Winter Warmth 1

The wood stoves have been lit in the office!

I am one happy person!

It also means half of my face is really hot all the time...

Bugs

I have about decided this Southern Gal, former Girl Scout, and one who grew up camping(with lots of scars to prove it) is about done with bugs. I am officially calling myself a whimp when it comes to have big bugs INSIDE my house...

Our recent bugs...

One on our curtain - about the size of two fingertips.

One nasty little things that crawled OUT OF MY COMPUTER. I about lost my breakfast...

The most recent little creature was something that looked like this! Just a little bit bigger. And I about lost it. It was a baby Scorpion. First one I have ever seen in real life. I have heard of them being here and how people have braved their lives against them. Luckily  there were 3 other braver women than me who took this sucker out.  The local lady just kinda chuckled at me, but she knew that it would hurt if it stung me.

I am praying for a brave husband to fight off the bugs for me one day. You can too.

Round-Abouts 1

We have a lot of what I call Round-Abouts in our city here. Here is just the first of many that have some fancy decor in the middle of it.

This one make me think of that song ..." He's got the whole world in His hands. He got the whole world in His hands...."

Yeah, now it is stuck in your head too.

Your welcome.

and have a great Tuesday!

My new favorite drink

PUMPKIN SMOOTHIES!

Mix the following ingredients in a blender or magic bullet: 

1 cup milk, 1/2 cup plain yogurt or vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup of frozen pumpkin puree, 1/2 to 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 to 1 tsp vanilla(if using plain yogurt), 2 splenda packets, and 1 full graham cracker. After mixed, crumble some more graham crackers on top with a little cinnamon. Serving size: 2 person.

It really is quite tasty. K and I have gotten on this pumpkin kick... it is Fall you know, and my favorite time of year. So it is totally justified that I want everything to have Pumpkin in it. 

Ever since moving overseas, I have had to make my own pumpkin puree. Hopefully I will post on how we do that soon. Until then you can see my last post about pumpkins, it contains a link to so you how to puree pumpkins yourself. Don't be intimidated! It's not as hard as it seems.

What do you like to make with pumpkin?

Parking 101

We are starting a new Carpentry and Welding Project this next week. It is a great program to train men here so they can find jobs.

Look like one of our office workers is going to have to find a new place to park his car. This is not were he is suppose to park his car anyways, even on a normal day...

11.11.11

Happy 11.11.11! 


Today is the date that I use to tell people several years ago when they would always ask when I was going to get married. They would be so surprised that they didn't know i was engaged, then ask me who I was going to marry. 


I would respond, 


"I have no clue, but wouldn't that be a great day to get married?" 


Guess it wasn't the Fathers timing, but I am thankful to have had these experiences thus far. 


I sometimes like to think I have chosen the road less traveled.

Baby B 36 weeks

36 weeks!!!!!!!!!! My sister is so cute! I can't wait to meet my future niece!!! 

Weird Weather 1

In the last month we have had 3 hail storms. 2 really big ones, and one mini one mixed in with the rain. Since I have a tin roof over my little apartment, it sounds crazy loud. Reminded me of stories my Mam-maw use to tell me about her tin roof when she was growing up. She use to tell me how loud it was, and how the sound of a really bad thunderstorm would drown out all other noise. 

Some of the hail were as large as golf balls. At the end of the storm some 30 minutes later, it looked like snow had fallen!

The Real Village Kids 1

Cute little kid. Picture taken by K. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Exercising outside... well, outside of a building inside the walls of our yard... requires a different wardrobe. See above. Most of the time I don't wear a head scarf cause I zip my vest all the way up and it is dark outside. But I still wear a head scarf over to the office side of our area and have is handy just in case. The office has a little circle pathway to walk around. The circle isn't very big, but it is enough. something like 20 times around is a mile... 

Fall Football

This is just a shout out to my Alma Mater! Go BULLDAWGS! Awesome job on winning homecoming!

I LOVE fall time, and this is one of the best things about it. Weather cooling off, tailgating with friends, everyone wearing the same colors, shouting and cheering on our team, and loving that America DOES have a culture. Well, at least in the South, it is a HUGE part of the fall time.

I will not get to go to any game this year, but my parents are so great. They sent me a picture from one of their first games!

Just a bad day for some people...

You know, with as crazy as these drivers are here, I am surprised this doesn't happen more. They have a these ditches everywhere here for water, trash, sewage... and whatever else you can think of....

