Recipes are free of those known and potential allergens.

And now, for a Dad Allen quote: "As one famous poet said, 'Now you know!'" :)

SF Recipe #5 - Herb & Spice Meat Loaf

Oh, Worcestershire Sauce.

How I loved it - so useful in many a recipe to add flavor and that je ne sais qouis. And it was economical, too, because I would buy one jar, stick it in the fridge, and use it for months - years, even.

Then, I married Sean.

Just when a new dish is starting to look promising, the sauce appears.  I get that now-familiar sinking feeling as I realize I need to find yet another substitute for yet another recipe.  You see, I have yet to find an all-purpose substitute. The closest I've been able to get is using various Faux Soy Sauce recipes, then adding bits of other ingredients that are also in a Worcestershire Sauce. This is time-consuming and hit-or-miss, so each time I am able to adjust a recipe, AND it tastes really good, I'm pretty excited.  Here is one of the best meat loafs I have ever eaten, with or without gluten, soy, nuts... or Worcestershire Sauce!


Herb and Spice Meat Loaf
adapted from Betty Crocker and Joy of Cooking Cookbooks
serves 4-6

1 lb. ground beef
1 and 1/2 c. onions, chopped
2 eggs
1 c. milk
1/2 c. dry bread crumbs
1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley
1 t. thyme
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground mustard
1/4 t. ground black pepper
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. sage
1/3 - 1/2 c. ketchup

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  In large bowl,  mix all ingredients, except ketchup, with hands.  Press into loaf pan.  Spread ketchup over top of loaf.  Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.

SF Recipe #4 - Quinoa Pilaf

Since Sean is allergic to the majority of starches used in American cooking (wheat, barley, and other "glutenous" grains, as well as corn), I try to get creative in filling him up with things that have more protein than rice.  While we can use all sorts of potatoes, he isn't a huge fan of sweet potatoes and yams.  Also, at some point, one gets a little bored with just those two options - potatoes or rice, rice or potatoes...

And then there's the fact that rice has arsenic in it.  Folks who can eat gluten and/or corn will most likely ingest a small enough amount of the carcinogen that their bodies' can process it without harm.  Folks like Sean, on the other hand, who eat rice-based bread, pasta, cereal, etc. are at risk of problems.  But that is another discussion for another time.

That said, quinoa is a great alternative.  It's totally different in texture and flavor, it tastes quite good when done right, and it's totally Sean-Friendly.  Hooray!

Here is my go-to quinoa recipe, especially when using cheaper brands.  More expensive quinoa is tasty enough to eat with just a little butter, salt, and pepper.  This recipe dresses up either kind to make it super yummy.

One thing to note: I have yet to find a packaged, pre-cooked quinoa that doesn't taste gross.   Quinoa cooks up really fast, so... yeah, just don't go there.

Quinoa Pilaf
adapted from recipe on box of Ancient Harvest quinoa - one of the good ones, by the way! :)

serves 4

4 c. cooked quinoa
1 c. carrots, chopped
3/4 c. green onion, chopped
1 c. bell pepper, chopped
4-6 mushrooms, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 t. oregano
1/4 t. basil
1/4 t. rosemary
1/2 t. champagne vinegar (optional)

Saute vegetables in butter or frying oil until crisp.  Stir in herbs.  Add quinoa and vinegar.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Enjoy!

Variation for extra flavor: When cooking quinoa, use broth (chicken, vegetable, or mushroom) in place of water.

SF Spice Recipe #1 - Cinnamon-Free Pumpkin Pie Spice

This one is super simple, but I'll post it because...  we are smack dab in the middle of "Pumpkin-Everything" season, so why not?  ;)  But seriously, I'll probably need it when traveling this Thanksgiving.  The less I have to figure out when on-the-go, the better!

Cinnamon-Free Pumpkin Pie Spice
adapted from Gal on a Mission and Joy the Baker

1/4 c. allspice
1 T. + 1 tsp. ginger
1 T. + 1 tsp. nutmeg
1 T. ground cloves
1/2 t. mace and/or cardamom (total of 1/2 teaspoon, not 1/2 teaspoon of each!)

