{Pictures} Recently

As of late

So here's what's happened here lately.

• I've been working on my classroom, I'll post pictures when I'm finished but here's a sneak peek. 

• Drew and Ike hiked Mt. Rogers, they were supposed to stay gone for two nights but the rain sent them home early. There were lots of critters from what I understand: ponies, turkeys, cows and mice. Hate that I missed that. 

• We watched the Grand Budapest Hotel. It was so much fun. 
• I made cobbler for the first time in my life. 

• I met my hometown friends and their babies for lunch in Abingdon at Wild Flour Bakery. Lunch was scrumptious. And they were super nice. Especially considering all of the profanity coming from our table (just storytelling). 
• Ike got another barkbox. 

• We visited a lovely little church in Floyd on Sunday. It was mostly older people but they were so nice and the sermon was just what we needed. Funny how God does that. 

• I read Jesus Feminist. Don't let the f word scare you. As Sarah Bessey says "Most of what has passed for a description of feminism is fearmongering misinformation. This is my favorite excerpt: 

"Our big and good God is at work in the world, and we have been invited to participate fully-however God gifted and equipped and called each of us. One needn't identify as a feminist to participate in the redemptive movement of God for women in the world. The gospel is more than enough. ...But as long as I know how important maternal health is to Haiti's future, and as long as i know that women are being abused and raped, as long as i know girls are being denied life itself through selective abortion and abandonment and abuse, as long as brave little girls in Afghanistan are attacked with acid for the crime of going to school, and until being a Christian is synonymous with doing something about these things, you can also call me a feminist."

Her book is so encouraging to women and so empowering to those who have been held back for so long. But she also talks about forgiveness in situations where the church has hurt us. "Let's pray for them, forgive them where they have hurt us, and pray for those wounded in our collective cross fire. Let's be gentle in our dealings with them, but then let's get on with it." 

Read it. Woman. Man. Daughter. Son. Mother. Father. Read it. You'll be glad you did.

• And most importantly: Ike slept in his own bed last night! 

Stay tuned for news on my latest purchase:

Remember when...

I had a blog. Probably the only person that it has bothered not to read my every thought is my husband who often complains that he still checks my blog every day to find no new post. But not to worry I'm happy to fill him in in person. I've been a bit busy writing and kicking ass on a Master's thesis. I will eventually post part of it here because I'm so dang proud of it but that's a ways off.


I'm in the home stretch of student teaching. One more week. I've got applications in all over Southwestern Virginia and maybe a random one in North Carolina and Colorado. Just for shits and giggles. Graduation is in 2 weeks and then you can officially call me Master Meghan. I get to be "hooded" and everything.

Other highlights of the last several months:
Drew got inked. It is lovely and if possible he is even sexier now than he was before. Next time you see him ask him the story behind it, it is even more lovely than the tattoo itself.

I'm on the 5th Harry Potter book in our book challenge. (Drew hasn't even finished the 3rd book I've suggested to him for the year).

Ike and Drew spent most of their time hiking and hanging out in the woods while I sat in front of a computer screen finishing papers, projects, lesson plans, job applications, e-mails, etc.

Our favorite niece turned 1.

All of our Blacksburg friends are either in the process of moving or expecting babies. Or both.

My brother can officially destroy beat me at 1 on 1 (it was a sad day, friends).

Someone in this house is writing a book but I'm not giving away any names.

We gave up sweets for lent, then foundered on Reese's eggs on Easter.

Drew's had a few guy trips and I had one lovely gal weekend getaway to the lake which was much needed (a return couple's trip has already been scheduled for summer).

One of my friends found man on Farmer's Only, I'm totes serious.

And I got a parking ticket and accidentally drank spoiled milk.

Those are the highlights. I will be back into the blogosphere soon, promise. I have lots of opinions to catch you up on. P.S. This is the view from our roof. Not too shabby.

Up to the Date

I'm on my third Harry Potter book this month while Drew is still trudging through Malcolm X. Did I mention that I've also completed an entire unit lesson plan? I mean it's not like Drew has a job or anything...oh wait. I don't think Drew is going to finish his book in the next 4 days so he will be behind on our book challenge.


