Day 2, Wedding Anniversary Getaway

After a good night’s sleep, we went upstairs and our hosts, Patti & Hunter, had the coffee pot and hot water ready for us.  We talked for a little while as we waited for the other guests to arrive.  The table was already set for breakfast.

Scrambled eggs, Cinnamon French Toast Strata and Oatmeal Banana Muffins with Jam were served along with fresh strawberries, juice, coffee, and tea.  It was lovely, simple and there was plenty of food for all.

The Cinnamon French Toast Strata was so moist.  I told Patti she really needs to have a blog where she posts her recipes.

Cinnamon French Toast Strata

 

Oatmeal Banana Muffins with Jam

After a leisure breakfast (no rushing here), we headed out for the day with no plans whatsoever.

Driving through the countryside, I said out loud “this would be a good place to ride a bike.”  The setting was so peaceful.  While driving, we ran across a couple of interesting items next to the road.

Dinosaur Mailbox

This was so funny.  I almost missed it except that the “green” stood out so much.

Old Windmill

As we continued on, I remembered that there was a Seventh-day Adventist church somewhere nearby and decided to attend the service.  Not knowing where we were and with no cell coverage, we guessed our way to a town called Rice Lake.  We expected it to be small but it was a fairly large town of over 8400 people.

Although late, and not wearing “proper” church clothes, we quickly found a seat in the back.

Rice Lake, Wisconsin Seventh-day Adventist Church

What a surprise to see that the church was full.  Lots of people and lots of children.  After the service, the people were genuinely happy to have us there.  No judgment about wearing jeans to church — lots of people were “just like us.”

I’m finding that people in the country live more simple lifestyles and they have an acceptance of people regardless of their outward appearance.  I see this more and more as I continue my search in the Minnesota area for a “home” church.

I think I could be happy at this little church — a wee bit too far but it has a lot going for it.

When we left the church building, we noticed that they have a school that are on the same grounds.

Rice Lake, Wisconsin Seventh-day Adventist School

After the church service, we drove around the town of Rice Lake, population approximately 8400.  It’s a very large small town.

Rice Lake, Wisconsin

Pulling into a road that led to the lake, we came across a World War II memorial.

Rice Lake, Wi World War Two Memorial

The pavers on the ground were memorials for different groups and individuals.

Ronald Wirsbinski, Memorial

Donald F Hanson, Colonel Infantry
Barron Co Chapter 52 Memorial
Warren R Milliman, Memorial

When a picture is attached to the name, it feels more personal to me.

George J Thill, Frank L Thill, Memorial

So many died.  So many still die.

World War II Memorial, Rice Lake, Wisconsin

A constant reminder that we live in an imperfect world.

 

 

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Carrot Cake Muffins

I recently made these Carrot Cake Muffins.  They are very tasty but if you want a little more sweetness you need to add more raisins to the mix.  I added half a small individual box of raisins.

The recipe is from the New York Times.  (Thanks to my brother for sharing it.)

2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (I used ground)

1/2 tsp ground allspice

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs (at room temperature)

1/3 cup raw brown (turbinado) sugar

1/3 cup canola oil

1 1/3 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2/3 cup golden raisins with 1 tsp unbleached all-purpose flour or

2/3 cup chopped pecans

1 1/2 cups grated carrots

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees with the oven rack in the upper third of the space.  Oil or butter muffin tins.  (I used PAM)

Sift together the whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt.

In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, oil, buttermilk and vanilla.

Using a whisk or spatula, stir the dry ingredients with the wet and mix until well combined.  Do not beat; a few lumps are fine but make sure there is no flour at the bottom of the bowl.

Grate the carrots.

Fold in the carrots, raisins and pecans.  (Feel free to leave out the raisins or pecans if you don’t want them in the muffins.)

Using a large spoon, put the mixture into the muffin cups filling them to just below the top (about 4/5 full).

Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake about 25 minutes or until lightly browned and well risen.

Carrot Cake Muffins

My recipe made 18 muffins because I used the smaller muffin tin.

Enjoy!

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Prayer

The Sabbath School lesson today is on the importance of prayer.

The illustration used is from the book of Mark, Chapter 1 verses 29-35 where Jesus had spent the day healing people and yet awoke early, found a solitary place and prayed.

So often, I can barely get myself out of bed to get going.  With sleepy eyes, I trudge out of bed to follow the morning routines.

I friend of mine once told me that unless you pray in the morning, you’re really not fit for the day.  It took me a little while to process that.  I don’t believe it’s true though.  There are a lot of people who aren’t “morning” people.

Some people pray throughout the day, some in the evenings, some in the morning.  When I think about prayer and what I believe it’s supposed to do for my relationship with God (bring us closer) I have to pause.

My day gets fast-paced and although I feel I’m “praying without ceasing,” the stopping and paying attention to my relationship with God is sometimes still lacking.

