Say Ahhhhh!

I had company this past weekend, a cousin and her friend were taking a class in town and I offered them my bedroom to save the costs of hotel. Plus - I just enjoy being a hostess. When I first learned of their class and made my offer, our couch was used just for watching TV and playing with Beth's grandson; however as noted in an earlier posting, that is no longer the case since Beth's son Donny is habitating there. So some shuffling had to be done to accommodate the company.

My cousin Grace is a reflexologist, and her friend Sheila is a massage therapist, and as a thank you for our hospitality - we were both treated to free massages! What a treat! Made especially so because we didn't have to leave the house to get it. Imagine being done with a massage and not having to get in the car and drive home afterwards. I'd say my euphoria and relaxation lasted well into the next day! I've been getting my nails done at home for several years, but have now decided that I must find a regular massage therapist who will come to the house!

I can see now how someone could be a homebody. Technology means I can work at home, go to school from home, have groceries (and anything else you can think of) delivered, have a constant stream of news and current events. If doctors still routinely made house calls (I know there are some who do it on occasion because I work for them) - a person would never have to leave the house!

Luckily I enjoy seeing the world (and people) too much for it to happen to me. So I'll just sit back and say 'ahhhh' to my first (any maybe last) home massage!

Apples, apples everwhere!

For those of you who don't know, Nebraska was home to J. Sterling Morton - the founder of Arbor Day. Every year during September, just as the weather starts to change and the mornings are crisp and cool - Nebraska City hosts the annual Applejack Festival. It's a great place to learn (at Arbor Tree Farm), to stay (at Arbor Lodge), to shop (Craft Shows), to watch a great parade, to feel the beginnings of fall, or to eat amazing food.

I'm reminded of Forrest Gump when Bubba is naming everything you can do with shrimp, only with apples (which seem to be much more versatile than shrimp!).

There's ways to prepare apples:
apple pie
apple turnovers
applesauce
apple cider
apple donuts
caramel apples
fried apples
baked apples
dried apples
apple wine
apple beer
apple brats
apple sausage
apple chicken salad

and there's activities to do with apples:
dunking for apples
apple pie-eating contest
apple parades
apple crafts
apple picking

and there's so many kinds of apples to eat or bake with:
jonathan
red delicious
golden delicious
jonagold
fuji
gala
granny smith
braeburn
pink lady
macintosh
cameo
and probably hundred more!

So even though I have homework projects piled up to my eyeballs, and I'm fighting a sinus infection (probably from losing sleep over the homework); I took a few hours on Sunday to participate in the annual fall kickoff craft show frenzy. We shopped our way from one side of town to the other, we had apple pie, we got rosy cheeks from the crisp fall breeze, we bought crafts (apple related and not), and we bought apples in many forms!

So if you're ever in the area, I highly recommend a few hours with the great people of Nebraska City. And if by chance you're in the mood for apples - there's no place better than Union Orchard (just north of town) - where I got the most wonderful apple pie to take home (it was still warm from the oven)!

Mmmm, apple pie a-la-mode anyone?

Going... going... GONE!

And good riddance! That is what I said to the mountains of stuff I got rid of this past weekend at a yard sale.

There is something very cleansing and motivating in getting rid of the accumulations of "STUFF". Makes you want to get rid of more. So much so that Beth (my roomate) went and collected all of the decorative stuff from our bathroom to sell so that we have an excuse to redecorate it! When it comes to "holding on" and "letting go", Beth and I are at WAY opposite ends of the spectrum. I want to hold onto everything just in case I need it sometime (I blame my mom and grandma), and she - well - doesn't! So I've learned to be picky about the things I hold on to.

And now - with the sale over - the storage areas (basement/bedroom/living room/dining room/pantry) all have this nice clean bare look that I kind of like. I know it won't stay that way for long, but it's a good feeling for a little while!

PS - On a side note - 2.5 weeks of school done, 13.5 to go!