Baking club

Two of my friends and I try to get together every couple of weeks to hang out and bake something. We've done cookies, empanadas and last night we tried our hand at bread pudding. I forgot about taking pictures until we had already carved up the goodness into pieces to eat and some to take away. None of us had made bread pudding so it was fun uncharted territory.

Things otherwise are pretty quiet. It's finally gotten cold so there will be no more talk of garden veggies.

Election day

I hate when I feel like I have nothing to say. I did like this photo of Hairy that I took with my phone; she's so cute and fuzzy.

Today is election day. I'm struggling with wanting to vote but also not having a clear idea of who I should vote for. I have a few people in positions I know I want to vote for, but I haven't been very diligent at getting informed about judges and some of the other positions. I suppose I should vote for the ones I know and skip the ones I'm not sure about. Or is this like standardized tests; just pick C and move on? I don't know. That doesn't seem like a good idea.

I just wish there was a good way to feel informed. Although, the 2008 presidential election I feel like has already gained a ton of chatter, but much of it doesn't seem informative.

Cabbage patch kid

Maybe it was some flashback to my childhood love of cabbage patch kids that made me fall in love with these flowers, but whatever it was I loved these cabbage roses. There were several flower vendors at the Pike Market in Seattle that had these for sale and used them in arrangements that were beautiful and inexpensive-- my kind of object.

I got to enjoy a bouquet of flowers I bought kelvin for his birthday while we were there.

Dreaming of Seattle Latte

I've neglected a Seattle recap from our trip last week, and since I'm about to walk out the door tonight, I can't write much. I've just been thinking about all the latte I drank there. It was so wonderful.

My friend E, who is quite the coffee connoisseur sent me a list of the best and I got to try 2 of the 3. The morning I had to take Kelvin to the conference center to be there at 7, I found my way to Victrola after dropping him off. There was a parking spot directly in front of the place and only one other person who was leaving as I went in. After ordering my latte and a scone I retreated to the pew style bench that lines one wall. I played with my iPhone and watched as the addicted came in for their morning hit. The sun finally came up as I was finishing my drip refill. It was such a great way to start my morning.

Then the last day we were in Seattle I persuaded Kelvin to go with me to the REI store and to check out Vivace. It was close to our hotel and we stopped in for an after lunch caffeine and hot chocolate refueling. I had an amazing latte with white chocolate added in the milk. I will never be the same.

such a tweet

i finally embraced my geekiness and set up a twitter account. i figure it's just another way to fuel my iPhone addition by sending mobile tweets. now i'm searching for fellow twitter-ers and going to start campaigning that all my non-geeky girl friends join me. look for courtneyb on twitter...

SoCo Apple Pie

Last Thursday I went after work to Phillips Farms to pick apples with J&C. It's something C and I have been discussing since last fall, and we finally did it. So what do you do with 10 lbs of apples? Why, you bake a homemade apple pie. The recipe I used calls for Southern Comfort so you know it's going to be great.

As I was making it I realized why I never make fruit pie from scratch; it's a pain. Peeling apples, stirring and stirring some more waiting for it to thicken. Then of course there was more than would actually fit in the pan so it was bubbling out over the sides.

So we'll see what the final verdict is once it sets up completely.

Apple store and Celtic Classic

Saturday was fun filled. Kelvin and I ventured to the lehigh valley mall and stood in line to get into the new Apple store. We got a free shirt out of the deal so we weren't disappointed. We did some other shopping and relaxed at the house most of the afternoon.

I persuaded kelvin to go with us to the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem. It was one of the highlights of my fall last year so i couldn't pass it up. It was such a good time J ended up in a shower!? Seriously, why was there a shower there? I'll never know, but it made for a funny photo op.

I was disappointed that the Welsh cookie guy was not back this year. I tried to fill the disappointment with kettle corn, and it mostly worked. Of course enough Cider out of the side of a semi-truck makes anything better.

wasting away in delaware

mid-week of our vacation and i'm thrilled to report i didn't respond to more than four or five of the 85+ emails i've received.

we've had a relaxing time just cooking, eating, drinking, playing wii, watching ridiculous tv shows and exploring this area of coastal delaware. it's quite lovely.

our first adventure yesterday was to find and visit the only winery in Delaware. we did the self-guided tour and then a quick tasting. we spent most of yesterday at two of the three outlet malls and then we came back to the house where i fixed enchiladas. kelvin and bethany fixed me a margarita that i sipped the entire time i cooked. by the time i put everything in the oven the four of them looked comatose. i had to liven the party up and after we ate we drove down to the boardwalk at rehoboth.

on Monday Kelvin and I rode our bikes to the state park and through the bike path loop there. kelvin touched a horseshoe crab at the nature center; it was nice to see a live one after all the ones that we've seen washed up on the beach.

today bethany went to the beach while the guys and i took the breakwater trail from lewes to rehoboth. it was such a great ride. the trail is nice and varied and we were able to see some different landscapes including a field that had just been fertilized with some manure. i think we all held our breath the whole way around.

i guess tomorrow we're headed for pedicures and more shopping in lewes and at the third outlet. i can't believe it's almost thursday. i'm not going to want to go back to work.

