CSA

I'm very excited...like, squealing, giddy excited. In just 2 weeks we'll be receiving our very first CSA crop share from Avalon Acres (based in Hohenwald, TN). If you haven't heard of a CSA before it stands for "community supported agriculture." A few friends of mine have participated in CSA's , and I've always been interested in trying it. I came across an online article about CSA's and it provided links to our local farms. I thought, "Why not?" I'd love to grow a garden of my own - and maybe I will one day - but in the meantime, I figured I'd just buy locally grown and organic produce. (I don't have enough yard or enough time to have a garden.) Surprisingly, I don't care so much about the organic part as I do about the local part. Check out some great benefits to buying from a local CSA farm:

-Keep your dollars in Tennessee by buying locally. Support the local farmer more directly. When you buy food from the conventional grocery stores .9 cents of every dollar goes in the farmers pocket. When you buy from our CSA 60-75% of every dollar goes in the farmers pocket. Your support DIRECTLY impacts small farming and the local economy.

-Assures more food dollars go to farmers and not truckers. Get rid of all the middle men who end up lowering the farmers income.

-Knowing where your food comes from (who, how, where).

-Eating healthier. Free-range meats contain CLAs and are the only way to get Omega 3s other than through fish. Produce that is picked fresh retains more of its nutrients.

-Enjoying a much broader variety of foods than you find in a store. You'll certainly try vegetables that you've never had before (or perhaps had as a child and never tried again).

-Knowing that animals have been treated with dignity. Supporting hormone-free, preservative free and chemical free meats.

-Preserving heritage breeds and seeds.

-Preventing antibiotic-resistant strains of disease.

-Saving petroleum and other resources.

-Enjoying what your state has to offer in food choices!

I'm looking forward to eating *super* fresh vegetables and trying new recipes. Avalon Acres' website provides lots of creative ways to prepare the food they'll be sending. In addition to 1/2 a bushel of vegetables, we'll also be receiving a dozen fresh eggs and one portion of meat. Mmmmm, bacon! The first delivery is scheduled for Sunday, May 2, so stay tuned for some cooking blogs.

Who am I?

I came across this little article on usnews.com: Career Chemistry: The Best Jobs for Six Personality Types. I'm having a really difficult time figuring out which personality type suites me best, so I thought my friends and family might be able to tell me. Won't you, please? Weigh in on Facebook or comment on this blog and tell me who you think I am. I see a little bit of myself in each of these categories, but I can't decide which description is the clear front runner. Is there one? Surely I'm not equally balanced among these 6 options. Me? Balanced? HA! I'm a Gemeni. Even from birth I was born to contradict myself.

Realistic, hands-on people tend to be practical and straightforward. They like to work with concrete objects. (I'm practical and straightforward, but I don't know about the hands-on part. Seems a little too technical for me. Maybe instead of straightforward I'm just insensitive?). Careers compatible with this personality type: electrician, orthodontist, surgical technologist, biomedical engineer.

Investigative people are analytical, intellectual, and scientific. Typically, they like to gather a lot of information before making decisions. (Um, no...definitely not me. I make most of my decisions based on feelings and gut reactions.) And they question ideas that aren't backed up by rational data. Compatible careers: professor, software developer, physician's assistant, veterinarian, librarian. (I'm not very intellectual or scientific at all.)

Artistic people are creative and imaginative, as you might expect. But they can also be strong problem solvers, since they bring an intuitive mindset that complements the more rational approach others might offer. (Everyone loves to say that I'm artistic, but I prefer the term crafty instead. I believe that true artists find ways to express their emotions through their craft...and I simply copy other people's work. I've never created anything on my own. I find it difficult to think outside the box because I'm such a black-and-white rule follower. Need lists and boundaries and all that good stuff. Definitely not artistic.) Compatible careers: landscape architect, graphic designer, director or producer, interior designer, editor. (All of those jobs sound really intriguing, but it would never work out. I can't even decide where to hang a picture in my own house.)

Social people often end up in "helping" professions where attributes like patience, empathy and generosity make a difference. They're often strong team players good at achieving consensus. Compatible careers: school physiologist, mediator, nurse, physical therapist, social worker. (This category definitely speaks to me, and it's one I'd desire to be in. Unfortunately, I think I'm too rough around the edges. I need to do some growing before classifying myself here, but I hope that one day people will call me patient and empathetic. Definitely a social person, though. No doubt about that. And I really do want to help people. I just need to learn how to really help them rather than bossing them around.)

Enterprising people are competitive, energetic extroverts. (Extrovert, yes. Competitive and energetic? No. I take way too many naps.) They often end up as entrepreneurs or group leaders, and prefer to delegate the pieces of a project while focusing on the bigger picture. (Sure, who doesn't like to delegate? I usually end up as some sort of leader in a group setting, but I think this category might involve too much risk and politics for me.) Compatible careers: executive, financial manager, sales rep, sales manager. (Hmmm...my current job might be classified as sales rep. Maybe that's why I'm struggling.)

