The Winter Palace

I've just finished a fantastic book: The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great by Eva Stachniak.  Once again, I've fallen in love with historical fiction.

My short and sweet review on Goodreads is this: 

I've always been fascinated by Russian history, ever since my first class on the subject during my undergrad years. Catherine the Great was always an interesting figure, in my mind, and so I did not hesitate to buy this book.

The story is told from the point of view of Barbara, a Polish girl in the Russian court. Barbara - Varvara in Russian - soon becomes a skilled spy and from her we learn all kinds of juicy tidbits about life as a Russian courtier.

Catherine's story is an amazing one and I hope Stachniak continues her story. This is very good historical fiction!

If you're wanting to add a Russian novel into your reading mix, I highly recommend this one!

May Page

I still can't believe it's now May!!  To welcome in the new month, I give you my May page.  This is the first time I've not used Graphic 45's monthly line; the colors they used just did not work for me.  So, I pieced together some My Mind's Eye papers and like the result.  

I love purple!  Even though I see it all the time at work - or maybe because I see it all the time, it's now my favorite color, I think.

Clark Gardens Revisited

While my in-laws were in town, we took them to Clark Gardens.  I had been there recently with my mom....but, this time, everything was in glorious bloom!

The lily pads were so pretty!!  The waterfall was so serene.  And all the trees, vines, and plants were brilliantly green!

Clark Gardens is quite big and we saw more of it this time around than on my first visit.  We all adored the picturesque lakes and bridges.

And pansies!  They won't be around much longer but thanks to a cool spring, they're still gorgeous!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love pergolas? 

And the best part: fields of bluebonnets and poppies.  I was in awe!  

We even learned something new: bluebonnets are not always blue....they can also be pink or white.  Who knew?  Anyone who has been to Texas in April or May knows how much we Texans love our state flower.  And for good reason - it's so unique.  

If you haven't been to Clark Gardens, I suggest you hurry on over there while the bluebonnets are still blooming!  

Two Years

Two years ago today, I married my soul mate.  

Looking back on that amazing weekend on Jekyll Island, Georgia, it seems like a dream.  I remember snapshots from the day, family and friends....  It was one of the happiest weekends of my life.

But what came after it was even better.  Two years of traveling and building a life with my best friend.  We've made so many memories together that I'm already forgetting some of the things we've seen and done!  (Thank goodness for Project Life, let me tell you!)  We've been extremely blessed in many ways and I thank God everyday for the gift of this man in my life. 

And there's so much more we want to see and do together.  Our adventures will never cease, I think.  Marriage itself is an adventure full of hurdles and pressures but always filled with fun.  

To those of you who were there two years ago, know that I'm thinking of you fondly today.  Thank you for making that weekend one of the best of my life.

Family Time

My in-laws have been in town this week, providing good distraction from the work.  Granted, I've still been working but it's nice to have activities to do after work. 

My father-in-law has been doing some genealogy work.....and that led me to dig out my huge genealogy file the other night.  Back in college, I really got into finding my family's history.  I made some great progress....but haven't done much since.  Part of the reason for this was my great Dell computer crash of 2008 - when I lost every genealogy file I'd inputted into my free software.  I cannot fully explain how frustrating that was after all the time I spent getting the information perfectly organized.

For Christmas, I asked for and received a family tree software program for my Mac.  Yay!  While in Tennessee for Christmas, I put in a lot of Mr. Higgins' family....but now I need to do my own.  And that means making sense of my huge genealogy file. 

One of the great boons of working for a university - in my opinion - is having free access to Ancestry.com.  The only problem is that I can't do everything on Ancestry remotely.  So, I may be spending some lunch breaks over the summer doing my own research at work.  

I hope to have some exciting family history stories to share later on.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the last few days with my in-laws before they head back to TN.  

Breaking the Rules

I don't like work politics.  I hate politics in general so any that affect me are particularly disturbing.  

You've heard about my work woes.  They haven't gone away.  In fact, I think it's safe to say that they're getting worse.  The latest incident leaves me truly perplexed as to how to proceed.

My boss has asked me to do something that is against university policy.  And he's blatantly told me that he's going to do it without trying to get the permission from our chair, also known as his boss.  So, now I've been asked to break the rules and lie about it.  

Let me be clear: I will not break the rules.  I like rules.  I like following rules.  I loathe anyone who does not follow the rules.  If I have to call in sick the day when I must break university policy, I will.  

But I know that other people deal with this and even more complicated issues in their workplaces.  I know this stuff happens....this is just my first encounter with such a thing.  And I don't know what to do.  

Let's just say that I'm really looking forward to Friday and that margarita at Happy Hour!  Work-weeks are overrated.  

