Oops

Yesterday I decided to try frying up some corn fritters. I had never fried anything before but didn't think it would be a big deal. I put some oil in a pot, put a lid on it so it'd heat up faster, and went about making the corn batter. I checked on the oil a few times but the last time I pulled the lid of flames burst out of the pot. Kevin saw the light from the other room and asked what happened. "It's on fire!"

I moved the pot off the heat and Kevin came over to help me. He put the lid back on and moved the pot outside. I thought of pouring water on it but a red light went off in my head so we continued thinking. It didn't seem like it was going to go out anytime soon, so while Kevin went to get a shovel to throw some dirt on it, I, despite my first judgement, went inside to grab a pitcher of water. On his way back outside Kevin was just in time to see me running away from a huge fireball.

When I had started pouring the water on the pot, of course, flames burst up about five feet and all I saw was fire before I dropped the pitcher and ran the other way. Kevin came out and I threw my hands up and said, "I'm sorry! I was just covered in flames! I can't do this!" I ran inside and immediately jumped into a freezing cold shower to cool off my right underarm which felt hot. I then discovered that about an inch of my hair had been burned off the ends of the right side of my head.

Luckily Kevin was able to get the fire out with only a little damage to our grass, and I was able to cut off most of the fried hair on my head. We both escaped with only the most minor of burns. The pot, however, didn't have quite the same luck. It was thrown out, and I have to admit I don't plan on trying to fry anything for quite some time. We were able to have a good laugh about it for the rest of the day, and I hope some of the neighbors saw the craziness. We now know our fire alarm works perfectly, and Kevin is going to purchase an extinguisher soon. I definitely have learned my lesson about how not to heat oil, and I was able to bake some pretty delicious corn muffins instead.

Craft Time

Since I have been working part time at a craft store the past eight months, I have this strange and constant urge to do arts and crafts. This is a picture of a few that I have indulged in recently. This is a painting I did, a scrapbook I'm starting, a wreathe I made that now hangs on my front door, and a picture of a wolf cross-stitch I'm working on at the moment (thanks Katie and Isaac for the awesome birthday gift).

Yes, I taught myself how to cross-stitch, and I'll admit I love doing this "old lady" craft. I finished one for my mom, that unfortunately I don't have a picture of, and now I'm hooked. It really amazes me (and Kevin) how this tedious task can keep me happy and occupied for hours.

Also, when I have time, I have an adventure with a new recipe in the kitchen. I have also cleaned out and planted a few silly annuals in my hopelessly shady flower bed out front. In summary, I love hobbies, I think they keep me healthy and happy, and if you have any fun ones I'd love to hear about them.

Cat Watching

J.R.

One of the things Kevin and I love about our place is that we get to spend time with the cats that live here too. It's an interesting hobby that I like to relate to bird watching, but in addition to observing them, we also pet and get to know them. Each cat has it's own unique personality. It's the little things they do differently that make Kevin and I laugh. We spend a ridiculous amount of time catching each other up on the silly things the cats did today.

Of course it's not always the easiest hobby either. The one cat we allowed to come inside and become "ours" went missing a few weeks ago. We worried a little but thought Bandit was just off enjoying the spring weather Our hearts were crushed when we found his body on the highway by our home. We miss him lots and reminisce about him often, and it's comforting to have the other cats here.

So although it can be bitter-sweet (and expensive) I'm glad we found ourselves in this situation. I feel like I'm a lucky cat woman with some pretty awesome cats. Please feel free to come meet them any time(oh, and my boyfriend).

Bandit on our microwave.

Amabilis

I've always enjoyed reading all of my siblings blogs but thought it would be pointless for me to have one because I'm not married nor do I have kids. However, after giving it some more consideration, I decided that it might be nice just to share with my family what is going on in my life. And I hope you all enjoy my blog as much as I have enjoyed yours.


I think you all know that I'm studying Horticulture (plants) at Virginia Tech, and I am loving it. I spend labs outside examining trees and I study identification characteristics and Latin names frequently (a long with chemistry and economics and other silly subjects). One fun Latin name I learned this semester is Pseudolarix amabilis, common name is golden larch. Although I've only seen this deciduous tree in "hybernation" so far, I thought the name was great. Amabilis translates to mean "deserving of love" or "loveable". This is how I feel about most plants, they are loveable, fascinating, evolved, beautiful, and yes, even sexy (as one of my professors has concluded). I am so happy and excited that I will spend the rest of my life learning about these amazing organisms.