Outer Banks: Day Six

So today was very busy -- Ned had a presentation and demonstration, and I had an airport run. These photos were from our Monday adventures, but they could very well have been from today. It is FREEZING here. Note my beach attire. Also note Ned's fun: throwing sticks at the water...only to hear them clatter because it's frozen and they land on top.

Outer Banks: Day Five

Today Ned and I went to the pier at lunch. This is the pier operated by the Army Corps of Engineers in Duck, NC. It's 1200 feet long, stretching out into the ocean. It's also very cold and covered by seagulls -- it felt like a Hitchcock movie.

Outer Banks: Day Four

I worked. Ned worked. Evening ended with seafood pizza and meetings. Kathryn and I shopped for the dinner we'll host tomorrow night: 110 guests at our beach house. I'm making the appetizers for the chefs, plus we'll help with general prep: salads, breads, etc. Nothing is as much fun as batch cooking!

Here's a photo of Ned. We really are working while we're here!

Outer Banks: Day Three

Today Ned worked, from about 10 a.m. until late afternoon. I explored on my own, enjoyed a few hours in a coffee shop and local bookstore, and came home for an early nap. This life of leisure will not continue tomorrow, as I'll have to work (today I had the holiday). After his work, Ned came out with me to see the highlights of my exploration: another beautiful lighthouse, the northern section of the Outer Banks, a fenced area where wild horses roam (though we saw none), and a drive-by of a new Harris Teeter grocery store that I'm dying to try out (I know, I know...beach development=BAD, but I make exceptions for a Harris Teeter). This evening was one of good conversation, cold beer, and fabulous hamburgers from a local chain called Five Guys. We were going to go to the Dairy Queen, where they had a 2-for-1 Blizzard special, but we got there half an hour after it closed. I have not felt such disappointment in a long time. I vowed that we'll be back...tomorrow, actually.

We haven't eaten much fresh seafood yet, Chase, but Wednesday night we'll cook fish and shrimp and tons of other foods for hungry conference attendees (about 100 of them). I'm making appetizers for the chef team that'll prep all day Wednesday: deviled eggs and pimiento cheese. Yum.

Today's photos include yet another lighthouse, and the contraption that's responsible for bringing us here: a floating causeway, one of the projects Ned's been working to design.

Where are we, and where did we go?

Here's a map, courtesy of Ned.

Outer Banks, Day Two: Lighthouses

On Day Two, we really were in the Outer Banks. Ned had the day off; it's the only day that we'll be here that we can tour together. We drove about 150 miles, first to Mass at a Catholic Church with a parking lot full of water and a vestibule with the largest indoor statue of Mary I've ever seen. Next we set out on a long day's drive, heading south, down the Outer Banks. We checked out the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and even went to the Lost Colony of Roanoke (though we were never really lost--whew!) The evening ended with a trip to a fabulous Harris Teeter for beer and chips for the big game -- Giants and Packers, two teams playing in a frozen tundra with Mississippi quarterbacks. Tomorrow, we'll head to Duck. So get ready -- there's an entire week of vacation photos on the horizon.

Outer Banks, Day One

Our week in North Carolina began with a snowy morning in Jackson, MS and a snowy afternoon in Virginia Beach, VA (all this, for a week in North Carolina). We took the tour, courtesy of Uncle Jamie -- our YOUNGEST uncle. Here we are, freezing to death for the last minute photo before Ned and I hopped in the car for our two hour commute to the Outer Banks. More updates all week. Hold your breath (really, don't).

Oh, how I long for a gravy boat

I thought that when couples got married, they got lots of sugars & creamers and gravy boats. Isn't that the joke? Everybody gives you the "special pieces" to your dishes, but nobody gives you dinner plates off which to eat? Well, for us, it's different. We were fortunate to get place settings for twelve, but we seem to be missing the gravy boat.

Tonight's Wednesday, china night (as many of our friends know), and I've spent hours cooking the perfect roast with gravy. But now that we're about to serve it, I realize that I don't own the gravy boat for my china! (I'm still not sure what all we have and don't have.) A special request has been made to the Easter Bunny for this missing piece of the puzzle, and tonight we'll serve gravy out of a Pyrex measuring cup -- while we drink out of Waterford crystal. Such is the wackiness of our china night routine.

