Sister Sick again...

As you probably saw from sister's blog we had an amazing time when her, J.d and Guinness came to visit us (thank you again for driving so far...and then some more)! The only thing now is that I already miss her like crazy again! Jeeze-when is this going to get easier.

I felt bad making them drive an hour farther to the cabin, but there is just something about this place that relaxes you and makes you forget how stressed you are or what your going through or even that your best friend of a sister will eventually have to go back home... I knew they would enjoy that charm-and I think they got it!

...I wish we had a few more days, but beggars can't be choosy and it was a magical weekend.

I swear it looks like we are just photo shopped into this one.

It's such a pretty time of the year-all the color changes are so bright and vibrant up here! Guin Guin loved swimming and catching those pine cones and sticks and water bottles and fish and bobbers on fishing poles...;) anything!

I keep waking up hoping it was back to last Thursday when they were coming. It makes me glad that the holidays are around the corner. Ugh, sister you know just what to say and just what to do to make me feel like ...me! I love you so much and enjoyed every minute of that weekend.

Thanks to my wonderful tour guide - Love you Gregory ;)

p.s sorry this took so long-my computer decided to crash so I had to get it fixed!

Retail Therapy

This weekend Greg was gone on a guy's hunting trip. So to try and take my mind off work I decided to shop till I dropped. Last weekend Greg and I went to a few thrift and/or antique consignment stores and I saw some flyers for 2 antique markets going on this Saturday in Anderson. I am so glad that I went they were so fun and there was a bunch of great stuff for good prices. I already can't wait until next years. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the ranches where the sales were located and like a city slicker I wore flip flops lol... I guess when they say antique barn sale it really is in a barn ;) he he. The atmosphere definitely helped relieve some stress.

This event was called The Antique barn sale, I went to this one first and founds a cute domed cupcake plate.

lol see how close we were to goats and horses... awesome!


The second ranch I went to was huge and beautiful! This event was called Roses and Rust-there was so many vendors and yummy tamales too ;)

cute displays!

Here is what I came home with... cupcake dome and cage plant thingy lol

This wicker cloche. Had to have it! Inside it are velvet pumpkins Claudia made, I working on making some too...we will see lol

I bought this lil cheese plate for $4. The bottom was marble so I spray painted it black.

I also, wanted to do a little decorating to the house because I hadn't quite gotten to that yet he he.. Since all the walls here are white and bland I wanted to add some color to all the neutrals we already have.

before...blah

Ta-da. I saw this idea in a magazine and fell in love. I like having two shower curtains to look more like it's framing the shower. I looked everywhere for a blue and white shower curtain...shopping here so sucks and on my second trip to Target I decided on this paisley print.

Love these shower hooks! I just alternated with the ones we already had so I only had to buy 1 box of these.

I got a cheap tray at Tuesday Morning and spray painted in black.

Looka t this cute candle holder from Tuesday morning they have an antique collection lol I am in love with the chicken wire!

Whiskeytown Lake

The nice part about living out in the middle of no where is all the cool outdoorsy stuff that is close by. Today we woke up went to breakfast (black bear diner-I think an omen) and then to Whiskeytown lake only 20ish minutes away.

Our fifth graders fund raise money to get to come to a week long camp here and it's a really pretty place where you can hike, fish, swim, kayak and sail.

We went on a short hike by a creek.

And right here a black bear crossed the road in front of us -so cool (see an omen lol) too bad my trigger finger wasn't fast enough and I didn't get the shot.






I am still amazed on how clear the water in is Northern California.






Greg and I are planning on coming this week in the evening on a hot day to have a picnic dinner and take a swim.




There has been so much on our minds it was nice to relax and see some of the sights around us.

PW'S Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce

We actually got out a little this weekend, which was a nice and much needed change (this job is a blessing, but takes a toll on you with 28 little love bugs running around...yes some of them actually running lol). We scoped out some local sights including the sun dial bridge and a farmer's market at Turtle Bay.

