Winter Campout

Well, we survived another winter campout! It was three cold, sleepless nights and four busy, only slightly warmer days. Between massive wind gusts, drizzling rain, and freezing temperatures, we managed to have fun, fellowship, and even attend an outdoor wedding and reception.

I didn't know it was possible to get a "sunburn" from a fire, but I think that is indeed what I arrived home with. Everyone huddled around a central fire to begin and end the day (and even sometimes in the afternoon, given how cold it was), and I think I'm still feeling the effects on the skin of my forehead. It was funny, as I didn't begin to feel any real pains until we were in the car on the ride home. Then the extent of the chapped and chafed skin and sore body (from sleeping on the ground in a tent) become evident, apparently as I thawed out in the warmth of the heater!

We're seriously thinking about renting a camper for next winter, although I'm proud of us for sticking it out when the majority of people rented hotel rooms or had RVs in which to stay. (I'm not sure if that makes us tough or just cheap!) Regardless, it was another great experience and I look forward to the forthcoming summer camp out in July.

“Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.” - Arthur Golden

Sports Clips

While I cut Jeff's hair last night, he set up his laptop and logged on to ESPN to watch the historic college basketball moment as the UConn women's team broke the 88 consecutive wins record. He joked it was like his own personal Sports Clips!

Making Marshallows

In preparation for our winter camp-out weekend in Georgia, I made marshmallows from scratch today. It's been a while since I dug out my candy thermometer, so I'd forgotten all the multitasking involved. While boiling the sugar and water to hard ball stage, I was simultaneously whipping the egg whites to soft peaks and softening the gelatin in a double boiler. It's no wonder I forgot to take pictures until the final product was achieved!

I beat these marshmallows extra long, so hopefully they will hold up on a stick over the fire (that's the downside of the homemade marshmallows; better flavor but inconsistent consistency). I'm stocking up on cinnamon graham crackers and chocolate squares, so it should be a great weekend!

Bungalow Sweet Bungalow

I'm rarely sentimental about physical things or material possessions, but working around the house and yard the last week or so has me very nostalgic for my cozy little bungalow back in Arkansas. I'm glad we had the blessing of selling "by owner" instead of the anonymous process of a realtor, because at least I know the house is in good hands.

I still correspond with the new owners on occasion, and it was nice when she asked me for some "before" photos of the house. We bought the 1914 era Craftsman style bungalow when it was in a state of disrepair, but tried to be good stewards and leave it better than we found it. After I sent her some photos, she was quite surprised and remarked that we must have had vision because she and her husband would not have taken on such a project! Sorting through the photos on my computer has me reminiscing on the experience all over again.

Our Arkansas home before:

After four years of love and hard work:

Some interior comparison shots:

Living Room Before .........................& After

Dining Room Before .......................& After


Kitchen Before ...............................& After


Bedroom Before .............................& After

Home

Jeff gave his last finals early in December, so he's been freed from campus for the last week or so. He goes in occasionally for meetings, etc., but until classes resume January 10th, he's basically all mine! He has his own office at home when he needs to work on research, publications, and other professorial duties, but we certainly appreciate the blessing of his job in terms of the great flexibility and free time it allows.

We're taking advantage of the break to get some little niggly items done around the house. We have to make a list so we get the reward of crossing jobs off, since they are the kinds of tasks that bring little fulfillment, but need to be done. Don't you just hate those kind!

Playing in the Snow

All you Yankees might think we live in the Deep South, but I'll have you know it's actually NORTHERN Alabama! Jeff always points that out. Today it was more evident than usual by the freezing temperatures and blowing snow.

We are trying to stay dedicated to our exercise schedule, so our Sunday morning routine of tennis could not be postponed. Despite the cold and snow and wind, we bundled up and headed out to the courts. Our very treed neighborhood was obviously sheltered from the winter weather, because as soon as we got out on the main street, we questioned our ability to play (and our sanity). We played about 30 minutes in the cold and snow until the wind began to blow horizontal ice pellets across the courts and the baseline was getting icy. We even had to scrape the windshield of the car before we pulled out of the parking lot, which is a rarity here in the South!

