tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1245135148441349692024-03-13T15:29:02.123-04:00Erin's Exquisite Edibles, and ExcursionsErin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-54591757124669574582011-10-31T21:03:00.002-04:002011-10-31T21:04:03.113-04:00A New Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Because it was in the time of silence on my blog I never mentioned that Asa and I have been married two years! I can hardly believe that two years have come and gone. They have been great years, so far... One of the things I am most grateful for is the way that Asa supports and is enthusiastic at every new meal, dessert and project I start! <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, there's a new project that we both have stepped into. It's something that takes two and complete commitment on each person's part. It's scary and exciting at the same time, and DEFINITELY a first for both of us. Can you guess what this new journey is?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Parenthood!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4TKjzSXLnuY/Tq9E69O_LgI/AAAAAAAABMA/lCO04F1uM-I/s1600/collage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4TKjzSXLnuY/Tq9E69O_LgI/AAAAAAAABMA/lCO04F1uM-I/s640/collage2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, Can you believe it? We are actually going to be parents! On September 14th we took one test (later I find out most people take multiple), and got the results that it was true, We're FINALLY going to have one of our own. Over the 4 years of our courtship if there was something I learned it was that everything happens in God's perfect timing. During the past year while I was waiting to have a child, I was once again at peace with the fact that I knew there was something God had in store and He would work all things out in His timing. SO for the past year I have enjoyed endless sewing with my Grandma, I count this as a very special time that would have been a little more difficult with a toddler crawling around. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every time I tell people we're pregnant there are always a few questions that are first out of their mouths, so I'll try to answer them now :D Baby Kiser is due to arrive sometime in the first half of May. Everyone tells me May is the perfect time to have a baby, so we'll see. I'm hoping I have some extra warmth over the winter that seemingly has already started. We are NOT finding out what we're having... as of now we want the surprise and the joy of telling everyone what we had! AND the other most important question: "Have you been sick?!" I have been tired, but thankfully haven't been sick!!! (I thank my Mom for her good genes) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It has been fun the past months finding out how big the baby is and comparing it to a food that we can relate with. It has gone from the size of a lentil (the week we found out) to the size of a LIME (this week). It has definitely become more real since we got to see the baby on an ultrasound on Friday! I couldn't believe there was actually something in there! The picture was great, I could see it's little nose, mouth, hands, ear, and hear the heartbeat! During the course of the ultrasound the tech. mentioned that we have an active one. Sure enough there it was swimming, kicking and arching it's back! I sat there think, "I should be able to feel that!" but all I felt was the pressure of her ultrasound thing and my full bladder! Asa of course was asking all sorts of questions! It was such a joy to see our active little baby for the first time, even if it was just on a computer screen!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I look forward to keeping you all updated and I am THRILLED to be able to share this news with you! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4TKjzSXLnuY/Tq9E69O_LgI/AAAAAAAABMA/lCO04F1uM-I/s1600/collage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4TKjzSXLnuY/Tq9E69O_LgI/AAAAAAAABMA/lCO04F1uM-I/s320/collage2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~Erin </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-15641375559779998142011-10-25T21:45:00.002-04:002011-10-25T21:45:14.354-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wow, it has been MONTHS...and I have missed writing... I hope I haven't lost too many people in the busyness of my summer! There has been so much that has happened... so much that honestly I don't know where to start... DO I start with the garden? OR continue with the India trip? What about telling you about a beautiful friend of mine that has missed all of Summer due to a car accident one Monday morning? Then there's the trips to the Lake, the Fourth of July dessert contest, with many smiles, tears and days of mowing lawns in between! <br />
<br />
AND there's MORE news, BUT that shall wait until another inspired post!<br />
<br />
I have had all summer to think about this blog, and still I wondering where I want it to go. In June I took a trip to visit a very dear friend and her family. Some of you know her as the writer and amazing crocheting of <a href="http://keepyourlidon.blogspot.com/">http://keepyourlidon.blogspot.com/</a> . While I was out there we spent lots of time gabbing, and being together. I have never felt so close to someone I have never met before and I left feeling as though I was leaving family. One thing we managed in, between talking and iced coffees, was some kitchen adventures! We made delicious pretzel wrapped hot dogs from <a href="http://willowbirdbaking.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/soft-pretzel-dogs-an-homage-to-auntie-annies-pretzels/">Willow Bird Baking</a> and some other goodies. One thing that I left thinking about was the how do present spending time in the kitchen to people who read my blog. Do I use recipes that look nice but in reality come across impossible? Or do I present the recipes and tasks in such away that they go away empowered and feeling up to the task of creating something new? These are all musings that have been going through my mind this summer when I've thought about my blog. I don't expect to be famous but if I can encourage one person to get out the mixing bowl, or another person to write their thoughts and ideas down.... then my time here will be well spent. <br />
<br />
I want to make a difference.... whether I'm in my kitchen and writing on this blog, or serving donuts to a crowd of people making apple cider in my back yard...<br />
<br />
More blogs to come... just want you to know, I'm still here... and I'm still thinking!<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
~Erin</div>
</div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-12093861709915543382011-05-21T16:56:00.000-04:002011-05-21T16:56:34.821-04:00A New Perspective<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XsVYoA7KKY4/TdawB3cgPQI/AAAAAAAABGQ/aEs8GMBgMPg/s1600/IMG_7400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XsVYoA7KKY4/TdawB3cgPQI/AAAAAAAABGQ/aEs8GMBgMPg/s640/IMG_7400.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>Back a few blogs ago I said, "going to India was like stepping back in time." If you would ask me what I learned in India or how it effected me I would have to say it gave me a new perspective on the Bible. I've been raised in a Christian home where the Bible was talked about and read a lot. However, as we all know it wasn't written in our time or culture so there are things we can read and know about... but until we experience cultures similar to that time period, there's a part of the Bible that I don't feel can be reality to us here in America. Take for example the story of Esther. Esther was taken into the kings house to be prepared to go before him. Ok, so yeah... pretty straight forward, BUT I got a picture of what that might have looked like when we went to India. We got to experience the traditional custom of preparing the bride for her wedding. I couldn't help but wonder if what the bride, in India, went through could possible be similar to that of Esther.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ejk7mAcopgk/Tdav_rs0FmI/AAAAAAAABGM/MWfx5XVNWv0/s1600/P3227470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ejk7mAcopgk/Tdav_rs0FmI/AAAAAAAABGM/MWfx5XVNWv0/s400/P3227470.jpg" width="316" /></a>On Tuesday morning we walked into the kitchen and Ritu was there getting something ready. It was an orangish/yellow mixture that she was combining in a pot. Without looking it up I can tell you that it definitely had turmeric in it, lavender oil, and some sort of flour. When we asked what this was we were told that it's the turmeric paste that we would apply to Manisha's, the bride, skin. For days they had been talking about the gathering that would take place that night. Neighbor women and family were all invited to come and we'd put the paste on and feed Manisha sweets, so that she'd be sweet. The entire day we teased Manisha that she couldn't eat ANYTHING except sweets from the night of the party until the wedding. There was a lot of jesting and laughter, it was fun. In the afternoon the men went to little Pakistan to get the food for the celebration. Over there they believe that the muslims/pakistani make the best foods and so it's a big deal to have it at your celebrations. In the preparation we moved the table out of the way, took all the chairs out of the house and got ready for the party. We would be sitting on the floor so that more people could fit into the house. Manisha wore a Sari the color of turmeric and the rest of us dressed up and made sure everything was ready for the preparation. <br />
Let me tell you what, they know how to put on a party. The guests arrived and we all sat around and sang for a while.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/BfJ11O5Uv9c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7348.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Then they started applying the paste on Manisha, and feeding her sweets. Everyone got a chance to put the scrub on her skin, and when a neighbor walked in they would great the bride, apply the paste, and join the rest of us singing, clapping or talking. They also poured oil on her head, which reminded me of the verse, "You anoint my head with oil." NOW how many of you have memorized Psalm 23 and said that verse? Question number two: how many of you actually put oil on your hair? In india they use mustard oil to make their hair healthy and soft. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7385-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7385-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7372.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Those were the two things in the bible that really came alive and gave me a realization of what actually might have gone on or what they were talking about in the scriptures.<br />
After the paste started drying on Manisha we took more oil and carefully massaged it into her skin. (that's what I'm doing in the above picture) You had to be careful though because the paste was very abrasive and was causing slight irritation to her skin. The sweets that we fed her were an interesting combination of textures and flavors. They were made up of some sort of meal or coconut that was SOAKED in corn syrup. When you would bite into it the sweetness would ooze out of the dense meal coating your mouth with sugar syrup. Emily really liked them, but I'd have to say they weren't my favorite, and I didn't like how sticky mine fingers were after eating them. Poor Manisha had AT LEAST 6 sweets shoved in her mouth at once! (upper left picture in collage)<br />
<br />
Once the traditional singing and preparation was over we the music started and we all started dancing together! It was SO much fun and it made me wish all my cousins and favorite dancing partners were there to join me. They dance in a different style than we do and I noticed that they use their hands and hand movements a lot. My favorite was with the Aunt was dancing with one of the girls and they were all singing... she would sing and the others would respond. It was so extremely festive! Here's a video for you to enjoy!(sorry they're a little blurry, they're still so much fun!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dss_3Me0RnY/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Dss_3Me0RnY?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Dss_3Me0RnY?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AMY9jQPAkic?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/blog%204/114_6793-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/blog%204/114_6793-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7384.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The begging "Auntie", isn't she sweet?</td></tr>
</tbody></table> We danced a while and then I told them they should put soldier boy on. A few years ago, at my cousin's wedding, my younger cousin taught me part of the dance. I thought it would be fun to dance for them and teach it to them. It was so much fun and they loved it, however part way through the evening they were begging me to dance it again. This one older lady was especially insistent, she claimed her daughter hadn't seen me dance. I said, no because I was seriously sooo overheated... it was a pretty long dance for someone out of shape, like me. But they continued begging and it got to the point where they told me it would be offensive and disrespectful to my "Auntie" if I didn't dance again. SO yup, you guessed it, I danced again. I did better the second time, I wasn't so rusty on all the moves. The memory makes me smile... She was so cute and after I got done she told me she really liked the crisscross thing I did with my feet it was "very beautiful". WE danced until after 11 and then we ate wonderful spicy chicken, rice, and cheese mixture with our hands.<br />
<br />
In all this I gained perspective into a new culture a new way of living and celebrating. I seriously LOVED every minute of it! I long to hear them all sing again, even though I have no idea what they are saying! If I remember correctly they said something about the one song being about a bride getting ready and being ready for her husband. <br />
<br />
I know this India trip is taking me a long time to post about but I really want to share my experiences with you! I want to thank <a href="http://www.eatlivetravelwrite.com/">Mardi</a> for giving me SO much traffic, <a href="http://willowbirdbaking.wordpress.com/">Julie</a> for being a great help, a wonderful blogger friend, and for featuring one of my cheesecakes on her site! I want to encourage you all to check out, my two wonderful twitter friends and most supportive commenters, <a href="http://runningonbutter.blogspot.com/">BUTTER</a> and <a href="http://keepyourlidon.blogspot.com/">Stacey</a> and their creative blogs! I'm still very new at blogging... but I enjoy writing down what I see and think and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences! <br />
<br />
Have you ever been to a different wedding with interesting traditions that changed the way you look at the traditional weddings you've been to? I'd love to hear your thoughts!<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-59621726424890734442011-04-28T13:41:00.000-04:002011-04-28T13:41:41.198-04:00To market, to market!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hey everyone. I’m sorry that this post has been so prolonged in coming to the web. We got a computer that was new to us, and we’ve had some slight problems and technicalities with it. I had written over ½ of this blog post on it when it totally crashed and I haven’t been able to fix it yet to get anything off of it. (Slight disappointment) SO I was feeling extremely discouraged, upset, and not in any mood to blog. BUT now that you know my excuses let’s head to the MARKET! <br />
<br />
It was very important for us to go the market one of the first days we were in India, because we need to get ready for the wedding! We needed to get our material for our sari’s so that our tops and under skirts could be “stitched”. I’m getting ahead of myself though, before we head out there are a few things you should know about shopping in India. <br />
