I realize that my last post was kind of a cliff hanger. Did I crack up and go off the deep end? or did I get my stuff together and keep on truckin’?
Well, clearly, the second option. I mean, that’s really the only option, right? I think that my mindfulness classes (which have sadly come to an end 
) gave me the skills to realize that some things needed to be done and some things would have to wait. Homework? Work? Time with friends? Crucial. Obsessively worrying about new blog posts? That could wait until later. And, I know there isn’t a single reader who wants me to fail grad school just to keep my blog content fresh.
So, to check in and offer some proof of life..
I went to Tennessee with these awesome people. Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Cades Cove and Knoxville. It was a really relaxing, fun trip.
See, here is kind of proof that I was there.
Meanwhile..
The collards are the only thing in the garden right now. Oh, and a ton of gourds. Because everyone needs 10-15 decorative gourds.
For Thanksgiving, I made this crumb-topped apple pie.
Probably not the lightest apple pie I've ever eaten, but very good.
And also a baked spinach. Two jumbo bags of spinach weren't enough so I also chopped a big sweet potato and added about one serving of orzo pasta for bulk.
This was so good. This isn't the finished product, but you can see all the goodness here.
I attempted pretzels for the first time this week. They were pretty labor intensive, and my shapes were a little wonky, but I'm happy with how they turned out.
Bavarian Pretzel Recipe (similar to the one I used.)
I anticipate that the next two weeks are going to be busy with papers, exams, work… everything. I hope to return to a more regular posting/reading schedule after that because even though I lack the “blogger guilt” of being a “bad” blogger, I miss blogging and all my blogger friends.
So, Happy Belated Thanksgiving and I’ll return in a couple weeks with three-quarters of an MPH!! (Hopefully)
Aww, don’t worry about being a “bad blogger”. You have a life and it looks like it’s been pretty cool lately! Clay and I are going to Tenn. around Christmas time and looking forward to it, so let me know if there’s anything neat there we should see when we’re there, k?
All the food you made for Thanksgiving looks delish, especially the spinach!
Good luck with finishing up your semester- at least it’s not much longer until Christmas break! And you don’t have much more to go after the break, either!
I saw your list of to-do’s on Tumblr. Yikes! I haven’t done much blogging for the same reason. Any free time I have is spent on the couch with a glass of something strong. Hope everything goes smoothly in the next couple of weeks!