H.A. Larson's Blog, page 75
July 6, 2015
4th of July
My best, but still blurry, photo from the Ralston fireworks Saturday night.
It's Monday, and I hope everyone had a wonderful, safe, and fun holiday weekend. One of my closet friends came over with her daughter, and we grilled a mixture of vegan & carnivore foods. For my end, I made carrot hot dogs, corn on the cob, and Maple-Mustard roasted veggies. This last item was a recipe I got from Isa Moskowicz's 10th Anniversary edition of Vegan with a Vengeance. The recipe called for potatoes and green beans, but I didn't have green beans. I did have a head of cauliflower that absolutely needed to be used, so I subbed it for the green beans, and it came out amazing.
Later, after we had eaten, but before we consumed too many adult beverages, we headed down the road a few miles to a suburb to check out their fireworks display. We have gone to this particular town's fireworks for the last several years, and they never disappoint. I do have to say, that the amount of personal fireworks that people own has really grown! We saw so many fireworks before the BIG fireworks, that it was like having twice the show for the price of one.
Anyway, that was my 4th! Have a fantastic week!
-H.A.
July 2, 2015
Day Trip Adventure: Highway 75 to Indian Caves
As most of you already know, if anything, I'm about finding adventure, even if I can't stray far from home and/or don't have much money to spare. Yesterday was one of those days. I've been working towards paying off debts and trying to save, so not spending money can be a bit of challenge. I've also been keeping myself busy, and not driving around as much, both of which lend me to being more productive while spending less money. Anyway, I was feeling a bit cabin-feverish, and I know my kids especially were, so I decided to take a road trip going south on Highway 75. The idea was to stop at interesting points along the way, eat a picnic lunch, and then end up at Indian Caves State Park before heading home.
Our first stop on our journey was in Nebraska City, where we stopped at the Arbor Lodge State Historical Park where the famous Morton Mansion sits. The Morton family was the Morton salt family, and they were also famous for encouraging the planting of trees. Here's a view of the mansion from its right side.
Another view of the Morton Mansion from the left front corner. We had stayed at the Arbor Lodge before, and I've taken the kids to the Arbor farm, but we had never seen the mansion until yesterday. We may not have true castles in America, but we have fantastic old houses like this one.
Our next stop was in Brownville, NE, where we stopped at the old Captain Meriwether Lewis boat. It had a picnic area right on the Missouri River with a view of the bridge that crosses over into Missouri. I took this picture from our picnic table. It was a beautiful spot to eat a meal.
Right behind us was the old Captain Meriwether Lewis boat. It was part of the Army Corps of Engineers, but it appeared to be long since abandoned and even now closed to the public. I believe it used to be open to the public at one point in time.
Brownville, NE, was the first town settled/built in Nebraska. As a consequence, this very tiny town has plenty of old buildings, some of which have been preserved. This was the Stevens House built in 1862.
Just down the block and around the corner from the Stevens House is the Muir House. Robert Valentine Muir was the Treasurer for the Nebraska Settlement Co. and ran a sawmill & a ferry. He also published a newspaper I believe, and built this gorgeous home in 1868.
A view of the maintained gardens of the Muir House. Across the way is an old church that is now used as a concert hall. The town, as a tourist spot, has plenty of events, socials, and concerts throughout the warmer months.
This was a Settler's cabin in downtown Brownville that is mostly original, but has been partially restored.
After we left Brownville, it was just another 14 miles to our destination of Indian Caves State Park. I took this picture overlooking the hills and the Missouri River from a beautiful lookout point. Breathtaking! We really wanted to hike down to the namesake cave, but there was road construction and so the last few miles of the road leading to the cave were completely torn up & blocked by machinery. This bummed us out, but we got to walk around, see the Half-Breed Cemetery, and, of course, take in the views!
It seemed a perfect end to a perfect day to see a gorgeous, red, setting sun on its descent upon the horizon. We captured a few pictures from the car.
And there you have it, a little view into our fun day of adventurin'. If you're ever bored and need something to do, check around and see what kind of road trip you can take. Pack a lunch and hit the road...you might see something you've never seen before!
Our first stop on our journey was in Nebraska City, where we stopped at the Arbor Lodge State Historical Park where the famous Morton Mansion sits. The Morton family was the Morton salt family, and they were also famous for encouraging the planting of trees. Here's a view of the mansion from its right side.