#1: NEVER pay the price the person is asking for. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G82rtvDtkgE/TbmGr8sq5GI/AAAAAAAABFg/_RWNJzqfdNs/s1600/208559_10150259497307222_534842221_9448593_3051604_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G82rtvDtkgE/TbmGr8sq5GI/AAAAAAAABFg/_RWNJzqfdNs/s320/208559_10150259497307222_534842221_9448593_3051604_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't he charming?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bartering is just a way of life in India, and in most of the foreign countries I have visited. But what I found most interesting in India was how young they ingrain bartering in the children. Ryan is four and he is the nephew of the family we spent most of our time with. He is extremely charming and is going to an English Christian school where they are teaching him to memorize certain passages of the Bible. His parents wanted him to quote psalms 23 for us. He didn’t really want to so there was some bribery involved; they told him he could have a chocolate if he said the verse. Satisfied, Ryan starts the chapter. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me…” he stops mid sentence holds up two fingers and says, “TWO chocolates!” It was from this moment on that I realized how young the Indians learn to barter!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7296.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Angelina, Emily and Rosie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>#2 in most situations you should have an Indian with you so that you don’t get ripped off. Often if the sellers saw a white person the price would double and sometimes even triple. And EVEN if you got the price to come down you still were paying much more than you should have. In our case, Angelina, will be our amazing tour guide, and constant barterer. I have NEVER seen anyone be able to haggle a price down like she did. More stories of this to come!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/_MG_7469-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/_MG_7469-1-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/CIMG4249-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/CIMG4249-1.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> The bangle shop will be our first stop. Make sure you watch out for the trash, and those power lines that are just laying everywhere!</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/P3267515-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/P3267515-1.jpg" width="243" /></a> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> Under the canopy of the bangle tent we start looking at the multitude of colors and designs of bangles. From what I heard, traditionally bangles were only worn by married women, but it’s not as common now, anyone can wear them. In India the women LOVE their bangles. I was talking to Angelina, our chatter box and constant shopping guide, about bangles and I asked her if she wears them to bed. She said, “YES… I like to hear them jingle when I roll over at night!” We needed to find bangles that matched the material we had picked out… so we found them and now let the bartering begin. The first price they are asking for is 1500 rupees which is 33 dollars.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YYVm29tWpTk/TbmI6y7hloI/AAAAAAAABFk/SB3-aiMFiWQ/s1600/215626_1988995769747_1388910031_32285045_1492065_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YYVm29tWpTk/TbmI6y7hloI/AAAAAAAABFk/SB3-aiMFiWQ/s320/215626_1988995769747_1388910031_32285045_1492065_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken by: Emily Walters</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> Angelina thought that that was an outrageous price and she starts talking a mix of fast English and Hindi all at once. Meanwhile we all just stand and watch her pretending like we know what’s going on until we see her shake her head from side to side (the equivalent of nodding) and hear her say, “TK”. She turns and tells us the final price, “500 rupees (about 11 dollars) for two full sets of bangles”. Now I don’t know about you all but I’m amazed at this girl’s skills… over the course of 5 minutes she managed to pay a THRID of the original price! From now on we're not going shopping without Angelina again! </div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What’s that? Did one of you say you’re thirsty? Well you’re in luck; right next to our bangle shop is a man making chai!<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6828-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6828-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6830-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6830-1.jpg" width="310" /></a>He has a gas burner and he’s making chai for whoever would like to pay 30 rupees (less than a dollar). The liquid boils up, he takes the pot swirls the chai so it almost sloshes over the edge and then sets it back down on the flame so it boils up again and he repeats the process. When he’s pleased with the caramel color he strains the tea into plastic cups and serves you your chai.<br />
Please don’t be too anxious to drink the chai because it’s VERY hot, and I almost always burn my mouth! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/P3247507-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/P3247507-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Let’s walk on and enjoy the sights, smells, and people. I’m sure you’ve noticed there are a lot of cars, motorcycles and people everywhere and there’s NEVER a silent moment. Horns are always honking and letting you know when you’re in their way. All around you there are tables full of fruits and veggies.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7275.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily and our shopper, Angelina. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Over there are some coconuts, yes the green round things are really coconuts! They are the type that they slice open, stick a straw in and you drink the milk. I don’t really enjoy it but everyone here says it’s good for your stomach if it’s upset. They also have other coconuts too but the green ones seem to be much more common. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7280-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7280-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7281-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7281-1.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This face should have been a clue!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Angelina has gotten ahead of us and has <br />
joined a crowd of people standing around this street vender, holding paper bowls and eating something that the man seems to be making for them. In her cheerful voice she tells us that we HAVE to try <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panipuri">Panipuris</a>, they’re Max’s favorite and he can eat FIFTY of them! Emily and I decided to be brave and we step up in the circle and join the hungry crowd. I hold my bowl and the man puts this small fried bowl (the size of the mini cream puffs) in my bowl. He places a few cubes of fried egg, adds a red sauce and some cool broth into the fried bowl. Joseph, the man shopping with us, has already gobbled one down so we ask him, “Is it good?” He smiles and says, “yeah kind of”. Well that seemed safe enough so Emily and I decide to dive into the water together, you see because the liquid you have to pop the whole thing into your mouth at once.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7283-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7283-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Into our mouths the concoction goes and I chomp down. There’s NO way possible to prepare yourself for what was next to come. Water gushes out, filling my mouth, the fried dough turns into crumbles and my cheeks are filled with swirling textures. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do swallow it all or a little bit a time? In the delay of swallowing my gag reflexes kick in, and I almost lose it all. I quickly gain composer and just take 1 huge gulp.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_dVdSYXbpM/TbmaOTW_rNI/AAAAAAAABFo/4mo0CGIbwv8/s1600/3407573003_d44faa8933_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_dVdSYXbpM/TbmaOTW_rNI/AAAAAAAABFo/4mo0CGIbwv8/s320/3407573003_d44faa8933_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo borrowed from http://myrecipeflavors.blogspot.com/2009/03/pani-puri.html</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You all are cheering and laughing and Emily declares that she “was fine until Erin gagged”. Before we realize it the vender man is filling our plate with bite two. The textures were too much for me, I drained the broth almost completely out and ate the snack that way, but after two I’m finished and ready to move on to our next adventure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6827-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6827-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6824-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6824-1.jpg" width="320" /></a> I still feel a little hungry so we find another vender selling something like deep fried grilled cheese with a relish inside. This is MUCH better and I enjoy a whole serving of this! <br />
<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6826-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6826-1.jpg" width="244" /></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/CIMG4242-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/CIMG4242-1.jpg" width="244" /></a></div> In this market you can find anything you need or want. One shop is selling small tea cups, plates, and serving dishes. Another vender is selling white material and next to him are the men dying scarves whatever color you need. Men are sitting on low stools putting mehndi on hands and feet for about 200 rupees (4 dollars) and others with little carts selling soda. Something I find very interesting is all the men sitting next to sewing machines altering or sewing new designs. I had to laugh and think about some of the guys at home sitting down to a sewing machine. They think varnishing is “women’s work”, I can’t imagine what they would do if they had to alter or mend their own clothes. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7284-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/CIMG4494-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/CIMG4494-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7271-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7271-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_7284-1.jpg" width="232" /><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Most of the streets are just repeats of other streets we’ve been down, but it’s fun to see the people, smile at the children, and just experience it all!I can’t help but wonder what it would be like living here… day in and day out, until you know all the venders, and they no longer see the color of our skin. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_8358-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/IMG_8358-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6760-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6751-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6751-1.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>Let’s hop on a rickshaw and ride home. Rickshaws are bikes in the front and a cart with two wheels on the back. Most times you can fit three people on and the driver will peddle you where ever you’d like to go. A good price from the market is about 30 rupees (less than 1 dollar). I hope you don’t mind the bumping of the uneven streets or the panic of being in the middle of the intersection surrounded by honking horns. Rickshaws are a fun, and cool way to get around and they let you see all the sights of India!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6760-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6760-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/114_6820.jpg" width="320" /> </a><br />
What are some memories of adventures this has brought back to you? Have you even been to India before? I know there are a lot of people who read this blog and I'd LOVE to hear some of your adventures! Don't be shy, I'm waiting to hear from you! </div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-80074894318016818832011-04-12T15:01:00.002-04:002011-04-12T15:02:30.497-04:00India, the land of Color<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZ3TugMVjvI/TaSVlDUAdJI/AAAAAAAABFc/yyQs5mGH7_I/s1600/TITLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZ3TugMVjvI/TaSVlDUAdJI/AAAAAAAABFc/yyQs5mGH7_I/s1600/TITLE.jpg" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9KuuGGYQJE/TaSSjzvTkUI/AAAAAAAABFY/xLZQv0_vwr0/s1600/holi6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9KuuGGYQJE/TaSSjzvTkUI/AAAAAAAABFY/xLZQv0_vwr0/s400/holi6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">sorry the pic is blurry it's the only one we have :/</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffW1YRAYiMY/TaSQd5ZkhLI/AAAAAAAABFI/lZnePxyg5E0/s1600/holi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffW1YRAYiMY/TaSQd5ZkhLI/AAAAAAAABFI/lZnePxyg5E0/s400/holi2.jpg" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken by Emily</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm back again for day number 2 of our trip! On Saturday night the family told us that we would be going to church Sunday evening after Holi Festival was over. It was too dangerous to be caught anywhere in the city during the midst of the celebration. People flooded the streets in a city wide water/color fight. There was colored flour that would float down from balconies after a flood of water. We enjoyed watching all the festivities from the safety of our balcony! The neighbors loved posing for pictures and at one point they called Emily down and PROMISED they wouldn't put color on her. They greeted her and gave her the special drink that they drink on this day. And even though they didn't COVER her in color they did put some on her forehead. At one point when we were standing on the balcony a group of guys gathered in the ally and we quickly asked, "what are they doing?". It looked as though they had firecrackers and they were going to set them off. WELL to our surprise it wasn't firecrackers. They were tubes filled with colored smoke and when they were lit colored smoke went every where! Floating down the ally and up past the balcony into the, already polluted, New Delhi sky. It smelled the same way sparklers smell on the Fourth Of July. This celebration represents India's colors to me. The flowers in all the parks, the colorful scarves and saris of the women blowing in the breeze, and the colorful characters of the people I have grown to love.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_NhCEGMysAY/TaSRkB32VqI/AAAAAAAABFQ/Uu2UXy6Xo1w/s1600/holi4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_NhCEGMysAY/TaSRkB32VqI/AAAAAAAABFQ/Uu2UXy6Xo1w/s400/holi4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken by Emily</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Asa was still full of questions on day # 2 and at this point the family had given him the nickname, Question Mark. It's good to ask questions though.... sometimes you are able to find out interesting facts. In the case of Holi I really felt like none of our questions were answered. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qeSf_OB6g4I/TaSQ--4dujI/AAAAAAAABFM/oJVbqNRZvsE/s1600/Holi3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qeSf_OB6g4I/TaSQ--4dujI/AAAAAAAABFM/oJVbqNRZvsE/s400/Holi3.jpg" width="296" /></a>We asked a number of different people what they were celebrating and we seemed to get different answers every time. The lady who owned the hotel we were staying in told us that they were celebrating all the differences around them and how on this one day everyone could come together and be friends. Another person said they were remembering this woman who needed to burn her dead son, but the people who kept the fire wouldn't let her have a flame. She decided to steal some of the fire and in the process she caught her skirt on fire and died with her son. AND yet another person said they were sacrificing to the god of destruction. SO in the end of the day we still didn't know what the country was celebrating or worshiping on that day. All the celebrating something no one seemed 100% sure of really got me thinking just now. I'm wondering if there are things we celebrate that have been passed down generation upon generation, but the true reason of the celebration has somehow been lost in the passing of time. Easter is right around the corner, stores all filled with candy bunnies and Easter grass all ready for baskets. We dye eggs and tell our children that the Easter bunny will be coming... BUT I wonder how many Americans, if asked, would know the reason for the actual celebration of Easter. Do you know? Just some food for thought....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UJBka8zNjMM/TaSSE6lYzhI/AAAAAAAABFU/M9ENO7NF8m8/s1600/holi5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UJBka8zNjMM/TaSSE6lYzhI/AAAAAAAABFU/M9ENO7NF8m8/s640/holi5.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken by Emily</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-8153929822888735482011-04-11T21:50:00.001-04:002011-04-12T07:59:49.062-04:00India, the land of Chai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YtT0RAEoSoQ/TaOpd414tZI/AAAAAAAABFA/uxBahM1aKtk/s1600/india.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YtT0RAEoSoQ/TaOpd414tZI/AAAAAAAABFA/uxBahM1aKtk/s400/india.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Hey All! I have been there, back again and now I'm finally sitting down to write. Today is beautiful here in Guilford, the sun is kind of shining and it's 70 degrees! THIS is the weather I was hoping for when I came back from India! Honestly, I've wanted to blog, but I've had some computer problems and I just haven't known what to say. I still don't know how to put into words all that I saw, felt and experienced over there. There were times when I thought I had stepped back centuries into another time period, then someone would walk past me on their cell phone and I would be reminded that I was still in 2011!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TT4QJNOsRAs/TaNsTa-Sr8I/AAAAAAAABEg/tK6eZquWWxw/s1600/ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TT4QJNOsRAs/TaNsTa-Sr8I/AAAAAAAABEg/tK6eZquWWxw/s400/ready.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken by Emily</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I think that for the next few weeks I'll be writing different posts about my time over in India. That way you don't have to sit at the computer reading one HUGE post, you can simply sit down and read it as if it was happening day by day! :) Blogging would have been possible over there, but I really wanted to soak up the experiences while we were there! <br />