I know it doesn't look like much, but the iPhone doesn't capture the snow very well (though you can see the ice on the courts)

Bublé Boogie

Jeff surprised me last Thursday night by announcing that he needed to pack for the weekend. I was confused by the reference until he used his iPhone to bring up a favorite Michael Bublé song and I realized he had bought tickets to the live concert in Nashville! We had tried to find a show in the past, even looking while we were in Germany and Michael Bublé was simultaneously touring Europe, but it hadn't worked out. But Sunday evening we enjoyed the show from the front row of an upper balcony directly overlooking the stage. Although I've been to numerous ballets, operas, symphonies, etc., it was my first real "concert" in the popular sense.

The opening act (and guest performers on a select number of Bublé songs) was Naturally 7, a seven man a cappella/vocal play group. It was really an incredible warm up, as these men used no instruments whatsoever but were, in fact, the instruments themselves. They become the drums, the bass, the electric guitar, the scratching turntable, the trombone and other brass, miscellaneous percussion, etc to accompany their lead singers.

Naturally 7

The main show opened with great theatricality and continued strongly for the next hour and a half. In addition to his many recorded hits, we enjoyed Twist and Shout, Walking in a Winter Wonderland, and a Michael Jackson impersonation. The live band was fabulous and it was an incredible evening. We capped it off by a easy walk back up the hill to our cozy hotel room.

A good Vibe

We have a new addition to the Evans fleet! Since our Dodge Neon has passed 213,000 miles and seems to have a perpetual affinity for flashing the 'check engine' light (for multiple reasons, some of which have been addressed and some of which still persist), we have been researching vehicles for over a year now. We finally found the right make, model, and price tag, so we drove to Birmingham to get our Pontiac Vibe yesterday.

It's had a trial by fire already (or should I say, trial by water?), as it was pouring rain as we navigated the rush hour traffic of Birmingham and the two hours home up and down the mountains on our trek north. It handled beautifully, with tight steering, responsive acceleration and braking, and great gas mileage. The Vibe is actually made by Toyota in a joint venture between it and GM, so it has all the Toyota reliability with the GM warranty and sticker price. I absolutely love the hatchback, rear glass independent opening, roof rack, cubby storage over the spare tire, removable headrests, and the fold-flat front passenger's seat, in addition to the backseats. It's also a pretty color, which is a nice bonus!

Jazzed for Jeff

More accolades for my dear husband! At the recent international conference he attended in San Antonio, Jeff was presented with the Keith J. Miller Young Investigator Award. It is given in recognition of past accomplishments and the potential for future contributions to the fatigue and fracture community. Nice job, Professor Evans!

Better the devil you know...

There is nothing better to make you appreciate what you have than to experience the opposite. I've heard it said that if everyone threw their problems into a pile to pick from, you would always choose your own back again after you saw the options.

I had that moment Friday when I rode a different horse in my morning training. Where Flame is light, sensitive, and hot-tempered, this horse is heavy, dense, and rather dull. Someone joked that he is a cross between a draft horse and a cow. It was an exhausting workout and I never could get him truly round and forward. But it was a good experience since I will now approach Flame with new appreciation and patience!

All that MAT-ters

Well, the faux fireplace mantle project is going to take two people to cut down because I don't have a table saw (hint, hint, dear husband of mine ;-). So, I'll have to wait until Jeff is back so I can have an assistant with the circular saw. In light of that, I moved on to some simpler cutting projects, making picture mats for some paintings I found.

I bought several oil paintings at a thrift store a few months ago. They were on unstretched canvas, and my original plan was to make stretcher bars and hang them as is with a gallery wrap style. But then I found a bunch of large picture frames at a thrift store and the wheels started turning. The frames were larger than the canvases, but with mats I could pull it off. It isn't standard to mat oils, but I love the look and for a couple of dollars a piece, it was cheaper and easier than stretching the canvases.

Since none of the art is standard size, I had to make custom mats. My new favorite tool is the Dexter Mat Cutter. It makes a gorgeous bevel with very little effort. I bought a vintage version on eBay for just a few bucks, and it even came with five unused blades!

So here's some of the newly matted, framed, and hung paintings. I still have about six left to do, but the depth and intricacy of the works adds a lot of warmth to every room!

Our favorite pair hung in the family room; I feel as though I could just step into the painting and explore the terrain


Our dining room is not Tuscan in theme, nor does it have any blue, but I tied in the mat color to the drapes and the formal living room wall color


A close-up of my corners; I love the Dexter!

