Bucket List: Strawberry Picking? Check!

Strawberries.  Num.

Freshly picked strawberries?  Double num.

I've always wanted to head to a strawberry patch to pick fresh strawberries, but the timing has never been right.  Enter 2015.  And our fabulous friends who guided J#4 and me on our first experience...

 The Strawberry Basket Farm in Monticello, MN.

It's only natural I'd take my fruit--especially strawberry--loving girl with on this adventure. 

My imagination lead me to believe it would be a long day at the strawberry patch, but low and behold, about a half an hour garnered about seven huge buckets of strawberries between all of us.  Good thing, since it was a beautiful sunny and hot summer day in Minnesota.

- - -

So one thing checked off the list, means I should add a new thing, right?   Any ideas?

New on the bucket list: UPDATE THE BUCKET LIST!

Hey friends, family, readers!  How are you?  What's news?

Remember the time I lived overseas?  Three of the most interesting years of my life.  Just about four years ago, when we had been there about six months and I had just given birth to my sweet J#4, I created this blog.  The name at the time:  A Drop in the Bucket.   I created a bucket list, and then I'd use the blog as a place to update you on the bucket list progress, and the happenings in our life as expatriates.  It was a great time.

paris.  of course. 

st. andrews, scotland: the old course

The blog evolved into "Living a Listful{l) Life" to include news of bucket list updates and just general musings of a stay at home mom.  When you look up the definition for 'listful', it means "attentive".  And that was {and is} my goal: to live an atttentive, joyful life.

Fast forward a couple of years, and we are settled back in Minnesota. I'm a full time working mom but the rest of my life remains the same...and the bucket list progress has slowed to a trickle.

I've decided its time to jump back in.  Writing the blog, checking items off the bucket list, offering those random musings of an attentive life.

But this is where I need you! What items should I add to my bucket list? I've got a few ideas:  a food truck festival coming to our town this summer and strawberry picking {which has always been on the bucket list, but needs to happen this year!}...but what else should I add?

Let me know in the comments, and check back soon, I'm not going to be a "one hit wonder" this time around.


P.S.  Curious about the J&#'s?  I'll fill you in soon...

Monday Missions {week 5}

First up. Bread? Baked.

That was my mission for last week; and I am not sure I can put into words how excited I am that I did it. I'm not sure why the prospect of baking homemade bread made me so nervous, but it did... and now? I've done it. Plus we have dough left in the fridge to make three more loaves. I used the basic recipe from the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery that Revolutionizes Home Baking that my friend Tracey recommended.

Best thing?  It really did take about five minutes each day (two day process) other than actually baking it.  AND it's crusty on the outside but soft and scrumptious on the inside.

.....

This week? A few basic 'to dos'. For some reason they are things that I am procrastinating doing, and once you see them, you will realize (as I must) that they aren't the type of things that should be procrastinated.

So...this week I will get the following time sensitive things done:
1. Make pediatrician appointments for kiddos during our April Minnesota visit.
2. Make cardiologist appointment for me during our April Minnesota visit.
3. Research possible trip to Isle of Skye (Scottish Highlands) over Easter.

Boring, right? But sometimes boring is what needs to happen.

.....

So what about you?  What's on the docket this week for you to finish and feel successful for finishing?  Let me know in the comments below, or on Facebook. If you have a blog and want to write your own post, please do! You can provide the link in the comments and we will all stop over.

What is it about challenges?

There is something about a challenge that makes me thrive.  Not necessarily the every day life kind of challenges {those just have a tendency to stress me out}.  But challenges like writing a novel in a month or training to run a 5K. 

I have to believe that its one of the reasons that I am finally able to really concentrate on losing weight too, because the Game On Challenge I've been doing for most of the year has been pretty effective (well, mostly) at helping me lose weight...although I'd be better if there was no time off {wink}. 

So that's one of the reasons I put together my 34 in 34 list.  There's a link to it up top there, and I'm also writing about it and my progress so far over at Intend to Live. 

Unlike my bucket list, obviously the goal is to get all of these things done THIS year. 

So what is it about challenges?  I think its the journey, and more importantly, the feeling of accomplishment when its completed.  It just makes the path more interesting.

Oh, and I need a few new items for the list.  Our travel plans have changed since I first wrote it, and I really want to finish everything so I'm updating it.  Do you have any ideas for me? 

* * *

What do you want to do this year???

Bucket List Action: Loch Lomond, Scotland

It is an interesting life, being an expat.  

You are in a foreign country, surrounded by new people, new scenery, new customs {yes, even in Scotland}.  But at the same time you are living your regular life.  Husband goes off to work, diapers to change, laundry to do. 

But in this life {and really any life} there is so much to be thankful for. 

Like a weekend trip to do some "sightseeing". 

This past weekend, we made a trip to Loch Lomond, about an hour away from our home, through many windy and narrow Scottish roads. 

We started out the weekend at the aquarium. Obviously.  

And I was taken aback by how quickly she is growing up.  Thankful that I get to spend each day watching her develop bit by bit.

 The aquarium had an observation deck on their top floor.  So here are J#1 & J#3, doing just that.

We made our way to the hotel and found the kiddo's room.  Cute, right?  Only J#3 got to use it though.

And after a bit of a rest, we headed to find our way to dinner.  The plan was to find a playground that had looked on the map like it was on the way to the restaurant.

It wasn't.

But we found other ways to amuse ourselves.