One time I was getting out of the car, I dropped my really nice sharpie pen in one of them... I really debated how to get it out. I mean, it's a really good pen! And you can't get them here!

My boss looked back to see me just standing there looking down into the ditch. He realized right off what happened and my boss said to me, 'Leave it CB. Don't even think about going in and getting it.'

I even took a picture of it!

I was just so sad.

I'm still sad.

But back to my point.

Sometimes people can't seem to estimate where to drive. (I personally think it is cause most people need glasses but are too proud to wear them!)

But it happens...

And then lots of people stare ... or try to help...

I am not sure what everyone here is needed for.

So men, because women with my company don't drive here, if you come here, beware of this.

S'more Season

Actually, I don't know when there isn't a time of year to make a nice bonfire(or fire in a fireplace outside cause good gracious it would be hot inside the house) and make S'mores.

At least that is the way I think about it.

But the weather is starting to get cooler here, so it makes for a fun evening activity after supper.

And when you have two cute little gals, it make it even more of a reason to roast anything... I don't care if it is even marshmallows!

Sweet gal #2 sitting with me playing games on my phone. A game where you have makes up words from letters that she continually called numbers.

But who cares, she speaks two languages fluently... yeah, that's right, you should be impressed by this little one!

Here she was telling a story about something... but she kept telling it several times. It just made me giggle at sweet gal #2.

This little picture.... Gals #1 and #2 roasting their mallows...

Became this... which eventually led to all the adults roasting and making the S'mores and not the kids...
Gal #1 ... Yummm...
Gal #2 munching on her too.

What a great time with friends!

Baby B's first shower

I mean... really, is she just not the cutest thing alive right now?

(I think that is my shirt... Yes, I am sure it is. I guess I either gave it to you or you stole it out of my closet... Apparently it makes for a great preggo shirt. Maybe I shouldn't ever wear that again! ha)

Shower for Baby B - well, Baby B is girly I now!

Momma and sweet little baby gal all warm in her belly while her Teyze(Aunt) is watching.

I got to 'attend' the Shower via Skype. I don't know what I would do without Skype. It is my lifeline to my family! It was such a joy to hang out and visited with all the fun ladies who showered my sister and future daughter with so much love!

Thanks everyone!

J's 1st birthday as my brother-in-law

I seem to be one of those people where the things that SHOULD scare me don't. For example...

-living in a foreign (somewhat unique security) country

-being surrounded by people who speak a foreign language

-traveling a month through Europe by myself

-sending my transportation card to the front of the crowded bus because someone else told me that's what I was suppose to do - I did get it back.

-living in a city of 20 million people

-getting lost in a city of 20 million people

-what I will do next year
-where I will live, stay, sleep...

-not having money (ok, that one does kinda worry me sometimes)

And the things that I SHOULD NOT be scare of - do. Like

-water skiing in river cause there may be trees under the water I can't see.

-deep murky unclear water

-the dark - mostly in big open spaces where I am not familiar with (yeah, it's true. I used to not want to go to the garage at night cause I was nervous about my big fence in back yard... remember that mom?)

-missing moments like touching my sister's pregnant belly

-missing chances to be there for my family

-never having kids

-not knowing the people that my sister and brother may marry because I live overseas

The Father works in funny ways. Especially on that last one.

I actually spent more time in the same city with my brother-in-law than my sister did before they got hitched.

I actually met J in 2005 when I spent a summer in Iowa - the blessed land of corn, state fairs with all butter creations, young married couples with lots of kids... :) This Southern gal has had many years to observer your culture...

So here I would normally insert cute old picture back from 2005... but...

Because I live overseas, I can't just pop over to my little photo collection that I had before the hard drive and flash drive storage age. All of my pictures are stored on cds, yes, cds prior to 2007. Wow... (note to self: put that on list of things to do when I move home to the states) Anyways, there are some pictures that maybe I can post one day from that time.

So that summer J had just moved back to start university, and he spent the summer helping me with kids programs. This is actually the summer my sister (who came up the last two weeks) and J met when they were both kids counselors. We all still wear our shirts from that summer! They met but didn't really keep in touch.

I went back up to kids camp summer after next in 2006. I can't remember if I saw J then...

Anyways, I moved overseas in the Fall of 2008 and found out that a group of 4 were coming to spend 6 months in the same city. They were coming from.... you guessed it, Iowa. J was one of the 4.

Here are a few pics from that 6 months in 2009: (cause you know I moved on to the age of saving my digital photos on a hard drive....)

