A Christmas Card

Today I was thinking about sending out Christmas cards.  I've started getting Christmas cards in the mail and I love it.  It is so fun to see all the pictures of friends and family and to tape the collection to the door.  Deep in my heart of hearts, though, I fear that the idea of me getting a Christmas card out to y'all is just a far away dream.  For the last two years I have had detailed plans to send Christmas cards (and even some lovely abandoned drafts of cards), and did any of you get them?  Not so much...

So this year I have decided to try a new experiment.  I am going to put our cards right here on the blog, and you can click on them and print them out if you want to put us on your fridge.  Now since this is the height of laziness, I'm going to make more than one so what I lack in getting-to-the-post-officeness I can make up for in terms of options.

Option number one is our traditional look.

Personally, it is a favorite of mine.

Next I have the more soulful, contemplative look:

Sam never fails me.

And now, for those of you who like a more playful Christmas, I thought I would put together some of our greatest hits.

It has been a lot of fun writing to you all throughout our new marriage.  Thanks for letting us share our lives with you!!

The Mullet Muffin

Some things never go out of style.    

Take for instance, the American (and let's be honest, Eastern European) idea that a haircut can be all things for all situations.  That business in the front, party in the back attitude may not always translate into the best concept for making the impression you want people to remember.  However.  It absolutely translates into the best possible idea for a muffin.  That's where our story takes us today.

For too long I've felt I had to choose between the healthy, homemade, regular sized bran muffin, and the larger than life, cake dressed in muffin clothing at the grocery store.  Honestly, I love them both.  Inspired by a favorite muffin at Big City Coffee in Boise, Idaho, I came up with this muffin that is health on the bottom and a party on the top.  I give you the mullet muffin, named after the plucky haircut that refuses to quit challenging the idea that work and pleasure can't be mixed.

Mullet Muffins (aka, Peanut Butter Bran Muffins)

Makes 12

1 1/2 cups wheat bran

1 cup milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

2/3 to 1 cup brown sugar (recipe says 2/3, I usually add more)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.

2. Mix together wheat bran and milk; let stand for 10 minutes.

3. Beat together oil, egg, sugar and vanilla and add to buttermilk/bran mixture. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into buttermilk mixture, until just blended. Fold in raisins and spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.

4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes.  Frost with peanut butter frosting.

Peanut butter Frosting

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup smooth, non-healthy peanut butter (some people in our house refer to regular peanut butter as the poison kind.  We compromise with Jiffy Natural, which works)

1 cup powdered sugar

Mix the ingredients with a hand mixer until smooth.  

Much like it's haircut counterpart, in this picture my muffin leaves one a bit underwhelmed.  However, you have to understand that my muffin's appearance and Sam's expression reflect that fact that Sam is (because he loves me) fake-eating a muffin that sat undiscovered in the fridge for two weeks.  I personally think that for the photo Sam was channeling Pip in Great Expectations when he discovers Miss Havisham and her rotten wedding cake.  Consider this your backstage pass to our real lives, but don't let my disturbing imagery dissuade you from making this incredible muffin.

Stay tuned for more frequent posts from Chalkboard House, in which these two cuties:

Also known as Mom and Aunt Pat

 help Sam and I put up our Christmas tree.

I know you will be waiting and wondering, so let me give you this little hint about where we went with the theme this year:  Japanese hunter in a peppermint forest.

Dog Days of Summer

Sam and I, having the discerning culinary palettes that we do, have found a top ten favorite restaurant in Chattanooga that we would like to recommend to you:  the Good Dog.

As you can see from the sign, this is a restaurant dedicated to the art of the hot dog.  Who knew that pimento cheese and hot dogs needed to go together?  In fact, had I ever really thought about pimento cheese at all before becoming a Southern Belle?  Truthfully, no.  I was woefully ignorant.  Happily, all that changed the second I walked into this happy place.

The decor is retro-fabulous with such crazy fun ideas as a condiment bar and cupcake displays.  Just the kind of hipster hangout that makes me feel cool without having to wear those skinny jeans that don't really seem to be working for my body type (may they soon be banished to a "don't" list in fashion-land--especially if I'm going to keep eating pimento cheese hot dogs).

 

Tough to decide who is the cheesiest in this shot

Sam is all about the french fries which are served in wax paper cones that fit neatly into holes carved into the table.   The best part are the gourmet ketchups in flavors like wasabi and curry, which is both our favorites.