Puppy in a gym bag

My friend Kelly came to visit a few weeks ago and brought my birthday present with her. Part of it was the way cool bag you see Braut sitting in. It's the perfect length for him and while he didn't really appreciate it, we thought it was hilarious.

It's been a busy start to a Fall semester. Two years ago I was still working from home and felt slighted by not having the energy of a new semester as inspiration. This year I would just like to sleep more than 5 hours and not be in the office 10 hours a day.

What else can I tell you? I've been growing okra. It seemed the right thing for a good southern girl to do with her fertile pennsylvania soil. The yellow squash and bell pepper have done alright too, but the okra is crazy. It looks like I'm growing six foot marijuana plants, but I'm not; it's just green slimy goodness.

I also managed to find a pantry cabinet to give us a little more space to house all the good grub we tend to buy. I think it's cute. And mom's not allowed to say anything about the junk on the counter.... ;)

how a good plan goes bad

can't tell you how many posts i've written... in my head. one day when i'm in charge we'll have cameras built into our eyes so we can blink and take a photo, and we'll also be able to think and have thoughts typed up for us. of course, we'll need a on/off button with high reliability. until then i should update this.

it's been a wild month. where has july gone? we've been frantically working to get moodle completely ready for the semester including training and assistance for faculty. that's really the fun part. it gives me these moments that just remind me how much i enjoy what i'm doing.

the weekends seem to have blended together. i know we did fun stuff though. one weekend we spent in Delaware hanging out with R & B. we got to see the house we're staying in for a week in september, and i had my first taste of east coast fried oysters.

the next weekend i got to spend with my family and three of my favorite women (really, it's hard to use that term for me and my three college roommates--we're all grown up though), and their three babies. there is really nothing like picking up with friends like there hasn't been such vast time between being in the same room. it was a quick trip, but it felt like home.

last weekend we shared meals with two sets of friends and kelvin tried to kill me by taking me on a bike ride that included a few too many hills for me. i sat on the steps in front of a friends house and was so glad they weren't home to see my die on their stoop.

we're headed to detroit and on to niagra falls this coming week. i don't really have the time to take off a week of work, but i suppose it will be good to get away.

iPhone lust

delayed gratification is difficult for me, but i'm trying to be good and not spend $600 on a new toy. so instead i've been reading blog posts of people who did get one. i'm sure i'll cave eventually, but honestly i think it's kelvin who has iphone lust more than me. i would have never thought he'd be swayed to the glowing apple.

she's here

if kelvin's not ready to have kids at least i have my friends to live vicariously through. my friends k&j welcomed their first little one on thursday morning early.

when i called to give my friend j an update this morning she had a great story to tell about her angel including all three baby bodily functions. made me enjoy my morning sitting at my desk.

birthday surprises

i've very delayed in posting my big birthday surprises, but everyone is usually impressed by kelvin's ability to surprise me so i will not deny you.

my birthday this year was on a tuesday, and i didn't really expect anything since we had tickets to see Wynton Marsalis the next weekend; boy was i surprised.

on thursday before, kelvin wanted chinese so we planned that i would meet him at our usual place around 5.45. i finished up work and went by the house to let the brat out and i noticed evidence that kelvin had been home-- laundry in the dryer, leftovers gone and the dishes in the sink, a spot of carpet cleaned and the cleaner machine not in the exact spot i had put it in the basement. i assumed he spilled something on him at work and came home to get it in the wash during lunchtime.

jumping back in the car, i called my friend j to see if she got the package i sent. i talked to her the whole way to the restaurant, even through some traffic. trying to get off with her, i walked into the restaurant to see kelvin sitting in the booth, with someone across from him. i think i squealed in the phone when i realized it was my friend S who had flown in from Tampa to surprise me for the weekend.

kelvin sent us to NYC for the day Friday. we at at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill and met up with my friends c&j for cupcakes at magnolia bakery. we also walked around and did a little shopping.

saturday k had planned for s and i to go for mani & pedi at a nice spa. we took out a little early to grab a yummy salad at Panera before our appointments. we drank wine and got pampered. we headed back to the house with the plan to pick up kelvin, go see a movie and get some dinner out. boy, was i surprised when i opened the door to find 20-odd friends here in the house. they had all come from NYC, Baltimore, Delaware, Easton and of course Florida to celebrate my big three-oh.

Wynton

what a great night last night. we drove up to the poconos and found a nice restaurant for dinner, and then to the Mountain Laurel performing arts center to see Wynton Marsalis with not only the Lincoln Center jazz, but also joined by Yacub Addy and Odadaa! to perform Congo Square.

we had amazing seats and the performance was unbelievably moving. i wanted to rush the stage when they did the traditional new orleans recessional. i think i miss home.

beautiful thursday

these weeks are going by so quickly; this is what happens to the summer. i wait all year for it and once it comes it's gone again. i finally had a decent day at work today-- a day where i feel like i had fun and accomplished things. those days have been few and far between.

i'm glad to report the bunnies haven't taken to my okra or the squash and red bell pepper. i think i might stop by the store and buy some short fence material just to be safe. i'd hate to take drastic measures on the cute bunnies.

