I am so excited. Look what is growing! Everyday Russell would look and say no green stuff. A couple days ago he called me and said, "You've got green stuff growing!" I was excited and surprised at how fast something came up. We now have green stuff growing in each pot. The cilantro is growing the fastest. I can't wait to cook with them! I thought it was too cold for sure. Anyway, that is some exciting news.

Tried to get another picture showcasing the dark hair. Don't think this one is any better but whatever. I have some homework to get to. Oh, crap I have laundry in the dryer too. Dang it.

By the way, I think I am going to bring my camera to work tomorrow and try to sneak a few shots of the ladies I work with. That way I can introduce them to you. This could be fun. I'm not making any promises, I'm just saying it could be.

I am seriously looking forward to trying this new recipe. I don't love chocolate but they look so yum to me. I'll let you know how they turn out...

Didn't do anything fun this weekend. I did manage to sew some buttons on the duvet that I made this summer. I kept putting it off because I didn't know how to sew button holes. I was thinking that my sewing machine had a button hole attachment but it doesn't. Anyway, I found these awesome buttons and went for it. I think it turned out okay. I wanted to go yard sale shopping this weekend but I didn't. I don't think very many people have yard sales in the winter anyway.

Did I mention that I lost my phone on Tuesday night? Yep. Otis and I went for a run and I lost it. When I realized it was gone, I turned around so I could retrace my steps but to no avail. My phone was long gone. I set an alarm so I would know how long I'd been running so it would have been blinking red. I even got in the car when I got home and drove around looking. Sad I know. I sent Russell a text from the computer (because we don't have a phone at home) and asked him to call and get it turned off.

Fast-forward to 2:10pm yesterday afternoon. I get back to work after lunch and I have a voicemail. "Caity, it's Mom. Someone called me and they have your phone. I hope you're not out buying a phone right now." Sweet. I called the people and went to pick up my phone after work. Am I lucky or what?

Russell requested a white cake with white frosting. That is what I am doing right now. A white cake from scratch and a delicious new white frosting recipe. We will let you know how it turns out. I'm sure it will be delicious. Really, how can you go wrong with flour, sugar and butter?



I've been meaning to post a picture of my new shoes. I bought them at Gap and they were only $15 and I am so in love with them. Isn't it weird how getting a good deal on something makes you like it more?



Do we have the laziest dog ever?

I just thought he looked funny.

I'm having a little trouble staying motivated today. It must be the long weekend. I feel like doing exactly what Otis is doing. Nothing. When he sees someone walk by the window, he growls but he doesn't move. He and I are about to go for a bit of a run. I am out of work a little earlier than usual so the sun hasn't gone down yet which will be nice. I was running everyday and doing a good job but then it snowed and since then it hasn't been above freezing which means ice and I already have enough trouble making it from A to B without killing myself. Time to suck it up ice and all. If I come home with some nasty bruises, I'll be sure to document them here.

A good cd can make the crappiest job (dishes) seem not so bad. That's what I think anyway. I hate doing the dishes but I love having them all done. I had to tell Russell that I don't think he uses hot enough water when he does them. He said, "I'm never letting you touch my water again."

We had the day off today. We didn't do a whole lot. We went and looked at a house (scary), tried to go to the library (closed), went to Borders instead, and then made gingerbread cookies. Russell's outside right now grilling us up some steaks. I'm making rice.

School officially starts tomorrow. I say officially because my teacher has already e-mailed the class about the first couple assignments. So, back to it. I have to decide on a date to take the test for my application to the Nursing program. I am going to set it right now. February 1st. I'll take it February 1st. Okay. I'm going to eat dinner now.

We tried a new recipe tonight. Thai Chile Beef. We saw them make it on America's Test Kitchen on PBS Saturday morning. I am not usually interested in making anything I see on that show but this looked pretty dang good. Russell was really excited about it but not that impressed after it was done. I thought it was tasty. I think I'll make a few adjustments before I add it to my book.

