Hocking Hills Weekend

This past weekend we took Friday off and headed for Hocking Hills for camping and trail riding. We had two more firsts this weekend. It was Jonathan's first time camping and my first time on an ATV trail ride but the first time that we had done both together.
We stayed in a Kamper cabin at the Hocking Hills KOA campground (ok, so maybe it's semi-camping, next time we will use our tent). The campground was great and the view was amazing. It's tucked away in the hills and woods of Hocking Hills. Although it was very scary trying to get up the hill to the campground with our trailer. The scary hill climb was definitely worth it. The facilities were fun and clean and the people that ran the place were great. Husband and wife team Kurt, Lori and there son Tyler ran the place along with a small staff. Kurt was very helpful and provided us lots of information to get us ready for our trail ride.

On Saturday, we hooked up the trailer and headed to Wayne National Forest for our first trail ride. After talking to several people and being advised that we should not go to the Door Run Trail head since it was our first time out, we decided to go to the New Staightsville trail head. New Straightsville trail head was supposedly the easiest trail in the woods, which sounded great to me. For those that know me, you know that I am a complete wuss when it comes to things like this. Needless to say, I was pretty nervous leading up to this day. I felt noxious right before we left.
We headed out on the trail and I was immediately shocked by what I saw and nearly demanded to turn around and go back. I was obviously unaware of what to expect on these trails. EASIEST TRAIL....... MY FOOT!!!!!! If this trail was easy, I'd hate to see the difficult ones!! The trail was a pretty short trail but seemed to take forever. With all of the steep hills (up and down), the purposely manipulated bumps in the road and the constant fear that you are going to fall over the edge, my hands were numb from hanging on so tight. There were other women riding there own ATV's. If I had my own ATV, I don't think I would have gone on the trail. But with Jonathan driving, there wasn't much time to think about it.
It had also rained quite a bit the week before we got there, which meant there was plenty of mud. The actual mud didn't bother me, it was the mud on the steep hills that made things slippery that scared me. You had to be on the gas just right to make it up these hills to keep from spinning the tires and sliding.
After about a half an hour on the trail, we made it back to the trail head. I had just enough time to gather my wits and calm down, then we headed back to the trail again. I have to say, I was much more relaxed and honestly had a good time, the second time out on the trail. I won't say that I am ready for anything more difficult then what we did, but I think I am interested in finding more places to ride. I think we might have gotten a bit over our heads going to Wayne National Forest as beginners and I think that needs to be noted somewhere on there brochures- NOT FOR BEGINNERS!!
We think we found a good place in eastern Ohio to try next. Hopefully they are more suited for our (my) level.
Check out our pics below of our fun weekend.
AHHHHH this is relaxation!!

The mesmerizing view both nights.

This is the view from our camp sight.

This is the first fire we lit when we got there. The fire was hardly burning yet when Jonathan couldn't wait and tore open the marshmallows. Notice the marshmallow is grey and isn't even burned yet from the fire starter we had to use. He didn't care and ate it anyways.

This is the view that the campground is known for. Absolutely beautiful!

I just caught Jonathan with a mouthful of his morning Cheerios buy the fire. (had to make a morning fire to heat our coffee water)

The view while on the trail. I wish I could have bottled the fresh pine air and brought it home with me.

I couldn't pass this picture up. Yes, we are actually smiling.

Other then the birds and bugs, this is the only sign of life we saw while on the trail. Not quite sure what it is but it nearly didn't make this picture when it jumped out in front of Jonathan on trail.

The post ride picture. The perty little Polaris isn't so perty anymore!! It actually didn't look half as bad as some of the other guys coming out of the woods.

What is this a picture of ??

Two people that really need a vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunrise

As you can see above, it seems I have given up on my sunsets and have now taken up the sunrise. As I was waving goodbye to Jonathan as he left this morning, noticed the sunrise and ran to get my camera. Now if only I could move those wires, but I kinda like having electricity in my house. And Maybe someday I will fix the date on my camera too.

