Where's Gato?!

I was on the phone with Andrew when this little shenanigan took place. I had just folded this blanket as I am trying to straighten up the house. Needless to say, this blanket will need to be folded again.

I laughed really, really hard when I looked down to see what all the commotion was. He is currently just as snug as a bug in a rug. He does so many adorable things... this cat has too much personality for one kitty!



yay, yay, YAY!!!

As most of you know from my facebook status, I passed COMPS!!! Wooo hooo!

It's been a long, long road... but, the news that I passed made everything worth it (almost!)!! COMPS are a scary thought, because everything we've done boils down to 50 multiple choice questions and 4 essays. If we didn't pass, we couldn't graduate.

So, I was VERY relieved to hear "job well done!" YAY!!

What did I do to celebrate? I ordered graduation announcements! I didn't want to jinx myself by purchasing them too soon. I will send them out with pride. This major is TOUGH, and no one can fully understand unless they've been through it as well... unless you've been around someone to see the many tears, hard work, and frustration involved.

With that, I owe many thanks...

Andrew- Thank you for always supporting me. Thank you for being understanding when I was crabby and for encouraging me to keep going when I wanted to give up. Thank you for being my rock, my shoulder to cry on, and my motivator. We are one HUGE step closer to being together. YAY!

Mom, Dad, Steve, and Anna- Thank you for being my own personal cheering section! You are wonderful parents, and you made this possible! Thank you for your many prayers, and thank you for understanding why I couldn't visit home more often.

Tyler, Miranda, Izaak, and Zoe- Thank you for being awesome siblings and supporting me in all that I do. You guys are great!

My Grandparents- Your love, prayer, and support meant more to me than anything!

The Rest of my Family- You guys are AWESOME! Thank you SO much for your prayers and encouragement!

My In-Laws- Thank you for all the prayers! They kept me going.

My Grad School Friends- You know what this is all about! Thank you for being so awesome to be with... WE DID IT!!!

& that's just the tip of the iceberg in all the thanks I owe (especially for putting up with me this semester)!

Now what?! Well, I will take the Praxis on April 30th, and I still need to complete my Capstone Project. That all seems like a piece of cake at the moment, but I am sure it will create a bit of stress as the time gets closer!

Classic Charms

I was contacted with a request for custom stemware charms. I excitedly agreed to do this order. I explained that I would need to wait until COMPS were over, but as soon as I was finished with them, I knew I would itching to craft. Perfect timing!

The color scheme? She wanted the charms to match her black, red, and white kitchen. I told her that I think 4-5 colors look best, so she asked me to accent with brown. Since I didn't know how well brown would go with these colors, I chose a steely brown. Boy, did she know what she was talking about! The color choice is pretty fabulous and very classy.

They're such a pretty little set. I will ship them tomorrow, and I hope she enjoys them as much as I do! It's going to be hard to let them go... it's a good thing they don't match my kitchen! ; )

This crafty business is pretty neat. Just as I think it's starting to die down, I get several orders. This is the third one I've accepted this week. I've reduced most of my prices on my already-made stemware charms. So, if you're interested in a great deal, check out my Etsy page at www.etsy.com/shop/TailorMadeByAbby



Lemon Loveliness

I really, really like lemon cake. I mean really, really, reeeaaallllyy like lemon cake. I have never been able to figure out the tangy lemon glaze that adds the wonderful crunch to a delicious slice of lemon cake. I had a box of lemon cake mix in my pantry that I've been wanting to use, and I got a craving for this tasty treat. So, I decided to make it. I didn't want to use premade icing for this cake, nor did I want to use cream cheese icing. It's just not as good that way. So, I looked up several recipes online and came up with my own. After sharing this cake with a friend and hearing her rave about it, I decided it is definitely blog worthy.

The Cake:

No secret here. Just grab a box of lemon cake mix.

Mix according to directions and pour into pan.

Bake like you're supposed to.

Remove and cool.

The Good Stuff:

What you will need:

Two lemons.

1 cup of powdered sugar.

Squeeze about 3 tablespoons of juice from the lemon. I am sure the kind from a bottle works just as well. I always have fresh lemons on hand for my water, so I just used the real stuff.

Mix the juice with the powdered sugar. If you want, you can grate a little of the peel to put in this mixture. I didn't do that.

Pour glaze on top of cake. Let it harden.

Serve and enjoy the tangy crunch!!

Attempt #1 was a success! I MAY try to add a little butter to the glaze next time, but that's doubtful. The cake passed my high standards... and, like I said earlier, my friend raved about it. So, you better believe this is going in my recipe book.

Sweet. Simple. Super delicious.

Check, Check!

That's me checking items off of my bucket list.

Which two items? Get ready! They're big.

First, I repaired a hole in my sweater. Using a needle and thread. Successfully.

For any of you who know me well, realize that I am absolutely uninterested in sewing. I'm also not any good at it. I must admit, I did a fine job. I kept my patience, I took my time, and I even finished it off with a secure knot. Yes, that's the criteria that determines sewing success for me.

