So, where were we...

I'm attempting to get back on track; eating right, working out, blogging regularly, crossing items off of my to do list, all the good stuff. Why wait until 2011? Now is as good a time as any. My focus - healthy living, physically and mentally. (Anyone else get those happy endorphins when checking an item off of your to do list?)My winter challenge - make one positive change each week. Can you help keep me going? Razz me when I slack?

Change one: Water
Winter is dry, the wood stove makes the humidity in the house low, and except for the fantastic local moisturizing products I use - I need to drink more water. A bit of wisdom from a wonderful woman, Miss Georgia Deane, the fountain of youth is sweat. My rationalization; sweat keeps your skin moist and soft, the physical activity you do to create the sweat keeps your body young - so it must be true!

So I'll continue to slather on Maine Mountian Soap Company's Lanolin Balm on my hands every night before bed, moisurize my skin a couple of times a week with Soapwalla's Moisturizing Body Oil, and keep my cheeks rosie and bright for the holidays with H.G.O. Lab's Neroli Face Oil. As for the water - tea to keep me cozy and hydrated, and water, water, and more water. By Klean Kanteen will be joining me as my sidekick yet again. My goal - 2 bottles of water a day, plus tea, juice and anything else that comes my way. 

Another bit of wisdom from Georgia, stand straight, when you lean on one leg or the other you get saddle bags - the bit of chubby on your hips and butt.

Seasons bring change.

We're packing up to move into a new house on the river for the winter. The Crock-pot is out full of hearty foods, warming our bellies on these brisk fall days. Frost is a mainstay in the early morning and the leaves are almost gone. We've been using the wood stove in the kitchen for a few weeks now and Kody is sleeping on our bed again.

Mom and Dad were just up with Courtney and Goldie for a peek at Maine's incredible fall foliage. They were definitely happy to be back on pavement after all of our adventures traveling the dirt roads, but we saw incredible falls and enjoyed hiking.

We even stopped to take some family photos at Grand Falls. After climbing those steps we needed a rest.

I'm hoping we will see a little more of fall before the snow comes, but we've already seen light squalls. Next time Mom and Dad are here we'll be snowmobiling.

Maine has been full of new adventures for all of our family members. Brian's Mom and Ted will be joining us up here starting in December. They've purchased a camp rental management company and are finally making the move. It will be good to have family so close.

Here's to a healthy happy Fall and an exciting change of the seasons. And plenty of warmth cuddled with the ones we love.



Kodiak, Our Little Bear.

By now many of you have met the lovable, cuddly, snuggly, adorable puppy who has joined our family. Kody has been keeping us, along with everyone we know, very busy. At 13 weeks, he is 21 pounds and growing far too quickly for my adoring, loving heart. Kody is a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy full of life, love and bounce. His teething and energy have kept us busy. He is the most well socialized pup I've met. When work calls friends visit Kody all day long to keep him active and from peeing in the house. He has a very busy social calendar, with a trip to meet Grandma and Grandpa Willette at the Greenville Sea Plane Fly-in, a week at Pop and Nana Spalton's while I'm traveling with work, apple picking, and frequent trips to Northern to see his friends. His list of visitors is astonishing and thankfully never ending as we share in his excitement.

Our friends Elyse and Sonya have taken him for a swim, he's been bathed by Pappa, and he's lots of new canine friends. Soon we'll start walks with some other friends in the neighborhood and we can't wait for snow.

Our love abounds for our new addition. If you haven't met yet, he may melt your heart as he has ours. If I love this little guy so much, I'll be a puddle of mush when it comes to our babies. Good thing I have plenty of time to pull it together.

See you soon.

Mangia! Eat, eat.

Brian and I finally got to spend some time together - no work, no appointments, just him and me and 2 days to do whatever we wanted. After weeks (months, really) of chaos we nixed camping and decided to get our things done around the house. 

First thing Saturday, after sleeping in late, we headed to the Farmer's Market. Fresh veggies, bison steaks, and some homemade goat cheese filled my tote. Brian enjoyed his first trip to the Skowhegan market. And we headed home to cook after a quick stop at Hannaford's for a few more things. We cooked away alongside each other, covered in flour with me learning all sorts of new tricks.

First up was bread - loaves, knots, and baguettes.

Loaves turned out the best, along with the knots. The soft roll recipe is not really best for baguettes, but we had so much dough we figured we'd try. Next up was a bolognese, with ground beef and sausage.