Scrapbook Retreat, Spring 2013

I'm back from another scrapbook retreat at Memory Lane Inn in Tyler.  I started a scrapbook of two Colorado trips...and finished the scrapbook by the end of our stay.  Now that's what I call productivity!  

It was a fun time.  Unlike our last stay, the inn was full, which made for a different experience.  There were some interesting ladies there...but we got along with most of them.  Our room had a private upstairs patio which is where we ate most of our meals.  

Tyler is gorgeous in the spring.  The azaleas are in full bloom along with the dogwoods, wildflowers, and tons of other flowers.  For anyone who has never been to East Texas, spring is the time to go!  All the way there, the bluebonnets were in bloom along the highway.  For sure, all of Texas is at its best in the spring before the hot summer sun turns everything brown.

Now, off to scrapbook the retreat in Project Life!   

April Page

Here's my April page for the Creative Memories frame.  Obviously, a picture will go in the green space.  All of the little pictures are from Graphic 45's monthly line.  I love this company!  (The picture on the bottom right is upside down, I know.  It will be clipped onto the ribbon on the CM frame.  No worries!)

The colors in Graphic 45's designs this month were great and I loved making this page.  I think it's one of my favorites, so far.  

Looking ahead to May, I can already tell you that the color scheme of Graphic 45 will not work.  I have no coordinating paper.  So, next month you'll see a departure from this adorable line.  

Stay tuned!  

Fiber Fest 2013

On Sunday, my good friend, C, and I went to the DFW Fiber Fest.  This was my third time going and my second time in a row - and with C. 

I'm always amazed by what I find.  This year, I was prepared to be unimpressed.  Surely, I wouldn't find anything I'd want.  Surely....  Well, not so surely.  We both spent most of our money at our favorite local alpaca farm/yarn-maker.  Oh, it's so soft!  And we found sock yarn....always sock yarn....

Above is our combined bounty.  Can you guess what all is mine?  Ha!  I can't wait to work with my alpaca!

Kitchen Adventures

I was in the mood to do some cooking over the weekend.  Two of the recipes I made were new....

- Skinnytaste's Broccoli and Orzo.   I had never made orzo and was intrigued by this side dish - which could easily be made into a main dish.  It was good.....though a little lacking in flavor.  I put a fair amount of parmesan cheese on it....and it still lacked a little something.  I'd really like to experiment with it, as it really has a lot of potential!

- Also from Skinnytaste: Overnight Oats in a Jar.   I found chia seeds (an amazingly good food for you!) at Trader Joe's and was excited to find a recipe that looked good.  Unfortunately, my chia seeds did not expand or anything overnight.  They looked the same the next morning as they do in the bag...only they were in a soggy mess of oatmeal and blueberries.  This was definitely a recipe I'll not make again.  It seemed like an easy breakfast solution....but, no.  

I hate it when I try a recipe that completely flops.  It really take all my cooking motivation away for quite a while.  I may stick to baking alone this week!  

 

Ear Warmer....er, Cowl!

I wanted to make an ear warmer for our Alaska cruise in June.  I found a good, easy pattern on Ravelry and went to Madtosh for some yummy Manos del Uruguay.   

My one gripe about our newest LYS is that they wind yarn waayyy too tight.  Wool stretches and looses all of it's shape if it's wound too tight.  I came home and re-wound the skein.  Isn't it pretty???!

Two weeks later I have a finished ear warmer.....er, no, cowl.  It's a bit too tight for my, apparently, big head.  I can't wear it comfortably over my ears.  So, I'll wear it as a cowl on really cold days.  

I have plenty of yarn in the skein to make another attempt at the ear warmer.  I'll add eight stitches and several rows, I think.  It's a bit too skinny and barely covers my, also apparently, bigger-than-average, ears.  Ha! 

I'll let you know how the second try comes along.

Pattern: Ear Warmer by Kate Morgan
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Maxima
Needles: US 7
Made for: me
Time to completion: two weeks

PL on HSN

About a month ago, Becky Higgins, creator of my beloved Project Life, announced an upcoming appearance on HSN.  On the show, there would be two core kits for sale....brand new core kits.  

At first, I was uninterested....  Until my mother-in-law (she's an internet master) found out which kits would be for sale.  These kits are in the new Project Life catalog, to be released for winter 2013.  There are no "old" kits in this catalog, everything is new.  

Now, I don't like change.  I like things to stay the same - especially my scrapbook products!  So when I found out which kits were being sold, I looked them up.  Out of all the new kits being offered in the winter, the one I liked most (Blush) was going to be sold on HSN.  

And I couldn't believe the deal being offered.  For $60 you got a binder, the kit, 60 page protectors, and dividers.  Wow!  When the kits became available on HSN, I got one.  I couldn't resist!  I'm all set for 2014 and it feels great!  (Especially considering I still have to find another retired Cherry edition binder for this year!  Eek!)

