Desperately Seeking Gina

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Sweet Love

I’m not one who normally makes resolutions because somewhere along the way {*ahem* usually very near the beginning} I end up forgetting about said resolution and then feel extremely guilty at the end of the year for not resolving what ever it was that I had intended to do {or not do}.

However, I do have a list {a mile long} of things to work on this year.  One being:  get out more-make an effort to make new friends.  Two: get involved more. Three:  be friendlier.

And so, when Kelli from Sweet Love posted a Facebook status inviting bloggers/media to a sneak peek of her soon-to-open bakery, without thinking, I signed up.  I thought it would be a great opportunity to connect with some Little Rock bloggers.  And, you know, there would most likely be sweets.  Luckily, I have not resolved to eat less sweets {not officially, of course}.

I didn’t get a good pic of the cookie dough truffles…but they were A-mazing.  So good.
And…there were babies! Kat brought her three-month-old, Nora Kate.  Know what I love even more than cookie dough truffles?  Baby smell.  NK smelled divine.  I may have scared her a bit with the sniffing.

It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon…even if I was pretty shy and hung back a bit.  Everyone seemed to know each other previously, so I felt a like an outsider, but the ladies were nice! And…when I got home I realized I had been talking to Kerri from Damn You, Little Rock and hadn’t even realized it.  She makes me laugh out loud when I read her blog.

The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping for clothes in LR {yes, Thomas, they sell clothes at The Container Store <wink>}.

Banana Bread that Loves You Back

Happy Friday, friends!  It’s a quiet Friday night here at the Cove-not much different than any other night, though.  Since we have no television service there’s no noisy distraction in the background {the radio is on low, however}.  It’s the perfect setting for cozying up with warm banana bread and a glass of milk. Here’s the recipe I’ve been using lately. Hope you enjoy.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup mashed banana
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup sour cream

Method:

Grease a large loaf pan, or four small loaf pans.   Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients, then bananas and sour cream.  Fold in walnuts.  Pour batter into prepared pan or divide into small loaf pans.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour.


Notes:  Recipe slightly adapted from here.  Original amount of bananas resulted in mushy bread, IMO.

American Stuffers: My brush with reality television

Have you heard about the new Animal Planet reality television show American Stuffers?  While it may sound like it’s a show about my unhealthy eating habits, in actuality,  it’s a reality show that follows the family of Thom’s nephew Daniel, who is a taxidermist here in Arkansas.  He not only does traditional taxidermy for animals such as deer, fish, and other wild life, he specializes in pet preservation– preserving peoples beloved pets for an eternity of continued love and togetherness.

The show follows Daniel, his wife LaDawn, their sons, and their quirky cast of employees as they go about their daily business of stuffing animals.  American Stuffers premieres this Thursday, January 5 at 9 pm {CST}.

Here’s a sneak peek:

Way back in April, Thom and I had the opportunity to hang out “on set” {aka: their home} with Daniel and LaDawn as they celebrated LaDawn’s birthday.  Of course, the cameras were rolling.

The experience was surreal.  Reality television takes a lot of work {and we were there for just a few short hours}.

I was asked to help with a little cake decorating. If only I had known beforehand, I could have brought my supplies.  Instead, I was filmed rolling out fondant with a small plastic cup.  It didn’t turn out so well.  Martha would definitely be disappointed with me.

I certainly hope that’s edited out. Yikes. {and btw…I had exactly 15 minutes to get ready for this event and 11 minutes were spent fretting about my only clean shirt: a blue & white striped shirt}.

It was a really fun day and it’s been exciting to follow Daniel & LaDawn as they live out this crazy adventure.    

If you’re interested in having your pet preserved, check out their web page Xtreme Taxidermy or connect with them on Facebook.

Read more about American Stuffers here.
Connect with American Stuffers on Facebook.
See more clips here.