Conventional people, also described as orderly, are somewhat misnamed. They're not necessarily bland, thought they do tend to be reserved (ha! I'm totally not reserved), careful and efficient. These folks are who handle all the details that keep the trains running on time. (I do really enjoy paying attention to details...when I'm in the right mood. Other times I'm a big picture person. Either way, I consider myself to be extremely organized and efficient.) Compatible careers: accountant, actuary, financial planner, technical writer, building inspector.

So who do you think I am?

St. Louis Part I

We made it back from St. Louis...like, 1 hour ago. Can you believe I'm blogging already!? I know, I know...it's very much unlike me to be updating the blog so soon. But, it was either Blog or Unpack...and I went with Blog. Wouldn't you?

We came home to a very happy puppy and an overgrown yard. Sean is mowing the yard as I type. Neither of us were prepared to come back just yet. Good vacations always end too quickly. We were just starting to settle in, learn our way around the city and bond with the Jensen kids...and now we're back in Franklin where we have busy schedules, career woes and home responsibilities. Yuck, yuck and more yuck. The first thing I did when we entered the house was open my calendar and start to organize our plans for next week. BIG MISTAKE.

...Easter Sunday service, visit with my family at noon, visit with Sean's family at 5, meal planning, grocery trip, give Murphy a bath, do laundry, back to work on Monday, try to raise money for MS, reserve D1 class for Thursday, confirm cookout time with my uncle, get a copy of rabies tags for Murphy, buy Amanda a birthday present, work out, cook dinner, coordinate logo consultation with Faby, pack for Grand Rapids, business trip to Grand Rapids on Tuesday and Wednesday, unpack from business trip, cook dinner, buy new blinds because our new renters already broke a set and they've only lived there 4 days, work out, squeeze in a much needed happy hour with Sherri on Friday, cook dinner (if still sober), go to rental house to repair the fence and hang new blinds for them, haircut from KC, family cookout, karaoke for my sister's birthday....oh yes, and run with Murphy every morning and go to work and fight with people all day...

But it'll be fine. I think.

At least I had 4 days in St. Louis to spend with my husband and good friends.

Sean and I took the Budweiser Brewery tour (free!), and I'm glad we didn't have to pay anything for it because it wasn't the best. Fun to see the Clydesdales and bottling factory, but not very heavy on the actual brewing process. I'd say 2 out of 5 stars.

Sean and I rented 2 of the Jensen kids (Sarah and William) for a day and took them to the Zoo - also free! It was hotter than blazes so we gave in and bought $18 worth of B&J ice cream. Kind of defeated the purpose of the free trip, but oh well...We really enjoyed the lazy and comical chimps. The hippos put on a good swimming show, and the penguins were super cute. By the end of the zoo trek the 4 of us were wiped out. We walked all over Forest Park (larger than Central Park in NYC) to get back to our car. We spotted a wading pool and cooled off for a bit before heading back to the house.

St. Louis has a lot to offer as far as tourism, and most of the sites are free. The City Garden is a quiet stop in the middle of the bustling city, and it's home to several quirky sculptures like this bunny. City Garden also has a great view of the Arch.

Another St. Louis must-see (or rather, taste) is Pappy's Smokehouse. We knew the line would be long since Pappy's was featured on Food Network and the Travel Channel, but we were willing to wait it out in order to try this famous Memphis style BBQ. Being from the south, we had to see if Pappy knew what he was doing when it came to pork. Even though the line of hungry visitors wrapped around the entire restaurant it seemed to move really quickly. I'd say we had our food and a seat within 30 minutes. And it was worth the wait! A generous portion of pulled pork on a sesame seed kaiser roll, sweet potato fries and garlicky green beans. The sauces were thick and rich with the right hint of sweet. Too bad Pappy's isn't part of the free stuff in St. Louis.

Alive and Kickin'

We're still alive, I promise...

Spring has officially arrived and we're as busy as ever. It's like everyone came out of hibernation all at once. Our social calendar is full, we moved out old (and best) tenants last week, we moved in new tenants this week, we're slammed at work, and we're taking a mini vacation to St. Louis this week. AHHHH! I need more hours in my days. Sometimes I can't keep up with myself. I don't know how Sean does it...

Here are a few pictures from our early St. Patrick's Day celebration: Franklin's Brewfest. It was a blast! We met up with the most fun group of friends and tasted at least 30 beers while we roamed and shopped up and down Main Street.

So like I said, this week we're heading to St. Louis for a mini vacation. I'm so excited to spend an extended weekend with the Jensens. They are my favorite family of all time (besides the Waltons...but they were fake, so that may not count). The weather is supposed to be beautiful, and apparently St. Louis has a lot of fun (and free!) things to see and do. I'll update you upon our return!

Happy Springtime, y'all! I hope you're enjoying the early blooms and beautiful weather.