We both have been eye balling peaches lately and these were so soft and juicy-so we got a few pounds because I wanted to make a peach dessert.





It feels weird doing a food post lol it seems like forever since I have baked of cooked something new...for the last month we have been eating whatever we had in the pantry and quick thrown together dinners, so it was nice to try a new recipe.



I was so excited to read on someones blog that The Pioneer Women
one of my all time favorite bloggers/cookbook author is getting her own cooking show on the food network! I am totally going to DVR it and it premieres this Saturday.


So in her Honor I decided to make her Peach crisp and it turned out way yummy!


To make the Maple cream sauce (I made it ahead of time because it needs to chill in the fridge)
you pour 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, 5 tbs. maple syrup and 3tbs. light Corn Syrup in a sauce pan. Stir over medium heat until thick and reducing about 1/3. She noted that this takes about 15 minutes so I stuck with that...after you put it in the fridge it thickened up a lot more too.





To start the crumble in a medium bowl mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and nutmeg and 1/4 tsp salt using a fork or I used a pastry Blender.






Cut butter into small pieces and add to flour mixture.

Then peel and cut up 5-6 peaches and add the zest and juice from 1/2 a lemon.

Add 2 tbs real maple syrup to peaches and stir.

Put peach mixture in small pan (8" or 9 ") and cover evenly with crumb topping.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, then take foil off and cook for 20-30 more minutes... I kept mine in for 35-40 minutes after because it was having problems crisping up-real juicy peaches!

Serve warm and drizzle Maple sauce all over ! Yummo!

Meet- and -Greet

Ready or not... School starts this week! I am a barrel of nerves and excitement. Tomorrow we have a meet and greet with the incoming kinders and then school starts Thursday! Thanks to Claudia (who came and I worked to the bone-sorry!) the room is all set and I have been spending my time planning and tinkering lol.

For those who say teachers are lucky to have summers off have never had to set up a classroom...and in a week no less. Although the long days and sleep lacking nights, I know as I see all those excited faces coming in my door -looking up to me-it will be completely worth it!

I'll give you the tour of my home away from home...

Play area, library/computer area/small group/intervention table, my desk

Calendar and cubby area

At the moment I have 25 on the roster, but it has been changing...16 boys 9 girls ;)

Wow! I can't believe the first day is almost here...

What else we have been up to...

http://s940.photobucket.com/albums/ad250/ecklesstephanie/?action=view&current=blogphotos002-1.mp4

I took a video with my camera of the house, but it was taking days for it to upload so here is the like to it on photo bucket-hope it works.

Sorry for the distance friends and family, Greg and I are pooped...busy busy busy! xoxo

Hello outside world!

WOW WOW WOW...these past weeks have been a whirl wind and it's going to stay that way. Ever heard the term be careful what you wish for? ....why? because it will probably happen all at once and you won't have time to catch your breath, or eat, or pee...or remember your own name!

That being said we are so blessed and I am soooooo excited beyond words to have my CAREER(isn't it great people)! I mean only having a week to setup and plan for a brand new kindergarten year is a small price to pay for getting this tremendous experience I have been dying for (more like whining for I think lol).

Well here is your first glimpse of Ms. Eckles' Kindergarten Classroom :). he he...

So I was at the school for ummm.... 8 hours today and this is what the room still looks like. You must be thinking I'm crazy, but this picture was taken after 2 giant loads of unwanted things were removed and two loads of trash. See this room became a storage room-good for me because teachers put lots of goodies in here that will definitely help a first year teacher! not so good because I had to spend a day to go through it.

So basically this weekend and next week this classroom will be my life, my hopes are that I can actually start decorating by Monday... then oh I guess doing a little thing like planning what were going to do the first week of school lol. Thankfully there is a really great kinder team and principal...the whole school really, that are very supportive and helpful. I'll post more when it's close to a finishing stage...hopefully that's before the first day of school lol.