Stay tuned. We’ve had lots of adventures.

So much to keep up with. What’s a girl to do? Make a board.

This one has all the scores from JC’s soccer team in Louisville (niece), JC’s soccer team in Lexington (nephew), University of Kentucky football, Chelsea FC and Nottingham Forest FC. England to be added later this evening. Both the JC’s text me their scores after every game, which is a nice consolation since I can’t attend … eight hours is a bit too far to drive for a Saturday afternoon game. I have a sneaky suspicion that Louisville JC doesn’t text me the losing games … but we hope she remembers: To play in the face of adversity helps you learn to overcome adversity. So when you’re up against a coach or team mate in the pros that giving you sh*t, think back to 9th grade soccer and tell them to go on wid their bad selves!

Be Aggressive

B.E. Aggresive!!

Virginia is lovely. I really do mean that. There’s lots to see and do. The people are friendly. The scenery is beautiful. I like it here, I do. But having lived in Lexington, Kentucky for 28 years, there are certain things I miss. One of those things is the culinary selection. Here are some of my faves:

• Sunrise Bakery – On most Saturday mornings (yes, even the cold ones), Hubbs and I would take a walk in downtown Lexington. Our walk almost always ended with a trip to Sunrise Bakery for some pastries and Illy coffee. Hubbs would inevitably gobble down a couple of made from scratch croissants while I always tried something different each time. My favorite was the fig roll, drizzled in honey and packed full with walnuts.
• Doodles – Another favorite breakfast spot is Doodles. On one fine morning about a year ago, we were walking downtown with Wellington. (I sure do miss you Bubs.) We stopped by Doodles and asked them if we could eat outside on the patio – after all, Welly was an old farm dog with no dishonorable intentions. The owner said sure and before we knew it, she was bringing a bowl of water and some freshly cooked bacon out for Welly. You can’t go wrong with a farm to table concept and an affinity for dogs. I always ordered The Cure while Hubbs snacked on Pigs and Puffs, which translates to bacon and beignets.
• Bombay Bar & Grill – If you know me and Hubbs, you know we love Indian food. Usually we’d end up at Masala or Tandoor whenever we just had to have some Saag Gosht or Rogan Josh. But on special occasions, we always went to Bombay. I had chicken shorba once and said it was the best soup I’d ever tasted. And you can’t go wrong no matter what you eat. But by far my favorite meal when I visit Bombay is the Chettinadu with lamb. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever even ordered their Palak Paneer, which has become my standby Indian dinner. The owners also run Banana Leaf – the same, excellent quality food in a modest atmosphere.
• Grey Goose – We had just discovered the Goose before we moved from Lexington. We went with friends and had the best night ever. Well, except for that other night. I ordered a pizza with an egg fried on top. It just sounded so off the wall that I had to try it. The atmosphere is warm and friendly with a mahogany bar and hardwood floors. You could go for drinks (I’m sure they have a variety of bourbons) or enjoy a family dinner of pizza and other snack foods.
• Giuseppes – Another classic. We took Hubbs’ mum there for mother’s day one year. She and I sipped on mimosas and coffee while the other two ordered pancakes. Brunch is my favorite time to go. Still, Hubbs and I have spent many a nights celebrating in that place. There’s jazz in the bar and a nice wine menu. You just can’t go wrong with Giuseppes. And it was just two minutes from our house in Lexington.
• The Village Host – The best salad bar in town, bar none. I haven’t even tried their pizza. I try to emulate the same salad here but it’s just not the same. I’ve introduced everybody in my family to this place … and they still go. Man it’s just the bomb.
• The Fresh Market - Say it’s the weekend. You don’t want to cook but you want some good finger foods. Run down to The Fresh Market and grab some freshly cooked hot wings, shrimp cocktail, a hunk of cheese, some kettle chips, don’t forget those big black grapes, oh and olives … you can’t have a feast without kalamatas. Grab a six-pack of cold Bass. You might as well throw in a tin of Illy coffee while you’re at it. And maybe some licorice all-sorts or other candy. What you’ve got there is a party! I realize TFM is a grocery store but lordy we miss it when we just don’t feel like breaking out the grill.

So that’s it. There are so many more places I could have listed but if I had a month in Lexington, I’d be sure to hit every one of them. There is so much more to do in Lexington than eat. Check out a few of the things we’ve done:

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

Bluegrass Bouldering

World Equestrian Games

About a month ago, I went out to lunch with a friend of mine who had moved from Kentucky to Virginia. She lives about an hour north of Stafford. When she moved to Virginia a few years ago, she got it in her head that she wanted to become a runner. And runner she became. I’m not sure if she’s run a full marathon yet but I’m pretty sure she’s run a half.