Sleep, Sheets and Zooming

I am sooooo sleeeeepy this week. I guess I should clarify by saying that I'm more sleepy than usual. I'm naturally a tired person, always requiring more hours of sleep than the average bear. I love going to bed early AND sleeping in late. Yes, both of them...preferably in the same sleeping block. Getting 10 hours of sleep each night sounds like heaven to me. I usually get 7.5-8 hours of sleep, but it rarely feels like enough. By the time I take my last bite of dinner I'm ready to CRASH on my pillow. Tonight I'm trying to make it until 9:00 before I retire to the bed. For some reason I fear that if I go to bed before 9:00 it makes me weird or crazy or sick. I don't know...Of course, there are some nights that I give into my body and say, "YES let's hit the sack now. I don't care that it's only 7:45!!!" Most nights I force myself to stay awake so that I can: talk to my husband, clean dishes, watch a TV show, pay bills. You know, all that fun stuff that you're supposed to do while you're awake.

I probably shouldn't share this with you (Sean is going to die of embarrassment), but I think it's kinda funny. Several weeks ago Murphy was *zooming and he ripped our sheet. The fitted sheet. The one that you lay on. The bed was unmade (so what - you're not going to say that you make your bed everyday, are you? I sure hope not...) and Murphy zoomed onto the bed. His claw ripped the sheet. At first it was an innocent rip, maybe just an inch or two. Of course, we were frustrated by the fact that we have to buy new sheets, but we realize it wasn't Murphy's fault. We allow him to zoom and we also allow him on the bed, so he wasn't breaking any rules. It was just an unfortunate accident. The rip was so small at first that I actually considered mending it by hand. You know, with needle and thread or a patch or some tape or something...but of course, I kept putting it off. Each night as I tossed and turned, the rip would get bigger and bigger. Now the rip in our sheet is practically the entire length of our mattress. My entire side of the bed is basically 100% exposed mattress pad (which is just as soft as the sheet, by the way). The sheet has been ripped for so long that I'm completely desensitized to it now. I used to be shocked every night - "Damn - I forget about the ripped sheet!!! We need to go buy a new one. We'll do it this weekend...." I PROMISE that I'm going THIS weekend. We have a BB&B coupon and everything. I'm totally going...I MUST go...I'm starting to feel trashy by sleeping on a ripped sheet and exposed mattress pad every night (and being ok with it).

*zooming - To fully understand, you must visualize our upstairs floor plan. At one end of the house you have our bedroom. At the other end is the bonus room. There's a long hallway that connects the 2 rooms. Occasionally, Murphy will get a random burst of energy and decides to run the entire length of the upstairs. All of a sudden he just starts speed running from the outer wall of the bedroom to the outer wall of the bonus room as fast as he possibly can. He'll do about 4 or 5 laps before he finally stops. It's hilarious to watch, mostly because he goes SO FAST! One day I just yelled "Zooooooooom" as he was doing it, and it kinda stuck. Sometimes zooming involves a leap onto the bed before he heads back the other way. We don't know how to predict this behavior.

Things I've Learned from People

This is just a brief thought that crossed my mind tonight. Obviously, the list doesn't represent ALL of the things I've learned, nor does it highlight all of the many wonderful people in my life.

Things I've Learned from People...

Love. Patience. Partnership. Trust. - from Sean

How to knit. Parenting skills. Love for the Lord. - from Vickie and Rick

Kindness. Laughter. Confidence in myself. - from Tonja

Loyalty. Inspiration. True friendship. - from Sherri

Good posture. Take your vitamins. - from Mimi

Catching up...

I apologize for the long delay between posts. I know you've been DYING to know what's going on in our lives (haha, yeah right.) The past month or so has included:

-a romantic Valentine's day, complete with chocolate treats from Merveilleux Confections (tah. die. for.)

-dinners with each of our parental units

-Murphy had a doggy play date with his Aunt Casey and Uncle Shiloh

-a yummy frozen yogurt treat from Sweet Cece's

-showing the rental house a talking to potential tenants

-going with Sherri to try on her wedding dress

-spending the day with my Stepdad Jimmy for his birthday

-washed cars

-cleared the garage so that BOTH CARS fit, woo hoo!



And most recently - last weekend, actually - we attended a fundraising event called "3 Blind Wines" at The Factory (a.k.a. our wedding reception site). 3 Blind Wines is presented by Franklin's Next Generation Heritage Foundation, and proceeds from the event go towards saving the historic Franklin Theatre. Since Sean's store prints all of the marketing materials for the event, we've been invited to attend for the past 3 years. This year was definitely the biggest and the best so far. We had a great time drinking tasting wine with several other couples, including friends from work.

Unmarked bottles like the one seen below were scattered all about the reception hall. Hundreds upon hundreds of bottles. They were everywhere! The point of the evening is to vote on the best bottle of wine. The team with the most votes gets about 300 bottles to take home. How long would 300 bottles of wine last in your house?

(the wine marked #404 was my favorite)