Wedding slideshow is UP!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike's been working VERY hard to get our wedding slideshow together.

Please CLICK HERE to go to the Heartland blog post on the event. And DO be sure to leave a comment on the Heartland blog and tell MIke & Heather how much you love their work! :-)

Also, I'm uploading wedding proofs throughout this weekend. So .... please feel free to CLICK HERE to check out what's up so far. But don't worry — I'll send out a massive e-mail to everyone we know when the photos are all up.

ps-I've also added a link to our slideshow and online proofing in our sidebar ... so if you want to come back to it later, just look to the right side of this page!

Open season

It's applesauce season!!!!!!!

Right now, I'm enjoying a large, warm bowl of my favorite recipe. I *think* I started from a Better Homes and Garden recipe, but then sort of made it my own.

Several friends have asked for the recipe, and I don't mind sharing ... but I sort of cook ... by throwing things into the crock pot. I'll *try* to give actual measurements, but honestly .... it's really tossing things into the mix.

So ... if you like things sweeter, just add more sugar. If not, subtract it.


Karen's Applesauce:

1 bag of Gala apples (8-13 apples ... depending on size)
1 stick of cinnamon
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 c. sugar
2 tsp. nutmeg

Cut apples in half. Peel apples using the most amazing peeler ever .

Slice apples, then cut the core part out, and chop them into pieces.

Throw them into the slow cooker with cinnamon, brown sugar, sugar and nutmeg ... until it's done. I never really time it. I just run errands, work on photos ... whatever until all the apples are soft.

Once the apples are soft, you should only need to stir them ... and viola! You have Karen's most favorite applesauce EVER! If you like, you can use a potato masher, but often the apples are soft enough to just stir into cinnamon-nutmeggy goodness. :-)

I've made this recipe twice in the last week ... I simply *adore* it — besides, it helps my sore throat feel better.

The cruds

I've got it.

That first sore throat of the season.

Ack.

And ick.

Unfortunately it means I'm awake in the middle of the night. I thought last night might be a freak of nature ... but after today, I'm convinced it's the decongestant I'm taking. :-(

Oh well, I have an awesome husband who keeps this coming:


There is a difference between being single and having the cruds and being married.

In my single days, I only disturbed Esse-Boo when I couldn't sleep. She never appreciated my tossing and turning, but the bed was big enough for both of us ... and she'd go to the other side.

Being married ... well, since Erik comes to bed MUCH later than I do, I'm afraid when I start tossing and turning shortly after he's gone to sleep ... that he won't get a restful night of sleep. :-( But for Esse ... she can't really go to the other side of the bed, because E is sacked out. Now, I'm downstairs pouting about my throat and Esse has my entire half of the bed to herself.

Lucky.darn.cat.

Crossover — Christmas Cards!

I'm LOVING this year's Holiday Cards for Heartland!


Cruise on over to the Heartland Photography Blog to check out more designs.


And for those of you on *our* Christmas Card mailing list, you'll see one (or more) of these designs incarnated on *our* Christmas cards!

COMPLETELY puzzled

So .... we're married. Yay for us.

Now it's time to get all of my paperwork/documentation in order. UUUUUUUUUUGH.

So, the DMV wants me to change my info with them within 10 days of name change ... I need to get my act in gear with the Social Security office ..... and it takes up to TWO MONTHS for me to get a certified copy for the SS people.

'Scuse me. I have a life.

What a friggin headache. Makes me want to NOT change my name.

I loathe this.

# 23 — Play in a real poker tournament

... CHECK!


Sunday, I played in a amateur poker tournament! Yippie!

Lemme say it was WAY different than playing with my poker buddies in Hays. There are formal and official ways to bet and raise. I NEVER knew this! Seriously interesting.

I didn't end up on top ... but I *did* make it to the first break.


But when we "colored up," I only had $3K in chips left. Ouch.

I was small blind, and had a solid hand of pocket Qs, and flopped a Q. Yay! I doubled up ... and then had a straight draw, and even GOT it, but my opponent got a flush on the river. Ugh. I was OUT. There were 4 spades on the board and I *figured* she had it ... but I was pretty tired, and figured, what the heck .... we'll see if she's got it!

It was interesting .... Erik actually observed that things that would've won me a round in my Hays circle (trips) didn't land me on top in the tourney. Interesting, interesting.

Well, another 101 in 1001 list done! Maybe there will be more to come soon!

#94 — Clean/organize the garage so one of us can pull a car in during the winter.

... CHCECK!!!!!!


YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check out this clean garage!

I didn't realize this was on my 101 in 1001 list, but it was excited to see when I saw it was!

Since I didn't realize it was on my list, I didn't take a before picture ... so sorry if you wanted to see our dirty, dirty, dirty garage. But ... let's just say it was littered w/ boxes (from wedding gifts, etc.). My roto-tiller and bike were also placed wherever I wanted.

Now, things are MUCH better organized.


Erik even got me hooks to hang my bike up, so we can pull a car in! :-)


On the side ... things are hung ... or placed in the extra spaces between the 2x4s.

NPR break!

Soooooo, I was on the road earlier this week and have to say I got the BIGGEST laugh out of this story about the guys who did voice overs for the political ads. I'm not interested in discussing politics on the blog here .... just suiffice to say I'll be glad when this election is OVER. From the national to the local, races are just down and dirty. I'm ready for all the mud-slinging to be DONE.

As I was prowling through NPR's Web site, I had a flashback to an earlier blog post about the Little House on the Prairie lawsuit. Yeah, it made it to NPR!!!!!!!! Seriously, un-friendly Family Productions ... it's outrageous. Click HERE to check it out.

Reorganizing!!!!!!!

After we were married, I didn't waste ANY time in reorganizing Erik's ... er OUR ... bedroom.

Before: (please pardon the clutter!)


After: (doesn't it look SO much larger? Better furniture arrangement ROCKS!)


Yes, there are some paint samples on the wall ... and we've picked out one .... anyone want to come help paint???? ;-)

AND today, our AWESOME closet organizers showed up! Now I just need to finalize our closet color, then tear out one built-in ... and move out the clothes ... to get the brand new closet rolling! :-)

At long last! My trip to the corn maze!!!!!

A few years ago, I attempted to go to a corn maze in Manhattan, but it was all short and stubly. NOT a great place to be.

SO a few weeks ago, Erik and I went to The Bison Farm Maze!!!!!!


Check out the design from a birds eye view.



Check out how *fun* these signs are!


I LOVE the entrance of the maze!


Erik being a goober.


Erik stumbled across this can in the maze, despite the "no alcohol" sign. UGH. Erik is a beer snob and doesn't much care for these light beers.


Check out ALL of this corn!


Erik leading the way.


Erik RUNNING away (groan).


These handy numbers had questions to direct us which way to go. Erik got the easy questions (i.e. what noise does a pig make) while I had the not so easy Girl Scout questions.


Us chillin'


Erik being a goober.


There were also fun things to do ... such as something resembling a potato canon, but it used corn on the cob ...


And a pumpkin launcher? Are you KIDDING???? How fun! We need to take my dad on our field trip!


I'm ending on my FAVORITE photo of the day!!!!!!! Aren't all of these differently colored mini pumpkins and gourds awesome?!?!!!!??!!??


Now I'm *dying* to take a couple to a corn maze/pumpkin patch for an engagement session! How FUN!!!!!!!!