Winter Weight

I think my new phrase when I'm starving will be "I'm so hungry I could eat like a horse"! I thought DaVinci could eat a bowl of dog food in record time, but I have never seen such eager and single-minded purpose as I did feeding Flame this morning.

Granted, with the onset of winter, there is no grazing available and the horses wait with baited breath every morning for hay. But since I needed to ride before the equine breakfast could be served to the herd, I gave Flame a few scoops of grain while I groomed and tacked him in the stall.

I'm not sure whether to equate him to an industrial vacuum or a whirlwind tornado. It was one of the messiest, most inefficient techniques I have witnessed, as he dove headfirst into the feed bucket, scattering oats and pellets pell-mell and dropping feed from his open, chewing mouth. After he inhaled the contents of the bucket, he proceeded to try to recover every escaped piece with grasping, mobile horse lips that roamed over the feed ledge, window sill, ground, me, and anything else he could reach like a metal detector gone berserk. In another instance of God's creation pointing us to the Bible, it made me think of John 6:12 (in a humorous way)!

...Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do...

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. - Newt Gingrich

Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. - Josh Billings

Fall seven times, stand up eight. - Japanese Proverb

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second. - William James

How long should you try? Until. - Jim Rohn

Why do we pursue the thing we do? I was asking myself that this weekend as I hobbled around with a painful blister (from my riding boots), a twisted knee (from being thrown), and a bit of a sunburn (from the unexpectedly warm weather during my ride). Aren't hobbies suppose to be enjoyable?

I have reached several points in my riding where I felt like quitting. Maybe it was no longer fun, or it consumed so much time, or it was just plain hard work. Maybe I plateaued and wasn't making any progress. But I've tried to stick with it and come out the other side.

I think one strong motivator for me is that I always regret giving up gymnastics when I was 12. I had taken lessons for years, but I had reached the point of needing to commit more to it (to move into competition level). For whatever childish reasons, I preferred to quit and spend time playing with the neighborhood kids instead. Of course, I quickly lost my flexibility and upper body strength, and by the time I realized I wanted to get back to gymnastics, it was too late to regain lost ground.

Perhaps I learned a lesson of childhood in spite of myself. Teaching dedication, perseverance, and tenacity in the face of difficulty is one of the chief aims of parents, teachers, and coaches. Maybe someone could have encouraged or pushed me to continue my training. But no one did, so when the regret of quitting hit, I realized I would have to be self-motivated in the future. So when I fall off the horse, I get back on. Not because someone is making me, but because I don't want to ever regret not giving it my all. Not because I want to be a great equestrian one day, but because I want to be the best Sarah I can be.

Super-Easy Husband-Pleaser

I made one of Jeff's favorite recipes the other night, Brandied Candied Sweet Potatoes. It's perfect for a chilly fall night or the upcoming Thanksgiving meal. I served it along side lemon pepper tilapia, herbed couscous, and zucchini Italiano, but it is equally at home with a chicken, beef, or lamb entree.

Brandied Candied Sweet Potatoes

1 lb sweet potatoes
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp brandy

Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into 1 inch chunks. In medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter and stir in brown sugar and salt until dissolved. Add the sweet potatoes and stir until well coated. Increase heat to medium, cover and cook 12-14 minutes, stirring occasionally, until almost tender. Remove lid and stir in brandy. Increase heat and stir until liquid has evaporated and sweet potatoes are tender and glazed. Serves 3-4.

Can't beat free

I've been searching Craigslist, antique stores, garage sales, etc. for a mantel for over a year now. I want to make a faux fireplace in the master bedroom, since there is a long blank wall that really needs a focal point. I wanted something fairly small and simple so as not to overwhelm the room, but finding the right piece at the right price has been difficult.

Until earlier this week, that is, when I stopped by one of my favorite thrift stores to drop of some donations. On my way out, I saw a large pile of furniture, televisions, and other miscellaneous; laying on top was a box mantel for a free-standing fireplace unit. I asked the donation staff if these items would be priced and placed in the store for sale, and he said it was all trash he was taking to the dump. When he saw I was interested in the mantle, he said I could have it for free, and even offered to help load it! I only had the Dodge Neon, but after some disassembly and maneuvering, we got that puppy in the car and now it sits in my garage awaiting some revisions and a paint job. Hurray for free!

