Age Doesn't Really Matter, Doesn't It?

So I decided that I was going to finally use my pork loin roast that has been in my freezer for quite a while. Zach had offered one too that he said needs to be used, but I was sure that the age of mine put it in major priority and I really wanted to use it in this awesome plum sauce recipe and I thought that I should be more considerate and use my roast for my pleasure. So I got it started. I was so excited too, cause I got to use my Tru-Thermo thingamajigger. It is great! You set the temp to what it needs to be and then stick the thermo stick into the meat and it beeps when it gets hot enough.

So I mixed the teryaki sauce, fresh garlic, honey, and plum jelly and poured it all over the roast and stuck it in. I went about my business finishing the last two wedding gift thank-you cards that I have left up to this point. I am determined to stay ahead. :) Maybe I am over zealous, but oh, well, I can at least try.

Well, the roast was done to 160 degrees as is the norm for a pork roast and it was smelling wonderful. Even with the burned juices in the bottom of the oven. I really need to get a baster. A spoon doesn't really work. I got the potatoes and peas all done and ready. Zach came on over and he asked what it was. I wouldn't tell him cause he has this hinderance against oriental flavors and the teryaki might put a mental block in his head, so I told him that I would inform him after he tried it.

He was very gracious and honestly, it tasted really good though I forgot to thicken the sauce. I told him what it was and he was nice and said it was good, but it wasn't his favorite. I forced the opinion so I got it. I must have total honesty concerning cooking.

The fun part was that it was pretty tough, like knives needed. Normally, they are tender and easy to cut with a fork. I knew immediately the cause. "So how old did you say your roast was?" I asked. "Oh, from the summer." was the reply. "Haha, have I got you beat!" I added, not in true victory. "How old is it!?" I was asked. I got up to put the dishes in the sink and wouldn't answer. I figure if it isn't bad for you and you won't die, why tell, though it was way to tough for full enjoyment.

"One year?"..."More?"..."Two years!!??" voice getting a little more desperate with each guess. I admitted finally that it was closer to 2 years. "Honey", he said, "next time you just chuck it and we will get a new one." "But I couldn't waste it!" I countered, while thinking that that a tender roast really might have been worth it. Oh, well.

So he ate all on his plate, though he still won't eat peas. I even showed him the color it adds to the plate and how it is rich in iron. Both didn't work since he isn't into culinary presentation or iron since he is a guy naturally supplied with a rich amount. At least the roast is gone. Next is the pork chops of Kim's. They are gaining an age reputation in there as well, but I will not be intimidated and they will see daylight soon.

Prunes of Orange Essence

Doesn't that sound most wonderful? I love refridgerated prunes. I get a lot of very weird and questioning looks when people find out! I actually got Dr. Bob (70 something), Larry, my boss (late 60s), and Brock (20s) to try one, most of them actually agreed on their tastiness though not too many adjectives were used. Dr. Bob did ask what other flavors they made them in.

Here are the top reasons why you should try them and even like prunes:
-- they are very high in fiber
-- they are a great quick snack
-- they come in fun resealable bags
-- they come in reg., orange essence, and cherry essence
-- they taste really good
-- last, but not least, you will have to eat them one day for dietary necessities, so might as well aquire a taste.

(Sunsweet should be happy for the little push for their product, and if one of the company reads this perchance they might sign me up for a free box or something)

Paper Chain Gang

Okay, so the paper chain comment is to be explained. I started it two weeks ago. It is red and white. The white links are the normal boring days and the red ones mark something significant, such as each weekend (6, 5, 4, and so forth), a month's mark (Nov. 8th is 6 months), day marks (Oct. 30th is 25 days!), and then the last 10 days (day 10 is a sad day since I have to part with my ring for 10 days :( !) are all in red. This week is the last week that is a full white link week. So very dull and slow!! Then for the next 4 weeks, there are all kinds of fun stuff to celebrate. The most satisfying is the ripping/tearing sound of links being broken and removed. I do believe that the chain has been torn down about a foot and a half since 2 weeks ago. I love coming back to work from the weekend cause I can tear off two or three at a time. Definitely much more fulfilling!!

If ya'll really want to and time allows at your work or such, making a paper chain such as this one is really quite easy and if you can't decided what goal to have, you can adopt mine and count down with me! You can even do different colors than mine, but since mine is a winterish wedding it just seemed appropriate.

I must also put in an acknowledgment to Jessica VDM since she is the one who put the idea in my little brain. Thanks Jess!!

No More Weddings Please...Till Mine!!

We had quite a weekend last week. My dear friend Andrea flew out from her Army post station in AL on Thursday to play in a wedding in Waverly, IA. She traveled on teams with Zach and I for two years, and with the bride of the wedding for one. Anyways, she stayed with me a couple of nights.

Thursday was rather interesting as that was the day that we found out about Grampa and that same night all of us kids and significant others had a conference call with Dad about him. Well, after all of that, Andrea and I were up till 2 am catching up. It was a blast to catch up on everything, especially cause she has a new boyfriend and it is going so very well. Really, I have found that even more when you find your special someone, you really want your single friends to find them too. I am so very excited for her!