<br />
<b>The Flight:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2vF7f77ojfo/TaOZ2R7dJGI/AAAAAAAABE0/n1jJK9OSSk8/s1600/coke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2vF7f77ojfo/TaOZ2R7dJGI/AAAAAAAABE0/n1jJK9OSSk8/s320/coke.jpg" width="240" /></a>The flight was very interesting. Our first flight was from JFK to London. It was a very empty flight, which was wonderful. Asa, Emily, and I all had a row of 5 seats that we stretched out on and attempted to sleep most of the night. Our second stop was in Bahrain. This was the place that caused us most stress before the trip, people were calling us making sure it was safe for us to go and I was really worried. We got through Bahrain safely though it was very oppressive. Emily and I felt naked compared to the women who were COMPLETELY covered there. Another bit of culture shock was when the Prayer time came and their prayers were broadcasted over the loud speakers. It just felt erie to me, and not understanding what they were praying was just a completely different experience.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tE6v21J9QYk/TaOUu3eNoTI/AAAAAAAABEo/1sYT0lIpOzg/s1600/bahrain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tE6v21J9QYk/TaOUu3eNoTI/AAAAAAAABEo/1sYT0lIpOzg/s400/bahrain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken by Emily</td></tr>
</tbody></table> The total duration of the flight was around 23 hours. However because the time changes we actually lost time and got to India 1 and 1/2 days after we had left JFK. We arrived in India at 7:30 am and promptly went through customs, got our baggage, and headed outside to wait for our ride. We weren't very tired, just extremely happy to be at our destination.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ljEadF__uw/TaOZzz4jKNI/AAAAAAAABEw/5947CrcGOjk/s1600/taxi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ljEadF__uw/TaOZzz4jKNI/AAAAAAAABEw/5947CrcGOjk/s320/taxi.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken by Emily</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ClCyq6Ra5Bw/TaOZFi4l7JI/AAAAAAAABEs/6pwbnHLwVCE/s1600/luggage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ClCyq6Ra5Bw/TaOZFi4l7JI/AAAAAAAABEs/6pwbnHLwVCE/s320/luggage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken by Emily</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
We had our first welcome to India in the airpot. While waiting for Conrad and his future brother inlaw we girls sat on the bench and Asa was wandering around. Pretty soon we noticed a sheik openly staring at us. He was dressed in all white and popping out of his pocket was a very large knife which was, no doubt, sharp and dangerous. His gaze lingered for about 15 minutes until Asa's protective side kicked into gear. Asa stood a little taller, stuck out his chest a little further, and promptly placed himself between the sheik's gaze and Emily and me. WELL the match was on, it was clear that this sheik was not going to let some white boy spoil his view so he moved to a new spot and started his staring once again. Asa quickly stepped up to the plate and intercepted the stare with a look that could kill. The dance between the two went on for a while until the family of the man had gathered and were ready to leave. Meanwhile Emily and I were having FITS that this man was going to get upset and do something serious, as you can imagine our gaze was fixed on the knife in his pocket! :)<br />
<br />
The first thing we learned while we were there is how important it is to serve their guests and make them feel as comfortable as possible. The second lesson, Chai is a STAPLE! When you go into a house or even into some stores the first thing that is offered to you is chai. If you decided that you wanted Chai they would scurry off to the kitchen, boil up chai and be back with a tray full of little tea cups to serve you the steaming beverage. The hospitality our dear friends showed us was beyond ANYTHING I have every experienced. You would hardly be in the door and they would ask if you wanted chai or if you were hungry?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VmmExyxL0Gk/TaOkptb1waI/AAAAAAAABE4/WUa0tLpaPCg/s1600/chai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VmmExyxL0Gk/TaOkptb1waI/AAAAAAAABE4/WUa0tLpaPCg/s640/chai.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken by Emily edited by me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Chai was the ONE thing that I actually learned how to make and that can actually make just about as good as my dear Indian Family!!! If you find some loose tea you should definitley try the recipe out! Since I've been home coffee hasn't tasted good to me, but I still love a good cup of Chai!<br />
<br />
One Cup Recipe of Chai:<br />
1/2 cup water<br />
1/2 cup milk<br />
1 TBS sugar<br />
1TBS loose black tea<br />
<br />
Heat water and sugar until boiling and then add the milk and tea. Boil all together until creamy color, strain and ENJOY! (this recipe is for a LARGE cup of chai) <br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yIIEvIIYchQ/TaOoaYYBWTI/AAAAAAAABE8/vggA8Kk2kSA/s1600/jetlag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yIIEvIIYchQ/TaOoaYYBWTI/AAAAAAAABE8/vggA8Kk2kSA/s400/jetlag.jpg" width="400" /></a>The rest of the first day was spent trying to get adjusted to India time. As you can see when Asa wasn't asking a MILLION questions he was catching up on some much needed sleep!<br />
<br />
Tomorrow I will fill you in on The Festival of the colors, also know as Holi. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-54222114016498411462011-02-25T23:58:00.055-05:002011-02-26T00:50:39.642-05:00Best Friends and cousins<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/20091010_Marks_ErinsWedding_098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/20091010_Marks_ErinsWedding_098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/593.jpg" width="296" /></a>Before we were friends we were enemies. My cousin, Sarah and I use to fight after spending more than one day together. Our older brothers thought it was funny, they thought we were just playing but we weren't. I remember one distinct time we were in the barn going at each other, pulling hair, biting and all the works. Our two older brothers were there cheering and clapping. As the years went by things got a little better. By the time we were in our lower teens we could bear each others presence for two to three days. Then after that, in my mind it, became a competition of who was better what I could do to make her look bad and make people like me more than her. There was and still is something about Sarah, that everyone loves.<br />
<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/040.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a> Kids are naturally drawn to her and adults can quickly be caught up in talking to her about anything.<br />
<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/sari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/sari.jpg" width="272" /></a>During the middle teens and upper teens we became best friends. Sarah came down with cancer when she was 13 going on 14. It was a crazy time in life, for the next few years she battled cancer, I wrote her letters and constantly prayed that God would heal my best friend. After watching her go through many trials, loosing her hair, being sick, spending long amounts of time in the hospital, her time with cancer was over and I saw a beautifully strong girl with an amazing sense of humor emerged from the struggles! Her faith was stronger than ever and she was such an example of faith. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/611.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Throughout high school we talked about traveling together and after I graduated we wanted to go to Honduras together, but I had just gone to Peru and so she went without me. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/263.jpg" width="248" /></a>We didn't give up hopes though a few summers later we went on our first adventure together. WE went to Peru, South America. We spent most of our time in Lima, Peru, where we helped out at a Christian school and stayed with friends. We enjoyed walking around Lima and seeing all there was to see. We also spent one weekend traveling to Cusco, Peru were we got to see Machu Picchu and explore Cusco. She was very patient with me when I got sick in Cusco, due to food poisoning! We felt like such great adventurers!!! The most memorable thing about Peru was getting the chance to eat guinea pig. Not something we'd want to try again but it was worth the experience.<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/475.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4502.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />
The next summer we didn't know if we'd be able to travel, but I was drawing closer to getting engaged and married so we decided it might be our last chance for a little while. Thirty days before we wanted to leave we bought tickets to Guatemala and signed up for two weeks of Spanish school in Antigua, Guatemala. This was a bigger adventure, because in Peru we knew people but in Guatemala we were going out all on our own!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4658.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4717.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>In Antigua we learned Spanish, hiked a active volcano, and visited a little lake set in the midst of towering mountains. We fell in love with Antigua and picked out the houses we would live in, if we ever moved there. We also found a home that nursed malnourished children back to health. We sat and held the babies and fed them milk, from a spoon, ever couple hours!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4530.jpg" width="246" /></a><br />
<br />
Our time passed quickly and the night we arrived home I got engaged! She knew it was going to happen and didn't tell me!!!! She was there on the beach when Asa asked me to be his wife. Through the next six weeks Sarah was a VERY supportive bridesmaid and even though she was busy in college she made time to be at my bridal shower and my<br />
wedding<br />
<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/423.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/462.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/7229_103995419611827_100000041097819_110940_2773589_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/7229_103995419611827_100000041097819_110940_2773589_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Together down life's road we walk... and all the while, I talk!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could go on and on of stories, adventures and times together but I'll leave those for another time. Although Sarah and I no longer fight, I'm still jealous of her. I'm jealous of her zeal and commitment to God and the adventures she still has to go on. Sarah has now graduated and started out on an adventure without me. She is now in Cambodia teaching school for the rest of the semester. I wanted to write this blog post because she has been my best friend, through the years, AND I want <b>YOU</b> to check out her blog, <a href="http://sarah-teachingadventures.blogspot.com/">Sarah's Adventures</a>, and follow her journey! She's always had an amazing way with words and I know you will be caught up in her adventures as I have! Someday we'll travel together again and I'm so proud of her grit and spirit in all that she goes through!</div><a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/IMG_1044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/IMG_1044.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Do you have someone who you went from enemies to best friends over the years? Since I'm being all cheesy I'd love you to join me, tell me about your special friends!<br />
<a href="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/Blog%20sarah/102_4820.jpg" width="248" /></a>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-15247659568606337752011-02-15T22:46:00.000-05:002011-02-15T22:46:07.327-05:00Peru... Five years ago<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LY49KFc9rZs/TVtECPPtykI/AAAAAAAABC4/RKv7Ncq0RXw/s1600/113_8795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LY49KFc9rZs/TVtECPPtykI/AAAAAAAABC4/RKv7Ncq0RXw/s400/113_8795.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had this blog post in my head. All about valentines day, and making sushi with my husband. It was a fun day but tonight when I was on the phone with my mom I got another idea... SOOO guess what, you're not going to hear about Sushi, yet. :) </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eC676RwLHnQ/TVsq3vWdJfI/AAAAAAAABCI/HUGmy-j7UKg/s1600/Micahs+pics-+Feb+2006%252C+Peru+212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eC676RwLHnQ/TVsq3vWdJfI/AAAAAAAABCI/HUGmy-j7UKg/s320/Micahs+pics-+Feb+2006%252C+Peru+212.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Five years ago, this month, my family and I went on an adventure to Peru. WE had very close friends down there, and we decided that it would be a good experience for us. I went with mixed emotions, I was extremely excited to be traveling to a new country and yet, I was leaving behind my boyfriend and missing his first birthday, as a couple and, more importantly, our first valentines day. However looking back I don't regret a single moment of that month spent with my family. We made some awesome memories and traveling outside of my comfort zone opened my eyes to a whole new world. </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFoqwYTjds8/TVsrjX-Fw6I/AAAAAAAABCY/r-Hpi8QUPG8/s1600/Em%2527s%252C+Dan%2527s%252C+Micah%2527s%252C+pics-+Feb+2006%252C+Peru+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFoqwYTjds8/TVsrjX-Fw6I/AAAAAAAABCY/r-Hpi8QUPG8/s320/Em%2527s%252C+Dan%2527s%252C+Micah%2527s%252C+pics-+Feb+2006%252C+Peru+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RiSThwuFxPo/TVsrZwAerZI/AAAAAAAABCU/EEyOl4sfP_8/s1600/Em%2527s+pics-+Feb+2006%252C+Peru+148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RiSThwuFxPo/TVsrZwAerZI/AAAAAAAABCU/EEyOl4sfP_8/s320/Em%2527s+pics-+Feb+2006%252C+Peru+148.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qp3YMcF6tnA/TVssy25-TCI/AAAAAAAABCs/mfITAwjxh0s/s1600/pics+from+kelly+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qp3YMcF6tnA/TVssy25-TCI/AAAAAAAABCs/mfITAwjxh0s/s400/pics+from+kelly+003.jpg" width="300" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> WE arrived in Lima Peru and somehow managed to get to the bus station and in the right area, without knowing any Spanish. (this was before I had taken ANY spanish at all so we were CLUELESS) We were meeting our friends in Arequipa but up until that point we were on our own. My dad was great at playing the language barrier game and we were all relieved when we we were on the bus and on our way</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arequipa was a busy city and we enjoyed exploring it for a few days, however the real adventure was just around the corner. We got on another bus ride, which deserves a whole blog post to itself, and made our way back to a quant little town, in the mountains, called Velille. </span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_9CtgAih70E/TVssrfpQwzI/AAAAAAAABCo/6QYQy_j7mRI/s1600/Micahs+pics-+Feb+2006%252C+Peru+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_9CtgAih70E/TVssrfpQwzI/AAAAAAAABCo/6QYQy_j7mRI/s640/Micahs+pics-+Feb+2006%252C+Peru+056.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BwxMyxMtF6Q/TVsrDkTIBEI/AAAAAAAABCM/ONOG0IxcuQQ/s1600/000_0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BwxMyxMtF6Q/TVsrDkTIBEI/AAAAAAAABCM/ONOG0IxcuQQ/s400/000_0090.jpg" width="400" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is where we spent a couple weeks and I was amazed at the culture and the food! In the market they had these venders that sold cheese, From what I can remember the cheese was the highlight of this town, it was what they were known for. They also had alpaca on a stick that you could walk to the market and buy on Sundays and some other days of the week. All these foods were amazing, and though my father thought my sister and I were crazy for eating it, I would eat all the food again in a heartbeat! </span><br />