I know it's still winter but I can't wait to get my herb garden started. I'm trying really hard not to get my hopes up too high just in case I can't grow anything. I am planting sweet basil, italian parsley, chives and cilantro. I have one really sunny window sill - hopefully they will be able to grow there. Don't worry, I'll make cuter labels for them later.


You didn't think I could go without posting an Otis picture, did you? I thought this was a good one. I think he heard a scary noise or something; he usually hides under the desk when he is scared. Doesn't look comfortable to me...

I love Thursdays. I love Thursdays because all the good shows are on on Thursdays but I realized something this week. Every single show that I am interested in watching can be seen the next day online and with way fewer commercials. It is really amazing how much you can get done after work when you don't turn on the tv. I made an apron tonight. I have a confession to make. I am addicted to blogs. Heather mentioned one a while back and that's where I got the apron idea. Hers was way cuter but I had this ugly fabric and it would have probably just gotten tossed anyway... I'm not giving you the link because hers is a lot better.

So, let me tell you a little bit about my day yesterday. You know, I am continually manipulated by Otis. If you are a sucker DO NOT get a dog. He would be perfectly fine at home for eight hours until the end of the day but I go home for lunch every day so I can take him out and keep him company. Yes, I said keep him company. I eat first and then take him out - usually at the last minute. So, I take him out and on the way back I check the mail. I come in the back door and decide to grab the last grapefruit and bring it to work for a little late afternoon snack. Somewhere between the back door and the fridge I lose my keys. It took me almost 20 minutes to find them. They were in the pantry closet. I think I need one of those pagers for my keys and as long as I'm at it, I better get one for my glasses too.

Russell was at home for lunch one day last week and I made some Kraft Mac & Cheese. Well, I tried to hurry and add the butter while he was turned around so he wouldn't see how much I put in and he totally called me on it. He said I had butter written in my eyes. I just didn't want to forget that.

Look at this baby dog. If we're not in bed when he is ready, he paces and cries. Then finally, he gives up and lays down on the couch. Tonight he lays down on Russell. What a baby.

So, I got my hair done yesterday. I didn't wash it today but I think Bride is waiting to see...


Bride got her hair done too. She sent me this picture. She says it's black but it doesn't look black to me.


Has anyone else noticed that blogger is uploading pictures way faster lately?

Russell was messing with our sweet computer. It came with this cool Photo Booth program. He was just taking picture after picture and we were cracking up for like an hour. Have I mentioned that we are pretty easily entertained?

Sometimes Bride and I would lay in our beds and formulate a plan of attack. A plan of attack for cleaning up our room. Is that weird? We would lay in our beds and look out over the room (from the top bunk) and decide the order in which we could most rapidly pick everything up - no back tracking. Our goal would be to get it done in one song. While we were in bed we would also consider which song would help us get it done most quickly. For some reason, "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" comes to mind. Anyway, I am thinking about this because I have so much cleaning up to do and I just want to hurry up and get it over with. This technique is a little bit harder to use when you have more than one room to clean up. I wish Otis knew how to help...

So what do you think of these? I am looking for some winter shoes and I kind of like these boots. They have some red ones that are a little different but I think they are pretty cute. The reason I'm asking what you think is because they sell them at D&B Supply which is a "Western" store sort of like Sheplers plus a hardware store. This makes me think twice about getting them. Have I been hanging out with too many cowgirls up here? Help me out will you?

I have a long weekend this weekend which will be nice after all of our driving. I'm going to try to make gingerbread cookies again (my first attempt I used baking powder instead of baking soda - it could have been the other way around - all I know is I used the wrong one), do laundry and go to the grocery store. That's it. 10 bucks says I don't get it done. Well, This Old House and New Yankee workshop are on right in the middle of the day, what am I supposed to do? What's that you say, get a DVR? If you insist...

Okay, I am being a weirdo - sorry. I'd better get to bed now. To my bed with my sweet huge electric blanket...

