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Nurturing Calm
Originally uploaded by kerner

Last year, instead of making traditional resolutions like "get in shape," "keep the house cleaner," etc., I selected a theme for the year. I am a goal-oriented person, so I did end up coming up with some goals that fit within the theme, but I really liked the idea of coming up with a theme for the year and trying to focus on that, rather than tracking exact details of a resolution. Plus, when I get off track, it's a lot easier for me to think about veering back towards my theme for the year rather than admitting defeat in my resolution and starting over.

This year is shaping up to be quite different than last year, with a baby on the way in March, so I'm trying to keep my expectations low as far as self-improvement goes. Still, I really enjoyed having a theme to center me during the year last year, and I have a feeling I'm going to need something like that as I prepare for and tackle first-time motherhood this year. With that in mind, I hereby declare 2010 the year of Nurturing Calm.

Last year's theme (Cultivating Joy) was really all about being true to myself, but this year's goal is a lot more of a stretch. I think that's appropriate though, since I've never really thought of myself as a mothering, nurturing type of person. I guess I'm going to be in for a rude, awakening, huh? But that's where the "calm" part of my theme comes in. I really want to approach this new chapter of my life with patience and calm. These qualities are not always my default settings, so I hope to come up with some more concrete ideas about how to bring more calm into my life.

Stay tuned for more New Year's navel-gazing... I have to do it soon, before my belly button flattens out and disappears completely!

Wild Turkey
Originally uploaded by amkhosla

This Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for? (I stole this list of questions from Organizing Your Way - I'd love to hear your answers, too!)

What small blessings?

A knitting group that has formed among my co-workers at lunch time.

Vanilla steamers.

Borrowed maternity clothes from my much-more-stylish sister.

The wonder of technology to help keep in touch with the daily lives of faraway friends and family.

What big blessings?

A baby on the way! I'm not one to talk about this much, but this baby is something that I've hoping for for a long time. I am so happy that we have been blessed in this way.

And even though it didn't seem like it during the construction process, I know this new kitchen will be something that I will be happy about for many years to come.

What surprise blessings?

Sunday night dinners, knitting (and solving the world's problems, of course!) with my favorite knitting friend. 

An endless supply of home-cooked meals from friends as we lived without our kitchen for 10 weeks! 

What trials and hardships?

It sounds crazy to complain about getting a new kitchen, but finding out you have crazy water damage that requires you to gut your kitchen THREE DAYS after finding out you're pregnant is pretty stressful. I just took things day to day, but seriously, there were times that I thought I was going to lose my mind.  However, I know that my husband and I learned to work together to get through all the little (and big) problems that inevitably come up during construction.  He just didn't have to deal with morning sickness at the same time, the lucky dog!

September - under construction
Originally uploaded by kerner

September memories:

• Visiting my family for Labor Day weekend, and puking my guts out Friday night. (Isn't it sad that that's the most memorable part of the weekend?)
• A whirlwind trip to San Francisco for work (where I sadly barely got to leave the hotel/conference center and didn't snap a single picture), but I did get to see San Francisco from the hotel's beautiful rooftop garden, and the weather was beautiful, sunny, and cool the whole time I was there.
• Construction started on our kitchen remodel, bringing both excitement and frustration.
• Dinners with kind friends who took pity on us and our lack of a kitchen. Still working on the art of microwave cooking. (Reheating leftover - great; creating new meals - not so great)
• Announcing my pregnancy to friends and at work - and now to my friends on the internet!
• Starting feeling better after several weeks of morning sickness (which was mostly in the evening, not in the morning)
• Dark and chilly morning run/walks
• Leading a small group at church and starting the long-term Christian Believer study, pushing me to develop better spiritual habits.

I can't wait to see what October holds!

(This post was inspired by Africankelli. If you don't read her blog, you should!)

IMG_1292
Originally uploaded by kerner

I know some people go to the fair because it's kitschy, or because it's fun to make fun of the carnies, or shake their heads in amazement at all the people that apparently still "live on farms" and "raise livestock." But I actually really like the fair. I love that it's something that all different kinds of people in the community can get together and enjoy, and I really love the fact that, despite all the flashy rides and yummy fair delicacies, the main event is still about country living - raising animals and vegetables, baking, sewing, woodcarving, etc.

Camo Dress!
Originally uploaded by kerner

That being said, it is pretty awesome that at least one of the award-winning seamstresses had a bit of fun with this gala-worthy creation. Look close - do you see it? Yes... that is CAMO fabric!

Other Fair highlights included:

IMG_1251
Originally uploaded by kerner

Saying hello to a very friendly donkey (and I got a classic hee-haw when I walked away. Aww, he missed me!)

Cheesecake on a Stick
Originally uploaded by kerner

Watching my friend Dave devour an enormous piece of cheesecake on a stick...