Memorial weekend activities

Not much really happened for us this weekend. It was rather dull actually. but I did manage to get a lot done around the house.
On Friday, we met up with a few of my high school friends for dinner at a really good Chinese Buffet.
On Saturday, Jonathan and I quickly ran our errands in the morning then hustled back to the house. Jonathan then spent the rest of the day riding with George in his police cruiser in Riverside. When they arrived at the station to clock in, they were informed they may be doing over time. What was supposed to be a 2- 10pm shift ended up being a 2pm- 2am shift. Needless to say, Jonathan was pretty tired in church the next morning. While Jonathan was playing Cops on Saturday, I was at home planting my tomatoes and pepper plants in the garden. I pretty much took it easy around the house most of the day and watched a few movies.
Sunday afternoon Jonathan and I watched the Indy 500 and wished we could be there again. It was definitely an exciting race.
Maybe next year Danica!! 3rd place is definitely and improvement from last year!!

Above is a pic of our garden Things are really starting to come up. We have 5 rows of corn so far with 3 more rows still to plant. We also decided to grow peas this year. I think I planted them a little too late in the season, but we thought we would give it a try. If they don't work this time, we can try again in September. I have 2 Big Beef tomato plants along with 1 Bell Pepper plant. I also took the advice of others to plant Marigold flowers around my veggie plants with hopes of keeping the critters out. WRONG!!! Of the 6 Marigold plants, 3 have magically disappeared......I can only guess as to how that happened. Now I fear the Birds will go after the Pea plants. I think, maybe some chicken wire may be needed this year.

And today, Jonathan worked up north with his dad at his cousins house. While I was on my own again. Luckily, Jonathan's Niece and Nephews came in for the weekend with there mothers family and I got to see them at the Bretherens home while they visited there great grand parents. They get so much bigger every time I see them.

After our visit, I had to head to Dayton to pick up my bridesmaid dress and also managed a quick stroll around the Dayton Mall.

And for dinner tonight, I made BBQ Ribs on the grill for the first time. They looked great on the grill, but I wouldn't say they tasted great. It was a mix of cooking them too long and also being given a bad cut of meat buy the local butcher (no names). Since Jonathan and I aren't the most educated when it comes to picking a cut of meat, we just accepted the first cut they offered us. They said "yeah, it really looks like it has a lot of meat". Wrongo!! It had a very thin layer of meat on top with a very thick layer of fat. I think the butcher saw SUCKER on our foreheads when we walked through the door.

My lesson for the day: Just because you go to a real butcher doesn't mean you are always getting the best cut of meat. Know what you're buying before you buy it.

The 10 Commandments of Marriage-Sermon Notes

For the past several weeks our pastor at church has been doing a series called"Mystery of Marriage". Pastor Steve has really made a point to hit the topics that are the most important and controversial in marriage. He is tackling some of the most awkward and sensitive topics of marriage head on, and giving us answers and solutions directly from the bible.
This weeks topic was: The 10 Commandments of Marriage. Below, I have copied the 10 points from his sermon notes. I thought it was so great that I had to share it with everyone.
10 things that are the most important things to live by when it comes to marriage.

1) Thou shalt not be a selfish pig. Genesis 3:1, 4-5. The #1 problem in marriage is selfishness. Philippians 2:3
2) Thou shalt cut the apron strings. Genesis 2:24
3) Thou shalt continually communicate with each other. Ephesians 4:15-16
4) Thou shalt not try to change your spouse. Proverbs 31
5) Tho shalt avoid the quick sand of debt. Matthew 6:33 and 6:21
6) Thou shalt flee sexual temptation. II Timothy 2:22
7) Thou shalt protect each other emotionally and physically. I Corinthians 7
8) Thou shalt forgive thy spouse and begin again and again. Matthew 18:21-22
9) Thou shalt keep the home fires burning. Marriage takes honest commitment-work. Revelation 2:2-5
10) Thou shalt build a winning team-put God first! Ecclesiastes 9:12
Jonathan, me and Jesus!!

