Let's have an adventure

This past weekend was me and Ross' 6th anniversary! It's absolutely nuts thinking how fast time has gone. We were such babies when we met and now here we are...in our late 20s together and happy.

Some of you may know that Ross and I are lovers of travel. You may also know that in 2010 we set off for a 'round the world trip. We were to be gone for a year, but had to come back 7 1/2 months in because it was discovered our then 4 month old nephew had a brain tumor. During those travels we did an alright job keeping up with our blog Devonitely Rossome.

Anywho, we realized that it was 2 years ago, on that trip, that we celebrated our anniversary in New Zealand. It hit me square in the chest. This feeling of longing to be on the road again. A deep sense of nostalgia that brings me to the brink of tears each time I think about that trip. It's a subject with never ending depths and I'm sure it will be a consistent feature here at the Flea.

I remember that day being one of our first Devon/Ross adventures. Sure, the trip itself was an adventure, but that day commenced something different. Mini adventures...ones where you just go with a packed lunch and follow the clues.

Among many things, during that day we rambled along the coast of the sea looking for shells, analyzing the washed up remains of a whale and playing pretend on a deserted beach...our private cove. That's the cove we were told was a great location for skinny dipping. So we did. Let's be serious...you would too.

The locale of our anniversary in NZ

As we were swimming, my eye caught the image of something dark in the water. Jude, the woman we were WWoofing for, told us about the infamous sting ray that roamed the coastline. A giant. Minimum, 6 feet across. And that's what my eye saw when I looked over. Needless to say, I scrambled to get out of that water fast. As my feet met the rocky shore and I did the hobble run trying to save my pink feet, complete hysteric laughter came over Ross and me as we watched this prehistoric creature glide through the water with ease. It was a magical day.

Back in Minnesota, March 17th, 2012, we thought an adventure was due. And I decided that it should start with a drink we were so fond of in Thailand. No, we didn't have it during our anniversary that year in NZ, but it hits that same part in my chest.

A Thai coffee.

Here's how to make it and let's be serious, I never have the patience to measure much, so do as you feel:

• Brew some coffee

• Heat up some whole milk

• Fill half your mug with coffee, add some milk

• Here's the secret ingredient you must not miss: add sweetened condensed milk...as much as you'd like:)

• Enjoy!!!

At the Foshay Tower for our anniversary adventure

The adventure continues!

So, take yourself on a mini adventure this weekend. It doesn't matter how long you've lived in a place...explore it with new eyes.

Ms. Honey Oatmeal Bread:

I wish I could save you and eat a little at a time...but that never happens. You taste way too good.

My Assistants

These little ladies were found at one of my favorite flea markets. There's nothing antique about them. Good 'ole plastic...but they're measuring cups!!! I just fill up their little backs with goodies and dump it into my bowls. Sometimes I just like to set them out for a little company.

Well, with their help I made this lovely loaf of honey oatmeal bread.

I'm about to embark on a bread baking venture. Possible business? I'll let you know! Needless to say, I will be showing what I make as I go...both successes and failures.

When our lightbulbs burn out...

We use candles. Seriously, we used this candelabra for a good couple weeks until I finally walked across the street to the hardware store and bought light bulbs. However, I must say it was wonderful! It provided plenty of light and also made everything in our teeny kitchen look magical. Plus, I love being able to, in my small way, not use the grid constantly.

Well, off to do some baking. I have some fun things in store for this wee blog, so keep a look out!!

Meet the Ladies!

Here's a little snapshot of the ladies that live in our backyard. They have had quite an easy winter being that there hasn't been snow on the ground for the majority of winter and the temps have been abnormally warm.

I love finding them in the yard when they've found a spot to settle into for a nap. The three of them form a ball of black, red and white feathers. This is Skinny Lynny in the front with the black and white, Red Legs is to her right and George is behind them. Just last week we had our first egg delivered by none other than Red Legs!


Giddy, I was! This whole time they've been with us (since November), I've come to see them as solely pets. Then, lo and behold, Red Legs drops an egg! Well, thank you...

Here's a slightly better picture of them. Beauts, they are!

Let us begin...

When I was growing up, I was beyond certain that my life path was to be an actress. I could just feel it in my bones and it seemed everyone in my family agreed. No one tried to convince me of a Plan B. As I set off for college, I decided to dive straight in to the theater world. In high school, students weren't really able to do both theater and sports and I had grown up in the sports world and loved it. But, going to college offered a new world. A chance to be a totally new person. And I did it.

It started with one-act plays directed by students. I tried out with no prior experience and got a part! Probably a total of 4 lines, but I found my fate was sealed. I remember after my first play, with a sizable role my freshman year, my a drama professor talked to me after and said, "You're an actor, you know that, right?" Well, thank you!

The years passed on at school and I declared theater as my major and loved every minute in that small black box theater. It wasn't until after college that I started having different thoughts.

Each time I thought about auditioning for something, the anxiety would skyrocket. I'd feel nausea and almost always find a way to not try out. This was a year or two out of college and I felt adrift and lost in a world where all my fellow graduates were full gear into their lives. Then one day I was sitting on my couch, with piles of drama books surrounding me and I had a realization, maybe my dreams had changed. For so long I had had this one goal, this thing I was suppose to do. But what if I didn't want to act for a career? Almost instantly, the weight of anxiety melted away. Oh my gosh...my dreams had changed!

That was years ago and in many ways, I am still searching for direction. But I know that I'm headed somewhere between NW and NE on this compass of life. Theater will always be a part of my life, but there are other goals and dreams that seem to have nudged their way in.

So here's another chapter. The Golden Flea will join millions of other blogs to do...something. Again, I'm just going to let what happens happen. But the only way to figure my direction out is to start.