Another view of the Morton Mansion from the left front corner. We had stayed at the Arbor Lodge before, and I've taken the kids to the Arbor farm, but we had never seen the mansion until yesterday. We may not have true castles in America, but we have fantastic old houses like this one.
Our next stop was in Brownville, NE, where we stopped at the old Captain Meriwether Lewis boat. It had a picnic area right on the Missouri River with a view of the bridge that crosses over into Missouri. I took this picture from our picnic table. It was a beautiful spot to eat a meal.
Right behind us was the old Captain Meriwether Lewis boat. It was part of the Army Corps of Engineers, but it appeared to be long since abandoned and even now closed to the public. I believe it used to be open to the public at one point in time.
Brownville, NE, was the first town settled/built in Nebraska. As a consequence, this very tiny town has plenty of old buildings, some of which have been preserved. This was the Stevens House built in 1862.
Just down the block and around the corner from the Stevens House is the Muir House. Robert Valentine Muir was the Treasurer for the Nebraska Settlement Co. and ran a sawmill & a ferry. He also published a newspaper I believe, and built this gorgeous home in 1868.
A view of the maintained gardens of the Muir House. Across the way is an old church that is now used as a concert hall. The town, as a tourist spot, has plenty of events, socials, and concerts throughout the warmer months.
This was a Settler's cabin in downtown Brownville that is mostly original, but has been partially restored.
After we left Brownville, it was just another 14 miles to our destination of Indian Caves State Park. I took this picture overlooking the hills and the Missouri River from a beautiful lookout point. Breathtaking! We really wanted to hike down to the namesake cave, but there was road construction and so the last few miles of the road leading to the cave were completely torn up & blocked by machinery. This bummed us out, but we got to walk around, see the Half-Breed Cemetery, and, of course, take in the views!
It seemed a perfect end to a perfect day to see a gorgeous, red, setting sun on its descent upon the horizon. We captured a few pictures from the car.
And there you have it, a little view into our fun day of adventurin'. If you're ever bored and need something to do, check around and see what kind of road trip you can take. Pack a lunch and hit the road...you might see something you've never seen before!
Hwy 75 Day Trip
As most of you already know, if anything, I'm about finding adventure, even if I can't stray far from home and/or don't have much money to spare. Yesterday was one of those days. I've been working towards paying off debts and trying to save, so not spending money can be a bit of challenge. I've also been keeping myself busy, and not driving around as much, both of which lend me to being more productive while spending less money. Anyway, I was feeling a bit cabin-feverish, and I know my kids especially were, so I decided to take a road trip going south on Highway 75. The idea was to stop at interesting points along the way, eat a picnic lunch, and then end up at Indian Caves State Park before heading home.
Our first stop on our journey was in Nebraska City, where we stopped at the Arbor Lodge State Historical Park where the famous Morton Mansion sits. The Morton family was the Morton salt family, and they were also famous for encouraging the planting of trees. Here's a view of the mansion from its right side.
Another view of the Morton Mansion from the left front corner. We had stayed at the Arbor Lodge before, and I've taken the kids to the Arbor farm, but we had never seen the mansion until yesterday. We may not have true castles in America, but we have fantastic old houses like this one.
Our next stop was in Brownville, NE, where we stopped at the old Captain Meriwether Lewis boat. It had a picnic area right on the Missouri River with a view of the bridge that crosses over into Missouri. I took this picture from our picnic table. It was a beautiful spot to eat a meal.
Right behind us was the old Captain Meriwether Lewis boat. It was part of the Army Corps of Engineers, but it appeared to be long since abandoned and even now closed to the public. I believe it used to be open to the public at one point in time.
Brownville, NE, was the first town settled/built in Nebraska. As a consequence, this very tiny town has plenty of old buildings, some of which have been preserved. This was the Stevens House built in 1862.
Just down the block and around the corner from the Stevens House is the Muir House. Robert Valentine Muir was the Treasurer for the Nebraska Settlement Co. and ran a sawmill & a ferry. He also published a newspaper I believe, and built this gorgeous home in 1868.
A view of the maintained gardens of the Muir House. Across the way is an old church that is now used as a concert hall. The town, as a tourist spot, has plenty of events, socials, and concerts throughout the warmer months.
This was a Settler's cabin in downtown Brownville that is mostly original, but has been partially restored.