<div><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5y7ccsm2mXM/TVsrSO4ADQI/AAAAAAAABCQ/DDzTuwWCqqQ/s1600/000_0098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5y7ccsm2mXM/TVsrSO4ADQI/AAAAAAAABCQ/DDzTuwWCqqQ/s400/000_0098.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BLOcmH9H8JQ/TVssHgeGQlI/AAAAAAAABCk/IzRMQfPL0Vg/s1600/Em%2527s%252C+Dan%2527s%252C+Micah%2527s%252C+pics-+Feb+2006%252C+Peru+217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BLOcmH9H8JQ/TVssHgeGQlI/AAAAAAAABCk/IzRMQfPL0Vg/s320/Em%2527s%252C+Dan%2527s%252C+Micah%2527s%252C+pics-+Feb+2006%252C+Peru+217.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The thing that took my mind back to that village, tonight however, was their yogurt. Emily, Jenny, Julie and I would walk through the streets and into the market building to where the ladies would sit, selling their yogurt. The would put it in little plastic bags for us and we'd rip open the one corner and start drinking away! It was so natural tasting and nothing like I had ever had before. Here in the states most of the yogurt we buy is thick, however this yogurt was not thick at all. It was the consistency of thick milk, but not solid, it was runny</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HLt9KXjT-R4/TVtENaYNNAI/AAAAAAAABC8/YN7N8kmRNlY/s1600/113_8807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HLt9KXjT-R4/TVtENaYNNAI/AAAAAAAABC8/YN7N8kmRNlY/s400/113_8807.JPG" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So tonight I 'll drink my fresh homemade yogurt from a bag, and remember all the great experiences of Peru! </span></span></span></div></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sCGS55Oiwxc/TVss7ePZfXI/AAAAAAAABCw/KLa6MvFHiYA/s1600/pics+from+kelly+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sCGS55Oiwxc/TVss7ePZfXI/AAAAAAAABCw/KLa6MvFHiYA/s320/pics+from+kelly+013.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Buying Milk from the local lady</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where are some places you've traveled, with food you have never experienced before? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-48317505743274073162011-01-26T14:56:00.000-05:002011-02-11T08:46:44.322-05:00Taffy Time!!!<div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Most people think of the county or state fairs when they think taffy. Those big machines they have inside the booths pulling various colors of taffy. Sweet scents drift out over the crowd and are mixed with the smell of frying food and popcorn. However, when I think of pulling taffy I think of those wonderful moments when my neighbor taught us how to pull our own taffy.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=taffyedit3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="320" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/taffyedit3.jpg" width="310" /></b></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>For DAYS afterwards we’d get our Laura Ingles Wilder books out and find where she fed the pigs taffy and read, laugh and talk about how much fun pulling taffy was.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>There were a few things that stood out clearly to me from the instructions Sarah Ann gave us. She would always tell us we’re holding too much taffy in our hands and not letting it slip through our fingers. I also distinctly remember the joy of discovering the “z” formation the taffy made as you pulled it with your taffy</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=taffyedit1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/taffyedit1.jpg" width="400" /></b></span></a></div><div align="center"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=taffyedit2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/taffyedit2.jpg" width="264" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I loved getting my hands in food, even back then ;)</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=7c7dd384.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/7c7dd384.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Around the first of the year we were down in NYC visiting my in-laws and we decided that we’d try pulling taffy. It was my sister’s and my first experience branching out and making the taffy on our own. We called Sarah Ann and got the recipe from her and then we set to work making our mixture.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>We watched as it boiled and boiled. WE smelled it making sure it had that interesting smell that we still remembered, even after all the years. Taffy is very sensitive, you need to get it at the right temperature and then send it outside to cool.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>If you cook it a slight degree hotter for too long it could be disastrous. We tested it in the water and we also had a candy thermometer and it seemed fine… but it needed a little longerWELL somehow in the process of a “little longer” we cooked it a little hotter than we expected. I was not worried though, I thought we had everything under control. ;)</b></span><br />
<a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8728.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8728.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a> <a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8731.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="768" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8731.jpg" style="height: 228px; width: 295px;" width="415" /></b></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8734.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8734.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a><a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8733.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8733.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>There were almost 20 people there that were going to want a turn at pulling taffy so we decided to make another batch. No one wanted to miss out on the pulling part and so after the first batch had cooled and they started pulling I got started on the second batch. Some people were asking me if I had left the other taffy outside too long because it was VERY solid and inflexibleI assured them it was fine, and that they just needed to get pulling it. Let’s just say, I was wrong, it wasn't ok. Some of the girls pulling the taffy were dragging each other across the floor because it was so tough. I was glad that I had started the second batch.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I decided that the problem with the first batch was, #1 we had boiled it WAY too long and #2 I had left it outside a tad too long. The biggest issue was that it was boiled to such a high temperature that we were actually make hard candy instead of soft taffy.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8751.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="480" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8751.jpg" width="640" /></b></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Surprisingly everyone liked the harder batch better, they thought it had more flavor!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The second batch was much more successful. I made sure that I was boiling it at a little lower temperature than the first batch. WE set it outside and watched it continually. Everyone buttered their hands; we divided the taffy into half and got pulling.</b></span><br />
<a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8736.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8736.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8735.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="658" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8735.jpg" style="height: 267px; width: 333px;" width="434" /></b></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Everyone caught on really well and I found that I was saying the same things my teacher, Sarah Ann, had. “Don’t let the taffy clump at your fingers; you have to let it flow through them.” “You don’t need a lot of butter; the taffy will stick to itself.” Everything went really well and we even moved outside to pull the last bit because it was colder and better for finishing the taffy off.</b></span><br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8740.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="300" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8740.jpg" width="400" /></b></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Emily and I pulled for a while after everyone else was done.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8749.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8749.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<div align="left"><a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=taffyedit4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="224" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/taffyedit4.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>(sorry about the blurry pic it's the only one I have of me pulling the taffyI have always enjoyed pulling taffy however I’m a little more patient about waiting for my turn than I use to be:</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Our second batch had a bit of failure towards the end. My husband went out to finish forming the strands and he put too much butter on his hands. Our perfect taffy went to strings and they had to keep pulling it some more. However, it changed the consistency of the taffy. Even though we had some problems the most important part to me is getting together with a group of people and trying something new! WE enjoyed teaching them how to pull taffy and it will definitely be an experience we try again, not only because it is fun but also because of all the memories it holds.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8756.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="200" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8756.jpg" width="150" /></b></span></a> <a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8753.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="200" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8753.jpg" width="150" /></b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8752.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="200" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8752.jpg" width="150" /></a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Taffy Recipe:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2 lbs. of sugar</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1 pint cream</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1 pint Karo</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>a little parafin (optional, I didn't use this)</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Boil together till nearly 240 degrees, or between soft and hard ball,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>then add 1 T. unflavored gelatin dissolved in 1/4 cup cold water. Make sure you do this RIGHT before you are ready to use... otherwise it thickens before you pour it into the mixture.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Continue boiling and check temp.once the temperature is between 240 and 242 degrees place it on WELL greased cookie sheets and place in a cold place to cool. After taffy is cool enough to hand you can start pulling the taffy with moderately buttered hands. (my father in law has a video that I will upload ... someday) Make sure you don't let the taffy cool too long. after the taffy has turn to a white color and is no longer sticky you can form it into the right shape and wrap.</b></span>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-12979653383760712732011-01-25T08:49:00.000-05:002011-01-27T17:02:46.938-05:00<a href="http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/?action=view&current=113_8731.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 599px; HEIGHT: 512px" border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc417/EEK09/113_8731.jpg" width="599" height="760" /></a><br /><br />I really am just trying something new out AND also giving you a sneak preview of a fun post still to come!ErinErin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-56478585048279800892011-01-12T08:12:00.000-05:002011-01-12T08:13:38.975-05:00I'm seriously considering opening a new blog.... Maybe using wordpress....Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-48546839231127384792010-12-10T08:41:00.000-05:002010-12-10T10:15:44.388-05:00Christmas Trees<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI65gCHfPI/AAAAAAAABAE/LTJjEz3w2-k/s1600/100_8551.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI65gCHfPI/AAAAAAAABAE/LTJjEz3w2-k/s400/100_8551.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549062450399640818" /></b></span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>There's one thing about Christmas that will always remind me of my Grandparents. Getting the tree. For years while I was growing up they had a Christmas tree farm and when Christmas would come around they would sell Christmas trees to everyone in the towns surrounding ours. People would come from miles away, bundle up and take a wagon ride to the top of the hill to find that perfect tree that would bring cheer to their homes for the holiday. The wagon ride was what everyone looked forward to. Once they would climb into the wagon they'd take their pick on a hay bale and hang on for the journey. Through the snow drifted field, over the bubbling creek, up the slick hill to the top where my Grandpa would drop them off. You all know the next part, the search for the PERFECT tree :) </b></span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI2yasnv_I/AAAAAAAAA_k/rGCYL-xKUdU/s1600/100_8544.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI2yasnv_I/AAAAAAAAA_k/rGCYL-xKUdU/s320/100_8544.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549057930661707762" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Once they found it they'd cut it down, </b></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI2zNHvZfI/AAAAAAAAA_s/PaNsPKnn39E/s1600/100_8546.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI2zNHvZfI/AAAAAAAAA_s/PaNsPKnn39E/s320/100_8546.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549057944197228018" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>with the saws provided from my Gramps, and then they'd drag it down the hill,</b></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI2zubF-SI/AAAAAAAAA_0/1r701L5nMFA/s1600/100_8547.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI2zubF-SI/AAAAAAAAA_0/1r701L5nMFA/s320/100_8547.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549057953136769314" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b> over the walking bridge, through the field back to the house. With rosy cheeks and sparkles in their eyes they would greet and pay my Grandma or the guys working the lot.</b></span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI3xg5ew6I/AAAAAAAAA_8/VUo5Z2U4UV0/s1600/100_8549.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI3xg5ew6I/AAAAAAAAA_8/VUo5Z2U4UV0/s320/100_8549.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549059014658016162" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>
<br /></b></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI3xg5ew6I/AAAAAAAAA_8/VUo5Z2U4UV0/s1600/100_8549.JPG"></a> As my sister and I got older we'd help out on the lot: greeting people, showing them the trees on the lot, taking their money, and baling their trees. I remember being down at Grams during tree season, she'd have her boots and gloves by the wood stove and as soon as someone would come along she'd be there helping them out.</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>
<br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Sadly however, there aren't many more trees on the hill after all these years. My Grandparents head to Florida now in early November and so we brave the field, creek and hill with our Subaru and search for the perfect tree. I know that when people drive by the hill they remember the good days of finding that perfect tree and the memories that my Grandparents helped them create. </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>