I start in my placement tomorrow and I'm like a kid the night before Christmas. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.

This is my new workspace. The desk just wont' let me spread out like I need.

In other news, I'm afraid our puppy is sick. He's a little mopey. Perhaps, like the rest of us, he's ready for warm weather. Honestly, I'm a winter girl through and through but something is changing inside me. I'm ready to utilize our rooftop outdoor space for the first time. I'm ready to be able to take Ike to eat with us downtown and eat outdoors. And I don't want to have to worry about people finding warmth for the night.


But I'll miss drinking warm beverages all day long and I'll miss turning on my fireplace. And I will dread having to shave my legs. Because full disclosure I've just stopped altogether.


Our Christmas décor is finally down and Drew re-worked our whole storage situation so that we don't have to get a storage unit! Huzzah! Never underestimate the engineering power of a man who is afraid he may have to pay $30 a month to store a Christmas tree.

This is Ike rocking the elevator. He owns this building.

 

 

I'm off to read something about a place called Azkaban. I'm no "Potter-head" as my sister says but I'm learning a few terms. Most of them I mispronounce and don't understand. (I totally thought that a phoenix was an owl. Drew is such a Potter snob when he corrects me).



 



The Haps

We finally got some things up on the walls at the new place. The fact that we have less space called for some creativity. I still had lots of things I wanted to use but with less space we created a wonky collage of all my favorite things above my desk. It's even better than I thought, it makes me smile every time I look at it.

Last night was the season 6 finale of Sons of Anarchy. I haven't cried that much in a long time. I couldn't sleep last night and I did not know I could get so attached to people who aren't real. How does Kurt Sutter do it? My stomach is still sick about the outcome today. I was way too attached to Jax and Tara's relationship. My heart is broken and Charlie Hunnam is to blame, he was pitiful last night. And I hate Gemma and Juice. Done with both of them. And I already miss Roosevelt.


I've had more free time this week which means I can enjoy cooking without all the pressures. I'm not getting carried away but last nights meal was the best we've had in weeks (Roanoke's cuisine leaves something to be desired, or we haven't found the good places yet).

Other notable occurrences:

• Drew peed in a parking garage
• Ike's learned to poop on the sidewalk
• I got my student teaching placement!
• I bought Drew a Christmas present for the first time in our married lives.
• Giving Ike a bath in a shower stall could qualify as an Olympic event. I would not medal.
• I'm wearing a Grinch T-shirt to my final today.
• And I'm ready for a weekend away! Here's hoping for snow in the North Carolina mountains.

Pictures Recently

I have faith that you all can piece together these pictures to figure out what's happening around here lately.

 



 

As you can tell we're super busy with really exciting stuff. But I like this simple life, in two weeks I'll be running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

If you're blessed with free time these last few weeks of summer here are the documentaries I watched this week that I recommend:

How to Die in Oregon
Lost Angels
The House I Live In

Otherwise...

I can't string together thoughts today so here are some that have nothing to do with one another.

• Life now is busy. I started summer classes last week which has been like a job. I have 2 online classes and one class for 4 hours a night twice a week. Luckily, 2 of them are only 5 weeks long but they are brutal. Online classes pride themselves on having you do 10x more work than you would in-class. But, hakunah matata. It will be over soon.

• Our puppy is staying with my parents this week which makes Drew and I both pathetically sad. It is so quiet around the house and there's no one there to greet us when we return home. Sad sad.

• We are trying to make better choices food-wise ever since my run in with one piece bathing suits a couple of weeks ago. Nothing can humble a woman faster. Well maybe it can. The scales at the gyno. I've gained 20 pounds since this time 2 years ago when we got married.

• Although I love summer in Blacksburg it also comes with goodbyes. Next week four of our dear friends will be moving on from this college town. One to the army and his wife to Virginia Beach. And the other couple is heading to Ohio State for him to finish his PhD. We are so lucky to come in contact with so many awesome people here but goodbyes are hard. And they come every year. Next year will be even worse.

• Speaking of which we are beginning discussions about whether or not to move on from here. Most of the friends we have here will all be gone next year and I'm asking myself why we would stay....We will see...