After we left Brownville, it was just another 14 miles to our destination of Indian Caves State Park. I took this picture overlooking the hills and the Missouri River from a beautiful lookout point. Breathtaking! We really wanted to hike down to the namesake cave, but there was road construction and so the last few miles of the road leading to the cave were completely torn up & blocked by machinery. This bummed us out, but we got to walk around, see the Half-Breed Cemetery, and, of course, take in the views!
It seemed a perfect end to a perfect day to see a gorgeous, red, setting sun on its descent upon the horizon. We captured a few pictures from the car.
And there you have it, a little view into our fun day of adventurin'. If you're ever bored and need something to do, check around and see what kind of road trip you can take. Pack a lunch and hit the road...you might see something you've never seen before!
Our first stop on our journey was in Nebraska City, where we stopped at the Arbor Lodge State Historical Park where the famous Morton Mansion sits. The Morton family was the Morton salt family, and they were also famous for encouraging the planting of trees. Here's a view of the mansion from its right side.
Another view of the Morton Mansion from the left front corner. We had stayed at the Arbor Lodge before, and I've taken the kids to the Arbor farm, but we had never seen the mansion until yesterday. We may not have true castles in America, but we have fantastic old houses like this one.
Our next stop was in Brownville, NE, where we stopped at the old Captain Meriwether Lewis boat. It had a picnic area right on the Missouri River with a view of the bridge that crosses over into Missouri. I took this picture from our picnic table. It was a beautiful spot to eat a meal.
Right behind us was the old Captain Meriwether Lewis boat. It was part of the Army Corps of Engineers, but it appeared to be long since abandoned and even now closed to the public. I believe it used to be open to the public at one point in time.
Brownville, NE, was the first town settled/built in Nebraska. As a consequence, this very tiny town has plenty of old buildings, some of which have been preserved. This was the Stevens House built in 1862.
Just down the block and around the corner from the Stevens House is the Muir House. Robert Valentine Muir was the Treasurer for the Nebraska Settlement Co. and ran a sawmill & a ferry. He also published a newspaper I believe, and built this gorgeous home in 1868.
A view of the maintained gardens of the Muir House. Across the way is an old church that is now used as a concert hall. The town, as a tourist spot, has plenty of events, socials, and concerts throughout the warmer months.
This was a Settler's cabin in downtown Brownville that is mostly original, but has been partially restored.
After we left Brownville, it was just another 14 miles to our destination of Indian Caves State Park. I took this picture overlooking the hills and the Missouri River from a beautiful lookout point. Breathtaking! We really wanted to hike down to the namesake cave, but there was road construction and so the last few miles of the road leading to the cave were completely torn up & blocked by machinery. This bummed us out, but we got to walk around, see the Half-Breed Cemetery, and, of course, take in the views!
It seemed a perfect end to a perfect day to see a gorgeous, red, setting sun on its descent upon the horizon. We captured a few pictures from the car.
And there you have it, a little view into our fun day of adventurin'. If you're ever bored and need something to do, check around and see what kind of road trip you can take. Pack a lunch and hit the road...you might see something you've never seen before!
June 30, 2015
Vegan Cheese Sauce
Mmmm, cheese sauce ready for consumption.
Cheese sauce on a mighty fine black bean burger.
Cheese has always been one of my favorite things ever, in fact, one of my life's mottos was, "Just put some cheese on it." Besides eggs, cheese was one of the reasons I stayed vegetarian for so long. I was able to finally go vegan because I discovered chickpea 'eggs', and that a few vegan cheeses that made my switch easier. One of those cheeses was a miracle cheese made out of potatoes and carrots. Say what?! Potatoes and carrots? Yep, truth. Once you try it, you'll be hooked. As a side note, I've seen lots of recipes for this cheese sauce out there, and they're all quite similar, this one just happens to be my twist.
Vegan Cheese Sauce
Ingredients:
2 c. peeled & diced potatoes (yellow works best, but any kind is fine)1 c. peeled & diced carrots3/4 c. water1/3 c. oil (olive and canola work best)1/2 c. nutritional yeast1/4 t. turmeric2 t. sea salt (or 1 tsp regular salt)1 t. each black pepper, granulated onion, granulated garlic, and smoked paprika1 T. steak seasoning1 t. miso paste (or mustard if you don't have miso)
Instructions:
1. Bring potatoes and carrots to a boil in a pot of water. Cook until fork tender. Drain, give them a quick rinse to get off the excess starch, and let cool for about 10 minutes.