<br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>I hold the days with my Grandma close to my heart... not only watching and helping them sell trees, but all the time she's put into teaching me how to quilt,</b></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI2yDkfVsI/AAAAAAAAA_c/ryhTTYlJ-s4/s1600/100_8427.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI2yDkfVsI/AAAAAAAAA_c/ryhTTYlJ-s4/s320/100_8427.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549057924453586626" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b> </b></span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI2xxv5ajI/AAAAAAAAA_U/JFRqQrVV_cQ/s1600/100_8430.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI2xxv5ajI/AAAAAAAAA_U/JFRqQrVV_cQ/s320/100_8430.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549057919669594674" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>crochet pot holders, and helping me make rugs.</b></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI81seZ-iI/AAAAAAAABAc/JqEFGUG0RQg/s1600/100_8558.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQI81seZ-iI/AAAAAAAABAc/JqEFGUG0RQg/s320/100_8558.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549064584043297314" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></b></span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b> Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for all the great memories that you have given us and so many others! <3</b></span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQJECnT00TI/AAAAAAAABAk/jl8A76fdGCA/s1600/37712_477146442221_534842221_6678308_213732_n.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TQJECnT00TI/AAAAAAAABAk/jl8A76fdGCA/s400/37712_477146442221_534842221_6678308_213732_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549072502576435506" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px; " /></a></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-22851100216043644922010-11-29T21:26:00.001-05:002010-12-07T08:02:38.187-05:00The Special DinnerI've been working on this blog for a while. Tonight (2:18 am) Asa's trying to help someone who slid off the road and so I decided to make good use of my time and finish the blog while I'm waiting to go back to bed. WE woke up to a car just spinning out over and over again so He took our ashes down there to help him out.<div><br /></div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div>Ok so I never got around to telling everyone about our exciting adventure in NYC the last time. Asa had done work for this man who had a restaurant in NYC a while ago. While Asa was working for him he put together a lantern and the man paid him for his time. Asa ended up giving him the money back and asked if he could take his wife to Roberto's restaurant.<a href="http://www.roberto089.com/index_r.html">http://www.roberto089.com/index_r.html</a> Roberto thought it was a great idea so we looked forward to the time when we could try out his place.<div><br /></div><div>A couple weeks ago when we went to the city we left here around 5 pm and headed straight for the Bronx. I was totally unprepared for the amazing cuisine that awaited us. We walked into a cozy restaurant, dim lighting, and people chatting. There was only one table that was empty in the entire place and we were ushered to the table. We sat there drinking our water and Asa explained to the waiter that Roberto knew we were coming and that we'd like to say hi. They quickly went and got Roberto. He came out and chatted with Asa, Emily and I for a while. It was pretty funny when he informed Asa that he doesn't look like an "upstater" any more. :) He asked us if there was anything we didn't eat and the proceeded to order our meal . Emily and I just stared in amazing when he just slightly lifted a finger and the waiters were at our side!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not going to remember all the names for the dishes... if Emily would be writing this blog this would know. Somehow she was able to catch all the names, for some reason it was a little harder for me to catch what they were saying at times! The would bring out a dish and then serve each one of us and before leaving our table they would tell us to "enjoy!" :) As soon as we'd finish eating one dish they'd take our plates away, bring out clean plates and comeback with more food. I seriously have NEVER experienced something so amazing! :) Emily and I kept looking at each other giggling and saying, "It's just like in the movies!" I'm not going to lie, I actually felt like royalty! Asa enjoyed seeing us get such a huge kick out of the entire experience!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>This was our first appetizer. It was actually pretty funny because before he ordered he asked if there was any food we didn't eat, my mind instantly went to seafood. I try to be open to the stuff but for some reason it's the one food I don't enjoy eating. However this stuff was MELT IN YOUR MOUTH delicious! It was Shrimp and Scallops with a while creamy sauce.<br /><br /><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TPRoMapcYGI/AAAAAAAAA9I/6cMK4NQZX6A/s320/100_8367.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The next appetizer was smoked mozzarella with olives, roasted red peppers and spinach. I had never had smoked mozzarella before and it was very flavorful. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3dqoBywGI/AAAAAAAAA9w/tMCjE12iKFY/s320/100_8370.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was probably my most favorite dish out of everything that we ate while we were there. It's a in the restaurant made pasta, with a fresh made sauce! The flavor burst the second it hit your taste-buds! The pasta was also swirled so the juices would get trapped down inside! mmmm I could go for a bowl right now!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TPRoMt0PTwI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/PeRlsXMOcZc/s320/100_8371.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This next dish was had a very different and interesting texture. It was risotto with figs and prosciutto. You know when you bite into a fig newton, there's that grainy texture? This dish had that same texture but as a sauce. The most interesting part was that it almost crackled in your mouth, similar to pop rocks. (I know I sound crazy) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TPRoM0t4t2I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/5w7G9pawEnc/s320/100_8373.JPG" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then the main course we each got a plate with veal, tomato and cheese. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TPRoNjfIxfI/AAAAAAAAA9o/PHbhFGjcGaU/s320/100_8377.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The mood lighting was great!!! </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TPRoNNiNjrI/AAAAAAAAA9g/MSJb5nhXgAs/s320/100_8374.JPG" /></div><br />And our desserts! I'll let the picture do the talking:<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3h_7l-qRI/AAAAAAAAA94/QcTa3fI_brU/s1600/100_8378.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3h_7l-qRI/AAAAAAAAA94/QcTa3fI_brU/s320/100_8378.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547838804435314962" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3h_7l-qRI/AAAAAAAAA94/QcTa3fI_brU/s1600/100_8378.JPG"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3iAQcVZpI/AAAAAAAAA-A/WTeJRU_HfUE/s1600/100_8379.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3iAQcVZpI/AAAAAAAAA-A/WTeJRU_HfUE/s320/100_8379.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547838810032006802" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">WE all decided to pick different desserts so that we could taste a few different ones. However after asa got his I was wishing the whole time I would have ordered what he had!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3iAQcVZpI/AAAAAAAAA-A/WTeJRU_HfUE/s1600/100_8379.JPG"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3iAxTs9hI/AAAAAAAAA-I/6YPj3kZnQ1s/s1600/100_8381.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3iAxTs9hI/AAAAAAAAA-I/6YPj3kZnQ1s/s320/100_8381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547838818854172178" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3iBRH7K9I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/Fle_G7gmF-A/s320/100_8382.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Us with Roberto before we left:<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3iBuUVs3I/AAAAAAAAA-Y/XQECf1l6bV8/s1600/100_8388.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3iBuUVs3I/AAAAAAAAA-Y/XQECf1l6bV8/s320/100_8388.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547838835231404914" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TP3iAQcVZpI/AAAAAAAAA-A/WTeJRU_HfUE/s1600/100_8379.JPG"></a><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-6813281501501941242010-11-22T20:26:00.000-05:002010-11-22T20:44:34.056-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">Hey! I just wanted to post some pics of my projects today. I woke up pretty inspired to get things checked off my to-do list! I got two cupboards organized, a pie made,<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOsavBQWObI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/kPGRag4bVls/s400/pieandquilt.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and bread baked.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOscEZV19aI/AAAAAAAAA8g/bmEAyNZN-Gk/s400/breadsm.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The kitchen cleaned... and the only thing left that I really want to do isread my Bible and go to bed! BUT before I do that I want to post a teaser of the wedding we shot this weekend.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOsatq2pMyI/AAAAAAAAA8A/8i0MWSinDCc/s400/jump1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Emily took most of the pictures but I got to be with the guys when the were tying their ties and getting ready. IT was fun... they kept me laughing!</div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-26328114983472201062010-11-17T14:34:00.001-05:002010-11-17T14:51:36.406-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxXXqbkPI/AAAAAAAAA7w/RKiWS-EoEXc/s1600/IMG_6018.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxXXqbkPI/AAAAAAAAA7w/RKiWS-EoEXc/s320/IMG_6018.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540607719131287794" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">Here are some fun pictures from Visiting my Sister-in-law! She just had a baby about a week ago!</span></u></span></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxXXqbkPI/AAAAAAAAA7w/RKiWS-EoEXc/s1600/IMG_6018.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxW5s5mSI/AAAAAAAAA7o/fs_OsvxHoc4/s1600/prouduncle.jpg"><img style="text-align: center;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxW5s5mSI/AAAAAAAAA7o/fs_OsvxHoc4/s320/prouduncle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540607711088580898" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxW5s5mSI/AAAAAAAAA7o/fs_OsvxHoc4/s1600/prouduncle.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxW5s5mSI/AAAAAAAAA7o/fs_OsvxHoc4/s1600/prouduncle.jpg"><br /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxWWxv-xI/AAAAAAAAA7g/c2FfmkaK4zk/s1600/Girlsandcat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxWWxv-xI/AAAAAAAAA7g/c2FfmkaK4zk/s320/Girlsandcat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540607701713681170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxWOR0qOI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/Bhn8el8KxAM/s1600/IMG_6019.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxWOR0qOI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/Bhn8el8KxAM/s320/IMG_6019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540607699432286434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQwpE6-SdI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/JFQ9OvB5CXQ/s1600/sisterlove.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQwpE6-SdI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/JFQ9OvB5CXQ/s320/sisterlove.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540606923826416082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQwo7rh4VI/AAAAAAAAA7I/LblF_HnkDyE/s1600/kisses.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQwo7rh4VI/AAAAAAAAA7I/LblF_HnkDyE/s320/kisses.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540606921345720658" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TOQxX-k44qI/AAAAAAAAA74/rbp2C0rmmYY/s320/sweet.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-16708633975300631262010-11-08T20:24:00.000-05:002010-11-08T22:29:38.488-05:00Life's happenings<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi-wOZqTtI/AAAAAAAAA6g/-IGIPd70Dgw/s1600/100_8255.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi-wOZqTtI/AAAAAAAAA6g/-IGIPd70Dgw/s200/100_8255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537385477560749778" /></a></div>This is my last butterfly for this year. It was fun watching it grow from the VERY VERY little catipiller, into it's J, and then getting to see it transform into it's chrysalis, and then on to a very beautiful butterfly! The process amazes me and causes me to stand in wonder of the one who created these creatures!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi98ZvFgCI/AAAAAAAAA54/ZDIO8pOXcd0/s1600/100_7995.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi98ZvFgCI/AAAAAAAAA54/ZDIO8pOXcd0/s200/100_7995.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537384587250204706" /></a><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi98orD1wI/AAAAAAAAA6A/vLCTJpDVUBA/s200/100_8083.JPG" /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi99O4s0VI/AAAAAAAAA6I/N4d94gChzXs/s200/100_8085.JPG" /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi99pSP1pI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/mTizwPqQQbE/s200/100_8097.JPG" /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi993z5boI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/8-tlLPN8yLo/s200/100_8124.JPG" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>SO yes, I've decided to be exciting and write a blog post! :) A couple weeks ago Asa and I went to my cousin's house to work on some of his porches. We had a really good time and even though it was crazy getting back in time for work EARLY that Saturday morning it was worth it! Here's a really funny shot of my cousin's cat watching the guys work:<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi7BYBVlqI/AAAAAAAAA5o/JEBOOEeGOFQ/s320/100_8276.JPG" /><div><div><br /></div><div>We got back Saturday, I worked, we picked apples andwent to meet some of our friends to press our own apple cider! Our neighbors let us pick applesoff of their trees and from only two trees we got about 8 gallons of cider!<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi7A67HD2I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/kUjghYpkbxM/s320/100_8287.JPG" /> <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi7BBrHOhI/AAAAAAAAA5g/q1zL29el0xc/s320/100_8282.JPG" />Our friends did bring that many apples so we endedup letting them use some of ours. Afterwards they all came back to our house to eat and havea nice time around the camp fire. Unfortunately I just took pictures ofthe pressing cider and nothing else. HOWEVER, I did make AMAZING cakedoughnuts. AND to some of themI added frozen mashed up blueberries and they turned out delicious! (I know, shame on me for not taking pictures!) I really would like to make them again, So I promise I"ll take pictures this next time!</div><div><br /></div><div>We were only home a few days and we were off to NYC. Asa's family needed to clean out some of their garages. Since Asa enjoys collecting other people's unwanted treasures most of the stuff to be cleaned out was his. SO while he cleaned Emily and I got to be city girls. <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNiwXEXCtXI/AAAAAAAAA5I/i37UyCXVe-k/s320/100_8317.JPG" />We met up with some of her friends the first day in the city. <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNi7AfEmg4I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/Z9ee5rKuS7k/s320/100_8329.JPG" /> It was fun but I was itching to find new places and go shopping. On Friday we went to Brighton Beach, a large Russian area. This is SUCH a FUN place to shop! (and no, I don't have pictures from here either) Emily and I just spent time walking in and out of the unique little shops! We bought Halvah for Asa. If you haven't every tried halvah I highly recommend it. I'd love to describe it to you, but honestly I have a hard time doing that. The first time I had it I didn't like it at all because it didn't taste like I expected it to. It has a rough/pasty texture and it slightly sweet. I bought a sunflower seed one this time and it hasmore of a nutty flavor. It's a very unique treat! On saturday Emily and I got to finally go shopping. We didn't have much luck on the purse shopping in China town, but we did get to try out a cool little tea shop for lunch. <a href="http://alicesteacup.com/">http://alicesteacup.com/</a> go here and on the top pick "chapter one" and you'll see where we went. It was a very cute place and the scones were AMAZING! I have always had a VERY bad impression of scones. Every single scone I've ever had was dry and flavorless, however, this place changed my mind. The scones here MELT in your mouth! (I'll post pictures soon, they're on Emily's camera) I enjoyed this place so much and I highly recommend it for something fun and delicious to try!</div><div><br /></div><div>TOnight I made homemade maple cream! YUMMMMm it turned out delicious, thanks to Grandma!