City Gardening

I am on a mission to have a beautiful herb garden on my patio this year. I adore fresh herbs but rarely splurge  on them at the grocery store, with the exception of cilantro - I almost always have cilantro :)

The other day at the store, while Scott was shopping for a garden hose, I browsed the seed isle. I ended up sticking basil & chive packets in our buggy, known to the rest of the world as a shopping cart. This past summer I bought potting soil that has been sitting on the patio for 3 seasons and planned on using my empty egg carton to get started.

Yesterday was beautiful and I didn't have a lot going on so I set out to start my garden! The egg carton I had was Styrofoam (I know - It hurts my heart) so I poked a hole in the bottom o each cup with a pen to allow drainage. Then I filled them with my soil and again using my pen, created a spot to drop the seeds and covered with more soil.

Reusing my Styrofoam egg carton to grow seedlings. 

The cast of characters. 

Making a home for the seeds. 

Showing my Oregon pride!

I saw this thing on Pinterest where you can replant the root portion of green onions so I thought I would give that a try too! Making sure I knew what was what, I made little signs so I was sure to know what was growing.

Don't throw out those roots! Replant them!

Curious to see if this works

Making sure not to mix up what is growing.

Giving the seeds some much needed sun.

I'll keep you up on the progress. Hopefully in 10-15 days I'll have little herbs growing!

Livermush

Yesterday I mentioned livermush... The first time Scott made me breakfast I tried Livermush. I am not even going to lie, I was nervous. You don't even want to know what it is made of but I am going to tell you anyways.

Ready?

Pig liver, head parts, and cornmeal. Sounds appetizing right?

So on a cold morning, my personal chef took out a frying pan, cutting board, knife and a block of livermush from the fridge.

Block-o-Liver Mush

We cut it into slices, much like you would with SPAM and put it in the skillet with some hot oil. Scott likes his a little on the soft side however I would have enjoyed it much more if it was a little more crispy. It really wasn't that bad, kind of tasted like a breakfast sausage patty but not quite as firm. Although it wasn't my favorite thing I have tried in the last few months, I would eat it again.



I'll try just about anything once...

West Coast City Girl

Sometimes when I talk about home, I wonder if people think I am a bit crazy. Why on earth would you want to live somewhere like that?

You don't own an umbrella? Doesn't it rain a lot in Oregon?
What do you mean you've never seen Livermush. You can't even buy it there?
So you are telling me you think Target is better than Walmart?

Yes my friends, I am in a different world here, but I am slowly falling in love with it. Scott has been wonderful. He can see how much I miss not only my family and friends but also all of the things that make Oregon/Portland unique and tries to accommodate my need to eat sushi and visit Costco on the regular. I try my best to tell him, in great detail,  about everything I love about home. How green everything is, what real mountains look like and how you can eat around the world in one city block. I have a list of things I want to show him when we make our way out West so he is able to understand this crazy West coast girl a little more.

On the flip side Scott has been wonderful in sharing his world with me, a little easier for him to do since we are on his home turf. From trying new foods and seeing new sites to driving new vehicles! He has yet to let me drive his truck, but I was able to work my way into driving the tractor! Let me tell you, I was more scared about hurting his John Deere than I was when I first drove my car solo after I got my license, and I made my cousin Melanie drive home behind me just to make sure I didn't wreck!

Nothing runs like a Deere!

Like I said, I am slowly falling in love with life here. Portland will always be my home, and I know I'll always have a place for me there - But I am excited to see what the South East has in store for me!

Bunker Hill Covered Bridge

I was talking to my mom one day about the little town Scott lives in. As she Googled things to do in the

area, my mom found the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge. I asked Scott if that was far from him and he laughed a little and said it was about 5 minutes away... I asked why he hadn't taken me there yet!? Scott promised that next time I was in town we would go. So on a cold, gray day we hit it up. If you didn't know it was there it is easy to miss!

We parked and walked down the winding path towards the bridge just as the sun was setting. I am pretty sure we were the only ones in the area that day. You could say it was not the place to hang out in town.

The bridge itself was much more narrow than I had anticipated, but I enjoyed the historic value it offered.

Always up for striking a pose!

Trying to prefect the self shot.

The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge

 Click here for the link to the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge web site.

The Queen City

A little more than halfway through my first year in Charlotte, I am only now beginning to feel like it is home. In all honesty it isn't that different from Portland. Sure, the lack of food carts is noticeable or the fact that there isn't a coffee shop on every corner. However Charlotte has a lot to offer, I just need to go out and explore!

The Queen City - Charlotte

Miss Rachel and I enjoying the view.

Follow Me by Email!

As requested I have added a new feature to the blog so it is easier to follow me! To the right of the page there is a section to submit your email so you are notified each time a new entry is posted. 