2. Put all the ingredients in a high-powered blender, and mix, scraping down the sides a few times, until well-blended.
3. Put in an air-tight container and keep in the fridge.
Notes:
This should last at least a week in the fridge, although it gets eaten up so quick in my house that it never gets to that point. I made everything from mac n cheese to nachos to enchiladas and everything in between. This stuff is almost good enough to drink!
June 29, 2015
Good Memories and Bad Times
I'm going to admit it: last week was a terrible week. Between hormones, life problems, and a very sore back, I had a hard time getting anything done and was left with a serious case of the doldrums. My daughter's birthday was Saturday, and we started the festivities on Friday night. Overall, it helped to brighten my mood. Last night, reflecting on the past week, I realized how up and down our lives can feel sometimes, and that how we deal with them can make all the difference.
So, I made peace with my crappy week, and resolved to bring myself back to inner calm, hopefulness, and motivation. I reminded myself to stay focused on the future, and not to worry so much about the present. I can sometimes get mired down with feeling that I'm on a bike with broken wheels, which I'm sure many of you can relate to. I gave myself some me time, and then this morning I relaxed with a wonderful breakfast, some good tea, and caught up on some little things.
I had been meaning to go through my Pictures folder on my computer, and as I was lazily looking through it, I came across my folder of pictures from Denver. I spent two weeks there a couple of years ago for a former job, and while I was there, got to spend a glorious weekend having fun. On a Saturday we explored the city, and then on Sunday we packed a picnic and made for the Rocky Mountains. It was an awe-inspiring day, and I had never seen anything so magnificent in my life (until a few years later when I got to see the Cliffs of Moher on the coast of Ireland).
It was so wonderful to relive that most happy of days, and it really helped to shut the lid on my doldrums of last week for good. I decided to share some of my favorites, so enjoy!
This last photo is of the legendary Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, which sits at the base of the Rockies. I am a huge Stephen King fan, and stopping by here was a great capstone to a perfect day. I hope you have a good week, and remember, there's a light at the end of every dark tunnel. -H.A.
So, I made peace with my crappy week, and resolved to bring myself back to inner calm, hopefulness, and motivation. I reminded myself to stay focused on the future, and not to worry so much about the present. I can sometimes get mired down with feeling that I'm on a bike with broken wheels, which I'm sure many of you can relate to. I gave myself some me time, and then this morning I relaxed with a wonderful breakfast, some good tea, and caught up on some little things.
I had been meaning to go through my Pictures folder on my computer, and as I was lazily looking through it, I came across my folder of pictures from Denver. I spent two weeks there a couple of years ago for a former job, and while I was there, got to spend a glorious weekend having fun. On a Saturday we explored the city, and then on Sunday we packed a picnic and made for the Rocky Mountains. It was an awe-inspiring day, and I had never seen anything so magnificent in my life (until a few years later when I got to see the Cliffs of Moher on the coast of Ireland).
It was so wonderful to relive that most happy of days, and it really helped to shut the lid on my doldrums of last week for good. I decided to share some of my favorites, so enjoy!
This last photo is of the legendary Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, which sits at the base of the Rockies. I am a huge Stephen King fan, and stopping by here was a great capstone to a perfect day. I hope you have a good week, and remember, there's a light at the end of every dark tunnel. -H.A.
June 26, 2015
Change
I can remember when I first moved out of my parent's house and lived on my own, I was scared at first. The change was daunting, and it took me a few years to warm up to the idea. Once I did though, I never looked back. Over the next twenty years I've gone through many changes, some bad, and many good. Whether good or bad, I wasn't afraid of them. In fact, I looked forward to change...I embraced it. I used to brag that I never lived anywhere longer than five years. But then, I got older.
Once I hit my mid-30s, change once again became a daunting thing, and I've resisted change as much as possible. The devil-may-care feelings of my youth gave way to a desire for security and stability. After all, I'm a mom now, and my kids need stability. Or is it me that needs the stability?
I tend to think it's a bit of the former, but largely the latter. The last few years have seen many changes in my life, and big ones to boot, but they didn't require any sort of uprooting. I felt pretty secure with my feet firmly on the ground. Now, I sit here and contemplate my future...the best future I can imagine for my changing life. Adaptation is a necessity.
I can't put it off any longer, and I know that something has to give, but I am so comfortable that it's a scary proposition. I'm just going to face it though, the best way I know how: with confidence and with the hope that I can conjure up a bit of that excitement I felt when I was young and unafraid of the unknown.
June 24, 2015
Happy Father's Day!
