Daddy's Day

Like many American families, I'll be celebrating Father's Day with my family on Sunday. This is the first year I can remember where we have celebrated on the actual holiday. Years ago, we celebrated Father's Day in October.  With Dad's insane schedule, it was the first time everyone in our family could get together. 

I've struggled to come up with a gift this year. Being that I deemed this year, "The Year of the Handmade Gift," I knew I had to come up with something creative. However, that is hard when it comes to Dad. 

Aiming to mark off items on his "bucket list," Dad recently purchased two cows. Bare in mind that we (my entire family lives within a 2 mile radius) live in a suburb of Atlanta...far from farms and cattle. He loves coming home at night, changing into his blue jeans (which I didn't even know he owned), and walking over to give them their nightly treat of sweet feed. 

I happened to be out of town the night the cows arrived. However, it was a family and neighborhood affair as everyone watched the two cows (named by him...Molly and Polly) investigate their new home.  My sister-in-law uploaded pictures of the cows' (who by the way are pregnant...or bred if you are using farm language) arrival. When I saw the picture below of Dad, I immediately knew I would use it for his Father's Day Gift.

I quickly remembered that I had a similar picture of my grandfather (Dad's daddy) with a cow too. 

So, I changed both photos to black and white and found a double sided frame that I weathered to make look older too. The picture of PawPaw (my grandfather) was very faded and only had orange coloring remaining, so the chance worked well for it.

I think Dad will love it. I know he really misses his parents, so this will be a good remembrance for him

Good News, Good News!

As many of you know, I've been job searching over the past six to eight months. Because I'm not finishing my dissertation until December, I limited my search to the "perfect" job (which of course must be in Georgia because I am certainly staying near my family). In fact, you may recall in March, I turned down an offer at a great place, and I haven't talked much about the search since then.

Well, I have good news...make that great news.

This morning I accepted an offer as an assistant professor at North Georgia College and State University. I had my first interview (via the phone) three weeks ago (while I was at the beach). Last week, I followed up with an on-campus visit and a teaching demonstration. Although I loved the faculty and felt like it was a great fit, I was nervous about not finishing my dissertation because of the new responsibilities. Well, wouldn't you know...they sensed my anxieties.

Yesterday, I received a phone call asking if I would be more interested in working part-time during the fall (until I finish my dissertation) and come on board full-time in January.

I'm blown away how everything has fallen into place.

The pictures I included are all of the campus. North Georgia is in Dahlonega (about an hour) from my house. The area and campus are gorgeous. The town is adorable, even with a downtown square in walking distance from the university.

Three of my favorite aspects of the job are...(1) the faculty that is so supportive and interested in working together for the benefit of the students, (2) the program is a dual-certification program (so, I'll get to help general education teachers prepare for the diversity that exists within classrooms in the 21st century)...and (2) the university has an ENORMOUS study-abroad program!

I'm so excited...as if you can't tell. I will know more in the coming weeks (like what classes I'll teach in the fall), but until then...there is one heck of a celebration going on in Marietta!

Rosemary and Oregano Chicken

This is definitely one of my favorite recipes!  Yummy, yummy, yummy. Here is a quick tutorial and a digital recipe card that you can download, print, and add to your collection. I hope you enjoy!

Purchase these ingredients.

Place chicken and potatoes and chicken in a large dish.

Add olive oil, making sure to coat the chicken and potatoes.

Sprinkle chicken and potatoes with rosemary, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Bake at 375 degrees for one hour.

I added a mixed green salad from my garden.

Pair with a delicious wine.

Yummy, yummy, goodness.

Click HERE to download the recipe card.

I'm posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Delicious Dishes is hosted by It's a Blog Party
Tuesday Tastes is hosted by Crazy Jayz Place
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are THAT Family 
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Tackle it Tuesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom
Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
Friday Food is hosted by Mom Trends
Friday Foodie is hosted by Designs by Gollum
Finer Things Friday is hosted by Amy's Finer Things
I'm Lovin It Fridays is hosted by Tidy Mom
Show off Your Stuff Thursday is hosted by Fireflies and Jellybeans
Tuesday's Garden Party at Oregon Cottage

WANTED: Blog Swap

Hi Everyone!

I'm interested in scheduling several blog swaps over the next couple of months. If you're interested, please post a comment below or shoot me an email.  Here are some ideas of post topics that I think would mesh well with the Persnickety Peacock...

Recipes

Crafts

Tutorials

Decorating Ideas

Garden Tips

Hope you'll join me in this fun swap! 

Week 6 Garden Update

My garden is growing like crazy!

I've already made mental notes of what I plan to change next year.  For example, my tomato plants are shading other plants. So, next year I'm planning to put them alone in a long and skinny raised bed.

