Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of what I am working on for Trae. I am so excited about it all. I am loving how all of the fabrics are coming together. Some of these I happened upon very randomly and unexpectedly and they are some of my favorites.

Here are other pictures from our drive to California this past time. All of these pictures are in Truckee. We love it there.

Bella loves the snow just as much as we do.

Sunning and Resting

I am in the middle of a three week break from school. I am loving it!! Back in California for the break.
I did great this past semester. Hopefully from here on out, my classes will be less studying and more projects.
Great news: Trae's last day in California is June 4! Woo hoo! That means he will be back in the south working from now on. I am so excited to live with my husband again on a regular basis.
This week, Trae and I went to Berkeley for a certification course for him. This was our first trip to Berkeley, and most likely our last. I must say, I was a little wierded out when we first got there. A totally different vibe in that city than I had ever experienced anywhere else. I like to think that I am a pretty well traveled girl for my age. I have been all over the south, up to the Northeast, Colombia, South America, and we have been in California for a while now. I have never felt more uneasy about my surroundings than I did when I was in Berkeley. I can't even say it was due to what I saw or what the people were like. The uneasy feeling simply came from the spirit of the place. The harbour was more my pace, so I spent most of my time there instead of in town or on campus. One incredible event I did take part in while in Berkeley simply made the trip worth it. I caught the mobile cupcake bakery!! I saw this big line of people waiting near a small truck. As I got closer, I realize this truck is selling gourmet cupcakes. Yes, I believe this truck was parked on the same street that I parked on was God's perfect plan for my day! Yummy!
I did get to see the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time while I was there. I saw it from the harbour. Overall, the trip to Berkeley was ok, I am sure Trae, and myself, prefer Tahoe for short trips here in California.
I have been taking advantage of the pool and sun while Trae has been working. Very relaxing with Pina Coladas! This is probably what my next two weeks will be like as well. I am very excited about this.
On that note, let me get back to my magazines, sunshine and cocktails!

Trader Joe's, Oh How I Love Thee!

One of the things that I enjoy most about coming to California is the abundance of Trader Joe's stores. There is one only about 15 miles from the town Trae is in. For my Mississippi friends who may not be familiar with Trader Joe's, because the closest one is in Atlanta, Trader Joe's is a wonderful place. It makes me smile just walking in the front door. It is a grocery store, basically, a lot like Whole Foods. But you will not find many items made by a popular or well known brand. Instead, they sell Trader Joe's brand of EVERYTHING! Meat, produce, bread, baking needs, frozen veggies, canned veggies, frozen pizzas, desserts, chips, cereal, cookies, dairy, spices, and just about every other item you could possible imagine, only there is one brand to choose from. But don't be alarmed that if you shop here, there is a limited variety, oh no! Trader Joe's brand is the most delicious brand I have tried in numerous food varieties. They have my favorite cereal, granola, cookies, bread, frozen veggies, frozen desserts, pita chips, spices, boxed macaroni and cheese, and wine.

Last time I went, I got a box of frozen chocolate croissants. I thought, these will be good for breakfast. The box instructs you to let proof and rise for 9 hours or overnight. I was a little disappointed that it would take that long, but the disappointment soon faded when I took a bite of that big beautiful croissant. It was delicious. It very well could have come from a pastry shop where they make croissants by hand everyday. You know how some frozen foods come out of the oven or pot and they just don't really taste fresh? They don't taste bad, they just don't taste fresh? Well this is not like that at all. These croissants were delicious!!! Fresh, buttery and flaky. The 9 hour wait is definitely worth it, and I would definitely serve them if I had company over. They were impressive.

Probably what I love most about Trader Joe's is that the prices are so reasonable, actually, cheap! Inside and outside the store are some clever and very cute hand written signs about specials and certain products. All the employees wear shirts that have some kind of Hawaiian design on them. They are always nice and helpful. I am trying to figure out how to get a bunch of my staples back to Mississippi when I leave California this time. My mom is also a Trader Joe fan. There are a few staples that she only likes from there. I definitely am going on Friday with my granola, pita chips, and some cookies on my list to make it back to Mississippi. I may have to buy an insulated bag so I can get my frozen croissants back home! I have written TJ's to inquire why there isn't one in MS yet. I have not gotten a response, but maybe one day there will be one in the Jackson area. I miss it when I am not here in California.

