A Few Good Things

September 4, 2013 ~ Emily ~ 3 Comments

Because of our vacation and getting back into the swing of things when Tim and I returned, I didn’t get to do a “What I’m Into” post (what I call Primitive Pleasures on the blog) this month. I did want to pass on a few good things from August, though. So, here they are!

{Tim and I – BG under sweatshirt – in New York)

App

Tim started using Pocket, an application (phone, tablet, and computer) that I would characterize as Pinterest for the written word. I often find things via Twitter and the like that I want to read but don’t have time to at that exact moment. Generally, I favorite, bookmark, or email the link to peruse later. I either forget about it or clog my inbox with emails to myself. With Pocket, you can save virtually anything (not just blog posts) your run across on the internet for later. You don’t even need internet to look them over. Even better – you can collate them into categories with customizable tabs.

Books

Friends from church gave us Waiting In Wonder by Catherine Claire Larson and it is just wonderful. It’s now on my mental list of things to give to all expectant mothers. Every week of your pregnancy, Catherine shares what’s going on biologically as well as emotionally and spiritually. There’s a memory verse each week and four more devotions for that corresponding week. The questions that go along with each devotional are fun and thought provoking – a great way to document your thoughts and feelings throughout a pregnancy.
I’m reviewing Quiet by Susan Cain for Kindred Grace’s A Peek Into Your Personality next month and am totally hooked. I won’t go into detail since I’ll be writing a whole post on the book, but whether your an introvert or extrovert, this one is worth reading.

Recipe

Around where my parent’s live in New York, most people have their own version of Chicken Riggies and Utica Greens – or at least a favorite place to get them. A friend of ours found a delicious recipe for Chicken Riggies via Taste of Home which we ate while in NY and made again last night for dinner. Imagine chicken, peppers, onions, and pasta in a tomato-cream-sherry sauce that’s a bit spicy and a whole lot of good… Fair warning: this recipe makes a TON!

For Fun

Tim and I met Jon Acuff!!! (author of Stuff Christians Like, Quitter, Start etc.)

I thought I saw his doppleganger get on our flight our of Spokane ahead of us and it turned out to be him. Tim did some quick sleuth work to confirm our suspicions and since I was already locked into my seat, I tweeted at him. Here’s what ensued…

Don’t worry, all of this tweeting was done BEFORE the flight took off. I was too embarrassed to get up during the flight to introduce myself so I thought I would just have this conversation to share with others. We wondered if he was heading home or on to another speaking engagement. My husband is an excellent internet detective and after the plane landed, he discovered Jon’s from Nashville area and there was a flight from Vegas (our layover) to Nashville departing 30 minutes after our arrival.

Long story short – we saw that his gate was on the way to ours, tracked him down (in a, non-stalker way), and introduced ourselves. We stood there debating whether to interrupt him since he had just put headphone in, but I’m glad we did! Jon is a SUPER nice guy and chatted with us until he had to board his flight.

Moral of the story: Tim and I really aren’t creepers, I promise.

Home and Choosing Joy

September 3, 2013 ~ Emily ~ 5 Comments

It’s been over a week since Tim and I returned from New York and I’m still recovering – less from jet lag (though there was plenty of that) and more from the emotions of leaving a place and people I dearly love.

Every trip to my now beloved Central New York leaves me more and more bewitched by a certain little lake and the rural landscape that seems to shout simplicity. Now more than ever it’s a place to relive good memories, spend time with family, and relax.

After spending 8 days in my happy place, I was hard pressed to keep my return flight. I’m convinced that if I wasn’t returning in a month, Tim might have been flying to Idaho by himself. Well, and the fact that I would miss him terribly… Despite the fact that I am returning so soon, the end of this trip was bittersweet.

I’ve finally reached the point where I don’t consider Southern California home only to have it supplanted, not by Idaho, but by New York. Our trip wasn’t just a vacation, it was like going home – and leaving home is always difficult for me.

The first couple days back in Coeur d’Alene were tough. I was wrestling with desires I knew couldn’t become reality at present and a present reality I thus had a bad attitude toward. I’m still wrestling with the former, but the latter was improved by a realization, and resulting choice, I had last Friday.

Tim was preaching at our church’s Father Daughter Camp. The 45 minute drive to Camp Cocolalla (great name, right?) is rather lovely. As Tim remarked on the pretty sky and the setting sun shining through the copious pine trees, I found myself not wanting to agree. I actually did find the landscape quite pleasing, but didn’t want to admit it for fear it diminished my appreciation for New York’s natural beauty.

I was purposefully holding out on the truth in order to make a point.

Where did that get me? Nowhere except for Sulkville. Despite the fact that Sulkville was initially soothing to my bruised desires, I knew it wasn’t a place I could live indefinitely. God and Tim know my desires without me being pouty to make a point.

My choice was obvious: I could remain gloomy or choose joy. Though I am not always successful, I am trying to choose joy. For me this means seeking and acknowledging the little treasures around me – the scent of Fall in the air, pine trees and thunderstorms, new friends and building community.