J at the far right.

Us on the ferry.
At my apartment. Emma is actually on the computer screen here. :)
During my time overseas in 2009, that is when my sister and J reconnected through a skype call to my sister. J kinda took it from there. And I am soooo glad they did. Really, I am.

He is good for and to my sister.

The new family picture at their wedding in 2010.

She's pretty happy about it too.
He fits well in our little growing family. Sorry mom, I think you were taking this picture... From Rehearsal Dinner 2010
And can be really goofy to when he joins us on making funny faces. Engagement shot 2010.
Them, plus the little one on the way... 2011.

I am excited to see what the Father has in store for your life! I am so glad the Father brought you into our family! We love you!

and

Happy last Birthday without kids!

Love,

your favorite sister-in-law on your wife's side of the family!

Pumpkin Time

From that...

To this...

Make your own Pumpkin puree. Check out how the Ree purees pumpkins in the states.

If you don't know about Ree, then you should. I love her site. I love how she write. I have used lots of recipes from this site. Remember that Rum Pound Cake Mom? Should have waited till it cooled. With this recipe, she bakes her but you can also steam them or boil them till they are soft. It is faster than in the oven. But if this is your first time, I suggest following her instructions so you aren't discouraged! Persevere ladies!

Scarves Galore!

This is what happens when you live in a country where you cover your head. If you want to claim one of these, let me know because I doubt all of them will make the cut to come back home with me!

And now that I am looking at this, I think I need a few more warmer tones in my collections... the cool colors are overwhelming!

And in case you haven't seen me wearing one of these yet, here are a couple of pictures...

New Proof-reader needed please

I hope not...

Even with my poor editing skills, I still think that some times I would love to just ask these people - Who edits things for you? Do you need a new person? Do you know what this says?

Gotta love it and just laugh.

Some local rearranging

Some things just make me laugh... Things that we just don't even think about being different elsewhere in the world until they happen. American's value a good set of bedding, along with the matching sheets and the boo-coos (that one was for Becky, Seth, Jess, and Michael who had a discussions about southerns using this word) of assorted pillows that go on the bed. There is, of course, some system to how all bedding is arranged. We are a culture in and of itself. We appreciate bedding.

However, the locals here sleep on bedding pronouces something like 'Toe-shacks'. It is basically pillows on the floor. Bedding/ sheets/ pillows... are of the least concerns here. So all that to say...

This is what my bed normally looks like. There is a row of white buttons that decorate the opening about a foot from the top of the duvet that you can't see really.

And this is what I came home too... Bless her sweet little local woman heart. Notice the buttons are now at the bottom of the comforter. The pillows are all rearranged. My unmatching sheets I have managed to hide are now showing, and the sheets are a little off when she made the bed...

Sweet woman. Sure didn't stop me from sleeping four hours on top of it after being up all night on an overnight flight.

*Needless to say that top picture was taken after I had rearranged my bedding back to it's normal deco.

and I'm back to ...

After 2.5 months in Turkey due to a temporary job there... I am back to wearing color coordinating headscarves and the sole of my feet being continually dirty. I am happy to be back to my old/new room since i was only here for 7 months before. I am glad to get = back to sleeping a little more. I am back to my old job that I like doing that serves the other workers here. I am back to my old team. I am back to a little more of a homebody atmosphere. I am back to my nice yellow happy chair.

Please lift up switching languages once again! I am confused once again by understanding one language being spoken to me but responding to it in another... neither being English. Lift up adjusting back to my job and team.

Look forward to some post about my time in T-land!

Little Retreat time to Dubai

We were able to get away for a week for meeting and R&R time at a resort outside of Dubai. Breakfast was once of my favorite meals because of this below:


They had an awesome menu for our gluten-free people. I even was given some chocolate cake one night because it was just so delicious!

One of the cute little gals I have gotten to know! I have a series of photos where see covers her face. Finally, I got one that was decent.
Ski Dubai!!!! I got 2 hours on the slopes indoors - 32 degrees inside and 110 + on the outside. It was freezing! It is the fastest I have ever paid, gotten clothes, ski boots, skis, and gotten onto the slope! I LOVE to ski so this was so fun!
It was a little cold... I didn't have any gloves... and I didn't want to buy any... so I compromised :)

Little Baby Bradley

Don't know if I have mention how proud I am to be a new aunt! My sister is half-way there!

Jordan and Emma are expecting a girl in December! Is she not just so beautiful already!!!!!!!!!