Yes, I'm slightly addicted to Project Life.  I love it!   

Clark Gardnes

A few weeks ago, before Spring had officially and unofficially sprung, my mother and I headed out west to Mineral Wells.  Our destination: Clark Gardens.  My mother had heard about the gardens for years but had never been.  We had a free morning for girl time so off we went!

Though the plants and trees were just beginning to come out, I was pleasantly surprised by what the gardens offered.  It was all much bigger than I anticipated, as well.  The main pool was gorgeous....

There was a chapel for weddings with a beautiful English side garden attached...

This is a cool circular white garden.  If the flowers had been blooming, they would have all been white!
 

Another addition to the gardens was a huge network of miniature tracks and trains.  The tracks were elevated, went around, below and above little rivers...  So cool!

We'll have to return to the gardens when everything is in bloom!  I encourage you to go as well!

Pineapple and Black-Eyed Pea Salad

There was a recipe I'd been wanting to try for ages now.  When I had plans to cook for a friend who is eating gluten-free, it gave me an excuse to finally make it.  The website where I found the recipe is now offline so I'll provide you with it....

Pineapple and Red Pepper Salad with Black-Eyed Peas
adapted from Bon Appétit. serves 6 (as a main course) - 12 as a side dish

4 c black-eyed peas, rinsed well and soaked overnight
4 c fresh pineapple, peeled, cored and diced (1 large pineapple)
2 roasted red peppers, chopped (or 1 12-oz jar)
1 c celery, chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1/3 c fresh cilantro, chopped
3 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 c Dijon mustard
2 T cider vinegar
1/2 c olive oil
2 t salt
black pepper
 
In a large pot, place black-eyed peas and fill with water 3" over the peas. Bring to a boil and cook on high 25-30 minutes, until softened.
 
In large serving bowl, combine cooked peas, pineapple, roasted red peppers, celery, red onion, cilantro and jalapeños. In a small bowl, whisk Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, oil, salt and pepper.  Pour over vegetable/fruit/bean mixture.   Refrigerate for 3 hours before serving.

There's another salad I make from this same (now dead) website...and I like the other salad a lot more.  I had high hopes for this one - pineapple is my very favorite fruit! - but something about it didn't mesh with me.  Mr. Higgins likes it more than I do...so each has their own tastes.  Maybe the black-eyed peas do it in for me (I've never been a fan).

In the Sand

I don't have a lot of stress at work.  I'm lucky in this and I know it.  But I have a different kind of stress: I can barely make myself go to work these days.

I've talked about my work woes before.  Not a lot has changed.  I'm learning Greek because I was ordered to do so.  I like Greek; I like learning.  I do not, however, relish the prospect of translating Greek for the rest of my life.  I would really like to do other things.  

Work is work.  We get through it, we come home, and hopefully we're not too tired to have a nice evening with our spouses, animals, kids, etc.  But sometimes work beats you down.  When there's no end in sight to a crappy situation, it's just depressing.  I can bury my head in the sand with the best of them, but I'm also a realist.  I know my current job is a dead end.  
I've grappled with this since I first took this job.  But I never imagined I would still be in it after almost seven (!) years.  This is not for lack of looking, mind you, but I have awful luck.  Just awful, as evidence by my tenure as a Research Assistant!  

In times like these, I try to remember that God has a plan and that I'm not privy to it, just yet.  I'll keep trudging on, hoping, always, for something better. 

An Afternoon of Cards

A few weekends ago, I spent an afternoon making cards.  It had been quite a while since I'd made any - probably since Christmas.  It was so much fun! 

It's hard having so many crafts to keep up with.  But it's fun when you can take time, without any pressure, to make some cute things. 

Habemus Papam

I haven't said anything about the pope, mostly because I've been learning about him.  All in all, I think the bishops made a good choice in Francis I.  Why?

- He's not Italian - or European! 
- He's a humble man and one who cares deeply for the poor.  A true Christian.
- He's a Jesuit. He's taken the vows of a monk.
- He's the exact opposite of Ratzinger.
- He's conservative.

He's no John Paul II and part of me thinks that is what the Church really needs right now.  But those popes come around once in hundreds of years, unfortunately.  Francis I will be a nice change from the last pope and that will suffice.

The Jesuits were created very late in the game, so to speak - in the 1500s - by Ignatius of Loyola.  They became very powerful in the Church but Francis I is the first Jesuit pope.  As of now, the Jesuits - brothers and clergy - are the largest religious order in the Church.  

I do not think this pope will allow for female priests, gay marriage, or the marriage of priests.  It's hard for a Catholic to explain why this just won't happen...  But, as a Catholic, I know none of it will.  