Just because I acknowledge the things I really enjoy about the present doesn’t mean I have to abandon my desires. It DOES mean that I surrender those desires to God and continue to give thanks for His many treasures.

New York Bound

August 15, 2013 ~ Emily ~ 3 Comments

I realize Primitive Roads has been pretty quite lately. I’m still trying to embrace the seasonal side of blogging, although I wrote that post thinking I was trading consistent blogging for hiking, training for a half-marathon, and fixing up our new house instead of being pregnant. Not that pregnancy has kept me from writing, per se, but my mind and body have been super occupied adjusting to our growing little one (the size of a lemon this week!).

Tim and I are leaving for a much needed vacation today. We’re trading Lake Coeur d’Alene for another, much smaller, lake in Central New York. Not only do we get to revisit our honeymoon spot, we get to spend time with my parents and brother – a mondo treat for me!

I’m praying this getaway is the time and space I need to refocus and reconnect spiritually – something I’ve felt slip a little the past few months. A sweet friend reignited my passion for women and community recently and I’m excited about connecting and collaborating with her. I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful place to pray and think and hopefully come back with renewed purpose for Primitive Roads.

In the meantime, more blogging silence from me as I soak up the next week!

Banana Cake with Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting

August 7, 2013 ~ Emily ~ 2 Comments

When my mom begins an email with, “gotta share these two new and fabulous recipes with you!”, I know I’m in for a treat.

The summer humidity where my mom lives makes bananas ripen quicker than they get eaten. After making multiple loaves of banana bread, she went searching for a different recipe to utilize her browning nanners and a spare cake mix. What she found was a simple and versatile (you could use any flavor cake mix) recipe that yields a moist, tender cake with a mild, but distinct, banana flavor.

My mom and I share an affinity for banana bread and peanut butter sandwiches. With that in mind she found a fluffy peanut butter frosting to adorn the banana cake and mimic the taste of those tasty sandwiches we so love.

The result of these two new recipes is indeed fabulous!

Banana Cake {source}

yellow cake mix
eggs, oil, and water (ingredients listed on the box to make cake)
2 overripe bananas
1 tsp baking soda

Create cake batter according the package instructions. In a separate bowl, mash the two bananas. Mix the baking soda into the bananas until thoroughly mixed – it will look lighter and slightly foamy. Add banana mixture to the cake batter and stir until combined.

Pour banana batter into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake according to package directions. Let cool completely and frost with Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting (below).

Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting {adapted from All Recipes}

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons heavy cream

Beat butter and peanut butter together until well combined. Beat in the powdered sugar. Frosting will be very dense and thick. Add heavy cream and beat until fluffy and spreadable. Spread on cooled Banana Cake.

Primitive Pleasures: July

July 30, 2013 ~ Emily ~ 11 Comments

Between house guests and getting past first trimester nausea, there hasn’t been much interwebbing for me (aside from Pinterest) this month. Despite the brevity of my list, I hope you find something enjoyable.

Happy Summer!

Read

One benefit of feeling less than perky is that I’ve had tons of time to read. I decided to reread the Harry Potter series and am now on book 6. One of my favorite bloggers (Katie from Cardigan Way) shares my affinity for Harry Potter and created one of her Lovely Lines with a quote from HP and the Order Of the Phoenix which I just finished.

I also read all three of Tessa Afshar’s novels. So good. I explain why here.

Watch

Tim (my youth pastor hubs) preached in main service a couple weeks ago on Psalm 13. He weaves much of our personal journey into David’s own lament. I may be biased, but it’s well worth a listen. You can also watch it on CDA Bible Church’s Vimeo account.

Strawberries

Berry picking is one of my favorite summer activities. A couple weeks ago I got to add strawberries to my list of berries picked. Some wonderful friends took me to Carver Farms and we picked over 60 pounds of strawberries. We made several batches of freezer jam (with the trusty recipe found inside boxes of Sure Jell pectin).

Three delicious ways to use extra strawberries:

Fresh Strawberry Bars I clipped this recipe from Better Homes and Gardens a few years ago. The base is a dense peanut buttery bar topped with strawberry jam and fresh strawberries.
You can’t go wrong with classic Strawberry Shortcake. My mom’s a wizard with biscuits and generally whips up a batch of lightly sweetened cream biscuits for the shortcake part. Martha Stewart has a good video tutorial on sweet biscuits. When I studied abroad in Italy, my host mom served strawberries macerated in both sugar AND a bit of lemon juice. Heavenly. The crowning glory of any strawberry shortcake is the whipped cream. Clouds of REAL whipped cream – heavy cream whipped with a tablespoon or two of powdered sugar.
Strawberry Shortcake Cake Yes, I’ve mentioned this Pioneer Woman recipe before. It’s that good.

For Fun

This could be the burrito I ate for dinner, but I’d like to think Baby Gardner is beginning to make an appearance.