Daddy tried showing J#3 how to skip rocks.  This would be J#3's attempt....

And Daddy's.

This is when I am thankful for his experience {and a great photo opp}. 

And this one?  Adventurous and stubborn.  Oh boy girl.  Quite the combination, isn't it?

* * *

On Sunday we headed into the nearby town and got ready to board our "cruise", which involved some hanging 'round the dock first. 

Sister and brother doing a bit of discovering.

And then it was on to the boat.  Evidently three & one year olds aren't so into the scenery?  Although J#3 did make friends with the couple sitting in the booth behind us.

Here is J#4 before her minor meltdown that led into her falling asleep in my arms holding her shortbread cookie as a "teddy".  Seriously, I tried taking it out of her hand? And she woke up and cried.

Goofy.  But cute. 

And here are the money shots.  

Our hotel, from the lake Loch.

So thankful for these out of the ordinary experiences that are blending into our ordinary lives.

*  *  *

Fun {in Glasgow} & Business

First the business {even though IT is fun too}:

• Psst..come over here...I want to say this quietly so the # doesn't change suddenly.  See my google friend connect widget over there {look to the right under "love these readers"}?  100.  100 readers. Wow.  I used to care a LOT more about the numbers than I do now, but still...that is pretty. darn. cool. Thank you for being readers!
• AND I got a "steller waist watcher"honor this week.  Check that out HERE. 

* * * 

Okay, now on the the even MORE fun stuff.  

Last Friday I talked about how I wanted to have more memories, more moments to carry with me.  In that spirit we decided, sort of impromptu, to head into Glasgow on Sunday.  

And I'm quite sure we'll be making several trips back there.  Glasgow is Scotland's Minneapolis compared to Edinburgh, which I would call Scotland's St. Paul.  Except that, of course, ALL of Scotland has way more history that Minneapolis OR St. Paul {but that goes without saying}.  There is a ton of shopping {for when I am DONE with Game On and want to go shopping again!} and sites to be seen.

One of these times, we are taking a sightseeing bus.  You know, because that would be educational.

One thing that constantly amazes me about Europe is the mix of old and new.  

Like this building that you can tell was built a long time ago...

Look at the bottom.  See that TGI Friday's sign?  

We also saw quite possibly one of the best Apple Store locations evah.  {I'll get a photo of that next time}

Little lady just MIGHT be teething {when are these little beings NOT teething?} a bit. 

 But is also excited about the new found freedom that being a walker affords her.

Street magician.  Oh, and check out the guy on the right hand corner.  Smiling for the camera.  

And another guy smiling for the camera. 

Playing with buckles.  Always playing with buckles. 

 Trying to escape.  But Daddy is too fast for her.

Di Maggio's--Quite possibly one of the most child friendly restaurants I've come across here. 

{that doesn't have an indoor playground}

Oh, and they have good bruschetta. 

So what did you do this weekend to live life in the moment & fill up that memory meter? 

* * * 

Linking up with Sweet Shot Tuesday and Communal Global. 

Challenge Wednesday #22: Find me...

over HERE at Tracey's blog home, Control the Chaos.  I'm talking about how we plan on taking advantage of living in Scotland over the next 18 months or so.

Bucket List Update: Learn how to make omelets? Check!

There is SO much I want to tell you all about.

Our trip to Minnesota.

More about my one word for the year {BRAVE}.

And, oh, so much more.

But, the main purpose for this blog is to write about checking items off of my bucket list, each drop in the bucket.  Oh, you get the name of the blog now, huh?  {hehe}

So, first things first.

And, funny enough, this does actually sway into talking about our trip to Minnesota and being brave.

See, I had my brother teach me how to make omelets while we were back in Minnesota.  And it made me nervous...very nervous.

But, I was brave, because my brother worked at Perkins {a breakfast restaurant, for those not from the U.S.} in high school, so I consider him an omelet expert.  And he's a good teacher.  And has the perfect set up for it...its sort of like a cooking show.  Hehe.

But anyhoo... do you want to know the key to a really good omelet?

The spatula  {or turner, as the one I found here was called}.  Make sure it is thin...the thinnest you can find.

The recipe is pretty simple.  Obviously, eggs are involved.  Some milk {if you don't have ready beat eggs...you know, like if you live in Scotland and they don't have Egg Beaters}. Beat that together.  Pour on a pretty hot griddle. And then be ready.

BE QUICK!

This is the expert showing me how to spread the eggs.  I wasn't quite gentle enough.  I'm still working on that.  {wink}

Then load up all your goodies.  My favorite?

Cheese.  Of course. 

Then you gotta fold up the sides and get ready to flip that baby over onto the plate.  Another VERY key {and nerve-wracking for me} part of the process.  

We spent one morning with my brother D {which happens to be what J#3 calls him...D} teaching me...sort of like that cooking show I mentioned.  Then, when we had another morning where I did it myself.  But with help, of course.  Then we made them for the family.  

That was my real test... 

A happy customer?  Perhaps.  Although on his "comment card" he mentioned I could have included more ingredients.  But overall, I think he rated it a 4 out 5.  

Pretty good for a first try, huh? 

Oh, and who photographs an omelet on a yellow plate?  Me.  Oh yeah,  this girl, right here.  Sigh.  

So I bet you are wondering if I've tried it back here in Scotland. I have...but I need to get used to our gas stove, the pan was a bit hot and my omelet was brown.  

Hmph.

I guess the student still has some homework to do.