Asheville Swine

Why do we live in Asheville, NC? Here is one of the many reasons:

Because any old day you could see THIS while driving down the road. :)

A Few More Pictures from our Charlotte Trip

Downtown Greenville, it has a great paths along the river and some really cool bridges.
If you go before about 8 in the morning it isn't too hot out. :)

Wasting time with Dad while Mom & Ben are rehearsing. :)

Naomi Grace.

Run Away from Bad Guys

Think twice before you ask your 2-year-old to sing to the baby while driving home.... because this could happen:

(keep watching, it took me a few seconds to get the light on :)

He did this for FIFTEEN minutes on our drive home.

Sign in the Store Window

So, for those of you NOT from Asheville (and who may not have seen it in the news) Obama and his family have blessed us with their presence the weekend.

It is cool that the president has come to visit, however so far it has just meant sitting in stand still traffic for an hour because they shut down a major highway... but anyway...

I wish I had taken a picture, but last night we went on a fun double date with my brother and his wife and we stopped by O.P. Taylors Toy Store in Biltmore Town Square. There was a big sign in the window that read:

ALL PRESIDENTS
(Past and Present)
25% OFF THIS WEEKEND!!
(Before state, federal, local, medicare, medicaid and social security taxes)

Awesome. :)

Random Story

So a few days ago I was at Sam's Club wasting time on a rainy day (where else can your child run?) As I was waiting in line, I heard the woman in front of me lecturing the cashier on the effects of carbonation on your body. I found it amusing but didn't think much of it.

As Ben and I were waiting for our pretzel, the same woman turned to me and asked:

Crazy Lady: So, when are you due?
Me: (taken a little back, since I have actually never been asked this question by a complete stranger before) Um, 2 weeks.
CL: Do you sing?
Me: Excuse me? (What? Did she really ask me if I sing?)
CL: Do you sing?
Me: Yes, I do.
CL: GREAT! Did you know that when you are pregnant a hormone is released that improves your singing voice after the baby is born? So the more you sing now, the better your voice will be after you sing.

So there you have it folks. Sing while you are pregnant because it improves your voice... straight from the mouth of a random 60-something-earthy-hippie woman at Sam's Club!

And Anthony, if you read this, just think of what a great asset all these women are that sang in choir while pregnant. Who would have thought that the puffy, breathless pregnant women are GOOD for the choir? :-P

Life is Fun

Yesterday after church we stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things for a picnic. Just after I walked out and got in the car we saw this old man just start driving into the store. It felt like we were in slow motion, as you are watching it you are thinking... "is this really happening?" But... here is PROOF!

So funny, we were in need of a good laugh. :) The man was very cautious about pulling in, and managed to get through the first doors but couldn't make it through the second set. (I don't think it scraped at all. :) He doors could completely shut after he pulled in.

Wuv... Twwoo Wuv

You know you have been married for a while when the mushy cards end and this is what you get instead... :-P

Going Green.... Sort of

I bought a reusable grocery bag! It is mustard green and holds up to 40 lbs. Between my nose ring and my bag I almost fit in!

Shhh... Don't tell them that my baby has on a disposable diaper (gasp)... and I still don't recycle if I can help it...

YAY me! :)

25 Random Things

It took me over 2 weeks to come up with these, so I figure I would post if for all my non-facebook friends as well. :)

L

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25 RANDOM THINGS

1. I don’t put ketchup on anything, I have to dip it. Hamburgers etc. (Yes, I do put mustard on my sandwich though).
2. I get depressed when I go to concerts because I always wish I had the guts to do it. It sometimes takes me days to shake off the funk… therefore, I really don’t like going to concerts.
3. That said, the voice placement for a college choir was one of the scariest moments of my life, and I never volunteer to sing a solo. :-P
4. I used to collect the state quarters… I cashed them in when I got married and started our first savings account with over $400! I didn’t even keep one set.
5. I constantly waver between just enjoying the moment, and photographing the moment. (I want the picture to remember, but I don’t want to be bogged down with the camera!)
6. I don’t get (most) art. I find art galleries boring. I want to like them, but I just don’t.
7. When I was in middle school my hair band, shirt and socks all had to match.
8. Both my husband and I are one of five, four boys and one girl… and we are both the oldest.
9. I hate folding cold and wrinkled cloths, so I always turn on the dryer before I pull them out to fold them… but sometimes I forget, so they get dried 4-5 times before I remember to fold them while they are warm.
10. I write, cut, throw, eat and everything else… with my left hand.
11. I played piano for over 10 years, and then had a performance where I forgot the song completely… and I haven’t played since then.
12. Unloading the dishwasher is probably my least favorite “kitchen” task.
13. I don’t like to bake BECAUSE I don’t like to measure.
14. I do love making bread from scratch and kneading it by hand (although if someone gave me a mixer I’d take it) because the measurements don’t have to be perfect. Just add more flour or water.
15. I don’t like dark chocolate.
16. I don’t care if you spoil the plot of a movie… because I get so scared/sucked in sometimes that I sit on the edge of my seat, and sometimes shake or even have to leave the room. That said I really like LOST and HEROES.
17. I think that butter is much better for you than margarine or anything like it.
18. I don’t like carbonated beverages (except Root Beer) or sweet tea.
19. I love having people over, but I am a very informal person, so we usually eat around the bar (not the table) and it is almost always serve yourself.
20. I loved growing up in a place (Utah) where it snowed 10-15 feet each winter… but now that I live in a place where I doesn’t really snow (NC) I don’t miss it.
21. I HATE shopping. My wardrobe is basically the same as it was 10 years ago, the only new additions are things my mom gave me. (But I love grocery shopping).
22. I think expensive shoes are worth every penny you pay for them.
23. I have read all the Harry Potter books and none of the Chronicles of Narnia.
24. I would be ok if there were no cats on the earth.
25. I hate dressing up, and I don’t like that about myself.