Blend and store in an air-tight jar.  Enjoy in all the fall recipes you can find!  :)

SF Recipe #3 - Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

To call this a "win" would be the understatement of the year.  I made this as a side to a simple ham steak that I just needed to reheat.  The meat was a nice complement, but this salad was the star of the meal!  We ate it warm both times, but I look forward to making it again (probably doubling the recipe!) and trying it room temperature or cold.  

Well, okay, we ate it warm-ish.  We do have an infant, and he always seems to know when we want to sit down to eat something...  :)

Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

Adapted from recipe at Fooduzzi

Serves 3-6

· 1 cup uncooked quinoa

· 1 large (or 2 small) head of broccoli, chopped into small, uniform pieces

· ¼ cup + 1 Tbsp. olive oil, divided

· 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

· 3 Tbsp. honey

· 1 Tbsp. champagne vinegar

· 1 clove garlic, minced or grated

· 1 tsp. coarse salt

· 1 tsp. fresh ground pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.

2. Cook quinoa according to package directions, then set aside.

3. Toss broccoli florets in 1 Tbsp. olive oil and place on the baking sheet. Season with 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper. Roast for 20-30 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender and golden.

4. Meanwhile, combine dijon, honey, champagne vinegar, garlic, and remaining ¼ cup olive oil in a small bowl or cup and stir. The dressing will be thick. Set aside.

5. In a large bowl, combine quinoa and broccoli. Pour dressing on top, and mix to combine. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.

SF Recipe #2 - Oven Roasted Beet Salad with Feta and Aged Balsamic

Picture coming soon!

So, nearly two years later, I am finally adding more of these.  Not that I have been idle, as anyone whose seen my Pinterest boards can attest!  I have not only been saving lots of recipes, though, but also making and adjusting them, too.  I'm finally motivated to start posting them because I would like to access to them when I travel, as we are planning to do in a few weeks.

One of my missions within the grand challenge of cooking/baking Sean-Friendly has been to expand Sean's palate, especially in the realm of vegetables.  Once we determine that there is little to no chance that he is allergic to a particular ingredient, I can start experimenting.  Most of the time, I am able to win him over on the first try.  This past week I was 2 for 3 - not too bad.  Here was the first "win."

Oven Roasted Beet Salad with Feta and Balsamic Vinegar

Adapted from recipes at Tiny Urban Kitchen and Scrambled Chefs 

serves 4-6

NOTE: Once beets have been coated in vinegar, they taste best if eaten right away. Likewise, the feta should be added right before eating.  Undressed, roasted beets can be kept in the refrigerator and then reheated right before they are needed.

· 4 whole beets, cut up into similar pieces (about 5-6 cups worth)

· 2 tablespoon of olive oil

· 1 teaspoon coarse salt

· 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

· 8 ounces feta cheese

· 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar (aged balsamic is best!)

· Sugar to taste, if needed

· 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1) Preheat oven to 425 °F.
2) Toss the beets with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for about 25 minutes.  Transfer to large bowl.  
3) If not using all the beets immediately, divide into two bowls—one for the refrigerator and one for immediate use. Also, figure out how much vinegar and feta will be needed immediately (half of recipe? one third? etc.)
4) If sugar is needed to sweeten the vinegar, mix these two ingredients in a small bowl.
5) Pour vinegar over the beets and toss to coat.
6) Add feta cheese and toss gently.
7) Top with parsley and/or make available to garnish at the table.
8) ENJOY!

further trouble with smart cars

As I first mentioned in this post in May, I've been shocked at how little is generally known about the the problems with all the fun toys (apps, streaming music, streaming maps, etc.) in new cars like the one my husband and I just bought after we couldn't find a good, lightly-used one.  I just wonder if I can hack my own car to turn all the apps and streaming stuff off!

*Sigh*

I am starting to see a bit more on the 'net about this issue, so that's good. Listening to Morning Classics on Montana Public Radio this morning, I came across "Tesla Model S Can Be Hacked, And Fixed (Which Is The Real News)," which led me to "Hackers Remotely Kill a Jeep on the Highway—With Me in It."

