Sunday, September 18, 2011

Baker Park Reserve

September 16th-18th went camping at Baker Park Reserve with my friend Julie and her family (her mom & dad, 2 kids and husband). She likes 'easy' camping so we rented cabins. They were very nice. I still prefer tent camping. There was tons a walking trails, Alison loved it. Definitely recommend this park.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

questions

I am back staying/living in my grandma's attic. Last time was three years ago, it was temporary with a known end date. The company I worked for was moving down to Dallas, Texas and I was following. My lease ended 3 months before the move date and my grandma, thankfully, took me in. This time I am unemployed. The company is now closing it's doors. I got laid off July 1st. We were told back in December. The news was not a huge surprise. It's not the living with grandma or being unemployed that's bothering me, it's that in 6 months I'll be 30 and I thought I would be in a different place; maybe more settled and have a understanding of who I am by now. Instead I feel like I have more questions.

What am I passionate about? Why am I here (earth, not in my grandma's attic)? What's my purpose? I love to travel, love it but I look around and see people with stuff (house accessorises, clothes, dinners out, going out on Fridays) that I choice not to buy so I can save money, I wonder. Should I ride my bike for a week around Big Bend State Park in Texas ($900) or stay up in Minnesota? I want to move around and live in different states but there is a little tiny part of me that says 'let's stay in Minnesota'. Am I a runner? Am I a biker? Am I a traveler? Am I a cook? Will I be single my whole life? I want to do good, where do I volunteer? Where do I want my energy to go? I wish I could keep a journal. I have started so many but never kept it going/finished one. Recently I stumbled across The Journal Junkie Workshop, will it be helpful or wasteful? Why do I have so much mental anguish about my weight? How do I just let go?I have been told that before, just let go because I am/will be always changing. I don't even feel like I have a starting point. Is the 'future' me I 'dream' about really me? How come I cannot just be content? What is my 'brand'? Do I really want to get a similar job in the same industry? I have been thinking about getting two tattoos for the last three years ("I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave" down one side and a peacock feather down the other), why am I stopping myself? So many questions. Am I going through a quarter life crisis?

Monday, September 5, 2011

vegetables from the garden

My grandma has a small garden is her background. I love it!! What's for dinner? Well, what do we have in the garden? It's been finding new recipes. Luck for me, grandma likes trying new recipes too! One night we had two big tomato and made stuffed tomatoes. We used both basil and spinach. It was ok, too much cottage cheese for me. I never thought of stuffing tomatoes before. After dinner I searched for more recipes. Next time I'm going to use couscous instead of cottage cheese. Another night there was an abundant of green beans. So many greens beans!

Adapted from
vegweb.com
1 pound green beans
1/2 onion, cut up however you like
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil +1 1/2 teaspoon for the dressing
1 tablespoon honey dijon mustard
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 cup walnuts

1. Boil the beans for 7 minus, drain and cool is large bowl
2. In a frying pan, brown the onions and garlic
3. For the dressing, combine mustard, maple syrup, olive oil and vinegar is a little bowl
4. Add onions, garlic, dressing and walnuts to the green beans. Mix well!

Also is the garden is Japanese eggplants, red peppers, ground cherries, rhubarb, beets, carrots and lots of squash! MMM...squash!! I am excited to making squash soup and pizza!