Mountain Meadow

30 years ago we built our little house at 63 Mountain Meadow Drive 1 mile outside of Morgantown. We'd been married 8 years and lived in 3 different cities and 7 apartments. All our experiences and "homes" were good ones, all part of building Bob and Cindy and the bigger family to come.

The collage of 18 photos are the different stages of building, from picking out our lot by the woods, through digging the foundation, cement block, floor, walls, decks and brick. . . 

siding, paint, cabinets and the first blade of grass. The last picture was of Bob's 30th birthday, just before we moved in. 

The "list" Bob is holding has final "to dos" our contractors wrote on a block of wood in 1984. I still have the block of wood and the scan of it is under the first hinged piece of my layout. Some of the to dos are crossed off. Some our still visible, "Clean upstairs and down", "Landscape", "Scrape windows" are a few I can read.  

My list is complete yet ongoing. Dreams we've captured in our little home of 30 years:
Decorate in our personal style.
Make it comfortable.
Dine in.
Plant flowers.
Feed the birds.
Walk our country road and hill.
Raise a family.
Come home at the end of our shifts.
Make home sanctuary.

Think we've done ok.

1984-2014.

After All

When my sister asked if I could take Dad to a doctor's appointment on Monday, I said of course.  I left work at 11, drove 2 hours in thick fog, to pick my Mom and Dad up for a doctor's appointment at 2.  The appointment went well (I'm always impressed with the VA) and my Dad said he already felt better.  We stopped at Ollie's discount where we put Mom in a wheel chair and got her a Shark rug sweeper she's been wanting.  We all enjoyed a chicken meal at a restaurant where we saw a distant cousin!  My Dad eats so good and Mom did too.  It rained all day, but I had to get their picture before I journeyed home.  Only 2 pictures, not posed. . . just a genuine show of affection I'll always treasure.

Here they are. . . after 68 years of marriage. . . still in love.

I love them so!

Culinary Rewards

 Cocoa Waffle with Nutty Spread

Curried Scallop-Apple Salad

Bob's gone to Charleston to cover the Mountaineers and I'm painting inside walls.  There's not a lot of time to create but I have to eat a good meal.  Here's breakfast and lunch! 

Cara Delaney sent me this nutrition education guide to antioxidant rich foods.  I eat nutrient rich foods all the time and this reinforces my meal selections.  Today I've had apples, non-alkaline cocoa, strawberries, nuts, curry, dark leafy greens. . . all listed on Cara's poster.  Dinner is Green Tea Salmon (with loads of green vegetables and edamame).  Think I'll keep the doctor away (unless I do something stupid while I'm painting)!  Layouts will return soon!

Cindy's Culinary Creations

Green Tea Salmon with Quinoa

As a registered dietitian and manager of a Healthy Café, my career revolves around menus with real food  and healthy ingredients.  That all begins at home.    

Here are some of the meals I made at home this month:

    Carrot Rosemary Soup and Asparagus Toast

Asparagus Hash with Poached Egg

Lobster Pesto Pizza

Chocolate Pistachio Macaroons

Turkey Vegetable Bolognese

Strawberry Shortcake

Turkey Tenderloin and Pesto Potato

Egg, Vegetables & Noodles with Pumpkin Custard and Ricotta Stuffed Strawberries

 Nest Eggs

Parmesan Rice with Turkey Sausage 

Delicata Squash and Lentil Salad

Southwest Quinoa Cake

Broccoli Rabe Pizza

Pear Arugula Stuffed Chicken Breast

Mexican Beef Chili and Cheesy Baked Pear

Dressed Up Cornbread

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Countertop Sprouts

Quick Chicken Pho

Fig Glazed Turkey with Cornbread Stuffing

Chai Chocolate Cake

 

 Chickpea Tagine

I am planning to add a second blog for my culinary creations. If you'd like visit my Pinterest page, The Meal Planner and let me know what you think!