Does this sound a bit depressing? That's because it is. I've been reading about white privilege for my multiculturalism class and man it is rough. That class is forcing me to be all kinds of aware. And I  pride myself on being self-aware but I'm learning about biases I didn't even know existed much less that I held them. But I love the class. I mean I'm kind of in love with it. Plus it sets up some good debates and you know I love that.

That's the haps with us lately. Maybe next time I won't be such a Debbie Downer. wah wah.

Recent Happenings, Crockpot Love and Hair Update

It seems its time for a blog that won't warrant serious discussion. I mean perhaps someone will want to discuss whether or not my hair really is naturally curly. Or whether or not the crock pot makes life too easy. Or someone may want to argue that Virginia is not the most beautiful state in the fall. Okay that last one is taking it a little too far. But please let's put our opposing views aside for this incredibly important post.

Curls

First of all: an update on the curls! (not to be confused with the "girls" cause those are just fine).

Some of you may look at it and think, that poor girl with the mess atop her head. But I look at it and say hallelujah, my curls are back. Granted there are still days I go around like this:

Awkward facial expression and all. Eek. And admittedly I still love my "do-rags" as some would say. Others may say bandanna. I like to call it my Rosie the Riveter look. But all in all I'm pleased with my curls when I take the time to fix them.

Crockpot Cooking

 As things have become more busy with school, observation, and research I'm grateful that Drew has picked up another wife to help around the house. Her cooking is much better than mine and it takes her no time to get cleaned up. Frankly, she makes me look bad. Okay, I kid. But using the crockpot is totally like having another set of hands around here to help with dinner. Tonight she is making us chicken and rice. A couple of days ago she made us spinach dip. In the past couple of weeks she's made tomato basil parmesan soup, white chicken chilli, pulled pork bbq, beef roast and deer meat. Please ladies, do yourself a favor and let someone else do the work. There is nothing better than a crockpot meal on a cold night. Pinterest is full of recipes, I'm thinking of starting a whole board just for those recipes I can put on in the morning and have it ready for me when I get home. I'm much more pleasant when I don't have to come home and still make a "home-cooked" meal and this way we still get good home-cooking and I'm not scowling by the time we finally sit down to dinner. If anyone needs some recipes comment or send me a message I would be happy to share my knowledge to make everyone's life easier.

Recent Happenings

A couple of weekends ago Drew's parents came to visit. We headed to Floyd to Chateau Morrisette winery. It was beautiful and we had a great time and I think Drew's parents did too. We had lunch there and it was delicious. (Their wine is amazing also and I know for a fact they carry it at Food City in Wise so go grab some Wise Countians, just look for the black dog on the bottle).

After lunch we explored the winery and headed to downtown Floyd to the Country Store for some ghost stories.

It's truly like going back in time. I believe with all of my heart that Drew and I will live there one day. If you never visit any other small town in Virginia, make it Floyd. And if you can make it on a Friday night all the better. My Appalachian Geography professor plays bluegrass outside the country store every Friday night. I mean not just him, but lots of people. Even you if you want, take your banjo or guitar and join in.

 I took this pic on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sweet Virginia.

It was a fun weekend and I was glad that Drew's parents got to come for a visit!

 Other happenings have been that I purchased my first bird feeder right before our first snow. We were out buying a propane heater, gallons of water and a Coleman stove in case we lost power. And Drew looked at me like I had 3 heads when I told him we have to help the birds prepare for bad weather too.

 As a bird lover's daughter I know birdies are like people and they love to eat when it snows. It has been out for almost two weeks and I finally saw three eating at it yesterday. The mistake, however, was telling my mom because she immediately quizzes me about what kind of birds they were. And I'm left saying things like "the regular kind" or "small and black" she's never been more ashamed I'm sure.

Other than that excitingness we have just been doing the regular ol' things. My mom asked me the other night if we were "the party house" because we were having people over again. But I love having people here. Granted I have to close off the disaster that is our bedroom right now but I love that people feel comfortable just stopping by or staying the night. So anyone in the mood for a road trip come see us! I hope to have Christmas up in the next week or so, so come one come all. The crock pot will cook us an amazing meal and I will let you fix my hair. It'll be a blast!