I'm also glad to see that some legislators are starting to discuss this: “'Drivers shouldn’t have to choose between being connected and being protected,' [Massachusetts Senator] Markey wrote in a statement shared with WIRED."

Well, I'm not sure I agree; I don't think we can "have it all" in life, in general.  I just want to be given the option of not having to be connected, as that is the best way to stay protected.  I'm worried, though, that it will take someone getting hurt or killed for this to be taken seriously and get legislation moved through all the hurdles of government.

We shall see.

"That's My Ride!" - a pictorial history

Car shopping has me in a nostalgic mood.  I've had some vehicles with real character!  Here's a look back my "rides" of the last 10 years.

September 2005: Joe the Bike - just $30 at an Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store! He was a work horse, but he had issues.  As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

July 2006: TT the Car, so named since she was "Teal and Tan," and the name reminded this homesick Boston girl of T.T. the Bear's Place.  This little 1992 Saturn got great gas mileage and ran pretty well for her age.

In this pic from August 2007, you can also see Boise Bike #2 (BB2) that I had bought earlier that summer. At $60 from the Youth Ranch, it was an upgrade!

August 2007: TT's dramatic end.  
That was a rather difficult day, but the story ended well, especially since a few months later a friend gave me...

...a 1996 Mercury Sable!   This pretty girl looked very grown-up and professional, and she served me well...

...until the transmission finally went out in Ogden, Utah in May 2009.

I then lived car-less for almost 4 years.  At first, I biked most of the time on BB2, but after the elbow injury in January 2012, I walked. I bused some, too, but mostly I walked... A LOT.

Finally...  

Thus, inspired by facebook chatter, I named this new-only-to-me car "Alexei Hondeski Accordakov," or "Alyosha," for short.

A few months later, this guy, Sean, came into my life!  You may have heard that the two of us even got hitched in April of last year.  

Since about that time, Sean has been saying how we should look for a better car for me, but the need became more evident this spring as multiple costs for repairs suddenly cropped up. It's just painful when, in the span of a few months, you have to put much more into a car than it is worth just to stay safe while driving!

And so, on 15 July 2015, my dear, sweet, amazing husband bought a beautiful, all-new, blue (!) Honda Accord for me to use around town and for us to use on road trips.  It is still unnamed, except for the requisite patronymic, "Alexeyevich," after my first Honda and in honor of the trip Sean and I took to Russia last month.

Now this is an upgrade!

bon anniversaire!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, not "me," as in "Sylvia," but "me," as in my blog "leaves..."

Just now, I was browsing through old posts, wondering which ones I've actually shown to Sean.  Then, just for kicks, I clicked on the earliest one and realized it was from April 30, 2005.  Woah.  That makes this little corner of cyberspace a 10-year-old!  I immediately felt it necessary to mark the  milestone, albeit belatedly.  In celebration, here are the most important posts, the ones that have stuck with me long after writing them, in order of Must Read-ness.

August 30, 2007: the Move to Missoula  the thrilling adventure of my actual move.  It was not how I planned it, but who could ask for a better story?!

June 17, 2009: všetko v poriadku In this follow-up to the angst-laden post I wrote near the beginning of my three-week trip (všetko), I share how God brought all the details together and made it an experience I'll never forget.

November 13, 2009: woke up to Jessica's alarm this morning...  processing heartache and uncertainty.

October 20, 2005: at the end of one of those days a sweet moment.

June 14, 2005: Oh, oh that's my cue! preparing to move to Boise for grad school.

August 17, 2007: Walking Around the Corner moving again, but with a new perspective.

October 4, 2005: obsession Barely a month and a half into the school year, and I was already exhausted.

June 27, 2006: Big Sky Expeditions 2006 my first trip to Slavic lands.

May 8, 2008: attention all word nerds the one where "somebody famous" commented on my blog!  okay, just NPR famous.  And it probably wasn't really him - just some staff underling - but still...

March 10, 2006: victim making good use of that snazzy, new, flip-phone camera.

November 1, 2006: a sappy true story further proof, if you really needed it, that I'm a complete dork!