If you don't already hang out there, you must give it a try.  And if Chattanooga isn't close to you, I think you should a.) come visit me and I will take you there--my treat! or b.) open your own retro hipster hot dog shop and watch the money fly at your face.  

My final photograph for you today is a window shot that I'm quite pleased with from my favorite Blue Skies gift shop right next door.  Don't tell anyone, but if you come visit me, I'll take you there also.  Try to resist this incredible one time, two for one offer.  Just try.

Lost Sea Adventure

One can do only so many weekends of home improvement projects until it is time to go on an adventure.  Also, one can only stand so much of a cranky wife before one has to beg her to leave the house.  And so, Sam and I went to...

When beginning your lost sea adventure, please be advised that while the America's largest underground lake is cool, the place where you wait for tickets is not.   This summer I have lost all touch with what outside feels like.  My desk job is in a building where the heat varies wildly, and my office is usually somewhere in the arctic tundra range.  I wear sweaters to work while the rest of the world feels the 96 degrees and humidity.  Thus, I am spoiled and unprepared for reality and fall apart in the sun.  Especially when I was already halfway apart.

Sam couldn't believe the yellow tunnel would be so fun

Happily, once you sit down in the yellow tunnel to accustom your eyes to the darkness, you leave all that behind and the cool breezes begin.  

Far and away my best cave picture

Here is a problem with cave photography (aside from the fact that my camera was on panorama without my knowledge):  it is very dark down there.  It is my belief that even photographers who know what they are doing would struggle with this subject matter.  So while Sam and I can appreciate in our memories how cool it was to see civil war era graffiti, all we have to show for it is this:

And while it would be amazing for you to get to see a genuine, Tennessee, moonshine still, instead you get to see this:

For those who can't tell, the sign reads, "Genuine Tennessee Moonshine Still"

I'm pretty sure this is my picture of the underground lake.

But I'm borrowing this one from online so you can see it in all its glory.

The water was incredibly clear, and more blue than green.  They have stocked the lake with trout who become albino and partly blind because they never see the sun.  Despite the tragedy, it is beautiful to see them swimming around down there, and they seemed to find their way fairly well in spite of their handicaps.  

Sam attempts to empathize with a lost sea trout

While Sam's favorite part was the trout, mine was when we experienced absolute darkness.  Shutting off all the lights in the cave, I experienced darkness like I had never felt it before.  

This really doesn't do it justice

Southern Living

Well, now that we've had a few months to settle in and get our feet under us, it is time for the grand unveiling of the parts of our house that are in good order.  Which is to say, the doors to the back bedroom remained closed.

This is our porch.  I have been reading a lot of Southern Living lately, and I absolutely love the porches.  I feel like I've not yet arrived at all the glory that the porch will be at some point in the future, but my lovely Sam has put in a fan and that makes life luxurious at our house.   Let me address your number one concern first--yes there are twinkle lights not here pictured.  Second, I am aware that there is a big pile of dirt in this picture, but that just captures the daily struggle between me and one little plant who keeps trying to leap off the bench to freedom.

Sam and I thought long and hard before buying these red chairs.  Sam has PTSD from moving most of our things from Atlanta by himself, so he was of the mind that we never needed to buy anything again.  Plus, he thinks (crazy guy) that it is better to buy high quality things that last.  I (being from a non-profit background) think that pretty red cheap things are always a good idea.   While I completely agree that Sam's way is better, the siren song of the red chairs eventually became too loud for me to bear, and you can see the result.

Our living room is my favorite right now, though it, too, is a work in progress.  If you walked through the front door, slid to the ground and looked up at a cock-eyed angle, this is what you would see:

The other half of the room is all about bookshelves and my big, happy chair.

As you can see, I'm experimenting with covering over the pink checkered print cushion.  That green and light pink combination was a complete matter of circumstances beyond my control, but I believe I have been straining the limits of shabby chic by letting it continue on for so long.  Mismatched pillows can only do so much to hide the hard truth.  The fabric I'm using here is cotton that Sam bought in Africa.  I was so ready to name drop about my African cloth.  How exotic it was before I dumped all my coffee on it and my legs this morning.  Pride goes before you spill your coffee, friends.

Right around the corner is the kitchen.  This is Sam's favorite place.  In Atlanta, our kitchen really had room enough for one, but now Sam can sit at the table and read me things from interesting articles while I cook which turns out well for all.

Please note, that the theme in our kitchen is cows.  It doesn't exactly hit you over the head, but if you pay attention, you will see it.  Sam rarely puts his foot down on any matters related to decorating, but he needs to have non-cute cows in the kitchen.