Mt. Shasta

Trae and I have taken a road trip. We are in Northern California in a town called Yreka. I must comment that despite the surface friendly people we have encountered, there is something amiss here. We both just have a funny feeling about this town. Not sure what it is but oh well. The area is beautiful. It is just outside of a National Forest where Mt. Shasta is. It is a beautiful volcano covered in snow. Tomorrow we will leave here and head back down south via the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). We came to Yreka to check out a truck Trae is looking at purchasing. We figured it was a good excuse to see another part of the state we have not been to.

I have been a busy little bee trying to finish the quilting on my quilt while I have been here. Just last night I got done with one section and thought I only had one more section left to go and then I can start the binding! Well little did I know I have 4 more sections left! Hopefully I can get most of it done before I leave.

For all of the displaced Southerners out there. Polenta can be substituted for grits when necessary. Just add more liquid!! It won't be exactly the same, but it will do in a pinch!

California had a different plan...

Well, I thought I would be posting everyday to my poorly mistreated blog while I was in California!! I remembered as soon as I stepped foot off the plane, my husbands little apartment is too far away from the router!! So we don't get internet in his house. Therefore I am in the landlady's house while my clothes are washing typing this post. Maybe I can get over here a few more times.
There has been a lot that has happened since I left Mississippi. I stayed with my grandmother in Reno my first few days out west. She had a few neck vertebra fused and was needing some TLC while her husband had to go out of town for a few days. Trae came up and we had a wonderful few days of resting. The three days before Christmas Eve, we spent in Tahoe!! It was great. We didn't ski, but we rested and cooked and played in the snow! Trae and I had a wonderful Christmas. We exchanged presents on Christmas Eve because he had to work Christmas Day. So it was just me and Bella on Christmas Day. My plan was to spend some time with him at the ER during the day, but the ER was pretty hopping so I couldn't stay. That day started his 5 days in a row stretch, which today is the last of. I am so glad he doesn't have to work for the next 8 days! I am not sure what we will do, but I don't really care either.
My Alabama Crimson Tide is playing in the National Championship game on January 7. I am soo incredibly excited! I have never seen them play for a championship. I have also found out that a guy in my OT class actually personally knows my favorite Bama player, Terrence Cody! I really want to meet him one day soon! As soon at it was official Bama was going to be playing in Pasadena for the Championship, I tried to find out how I could get to the game. I figured since I would already be in California, this would be fairly easy. I layed in bed one night trying to figure out logistics of this trip only to wake up tired and upset that I still wouldn't be able to go. Oh well. I will be able to watch it with my sweetheart and that is enough for me! Well that is all for now!! But I am so glad to be back online!!!

What a Break!

Well, last week was the first week of my break between summer and fall semester. I left straight from school and drove to North Carolina to assist Trae with the remodel rush to finish up all the projects he had started. We were up till 2 am every night and up at 8:30ish to try to get everything done. I am exhausted. We got all the painting, hanging cabinets, replacing fixtures and switches, and cleaning done about 7pm on Saturday evening. We needed to be in Mississippi on Sunday for Trae to do some work on the Jeep before he left for California on Monday morning. So we started our drive out of North Carolina towards Mississippi around 9pm on Saturday evening. We drove all night and pulled in the driveway as dawn was approaching. I looked at the clock as we were laying our head on the pillow, 5:50 am. Yes, Sunday was the most uncomfortable of days. We slept till around 9:30 am when Trae decided to get up to get started on the Jeep work. I got up with him, made him some breakfast and struggled with whether or not to start working on the laundry he needed done for his trip and the packing that I was to do for him. Well we stayed up for a while, I finally decided, or thought I was awake enough for this option, that I would just go lay down in bed and play on the computer for a while. I didn't think I was tired enough to sleep anymore, but my body was tired from the previous week of abuse I subjected it to. I think the computer "resting" plan only lasted about 30 minutes. Around 11:30 I laid my head on my pillow and closed my eyes. Apparently, several people came in my room and I didn't even notice. I am normally a very light sleeper so this always means that I was OUT! I was so OUT that when I woke up at 3pm, I felt fully rested and ready to start my day. I am still recovering, but I am a lot better than I was. Poor Trae had to start his drive to California via Omaha on Monday at 6:30am. I know that when he gets to California he will crash, after he works of course. He is scheduled to arrive on Thursday. His first shift is Friday pm. He will work the night shift for the first month he is there and then switch to a day shift. I feel so bad for him. I know his body is screaming for a break. He has always been able to handle sleep deprivation and crazy schedules a lot better than me. I am trying to get back on my regular school sleep schedule this week. I start back next Monday. Until then, I am taking full advantage of this week of nothing to do and am being lazy, relaxing and plan on reading a book.