As always, thanks for reading.

the car search - troubling beginnings

As I have been passively on the hunt for a new-to-me car since the beginning of the year, a comment on a radio show about the possibility of new cars being hacked caught my attention.  The car expert said that, because of the addition of a multiplicity of apps, the computers in today's cars are not secure.  In fact, it would be possible for someone to crash your car while you are in it, and you would be unable to stop that.

Um, hello?!?! That's terrifying!

I didn't get to hear the whole program, so later I decided to do some research via the Google.  I was surprised by the dearth of information that I found.  It seemed that almost no one was talking or writing or blogging about this.  The only article I found that seemed to directly address any problems with having so many apps in our lives was this one, actually an excerpt from a book decrying our "love affair'" with the app.  It's a really good read, and the whole "13 Steps to Opening Your Car with Your Phone" section just takes the cake!

That was a few months ago.

Today, I decided to try to find that article again, and also see if any one else might be starting to discuss the issue.  I was glad to see a few more articles come up, and so I thought I should pass them on.  

Warning: it isn't pretty!

Report Sees Weak Security in Cars’ Wireless Systems  This report, published in February, is probably what brought about that conversation on the radio that I heard around that time.   This article focuses on the data collected by automakers via 3rd party companies, but also mentions that "connecting cars to the Internet means that more vehicles have smartphonelike interfaces that allow for new possibilities, but also carry inherent risks."

Spy agencies target mobile phones, app stores to implant spyware  An article posted today from CBC News in Canada.  Another article on the same issue can be found here.

Phone apps can track you "Many of my customers come into Cell Phone Technicians and say, 'What's being tracked?' The answer is everything."

So, yeah.  I like my smartphone, but I'm not sure I trust it, and I definitely want to avoid the apps in a new-to-me car... if I can!

pizza, take 1

Today, I am tackling gluten-free pizza!

Since our beloved Fat Cat Pizzeria closed (RIP!), we have not been able to enjoy a Sean-friendly pizza.  Lately, Sean has been longing for one, moaning over our loss, almost every day, and so last week I bought the necessary supplies. We had already vetted pizza sauce and cheeses, and all pizza-loving-veggies are good for Sean, but there was a hang-up on the most necessary component: pepperoni.  With its ambiguous "spices" in the ingredient list, we were unsure of its safety.  Sean emailed Hormel this week, and mid-morning at work a few days ago, I got this text from him: "Original pepperoni is a go :)"

This is also the inaugural use of the fancy pizza stone Sean bought a few years ago but hadn't used yet.   After an hour or so of internet searching, I have concluded that this stone has the potential to be used successfully with the wet, gooey, sticky stuff that is gluten-free dough.  Really, I can't be sure until I try, so... here we go!

Cooking Soundtrack: Shuffle. Play. Listen. Matt Haimovitz & Christopher O'Reilly

I'm using this pizza dough recipe from Jules Shepherd.  (She has a fabulous website for all sorts of gluten-free inspiration, by the way.) Said recipe involves slathering oil on your hands in order to spread the dough on the pizza pan; still, your hands will be covered in dough. And this flour is too expensive to just wash down the drain, so I enjoy licking my hands like a five-year-old!

prep work while the dough rises in the oven

The dough needs to cook a bit after it rises, before adding toppings. As usual, I add a LOT, and I'm a little worried the middle won't cook.   But when the timer goes off, I pull it out...

oooh! pretty!

...and call Sean from his post-work computer game, and....

oh, no!  it's stuck!!

Next time, I'll use parchment paper underneath the crust! Sean, expertly wielding the metal spatula, saves the day and carves slices for us, and we sit down to our gourmet meal.

white wine? red wine? Mexican coke? Italian dressing?  ;)

Eating Soundtrack: Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga: String Quartets Prima Vista Quartet

he likes it!

And I do, too!

a little something i've been working on...

This site has been live for over a month, but I'm just now working up the courage to make it more known, via this blog post and a facebook status.  It's been a lot of fun to tweak and fiddle with (yes, pun intended!), perhaps too much fun!  Anyway, feel free to pass it on to any folks in the Missoula area looking for a violin teacher!

on reading 1 Peter 2 and interviews with David Bazan...

random thoughts... from a sad heart:

"you will know them by their fruit" - Jesus talking to Jesus-followers about how to know if another person is a Jesus-follower.