After an early day of work on Friday we left early afternoon to drive up north. I am pretty sure that I napped a little on the way up, since there are times that I really just don't remember time passing. We finally got there with plenty of time to spare.

I love not being directly involved in the wedding when I have been in so many of recent. You can just observe and are free to come and go and help wherever. I got to see so many friends that I haven't seen forever. Stories were being swapped this way and that and I haven't talked that much for a very long time! Well...since Thursday night that is.

After the rehearsal, we went back to pay for our hotel, which was the last room around for 15 min. since Wartburg had their homecoming that weekend. With guys out, Zach stayed around for a little while, and then when the guys got back, I went to bed and Andrea went to the hall to talk. I had the hardest time falling asleep that night...two hours of tossing and turning. You'd think I was the one getting married.

The next day the wedding went well. Everyone looked good (I can tell you right off who really looked the best) and the music was lovely. I sat by the piano with a couple of people I knew since most of the people I knew were on the stage. I do regret sitting there though, cause I couldn't see Zach's face unless he turned and that wouldn't be proper up there. Next time, even if it is with strangers, I am sitting where I can see him. The next day he said that it was killing him cause he wanted to look at me several times and couldn't.

After a beautiful ceremony and an adorable reception (to which on the way, Andrea and I drove a little too far and ended up out of town, which in my defense really is a small town and isn't hard to do and the fairgrounds sign was facing the wrong way for us), I finally got to see Zach a little on the ride back home.

The next day, we crashed at my place to watch an old movie and find out how the weekend went for each other. We both agreed that it was good that this was the last wedding before our's. Eloping was briefly brought up, but quickly dismissed. No worries, Mom and Dad!

4 weeks 4 days!!!! Paper chain is shrinking!!

A Praise and A Prayer

Happy Friday to you all!! 5 weeks for me!

Those who read up on Zach's thumbs are probably wondering how they are and in the least, if they are still attached. To everyone's relief, they are both still attached. He did cut the left one down to the bone and got 7 stitches. The right one had a chunk of flesh taken out. He was stitched and bandaged up. He even drove home with totally numb thumbs. It made for interesting hand holding this whole last week. I bandaged him when I could though, he refused to wear the Dora Band-Aids that I wanted to stick on. So after a week of inconvenience and a little pain (or a lot depending on the accidental impacts on the wounds), he is doing great and handholding is practically back to normal!!

My prayer request is for my Grampa Swopeand my family. We found out yesterday that he has advanced melanoma cancer. It is in his lungs and there is fluid too. Considering all the options, they will most likely giving him a pill. He is advanced and it is very aggressive and the pill doesn't work for a lot of people. So the doctor gave the realistic time frame of 6-9 months to live. He is uncomfortable with recovery from the mild staff infection, but he isn't in pain. He and Gramma are doing well right now considering things. He and Gramma are Christians and we all trusting in the Lord to provide and guide. Hopefully, we will be able to see him in a few weeks down in OK or if they can't come to wedding, then Zach and I will swing back up from our honeymoon and see them. Thank you for your prayers!

A Tribute to Our Men

Have you females ever wished you were a guy so that life would be easier in so many ways, especially in the emotions area? I have a couple times recently. Without getting into the emotional soppiness of it all, I just want to say that men have to put up with so much more sometimes. They have to try to interpret and choose how to handle and reassure their women through their various seas of emotions, even when their women can't fully explain what or why. They have quite a feat! They have to be a sensitive listener and a conquerer of a problem at once.

So I just want to say that I am so very thankful for my man's love, patience, trying to understand, making me try to explain as best I can, and just overall dealing with being with a complicated female. If they all knew how much we love and appreciate them all! Go give your man a hug today!

Boys, Get A Clue!

Yesterday, Zach and I had our few youth group kids that we disciple over for the afternoon. There was three for me and two for Zach. One of his boys couldn't come so we snagged another. We even got to take the new bright yellow church van with backing-up beeping to haul the teens around. It even has the gleeful primary colored writing on the side proclaiming Kids4Truth Club!

The van ride was the only time that we were together. We ate dinner and played around separately for the mental health of both groups. You see Jr. High girls just don't think the same as Jr. High boys. For all of you who have been there or have been around any in the past, I leave all the details to your memory and current knowledge.

There was baked pasta, baking, cider, coffee, and games for the afternoon for the girls. The guys had pizza and video games. At one time the guys came over to drop off a disposable plate for our cookies. Once they left, by unanimous opinion the three locks on my door were locked. I didn't even know that I had three locks. We did allow one cookie a piece to each though.

It really was a ton of fun, though we had to leave early for choir. I was wamped in Clue. I haven't played for about 6 or 7 years. I really need to get in the hang of it again. I love the little people and I kept exclaiming over them. Apparently, the little people have been around for Clue games for a while and the girls were not nearly as impressed. Hey, I got the game brand new for a $1.50 at a garage sale last summer! That has to count for something.

So it was a good Sunday and then to top it off, I got to spend the whole evening after church with my sweetheart. Nowadays you take all the time you can get in the midst of busyness. It is only 5 weeks and 5 days left though! Yay for us!!