I will try to get some pictures of the house up soon, but don't hold your breath, I am relaxing and definitely not rushing to do anything this week!

Money is Good...

I received word from my mom yesterday that my financial aid packet from school came in! YAY! Cutting it pretty close though I say. My first day is only a month away. I think I have about a week to decide which loans to accept for the entire next school year. Not very much time if you ask me. I am happy to report that all of my school for the next year is covered with loans. Not grants, I know. I was kinda bummed about that but then quickly cheered up at the fact that I do not have to come out of pocket at all for any portion of school. I have been getting really excited about getting to go to school over the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, we did find out that Trae will have to stay in California for a few more weeks, (at least 8) while I head off to school. We knew that he would not be near me for a while, but we were both excited about getting out of California for a while. He has been here for almost a year. Its a lovely place, but just not home. So around May 12 I will drive back to Mississippi to start my school and Trae will stay here to continue working until something closer to me opens up.

Phew!!!

It has been a crazy past few days, but I am finally back in California with my sweetheart. The flight was fine. It left MS at 6:30 am and I arrived in CA at noon on Thursday. Wish I would have gotten to sleep a little more than that especially since I arrived so early. But oh well. Thursday, after my honey came and picked me up, we went to some friends' house to watch Grey's Anatomy. It is a standing date that we do with several friends, meet at someones house to watch Grey's. It is really a fun time. But this Thursday, they made me the best tri-tip ever, twice baked potatoes, salad, and one of them brought the most wonderful strawberry cheesecake I have ever had in my life. Why you ask did they go to all this trouble? Well my birthday came while I was in MS and so they felt like they needed to celebrate it with me. They are wonderful friends who truly are selfless. Yesterday, Trae and I had to go shopping because he let the groceries get down to practically nothing. He had no milk, no eggs, no bread, but by gosh, he did have BACON! But that really didn't surprise me. So we got the kitchen stocked back up with essentials so that if I wanted to whip something up, I wouldn't be scratching my head wondering where all the food went. Then we watched a movie, very typical of us. We are such movie lovers. We often like obscure movies that some people may find pointless or stupid, not in a dumb way though. I'll give you an example: Lars and the Real Girl. If you have ever seen this movie you will know and understand that it is unexpected, funny, and a great film. Just when you think that the movie is about to take a cheap nasty turn, it doesn't and reaffirms your trust in Hollywood to create a great film that has nothing to do with sex, nakedness, cheating or greed. But Trae and I have often been told that we do have sense of humor that is a little off beat. My mom calls us the "same kind of weird".
After our movie, I made dinner. It is one of our favorites and I did a pretty good job making it last night. Steak and Guinness Pie, a Jamie Oliver special. It has puff pastry, steak, carrots, parsnips, mushrooms, and of course Guinness. It is so good.
Today, he had to go to work, he took the leftover pie with him of course. I am going to town. I am visiting a quilting shop in town that I have never been to before. I am very excited about that. No, I have not forgotten about my quilt that I have already started. It would not fit in my suitcase, so I had to ship it. Hopefully it will be here by early next week and I will continue it and keep you all posted of course. That is all for now.
Coming soon: We have a ski trip planned in a few weeks with Trae's boss/job caretaker. That will be a lot of fun. I am going to San Jose in a few weeks to spend a couple of days with my grandmother, mom, and great aunt, so I am looking forward to that. But for now, I must go and clean house!! It looks like a bachelor pad again!