Ben & Beth » Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com poolhouse blue & barlic just didn't cut it. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:24:40 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Sometimes you just have to eat all the cookie dough. http://www.benandbethwest.com/2012/01/sometimes-you-just-have-to-eat-all-the-cookie-dough/ http://www.benandbethwest.com/2012/01/sometimes-you-just-have-to-eat-all-the-cookie-dough/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:24:40 +0000 Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com/?p=1743 A recent conversation (over a computer) between Ben (poolhouseblue) & I:

 

poolhouseblue:  so, i got home and the freezer was a little bit open, something pushed the door open a bit from inside, everything seemed ok except the bit of fruit and the icecream, which was totally melted.

so i ate all the cookie dough out of it and threw the rest away
me:  lol
poolhouseblue:  that seemed to be the best solution
me:  obviously

 

]]> http://www.benandbethwest.com/2012/01/sometimes-you-just-have-to-eat-all-the-cookie-dough/feed/ 0 Christmas Day http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/christmas-day/ http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/christmas-day/#comments Mon, 26 Dec 2011 01:57:27 +0000 Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com/?p=1701 We had a low-key Christmas this year. We stayed at home, just the two of us. Might be the first time we’ve done that in 8 years of marriage.

We talked with our families via phone & skype. And missed being with all of them. But this has been a full year for us (traveling-wise) & having just moved a few weeks ago, it has been nice to have a few very quiet days at home (and at work.)

It has been hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit this year, I think because of all the craziness of the last month. But we did do a few things to get all holly & jolly…

  • We went to see the 91st presentation of Handel’s Messiah by the Lutheran churches here in town. It’s a small presentation, but we always really enjoy the simple simplicity of it.
  • We made & decorated Christmas cookies with our small group & gave them to our neighbors. (We also ate some of them ourselves.)
  •  We continued our tradition of getting our Christmas trees with our friends the Burrys. Love those Wilkinsons!


  • We went downtown to go ice skating with some friends from our small group. There’s a really big tree down there. Really big.

  • And today after church we came home & made aebleskivers for lunch. They aren’t something we make very often, so it’s always a fun treat.

Merry Christmas!

 

]]> http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/christmas-day/feed/ 1 This year I… http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/this-year-i/ http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/this-year-i/#comments Sat, 24 Dec 2011 19:27:26 +0000 Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com/?p=1691
  • Cut my hair pretty short. And I wish I would have done it a long time ago. I love it!
     
  • Started selling my cards more at local craft shows. I even have them in a retail store in Northwest Arkansas!https://www.facebook.com/mustachegw
  • Took a road trip along old Rte. 66 to Oklahoma City.
  • Got snowed into our apartment for a whole week. (Which I sort of loved.)
  • Started taking Pilates classes. (Which we LOVE).
  • Discovered that the stick of butter that is called for in my corn casserole recipe is not entirely necessary. I put a stick of butter in the microwave to melt it; made the casserole; ate it (& it tasted awesome, as it usually does.) The next day at lunch when I opened the microwave to re-heat a piece I found the butter like this. Crazy that I didn’t notice it was missing AT ALL.

  • Spent two weeks in Uganda.

  • Spent 2 weeks in Europe.

    • [Our typical lunch meal. Bread + Cheese + Nutella]

    • Went to a family reunion in Estes Park.
    • Started working full time at our church as the Guest Services Director. This is one of my favorite things I’ve done so far. It’s a wall of canvases in the Cafe Mosaic/lobby area.

    • Installed a coffee bar in our dining room.

    • celebrated our 8th anniversary.
    • moved.
    It has been a full year. We’ve had some wonderful adventures, and shared life with some wonderful people.
    ]]>     http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/this-year-i/feed/ 0     Thirty Days of Thankful: Day 30 http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-30/ http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-30/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:15:34 +0000 Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com/?p=1681 I am also thankful for travel & adventures. Specifically the ones we were able to have this year.

     

    I saw Africa (or at least a small portion of it). And I saw Europe (again, a small portion of it).

    {This is me turning 31 over a banana & chocolate Dutch pancake.}
    {In Amsterdam.}
    {Which was approximately the size of my face.}

    I am a blessed lady.

    ]]>     http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-30/feed/ 0     Thirty Days of Thankful: Day 29 http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-29/ http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-29/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:07:40 +0000 Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com/?p=1679 I know, I know. It’s December. (Well into December, actually.)

    But I am thankful for people in our lives who care for us. Who look out for us. Who encourage us. And who challenge us. We are blessed.

    ]]>     http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/12/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-29/feed/ 0     Thirty Days of Thankful: Day 28 http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-28/ http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-28/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:35:18 +0000 Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com/?p=1677 I am thankful for stories {books & movies} that remind us where we’ve come from. I just recently finished “Amazing Grace” {movie} & “The Help” {movie, then book}.

     

    I am grateful we are where we are now, but am hopeful for more change {love for each other} to come.

    ]]>     http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-28/feed/ 0     Thirty Days of Thankful: Day 27 http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-27/ http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-27/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:33:20 +0000 Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com/?p=1674 I am thankful for this guy:

    He has done a really great job taking care of me during this crazy-I-can’t-take-any-more month.

     

    {And I’m thankful for the lovely Esther for this amazing shot!}

    ]]>     http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-27/feed/ 2     Thirty Days of Thankful: Day 26 http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-26/ http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-26/#comments Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:00:31 +0000 Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com/?p=1669 I am thankful for these tomatoes.

    We planted them in the spring. And {amazingly} they survived the millions of days this summer with 100+ degree heat.

    {And near misses w/ tornadoes}

    {And earthquakes}

    {And freezing temps at night}

     

    They finally started producing tomatoes in September. And when it started freezing at night, we would bring them in off the porch & then put them back outside the next morning. After only a few days of this I got tired of lugging them in & out. {They are heavy!}

    So I just started leaving them out there. And a few days after, I realized the tomatoes were still green. I figured they’d never ripen because it hasn’t been getting very warm {or sunny} lately. So I picked them all off, and thought about frying them up.

    But they sat in the bowl on the counter for a few days before I did anything with them. And then one day, I realized they were turning red.


    I’m calling these my “magic tomatoes”. They are troopers.

    ]]>     http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-26/feed/ 0     Thirty Days of Thankful: Day 25 http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-25/ http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-25/#comments Sat, 26 Nov 2011 01:59:18 +0000 Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com/?p=1663 I am thankful for the holiday of being thankful. We had a nice time taking a break from packing & moving decision-making with a Community meal at church, a visit to New Life Ranch, and Thanksgiving dinner outside by a fire with Ben’s parents.
    And today we continued one of my favorite traditions: cutting down our Christmas tree.


    We always meet our friends, Tom & Leah there. And this year Levi was introduced to this Burry/West tradition. He might have been less than enthused. But he sure is cute!

    And of course, we finish the outing at our favorite {Tahlequah} pizza place.

    ]]>     http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-25/feed/ 0     Thirty Days of Thankful: Day 24 http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-24/ http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-24/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:19:46 +0000 Beth http://www.benandbethwest.com/?p=1661 I am thankful for toaster ovens. The best way to reheat leftovers.

    ]]>     http://www.benandbethwest.com/2011/11/thirty-days-of-thankful-day-24/feed/ 1