I Heart Beer

Not true, actually. But you wouldn't know it by tonight's menu:

Beer & cheddar bread
Beer mustard marinated chicken
Brussel sprouts

and, of course

beer


Mmmm. We'll be tipsy by seven. Hooray!

You Win This Round, Dolly Parton

Just heard back from Guest Services at



Thank you for your interest in Dollywood. We're sorry but Dollywood is no longer available for guests’ weddings; however, there are several chapels in the area that would be happy to send you information. For chapels in the Pigeon Forge area, you can contact the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism at 1(800)251-9100 and for chapels in the Gatlinburg area, you can contact the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce at 1(800)822-1998. They will gladly assist you.


Blah, blah, blah.

There go all of my childhood wedding dreams. Damn it. I was so excited, too, because getting married at Dollywood would certainly limit the number of guests we'd have to worry about.

Now what?

Blueprint's Swan Song

I went on a magazine-ordering rampage last September, subscribing to Gourmet, Food & Wine, Bon Appetite, Architectural Digest, Everyday Food, and Blueprint, which was a new creation of the Martha Stewart Empire.

As I read over that list it's very easy to track my passions: gorgeous food and gorgeous homes. Anyway...

I love most of these magazines. It is a wonderful feeling to finish your work for the day and be able to curl up on the sofa, mug of tea beside you, and slowly leaf through these glossy catalogues of wish fulfillment. Because that is what they are, at least to me. Do I really believe that I am going to wake up one morning and think, "today is the day that I am going to make Fennel and Carrot Slaw with Olive Dressing"?

Do I?

Actually, part of me does think that. A piece of me believes that there will come a time when the universe aligns just so, when all the elements of my life dance a harmonious rhumba, when my beautiful kitchen is replete with every possible convenience, and I will be a gourmet chef.

To some extent, every magazine I read fills this purpose. Architectural Digest lets me believe that one day I will live in a showcase, Everyday Food lets me believe that someday I can be organized enough to plan a month's-worth of menus at a go.

The only magazine that fell short was Blueprint. Even the pictures were ugly: cluttered and tacky, and nothing like what I expect from Martha (TM). And just as I was preparing to cancel my subscription, Martha & Co. realized the same thing. And so they absorbed the good parts into other magazines, and let Blueprint fade away.

Instead, as I found out yesterday, the are sending me Martha Stewart Living for the remainder of my subscription.

I haven't had time to really sit down and enjoy them (yes, them. I received February and March ON THE SAME DAY!), but they look oh so promising.

Thanks, Martha.

Everybody Needs a Hobby

For several months I have been kicking around the idea of finding a hobby. I love to bake, but that always results in something that needs to be eaten. My mother cross-stitched when I was little, and now she hooks rugs. I like the methodical motions involved in cross-stich, but not the finished products. I like all of the wools that my mother can collect for her rugs, but, again, I am not a fan of the finished products.

If I combine methodical stitching and multiple fabrics, what do I get?? QUILTING!!

So I am going to attempt to teach myself how to quilt. In my head I see things that I would like to make into quilts, so hopefully this is a hobby that will keep me interested for a long time.

P.S. The Object of My Affection

I shouldn't look for houses until we're ready to actually buy (late Spring! I can't wait!!), because I find beautiful places like this and can't do anything about it.



And from the side




In theory I know that our houses don't create the life we live, but how could someone ever be unhappy in such a beautiful home? I grew up in a 70's era development, and have always dreamed of owning something half this beautiful.

Please, PLEASE still be for sale in May!!!!

Guests

Next weekend, McNASA and I will have our first true weekend guests. I am very excited but nervous. We rarely had guests in our home when I was a child, and NEVER anyone who would stay for the entire weekend, so I get antsy and overzealous when I plan what to do and how to host them.

If I had all of the money I could ever want (and my 7 bedroom Victorian), I would want a guestroom that looked like this



That just looks and feels restful to me. Unfortunately, we don't have the budget or the space to make that happen yet. However, our friends have offered us a futon, and McNASA is more than happy to rearrange the room that he uses as a makeshift studio so that our friends can have their own space while they're here. I am going to post some before and after photos, and see how close I got to making a restful, welcoming room.

Balance

Things That Make Me Happy

-65 degree weather in February
-the cat stalking the birds via the giant window
-the knowledge that there is a 7 bedroom Victorian for sale in our price range
-Zeke's coffee, on its way!

Things That Make Me Sad

-homework
-dirty kitchen
-lapsed cleaning schedule
-not living in aforementioned Victorian