</div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNiwWINO2pI/AAAAAAAAA44/mNtxY5hgffk/s320/100_8349.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNiwV-rIROI/AAAAAAAAA4w/lY-Vhz810e0/s320/100_8350.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since I've been home I've just been trying to keep busy. It's different now with no gardening, canning, and mowing the lawn. However, there are so many projects <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNiwWlT_MDI/AAAAAAAAA5A/D8izy8rL18s/s320/100_8346.JPG" />I could keep myself busy with. I'm trying to get INSPIRED to be creative with cooking/baking again! Here's a picture of the bottles that I painted</div><div style="text-align: right;"> with the lights finally in them. I think they look like fireflies.I'm thinking about selling them... what do you think?</div><div style="text-align: right;"> <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TNiwVZbUFdI/AAAAAAAAA4o/OrLX8coRm0M/s320/100_8351.JPG" /></div><div>WELLL now that I've caught everyone up on my life maybe next post will be more thoughtful and inspired :D ---Erin</div></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-25424158463290195422010-10-11T20:09:00.000-04:002010-10-11T21:30:13.856-04:00The start of our second year!<div style="text-align: center;">We have now passed the first year mark! Yesterday, 10/10/10 (I just had to get that in) was a wonderful anniversary! WE went to Lancaster County to celebrate over the weekend! I'll let my pictures do the talking!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A nice LONG traffic jam... in PA (what a surprise)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO4Od3n6gI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/qlDbGfxFuMg/s1600/100_8153+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO4Od3n6gI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/qlDbGfxFuMg/s400/100_8153+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526963726389340674" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO4Od3n6gI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/qlDbGfxFuMg/s1600/100_8153+-+Copy.JPG"></a><br /><div style="text-align: right;">Smelling the beautiful flowers my husband had waiting at the place we stayed at!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO20K6ey7I/AAAAAAAAA4I/E1Tjiy1aQM8/s1600/100_8160.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO20K6ey7I/AAAAAAAAA4I/E1Tjiy1aQM8/s400/100_8160.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526962175112825778" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO20K6ey7I/AAAAAAAAA4I/E1Tjiy1aQM8/s1600/100_8160.JPG"></a>The view into the bedroom!<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO2z8EAQ9I/AAAAAAAAA4A/I5aeg70oqeM/s1600/100_8162.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO2z8EAQ9I/AAAAAAAAA4A/I5aeg70oqeM/s400/100_8162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526962171126236114" /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO2zk2FLUI/AAAAAAAAA34/q27I-1shp1I/s1600/100_8163.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO2zk2FLUI/AAAAAAAAA34/q27I-1shp1I/s400/100_8163.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526962164893822274" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: right;">More flowers!</div><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO2zDZ2rgI/AAAAAAAAA3w/gXSPSXw-KdU/s1600/100_8187.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO2zDZ2rgI/AAAAAAAAA3w/gXSPSXw-KdU/s400/100_8187.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526962155917061634" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I took Asa to Sight and Sound for his birthday! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO2yWRqIxI/AAAAAAAAA3o/hP9zb6rfviQ/s1600/100_8190.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO2yWRqIxI/AAAAAAAAA3o/hP9zb6rfviQ/s400/100_8190.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526962143803089682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0LS2DB3I/AAAAAAAAA3g/rNh83oBbyWk/s1600/100_8193.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0LS2DB3I/AAAAAAAAA3g/rNh83oBbyWk/s400/100_8193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526959273843820402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0LPzzOkI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/xdGWPQ6BHRk/s1600/100_8201.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0LPzzOkI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/xdGWPQ6BHRk/s400/100_8201.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526959273029089858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0KwJAnEI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/ipPsruSyxf0/s1600/100_8202.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0KwJAnEI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/ipPsruSyxf0/s400/100_8202.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526959264528112706" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Some Amish people working in the fields</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0KqrE5hI/AAAAAAAAA3I/Wr6jvJ6kFy0/s1600/100_8205.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0KqrE5hI/AAAAAAAAA3I/Wr6jvJ6kFy0/s400/100_8205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526959263060387346" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">SOOOo many horses</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0KZDJwlI/AAAAAAAAA3A/SVA0poJISio/s1600/100_8204.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0KZDJwlI/AAAAAAAAA3A/SVA0poJISio/s400/100_8204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526959258329530962" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLO0KZDJwlI/AAAAAAAAA3A/SVA0poJISio/s1600/100_8204.JPG"></a>The biggest most amazing whoppie pie!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOvuV6xDZI/AAAAAAAAA24/A4ss6UsDAnA/s1600/100_8208.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOvuV6xDZI/AAAAAAAAA24/A4ss6UsDAnA/s400/100_8208.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526954378406202770" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful quilts!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOvt8-T7OI/AAAAAAAAA2w/F1Vz06rmT1E/s1600/100_8213.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOvt8-T7OI/AAAAAAAAA2w/F1Vz06rmT1E/s400/100_8213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526954371710184674" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our Indian meal!</div><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOvtZaAf1I/AAAAAAAAA2o/vOUb1xJg9X0/s1600/100_8216.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOvtZaAf1I/AAAAAAAAA2o/vOUb1xJg9X0/s400/100_8216.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526954362162675538" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My definition of relaxation!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOvs9HJXWI/AAAAAAAAA2g/VsNI5zDXgdg/s1600/100_8227.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOvs9HJXWI/AAAAAAAAA2g/VsNI5zDXgdg/s400/100_8227.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526954354567372130" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: right;">Goodbye to the weekend... heading out with my flowers</div><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOvscfjj_I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/SkWt5b8wJAM/s1600/100_8232.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOvscfjj_I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/SkWt5b8wJAM/s400/100_8232.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526954345811382258" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpeGkipyI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/THvosj9nj6c/s1600/100_8233.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpeGkipyI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/THvosj9nj6c/s400/100_8233.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526947502338778914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpdz86nMI/AAAAAAAAA2I/lks6CBvGaHw/s1600/100_8237.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpdz86nMI/AAAAAAAAA2I/lks6CBvGaHw/s400/100_8237.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526947497340738754" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>WE had a great weekend I loved how relaxed it was. We didn't really have any major plans besides going to the Joseph play. Which is something I HIGHLY recommend to anyone! It was so powerful and amazing! If I could I would go watch it again this weekend!</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpdz86nMI/AAAAAAAAA2I/lks6CBvGaHw/s1600/100_8237.JPG"></a>My project for today! I had bought a box of banana peppers for five dollars at a local market. Asa and I eat a lot of pickled banana peppers so I decided to try to can them myself! I hope they turn out well. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpdbJd8hI/AAAAAAAAA2A/QCcABmv5Q0w/s1600/100_8245.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpdbJd8hI/AAAAAAAAA2A/QCcABmv5Q0w/s400/100_8245.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526947490682499602" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpclh6STI/AAAAAAAAA14/9Q1miasVR_s/s1600/100_8247.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpclh6STI/AAAAAAAAA14/9Q1miasVR_s/s400/100_8247.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526947476289505586" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpcST_tmI/AAAAAAAAA1w/KQEdCLGadVU/s1600/100_8246.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TLOpcST_tmI/AAAAAAAAA1w/KQEdCLGadVU/s400/100_8246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526947471130867298" /></a></div><br /></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-78978136203001471762010-10-04T10:48:00.000-04:002010-10-04T11:27:10.691-04:00\<div><br /></div><div>Well I haven't blogged because honestly I don't feel like I've had much to say. First off I want to post a picture for my fellow blogger of something I drew!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TKnr42onKuI/AAAAAAAAA1o/JG_T9AJ_yS8/s1600/bridge.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TKnr42onKuI/AAAAAAAAA1o/JG_T9AJ_yS8/s400/bridge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524205779917679330" /></a>So what do you think? is it the same bridge? <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok so about my life... We're kind of starting to slow down a little bit. The lawn doesn't need to be mowed as often as it use to, which is a wonderful thing. However we're almost at the end of gardening and so there seems to be a bountiful supply of tomatoes for me to take care of. I canned some and made one batch of salsa. I still have a box of tomatoes in my fridge that I need to take care of but I'm kind of debating as what I should do with them. They're the grape tomatoes and so I'm not sure if I want to take the time to peel the skins off of all of them so that I can either can or make salsa with them. I'm really happy with the salsa recipe that I got from my mom though, it tastes great!</div><div><br /></div><div>I've scrapbooked more since my last post, however, I wasn't able to upload them for some reason... I don't have the flash drive with me today or I would post. I was trying to have a book made for our anniversary of our first year together. It was a nice thought but epic fail! :( I'm still planning on making it but the program that I reallllly want costs a LOT of money so I'm debating as to what I should do! </div><div><br /></div><div>Our Anniversary is this weekend! I can't believe a year has flown by, it has been a very good one! I look forward to the next year and all the adventures it holds! This next weekend we're taking a trip to Lancaster, PA for our anniversary! WE're pretty excited and hoping for a relaxing weekend. </div><div><br /></div><div>My friend <a href="http://www.joeandbetsy.com">www.joeandbetsy.com</a> are taking part in this food contest and the last part they had to do was a fancy dinner party! It looked like so much fun it inspired me to have a nice dinner party. SO we'll see maybe I'll do something creative again soon. I haven't done much this summer since I've been keeping busy with outside work and other things :) </div><div><br /></div><div>Ok well I know this is a pretty boring update but I don't have my camera card here to upload pictures! :) I have some pretty cool caterpillar pictures... COMING SOON! </div><div><br /></div><div>Have a good week everyone! Have you guys been up to anything creative or exciting lately?!!?</div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-60291038906719397782010-08-06T14:19:00.000-04:002010-08-06T14:50:02.451-04:00not muchI made this in honor of my best friend and sister on one of the most important days of my life!<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxYaL5WuXI/AAAAAAAAAyA/1pLDyMQe-wQ/s1600/sisters2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502370051633101170" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxYaL5WuXI/AAAAAAAAAyA/1pLDyMQe-wQ/s400/sisters2.jpg" /></a></p> I haven't done much worthy of blogging! I did go to NYC last weekend, but guess what... I think I might have taken one picture the entire time. It wasn't a sight seeing trip and it seems like normal visits miss out on the camera action. I spent most of Saturday washing windows w/ my mother-in-law and that late Saturday night we went into the city to meet up w/ friends. It wasn't as great as we thought it would be... Someone (clearing throat) wanted to go to Applebees for dinner. I laughed at them, I couldn't belieive they were in NYC and wanted to go to Applebees. But after walking down many authentic streets we came back around to Applesbees so that's where we went, unfortunately. A word of advice don't go NEAR this place in NYC. Asa and I got boneless, buffalo chicken wings, and two drinks and our bill was TWENTY EIGHT dollars! I couldn't believe it! I was already frustrated about eating there and then the bill was so Huge on top of it all! (not a very great trip into the city if you couldn't tell)<br /><br />We got home Sunday night around 10:30 ish and then I started working on Monday. My week has flown by. My boss is gone for two weeks so I'm working for her. I get home make dinner and crash, I literally have no inspiration to do anything. My cucumbers and beans are piling up, that's for sure. However, on Monday I got home and my parents had mowed my entire lawn! It was such a blessing... I have the best neighbors in the world!<br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div>I have been attempting digital scrapbooking :) It's pretty fun... :) --I'm hoping to get our first year scrapbooked before my trial subscription is up :D</div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxUlDoej2I/AAAAAAAAAxQ/o0fxnYuJGew/s1600/journey.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502365840346877794" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxUlDoej2I/AAAAAAAAAxQ/o0fxnYuJGew/s400/journey.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxUlglu3dI/AAAAAAAAAxY/Uc076kc_lZs/s1600/getting+ready.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502365848119991762" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxUlglu3dI/AAAAAAAAAxY/Uc076kc_lZs/s400/getting+ready.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxUmJvj2ZI/AAAAAAAAAxg/d8iqjmhYlnk/s1600/perfect.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502365859167066514" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxUmJvj2ZI/AAAAAAAAAxg/d8iqjmhYlnk/s400/perfect.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxUmupukcI/AAAAAAAAAxo/HFBjVKrIpJA/s1600/fb+one.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502365869074715074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxUmupukcI/AAAAAAAAAxo/HFBjVKrIpJA/s400/fb+one.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxUngOsYAI/AAAAAAAAAxw/Xx7I_n64BwU/s1600/waterfall+xo.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502365882383097858" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxUngOsYAI/AAAAAAAAAxw/Xx7I_n64BwU/s400/waterfall+xo.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxYZojh5TI/AAAAAAAAAx4/TP0tcFs_EYM/s1600/honeymoon+3.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502370042146317618" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TFxYZojh5TI/AAAAAAAAAx4/TP0tcFs_EYM/s400/honeymoon+3.jpg" /></a></p></div></div></div></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-14769695665998711302010-07-23T22:17:00.000-04:002010-07-24T00:22:26.546-04:00The longest post ever :)Hey Everyone! I can't believe how long it's been since I've written. Today I was reading someone's blog and was inspired to write again. Our trip was long but we had a really good time. There were some stretching , there were some moments in which we had to lay down our rights and think of what God would want us to do. Our Bible study lately has been studying the Sermon on the mount. So many times we times we have read this passage however, we don't really think about what we're reading and how we can truely apply it to our lives and live it out. But the moment we start living it out 100 % we start living an abundant live and I think i got a little taste of that on the trip! It was amazing!
