Computer is Fixed!

At long last my computer is fixed.  It is a bit temporary as it is getting quite old, but it is fixed for now.  I don't have to wait for eons for pictures to download now, so hopefully it will encourage me to post more often.

Life here has been filled with so much!  Here are a few snapshots....

 I've been on a bit of a health kick again.  I love my Champion Juicer and have been using it to make fresh vegetable/apple juice.  I love serving my family a glass of delicious, enzyme-rich goodness.  I've also been making "ice cream" in the Champion using only frozen bananas and berries.  (I want to try some frozen peaches.)  Then we top it with walnuts and/or chocolate sauce.

 We continue to do the long-distance family thing.  The wood artist is still trucking in the oilfields.  We miss him terribly, but, after looking at our options, we don't feel that relocating the family there is a good idea, either.  I don't know how long this arrangement will last.  We are thankful for the work and look forward to the day when we can be together again.

 The last time The Wood Artist left on the train, this is what it looked like at the train station.  It was snowing so hard.  He had to shovel a path so he could get on the train.

 We took two weeks for spring break this year.  I had had great plans for creativity and relaxation, but I ended up cooking almost the entire time!  The Wood Artist keeps a small freezer in North Dakota and I do my best to keep it full of healthy food so that he has plenty to eat.  I've learned that he mostly needs food that he can hold in one hand and eat while he drives, so I've had to come up with all kinds of ways to put a variety of food in tortillas and bread.  I've taken to making "hot pockets" and fill them with lentils, spinach/feta, or potato curry.  I've also learned that there are many sandwiches I can make and freeze ahead of time

Last week we filled our car with boxes of freshly frozen food and headed for North Dakota.  We arrived the evening of The Wood Artist's birthday as a surprise.  I  called him and talked to him for about the last 45 minutes of the trip.  Then I told him that I was turning onto the driveway.  He, of course, thought I meant our driveway.  I told him that I would call him soon.  Then we parked the car in a hidden place and raced toward the door with a big birthday cake.  The look on his face was spectacular!  So fun!

Now, he is coming in on the train tonight.  He tells me that during this break, he is going to work on the bed he's been planning for over a decade!  If his plans are an indication of anything, it will be as amazing as the Taj MaCoop!  I'll keep you posted!  - Nanette