i had an interesting experience yesterday. i went to the bris for a friend's newborn son. i got to meet several of her family members who i have heard stories about but have never met. and of course, the whole event was odd and beautiful at the same time. not the actual act, but the idea of a covenant steeped in so much tradition.

kill the rabbits

i feel like such a grouch. i'm not certain if my southern roots are showing or if the rabbits are really as annoying as i think, but i'm ready to invest in a b.b. gun. the bunnies are cute an all until they eat my flowers. i'm just waiting for them to find my red bell pepper, squash and okra plants on the side of the house. they eat those and it's game on!

such a dork

for those of you keeping up, you might realize the url changed for the blog. that's because i let my shoelessruth domain expire last week without realizing. i've been updating the blog and last night it gave me a crazy error. luckily i figured out the problem and i just filled out the thing to renew it. hopefully no one has been waiting around to buy it from me.

if they do, what domain should i buy?

pennsylvania hills + new bike = sucking wind

i persuaded kelvin to buy bikes this past weekend. i've been wanting one since last spring and I finally got my way-- what was i thinking? these pennsylvania hills are killer.

fuzzy cat

hariett hates me. i've been getting these nasty furry knots out of the fur on her hips. at one point saturday i was holding her and using kelvin's micro-touch on her while kelvin was trying to talk her into not biting my face off. it worked. and then i've combed the smaller ones out. she's knot free now; we'll see how long that lasts.

miracles never cease

three days in a row. i'm not even sure anyone comes to read anymore since i'm pathetic and fall off the wagon so often. my goal is to blog all summer-- we'll see if that's too lofty or not.

i'm actually sitting on the back porch drinking one of kelvin's smirnoff things in the "ice" flavor he doesn't care for. i however, find it extremely refreshing. i have the dog on his run and he has it stretched to its fullest so he can snif the air for the faint smell of rabbit (smart dog doesn't see the one about 10 feet from him in the other direction). and hariett is perched at the back door sniffing out through the screen and trying to catch an odd looking bug that's crawling up on the outside. it's a rough tuesday night at the bentley household.

k actually works longer days in summer so he can be off on Fridays. i'm jealous but on the other hand it's nice for him to have fridays off alone. he can cut the grass or sleep in or play video games or work as he most commonly does on nights and weekends. it'll be interesting to see how he uses this, his first friday of the summer off. me, i'll be in an all day "retreat" for work. oh what i wouldn't give to have my summers back.

cranky monday

i remember now that the problem with having a fun weekend is trying to snap back to reality come monday. luckily i had three appointments with people i really like to work with, and i listened to an educause webinar.

something else happened today that makes me realize i need to find some new local friends who are in no way linked to work or people at work for that matter. i just want a friend who doesn't care that i like cheezy, non-intellectual movies and is willing to watch ridiculous reality show and listen to top 20s stations. basically, i wish i could move my friend S. here. i'm sad i missed her birthday this weekend and that i haven't seen her in almost a year. being an adult sometimes really sucks.

Summer beginning

kelvin and i just had our first summer party last night, and for some reason that seems to feel like summer is really beginning. i love that our parties seem to have a special guest stars attend-- it's always wonderful to have our local friends over, but we also feel so blessed to have friends who will travel from New York, Boston, and Alexandria Virginia. This parties special guest starts were Kelvin's friend Paul Snatchko from his NCSC days and his friend Erika and her husband Rob.

from Russia with love

i can't believe we've been home more than a week from our week in Moscow. i tried out yahoo! photos to post some of our pictures. you can view them by lookng at my album

Lee Gribbens & Ron White

i had a fun saturday. we went to emmaus to eat at Lee Gribbens on Main. we spent the week with Manny, one of the co-owners so we wanted to eat there. the food was some of the best i've eaten in the valley. we shared and order of manny's fries and then kelvin had soup and i had an amazing salad. it was mixed greens with green apple and blue cheese dressing with a little blue cheese on top. for my main course i had the chicken marsala which came with sweet snow peas and triple mashed potatoes. it was amazingly good, and although i was stuffed, manny brought us a chocolate lava cake which we forced down.

we left there and got to Reading, PA just in time for the Ron White show. it was pouring rain, but we found a metered parking spot right by the theatre. i love ron. he appeals to my white trash side, and i laughed so hard my face hurt.

i'm a mutant

i went to the eye doctor today for the first time in a long time. i love the reaction when they start looking in my left eye and find my coloboma. this doctor was so interested he took digital pictures of the inside of my eye and gave me a copy. so i share it with you:


Coloboma is a Greek word, which means mutilation. People with Coloboma are missing a portion of the structure of the eye. The human eye develops between the fourth and fifteenth week of pregnancy. As the eye starts to develop, a gap opens on the underside of each eye bud. This gap provides a way for the developing eye to be nourished. This gap, called the optic fissure, has to close before the eye is fully developed. Coloboma is the incomplete closer of the optic fissure. Gaps can occur in the eyelid, iris, ciliary body, lens, retina, macula, choroid and optic disc. It can cause from mild to sever vision loss. Coloboma occurs in about 1 in 10,000 births.