Ellen is my hero

Well hello everyone!

I realize we have become strangers to the blogging world... but perhaps only because we have had the opportunity to enjoy the great weather southeast Idaho has been experiencing lately.

First, and foremost, I would like to say Happy Mustache March to everyone!

and i just tried to upload Kaleb's photo, but apparently I don't know how to format instagram to blogger... or something. I've been told his is 'sick' (not in the cool way)... so, fellow blog readers, you are welcome for the omission! but really, it's not all that bad!




So, Kaleb has been getting pretty busy with his research. He even let me be his field assistant for a day! We went to a local stream and caught some Hesperloperla... WHAT? aka "Golden Stone Fly"
To me, they look like cockroaches of the stream... but to Kaleb they are something much more.

Let me preface this next story with how sweet my husband is. Everyday he tells me how happy he is, how lucky he thinks he is, and how beautiful I am. This is all true, and sweet. Stay with me, this isn't one of those blogs where I oosh and goosh over my better half... it has comedy, satire, or perhaps a pity laugh?

Here is a sample dialogue of us at the stream, stonefly hunting:

• Kaleb: Why don't you go pick up that rock and see what you find
• Ashley: Good idea! (pick up random rock, SCREAM, and throw it)
• K: What happened?
• A: BUGS. WERE. CRAWLING. ALL OVER THAT!
• K: ummmm... yes?
• A: Well, I don't think they were what we were looking for anyway...
• K: (picks up same rock) Aw, these are my favorite! (tells me some scientific name that I don't understand) Aren't they beautiful?

does anyone see that same word correlation??? I'm beautiful, the scary crawly bug is beautiful...

Anyway, I've been on an "Ellen Show" kick lately... It comes on right after I get off work, and I find her show rather hilarious. While Kaleb and I were watching he asked if I had her app. WHAT?! Ellen has an APP??! Hence, the most recent favorite addition to my iPhone.

What's cookin'? (or, in this case, baking)

Kaleb's department has been hosting a lot of potlucks as they interview for new staff positions. As a new wifey, this can be a huge stressor for me. WHAT AM I GOING TO BRING? We are students, but we are married... I must impress.

So I start googling, and I find GOLD. Well, not gold, but edible goodness.

It involved melted caramel... chocolate chips... walnuts (optional)... oatmeal... I probably could have stopped at melted caramel huh?

Caramel Bars

They got ALL THE RAVE! Try them! Or come visit Idaho and I will make them for you!!! :)

Next I'm going to try some upside down toffee apple cake, courtesy of my good friend and great little kitchen master Kathleen.

Well this was a rather wordy post. How about some funny pics (thanks to the Ellen App!)

<--- Planking

Horsemaning-->








Love,
Kaleb, Ashley, & Grandpa Ron (the tort)

Yurt Trip

Newlywed News:

Adventure Weekend:
who- Kaleb, Ashley, & Kaleb's lab buddies
what- 2.25mi snowy hike to a yurt
when- last weekend
where- Idaho
why- WHY NOT!

<--Here is a pic of our hike up there. Hannah was a champ and (with some team work from the others) hauled the heavy ice chest most of the way up!

Our instructions were to:
--hike to the orange gate
--turn right and hike through the conifers
--yurt will be on left

SO... what in the WORLD is a YURT? (you can read about them here)


<- exhibit A-- Kaleb with Yurt




exhibit B-- Ashley with Yurt ->




The black pole sticking up through the right side of the 'roof' is part of the wood burning stove that, not only kept us nice and toasty all night long (thanks to Ryan & Matt-- our fire tenders), but also boiled snow so that Hannah and Ryan could make a very tasty dinner!

What was on the menu?
Cheese and Crackers (appetizer)
Salad with Vinaigrette dressing (and tons of veggies)
Goat Cheese Pasta with olives and garlic
Grilled Chicken
Buttered Baguettes


Angela made some AWESOME "Brookies" for dessert
(which we actually ate before our cheese and crackers).

which leads me into my next segment:

Kitchen Adventures:
Last night's food coma, along with the delay of this blog entry, was due to a ton of leftovers from previous successful dinners... and these delectable, and very rich, Brownie+Cookies! They are delicious and easy... however I still desire to make them healthier... Anyone have experience with oil in place of butter/shortening... coconut oil perhaps?

Other successful dinners you ask? AH you must be shocked after reading my last blog of unsuccessful baking-- however my m&m cookies at 375 actually were a HIT!

Our two favs right now are both crock-pot chicken dishes:

We like to call them "Salsa Chicken":
--thawed chicken breasts
--1 jar salsa
--cilantro
--lime juice
after 4 hrs on low, shred the chicken. add 1 can drained/rinsed black beans & 1 bag frz corn

& "Buffalo Chicken" (creative huh?)


Both super easy, but in a crock pot, in order to maintain a safe temperature on your poultry use thawed chicken!

Jukebox Jams:
This little band they like to call The Civil Wars are pretty sweet. Even cooler, Joy Williams is a believer and has won a ton of awards in the Christian music industry. What's even COOLER is they won, not one, but TWO GRAMMY'S!

If y'all have never checked out NPR's tiny desk concerts, then you should. Start with Joy & John Paul, and then try out Ivan & Alyosha.

Oh by the way, did i mention this was our potty??


until next time, with love - Kaleb, Ashley, & Grandpa Ron