My blueberry bushes are finally growing! I'm still planning to make a few changes to help encourage their growth, but I haven't had a chance yet.

I harvested a large bounty this week. My sister took several things (parsley, rosemary, 1 green pepper, 2 green tomatoes) home after her girls picked them out the garden. 

My sister is planning to make fried green tomatoes on Wednesday...and create a guest post...right, Allison? Now that it is in print...you're held accountable!

Garden Slip Up

Yesterday my oldest nieces came over to help work in my garden. They've been eager to pick anything and everything they see growing.  So, when my sister needed to make a quick trip to the grocery store, I figured they could help me pick a few veggies, pull some weeds, and water the garden. 

Well, being that I'm quite a novice gardener, I thought the carrots were ready to come out of the ground.  So, we dug down into the ground and pulled out these babies.

Obviously, the carrots need a little longer in the ground. So, much to the girls' dismay...we left the remainder in the ground.

Blog Swap with Kaysi from Keeping it Simple

Hello everyone! I am super excited to be here with you today!! Alyssa is super creative and has a lot of fun stuff at her blog, I just love the name of it, so creative!!

Let me introduce myself, I'm Kaysi

from Keeping It Simple.

Here are a few things about me:

I am the mother of three boys, ages 5, 3 and 1

I have been married to an amazing man for 6 years

I love chocolate!!

I love color, green is my favorite but brown and blue are up there

I like to keep things simple, not overdo them

When I get a spare moment, I love to craft or look at crafts

Each day of the week, I have something different.

Motivate me Monday, that's where I have link party and you get to show me all the cute things that you have done.

Tutorial Tuesday, I give a tutorial of a craft that I have done

Whatever Wednesday, this is my day that I put anything up.

Scrapbook Thursday, this is the day that I post a scrapbook idea or give a scrapbook tip

Fridays are the days that I do Blog swaps with other bloggers.

Here are a few things that you can see at my blog:

Dying Leather

Pants turned into aprons

Reversible Skirt

Decoration

Scrapbook ideas

Spiderman Room

You should stop on by and see what else I have!!

Thanks Alyssa for doing this swap with me, it's been fun!

Update...

Do you ever feel like you're spread too thin?  Well, that is what I feel like on a regular basis! What annoys me even more is that when everything needs attention at once, my blog is what is put on hold.

Let me explain why I've been away...

About a month ago, I presented my dissertation prospectus (chapters 1-3) to my committee of four professors. They ask you questions, provide insight, and make suggestions regarding your study. Once they approve, you submit your proposal to the university to get permission to begin collecting data. Well, I held my meeting and received permission from my committee to move forward...exciting!  At the conclusion of the meeting, we set a date for my dissertation defense, and the current plan remains for me to graduate in December...now if I can only find a job!  

The following week, I spent a 6 days in the lovely North Georgia Mountains at Amicalola Falls. I wish this was a relaxing getaway, but instead I sat on the back porch of a cabin typing away. Every year, a professor at the University of Georgia hosts a writing retreat. About 15 doctoral students spend their days and nights working towards a self-imposed goal (mine was to create a draft of a manuscript I've had on my to-do list for way too long). This was my second writing retreat, so I knew it would be intense. I can't complain much because (1) I made the choice to go, and (2) albeit extremely insane it is the most beneficial experience for me as a graduate student. Oftentimes, the PhD world can be somewhat isolated. Everyone is working on their program of study (that they create independently) or their dissertation (that they create independently). In turn, you frequently feel like you're floating along all by your lonesome self. The week away with grad students grounds you in the reality that there are many others feeling the same way you are, with the same apprehensions and anxieties, worried and stressed about the same insecurities. So, although it was a long week...it was great!

After being home for only four days, I hopped in the car with my sister and her three girls (5 years old and under) and headed to the beach. With all the kids and their stuff, we have to take 2 cars. My sister and I enjoy the ride together (with me getting up and handling situations with the kids). Her husband leads the way, windows down and listening to music...we get a little envious when the kids are screaming! Anyway, I'm here at the beach...trying to enjoy a non-vacation with three wee ones.

In the meantime, I received permission from the University of Georgia to begin collecting data for my dissertation. That is exciting. I disseminated phase one of my research yesterday, and I am like an annoying child checking to see how many people have responded to the survey...every 10 seconds. Can you tell my livelihood rides on this stinkin' study?  Good thing I like it!

So, there is the update. I have quite a few blog posts running in my head, and I've lined up some blog swaps (and am in search of more) for the coming weeks.

Thanks for staying tuned...even while I'm crazy trying to swim upstream.