I hope everyone had a great Father's Day! I wanted to dedicate a special post to my own father, Bill, for being the best dad a gal could ask for.
My parents got divorced when I was young, and my mom left, leaving my dad in charge of taking care of me. To that end, he was pretty awesome. He worked really hard to provide for us. He always spent time with me, spoiled me, and let me know how much I was loved.
He was there to help me with buying my first bra, and wasn't afraid to go get me feminine supplies, because, and I'm quoting him here, "Everyone knows they're not for me."
He taught me how to hike, fish, camp, what poison sumac was, how to shoot a gun, how to canoe, and how to float if the boat tipped over. He played games with me, instilled a love of nature in me, and gave me an appreciation for music that burns like a fire within me to this day.
So thanks daddy for being my daddy. I sure do love you, and I hope everyday is a good day to be a father! <3<3<3
Shakespeare on the Green
Hey everybody! Sorry I've been absent the past week. First, I had a big old garage sale this weekend and that kept me solidly busy for three days. I put my back out during this time and had to take it easy for a few days, which just gave me time to finish the monthly editorial I write for a local publication. So, at any rate, I'm a bit behind!
Every year since 1987, people have gathered on a large green space at the campus of University of Nebraska-Omaha to watch one of two Shakespeare plays. This year the troupe is performing "As You Like It" and "Othello". Last Thursday, I went with my best friend and my son to see "As You Like It" set in the Roaring 20s. It was definitely a blast, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although my son had a hard time understanding old-time English.
This is such a great event that brings culture to the city for free! Although there are plenty of concessions for purchase, they also provide a hand-washing station as well as kid-friendly activities before the play starts. You can bring in any food and drink you desire, and we usually come armed with chairs, blankets, picnic food, water, and wine.
If you ever get a chance to go to one of these, I would highly recommend it! Get your culture on!
June 16, 2015
Vegan Chocolate Cookies
The other day, I was really craving something chocolately-sweet. Since I don't keep junk food around, and I have plenty of things to bake with, I decided to whip up some cookies. These came out so good! Try them when you get a chance.
Ingredients
2/3 c. coconut oil1/2 c. sugar1/4 c. brown sugar2 T. ground flax1/3 c. flax milk (any vegan milk will work here)1 t. vanilla1 t. baking soda2 c. flour
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Mix the ground flax with the flax milk in a small bowl and set aside.3. Using a hand mixer, mix together the coconut oil, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until incorporated.4. Sift together the flour and the baking soda in a separate bowl.5. Add the flax mixture to the wet ingredients and mix again.6. Add the flour and baking soda mixture to the wet mixture in two parts, using the mixer to mix well.7. Drop the mixture by the teaspoon (or tablespoon if you like bigger) onto cookie sheets.8. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes, transfer off the pans to cool.
Notes
This is a simple, delightful chocolate cookie that is crispy on the edges, and chewy in the center. I've seen plenty of other recipes, but I've really tried to cut the sugar and oil down as much as possible with my recipe. There's always room for additions: think vegan chocolate chips, nuts, or a berry glaze on top. Enjoy!
June 13, 2015
The Final Verdict!
Ok, here it is! Ta da! This is a completed look using only the drug store products I bought the other day. I love the potted gel liner, but I had to play around with the artist's brushes until I found the right one.
I feel that the eyeliner could be a bit more moist for easier application, but that might improve with a different brand ( Love My Eyes is the cheap brand).
I used the browns trio of the Maybelline Blushed NUDES for a more nighttime look, and I like the way they looked.
I followed that up with my darker Wet 'n Wild brow liner that I reserve for night looks. I don't care for it as well, because you really have to blend it in to look right, but it does work with some TLC.
For my lips I used a Milani lip liner on my whole lips, and then added the new Wet 'n Wild natural blend lip stain/chapstick combo on top. Looks pretty good, and stayed well.
For my face, I used my new Maybelline FITme! foundation mixed with L'oreal 's Infallible Pro-Matte foundation. I used a foundation brush to dab the foundation on, and then used a damp, foam beauty blender to blend it in to my skin. I finished it with the matching FITme! powder.
I have the right amount of waves from the TreSEMME Make Waves. It works well! Just run some through freshly washed hair and scrunch. After it dries run a wide-toothed comb through it!
Additionally, I used a Pür mascara that I'm not fond of. I need a good anti-clumping mascara...anyone have any good suggestions? Comment below!