Work in Progress

I think it's pretty clear that one principle holds true in training any living thing: ask once, then correct if obedience does not follow. We used the technique to the best of our ability in training DaVinci, the dog, and we've had good fruits in all areas where we were diligent.

I'm finding my limits with Flame, the horse, though. Though a beautiful animal, he is too smart for his own good; or, at least, for my good. He spends far too much time and energy figuring out ways to avoid work and difficult situations instead of just cooperating as most horses do.

Dressage and hunter/jumper disciplines are dependent on using the body to communicate with the horse, rarely the voice. So I have to rely on my calves, thighs, seat, upper body, and hands to ask/tell him what to do. Trying to get all those parts doing the right thing at the right time without sending confusing or contradictory signals is quite a challenge, especially then flying along at rather swift speeds around and over obstacles. So, if Flame doesn't do the right thing, is it him or me? Is he being disobedient or did I not ask clearly? Do I correct his mistake or apologize for mine? In the end, we always finish on a good note (even if it's only minor) and then he gets his sugars, but it's all the exercises leading up to the happy ending that stretch us both.

Through all of this, though, I am learning to see how an obedient spirit and a willing heart, even one that makes many mistakes, would be priceless. That is the attitude that can be shaped into anything, molded with unlimited potential.

That must be the mount Shakespeare's King Richard III was desperate for when he exclaimed "A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!"

S'More of that, please

It's been edging down into the low thirties at night here occasionally, so Jeff prepped the gas insert in our fireplace this weekend. With the discovery of a bag of kosher marshmallows in an obscure corner of my pantry, and the knowledge that I had half a box of cinnamon graham crackers and bars of bittersweet baking chocolate in the kitchen cupboards, I proposed s'mores last night for dessert. Jeff found a coat hanger we had previously straightened for some long-forgotten purpose, and we were all set!

Setting the stage

The main players

Everybody warm and content post S'Mores

I Could Have Danced All Night

Jeff and I had a wonderful time Saturday night! The private Cotillion Ballroom Dance Club had the theme of Sparkle! Glamour! and Razzle-Dazzle! for this particular dance, and it was quite lovely. We met and had wonderful conversation with the new friends at our table; enjoyed a very satisfying meal of chicken Marsala, Greek salad, roasted red potatoes, Italian zucchini, and carrot cake for dessert; and danced the night away to the most popular dance band in the Southeast region.

There were a little over 50 couples, including members and guests, and we were by far the youngest (I guess dancing is a generational thing in part, as we are quite frequently the "babies" of the group in any class, practice party, or social dancing venue). It was so impressive to see middle-aged, older, and just plain elderly people out on the floor every dance having a great time, and demonstrating a great deal of talent to boot.

We waltzed, foxtrotted, tangoed, cha-chaed, swung (West Coast, East Coast triple, and single), and rumbaed our way through the evening to three sets of some great tunes. We just need to add bolero and samba to our repertoire and we'd never have to sit out a song!

Photo montage of the evening

Floral Fun

Here was my last floral arrangement for church for the month of October. It was a pleasant challenge creating something new each week. This one will work on the dining table for a few weeks, until I disassemble it to begin again. It illustrates my attraction to orange (see previous post)!

My new favorite shade

I've had a variety of favorite colors in my three decades. My first was blue, which persisted for many years and slowly transitioned into aqua, turquoise, and finally settled on greens. To my knowledge, I was never a fan of pink or purple or other "girly" colors. Now, I'm finding that I am really attracted to the many shades of orange, particularly the brown and red based ones! Anything cinnamon, russet, deep pumpkin, rust, copper, terra cotta, etc. They just make me feel happy and cozy. I love that it is autumn, as these shades are really popular and readily available in this season.

Tailor Made

Jeff and I have been invited to an "exclusive" ball this coming Saturday evening, so I'm working on what to wear. It's a formal cotillion with dinner and a live band on a great wooden floor, so the focus is on the dancing. I have several formals, but not one I can foxtrot in!

Thankfully, I recalled stashing something away several years ago as a sewing project. It's a beautiful gown I found for a few dollars at a discount place. It's a couple sizes too big and quite long, but I think I can work with it. I'll post some photos when I get the alterations done!