I hope you're proud, because I know I am!

Secondly, I used an ATM for the first time.

Not kidding.

A friend was shocked that I had never used one before and asked how I got my cash. I thought about it... and normally I just write a check to myself and cash it... or Andrew gives me an "allowance" to spend.

I did a pretty good job using it, and I didn't even make the fellow behind me angry. I suspect I took a bit longer than those more seasoned users, but he was very understanding.

So, yes, that's what I did today. It's the little things in life, right??



Part Two

As promised, here is another blog about what I will miss about my home here.

My daffodils.

And hyacinth.

And forsythia.

(I know this one sprout looks pitiful- but, this is the first spring in FOUR years that it has bloomed. So, I was very excited!)

Hyacinth again.

And jonquils.

And purple hyacinth.

And spider grass.

Most of these flowers were "borrowed" from the lot across the street. My neighbor, Ms. Smithwick, passed away a couple of years ago. She and I made fast friends- which was a huge accomplishment. You see, she hated the neighbors directly across from me so much that they couldn't even go on their back porch (which faced her house) without her calling the cops on them. She was pretty much a known terror, but I loved her. She loved me as well.

Each spring, I would enjoy her flowers from across the street. When she passed away, the lot became empty. No one cared for her spring flowers, but I made sure to water them so I could enjoy them. Andrew decided that I needed them. So, we transplanted them. I now enjoy them in my yard.



Andrew said that we could take them with us to New York. I am afraid they won't make the trip, so I am adding them to my list of things that I will miss. If they bloom again next year, I will eat my words. You can expect another post about these flowers if that happens.

World in Bloom

I am very excited to move to New York to be with Andrew. I also think it's beautiful there.

Now that I have that out of the way, I am going to focus the next two blogs (at least) on things I will miss about my home here. Unfortunately for my girly emotions, when I returned from New York, these items were VERY evident in the world around me.

My whole yard is in bloom. Aside from the beautiful fall colors, this is my favorite time of year. It hit me that this will be the last time (for a long time) that I get to experience a Missouri spring. You better believe I am soaking it all in.

One of my favorites? My Bradford Pear.

Soon after these pictures were taken, most of the blooms fell. I am very glad I was able to see it, and capture pictures of it, before it turned mostly green. This tree amazes me every spring. It's a beautiful addition to my little yard. I will miss it quite a bit!



Exploring New York

Since Andrew had to work all week, we didn't get to do much exploring during that time. It was a shame, too, because the weather was so pretty. On Saturday, the temperature dropped quite a bit, but that didn't keep us from getting out. We went the "back way" to Auburn, saw Owasco Lake, roamed around Auburn, made the trek to Seneca Falls, and then made a couple of stops along Cayuga Lake on the way home.

Drive to Auburn:

This waterfall was literally in this backyard. They had a cute bridge going over the stream, however, I couldn't capture everything in the picture. Andrew informed me that I was already being enough of a creepster. I have revoked their privileges to live here, and we will be moving into this home in May.

Owasco Lake:

Beautiful roadside park. This is the lake where Andrew went ice fishing. It's simply stunning! I cannot wait to see it again when everything is green and in bloom.

Seneca Falls:

Rumor has it that It's a Wonderful Life was based off of this town. At first, we were afraid that Bedford Falls had turned into Pottersville, but after a bit more exploration, we were pleased with what we saw.

We didn't walk very far along the canal because it was so cold, but they have benches every few feet and it looks like it would be very pleasant to stroll along here on a mid summer night. We will return!

I thought this old knitting mill was really cool. It is located on the other side of the canal.

This little cafe is named ZuZu's Cafe... ZuZu is George Bailey's daughter in the movie. Many references to the classic can be seen along town. I look forward to visiting Seneca Falls again when we can spend more time discovering the hot spots.

Cayuga Lake:

I blogged about this lake on our last trip to New York. This lake is less than 15 minutes from our home, and it is the lake we drive along when we go into town. It is also the lake that is above Andrew's work.

Isn't it stunning? Again, I cannot wait to see it when everything is green and full of life!

Roadside:

Andrew spotted another roadside waterfall. I am in heaven!! Waterfalls are one of my favorite natural landmarks, and I am SO excited to live in a state that has so many. I do not think I will ever get sick of seeing them. They're gorgeous!!

The rays of light were absolutely gorgeous as we were headed home after a day full of adventures. There are endless possibilities to sight-see in New York. I can't wait to get started!

One more thing... after seeing all of this beauty, it's hard for me to imagine a skyline filled with skyscrapers. It's like two totally different worlds... and I am glad we're living in the pretty one.



Passing Time From A-Z

I borrow this survey from another blog. I thought it would be a little fun and different. Feel free to do the same!