<br />
<br />Since we got home from the trip we've been so busy with gardens, lawns, and harvesting our beautiful produce. We also made a quick trip to Buffalo to visit my cousins for my one cousin's graduation party. Asa so kindly let me stay longer and spend time w/ my travel buddy! We hadn't see eachother for 9 months so i'm sure you can imagine we had a lot of catching up to do. It's amazing how with some friends, even after long periods of time, you can still pick up right where you left off!!
<br />
<br />Today I canned pickles, made refridgerator pickles and froze beans. It's soooo rewarding!!!
<br />Following are the past few weeks in pictures, I'm sure there are some that are missing... but I can add them later! :) Enjoy===
<br />
<br />Ready for the long trip of 21 hours one way!
<br />
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpki8j57fI/AAAAAAAAAxI/z1lB2PQlqJc/s1600/File0335.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497316846694166002" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpki8j57fI/AAAAAAAAAxI/z1lB2PQlqJc/s320/File0335.JPG" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />First stop... Indiana... A great Sunday with friends
<br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpkigBUzmI/AAAAAAAAAxA/5mQagLw7C-c/s1600/File0360.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497316839032933986" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpkigBUzmI/AAAAAAAAAxA/5mQagLw7C-c/s320/File0360.JPG" /></a></p>
<br />Traveling hand in hand <3 href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpkiKKIpMI/AAAAAAAAAw4/k6nC16vvhqo/s1600/File0434.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497316833164305602" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpkiKKIpMI/AAAAAAAAAw4/k6nC16vvhqo/s320/File0434.JPG" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpkh9UPmpI/AAAAAAAAAww/UPzBC6o1mBA/s1600/File0453.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497316829717043858" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpkh9UPmpI/AAAAAAAAAww/UPzBC6o1mBA/s320/File0453.JPG" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />Oklahoma -- another state off my list
<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpiU0b5gHI/AAAAAAAAAwo/4E3U9jJAdNs/s1600/File0466.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497314404971675762" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpiU0b5gHI/AAAAAAAAAwo/4E3U9jJAdNs/s320/File0466.JPG" /></a></p><div>
<br />
<br />
<br />SONIC!!!!!!!!! His brother's had never tried Sonic before!
<br />
<br /></div><p align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpiUlVgnSI/AAAAAAAAAwg/VOWfT5ilZCU/s1600/File0532.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497314400918347042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpiUlVgnSI/AAAAAAAAAwg/VOWfT5ilZCU/s320/File0532.JPG" /></a>
<br />
<br />My Sister-in law and her youngest
<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpiUFsGylI/AAAAAAAAAwY/vFckBTNK94U/s1600/File0557.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497314392423189074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpiUFsGylI/AAAAAAAAAwY/vFckBTNK94U/s320/File0557.JPG" /></a></p><div>
<br />I love my husband <3> <p align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpiTzW3WBI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/Zt_SkNkmrMo/s1600/File0559.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497314387502258194" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpiTzW3WBI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/Zt_SkNkmrMo/s320/File0559.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">Family Adventures
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpiTg4ehqI/AAAAAAAAAwI/gMV4nP1FD2A/s1600/File0570.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497314382542964386" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpiTg4ehqI/AAAAAAAAAwI/gMV4nP1FD2A/s320/File0570.JPG" /></a></div><div>
<br />A new Neice ... I enjoyed spending time and getting to know my New Neice Leah
<br /></div><p align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpgRupI1yI/AAAAAAAAAwA/GI4QeiNtFg8/s1600/File0587.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497312152853731106" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpgRupI1yI/AAAAAAAAAwA/GI4QeiNtFg8/s320/File0587.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">
<br />A New pet???
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpgReMHItI/AAAAAAAAAv4/y7MjcFRzmK0/s1600/File0668.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497312148437017298" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpgReMHItI/AAAAAAAAAv4/y7MjcFRzmK0/s320/File0668.JPG" /></a></div><div>An excited Bride....
<br />
<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpgQ-wSfQI/AAAAAAAAAvw/hDL_uhiz0K4/s1600/File0769.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497312139998821634" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpgQ-wSfQI/AAAAAAAAAvw/hDL_uhiz0K4/s320/File0769.JPG" /></a>
<br />
<br />Our little camper for the week
<br /></div><p align="center"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497312129996894098" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpgQZfpL5I/AAAAAAAAAvo/yZTZhrXpOF0/s320/File0864.JPG" />
<br /></p><p align="center">back to Indiana to visit family.... and friends</p><div>
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpgP2aHy0I/AAAAAAAAAvg/0nSQVNX-yQE/s1600/File0881.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497312120578493250" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpgP2aHy0I/AAAAAAAAAvg/0nSQVNX-yQE/s320/File0881.JPG" /></a></div><div>
<br />
<br />My empty buckets ready for wheat
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpeAnYwLfI/AAAAAAAAAvY/ViLJqQ8JpKM/s1600/File0885.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497309659824926194" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpeAnYwLfI/AAAAAAAAAvY/ViLJqQ8JpKM/s320/File0885.JPG" /></a></div><div>
<br /></div><div align="left">Beautiful Wheat
<br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpeAY3PeTI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/hQIahJThsvo/s1600/File0893.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497309655926274354" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpeAY3PeTI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/hQIahJThsvo/s320/File0893.JPG" /></a>
<br /></div><div></div><div>We made Ice cream on night and our little cousin got the special beater cause she helped me make everything.
<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpeAFM1IdI/AAAAAAAAAvI/J3pSZEJ_7ZU/s1600/File0944.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497309650648113618" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpeAFM1IdI/AAAAAAAAAvI/J3pSZEJ_7ZU/s320/File0944.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>
<br />Asa and his uncle before we left EARLY in the morning!</div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpd_IEAUbI/AAAAAAAAAu4/nX31RMLV8Bw/s1600/File0959.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497309634236535218" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpd_IEAUbI/AAAAAAAAAu4/nX31RMLV8Bw/s320/File0959.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center">We got home and spent a little time until we left for our next trip to camp for the 4th of July-Then we had
<br />Some newly wed visitors <3><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpZCddxcMI/AAAAAAAAAuw/9Jm6KC3f_Ok/s1600/100_7641.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497304193963225282" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpZCddxcMI/AAAAAAAAAuw/9Jm6KC3f_Ok/s320/100_7641.JPG" /></a></p><div></div><div align="left">
<br /></div><p align="center">Working in the Garden <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpZBstT8uI/AAAAAAAAAuo/mRiGgrQe2uk/s1600/100_7643.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497304180875064034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpZBstT8uI/AAAAAAAAAuo/mRiGgrQe2uk/s320/100_7643.JPG" /></a>
<br />
<br />We also found a bunch of honey bees building their home in our house! We now have honey bees :) Here are pics of our friends enjoying the smalllll harvest...</p><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpZBBPhcnI/AAAAAAAAAug/_Bn_15ij14s/s1600/100_7683.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497304169207394930" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpZBBPhcnI/AAAAAAAAAug/_Bn_15ij14s/s320/100_7683.JPG" /></a>
<br /></div><div></div><div align="center">We watched Asa while he worked for HOURS transfering the bees to their new home</div><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpZAgLBAWI/AAAAAAAAAuY/9o5OYWVDfQE/s1600/100_7687.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497304160330121570" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpZAgLBAWI/AAAAAAAAAuY/9o5OYWVDfQE/s320/100_7687.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center">Everyone wanted a taste!! It was sooo sweet!</p><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpZAe7p8MI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/pWBi-Po7c80/s1600/100_7692.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497304159997259970" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpZAe7p8MI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/pWBi-Po7c80/s320/100_7692.JPG" /></a>
<br />
<br />The bees hard at work!</p><div><p align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpU2ztBZKI/AAAAAAAAAto/7WNxCOBgps4/s1600/100_7708.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497299595727824034" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpU2ztBZKI/AAAAAAAAAto/7WNxCOBgps4/s320/100_7708.JPG" /></a>
<br />
<br /></p><div align="left">Asa in our most favorite place ... the garden!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpU46YNV_I/AAAAAAAAAuI/Ffap6T6KdEU/s1600/100_7753.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497299631879313394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpU46YNV_I/AAAAAAAAAuI/Ffap6T6KdEU/s320/100_7753.JPG" /></a></div><div>
<br />One week our cucumbers were this small</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpU3aELQYI/AAAAAAAAAtw/ZveIeqftIqY/s1600/100_7745.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497299606025486722" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpU3aELQYI/AAAAAAAAAtw/ZveIeqftIqY/s320/100_7745.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>And the next week we have a five gallon bucket FULLL of cucumbers </div><div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpU31KOo1I/AAAAAAAAAt4/SeHKlNK3Zn8/s1600/100_7746.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497299613298631506" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpU31KOo1I/AAAAAAAAAt4/SeHKlNK3Zn8/s320/100_7746.JPG" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />Our newest projects are painting glass bottles and old windows and making them into beautiful objects!! It's soo much fun!</div><p align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpU4RPvhOI/AAAAAAAAAuA/zi90s9zfAx0/s1600/100_7750.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497299620837950690" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TEpU4RPvhOI/AAAAAAAAAuA/zi90s9zfAx0/s320/100_7750.JPG" /></a></p></div></div>
<br />Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-60164974083986748302010-06-19T16:21:00.001-04:002010-06-19T16:22:19.099-04:00Traveling...We're finally off... first stop Indiana... second stop MO.... third stop Oklahoma! <br /><br />I will hopefully check in ... I'll miss reading all your blogs!<br /><br />ErinErin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-60751340777212950242010-06-08T07:55:00.001-04:002010-06-08T08:30:53.095-04:00Rhubarb Recipe!!!<div><div><div>Ok sorry it's taken me so long to post again! So much for being on top of things for posting :) Today is going to be a busy day for me! I'm planning on getting some painting accomlished in my Scrapbooking/Sewing room! I'm super excited and a little nervious that the color will be too bright! We'll just have to see. I'm paint the walls, honey tea and the trim Brilliant Oak. :) It just sounds nice doesn't it? I'll try to take pictures and post them when it's finished. It's going to be a little sad working a lone.. but I'll manage :)<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Here's the Rhubarb Coffee cake recipe. I'm going to start by warning you there is a LOT of sugar in it :-/ I couldn't believe as I kept adding sugar to each part, as I made it, how much there was in it! I would also suggest you make it for a crowd becuase it doesn't taste as good after a couple days. I was actually going to ask my mom if you could cut it in half... but I forgot. So if you feel like experimenting go for it!!!</div><div> </div><div>Start with making the Rhubarb filling:</div><div>-Cook on med. heat 3 cups rhubarb and 16 oz of sweetened strawberries covered for 5 minutes (I was worried about it burning but it was fine if you make sure it's not on high)</div><div>Add to mixture after 5 minutes:</div><div>2 TBS lemon juice</div><div>1 Cup Sugar</div><div>1/3 Cup Corn Starch</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TA42NoYaK_I/AAAAAAAAAtQ/rKNTtyrhfNo/s1600/102_6718.JPG"></a> </div><div>Cook and stir for 5 minutes until mixture is thick and bubbling. Then set it in the fridge to cool while continuing with the rest of the Cake. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mix and cut 1 cup of Margarine or butter into :</div><div>3 Cups Flour</div><div>1 Cup Sugar</div><div>1 tsp. Baking Soda</div><div>1 tsp. Baking Powder. </div><div></div><div> </div><div>Beat together Wet ingredients :</div><div></div><div>1 Cup buttermilk</div><div>2 Slightly Beaten eggs</div><div>1 tsp Vanilla </div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and spread 1/2 the mix in a 9X13 pan. Spread cooled rhubarb mix over and put remaining batter in clumps over the top of the rhubarb. Sprinkle top with crumb mixture: </div><div>3/4 Cup Sugar</div><div>1/2 Cup Flour</div><div>1/4 Cup Margerine or Butter</div><div></div><div>Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes! </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Then enjoy!!! I made mine the night before we were going to eat it and it tasted AMAZING the next day!!!</div><div>Another great rhubarb recipe is to make Rhubarb sauce! It has been an easy favorite of Asa and mine this spring. It's a great way to use up Rhubarb fast. All you do is you cut up the rhubarb into inch sized pieces (I liked mine a little longer). Then you put them in a pot with a LITTLE water and boil covered for a little bit and then uncover and boil it into a sauce.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TA42M4wPh9I/AAAAAAAAAtI/0ao4kGm-vJw/s1600/102_6710.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480377391577532370" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TA42M4wPh9I/AAAAAAAAAtI/0ao4kGm-vJw/s400/102_6710.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div> Add the amount of sugar you want and cool. Or eat it warm over icecream. Once cool cut up oranges in it and enjoy! </div><p align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TA42NoYaK_I/AAAAAAAAAtQ/rKNTtyrhfNo/s1600/102_6718.