Let me know if you have any trouble with this new feature! As I said before, I am still trying to work out all the kinks. Don't be surprised if you check back and it has a whole new look :)

The Billy Gaham Library

Ever since I moved to Charlotte, going to the Billy Graham Library has been on my radar. I drive by it all the time (it is literally 4 minutes from my house) but for one reason or another I just haven't stopped by.

When Scott was in town for Valentine's Day we finally made time to visit it!

It wasn't quite what I had expected, but I enjoyed it. When you first arrive you take a tour of the house Billy Graham grew up in. They took the house apart brick by brick and reconstructed it to its original condition. The second story is closed off to visitors, but the home was so charming. I loved the kitchen with all of the vintage trinkets and regret not taking any pictures of it. I kept pointing out things to Scott that I loved. He is such a good sport putting up with me sometimes.

From the house you follow a brick path into the Library/Museum. You are greeted by volunteers who are incredibly helpful and full of joy. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a cow!!

Our tour guide. The cat in the corner also moved!

No Joke I thought it was real (flashback to the baby elephant at Disney World)... But it was an animatronic cow that welcomed you to the self guided tour. The tour lasted an hour and 15 minutes and was full of personal memorabilia and interesting facts about Billy Graham's family and ministry. 

The tour ends at the bookshop and café. We got a strawberry milkshake to top off our afternoon and strolled the grounds. It was a great experience and would love to go again with anyone who hasn't been.

Scott waiting for the first video of the tour.

Us outside of the Library

Outside of the library.

A Late Valentine's Day

This year Scott and I had to work on Valentine's Day so we celebrated this weekend a little late. Honestly, it was a little more fun this way. We didn't have to rush home to get ready or make reservations weeks in advance.

On the real V-Day, Scott did send the most gorgeous flowers. Several weeks ago I had told him not to waste his money on the overpriced roses. I was afraid my fat mouth might have gotten me in trouble and I wasn't going to get flowers at all, but honestly, what girl doesn't love a nice bouquet? So after a day of delivering flowers to dozens of other people I arrived home to these beauties waiting for me.

So this weekend when Scott came to town I gave him his gift. I had spent weeks making these Date Cards for him/us. It is so easy to get into a routine and it is hard to break from that sometimes. Often when it comes down to it, we can be straight up lazy. When I saw a version of these I knew I had to do them for us!

Some of my favorite dates are

• Make S'mores by the fire pit.
• Take a long drive in the country. Find cows. :)
• Dessert only date.
• A night of star gazing.
• Try something new.
• Brunch Date.

I don't love my hand writing so that part was a struggle. But I think they turned out pretty well!

This Valentine's Day was quite a success in my book! Dinner, crafts and flowers. Now that is the way to this girl's heart.

Refrigerator Pickles

I love homemade pickles and crave them often. I've tried all sorts of recipes but this one is my favorite at the moment.

 

Recipe

4 small cucumbers

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 teaspoons dried dill 1-2 cloves of garlic whole, but scored

Slice cucumbers and toss with remaining ingredients. Store in air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

** I save the vinegar solution and just add more cucumbers when I have eaten the first batch. Also note, if using regular sized cucumbers remove seeds as they water down the vinegar to much.

Historic Murray's Mill

Scott and I decided to take the long way home one day which took us by Historic Murray's Mill. Unfortunately it was closed for the season but we stopped anyway for a quick look and photo opportunity. We were only able to access the bridge for a photo (my favorite) but it was still beautiful.



Me at Murray's Mill

It reopens in March and I can't wait to go back and really experience all it has to offer. Plus it has a charming general store that I think I am going to love! Chick here for the Historic Murray's Mill the official website.




Water on the rocks

The water wheel

Price's Chicken Coop

I don't even know where to start. Price's Chicken Coop is maybe the greatest place to eat in all of Charlotte.

Before I moved here my sister armed me with a list of all of the restaurants I had to try while I was here. She had found them in a variety of ways, seeing them on TV, reading about them online and word of mouth. I am not sure how she found this place, but I am so glad she did!

To say I crave their chicken is an understatement. And here is the kicker, I don't even really like fired chicken. If it is skinless, boneless chicken I love it. On a bone is a whole different story. I am not even ashamed to say I will nibble off every last scrap of meat I can get my teeth on... Maybe I am ashamed a little. I just hope no one is watching me while I eat.




See the line out the door?

What adds to the fun is when you go in, you pretty much need to know what you want to order. It is always packed, with a line out the door so once you hit the counter you need to be ready! It is a cash only establishment and has no tables or chairs. I love taking my chicken to the park to eat.



Eating at Freedom Park

If you Come visit me *hint, hint* this will be our first stop! Also if you have any must eats in the area let me know and I will do my best to get there and tell you what I think of it!

Appetite for Adventure

One of the things I've grown to love the most about living in a new place is all the fun things to experience for the first time. It's been 7 ½ months since I packed my bags and headed East and what a journey it has been! My heart has grown 3 sizes and so has my appetite for adventure.