This is where my husband works...

Thanks to our friend Amy for pointing us to this treasure. Just when did the government find these pins acceptable, I wonder?

A trip to Texas wine country

Day 2 and Austin is great fun. Here we are at the winery where Jessica and Marvin got engaged. This morning: breakfast tacos. For lunch, a Whole Foods extravaganza. And tonight, BBQ in Lockhart. Next week: Wyatt's Gym.

Happy Birthday, Ned!

The thirtieth birthday was a good one, or so it seemed. Ned got 30 beers for his 30 years. Plus a surprise trip to Austin and a new programmable coffee maker. And there were no tears. Only smiles. And ice cream in the face.

Today, 29...Tomorrow, 30

Here's Ned...enjoying his last morning in his twenties. The breakfast bowl you see there is BooBerry. Now that Ned's a married man living in his own house, he eats junkie cereal with impunity.

I am a winner!

After three nights of vigilantly trying to beat RickyRugs in final bidding on eBay, I've done it! Ned and I are the proud owners of a rug for our living room. The best part was when they confirmed that I won with my bid in the final 10 seconds. I got a message with the subject "You're a winner." Definitely beats those "You've been outbid" (read: You're a loser) messages I got in the last ten attempts to buy us a rug.

It's not the favorite rug I've seen on eBay, but it's mine. I'm a winner.

Hometown Contests

Cutest married couples...that's the contest of the week in Valdosta. No kidding:
http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/local/local_story_006002030.html

Prizes include dinner out, a gift certificate for flowers, and a night at an area hotel. Wouldn't you just feel goofy cashing that in?

Geaux Tigers!

It's Monday night on National Street. We've just finished a jambalaya feast. I'm watching the game in the living room. Ned's in the back of the house, trying to cope with my fervent Tiger fandom. If we win, I want to drive across the river/state line and buy a hurricane from the drive-thru bar. Actually, it's not really a drive-thru bar. It's a drive-to-the-end-and-make-a-three-point-turn-and-drive-back-out-kind-of-bar. Ned's not keen on the idea.

Other news today: license plates cost more in Vicksburg than in Oxford...no kidding. Our Zingerman's order arrived today. We'll be eating a lot of bread dipped in olive oil this week. I agreed to host cocktails and hors d'oeuvres for next Friday's progressive dinner with Ned's office mates. It'll be a fun way to meet new people, and it'll give us a hard deadline for finally unpacking the rest of our stuff! Ned and I have failed to win two rugs on eBay today, despite our bid-at-the-last-minute strategy. Maybe we need a new strategy. I e-mailed with my cousin Rachel this morning about details for planning her wedding, scheduled for September 13. Not too terribly long ago, I was the flower girl in her mom's wedding (see photo of me, unhappy about wearing a bonnet).



Ned turns 30 on Friday. We'll head out on his birthday for a weekend trip -- but he doesn't know where. I thought that a birthday surprise might distract him from the momentary sadness that overwhelms you when you leave your twenties. (I speak from experience.)

Our first lazy Saturday

This is the very first Saturday since we were married, way back in August, that we've spent an entire weekend at our home. We started out lazily, sleeping late. Then the day picked up, as I discovered the joys of shopping on eBay (who knew you could buy a rug for $0.99?). Ned installed a screen door off the kitchen porch, we made our first stock-the-kitchen mega shopping trip (Ned guessed the total cost within a dollar), and I made us catfish for dinner. I've lived in Mississippi eight years and this was my first catfish dish. That's a big deal, since I married a boy from the Delta. Ned said it was good; maybe it'll be the first of many. Or, at least, the first of 8, since we bought the "family pack" of filets. US Farm Raised, of course.

Lunch, anyone?

Ned and I found this fabulous lunch spot while driving around Vicksburg this past Sunday. Appetizing advertisement, no?

A Monument to the Bird Dog

On the way home from Valdosta at Christmas, I drove Ned by the monument to the bird dog. These are the kinds of dogs I like...the kind that never need to be fed or walked!

Lists for '07 and '08

As 2007 drew to a close, here's what we learned in the final 24 hours:
--The answer to the question, "Is THIS what it's gonna be like?" is "Yes, THIS is what it's like."
--Our fabulous new knives are very, very sharp. They slice onions as neatly and cleanly as they sliced Mary Beth's left thumb.
--Just when you think you've finished unpacking, a new box is sure to appear.