During the course of our conversation, she mentioned that she’s going to do a 5K in the coming months and told me I should do it too. I scoffed. “My hip,” I said, “can’t take it anymore.” And I wasn’t lying. Actually, it’s my SI joint that flares and puts me on the couch even if I spend a day cleaning. I’ve had a back injection, applied heat and ice, taken countless ibuprofen … all of these things lessen the intensity but alas, the burning and pain persist. I’ve tried to pick up running a few times in the past couple of years but every time I do, the SI joint screams loudly and I can’t even walk for a couple of days afterwards. Still, it was like my friend planted a seed somewhere deep inside my head.

A week or so ago, I was reading an article in Fitness Magazine. The article mentioned the reason why beginning runners quit so soon is because they try to do too much in the beginning. Another seed planted. In previous years, I had tried to run at the same pace I was running when I actually ran on a regular basis. I started doing research. I bought Runner’s World Magazine. Lo and behold, there was another article saying “start slow.” This was now a project. I developed a plan, which included two things:

• Couch to 5K – a beginner’s running schedule that helps newbies reach their fitness goals in a safe, reasonable amount of time.
• Thoroughbred Classic 5K – a race on Thanksgiving morning at Keeneland in Kentucky.

Nuttin’ like thumpin’ to get the endorphins pumpin.

It all begins with the girls … J-Lo might be oh so annoying on American Idol but one of my favorite albums by her is On the 6. Before Afleck, before J Lo, she was simply Jennifer Lopez. This song pretty much says it all for me right now.

Feelin’ So Good – Jennifer Lopez

What is it with Gwen Stefani and Japan? Hell, I don’t know. And I don’t care. Yummy is obnoxiously cool, though.

Yummy – Gwen Stefani

No excuses. I can just imagine Beyonce up there on stage shifting those Amazon shoulders left to right. Who run the wo-orld … who run this mutha … who run this mutha.

Run the World (Girls) – Beyonce

Blink is BAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKK!!!!!!

Up All Night - Blink 182

For those of you who never heard of Red, Hot + Riot, download it. For those of you who downloaded it and loved it, Red, Hot + Rio released just a few months ago. Best track on it:

Boa Reza – Vanessa de Mata, Seu Jorge & Amaz

You could begin your workout with The E.N.D. and end it with The E.N.D.

Missing You – Black-Eyed Peas

Puff Daddy, P Diddy, now Diddy. Whatever you want to call yourself. I used to think “Get over yourself!” Then I saw Diddy Dirty Money on the Jonathan Ross Show. Damn the man for canceling that show from BBC America. I hear he’s starting again on iTV. Too bad we don’t get it here in the states.

Hello, Good Morning – P Diddy and Diddy Dirty Money

Next up? Yoga playlist.

As you know, Hubbs and I love to walk on Saturday mornings. Since we moved to Stafford, we’ve most often walked around the town of Fredericksburg, visiting the Farmer’s Market, Eileen’s Bakery and the Olde Towne Butcher. We never took the stinkies because it was just a lot to harness up three guys, get them in the car, take them for a walk and get them home comfortably. Most of the time old Welly couldn’t handle the distance that the other guys could. And inevitably, someone always ended up barfing in the car. After Welly’s passing a few weeks ago, however, we decided to put more effort into taking the little guys with us on our excursions. Since dogs aren’t yet welcome at Eileen’s and Olde Towne, we decided to try something different … the Fredericksburg Battlefield. I took Fred. Hubbs took Chalks and off we walked.

Just as soon as we got out of the car, Fred made his own mark on the place. Consequently, he trotted along happily all the way up the trail. Chalky was a bit of a different story. Our guess is he ate one of those tasty pies in the yard because what came out later looked like a nice tasty pie. But I digress. The trail is a mere 20 minutes, there and back again. Once you reach the pinnacle of Lee’s Hill, you’re rewarded with a treat – artillery! Apparently one of these bad boys is a Parrot. Wouldn’t it be nice to sit up here with a sketch pad and just draw these dark beauties?

Fred especially enjoyed this marker.

As did Chalky.

I guess if I really wanted to draw, I could enlarge this picture and go for it. It might also be nice as a watercolor – if I knew how to paint with watercolors. Which reminds me. I was going to paint that birdhouse … might be a good weekend to try and get that done with the hurricane coming and all. Paint by candlelight?

Hubbs noticed the lands and grooves on this cannon, also known as rifling. I looked at him like he had three heads but took the picture anyway. Apparently rifling means that this artillery didn’t make use of cannons. Instead, they used shells and the rifling would put a spin on the shell for more accuracy. Deadly is what I say. Simple as that.

