Friday, July 8, 2011

Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

I've been thinking about you a lot today. I miss you and wish you could be here. I often feel pushed and pulled into so many directions with this wedding and it would be nice to have you here to help guide me.

I'm headed into my last couple weeks at home. I've worked hard in helping Dad with your babies and with the house.
Honestly, sometimes my siblings feel a little like my own and I love them more than anything and the thought of leaving them breaks my heart. You gave birth to some *amazing* young men and an *incredible* young woman.

I try not to think about leaving since it makes me want to cry. Adam is my one and only and I want to marry him more than anything. But I worry about them even though I know they'll be alright. They are all grown now and don't need me. So I'm sure once again I am the one needing them more than they need me. They have stolen my heart and I'm going to miss them.

I'm trying to tie up my loose ends around the house. I'm painting the dining room. I hope to get to the kitchen and hallway before I leave in August. I've tried to paint every room as dramatic as possible. I remember how much you loved Mrs. L. B.'s house and her striking paint color in every room.
I've painted the hall bathroom a bright purple. Almost everyone comments on how bright it is and all I can think is, "Well, Mom would have loved it".
I painted the living room a deep red. It's definitely the defining feature of the room. And I'm in the midst of painting the dining room two colors. The wall has chair-rail wood trim and I've painted the wall above the trim a shimmering gold and the wall below a glistening bronze. I plan to have elegant burgundy curtain to bring the living room and dining room together. It will definitely be dramatic and I know you would love it.

I hope you are proud of the work I've done, the time spent, the love given. I've worked hard to fulfill your desire for me to care for my siblings. I hope you don't regret prepping me to be home.
I pray I've given enough to my siblings. I was/am not always the best example and I've failed many, many times. But I do love them and I do want the best for them. I hope they know that.

I know the Lord's plans are best but I wish with all my heart you were still here and were able to be here for my wedding. I love you and miss you so much.

Love,
Lydia

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Lydia & Ree

Forget Julie & Julia, I give you: Lydia & Ree (The Pioneer Woman)!

I am engaged. My fiance, Adam (my own MM: Music Man), has roots deep in the heart of Tennessee. We're talkin' good ol' southern food that'll make your knees quake and your tummy settle low in your middle (probably literally considering the amount of butter it takes Paula Deen to make any southern dish).

So I'm on a mission: to make sure my cooking skills are up to par with MM's mom and aunt.

I've never been a bad cook but I have not cooked as much as I used to and even though I've been cooking since the ripe young age of 11....AND even though my brother, Spank, has always told me I'm a better cook than McDonald's (that's *got* to be pretty good!) I'm still worried. I want Adam to LOVE my cooking. And I want to feel confident in my cooking for him.

The race is on! I've got a month and a half until we say "I Do" so I'm cooking a meal with a recipe or two from The Pioneer Woman cookbook at least once a week. I bought it probably a year ago and haven't cooked a thing! shame on me.


also please do not take notice of my free weights, dirty laundry, shoes, etc., on my floor.




Tonight was my beginning! I fried up some Chicken Fried Steak and Mashed Potatoes. O.M.G. They were both soooo good!

I don't have pictures of the steak cooking because I forgot about my camera until it was too late.

my beginning mess





the end project:


The potatoes were a joint effort with the brothers and Pop. They cooked potatoes, mashed them, and then I added some pepper and baked them in the oven after putting more butter on the top.



I think supper turned out pretty well. The guys grilled asparagus, mushrooms, corn, and peaches while I was cooking (too many starches I know! It hit me after we all sat down).  


I know they are all more than happy to help Adam out by taste-testing! Cup-bearers fit for a king!

Lesson for the night: I need to come up with a way to keep my meat warm if we have to wait for grilled veggies to finish.

I'm getting there. 

Overall: no complaints. at. all. 

Meal #1 with Lydia & Ree down! A couple more to go and Music Man will be one happy hubby when all is said and done.