Bad Blogger

I have been a bad blogger. It's been a week since I've posted, and it's not like I don't have anything to blog about. It's more that I just don't have time! Hmmm...what has happened since last week? I've gotten pretty much all the wedding stuff under control, and I've gotten old. Older. Something.

Wedding stuff has gone well. I've gotten the cake ordered, Organic Kid's hair combs done, flowers for the tables taken care of (they need assembling, but that's easy). The dress is altered and hanging in the closet. Flowers are ordered, as are the tables and chairs. Just need to make sure I don't gain any weight (I think the stress will help with that), and get my house clean. Oh, yeah...and make a dinner reservation for Friday night. Brunch Sunday is taken care of, and Organic Guy is handling all the Saturday food (I won't eat until after the wedding, I'm pretty sure, nerves do that).

The old thing...I had a birthday. I decided a few years ago that celebrating birthdays after, say, 21 is kinda silly. I really try to ignore the whole thing. Not because I'm bothered by getting older (I'm actually okay with it, and am looking forward to finding a grey hair. Haven't yet, and I'm somewhat bugged by that. I know, Kwitcher Bitchin', right? They'll show up soon enough,), but because I really don't want anyone putting themselves out for me. So, what happens? My moms both actually remember my birthday on time for the first time in about a decade (and my step mom found what is probably the most appropriate birthday card for me EVER...I still giggle whenever I look at it). My kid sis sends a birthday present, kinda "just because." I don't remember the last time we exchanged gifts for birthdays. But, the necklace she got me is beautiful. And it fits me to a T. My style, my personality. It's just beautiful. And Organic Guy outdid himself. He made dinner (steaks on the grill, and twice baked potatoes...mmmmmmm!), got a cake for me, and, best of all, he signed me up for a motorcyle riders course! Yea! So, I, who is terribly uncoordinated, who has been know to walk into doors, who sometimes has to loot at my hands to tell my left from my right, will be learning to drive the motorcycle. I think this sounds great. But I'm letting y'all know first when this will happen, so you know to stay off the road!

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the moms out there, Pat-mom, grandmas, friends who are amazing moms, and every other mom-type person who reads this, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! I hope your day is going as well as mine is...Love all my moms!

Up and Up and UP

Last weekend, I had to go to Boone to pick up my wedding dress. I got a call while I was in Chicago that it was ready, and I could not wait to get home! The dress is now safely at the alterations lady, and will fit me by Monday. One more thing put together and in place and turning out right! And no, you can't see it until after the wedding.

Since Organic Kid had Friday off school, I took a day off, too, and Organic Guy, Organic Kid and I headed to the mountains. Organic Guy graduated from Appalachian State University, so he knows the Boone area well. I asked him to take us to a few good hiking spots. So, here's one of the places we were:

This is Organic Guy and Organic Kid about half way up the waterfall that we climbed up. Yes. You read that right. We climbed UP a waterfall. See all those rocks? We went from one to another to another, up and up. It was pretty amazing. Organic Kid climbed like a champ. She pretty fearless about this sort of thing, and really enjoyed herself. Here's another part of the waterfall:

This is Organic Kid and me a bit further up. We had to hike to the across the rock we're on here to the edge of the creek. From that distance the white stick behind us looked oddly like an albino snake. During the hike we saw all sorts of folks. 2 girls, probably from ASU, sunning on rocks before finals week starts. A young couple, she was wearing flip-flops and a black dress, carrying a small white dog. A family with two boys (leaping across rocks with wild abandon) and two girls (picking their way gingerly so as not to get their Crocks wet). Some folks were taking the easy path along side the creek, and some, like us, were going straight up the boulders. The ASU girls had found a rock that jutted out over the falls and created an amazing vantage point to see down the creek:

The rock right next to the falls behind Organic Kid (pretty much over her head) is where they were. We clambered over there on the way back down.

After this, we went over to the Blue Ridge Parkway (I personally believe EVERY PERSON in the US should visit this parkway at least once in their life...it's so amazingly beautiful!). We hiked an overlook that was about 1.5 miles one way, primarily vertical again. From the top, you could look down and see a hawk circling above the valley. I'd never seen a hawk from that angle. I've seen them from below, but it's pretty breathtaking to see one flying from above.

I don't think there's words for how much I love that part of North Carolina. Organic Guyand I talk pretty regularly about trying to find 3 or 4 acres up near Boone/Vilas/West Jeff area to build a house on, and move there some time. I think it's really where we both want to end up. Maybe, if we're lucky, Organic Kid will want to go to ASU. Then we'll have a good excuse to come up to visit, maybe every weekend. Of course, that's just a year or two (or 8) off...but one can still hope!

Gotta share this!

So, I found a new blog that I've been reading a lot lately, the Pioneer Woman. I started by perusing the recipes there, since I love to cook. And she had this one, Pasta al la Punk-ass Betsy (named for her sister). So, I made it, and made my own little adjustments. And it ROCKED, I must say. I mean, check this out:

Is this not gorgeous??? It's pasta with shrimp, fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy tomato sauce. And it was absolutely amazing. Organic Kid snarfed it up, and I think it was Organic Guy's favorite pasta that I've made.

Lately the cooking mojo has been great. Tonight was ribs slow cooked then finished on the grill. Tomorrow will involve a cous cous salad with lemon, carrots and snow peas. I have been so happy with the cooking thing. Hopefully this is a sign of how this summer will go. Things will just hang together, be gorgeous, and make me happy.