As 2008 begins, here's what we've learned in the first 24 hours:
--All the kids on our street got firecrackers for New Year's Day, and there must not be school tomorrow.
--Enjoying china night with the Waterford might one day be fun, but right now every move at the table is nerve wracking.
--If anything can doom an undefeated season, buying Hawaii Warrior t-shirts for all the Lasseters is sure to do it.

It's finished!

Check out that chimney. Rather Whoville-ish, no?

Our first married Christmas

I got art. Ned got a Pizza Den t-shirt and a grill. As we share our first Christmas with joint checking, we learn the value of the phrase, "It's the thought that counts."

Christmas in Valdosta

Ned was in the shower, not as eager for Santa as the rest of us. Meanwhile, we lined up for the traditional Christmas morning photo at the end of the hall, with a version of our sister, affectionately known as "Super Sarah."

Valdosta Eats

Sadly, it was closed for lunch. But we're checking again tomorrow.

The gingerbread house continues

Coke Zero celebrates Christmas

I love this stuff! So much so that I shamelessly had Ned photograph me in front of the Winn Dixie holiday display.

The gingerbread house begins

Look for construction updates throughout the holiday. Here's where we started.

Merry Christmas, Georgeanna and Will!

The UPS truck was out working late last night in our neighborhood. Ned and I speculated which lucky neighbors might be getting packages, only to hear a knock on our door! A fabulous wedding gift arrived to us, courtesy of our friends Georgeanna and Will -- a bay leaf wreath, which we've added to our dinner table. Thanks, y'all!

Our beautiful Christmas tree

When I was a kid, my dad used to take off his glasses and watch the Christmas tree. He said it was prettier that way, with the lights all large and fuzzy. I imagine this photo of our tree must be like what he sees without his glasses.

Dec. 18 birthdays

Today my grandpa would have been 86. Wow. Here's a photo of us on the night of my ballet recital. You can tell it was a special occasion because he's wearing tan pants, not his usual navy work pants.

Today Ned's grandmother is 93. We called her with birthday greetings.

There's a lot to be said for minimalist living.

What are we ever going to do with all this stuff? If you've ever wondered what it looks like when lives collide, this is it.

the porch


the dining room


The porch again, because I just can't get over it.


The bedroom. There's a bed under all that mess somewhere.


the office

Here are the before shots. When we finish unpacking, in five years or so (at this rate), we'll share some after shots.

Delta Diners

Here we are, feeling considerably better last night than this morning.

Vicksburg Visitors

We look forward to hosting many visitors when we finally settle in together in Vicksburg. Be warned, however, that -- excepting the bare feet comment -- these rules will apply to houseguests. We're taking a lesson from Nikki's West in Birmingham.

At long last...

comments enabled.

Thanks to Amy for encouragement.

Roy Blount is so funny!

Enjoy this video, filmed at the Sunday session for this October's Southern Foodways Symposium. For more info on the SFA, the great place where I work, visit www.southernfoodways.com.

One last early morning departure

Said "goodbye" to Ned when he departed Oxford at 6:30 a.m. this morning. That was it--our last weekend goodbye. Next weekend I move to Vicksburg, and we'll commence married life in the same house seven days a week. Wish us luck.

Today's news

Newk's has holiday cups!

Lunchtime Shopping

I've made a decision: Ned and I are having a consumable Christmas. What's that? It means that we realize all our friends and family have too much stuff! So what you'll get from us is something to read, eat, enjoy, etc. -- but it will be consumable and, unless you keep the wrapping it comes in, it won't be a gift that lingers around your home after the holidays. So really, it's like two gifts in one.

The items on my Christmas list aren't all consumable, however. I was shopping online for art at lunch today. Here's an artist -- a Marianist monk -- who is represented by a gallery that Ned and I used to visit in Nashville. I love his stuff. I mostly love his images of the Holy Family, but they must be out...holiday shoppers have snapped them all up. This one's nice, though. See more at http://www.theartscompany.com/theartscompanybrothermelreligious

Why can't I find these in Oxford?

I've been craving these, and another helping of Jimmy's creamed corn, since Saturday!