When we first welcomed Chalks to our home, walking him was a terrible chore. He was terrified of everything … blades of grass, rolling clouds, the sunshine. Those days are long gone. He does veer away from people on bikes, people with dogs and people in general, but who doesn’t! Months and months of walking and getting wrapped up in his lead and carrying him home and making him get out there again have resulted in a little parson russell who salivates when you say the “w” word.

It got a little hot out there for the boys. After all, Chalks wasn’t feeling well after eating that lovely pie from the back yard. So we gave them some fresh water from the cooler then drove over to Marye’s Heights. I really do like this little park. Hubbs and I had been the previous weekend with the boys, who weren’t allowed in the cemetary. We did discover a lovely tree up on the hill. I can’t remember what it was called but there are many witness trees around the area, if you’re into that sort of thing – and having moved to Virginia, we are into that kind of thing.

I love this stone wall. It reminds me of the stone walls in the Bluegrass state, in particular the ones you might see at Shakertown.

Check out some other places we’ve visited in Virginia:

National Harbor

Rappahannock River

Williamsburg

Located in Olde Town Manassas just underneath a water tower, The Farmer’s Market in Manassas, Virginia is small but populated by a variety of local vendors selling everything from fruits and vegetables to crepes, ice cream and popcorn.

We visited on a sunny Saturday morning, looking for a few nuggets to round out our grocery shop for the week. Our purchases? Green tomatoes, spicy garlic, juicy plums, tart apples and some rosemary foccacia bread.

The market is located just in front of the visitor’s center, which is located at the Manassas VRE. The current station is the site of historical Civil War battles. If you’re a history buff, there are plenty of plaques placed strategically around the entire town, inspiring meditation on times past. If you’re not a history buff, there are plenty of boutique shops, galleries and restaurants to whet your whistle.

We walked around the small town. Hubbs found this fire alarm quite interesting. I thought he was interestingly cute standing in front of it.

I had to snap this photo of Mackey’s, a sports bar that we walked by. Mackey is the nickname my parents gave to their Bassett Hound, Max.

After walking around, we stopped at Foster’s Grille, a local hamburger joint that delivers made-to-order burgers, fries, onion rings and shakes for a bite to eat. It was either that or Italian, and we didn’t see antipasta on the menu.

Neither one of us thinks we’d be able to live in Manassas – it’s just too far of a drive for Hubbs to take on every day. But we may move just south of Manassas … only time will tell.

Read about some of the other areas we’ve explored in Virginia:

Occuquan

Monticello

Mt.Vernon

I have to admit, not all of my experiments are successful but Hubbs usually smiles and says, “It’s lovely,” though he might add, “it just needs a little something but I can’t put my finger on it.”

Cooking is creative. Trying a new recipe – and succeeding at it – gives me a small sense of accomplishment. And cooking is also great for sharing. After all, what office doesn’t like a little lasagna party every now and then?

When I need recipe ideas, there are a few go-to blogs that I visit:

Easy Meals Examiner - This gal is a friend of mine and also one mighty fine cook! She can also bake, which is something I’d like to experiment with in the coming months … maybe when I have visitors so all of that flour, sugar and butter doesn’t apply itself directly to my hips.

Jamie Oliver - Jamie Oliver is absolutely my favorite food celebrity. His recipes are rustic and layered with flavor. I’ve learned how to cook by reading his blog, watching his cooking shows and sitting for hours flipping through his recipe books. It’s definitely been a Food Revolution in my house. 

The Pioneer Woman - Ree Drummond (am I spelling that right?) totally rocks. And it was my pal the Easy Meals Examiner who actually introduced me to P-Dub. My favorite recipe is chicken tikka masala – actually not a Pioneer recipe but rather a Pastor Ryan recipe.

Smitten Kitchen – Seriously, who does not love a pastry … or any food, for that matter. And this is comfort food to the max. One recipe I’m dying to try is creme brulee french toasts.

I’ve tried my fair share of recipes, and some I’ve shared here. I may not have the photography skills these guys have, but if you come to my house, you’ll be sure to enjoy something delicious … it just might be from the kitchen of one of these fine bloggers.

Greek-inspired chicken marinade

Brie en Croute

Roast lamb, roast potatoes and Mitchie Tavern Corn Pudding

Sahara is about an eight-hour drive away. So how can I create my own version of melt-in-your-mouth chicken right here in my little old Stafford kitchen? I didn’t want to go to the grocery so I had to make due with what I had on hand. The result of my experiment wasn’t half bad!

