7 Things People may or may not know about me....

I've been tagged. This one's for Tia :)

1- I have never pierced my ears. A shocker to many, but around our house you couldn't get your ears pierced until you were 12 (the age of childhood maturity). At that point I had already passed along so many cute pairs of earrings from birthday presents, etc. that I just didn't really care. And as I got older I also realized it was one more thing to worry about when waking up in the morning....matching earrings to the whole outfit, and heaven knows I've never really been an accessory person, so I've remained 'hole-free.'

2- When I'm home alone I really hate using the bathroom if the shower curtain is closed. Random I know (sort of embarrassing to admit), but I think it comes from a childhood fear of scary things lurking behind shower curtains.

3- I never really watch TV. I can't even remember the last time I turned on the television and channel surfed to find something I cared to watch. If I do turn the TV on (for background noise or something) I just end up leaving it on whatever Joseph was watching previously....which is always ESPN :)

4- I dream of having my own cooking show. More recently I was joking with my sister about how I could produce 'Cooking and Calisthenics' so avid cooks could burn those calories while whipping up their favorite creamy dish...sound like a hit?!

5- When I was a kid I would skip out on my dentist appointments...and hit up the candy store instead (let's hope my mom never reads this).

6- I have always been fascinated by dinosaurs, so much so that I thought I would become a paleontologist. My dad used to take me to paleontology classes in Vernal, UT. The career goal wore off (thankfully), but the interest has remained. So for the rest of you dinosaur lovers out there, check out the latest dino discovery. Joseph and I actually attended a presentation about this at the National Geographic Museum (my husband really is the greatest)!

7- I could spend all day in a sporting goods store (like REI) or a homeware or decorating store (like Crate and Barrel). I guess I just like being able to enjoy the pretty things outside and having pretty things inside too!

And I am tagging: Heather, Jody, Mary Jo, Melissa, Brooke, Kami and Diana

Bed, Breakfast, and Chocolate

Last Thursday I was surprised to find an evite from Joseph in my inbox. I was even more surprised at the title, "Bed, Breakfast, and Chocolate." The invitation was for a weekend stay at a Bed & Breakfast and a visit to Hershey, PA. I was floored....I'm a sucker for surprises, and Joseph, well, he's not such a sucker for them :) So the fact that he had gone and made all these arrangements (without me knowing) and then gone to the trouble to create his own evite...haha, I couldn't get the grin off my face for the entire afternoon. We left straight after work on Friday. The B&B was in this incredibly charming place, Skykesville, MD (not so charming name). We arrived on the hour to church bells ringing and had dinner at an old train depot turned restaurant. Then we settled in for a warm winter's nap in the adorable vintage style house. The rooms were named for the seasons and each had it's own vintage flair, we were in the winter room. One of the common room areas had old pinball and arcade games, pretty sweet. The breakfast was delightful, the sleep absolutely restful, and the large jacuzzi whirlpool bathtub a dream. I am definitely recommending to any of you east-coast blog readers, this is a place to put on your "to visit" list.

Party??

I didn't really plan on having a Halloween party, but at the last minute I suddenly realized I wanted to do SOMETHING. Tuesday I surprised Joseph with Halloween decorations and a spooky salad. The following day I emailed some guests (uh my sister, her roommate, my husband, and a friend) and then started devising a little ghoulish menu. For dinner Sara and I whipped up ginger pumpkin soup and some little cheesy biscuit sticks (add a slivered almond as a 'nail') that I like to call witches fingers and for dessert frosted sugar cookies. No Halloween would be complete without watching Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. I don't know how much of a "Party" it was, but it was a nice little get-together and didn't keep us out too late....as was the case the year before. The truth is I really can't wait to have kids to dress up in darling little outfits and parade around the neighborhood until their pillowcases (that's what we used to use) are so full they can hardly heft them.....oh boy, the things I have to look forward to!



Who wouldn't be excited for that! The little bee is my friend's niece, I took trick-or-treating last year..
Halloween Last:
He's the orange metro line, and I am cut off (the top of my head is at the bottom left of the photo) From last year with my friend, Lori!

Leaf Treader

I love this poem by Robert Frost. To me it carries the essence of fall. Of the cycle of the seasons--from brilliant blooming greens to falling foilage in golden yellows and orange. The seasons are such a beautiful symbol of change and renewal in life. I know that many times I feel, as Frost says, "Autumn-tired", but if I just take a walk to enjoy those beautiful fall creations I always come home a little more renewed. Joseph and I recently had a chance to see some of the East coast's beautiful fall on a bike ride we took along the Rock Creek Parkway.

I have been treading on leaves all day until I am autumn tired
Lord knows all the color and form of leaves I have trodden on and mired

Perhaps I have put forth too much strength or been too fierce from fear ...
I have safely trodden underfoot the leaves of another year

All summer long they were overhead more lifted up than I
To come to their final place in earth they had to pass me by

All summer long I thought I heard them whispering under their breath
And when they came it seemed with a will to carry me with them to death

They spoke to the fugitive in my heart as if it were leaf to leaf
They tapped at my eyelids and touched my lips with an invitation to grief

But it was no reason I had to go because they had to go ...
Now up, my knee, to keep atop another year of snow.
--Robert Frost