So — Jesus going of to a solitary place, away from His friends, family, other people, is something that I have come to realize is important.

No multi-tasking when it comes to my relationship with God.  No trying to “fit Him in.”

Now — to practice what I preach.

 

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Apartment Living – At Its Worst

The sign at the apartment complex says “Ultra Luxury Living.”
Then a quote comes to mind “if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.”

Living in an apartment for 4 1/2 months has been interesting.  The customer service was good — to start.  The apartment complex made it easy for us because they were able to take care of the rental of our furniture and other supplies.  We looked at the rental packages in the book, confirmed what we wanted and signed the lease (which included the cost of the rental furniture).

The first day I arrived at the apartment, the rental furniture was already set up except we didn’t have a king size bed nor did we have the extra sleeper sofa.  We called and the sleeper sofa was delivered within 2 days.  We didn’t bother to change out the size of the bed. After all, we were only going to be here for a month or two at most.

Since we arrived here:

— the washer broke down twice and finally had to be replaced

— the dryer shrinks our clothes

— the garbage disposal backed up. Someone was sent out right away.  Not sure he knew what he was doing as water spewed throughout the kitchen floor.  “Oh sure” I said.  “You can use my clean towels to wipe up the mess.”

And now I get a message on my cell phone “This is management headquarters for The Classic.  A month ago you received a letter regarding your rental and we have yet to hear from you.”

A wrong assumption as no letter has been received.  I called and left 3 different messages before “management” called me back.

The woman starts by saying “You got a letter and you owe us $1100 to make your account current.”  Uh, why don’t we start at the beginning I say.

Come to find out, the furniture rental company has charged the complex two delivery charges.  One for the first delivery of our furniture rental and another charge for the second (even though it was their mistake to not have delivered it with the first shipment).

In addition, we are (supposedly)  being undercharged monthly for the rental by approximately $80.

What an interesting scenario.  I do enjoy solving other people’s puzzles.

Me:  Do you have a copy of our lease?

She: No

Me:  Well, if you look at our lease it doesn’t show we owe the amount you’re stating.  We have paid our monthly charges in full every month.”

Her: Well, it’s more and we shouldn’t have to pay for it.  And you didn’t pay for the two delivery charges.

Me:  No delivery charges were quoted to us and the amount on the lease is what we have been paying.

Her: You received notice a month ago.

Me: Did you send a certified letter?

Her: No the caretaker was supposed to drop it off.

Me: Well she didn’t.

Her: We’ll have to come and remove some of the items.

Me: (in a higher pitched voice now):  I DON’T think so.  You need to check the lease and abide by the terms of the lease that you signed with me.

And off she went.  Haven’t heard another peep from her.

Our lease expires the end of April and we will be moved by then so it will be a mute issue.

Apartment living does not seem to agree with me.  I guess I could never get used to ultra luxury.

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St Paul, Minnesota Houses

We tried to stay away from the larger towns in Minnesota in searching for a house.  But, since we hadn’t had much luck in finding exactly what we were looking for, we decided to attend some open houses.

We weren’t surprised at what we saw in St. Paul.  We didn’t go into the larger mansion-type houses but instead focused on the small “remodeled” ones.

 

St Paul, Minnesota Tudor

 

Small closets built under the eaves, radiator heaters, and cramped backyards.

This neighborhood had similar type houses as we walked back to our car.

And interesting colored walls and niches.

Didn’t find a house in St. Paul.  At least not in this neighborhood.

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Our 30 Year Anniversary

Today is our 30 year wedding anniversary.  To say that I’m a believer in “love at first sight” would be an understatement as it happened to me.  (I enjoy telling this story over and over again but I’ll tell the short version.)

I met him at a small liberal arts college called Knox which is located in Springfield, Illinois.  The meeting was uneventful for him.

A friend and I were walking and talking and my future husband was sitting on the grass. Long hair, hands folded and looking very calm.  I turned to my friend and said “I’m going to marry that guy.”

And eventually, I did.

1973

 

1980
2010

The secret for being married 30 years?  There is no secret.

It requires commitment, kindness, patience, gentleness, laughter, love and God.

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

This verse was brought to my mind recently.  The three strands in my life are me, my husband and God.

To my best friend, lover, soulmate and husband — thanks for being a constant in my life.

To my best friend, lover, soulmate and Father — thank you for being a Constant in my life.

 

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Lino Lakes House Offer

We signed the offer paperwork this afternoon for the Lino Lakes House.  It should already be in the seller’s agents hand.

We were told that there are two other house offers that may be coming in.

Just our luck.  We are not in the type of market that should have multiple offers on houses.  We’ll see what happens now.  Hopefully we’ll have an acceptance or rejection by Monday so we can plan our next step.

 

 

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