A. Age:
-24
B. Bed size:
-Queen.
C. Chore you dislike:
-Dishes. Yuck!! Give me any other household task... even scrubbing toilets.
D. Dogs:
Not so much. They're fine to pet (although they make my hands smell terrible & I have to wash them immediately), but I'm glad to send them away with their owner. I don't have enough patience for something that is so needy. Give me a self-sufficient cat anyday. A Great Dane may be the exception to this rule someday.
E. Essential start to your day:
-Brushing my teeth. If I am actually with Andrew, we both require at least 10 minutes of snuggle time before we're willing to get up.
F. Favorite color:
-Virtually all colors. Personal: Green. Decorating: Deep berry reds and neutrals. Wear: Green, black, or purple. I like warm, inviting colors.
G. Gold or silver:
-Definitely gold.
H. Height:
-5' 4.5"
I. Instruments you play(ed):
-Sadly, none. I attempted the piano and trumpet. I was not blessed in that area.
J. Job title:
-Graduate student. Future speech-language pathologist!
K. Kids:
-No little blessing yet. It's in God's hands.
L. Live:
-In a small town... nowhere near close enough to my husband!
M. Mom’s name:
-Diana
N. Nicknames:
-Love, Loverbean, Peanut, Abs, AbAb, Abby 'Shell
O. Overnight hospital stays:
-None for myself.
P. Pet peeves:
-Living apart from my husband. Dirty, cluttered kitchens. Cold, unfriendly people. Beeping sounds. Constant electronics in a household... i.e. TV always on, music blaring, videogames. Laziness. Not knowing where I stand with people.
Q. Quote from a movie:
-"I have pins and needles that I am sitting on." -Despicable Me
S. Siblings:
-Three brothers, two sisters, two brothers-in-law, and a sister-in-law.
T. Time you wake up:
-Somewhere around 6:20.
U. Underwear:
-They're a good idea for everyday wear... not the same pair though. That's just gross.
V. Vegetables you don’t like:
-I pretty much like them all... maybe with the exception of a radish.
W. What makes you run late:
-Piddling around... or hitting the snooze too many times. I'm a pretty timely person though.
X. X-rays you’ve had:
-CAT scan (does that count?), kidneys (kidney stones), hand, teeth (which revealed a tumor!)... possibly more.
Y. Yummy food you make:
-Andrew compliments my homemade sloppy joes... and I also get lots of compliments on my chili, banana bread, pasta con broccoli, tortilla pizzas, and many, many other things. I take pride in my cooking : ) It's one thing that I actually do well.
Z. Zoo animal favorites:
-Flamingos, otters, seals, anything that makes me laugh.

Playing Hostess

Growing up, one of my favorite "games" was playing house. I would force my brothers to play with me. I have always been a mother hen, and I absolutely adore taking care of people. It's a passion of mine. Last week, Andrew asked if I would make chili for a friend of his at work. Before Andrew moved, if you will remember, I made a big pot of chili and froze the leftovers to send to New York with Andrew. He shared that chili with his friend. His friend loved it, and Andrew told him that I would make a fresh pot for him.

This was no trouble to me, because I really, really like chili. Andrew's Nana shared her recipe with me (which is definitely a favorite of ours), and this is the recipe I've been using. Between her recipe and my mom's, we will never hurt for a fantastic pot of chili. I posted my mom's recipe months ago, but I'd also like to share this one!

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 onion, chopped

2 cans chili beans (medium works best)

1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles

1 can tomato sauce

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon sugar (trust me- it's the secret!)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preparation:

Brown ground beef and onion in skillet. Pour all ingredients into crockpot. Simmer on low for 6-8 hours.

Last night, since there were going to be four of us eating (and three of them were guys!), I doubled the recipe. It was perfect. We had enough for everyone to have a large bowl, and then we were able to send a helping home with each guy as well as keeping some for ourselves.

While dinner was finishing, I got to fancy up our new table with our pretty dishes.

Yes, I realize there are no cups on the table. You see, we don't have any of our glasses here. So, everyone drank out of red plastic cups last night. Oh well, everything is still a work in progress! It is now coming along rather nicely. There is still a long way to go before things are how we'd like for them to be, but it's well on the way!

Following dinner...

We all found a cozy place to sit and watched The Next Three Days. It was a pretty intense movie, and we all got pretty into it. I think it's safe to say that we'd all recommend it!

It was so nice to have enough couch space for everyone to get comfortable! Now all we need is a rug, a T.V. stand, and some end tables. Oh, and those giraffe print lamps I've been eyeballing. ; )

It was nice to meet a couple of the people Andrew works with. It was VERY nice to host a dinner in our new home. I cannot wait to get here and spruce everything up even more with the items we already have. I am also looking forward to having Theodore here. I didn't realize how much that furball keeps me company when I'm alone. It would have been nice to have his company while Andrew was at work. Most of all, I miss his crazy antics that make me laugh. We'll all be together in May... and we are all counting down the days! Life in New York is going to be great... being together will be absolutely amazing!