Simplicity or Boredom?

Another weekend has flown by with little rest for me. It is true what they say...there is "no rest for the weary." As soon as I left work on Friday afternoon, I made my way home to pack for a straight 24 hours in the Amish countryside of Jamesport, Missouri. I had made the trip before so I partially knew what to expect. There are parts of the trip that I really enjoy and others that really make me want to curl up in the fetal position or click my ruby red slippers together so I can be back home. It really isn't that bad...but, I'm a city girl and the country is never really the ideal place to take a gal like me.

The drive there was good. It gave my mother and I some time to catch up without interuption. Believe me, between her yappy dogs or cooing grandchildren during phone calls or her lack of ability to remember to actually carry her cell phone, it's very hard to keep up a meaningful conversation. She is probably a little ADD. A few things to know about my mom...she is ALL country...she is an extreme home-body...she thrives off of babysitting newborns...and she has some weird obsession with Amish people (to the point I think she was actually thinking about becoming Amish). I don't understand our polar opposite ways. Most of my time is spent explaining to her the meaning of my artistic desires over simplicity. I'm a simple girl with champagne taste (on a budget, of course).

We finally arrived and checked into our cottage. The last time we were there, the place was a bed and breakfast. To my disappoinment, the place was no longer serving breakfast. BUMMER! Amish people DO know how to cook. Luckily, our cottage still had things like indoor plumming, air-conditioning, and television. After a buffet dinner that was quite disappointing, myself, my Grandmother, Mother, Aunt, and Cousin returned to the cottage to watch movies. The last time we did this we had a blast. We stayed up most of the night munching on the wonderful fruit and cheese basket they had in the room and watched the best movies. This year, though, everyone decided to go to bed at 8:30 p.m. The first movie we ditched halfway through and then I had to sit through "Nights in Rodanthe." Nothing better than old people sucking face on the beach in the middle of a hurricane. Brilliant film (sarcasm, of course). I stopped watching halfway through to take my "goodnight" phone call from Steve who had spent his evening chilling out at home by himself. It was a bummer...I was out while he was in (and his "ins" aren't so many lately with his baseball coaching schedule).

The next morning (and after a restless night's sleep for me in a day bed), we hurried out to shop. After the night before and all it's disappointments, I was actually looking forward to the shopping part even if the majority of the items consisted of home made candles smelling of vanilla beans and bright quilts; none of which have a place in my modern apartment. We quickly passed the booths of rusty, country items and finally found our way to some shops that were more my speed. I bought some dessert plates, a cute necklace with my initial, and a decorative "H" for my apartment (because my last name starts with "H"...that wasn't just some random letter I picked out). Mom bought me a decorative kitchen towel that had a cafe mocha on it...which perfectly matches my kitchen decor. I stayed on budget and loved my finds!

Then, we moved on to the emotional part of the weekend (hate those). I agreed to performing a dedication ceremony at the cottage for my cousin who just had a baby about four months ago. It was quick and painless. However, I got the bright idea to get her a card and impart my wisdom about parenthood. I might not be a parent...but I do have some wisdom. Apparently not finding my words that much of a "deal", they actually ignited an outpour of tears from every person in the room. The card basically said that when you don't know what to do or what step to take next, to trust in God and He won't fail to lead you. I knew that would speak to my cousin on a profound level because she is, in essence, raising this baby by herself. I might've cried two tears...I quickly put a stop to that. We whisked ourselves off to the Country Cupboard where we had the best roast beef and green beans. It was a better Saturday than it was a Friday in "Amishville." I picked up some peach cobbler to bring home to Steve and we made our way home.

Steve and I had dinner that night and watched a couple of movies including Fireproof. I really admired the storyline behind the movie and felt that it helped me to understand my relationship with Steve better. He never really made mention of his thoughts about the movie...but I'm sure most of his time was spent thinking about his sunburned face from the baseball games he had all day that day.

That brings us to today. I'm again found in my favorite chair with the Rays Vs. Redsox game playing in the background. I'm praying I win my fantasy baseball game this week...my head to head was against Steve. It'd be good to beat him at his own game! I spent some time with mom, relaxed, and will now find fulfillment in crawling into bed shortly. In all, I'm ready for two consecutive days of laziness. Not sure when I will get those as Steve and I are finding it difficult to plan all of our schedule amidst weddings and birthdays and trips and baseball games. It'll happen...one of these days!