The Simple Things & Times

Andy: Now Woody, he's been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind, and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special, is he'll never give up on you... ever. He'll be there for you, no matter what.                -Toy Story 3

While people are talking about cars being covered in pollen and allergy season being in full force in Alabama…my car is covered by soft white snow here in Montana and winter has not given up yet!  Snow is in the forecast, and needless to say, this is an adjustment for this south Alabama girl.  The cold and being far away while my hometown mourns the loss of a beautiful woman and child definitely made me miss family and friends, so my husband’s recent visit was much needed and restoring for me. 

We spent most of our time doing the simple things that we love...cooking, watching movies, reading, and hanging out with the Williamsons.  I guess these are the things that married couples do who don’t have kids.  In January before Bare left I told him to tell me one thing he wanted me to learn to cook, and all of things, he came up with lamb chops.  I attempted, and they were pretty tasty.  Now, it’s been requested from the other Chris that I learn to make Beef Wellington.  These boys have fine palates, but I am hoping Tyler Florence will treat me well with his recipe.

Cowboys seem to be a theme lately…from the brave Woody in Toy Story 3 to Marlboro Man in the book Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond, the famous Pioneer Woman/Blogger.   Molly (Happy Birthday, by the way!) recommended it, and it proved to be a great easy read!  Toy Story 3 came through Netflix…wow, what an emotional, touching movie even though the Evil Dr. Porkchop and Lotso the bear were somewhat disturbing.  It too, made me miss the comforts of home and especially miss our fun and active nieces and nephews! It made me remember the simple times of childhood and the pleasure of using your imagination, which is something most of us forget to do when we “grow up.” 

I was so thankful Bare got to come and these were some of the simple things I loved about him being here:

When he shares his Milky Way Dark with me…when I should have just bought my own

Trying new recipes

Watching Toy Story 3 and Community

Snow skiing together

I’m heading home in a few weeks  and I’m looking forward to these simple times…

Meeting my nephew…William Triston and playing with the other four

Cooking with my grandmothers and aunt

Visiting with my friends

Going on boat ride with mama and daddy and eating a chili dog from “Wilson’s Landing”

Spending time with my sweet sister

Natalie:  Now Bare, he’s been my best friend for a really long time.  He’s brave, like a husband should be.  And thoughtful, and smart.  But the thing that makes Bare special, is he’ll never give up on you…ever.  He’ll be there for you, no matter what. 

I think Bare’s friends and family would agree with this as well.  I love you and see you soon.

Big Sky Country

"Home is where you can scratch where it itches."  unknown

So I have been meaning to write for a while now and for this and that haven't managed to come up with anything.  But now here I am in my wife's apartment with a computer that locks up and makes a lot of noises.  Normally this would frustrate me to no end but I am with Natalie for a week or so which makes this bobo laptop ok with me.  We haven't seen eachother for a few months so I have been "itching" to get out here.  Even though i am currently typing and the bachelor is bird-dogging two ladies at the moment.  I hope he picks Shantell.  (insert sarcastic sideways smiley face here)  Anyway, for reasons and happenings over the last few weeks it makes being here even sweeter.  Honestly it is kind of hard feeling at home or settled since she has moved.  (and everyone says ahhhh)

I figured that I was leaving the balmy south, where pear trees are blooming and untanned arms and legs are creeping out, and heading to Montana where there are blizzards and gray skies.  Not so.  The weather has been great and mild according to the locals.  Mild is highs in the forties.  I feel a little over dressed since everyone else is in tee shirts but I am not a local yet and the wind bites like... (can't think of anything to use as a similie but the bite is sharp).  Thanfully we have been able to get out some and play.  Mostly with our friends we met this past summer.  Interestingly they are from Mobile and Panama City.  This is them: Chris and Amy

Here are a few pics:
This is the Ruby River.

Chris W. with a fish on.

I lucked into one as well.

A Ruby River Brown.

These are a few of us skiing.  Wasn't able to get any of me actually skiing because I spent most of the time on my rear.

Then we tried our hands as photogs and attempted some scenic shots.  These are a few of our favorites.

And then we took it inside to the place where we could both have fun.  A place that can be totally frustrating and cause much conflict....


the kitchen!!!!  We tried a few new dishes and I think we succeeded. 

The first is Natalie's Lamb chop. 

And this is my pan-seared tuna with tempura vegetables.

We still have a week to go so maybe there will be more to add to the trip.  But for now the dude just got slammed by the "woman of his dreams" and its my turn to catch up on some Community.  bye now.

Horror Movie

I have always heard people say, “I love going to the movies by myself.” With a somewhat productive day behind me I decide to be a big girl and try it for the first time this afternoon…even though I was hesitant.  There was nothing I really cared to see in the theater but with the Montana rate of $5 for the matinee I thought why not? I even treated myself to refilling our bucket that an aggravating teenager talked me into buying when Bare and I went to see True Grit (great movie by the way).  The amazing deal was you pay around $8 for this completely oversized bucket and then it only cost $2.50 to refill it for the rest of 2011.  I thought it was a great deal at the time…when there were 2 of us to share it.  Kind of regretting my decision right now…no, I didn’t eat the entire bucket, but I did decide to go with the large diet pop (that’s Montana talk) as well.