Check out the episode guide for a quick glance at what’s to come.  The episode we were were present for will air on February 2, 9 pm {CST}. Here’s the description from Animal Planet:

american stuffers THE DOG NAMED PRECIOUS
Premiering Thursday, February 2, 10 PM e/p
The owners of a dog named Precious come to the shop. What Daniel discovers during the preservation process is pretty shocking. At the same time, Daniel begins the process of preserving Jack the cat for its teenage owner. The heartbroken teen is having a difficult time letting go of the cat and her frequent visits to the shop worry Daniel. To make matters worse, Daniel’s in hot water when he realizes that he’s got 24 hours to plan a surprise party for LaDawn’s 36th birthday. He wrangles Fred, Joseph and Dixie to help with the party; but when they get her age wrong, they wonder if LaDawn will see the humor. 

Now taking requests for autographs!  And, if it’s not mine you want…I may be able to reach “the talent.”

Celebrating the New Year in a Old Way

It was another quiet New Year’s Eve here at the Cove.  We’ve spent the last five years in the same manner:  just the two of us, a nice homemade dinner, a drink or two for me, conversation, kissing, reflecting on the year passed, and talking about and planning for the year ahead.  I invoked a “no kissing until midnight” rule and was surprised at how hard it was to abide.  I am lucky to have such an affectionate boyfriend, beau, beloved.

Part of the evening was spent sorting through some old items meant for sale on eBay and I remembered a photo idea I had at this exact time last year.  Thom inherited boxes upon boxes of effects from his mother and among them I found some treasures.

A lovely old journal dated 1904 filled with beautiful handwriting journalling the every day happenings of a lady I have yet to put a name to.  She writes of the weather, baking, funerals, and visitors to her home.
It begins on New Years Day, 1904.  One hundred eight years ago!

At the end:  Expenses for the year 1904 divided into months:
Expenses for the year 1904

January:
Stamps .10
Car fare home – $1.81
Canvas, thread, yarn – .35
Livery Bill – $2.00

Other interesting finds among the treasures include letters, post cards, and deeds.  The correspondence seems to be centered around the family name Yount, possibly from Cape Giradeau, Missouri.

We sorted through other boxes brought over by Thom’s sister and I fell in love with some lovely old keys.

A lovely find:  a hand embroidered “G” on a delicate handkerchief.
My mom would most likely laugh off my love of these little findings.  I’ve not been one to love old things.  I’ve never before enjoyed thrifting or salvaging. I’m known for loving shiny and new. But, the older I get {19 is getting “up there,” after all} the more I appreciate the history and story behind these treasures.  Someday, I wonder, will someone be holding my much-loved possessions and wondering who I am?  Luckily, through this blog, they will be able to find out.

I Still Believe

I still believe in Santa Claus.

It’s an odd confession for someone my age, I know.

I’ve known for many years that the existence of an old,  plump, white bearded dude who squeezed himself down chimneys and who kept reindeer as personal flight attendants wasn’t real.  It seems as if I’ve always known that it was, in fact, my parents who bought and wrapped all those gifts each and every Christmas.  It’s only been in recent years that I’ve realized that his magic and generosity live on in each of us; it lives on in grand   expressions of generosity, like plane tickets home and even in the smallest of gestures of comfort and good cheer.

The magic appears during lunches with old friends: with cousins during late-night shopping trips and last minute dinners filled with laughter;  it is tossed about with snowballs in the midst of impromptu snowball fights.

Magic glistens in the eyes of children:  In one who still believes.

And, in another who may not still believe in the physical being of old St. Nick…but who is excited by the holiday, presents, and the extra time spent with those who adore him.

So, when I say I believe in Santa, what I really mean is I believe in magic.  I believe in elves and flying reindeer.  I believe in sweet brothers who make things happen and kids whose innocence and wonder are catching.  It is magic that washes away family drama for a few hours of uncomplicated togetherness and it is magic that wraps itself around our hearts binding us together, forever.

Wishing you the merriest and most magical of Christmases!