A really great day

Today, Jonathan an I kinda had a fun day. Since we figured it would rain all day, this gave a good excuse to find something else for the day.
We planned a trip to Kentucky. Jonathan's cousin, Brent Graduated from college this morning and we stopped at his cousin Danette's house for the open house party. We had a great time visiting his family and seeing Danette's new house.
After we were done visiting at the party, we had planned on meeting one of my dearest Kentucky friends, Reba. This is the woman who took me in for 2 months while I was homeless (not really but kinda). When Jonathan and I bought our house just before we got married, I was still in my apartment in KY. Since we couldn't afford a house payment and an apartment payment, I had to move out of my apartment. And since I was still working at the airport in KY, and still didn't have a job in Dayton and since our house was not quite suitable to live in yet, Reba offered to let me camp at her house until I found a job. So through April and May of 2007, I slept on her living room floor until I started my new job in Dayton in June. Talk about the right person coming into my life at just the right time. Yet another moment that I am reminded at how much God did for me that year. Despite all of the personal challenges she was facing at that time, she was always praying for me. The day that I found out that i got my job in Dayton, Reba was right there sitting next to me. I think I might have scared her neighbors by my screams of excitement. When the initial excitement was over, she was the first to pray with me to thank God for all he had done.
Below is a picture of my dear friend Reba and I. SNIFF SNIFF..........

Waiting for the next great sunset.

I guess it was past time to get the snow picture off the blog. I hope to get another great sunset picture to post soon. I will be on the look out!!

Successssss

Finally, my Irises came up.
I was given these Irises from my Aunt Sandy last year. when they didn't come up last year, I was a bit worried. It looks like we have success this year! Now I just need to get the large ones to come in the back yard. When it comes to flowers, I don't really have that green thumb touch, so I was pretty excited to see these.
By the way, ignore the date on the pic. It really was taken today.

Homemade Pizza

Tonight I crossed off another cooking to-do goal off my list. Jonathan has been begging for quite a while now for me to make a homemade pizza. Since I am currently on a homemade bread kick right now, I figured pizza dough was in that category also.
Don't let the looks of this pizza fool you. It turned out really great -taste wise that is. I guess I can work out the visual part later. Unfortunately, the only thing low-fat was the Turkey Pepperoni. I found a really great pizza cheese mix and spent a little more money on the fancy pizza sauce. Luckily the dough recipe that I did made 2 crusts. So it looks like a fresh pizza for dinner tomorrow night also.

Dinner Success

Tonight we invited Jonathan's parents over for dinner. It was kind of a delayed Birthday dinner for Jonathan.
I'm not sure why, but I always get nervous whenever I cook for Jonathan's mother. She certainly has never made me feel like I should be nervous. I think it's just all in my head. Pressure that I tend to put on myself.
There have been times when I have cooked for them and things didn't quite turn out the way I pictured them in my head. Like my Crock pot Ribs, Cola Ham or my Broccoli Casserole.......oy......if I could turn back time. One lesson I have learned since I have been with Jonathan: don't try as recipe for the first time when you are feeding your in-laws. MAKE SURE IT IS FULL PROOF.
But tonight, it was a slam dunk!! I made a fairly low fat dinner and everything was great. I know Jonathan's parents will always be nice and tell me everything was good. Then after they leave, I beg Jonathan for an honest opinion. I really need his honesty about my cooking if I want to improve my skills. Anyway, tonight we put some pork chops on the grill from House's meat market. I first marinated them in Italian dressing for a few hours (thanks Dad), then Jonathan threw them on the grill. I also made potato salad the night before (thanks Mom), but with shredded potatoes like Jonathan likes. While the chops were cooking, I was also roasting some Asparagus in the oven, yummo. For dessert, I made Pineapple Angel Food Cake (thanks Debbie), with Cool whip on top. It was oh so dreamy.
So, of coarse Jonathan's parents said everything was great. And after they left, Jonathan gave me 2 thumbs up. I knew I hit a home run tonight.