I arrived at least 10 minutes before the start time…Bare would be so very proud of me.  We are ALWAYS the first to arrive as to get the best seats and so we do not miss any previews.  There was no one else in the theater, so I sat right in the middle…so far it was perfect!!  Then the “others” starting arriving, most of them arriving late and one guy standing up in right in front of me…taking his precious time, taking off his jacket and checking his text messages before he sat down.  THEN…the “ONE” arrived.  As he walked by my seat he kicked it…oh great.  He didn’t sit directly behind me, but three seats to the left of me…just enough where I can turn and give him “the look” several times throughout the movie…and yes, he deserved it…so here’s one of my miserable movie experiences EVER…

·         He started off by eating his popcorn like it was an apple…I didn’t know someone could make that much noise with popcorn.

·         He laughed the ENTIRE movie…the kind of laugh like Eileen’s date had on Seinfeld that time…and he repeated all the lines he thought were hilarious throughout the movie.

·         He sang most of the songs really loud including "Every Breath You Take" by The Police…yes, I turned and looked at him at this point.

·         Then I almost LOST it…he chose a point in the movie when it’s really quiet…and not once but three times…he “coughed up a phlegm wad” ( used that term because my husband hates when people say “hock a loogie”).  Yes, at that point I was horrified for the poor girl with him, and I am trusting that she ends it TONIGHT!!

·         To finish off this great first experience, as Adam Sandler is telling Jennifer Aniston how he feels…so predictable of course, the “ONE” decides to guess at the punch line and say it really loud before Adam does…like he figured out the movie and the rest of us didn’t…yes, I looked at him again!!

The movie FINALLY ended…Bare and I usually are the last to leave the theater, but tonight I did not have the patience.  I practically ran to my car and flew out of the parking lot towards my apartment…even deciding to run a redlight in the process.  I just wanted to get as far away from that guy as possible.  I’m not sure if I’m worked up due to that guy alone or if my large diet pop added to my agitation.  All I know is it will be awhile before I go to the theater by myself again.

Him and Her

“It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.” Author Unknown

“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances. If there is any reaction, both are transformed.” Carl Jung

She loves lists…he does NOT!

She listens…he persuades.

She is suspicious…he is trusting.

She is the thinker…he is the feeler.

She makes plans…he is spontaneous.

She loves change…he prefers the known.

She likes to bake…he likes to eat and grill.

She prefers cilantro…he prefers basil.

She loves soda…he wants coffee.

She wants shrimp…he wants oysters.

She loves cheesecake…he loves ice cream.

She votes for Chick-fil-A…he votes for McDonald’s.

She prefers nights…he prefers mornings.

She wears jeans…he wears khakis.

She reads books on medicine…he reads books on everything, literally.

She likes cards…he likes emails.

She likes a down comforter…he like a quilt.

She prefers to carry-on luggage…he prefers to check luggage.

She takes pictures of peoples’ faces…he takes scenery pictures.

She listens to Amos Lee…he listens to Fleet Foxes.

She loves shopping at thrift stores…he loves tying flies and fly-fishing.

She likes the library…he loves the bookstore.

She grew up watching The Sandlot…he grew up watching RAMBO.

She wants to learn to sew/smock and play the piano.

He wants to learn to draw and play the piano.

She wants him to learn to fly a plane.

He wants her to learn how to row a drift boat and spell.

They Both:

Follow the rules, keep secrets, and are rarely late

Do not care for crowds or the spice dill

Enjoy dinner with friends and encouraging, challenging conversations

Love margaritas, Mexican food, asparagus, and Chinese food from food courts

Want to be outside and love watching storms form across the Big Sky horizon

Love spending quality time with family and being an aunt/uncle

Enjoy photography, football, concerts, and traveling

Require a box fan for good night’s sleep

Listen to Coffee House on Sirius

Prefer Network television and Netflix to cable or satellite

Kicking and Screaming!!!

HAD I the heavens' embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.  

     William Butler Yeats

"We are not bloggers."  "But you read blogs all the time."  "So."  "Well we can let people know what's going on with us since we are moving."  "Why can't we talk to them on the phone or email"?  "Talking on the phone would require you to stay up later than 8:30."  Then silence.  A point well made.  I am not sure if these are the exact words that came out of our mouths, they are close enough.  One of us wanting to share our lives with our loved ones while the other one is worried about his/her reputation as a (insert tough/hard adjective here) person.  Someone who revels and being non-techy, while secretly becoming more so.  You can guess which one is which.  She will most likely have very well thought out posts.  He will probably ramble and write with grammar that will offend elementary school teachers. 

Anyway, we have started this thing to tell stories.  These stories will probably come in many forms but the point is the same.  We want to share our lives.  I still say that sharing our lives is best done in person, but new developments will make it a tad more difficult.  Indeed these stories will be awesome...and boring.  Good...and bad.  Brilliant...and dumb.  Kind of representative of life I hope.  That is what friends and loved ones endure with each other; the beautiful along with the ugly.  I think that is what is great about relationships: they don't end in the bad.  Some may say they grow stronger.


My hope is that there isn't a theme with this blog.  I hope we can post about anything and everything.  Whether its photography, books, movies, hobbies, family, friends, traveling, likes, dislikes, etc.  I guess that is why i like the title "ramble on".