For me, I love to wake up every morning to these little buddies on my windowsill.  They pre-date me in the house and I wouldn't move them for anything.

One of my favorite things in our kitchen is this shelf that Sam made.  I was so pleased with the red color he chose and how nicely it highlights our non-cute cow pictures.

And as always, we have to have the chalkboard.  We've had gratitude written up there for a long time, but it is always good to remember to be grateful.

My hope is that seeing all this loveliness will inspire you to come on over.  We would be thrilled for you to invite yourself to dinner, or to come and stay from out of town.  Just give us about half an hour head start to move the boxes out of the back bedroom.

Summer Reading

I have been incredibly blessed in my life with something that absolutely everyone needs...

...my own personal librarian.  Not only has she been talking about boys with me since we were twelve, she also reads all the books and tells me about the good ones so I can head straight for the best stuff.  This blog has reached the big time because she has agreed to loan us her talents (and help me keep posting momentum!) with some wonderful recommendations for summer.  So far I've read the first book and I have to say--it was all I hoped for.  Sam loved The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  Thanks for keeping us well read Becca!!

Summer Reading—Three books that made me remember why I love to read.

Sometimes you read a book and it alters slightly the way that you think about the world and your place in it, not just while you are reading it, but long after you have put it down.  The following three books have kept me thinking about them for months and I would recommend them without reservations to anyone.  So, as you are enjoying  your Summer Reading, here are some options.

Baby We Were Meant for Each Other  Scott Simon

In this touching memoir, renowned NPR commentator, Scott Simon recounts the adoption of his daughters from China. His love for them is palpable in every word and transcends culture and ethnicity.  Simon also recounts other stories of adoption and adoptive families.  These personal stories combined with the story of the Simon family make for an up-lifting read.

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide  by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

Kristof and WuDunn view women’s rights as the 21^st century’s human rights crisis and convincingly use the experiences of individual women to spotlight the issues presented in their narrative. Half the Sky lays out an agenda for the world's women and three major abuses: sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence including honor killings and mass rape; maternal mortality, which needlessly claims one woman a minute. The creative solutions to these major problems are presented in concrete and attainable ways.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Sloot

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells—taken without her knowledge in 1951—became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, in vitro fertilization, and more. Henrietta’s cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can’t afford health This non-fiction title reads like fiction and allows the reader to grapple with tough ethical issues while remaining totally engaged with the story.

I know I said three, but this weekend I read the best book….

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

This charming story is told alternately from the perspective of Henry in 1986 and in the 1940’s at the start of World War II.  Henry is from a Chinese family and becomes friends with Keiko who is from a Japanese family after they meet an elementary school. Henry’s father is a Chinese nationalist who vehemently opposes Henry and Keiko’s friendship. Keiko’s family is sent to an internment camp in Minidoka, Idaho.  Ford deftly interweaves themes of acceptance and tolerance along with the bittersweet nature of first love.

Coma

Scene 1.  (The mechanical bleating of a heart monitor pumps in the background)  As the days go by with nothing but a title and the same old post about Thailand, one thinks to oneself that perhaps the blog will never rise again.  One starts to wonder what kind of accident befell its author that she can no longer type or formulate thoughts.  Did she fall off an elephant in Chiang Mai and never get home?  Not so much.  It's just a little thing called changing jobs and moving...again.

That's right kids, you had your chance at Atlanta.  Now it is time to come and explore the wonders of the greater Chattanooga metropolitan area/Northwest Georgia!!

Basically, what happened is that Sam and I didn't want you to have to keep coming to the same place month after month.  If we are going to have traffic at the bed and breakfast, we figure we need to keep changing up the location.  A lot happened during the blog coma, but much like a soap opera the major plot points can be filled in fast and leave you right back at the part where Sam and Sarah were once again starring intently into each others eyes, on the brink of an important revelation...

1.  I got a job in Chattanooga

A top secret view of my office

I am now an addictions counselor.  Please don't tell anyone, but I've never actually been an addictions counselor previous to this career juncture, so the learning curve has been...steep.  Most of the people I'm meeting in my very limited view of my new city are addicted to something and I have a fun new habit (Sam loves this) called, Name That Addiction!  Every trip to the gas station is an opportunity for me to spot a type of addict as in, "Oh honey, I'm pretty sure our cashier is an I.V. heroine user."  Sam has learned the serenity prayer and is hoping to accept this soon.

2.  We moved, painted, and painted some more

Four rooms down, four to go!