Master of blanching and peeling tomatoes, I left the heavy lifting (seasoning) to Brian. It was delicious and way easier than I ever thought. Bonus, our tomatoes were paste tomatoes from One Drop Farm, who got the seeds from a family friend - whose Italian grandmother had been growing and using solely this type of tomato for sauce making in her family for generations.

Whole wheat fettuccine provided a hearty base for our bolognese. Eggs and flour, simple as pie. The KitchenAid pasta tool worked like a pro - the most fun part (except for stealing kisses from my hubs).

Brian hard at work.

Thinning out the dough.
(And looking adorable in my apron thanks to Mom!)

We finished up the day with an apple crisp, complete with cranberries, walnuts, and apples from Maine.  Friends, Elyse and Emily, joined us for a feast and brought great wine.

Sustainable Love.

With wedding planning done, it is time to turn focus inward and start taking care of my hubs and me. We may be a small family, but I love taking care of us.

Sustainable, local living has become increasingly more important to me - and Brian likes my enthusiasm and appreciates my focus on keeping us healthy. So I've decided to finally start concentrating on integrating local foods into our meals. By the time we have children, I would like to be eating only foods that were grown, raised, or produced with a conscious. The main reason: a healthy lifestyle for my family - to avoid the hormones and antibiotics, the pesticides and cruelty that commercial farming often passes on.

My goal not only includes food, but all products that we use. Green goods made by renewable resources from carbon neutral or limited companies also makes a difference. It's about a healthy home for my family, and a sustainable lifestyle that is good for our earth.

I'll keep you updated on how we are coming along. First up, researching the resources in our area and making connections with farmers. And hopefully soon, canning some of the delicious produce that we will only have for a short time, as the leaves are already beginning to change.

Here we go again.

Things are never quiet in our crazy little world. Since the wedding we have been super cute and domestic. Brian's been cooking and grocery shopping. I've been reorganizing and getting laundry done. But then a little bird sent a reminder, we don't live a quiet life. Enter, chaos.

It's "angry august" here at Northern, when guides get burnt out and staff gets tired. Everyone has been pushing through doubles and weeks with no end since July. It's the race to the finish to make money before everyone heads their separate ways before winter. Separate ways? Oh yes, that means ARE WE MOVING?

Our fabulous house, with tons of space and some mice is far too big for heating without some wood. And scaredy me doesn't want to heat with wood in the old house when Brian's at work all night. So, we need something smaller. No biggie - except the question in all conversations. Will that be in MAINE or MASS? Oh, boy.

We've been stealing quiet conversations over lunch, trying to figure out where we fit best. And there's the prodding new discovery, Brian's job in Mass he has been working towards for years is hiring. Yes, they called - and yes, he'll be in Mass next week.

But we're here now, semi-settled in a town with no school for the future babes. Moving is a must - but location is debatable.

Calling all brides.

Be happy. If you do nothing else on your wedding day; be happy. Don't worry whether or not everything is in the right place, or if you've forgotten something. It will all be perfect, after all, at the end of the day you will be married to the love of your life. (and if you can follow through with the other two hints - everything else will get any needed attention)

Surrond yourself with incredible people. I was overwhelmed by the excitement that surrounded our wedding. Our family and friends were abuzz about attending our wedding, how happy they were for us, and how much they were looking forward to our celebration. A big part of this was vacation time, as our wedding was a destination for all of our guests and many stayed a few days before and after. But it wasn't just about a few days off - people we really EXCITED for us to be husband and wife! I love it! (and my amazing hubby!!!) What made it even more special were the friends that shared their talent - a sweet friend was my bridal attendant (a huge help and lets you breathe deep), a new friend played his guitar for our ceremony (one of the sweetest gifts), my wonderful cousin did our ceremony reading (with love and some tears), and at a last minute request to lead Amazing Grace, three dear friends stood up and sang their hearts out for us.
{Advice: People love you, let them share their gifts on your big day - it is truly a most special gift}

Include everyone, or at least as many people as you can. This was the key to my sanity. My bridesmaids have always been amazing people and they were superstars for my wedding. We also had a ton of hands helping us make our big day - aunts baked cookies, his mom and grandma made table runners, my father cut card holders and refinished a beautiful screen, my mom did a thousand things, friends of the family cut fruit at our cabin, helped us with hair and make-up, made fabric flowers (I love this project!), and my aunt came through in a last minute request with the most beautiful sentimental something borrowed a girl could ask for. And then we overtook one of my bridesmaid's parents inn room in a whirlwind of dresses and make-up.

Many hands - when all have open hearts and focused hands - do indeed make light work.

With love,
Mrs. Crater