LeNonne

As a special treat, Heb and I went to LeNonne recently. That place is so good. It's a charming little Italian place in a renovated home. The great thing about this Italian place is that it has a great ambiance and food to match.

Perhaps I only mention this because we've had a couple of unfortunate restaurant experiences. It makes me want to go back when the food and service are impeccable every time, that I don't have to worry if it's going to be good or not.

It was nice to get out and spend some time together. The life of working and doing grad school is not that glamorous. We tried to remember the first time we went there together and I'm convinced it was when I spent a summer working for a local summer theatre. It's been one of those places we go when something really special happens. Like the night we got the good news about Heber getting a job (way back) or the year we went for valentines (hey, it's important to us).

Well, I'm ready to go back just writing about it, the olive appetizer, the homemade ravioli, the gnocchi. Are there any other great restaurants that you know about?

Home

I went home to Grantsville last Sunday. It was good to be home. It's been a while since I've been there. We were there at Christmas but it's different just going home for dinner.

It was Sunday Dinner at it's best. Ribs, homemade rolls, Dad's famous baked beans, fruit salad, potatoes. A beautiful meal on Sundays is something that my family has always had. Mom L says that it goes back to Grandpa Hiss and his time in a fox hole in one of the wars. He said that he never got quite enough good food to eat and that was something they were always going to have. Grandpa Dave, Uncle David, Grandma Barbara and Mattie joined us for dinner.

We went over to see Uncle David's new carwash on Main Street. It's coming right along. It's strange to drive down Main Street and see the new car wash and not Lawrence's Texaco. A staple in my childhood. I can still remember riding my bike over and sitting on the red vinyl stool while sipping a grape soda.

It's not about the town really for me. I mean, I had a very good and happy childhood. But it's more about the people, my family in particular. And yet, mostly because I don't live there anymore, I feel somewhat disconnected. I know the town isn't really home anymore. My family will always be home to me, where ever they are.

By not living there, it almost feels like I'm leaving parts of it behind. Heber and I need to make our life together in a place that works for us. But I don't want to leave the people behind. So, the question is how to move forward as an adult while still staying connected to my roots. This is something I haven't quite figured out yet. How do you balance it?

A First - Giveaway

So, I've decided to do something that I have never done before. It's time for a giveaway on the blog.

Why a giveaway? Well, I am slightly curious about who reads and I have been living in the February blues and need something to cheer me up. It's been a lot of stress, working, being frustrated, working and doing school. I don't think I would've made it through another week without President's Day. Bless those president's for having February birthdays. Although, I'm still working on school stuff today....

I've been making beads on the torch like crazy this month to practice and I need to start clearing out. You should see how they are coming along though, so great! I made this pair but they are just slightly too large for me to wear and I didn't want to have to take them apart. I'm kind of picky about earring sizes. Anyway, I made myself another pair just the same only slightly smaller.


So, all of you out there, leave a comment, and maybe get a beautiful pair of handmade earrings. They are made out of saturated red beads (made especially by me using a torch) and wire. Closes in 1 week.

How's that for fun?

Valentines

It's the week before Valentines Day. This year I have been craving the pink, the red, the hearts. I blame it on January. Not my favorite month.

I am actually a fan of Valentines Day. It's one of those holidays that's fun as a child, not so fun during the awkward teen years (you know you all had them) and finally fun again with a spouse. I've written about this before but Heb and I had only been on a few dates before our first v-day. We went up to Bear Lake for some pizza. We spent the whole evening talking and holding hands. It was the first time that I felt there was some deep potential for our relationship. For that reason, I have a fondness in my heart for a day that brought us closer together.

On that night, he gave me a valentine with a sweet little note. I still have it and still love it.

This year for the love holiday, I wanted a new wreath. I feel like such a domestic, I worry about things like holiday wreaths. Once again, I blame it on the dreariness of January. I wanted to do something unique and that would bring up those memories of our first valentine.

I took myself down to the DI and purchased some frames. I painted them up, dug up some felt for flowers and here you go...



The card is the front of his first valentine. I guess that I always want to remember the little things that made our relationship so special. The things that made me first fall in love with him.

I think it turned out pretty good. It's all a work in progress, right?