The Bottom of the Barrel

You know you have reached the bottom in the job search when this is the best thing you find that day:

YURT SEWER
Date: 2008-12-18, 1:12PM

we are a small yurt company interested in hiring someone to sew our yurt canvases. the ideal person has past experience sewing large industrial canvases and loves working in community. we currently do not have a sewing machine, and will pay more for someone who has their own machine; however we will purchase a machine if needed. pay is commensurate with experience, please call for more information.

Location: asheville airport

Compensation: depends on experience, starting at $12 an hour and up; also possibility to bid jobs/ per canvas

This is a part-time job.
Original URL:http://asheville.craigslist.org/trd/962797215.html

GOOP

I made (am making actually) GOOP for lunch today. It is just me, or when everything is on the edge of going bad in the fridge do you dump it all together and see what you get?

This is something I thought I would never do. My mom did this when I was a kid and stories of "Purple Soup" live on to this day. My mom swears it wasn't that bad, but she was conveniently gone that night and I distinctly remember puking it up after dinner. My poor dad had to set a good example and eat the nasty stuff... I secretly think he probably puked it up afterward too. :)

Well, I am hoping mine turns out a little better than my mom's purple soup. But as I was trying to find something fun lunch I found, mushrooms, a green pepper, cherry tomatoes, peas, sausage, chicken broth and a few other random things... mix that with some spices and rice and I think I have myself a lunch.... at 3:00pm. :-P Ah well!!

Tonight we are having Mateer Paneer (peas and indian cheese) because I had a whole gallon of milk that expired!

I do promise that we do eat things that aren't on the verge of growing things, just not this week. :)

Tagged

Well, it took me a few days... but I have been tagged... to go to my picture file and pick the 4th file and the 4th picture and tell you about it... so here it is:
This is our dear sweet friend Sarah H. This picture was taken almost 3 years ago. I surprised Andrew on his Golden Birthday (he was 24 on January 24th) and instead of going to the Melting Pot in Charlotte we flew out of Charlotte and met our great friends Dave & Jennifer for dinner at the Melting Pot in DC. And then we had a huge party at Sarah's house the next day. :) It was great fun and I think I totally surprised him. :)

So, I am not going to tag anyone specific, but if have you a minute and want to do it, please do and leave me a comment so I can come and check it out!!!

I have lived in Asheville for too long...

Today's To Do List:

• Finish knitting Drew's scarf
• Make Bread
• Make Granola
• Make Baby food from organic sweet potatoes, pears, squash & carrots

But, in case you are worried that I have gone off the deep end, yesterday's to do list was:

• Fill car with gas
• Go to Walmart
• Buy disposable diapers & draino

I live such a tortured life... :)

Do I Look That Stupid?

I was at the farmer's market today buying everything to can dilly beans and here is the conversation:

Me: Is this a bushel of beans?

Farmer: Yes

Me: Would this type be good for canning?

Farmer: I could tell when you walked up you didn't know what you were looking for. Are you doing the canning?

Me (a little offended): There are two of us canning.

Farmer: Are you helping and older woman?

Me: Yes

Farmer: Get these, this is what she wants.

Note to self - NEVER buy from him again!

Funny

Some of you probably read my post about Craig's List, and how much I love it... well I have another reason to love it...

That is how we found Andrew's job!

I think I am a Craig's List Addict for Life. :)

Like Father... Like Son

I just took this picture 5 minutes ago... they are watching a movie. :)

Withdrawal

I am going through Withdrawal.

Withdrawal from a full email inbox.

It is so sad to log in and see that I have one... or worse... NO new emails when only days ago I have have 15-20 emails every 2 hours... WHY you ask? One Word:

Craig's List

I LOVE Craig's list. In 3 days I sold 2 bikes, a chair, a desk and a computer cabinet. It is my new favorite thing... I just wish I had more to sell. :) I have laid in bed the past three nights doing inventory in each room of the house thinking of what we could get rid of... sadly there isn't much left to sell. All that to say, if you have never used Craig's List you should give it a try!

Where am I???

I think I may be in Narnia and the White Witch is still ruling the day...

In case you missed it the date is JUNE 13th, that's right JUNE 13th

And yesterday I had to SCRAPE MY WINDSHIELD.

What is this place????

I am not sure why they call is EDEN, Utah because we had snow flurries 2 days ago, and in about 3 months there will be flurries again. Crazy.

FOR SALE

We are selling a few things, so if you live in the Asheville area take a look! Let me know if you are interested in anything!

Take a look at the pictures!!

Yard Sale

Growing up my mom would drag us all over creation going to yard sales. You know the annoying people that sit in your driveway and wait for you to officially open??? That was my mother. I always wanted to crawl in a whole and die when she would haggle the person down from 25 to 10 cents. However, I am sure I benefited from some of it. :)

Well, today we had a yard sale at my mother-in-law's house. Thankfully we didn't have any of the serious bargain shoppers and everyone went with the price I told them. (I price it low so that they won't ask to go cheaper). I do love cool mornings and seeing people that you haven't seen in a while and just hanging out with family. I have even made a whopping $30 AND got rid of a bunch of junk! Could you ask for more?