I look forward to seeing how Francis I does as the Vicar of Christ. 

DIY Project

This is not a crafty thing, per se, but it is a DIY project.  

My parents came up over the weekend and we built this - a box valance!  I bought the fabric and my mom sewed the two pieces together.  She, my dad, and I (but mostly the two of them) built the box.  Mom and I put the fabric on....and dad and I hung it up.  

Mr. Higgins has been bugging me to do something about the windows in our living room and I'm super happy this project is finally done.  It only took two years to make it happen!

Traveling Kitteh

For a bit of comic relief, I just had to post this. 



While packing for a trip to see my parents, Sidious decided she wanted to go, too.  Mind you, this is the cat who hates me for stealing her dad.  So why get into my bag?!  Ha!

I love the cats!  The world is such a better place with these furry ones around!

Banana Bread with a Twist

I tried a new recipe last week and it was delicious: Skinny Chocolate-Caramel Banana Bread.

Oh, boy, is it good!  I knew Mr. Higgins liked anything with banana and he loved this!  In fact, he said this was one of his favorite desserts that I've ever made.  (I've made a lot of desserts!)  Wow!  I loved it because it had chocolate in it.  Ha!

I found the Skinny Cow Dreamy Clusters on the candy aisle...and I'll have to go buy more ASAP so I can make this bread whenever I have ripe bananas around.  

Lately, I've been looking for low-fat dessert options.  I gained a bit of weight in December and I've been anxious to get it off and keep it off.  Thanks to a calorie-counter app (Lose It!) and crazy-insane workouts, I've lost the weight.  Now I just have to keep it off!  

Let me know if you come across any tasty desserts that are around 100 calories! 

Filling in the Gaps

Recently, I took a day and devoted it to my writing.  

Every since I did NaNoWriMo a few years ago (or more - eek!), I've had some holes in my novel.  You see, for NaNoWriMo, I worked on part two of my novel.....after having not quite finished part one.  This may not have been the best of strategies but it got me a lot of good written material, so I'm not complaining. 

I've obviously worked on the novel since then.  But I still had holes.  Over the past year, I've worked on filling those gaps and, as of this week, they're done.  Yay!!

Now comes the hard part: the conclusion.  

Ironically, for someone so OCD and organized as myself, I rarely follow an outline when writing.  I usually begin with one but the characters have a say in the story....and they take me on tangents I cannot anticipate.  It's great when it happens.....not so great when I forget the outline. With the best of intentions, I'm working on an outline for the conclusion.  

I have to get this done.  I have the name of an agent who will look at it.  I have to finish.  I have to!

March Page

I can't believe it's March!!  Here is the page I did for my Creative Memories frame.  I love the birds from the Graphic 45 month line.  So cute!  

Amazingly, I've already done the page for April!  How's that for being proactive!  Ha!  

Battlestar Galactica

In graduate school, I started hearing my friends talk of this show, "Battlestar Galactica" - or, BSG.  They kept saying how great it was, how it was Rome in outer space (and, as a historian, I would love it).  I'm no stranger to sci-fi but I had little interest in this show.

Fast forward seven (!!!?!) years and Mr. Higgins told me it was the best written drama he had ever seen.  I argued that "West Wing" was TV's best drama ever(....well, this is not counting HBO, Showtime, etc, shows).  To Mr. Higgins' credit, he watched all seven seasons of "West Wing" and he mostly enjoyed it.

When we finished with that, he insisted we watch BSG.  The only reason I went along - besides the fact that I mostly trust his taste - is that he compared it to one of our favorite little shows of all time, "Firefly." 

So, off we went with BSG.  And...I was hooked in the first episode.  I was so hooked that we watched the first season in a week.  I was so hooked that Mr. Higgins had to insist we not watch it just so I had to suffer as he did, when it originally aired.  Ha!

"Wow," is all I can say about this show.  It's sci-fi but not really.  There are no aliens, no creepy critters lurking in outer space, and the technology is completely believable.  It's like we suddenly started building space ships because we can....but we haven't got everything figured out.  Make no mistake, this is no "Star Trek."  This is a sophisticated "Firefly" that will blow your mind.  

I had no idea there was a BSG that originally aired in the late '70s.  I was appalled to hear that Starbuck and Boomer were originally men.  Ugh!  This BSG is much better.  

As for comparing it to "West Wing"....  Well, no one beats Aaron Sorkin in dialogue.  But BSG, the pure nature of it, leads to more drama.....and that drama is executed in a way that TV had never seen at that time: brilliantly.     

(And...if you're into soundtracks like me and Mr. Higgins....  BSG has some of the best written music ever written for TV.)

I highly recommend it.  Actually, just go buy the Blu-Ray.  You won't regret it.