"the world will know you are my disciples because you love one another." again, Jesus to his followers about how the not-Jesus-followers ("the world") will perceive those who belonging to Him.

but also, "if the world persecutes me, they will persecute you, too."  so, we should expect that we will not always be understood or appreciated.  On the contrary, we can expect to be opposed in our life missions to share Jesus' life and love.

and then, 1 Peter 2... "though the world may call you evildoers now, when God comes at the end, they will realize you were doing God's will all along." so, in our quest to do the right thing, we can expect that some will say we are doing evil.  whaaa???  for reals?   yeah.  somehow i forgot that in my people-pleaser, facebook-like-seeking existence.

we need to stop using the world's judgement to validate Jesus-followers' actions.  How did it come to this, that we look for approval from non-believers of Jesus as the standard by which we judge ourselves, or approve/condemn our brothers and sisters in Christ?!?  the world's opinion is of no importance!

among the body of believers, we are to use Holy Spirit-guided discernment and "speak the truth in love."  sometimes, that means we confront and do the 1 Corinthians "expel the immoral brother" thing.  Sometimes.  outside of the church, we're just supposed to love radically, like Jesus did, and tell the truth about who our holy, good, awesome God is, and make known the judgement to come against all evil, but also to proclaim the hope of rescue we have through Jesus.

Still, we are only works-in-progress, so we often don't serve and love those outside our community of faith very well.  And we often don't get loving each other right, either.

That, to me, is the most hurtful thing.

But right now, i want to remember this: as much as i do to be a peace-maker and "servant of all," and "live at peace with everyone as much as it is depends on you," in the end, it is only God's opinion that matters.

"well done, good and faithful servant.  come and enter into your Master's rest."

SF Recipe #1 - Salmon Burgers with Creamy Dill Sauce

No, that's not "San Francisco" recipes, but "Sean-Friendly!!"

In the continuing adventures of Sean+Sylvia, I need a place to post recipes so that I can pin them on my Pinterest boards.  By the way, I was very late to the Pinterest game, avoiding it at all costs... until I got engaged.  Since the wedding, it has been invaluable as I learn to cook and bake for my highly food-allergic husband.

Said husband, Sean, bought a lovely house in the South Hills of Missoula about 6 months before I met him.  Soon after, his younger brother, Caleb, started renting the basement bedroom from him. Caleb was the first of Sean's family that I met - a surreal experience, for sure!

But I digress. When Caleb moved to the East Coast in September 2013, he left an assortment of random things, including 10 cans of salmon. Yeah, salmon.  What do you do with that much salmon?  Well, since I detest and deplore the wasting of food, I have been determined to find out.  To kick off this cooking/baking portion of my blog, here is the favorite, "sooo good," salmon recipe that has become a staple in our diet - at least, as long as the salmon lasts! :)

Salmon Burgers with Creamy Dill Sauce
(adapted from this fresh salmon recipe and this canned salmon one)

Makes 4 burgers.  Prep time: 25 minutes  Cook time: 10 minutes

for the burgers

• 1 can (14.75 ounces) canned salmon
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs (we use Gillian's Bread Crumbs)
• 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon champagne vinegar and/or 1/2 teaspoon lemongrass*
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon light (cooking) olive oil

for the Creamy Dill Sauce

• 2-3 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
• 1 teaspoon wine vinegar OR 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

1. Drain and reserve liquid from salmon.  Remove bones, if desired.
2. Combine all of the salmon burger ingredients EXCEPT oil in a large bowl.
3. Make into burger patties.  If the mixture is too dry to form them, add reserved liquid from salmon, 1 teaspoon at a time.  Likewise, if is too wet, add breadcrumbs 1 teaspoon at a time.
4. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.  When the pan is very hot, add the burgers and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, turning gently.
5. In a small bowl, stir together sauce ingredients.
6. Serve on buns, topped with the creamy dill sauce.  Enjoy!

*October 2016 UPDATE: This summer, we discovered that Sean can eat lemongrass.  I used that in this recipe the last time we made it.  I have yet to try it with both the vinegar and the herb, as I was out of the former that particular time.  I'll make it again soon and update this!

