Homemade waffles are a weekend tradition here at the Bowers Burrow. This morning we were craving some fall flavors, so I decided to try something new- apple cider waffles. I found this recipe on Pinterest, but modified it slightly because we aren’t huge nutmeg fans. These waffles are definitely a new favorite!
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“You realize that if I end up taking this job it’s going to involve a lot of travel, right?” Dan turned his head to look at me before turning his eyes back to the road. “Like, a lot of travel. At least one or two weeks out of every month.”
My careful reply came a few seconds later: “Yes, I get that. And I don’t love it. But I want to make sure you’re doing something you love.”
Dan was a few months away from graduating with his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering, and it was time to make a decision about his job offers. Basically, the options came down to:
1- Sit at a desk all day every day and do math (or whatever it is that Electrical Engineers do), or
2- Sit at a desk and do math all day for a week or two and then spend the next week traveling and doing the hands-on work to put that math into action. Knowing and loving Dan like I do, option number two was obviously the best choice for him.
Fast-forward about six months, and I’m dropping Dan off at the airport for his first business trip. He had to go to Orlando for the week (ironically, we were just there for our honeymoon two weeks before), and as I pulled the car up to drop-off area I couldn’t stop the tears rolling down my cheeks. He gave me a hug and a kiss goodbye, and then he’s off. The tears eventually stopped somewhere along the drive back home, and I kept myself as busy as I could that week to keep my mind off the fact that Dan wasn’t there.
In retrospect, that week of Dan’s first business trip was the longest time we’d ever spent apart. We started dating when we were sixteen, and even when we were at separate colleges we didn’t go more than a few days without seeing each other. That explains why being separated that first time was so hard. And I use the word “hard” with caution. I know that compared to women whose husbands are off fighting for our country overseas, my husband going on business trips for a week or two at a time is nothing. But I can only speak to my own experience, not theirs.
Here are some things that have helped me stay sane when my husband is out of town on business.
I was texting one of my friends the other day, and the conversation went something like this:
“I read a few chapters of Girl Wash Your Face this morning and it totally started my day off on the right foot.”
“Good!! I’m downloading some podcasts right now because my life needs them.”
“I hear ya. That’s why I finally sat down to read this morning.”
“Yess!”
“I feel like we need a ‘I want to thrive but real life keeps getting in the way’ support group lol.”
We’re both a “personal development” kick lately. At least, we’re trying. Personal development, growth, pursuit of joy, thriving- whatever you want to call it, the bottom line is we’re actively trying to “live our best lives.” And I think we’re not the only ones, which is why I’m writing this post. So if you can relate to any of those terms above, listen up, this is your support group pep talk.
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Our book for Book Club this month was The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I know I’m late to the party on this one, but I LOVE. THIS. BOOK. I have not loved a book this much in God knows how long. At one point I was up until 2 AM because I didn’t want to stop reading, and that hasn’t happened in years. I cried real tears during this book, to the point where Dan looked over at one point and asked me if I was okay.
Carrot Cake is Dan’s absolute favorite dessert. But making a whole carrot cake is a lot of work, and way more unhealthy food than we need sitting around our house. So I decided to trying making a carrot bread instead. It’s easier, smaller, and just as delicious as the real thing.
A burrow, according to Dictionary.com, is a place of retreat; shelter or refuge.
The Bowers Burrow is basically the same, but we also have waffles.
I strive to create warm spaces where my people feel welcome to come as they are, messy bun and all, and just do life together. Places where we can share what’s on our hearts, catch up, complain about the little things, swap ideas, and ultimately, build each other up.
And that’s what I want this blog to be: our cozy corner of the internet where we can retreat for a little while and share life together.
So here’s a bit about me and what to expect from this blog.
I married my high school sweetheart, Dan, about a year and a half ago. He is steady, fun, and incredibly kind. He is my home. I love every part of our life together, even the messy “real life” parts. We’ve been together for over eight years, and there is no one I would rather have by my side through it all.
We have two fur babies, Belle and Kingsley. I rescued Belle about 3 years ago, and she is the light of my life. Kingsley is a “giant” German Shepherd and he’s turning 4 months old in a few days. And yes, Dan and I are so nerdy that we named our dog after one of our favorite Harry Potter characters.
We bought our first house about 6 months ago. We’ve been doing lots of projects around the house to put our personal touch on this place as well as some much-needed upgrades. We started remodeling the kitchen in October and it is so close to being done! So expect to hear more about that in future posts 🙂
I love to bake, read, write, crochet, and create. I’ll share all of my favorite recipes, books, and crafts with you guys on here.
Even though I’m a 65-year-old woman at heart, I still love a little adventure. Hiking, kayaking, camping, and traveling. Dan really brings out this side of me, otherwise I’d probably be content to sit home with Belle most of the time. I’m also working on getting in better physical shape, and I think living an active lifestyle is a big part of that.
Writing helps me live a life of intention, and that’s honestly a main reason I’m starting this blog. To encourage myself to be present in everyday moments, to try to new things, to live up to my potential, and to say what’s on my mind. If you know me from my old blog, thanks for sticking around.
So let’s do life together.
Come on over, I’ll put the coffee on.
The Bowers Burrow 