 

Not only did we need to paint our old apartment, but because I am a color nut, I began attacking every wall I could access in our new residence.  I'm hoping to have a virtual tour soon, but here is a fuzzy sneak peek at the living room:

Not sure if the picture really conveys this, but we went on a bit of a bookshelf shopping spree.  Sam wanted no book left behind at our new location and as of now they all fit.

3. We made two QUICK trips to Idaho
These trips were so fast and so packed I seriously didn't have time to take a picture.   And even now there isn't time to write more than these two sentences.

4.  We had our first anniversary
Some people might say that their first year went by quickly, but Sam and I discussed this and feel that is not the case.  We think that this first year we really packed it in.  It feels like we've done a years worth of stuff.  Therefore, on our first anniversary, we rested.  Sam found a wonderful cabin in the Smoky Mountains, and for the most part we spent our time reading, sitting in the hot tub, and looking at the mountains.

Looking back on this year, I count my blessings.  I'm thankful for amazing friends and family who made moving across the country seem less hard.  I'm grateful for people who have read my silly blog and kept in touch.  And I pinch myself at least once a day to think that I really got to marry my Sam.

Highlights from Chiang Mai

Sometimes I think my blog is like a Jason Bourne movie without the action.  Things just don't happen in chronological order when I write them.  Unfortunately, there isn't any rhyme or reason to it.  So if you were thinking I gave you promises of future Thailand postings and then made you wait for some purpose, I'm sad to say that is not the case.  So all of a sudden out of nowhere, back we go to Thailand with this list of some things I enjoyed in Chiang Mai.  Please, don't be concerned by my numbering system.  It isn't about rank--just trying to keep things tidy.

1.  Wat Chedi
Considering the hard core celebrations I took part in for Idaho's centinnial growing up, you have to know I am a connoisseur of places with century-plus years on them.  So you can imagine with what joy and reverence I greeted this beautiful old buddy from the 14th century.

It absolutely enchanted me to walk along a road and run into an ancient structure peeping out from between the buildings.  Sam and I both thought the snakes were incredible:

2.  Outdoor Markets

Maybe it's just me, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Thailand seems pretty exotic.  For example, I don't think I've ever encountered anything like this before at home.

Yes, this is a truck of pigs heads.

The flower stalls were so lovely that I wanted to swoop in and buy armfuls of birds of paradise and orchids.  But since I had no home to put them in, a tragic lack of flower purchasing ensued.  

The larger Sunday market was amazing.  There were incredible crafts to discover (though we were tempered by the backpacks to curb crazy shopping impulses).   

My favorite part were the smoothies these ladies made for us.  I got fresh coconut passion fruit and it was ridiculously good.

3.  The Guest House

Our guest house advertised it self as having 24 hour toast and tea.  How in the world could you possibly beat that?  Sam got so addicted to the luxury of having toast available at any time of the day or night that he began to get toast withdrawals once we moved on.   

The people who run this guest house were so kind and helpful.  And best of all, something about the brick buildings and garden reminded me a great deal of being at my Grandma Bonnie's house, only Thai style.  

4.  More Temples!

I don't know what to say about this.  Chiang Mai is a city filled with beautiful temples.  I love them.

5.  Cooking School

If I was going to play favorites, this would be number one on my list.  I LOVED getting to cook a five course meal with a Thai family.  We got to tour the family herb garden.

We went to the market to learn about all the foods we would be cooking...

Sam and I got to wear matching aprons, pound curry, and cut up wood ear mushrooms, which isn't something we do every day, I'll be honest.

The grande finale was an incredible dinner.  Here is a recipe for mango and sticky rice that we particularly liked.  However, I must warn you (as I was strictly warned by our teacher) that it is completely incomprehensible and impossible to make this with anything but Thai sticky rice.  To do so will result in things so terrible they cannot be spoken.  Knowing you as I do though, dear readers, I figured you might try to pull something like not using Thai sticky rice.  So I came home and tried using sushi rice because I had it, and (though it was different from what we had at school) I was satisfied and my face didn't fall off.

Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango


1 cup sticky rice soaked 4-6 hours
1 cup very thick coconut cream (I used sweetened coconut cream for baking and didn't add palm sugar)
2 tablespoons palm sugar
2 pinches salt
2 ripe mangoes


Drain the rice and steam over a medium heat for 20 minutes (I cooked in a pan on the stove, oh I'm so bad!)  Remove the rice from the steamer and mix with coconut cream, sugar and salt immediately.  Stir gently.  Cover and let stand for about 1/2 hour.  Serve with peeled, sliced mango.