Promises, promises

Growing up, I was always annoyed by this one poem by mom insisted on hanging in a prominent place wherever we lived.  I remember it most distinctly as hanging in the dining room in the apartment we lived in my last three years of high school.  I see it in my mind in that spot, and I remember the feeling of dislike.  But the words stuck with me, and lately, I've been coming back to them, and realizing how true they are.  So, curious about the poem and its writer, I turned to the Almighty Google.  This is what I found.

The poet was Annie Johnson Flint who wrote numerous poems and hymns. The "poem" as I knew it was really just the 1st verse and chorus of the hymn "What God Hath Promised."  Annie had a really tough life, almost from birth.  She never married, and struggled with chronic illness.  She wrote to support herself and her sister, who was also ill.   "Her life was lived, as someone has said, from hand to mouth, but as she liked to have it expressed, the mouth was hers, and the hand was God’s and His hand was never empty."

Wow.

Intellectually, I know that to be true, and the foundation of my trust in God, which is the very bedrock of my existence, but I want to - no, I need to know it more, deeper, more consistently, every day, every minute, breathing in His grace, His power, His provision for all my needs.... yeah.

So, here's that hymn.  And... thanks, mom!  :)

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

Refrain
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.

the First Christmas must be perfect! or not.

In the continuing saga of Sylvia's sinuses and the hunt for a Christmas tree that doesn't offend said cavities, it is Trees, 2, Sylvia, 0.  Sean won't even try a third tree, but when I suggested a fake one, his initial reaction was "speaking of an abomination!"   He has since come around to seeing it as an option.  And so, after Christmas, when they are slightly less crazy-expensive, we will be on the hunt for a tree for next year.  Or we may just get a palm tree - or, maybe an olive tree! :)

I keep telling myself that the tradition of a coniferous Christmas Tree in the house is a rather new one, so I really don't need it.  Still, I deeply, desperately want it.  Why?  Well, in order to hang the ornaments that friends have given us for this First Christmas as a married couple, one of them personalized with our names.  And then, there is a box of ornaments from Sean's childhood, and a small box of my ornaments that I've gradually collected and carried with me across the country...

But here is what has been working: Advent.  I seem able to tolerate a lovely little (real!) advent wreathe.  And when we read the devotional, and light the candles, and re-remember the One we celebrate, it feels perfect.

Originally, this table was just for the advent wreathe, but then it accumulated stuff: the tree-top angel sans tree, some gifts from friends and violin students, and a plant I'm attempting to kill - I mean, rehabilitate!

aaaand.... i'm back!

I just can't work up the effort to start a new blog, so here I am reviving my ol' stand-by.  Again. This time it's for recording the misadventures of the first year of marriage.  Actually, there have been very few - it's been a very good 7+ months!  But yesterday, this happened...
...who knew that the Fraser Fir had it out for me?!?

a year ago today...

it was one year ago today, Monday, April 8, 2013, that i decided i needed to call it all off, end the thing, beacuse he was too nice, too sweet, and he liked me but i just didn't feel enough to date him - not attracted, not interested, etc.  i didn't want to lead him on, and then hurt him.  it was a very emotional and confused and sad day.

makin' it newspaper official

We finally, finally got our act together, got our ducks in a row, got... whatever all put together in order to have our engagement announced in our local newspaper, The Missoulian, picture included. The announcement itself is short and sweet, right to the point. You can find it on page E5 of the Territory section, or here in the interwebs. After today, you should still be able to find it here. Props to Sean's good friend Ryan Hellegaard for the picture.

yup, i'm scheming to "prettify" the bachelor pad

Just some good ideas I want to save and look at more later - silly website! It won't let me pin an article on pinterest, or even make it easy to post it here without a gadget/widget. Annoying! But they have great ideas, so I will just link to it the "old-fashioned" way. Ha!

And to be fair to Sean, it's not that the house looks bad, per se, nor is filled with... machismo decor. It's just very minimally decorated, if not outright bare. So, as we get closer to me moving in, I get to give the house a bit of a minimalist/modern/vintage/feminine touch. :)