I'm Not Sure What For Exactly...

But I feel that I NEED one of these in my life. What a ridiculous animal. The darker one did not like me one bit and kept its ears folded back while making an intimidating growling noise at me.


I am not going to lie. This website made me want one that much more. Please check out the snort. Maybe I could get two and turn them into pack animals? Aaron and I seem to be falling apart rather young. I'd settle for an alpaca, they are pretty ridiculous as well.

German Fortune Telling Thingies

Has anyone done or seen these before (besides Megan, I'm pretty sure we have done them together)? My friend Ashlee and her new boyfriend came to stay with us on Friday night. We had a fun time going out to see her friend's band play at Cloud 9. After taking a nice long walk, we got home and Ashlee pointed to these lead pieces that I have for a while and said "When are we going to do those?". "Now!"
They come in hollowed out shapes like crowns and clock faces. This is typically done on New Year's in Germany (not sure about other countries). You put them in the spoon they come with and melt them. No, melting lead in your house is not a big deal. Even if you are eating pizza as you do it...anyway, then you take the liquid lead and pour it into cold water. As it hits the water it cools and hardens. You then take your piece out and hold it behind a candle to make a shadow, and the shape will represent your future for the new year.







Normally the shape really comes out looking like something. None of these really jumped out. I didn't get any pictures of the actual fortune shapes unfortunately. These are the leftover bits and pieces. Ashlee declared them vegetables.

One more post before I'm caught up. I have 12 assignments/papers on my to do list for this term. Down from 15 earlier today. I take my boards in less than a month, why are they piling on homework??

Valentine's Day

I actually spent Valentine's weekend in Sacramento with 6 of my classmates at a board review seminar. 24 hours of heavy review. It was kind of a nice escape for a few days, with no homework at night.


I got home at 11:30 pm on Valentine's, and even though he said he didn't get me anything, he did make me some thoughtful things. He made cupcakes with pink frosting.


And this awesome brown sugar shower scrub:


We made dinner the next day. My mom's twice baked potato recipe, garlic green beans, steak and mushrooms cooked with onions, red wine and Worcestershire sauce. We prepared the steak like this and it turned out perfectly!

I didn't get him anything :( until today...we bought a used touch from Sarah. Which was perfect! He is so excited, thanks Sarah! The screen broke on his old one, and since that was his calendar, reminder method, place to take notes, etc. he has been lost without it. All appointments and music have been added!

Potato Tentacles

Aaron found these under the cupboard this week. They know it's time to get planted! I'm not sure if you can plant potatoes from the previous year...I think you are supposed to buy them because they are treated or something? I'll have to ask my mom on that one. Updates soon.

A Much Needed Restful Weekend

I decided to try out some more of Pioneer Woman's recipes last night. The first was this bacon spinach salad recipe. Mmmm bacon, spinach, I was sold! For some reason lately all I want to eat is spinach, it is so delicious. I must be deficient in something. We started with bacon...the base of this salad.

We caramelized onions in bacon grease.


We also sauteed mushrooms and made up the dressing. This dressing's base is 3 tablespoons of bacon grease. I decided not to think about it too much and just go with it.


The salad was good, I was surprised how nice the warm dressing was. I think it needed a bit more sugar though and maybe something crunchy like candied almonds. Afterward I did feel like I had eaten several tablespoons of bacon grease. Meaning, not well. I don't know that I would make this again, Aaron thought it was okay/pretty good.
We also made her version of chicken parmigiana:


This is very different from the recipe I grew up with, which is breaded chicken topped with tomato sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella. We made this with tomatoes we grew and canned this summer, which is always exciting.



I thought this was okay, mostly because it was very tomatoey from being reduced for half an hour. Aaron loved it. I don't care much for sundried tomatoes, because they are so strong, and this reminded me of that flavor, but less intense. I would make this again, but prepare the chicken how I normally do with her sauce.

Today was so nice, I got my homework done early and we went for a hike...
and a bike ride! We have been so sedentary due to school and the weather. We're both chubby and out of shape. We drove up to Fitton Green and did the upper loop.



There is one lone house at the top. I'm not sure how they got grandfathered into that land, but I'm jealous.


Despite these pictures it was a mostly sunny day. We came home, at some lunch and then went for a bike ride. Generally we make up games on our rides, like riding by every house we've lived in in Corvallis, or with some arbitrary place as a goal. Today Aaron showed me a nice neighborhood he thought we could live in some day. So we rode around and looked at the houses for sale. It's nice to get an idea of what is going for what and where.

It's week 6. I'm getting beyond anxious to be done. First board in about a month. One a week later. Then 2 more a month after that, and my last one the end of June. It will be so nice to start checking those off the list.