Boot Blues

I'm breaking in a pair of new (to me) tall English riding boots, and the going is painful. Like any personal garb made of quality leather, it takes awhile to soften and conform to your unique shape. Though the world seems to think riding boots are the height of fashion, they are one of the most painful, cumbersome, and expensive pieces of gear in an equestrian's collection. If it weren't for the great positioning and protection they offer, I would go back to my short paddock boots in a heartbeat!

Jeff has some tricks for breaking in baseball gloves, but if anyone has leather footwear tips, please pass them on! I've read of a whole host of ideas such as baby oil, steam, urine (apparently the cavalry of WWI and WWII did this!), hot water in the boot, and lots of commercial creams and other store-bought products.

Country Club

We were invited by a colleague of Jeff's at the university to a special dinner at the country club last Saturday. It was an interesting (and slightly macabre) theme, the last dinner aboard the Titanic! The original meal was an eleven-course feast that would leave most modern diners gasping for air. The reproduction was a "modest" nine courses only. It comprised:

Consomme Olga
Asparagus Salad with Champagne-Saffron Vinaigrette
Poached Salmon with Mousseline Sauce
Chicken Lyonnaise
Filets Mignons Lili
Lamb with Mint Sauce
Punch Romaine
Peaches in Chartreuse Jelly
French Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Petite Fours

In order to serve such fine meals three times daily to so many passengers, the Titanic had separate refrigerators for each type of perishable; meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, eggs, and dairy; and separate cold storage for vintage wine and spirits. From mundane supplies such as cereals (10,000 pounds) and sugar (5 tons), to more exotic items such as asparagus (800 bundles), the Titanic was full to overflowing with the best fresh food.

“We dined the last night in the Ritz restaurant. It was the last word in luxury. The tables were gay with pink roses and white daisies, the women in their beautiful shimmering gowns of satin and silk, the men immaculate and well-groomed, the stringed orchestra playing music from Puccini and Tchaikovsky. The food was superb: caviar, lobster, quail, plover’s eggs and hothouse grapes and fresh peaches. The night was cold and clear, the sea like glass.”

- First class passenger Mrs Walter Douglas

Tennis Time

Tennis courts at night

In addition to ballroom dancing (for us) and equestrian pursuits (for me), Jeff and I have been eager to get just a little more physical activity into our lives. With the beautiful fall weather making outdoor pursuits enjoyable instead of onerous, we have taken up tennis once again.

Jeff was instrumental in forming his high school tennis team 'back in the day' and we've been playing off and on since we were married. He's a natural athlete (and a true boy at heart) and loves any game with a ball. My only "ball" sport as a youth was soccer, preferring gymnastics, dance, horseback riding, and track to hitting, throwing, or shooting balls. But I always thought I might like tennis, and thanks to my husband's coaching I've had the opportunity to prove the merit of that belief.

I really enjoy the bursts of running juxtaposed with the tense moments of anticipation. There are fresh starts at every turn, a new chance to turn the tide if need be. And equally so, never a moment when you can rest on your laurels for a good serve or a picture-perfect return. It makes for a stimulating method to burn some calories and have some together time!

Canada, eh?

View over the Bella Vista region of Vernon, BC

We had a fabulous time in Vernon, BC! British Columbia is a gorgeous province, and Canadians are so very nice and friendly. The weather couldn't have been better and the setting was very picturesque with lots of family-friendly activities and sites.

We enjoyed a day at the Historic O'Keefe Ranch, a property just outside of town that was one of the first settled in the Okanagan Valley. It has been preserved as a historic site with the original main house and many out-buildings, plus a great steak restaurant, petting zoo, antique farm equipment, and other assorted attractions.

Family Day was held at the Davison Orchard, a family owned farm on 60 acres with produce of all kinds grown and sold locally. We had a brown bag lunch, apple cart ride around the orchard, and plenty of down time on the green grass for football, dominos, checkers, browsing in the gift shop for local artisan products, and just plain basking in the sun.

Vernon is a fairly small town, but it's very well taken care of. We enjoyed a walk downtown through a few of the many large murals painted on building sides. Polson Park was a small green haven when we needed to relax after a busy week. We ventured outside of Vernon for a trip south to the Gray Monk winery, as well as a day spent in Kelowna, the nearest city of significant size.

All in all, it was a beautiful trip to our North American neighbors. I definitely recommend the region to anyone who has a chance to visit!

Vernon Slideshow