it's time for an update.

via On a High Note

Since I've last written, so many things have happened! 

I dressed as Yoshi for the 1st Annual Mario Kart Pub Crawl!  It was so much fun.  About 12 people dressed up, and we made it to 9 out of the 10 bars we planned to go to.  All characters were represented except Mario and Luigi! Funny, right? 

photo by the boyfriend

The mixer was used yesterday to make a delicious lemon cake.  The recipe I used is called "1, 2, 3, 4 cake"  and I got it out of my new cookbook "Pie in the Sky".  It's a cookbook specially designed for those that bake at high altitude.  For each recipe, it gives different proportions based on your altitude and breaks it down by sea level, 3K, 5K, 7K and 10K.  I'm at 7,200 feet, and I've tried making other recipes that are typically baked at sea level.  My cakes always come out deflated and way too dense.  But not with this new cookbook!  The cake turned out perfect.  I couldn't be happier! 

Pie in the Sky    Susan G. Purdy

This past weekend, the boyfriend and I celebrated the big ol' one year anniversary!  We spent the day in Denver checking out the Science Museum, eating at awesome restaurants, and shopping (because Laramie is void of decent stores).  We also decided to move in together!  It's true.  And, as luck had it, the place where I had already signed a lease (the one with the split kitchen apartment) was really flexible about letting me out of the first apartment.  As more luck would have it, they told us that they also manage a few houses around town.  And as even more luck would have it, they had one house available.  And it was perfect.  And we took it!  It is red with white trim (and lovingly called the gingerbread house), has two bedrooms upstairs, one bathroom, a large kitchen with a gas stove AND a washer and dryer (my favorite part) and a huge yard.  Oh! And it has a balcony off the bedroom upstairs, and a front porch.  It really is exactly what I wanted.

photo by yours truly

I can't wait to show you all the projects I have planned for the new house.  We don't move in till August 1, which means the growing season will be nearly over so no planting this year, but next year a garden is definitely going in. :)

dream series: my dream home

 photo by linda yvonne

Okay, so you know a little about my apartment.  But I suppose eventually I'll want to settle down into a home (settle down?! ME? Yep, it's true.  One day it will happen).  When I do take decide to make one town, one home, my home, these are the bits I hope I hope the home has:

• Charming architecture-It doesn't have to be old, but it should have a little character.  
• Large kitchen-Oh boy, this will be awesome.  Space to store lots of appliance goodies, space to chop lots of ingredients, space to have more than one person in the kitchen! 
• Garage-I've got a ton of large crafty ideas that are possible with a garage.  Not so possible with an apartment.  And with a garage, I wouldn't have to warm up my car or scrape ice and snow off!  Yes, please!
• Front porch-It doesn't have to be a big porch, but it'd be so nice to sit on a front porch in good weather.  Sweet tea optional.  
• Stained glass-Is there anything more magical than colored light shining in from stained glass windows?  I say not!
• Garden area-I'd love to have a small area to grow a little bit of produce for myself.  Co-workers bring in homegrown tomatoes in the summer and my oh my, they taste like sunshine!  I want to grow some sunshine too!
• Location-I'm not sure if this exists, but I'd love a little garden alcove within a city.  Ah, perfection.

Oh and it'd be nice if there were some mountains and water nearby.

What are you dream home desires?  And isn't that home at the top adorable? 

i have a crush on my apartment.

 photo by yours truly, showing front entrance to my lovely apartment.

i can't find interior shots right now, so this'll have to do. :)

I really do!  It boasts wood floors, charming arches, windows overlooking trees and the beautiful Courthouse.  The windows let a great deal of light in and are perfect to have a cup of tea under or read a book by.  In the summer, I keep the windows open to hear the constant rustle of leaves.  I can't wait until I can do that again! 

Of course, there are things my apartment lacks.  A large bathroom.  It definitely lacks that.  A mirror in the bathroom that I can see my whole face in.  It must have been built for a very tall person...or maybe just a regular sized person.  Either way, I can't see myself!  A large kitchen.  Yep, it's a small one.  Okay, okay.  It seems what it's lacking is SPACE but isn't that how apartments are supposed to be?  They challenge you to find new ways to create space out of no space.  It's a little test of your ingenuity.  So far, I'm passing.  But I'm a lady that likes change so when my lease is up, I'll probably move along and find a new space to fill up.  It's just the type of bird I am.  But for now, I've got a crush on and miss my apartment (and super comfortable bed)!

I'm in the field: 5 hours north of my humble abode.  I'm not sure when I'll be back but I hope it's at least by the weekend.  Quality time is need with the apartment.  And with the boyfriend.  But that's not what this post is about. :)

Apartment-I'll be seeing you!