Mixin' it up w/ my new mixer!

This was my fancy b-day gift from my in-laws, Michael , and Kate! I had always wanted a mixer (They look cute on the counter, you know!), but I never imagined one like this! It is quite fancy. I've only been able to look at it for over two weeks b/c I didn't have time to give it a test run. I finally found some time this afternoon . . .

Okay, not too attractive, but yummy!

. . . and this is what I made. It is a pumpkin bread roll. (Sorry the above picture is blurry - didn't realize it until we'd eaten the bread. :)) Time to get to work on my baking and cooking skills. Thanks, guys! It was a huge surprise that I will enjoy for years!

Oh, Happy Night!

After a long trip to Nashville and back today, I came home to a new bed, cupcakes for a belated birthday dessert, and a calm house. After a year of searching for the perfect bed and trying not to buy the generic Pottery Barn bed, we caved in and bought it. I love it. So it is a bit large for our fairly small master bedroom, but I'm so excited to have a bed frame again. (Wouldn't normally post a picture of a bed, but I've been talking about searching for the perfect bed for a year and thought those who have had to endure the discussions would be glad to see the result of their patience.) With the chaos of going home twice in the past month, D and I never really celebrated my B-day w/ cake. He bought us four cupcakes for dessert tonight. How sweet and perfect. I heart cupcakes and we don't need a whole cake sitting around our two-person house. Happy Friday! I get to go climb in my big girl bed!

Who would have thought?

Courtney, Mike, M and D
Courtney and M

After being in Memphis for three years (I know it is hard to believe!), we have definitely concluded that there are very few Dawg fans here. However, I have uncovered one! She is my dear collegue and friend, Courtney. Now her husband could take or leave the Dawgs (I think mostly leave.), but she loves them. And I was so excited to find out she was going home (Commerce) for the game. In the mass chaos of a UGA football game, we managed to find them. They came to sit w/ us for a while. We had a blast!

Prior to the game, Mom and I went to Scott's on Friday and had a wonderful time! I could have spent a fortune but opted for a small pillow cover. D enjoyed a game of golf w/ the guys while I shopped w/ Mom. D and I took a day trip to Athens on Thursday. We had dinner at Last Resort, and I was quite excited to hear the owner telling another table that he is trying to go more organic, including growing a lot of their food supply on his land in Oconee County. We had a great surprise on Sunday morning. David's father was able to join us for brunch. It was great to see him, as we haven't seen him since April. It was a wonderful weekend!

So grateful!

D and I when he met up w/ us for drinks.
Elizabeth and I after dinner. Elizabeth is one of the most inspiring women I've ever met!

I (M) have always struggled to be grateful for what I have. I am so guilty of wishing for more. Let me say first that by no means have I been "cured" of not being grateful, but I'm really trying to frequently count my blessings, and on no day this year has this been easier than on my birthday last week. I was absolutely amazed by the phone calls, cards, and gifts I received from so many of you! Several weeks ago, after reviewing the football games we'd planned to go home for, I knew my b-day would be sandwiched in between traveling weekends and D would be working late on my b-day. Of course, I was a bummed but also reminded myself that it isn't D's job to be my entertainment. So . . . I enlisted my dear Memphis friend Elizabeth to hang out with me. We had a wonderful meal at my favorite Memphis Italian joint. They had taken lobster ravioli off the menu (How could they??), but it was still wonderful. David met up w/ us after work for a couple of drinks. It was just wonderful. Thank you all, though many of you are hundreds of miles away, for a wonderful b-day!

Were we bad luck?

So we went home this weekend for our first football game of the year hoping for a win. Oh, well!

We had so much fun in Athens this weekend despite the loss. I went to my first ever ESPN Game Day. D was able to get Smokey Joe, the grill, going and we were able to see lots of friends from Atlanta. Congrats to BAMA for showing up for the first and second quarters and taking advantage of UGA not showing up until the third quarter.

D makes friends w/ a neighboring tailgate so he can play w/ their "toys".

Steph and Tim w/ some of his amazing ribs.

Dad and Mom before the game.

Also on our trip home, we got to have a picnic on the Chattahoochee and watch the water rise as it was being released from Lanier, much to the Lanier residents' frustration. It was beautiful. David was able to fish while I went for an afternoon run. We got to have dinner w/ my parents and ate yummy chili that my mom made.

We were even kind enough to the Bama folks to help stimulate their economy by stopping for lunch outside of Birmingham. We'll try for a "W" in two weeks when we return home for the UGA vs. UT game. Go Dawgs!

Where in the world have we been?

Well for starters, D has been traveling more and M had her annual trade show at work last week so blogging topics and time have been a bit sparse! D has been going to St. Louis 2-3 days a week, which he's enjoying. We ordered a new bed frame after a year-long search for the "perfect" one. I can't wait for it to be delivered. My preparation for the 1/2 marathon is still going well. The cooler weather is making running much easier.

We've joined the young adult Bible study at church, which we're really enjoying. We're starting at the very beginning of the Bible and working our way through. We're still in Genesis and it is nice to not be rushed. The rector of the church leads the study. He has so much knowledge and is able to share how many other cultures/religions view Biblical stories. It's a Bible study like I've never experienced.

Tahoe's corner: Tahoe has just returned from a joyful trip to Camp Lemon, where he spent the weekend while we went home for the Alabama game. He'll be making the next two "football" trips with us. Hopefully, he'll bring better luck to the Dawgs than we were able to this weekend!

Happy Fall!

Tahoe is very distressed watching the Dawgs against USC!

He couldn't bare to look up at the TV anymore! He left the room and went and laid down in the bedroom for the end of the 4th quarter. Thanks Dawgs for pulling that one out!