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 307px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480377404362468338" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TA42NoYaK_I/AAAAAAAAAtQ/rKNTtyrhfNo/s400/102_6718.JPG" /></a></p><p align="right"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TA42N4GbqrI/AAAAAAAAAtY/eW0PeR0POU4/s1600/102_6719.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 319px; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480377408582036146" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TA42N4GbqrI/AAAAAAAAAtY/eW0PeR0POU4/s400/102_6719.JPG" /></a></p><div>It's really easy and tasty. I like it really sweet but Asa liked it sour :) I've also tried freezing it like you would Apple Sauce. I'm not sure how it turned out yet, I'll have to send it in Asa's lunch tomorrow and ask him what he thinks of it :) </div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Well everyone, have a great week! What are some cooking projects you've been making? Any exciting Summer plans? We're planning a trip to MO for my brother-in-law's wedding. We'll be gone for about 2 weeks!!! :-o </div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you're enjoying the cooler weather! :)</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>I have it's given me a break from my even pressing job:<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TA42OcCY7kI/AAAAAAAAAtg/KPZVpqfAhXw/s1600/102_6767.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480377418228756034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/TA42OcCY7kI/AAAAAAAAAtg/KPZVpqfAhXw/s400/102_6767.JPG" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div>Erin<br /></div><div>PS I want to post some gardening pictures soon! Our veggies are all up and look amazing! It's been fun watching them grow soooo fast!</div></div></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-20700986118164855212010-05-10T14:43:00.000-04:002010-05-10T15:06:36.693-04:00Hello Everyone! Time for a new update....<br /><div><div><div>This weekend was mothers day and we had a very relaxing day with our family, the Waltons, and out new very great friends the Easleys. Saturday though we went to a wedding and had a great time with all the people I use to work with at Garf's! It was nice being all together again! </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>I made this amazing Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee cake! It was soooo yummy! I started making it after 10 and it took a while to make! I was finally finished with it around 12 am. I kept telling myself that my mom would do something like this for me... SO I kept working at it ;) And it was appreciated by almost everyone! Here's a picture of it!</div><div><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-hYFTuprmI/AAAAAAAAAsY/dwW7hY0lgtA/s1600/102_6702.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469718595660000866" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-hYFTuprmI/AAAAAAAAAsY/dwW7hY0lgtA/s400/102_6702.JPG" /></a></p><div><br />I thought I'd share my lilac tree picture with all of you! It's soo beautiful this year! I'm so happy with it!<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-hYHJLqIZI/AAAAAAAAAsw/rnC-hVm02KQ/s1600/102_6709.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469718627188613522" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-hYHJLqIZI/AAAAAAAAAsw/rnC-hVm02KQ/s400/102_6709.JPG" /></a><br /></p><div>Here's a picture of the black walnut trees we chopped down!</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-hYF_VCeoI/AAAAAAAAAsg/9lZ5ZOXv8w0/s1600/102_6704.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469718607363734146" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-hYF_VCeoI/AAAAAAAAAsg/9lZ5ZOXv8w0/s400/102_6704.JPG" /></a></div><p align="right"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-hYGipWJHI/AAAAAAAAAso/mx9NqqJYoKE/s1600/102_6705.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469718616844149874" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-hYGipWJHI/AAAAAAAAAso/mx9NqqJYoKE/s400/102_6705.JPG" /></a></p><div> </div><div>I hope you all have a good week!</div></div></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-37231154390650173592010-05-05T20:51:00.000-04:002010-05-05T22:08:14.901-04:00Lazy blogger<p>I think everyone must have the same blogging illness. It seems like everyone who blogs is saying the same thing, "we just don't feel like blogging". I really haven't been in the mood to blog either. I think that most of my illness is due to lack of comments :D I'm not going to threaten to shut down my blog, and I'm not saying this to get a flood of comments. I merely want to let everyone who comments know how much they are appreciated! NOW for those of you who don't know how or simply don't comment you should realize how much I don't like stalkers ;) I do acknowledge that my blog is not as exciting as others. I'm trying to spice it up... that's why I post some interactive question at the end... but that hasn't even helped you guys come out of your shells! I will try to be a more exciting and frequent blogger!!!</p><p>Tonight i am sitting on my porch and enjoy the cool breeze blow over my sun kissed arms! I was mowing all day so it's nice for the little break! THe lawn has just been cut and there's a lilac bush just around the corner. Close your eyes and imagine the smell... it's amazing! I have been realizing more and more how thankful I am that winter is now behind us! The spring has been a very welcomed season and it makes me feel alive!</p><p>Asa and I are starting to get our garden planted. we were all ready to plant when we found out that black walnut trees are not helpful in growing gardens. In fact they kill most of the plants we are planting! So Dad took care of our problem but cutting down three trees tonight during dinner! I think he was feeling distructive! <br /></p><br />The other weekend we went to NYC... here are some of the random pictures we took! We had such a great time... I love that city! <3<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-IhGT1diqI/AAAAAAAAArw/OHB5BzQCzig/s1600/102_6634.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467969289868642978" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-IhGT1diqI/AAAAAAAAArw/OHB5BzQCzig/s400/102_6634.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-IhGIFhGiI/AAAAAAAAAro/0F8HMXccvJE/s1600/102_6627.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467969286714759714" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-IhGIFhGiI/AAAAAAAAAro/0F8HMXccvJE/s400/102_6627.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-IhFzS7n4I/AAAAAAAAArg/V9E6QJ1GhBo/s1600/102_6616.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467969281133879170" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-IhFzS7n4I/AAAAAAAAArg/V9E6QJ1GhBo/s400/102_6616.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-IhFjRXX0I/AAAAAAAAArY/sKxxw1aIRjE/s1600/102_6607.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467969276832341826" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-IhFjRXX0I/AAAAAAAAArY/sKxxw1aIRjE/s400/102_6607.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-IhFDY8XMI/AAAAAAAAArQ/HYYd05eQ_Oo/s1600/102_6605.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467969268274191554" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-IhFDY8XMI/AAAAAAAAArQ/HYYd05eQ_Oo/s400/102_6605.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>The other weekend we went to NYC... <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-Ic0vHT7sI/AAAAAAAAAq4/Q2FpuWBj9cM/s1600/102_6668.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467964589907111618" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-Ic0vHT7sI/AAAAAAAAAq4/Q2FpuWBj9cM/s400/102_6668.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-Ic0FQuKyI/AAAAAAAAAqw/1ZLQXY_8efY/s1600/102_6658.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467964578672290594" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-Ic0FQuKyI/AAAAAAAAAqw/1ZLQXY_8efY/s400/102_6658.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Some kittens we found... </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-Ic08A5EhI/AAAAAAAAArA/Lca8InN7UJ0/s1600/102_6684.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467964593369846290" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-Ic08A5EhI/AAAAAAAAArA/Lca8InN7UJ0/s400/102_6684.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="right"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-Iczon7zNI/AAAAAAAAAqo/cGkhgHsGvvs/s1600/102_6653.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467964570985024722" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-Iczon7zNI/AAAAAAAAAqo/cGkhgHsGvvs/s400/102_6653.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>and then this weekend we were attacked by ants.... that's the pretty quick version of what's happening! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-Ic1PzdZTI/AAAAAAAAArI/s-d688z4lzM/s1600/102_6690.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467964598682215730" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S-Ic1PzdZTI/AAAAAAAAArI/s-d688z4lzM/s400/102_6690.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Goodnight all... I'll try to be better at blogging!<br /><br />Erin</div></div></div></div>Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124513514844134969.post-38058198805856562612010-04-14T11:49:00.000-04:002010-04-14T12:34:07.822-04:00Long time not blogging<div style="text-align: center;">Hey Everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I have last updated. My computer is totally crashed and even though I'm working on fixing it it seems to be taking a while. I have been using Asa's for everything but I'm having problems getting pictures on his computer. It's strange!SOOOO my wonderful sister is home for the week and while she's at work she left her computer with me!!! <3><div style="text-align: center;">Our weather in upstate NY has simply been amazing for this time of year... this pictures speaks of a relaxing afternoon in the sun! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xr7YsjRYI/AAAAAAAAApA/Jd89nvQXnBY/s1600/102_6544.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xr7YsjRYI/AAAAAAAAApA/Jd89nvQXnBY/s400/102_6544.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460029528730715522" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These are my toes Em painted :D She's great!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xo0x6-05I/AAAAAAAAAo4/pPuBSUuybrg/s1600/102_6557.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xo0x6-05I/AAAAAAAAAo4/pPuBSUuybrg/s400/102_6557.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460026116708160402" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The sunset on Easter </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xo0ZXYFZI/AAAAAAAAAow/llBJ1y-_CD4/s1600/102_6566.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xo0ZXYFZI/AAAAAAAAAow/llBJ1y-_CD4/s400/102_6566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460026110116369810" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My little baby sister and I</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xoz78JFdI/AAAAAAAAAoo/ZrnZ8qnce3U/s1600/102_6574.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xoz78JFdI/AAAAAAAAAoo/ZrnZ8qnce3U/s400/102_6574.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460026102217512402" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Saturday was our 6 month anniversary!!! We celebrated by going to this musical that the highschool was putting on. The students did an amazing job! I was thrilled as this is something i was raised listening to ! :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8XozSElN_I/AAAAAAAAAog/Nv8i3ctj6cs/s1600/102_6582.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8XozSElN_I/AAAAAAAAAog/Nv8i3ctj6cs/s400/102_6582.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460026090978621426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's my dear husband working hard in the garden! I tend to have a very very short attention span! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xr9M217vI/AAAAAAAAApg/EFE5Ln-zp38/s1600/102_6553.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xr9M217vI/AAAAAAAAApg/EFE5Ln-zp38/s400/102_6553.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460029559912394482" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the yummy food pictures!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Two weeks ago I made shoofly pie! This one turned out ok. However, I made another one this week and the consistancy and flavor was much better <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xr8mYN3NI/AAAAAAAAApY/PImJ9-kE1O4/s1600/102_6552.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xr8mYN3NI/AAAAAAAAApY/PImJ9-kE1O4/s400/102_6552.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460029549583391954" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I got hungry for tabouleh the other week! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I decided that this looks like a pretty healthy dinner :) (might have a repeat tonight) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xr8XKmYCI/AAAAAAAAApQ/1UFS2IyNDEQ/s1600/102_6547.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xr8XKmYCI/AAAAAAAAApQ/1UFS2IyNDEQ/s400/102_6547.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460029545499746338" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xr72XfLyI/AAAAAAAAApI/bbrcTn3J5rQ/s1600/102_6545.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x1B66H-zPZU/S8Xr72XfLyI/AAAAAAAAApI/bbrcTn3J5rQ/s400/102_6545.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460029536695430946" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ok so I have been having fun looking at healthy eating blogs and being inspired. Frog Pond is opened again so YAY for fresh fruits and veggies! My food budget likes the fact that we can get so many delicious things for sooo cheap! Another thing Asa and I have been focusing on is making everyday special and new. I found " <a href="http://www.joeandbetsy.com">the newly-wed project</a> " . This couple is doing something new every day for the first year of their marriage! I was so impressed and wished I had thought of the idea!!! :) I admire them for finding time to do something new every single day. Sometimes we find it hard to even take a few moments to just sit and talk. We aren't taking up their challenge and doing something new every day but it does make us stop and think about things to do together that can be special. </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>What's something that has causes you all to stop and enjoy the little moments in life? </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">OKKKK I hope that my computer is fixed soon! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><3>
<br />Erin Kiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999871538571398917noreply@blogger.com0