Beefalo
Originally uploaded by kerner

Learning about a new (to me) variety of cow (hee hee... just saying it makes me laugh. Beefalo! You guessed it, a cow/buffalo hybrid)

IMG_1279
Originally uploaded by kerner

And last but not least, enjoying a lovely ride on the big Ferris Wheel (with 2 very chatty children, because apparently the carnival folks didn't want to miss out on the income stream of shoving 7 people into a single car). But hey, it's all part of the experience. The kids' dads were both competing in the tractor pull competition that night, so we got to hear all about how one of their truck broke down (or something... I'm not exactly sure of the mechanics of a tractor pull. Does the tractor pull something? Is a person pulling a tractor? I don't get it - I would have gone to watch but it required extra tickets we didn't buy.)

IMG_1239.JPG
Originally uploaded by kerner

It's time again for the Ozark Empire Fair! (Speaking of which, Fair City News did a really funny post on the history of the Ozark Empire and the Ozark Emperor a couple of days ago - a must read.)

Actually, it's been 3 years since I last went to the fair. I love rollercoasters, but I don't really trust the rides that get disassembled and reassembled every week for fairs all across the country. I stick to the low-speed ferris wheel, the deliciously terrible food, the animals, and the "family living pavilion" - aka the 4-H exhibits.

I was a 4-Her for several years when I was growing up, but I lived in town (no room for livestock) so my fair exploits were limited to sewing, ceramics, baking, photography, etc., as well as a very ill-advised run for Junior Princess one year. (I'm not quite sure how I got talked into that one, since I was a very shy kid.)

Even though I generally remember suffering through most of my 4-H projects (especially sewing), I must admit I'm glad my parents forced me to stick with it for a while. After all those terrible sewing projects (American flag-themed shorts & vest combo anyone?) I am very glad that I have a good working knowledge of a sewing machine, and I could probably follow most sewing patterns if I had to.

Tonight, I'll just be glad I won't be entering the family living pavilion with sweaty palms, hoping to see a blue ribbon on my projects. Instead, I'll probably be ridiculing the knitting projects and in awe of the quilts.

And eating fair food - can't forget about the fair food! I wonder what's the strangest thing I can order on a stick?

IMG_1191
Originally uploaded by kerner

Sorry I've been so quiet lately. Last week we were supposed to be getting new floors installed on the main level of our house. When the contractor started taking up the kitchen floor, this is what he found.

Apparently we've had a very slow leak from the water valve that connects to the fridge for several years. As you can see, the damage is quite extensive. It goes under the cabinets, and also into 2 adjoining rooms.

Since we have to replace a good portion of our subfloor, which includes removing the cabinets to get to it, the floor project has somehow turned into a "why not?" kitchen remodel. As in, "Since they're removing the cabinets anyway, why don't we get new cabinets? Actually, how about new appliances, too? And, we've never really liked the layout of the kitchen - why don't we switch where the dining room and kitchen are?"

Of course, all of this hinges on how much various things are going to cost to fix. It's fun to dream about how you might remodel your house someday, but I feel like I've been forced into it because of this big leak, and it's making me pretty nervous about the whole situation. I wish the various contractors would hurry up and get some prices back to us, so at least we know what we're dealing with, cost-wise.

I'll keep you posted!

The sample-giver lady sold me on the cherries right as I walked into the grocery store.  I must admit, I normally turn up my nose at the latest and greatest in engineered food product that the grocery store is passing out as samples, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this time it was just cherries!

But enough about the cherries, first I had to make dinner. Those of you who follow me on twitter might have heard about my unfortunate incident with the toaster oven tonight. In my defense, it has been acting up a bit lately - either over cooking or under cooking things. So, the first time I tried to toast some corn tortillas, they barely cooked at all. I left them in for another toast cycle... and as soon as I realized the kitchen was getting a bit smoky, one of the tortillas was on fire!  Luckily the fire was contained inside the oven.  I threw some baking soda into the toaster oven and quickly opened all the windows.

Despite my mishap (and yes, the toaster oven is literally TOAST now), dinner turned out fine (with some microwaved tortillas, thank you very much!) I was cleaning up afterwards and just felt like cooking some more. Maybe I was trying to redeem myself? Anyway, that big bag of cherries was just sitting there...


No-Recipe Cherry Jam
Originally uploaded by kerner

Aha! I should make cherry jam! Using an "un-cookbook" called Lost Arts, I determined that I could make it with just the fruit and a little bit of sugar. I pitted all the fruits, added about 1/4 c. of sugar, and - following the instructions in the book - started boiling the fruit. I didn't really understand how "boiling" was going to work since there was just a little bit of cherry juice in the pan. But as soon as the pan got hot, all the cherry juice started to come out of the fruit. The book said to cook it at a high temperature to preserve the color, and cook until it is the consistency you want.

Bubble, bubble
Originally uploaded by kerner

Easy enough, I just stirred and stirred until the juices reduced now to a sticky jelly. I probably could have pulverized the fruit a bit more before I started, but it will be... rustic. Yeah, that's it.

What could be sweeter?
Originally uploaded by kerner

I filled a glass jar with the jam and stuck it in the fridge - the rest we gobbled up with some yogurt. Mmmm.... wonderful. And I think it took all of 15 minutes.

Slurp!
Originally uploaded by kerner

(I may have licked the pan, it was so delicious)