I wish we got to hang out in Vegas a little bit longer but Russell had to come home and get back to work. Bummer. We weren't going to get anything for each other for Christmas but we couldn't get out of Las Vegas without going to Fry's and it seems we couldn't get out of Fry's without a new computer. I have to admit, I am pretty syched. We got a Mac. I'm transfering all my songs from my iPod to it right now. Anyway, the drive down was a little crazy. We got 3-4 inches of snow the night before we headed out and the roads from Boise to Twin Falls were insane! We were fully stopped on the highway for at least 20 minutes. It was worth the drive - this is what Christmas is all about. The laying around.

I don't think there is anything worse than coming home after you've been away (i.e. home for Christmas) to a big mess. That is why this week I have a big list of things to do. We're talking major things. Example: cleaning out our apartment's equivalent to the front hall closet. It is driving me insane. It's the place we put everything when it doesn't have a place, you know? It is going to be a project but it'll feel so good after it's done. (What's wrong with me?)



Anyway, Russell bought me this purse for Christmas. I asked for it. I went to Cost Plus last weekend and saw it and I have been telling everyone that will listen about it. Isn't it cute?

We LOVE reading the Sunday paper. Well, we love looking through the ads. Today, I found out that Cuisinart makes a soft serve ice cream maker! How sweet is that? If Russell buys it, I'll bring it to Vegas so we can take it for a test drive...

I gave blood today. It was my second time. I did much better this time. No ice packs, no throw-up bags. It went much more smoothly. The Red Cross comes to my work every 2 months or so. I signed up to do it again in February...

Anyway, since we moved to Idaho I decided that I would really like to have a cow. I read this article today and the idea has been cemented. Don't try to talk me out of it. I want one.

Why is it so stinking hard to get a good picture of two people? 'Cause I don't know what the heck I'm doing and Russell is trying to make me laugh. That's why.

Yes, I am wearing my pajamas but I was planning on cropping that out.

This last one is my favorite by far.

I hate doing dishes.

So, we went and picked out our tree this weekend. I have to tell you it's a bit of a Charlie Brown tree. It's pretty bare. We went and picked it out though and you can't believe how it smells. Ah, Christmas. Of course, we took Otis with us up to Idaho City. It's a tiny, tiny place - it was a town full for prospectors (does that remind anyone else of Rudolph?) back in the day. We drove up into the mountains and when we let Otis out and he sunk into the snow up to his belly, he was being very cautious. Then, like he just couldn't hold it in anymore, he went crazy. He was running all over and biting the snow and we were cracking up. Every time we called his name he would look up and have snow all over his nose. It was fun. He loved it.
All the trees in this section of the woods had long needles and we were not really digging them. We would look up and see the perfect tree. We would hike over to it and it was three really scrawny trees all bunched together. A terrible trick. Anyway, I settled for this one because I was so ready to get out of there! You can't really tell by looking at the top but when you look at the bottom where the snow is in the background, you can really tell how bare it is. A little sad but I think I can make it look good. By the way, if anyone has any good homemade ornament ideas - let me know.
You can't tell but when I took this picture of Russ - he was throwing our little tree into the back of the truck with one hand. We both think that next year, we'll do better. I plan on doing a little scouting on next summers camping trips...

I never thought I would be so excited about the snow. Never. I wasn't waiting anxiously for it to start coming down. I really didn't even give it a moments thought. I was at work when it started and I just couldn't wait to go home and bundle up and take Otis out. We thought it was too dark to take the camera so we left it but with the snow on the ground it's so bright outside. I wish we would have brought it. Otis was going crazy! We stepped off the porch and he was licking the ground. When he finally looked up and saw that it was all over everything, he tried to run. Russell almost fell. When we got to the school so he could run around, he kept going back and forth and back and forth. We were cracking up. I've never seen this lazy dog run so much. It was fun.

You know, I've never really driven in the snow before...

I love, love, love chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. Russell had a big ol' piece he was working on while he was doing this puzzle and Otis was hoping he'd be willing to share. He wasn't.