Ingredients:

• Five chicken breasts (bone-in or boneless, skin-on or skinless…you choose!)
• 1 Tablespoon each: Dried Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme
• Juice and zest of one lemon
• 3/4 cup olive oil (or any old oil that you love)
• 1 head of garlic

Place the chicken breast in a one-gallon sealable freezer bag. Sprinkle in one tablespoon each of oregano, rosemary and thyme. Cut the top of the garlic head and drop it in the bag too. In a cup, zest and juice one lemon. Fill the rest of the cup with oil. Pour over the chicken. Seal the bag, making sure to crush out as much air as possible. Turn the bag upside down and right-side up a few times to mix all the ingredients. Let the chicken marinade for a few hours to a day. In fact, I just made a batch and placed it in the freezer. I’ll pull it out later this week, let it thaw and cook it.

Now you could just bake this chicken on 375 for 30-40 minutes but we wanted to add a little charbroiled flavor. We baked it for about 30 minutes in a 375 degree (F) oven then transferred that chicken onto the grill. Hubbs said he cooked it for a total of eight minutes, flipping it over every two minutes. Pull it off the grill and place on a lovely serving platter. Let it rest for five to ten minutes. Serve. We served with a bit of basmati rice, flavored with sea salt and fennel and a bit of broccoli.

Let me know how your turns out!

The day that I dropped you off at the kennel, you jumped right up into the back seat and sat there patiently. Then, we we arrived and I pulled you out of the car first, you happily followed me in, greeting every dog in the place with a sniff. You wagged your tail when I bent down to kiss your head, whispering, “you’re such a good boy.” When the tech came to get you, you looked back at me nervously. I felt a tinge in my heart but, as always, kept a smile on my face so you would feel okay about being led off by a stranger.

Two days later, I got the call. I walked into the run where you laid splayed out flat, your head next to your water bowl. The concrete floor was wet where they had sprayed it out. In the run next to you were your brothers, jumping up, confused, and wet. I demanded the tech take you outside so I could see what was going on. You could barely stand and I really don’t even think you knew who I was at that point. I thought maybe you’d had a stroke. Something was definitely wrong. There was no way you were staying there another moment. Hubbs picked you up and carried you to the car. S, J, M and J stroked you and talked to you. Already you looked more like yourself. Your breathing was off but you were alert and looking around. Hubbs carried you inside and laid you in your bed. You seemed so much better, yet something wasn’t quite right. Was it your hips? Had they gone out? Had you had a stroke? I couldn’t place my finger on it. We gave you half of one of Fred’s pain pills just in case. After that, you laid down but your breathing was labored … something I had never heard.

Instincts told me to get you to the emergency vet immediately. My heart was ripped apart as they carried you away. I wanted to be with you. I didn’t want you to be alone. We sat in the waiting room forever. And forever. When we finally got to come back and see you, you were sitting quietly in a cage on a lambswool blanket. I kissed you right on the cheek, where you are the softest, and told you I loved you. I didn’t realize it was the last kiss you would know from me.

The doctor at the emergency clinic was nice enough, and confident. But she was young – a new grad. She didn’t even know how to read an EKG. I had no one else to turn to for help. We were new to the area, after all. I had dried up all my resources. We left you in her hands, hoping you’d feel better in the morning. I had plans to call Whitney and talk to her about what we might do to help you. That opportunity never presented itself.

At 4:30 in the morning, Hubbs woke up and asked me to call and check on you. You had fallen when they took you out to use the bathroom. We gave them permission to give you lidocaine – but the vet said you may go into cardiac arrest. When I hung up the phone and looked at Hubbs, we both knew. It was time.

We drove to the clinic and were routed to a room. You were brought in and laid on a blanket. One look at you told us we had made the right decision. You no longer knew us. I can only hope that our voices penetrated the pain you must have been in as you laid in that clinic during your last few moments. I hope you heard Hubbs telling you what a good boy you are and how much we love you. I think you know.

Now you’re just not here and it’s so quiet without you. Gone is the sargeant bark and the talking – oh the talking you used to do. At me when you wanted to go outside or just when you wanted a kiss or a hug. At the two little guys as a referee to their squabbles. At just about anything. We used to *shush* you because we were in a townhouse. Now I would give anything just to hear one little *brrph* out of your big beautiful stinky mouth. We had just commented that you were in such great shape for 11. You were running and jumping like you hadn’t done in years. Hubbs took you for walks every morning, except when you just didn’t feel like getting up.

You were my Big Bubbs, my Welly, my protector. There is such a big hole in my heart where you used to live. Now I have my memories but what I wouldn’t give to kiss your stinky head again or bury my head into your giant neck just one more time. I miss you Wellington. You are loved.