We had a great Thanksgiving. We made it down to Vegas and I didn't get to take as many pictures as I wanted to but I got a few funny ones. Trace was cracking me up in his little turkey headband.


Wyatt was sick and he was not very happy. I wish I took video of this. His head was going down to the table in slow motion. He was so mad. Is it wrong that I snapped a picture right then?

We went out to eat later and Russ and I sat across from Bride and Zach and they were cracking us up the whole time. Bride could barely concentrate on her plate because there was a table that was louder than us (that doesn't happen very often).

I asked Bride to take a few pictures of Russ and I; not even one of them turned out - this one made me laugh though.

It was a nice long weekend - we were just hanging out the whole time. We watched some Saturday morning cartoons with Connor. I'm sure we all had this look on our faces...

As much as we miss our families, I have to say we are not really missing that Las Vegas desert...



Russell went after work last night and bought the permit to chop down our Christmas tree - we're going on Saturday. I'm sure I'll have a good Christmas Vacation-like story for you after.

I know you know exactly what I am talking about. At the end of a long Saturday after dinner and everything, sometimes you just can't escape that feeling that you might not make it through the night without a treat. We drove down to Westside Drive-In. Have I mentioned it before? It's pretty good. They actually have a fluffernutter on the menu. They are famous for their ice cream potato which out of curiousity I just could not say no to. Russell opted for a banana split. Anyway, doesn't it really look like a potato? It was a little too chocolatey for me...

Yes, I'm a dork that takes pictures of my ice cream before I eat it. Sorry.

So last night Russ and I were watching an awesome show on PBS - Warplanes- and Otis was in the back room barking. He doesn't usually bark for no reason so I went to check it out. This is what I found. 3 raccoons just checking out Russell's workboots. My favorite picture is the one with the raccoon with both arms inside one boot but I was on the other side of the sliding glass door so it came out pretty bad. I know no one has been to our apartment but we live just a few blocks from the capital building - we are smack in the middle of downtown. I thought it was pretty hilarious (but a little scary, too - they were so not afraid of us). I don't know if you can tell but in the last picture, one is standing up on the sliding glass door.

So, I know everyone thinks I'm being a wuss but it is winter here! We had a storm blow through this weekend and another one is working it's way over here. This awesome church is behind our apartment and you can see the snow on the foothills behind that. Doesn't it look like White Christmas? I'm not really minding the cold, it's sort of refreshing (except first thing in the morning). I just wish I had some warmer clothes...

Anyway, things are going well. We were supposed to see a house this weekend but the realtor kind of stood us up. We're going to see it tonight. Russell really likes this one. It's really close to the river and close to school. It's pretty small but we'll see.

That's about all that's new. Thanksgiving is around the corner and I can't wait to see everyone.

Question: Is it ever okay to buy a concert t-shirt at a concert and put it on while you are there?

Here's my view: If you go to a concert and buy a t-shirt and then a year later the same band comes back - it is okay, it's not cool, but it's okay to wear the t-shirt you bought the year earlier. There is a direct correlation between coolness and the age of the t-shirt. If the concert was years ago and the t-shirt is all broken it - you're good to go.

I'm trying to prove a point here so tell me what you think.

By the way, I'm going to see Ben Lee on Saturday...

I happen to be of the opinion that beginning November it is perfectly acceptable to start listening to Christmas music. I have been taking a poll of sorts at work today and I have discovered that I am in the minority here. It seems that most people believe it is inappropriate until after Thanksgiving (I call them dead inside). Christmas music doesn't mean Christmas to me - it means holiday time in general. I get excited and happy when I listen to it and no one is going to convince me that it's not okay but I still want to know what you think...

I know I gave you guys a recipe last time but this one is just so good.

I don't know about you, but when I watch a cooking show it makes me want to eat things that I wouldn't want to eat if I were just reading the name of the recipe. Spaghetti and Meatball "Stoup" may not sound all that appetizing but I swear, you should give it a try. It's really easy and really fast and who doesn't love soup in the winter? (It feels like winter to me so give me a break will you?)