Stephen In Disguise

I spent my summer in Abingdon, Virginia working at the Barter Theatre as a summer player. I discovered that having no time in your day gives you a lot of time to do things except on the internet, which is why I was behind on everything until I moved. I had two-three shows each day along with rehearsals, gym time, and private improv coaching, but I was able to go out into town and even out of state to do things. Abingdon is a cute town with an abundance of small shops and 19th century history. The best way to sum up my non-theatre related experience in the south is through pictures!

Small businesses from the tri-state area congregate in Abingdon for Plumb Alley Day.

Pop Ellis offered an Oz Sunday in honor of Barter's production and the 75th anniversary.

Here are some shots from the Oz opening party!

Natalie and I. Swingin.

The gazebo at The Martha Washington: the fanciest/most historical place in town.

Look at this creek.

Some stores are closed Sundays for church. Others are closed monday because the theatre is closed.

Virginia is for lovers.

My friend Michael biked across the country to support cancer research. Abingdon was on his 4K4Cancer route! Hi, Michael.

Baby Cakes sold ruby red slipper cupcakes. Their flavor options change day by day!

Bartering for tickets is a tradition here!

Look at these Virginia Creepers.

One of the first friends while hiking the Appalachian Trail

Virginia Creepers

The only kind of food I cooked all summer

We spent 4th of July at the Lands' house on the lake!

I ate a Clif Bar on this cliff.

My first southern broil!

I had to

Zacchaeus, Barrett, and I went to Greenville, South Carolina to see Sam's dress rehearsal and we got gelato and bagels.

Go here everything is great and they're open late!

Some shots from the Virginia Highlands Festival!

Home.

Check out Sullivan's Doll Furniture. They make triple decker bunkbeds for American Girl Doll sleepovers.

I thought olive oil was just olive oil but then I learned.

This was my room this summer. It was the first time I was living somewhere I couldn't have all of my decorations and things, but I managed.

In the whirlwind of the summer rep I also experienced new things like pimento cheese, which seems to be a huge thing in the south, cheer wine, the magic of southern fireflies, weekly toasts of Jameson, and running to the fear. This was the best summer of my life, and I love and miss my new family at Barter every day. I'll be back soon!

It's a new year so I'm making new recipes. My parents sent me to Auburn with two jars or Prego and pasta. I was missing home one night and decided it was time to make some chili and pretend it was my dad's. I don't know how my dad does what he does with chili but he's won three trophies for it in blind taste tests so everyone in my neighborhood is a fan. After borrowing some chili powder from my friend Tommy I made this chili and a mess using: Prego, kidney beans, pinto beans, ground turkey, chili powder, and pepper.

One night my dad emailed me the family biscotti recipe. I was surprised because I didn't think I would see this until I had a house and kids of my own. I can't share the recipe but I can tell you that it wasn't until after I put the two loafs of cookie into the oven for the first bake that I realized I didn't put baking powder into the cookies, so I took them out and worked it into the dough. The chocolate chips were already slightly melted at this point which resulted in the cookies having a marble look to them. This also made the cookies a bit chewier than usual, so it was a very happy accident. My dad never drizzles white chocolate on them, but I like white chocolate so.

This batch of biscotti was served at a Superbowl viewing along with a home made pizza! The pie was in no way symmetrical, but it tasted great! I got the dough recipe from Cody's Blog, and I topped the pizza with Prego (I love Prego,) mozzarella, black olives, peppers, and spinach artichoke dip from Wegmans.

I don't remember why I made this crumb cake, but it happened and people ate it. For some reason I bought this thirteen inch cheesecake pan in 2011 and I keep using it for cakes even though it's too big and it takes and extra twenty-five minutes of baking on low heat to cook the center. I love those crumbles.

Instead of taking down my Christmas wreath I cut up toilet paper tubes and folded them to look like small hearts then put them on the wreath.

To celebrate the Olympics we had a grilled cheese olympics. Everyone was to bring a sampling of their own bread and cheese and whatever else to make grilled cheese. I used a simple pita recipe, sliced apples, and brie to make some bougie grilled cheese. Just slap it on the George Foreman for a fancy time.

I found this ginger pear cake recipe on Pinterest some time ago and I decided it was time to make it. This was served at our Oscars party; I figured the gold color of the caramel glaze is kind of like the rich colors you see in the theatre? Also pears are so fancy. I used the thirteen inch pan again (don't) and I didn't have an electric mixer when I started to make the whipped topping, so it took a little while. If you don't have an electric mixer or patience buy Cool Whip because it's the same thing. Also, cover surfaces/wipe up any spilled caramel immediately. I left it on my stove for months and didn't scrape it off until the last day and I didn't think I was that kind of person but I shouldn't let things like that define me.

I gave up bread, dessert, and alcohol for Lent, but then I realized I was denying myself many cultural experiences, and I didn't eat these things very often any way so this kind of diet wouldn't bring me any closer to God so I gave up on that goal on St. Patrick's Day. My mom sent me this Irish Soda Bread recipe that uses yogurt! Everyone was pleased with the results.

My first car bomb!

After a sensible wine tour for Courtney's birthday we came back to the house for a fiesta. Courtney turned twenty-six and used healthcare.gov to get her new insurance so fixed up this piñata! Courtney has very nice wing tipped eyeliner so I added some lashes to the llama.

We were all together for Passover and Easter so we all celebrated both Passover and Easter. During the seder I drank a bottle of Black Cherry from Knapp Wine that I bought for the occasion a few weeks prior. Rebeccah handed out scripts of a Passover skit she found online and we read it as we ate. It was wonderful, as was the matzo ball soup and screening of Prince of Egypt.

I made biscotti for Easter as well as a pistachio pudding pie that Chelsea introduced me to on St. Patrick's Day. This pie is the best thing. It just takes two packets of pistachio jello pudding, 2 3/4 cups of whole milk, and an Oreo pie crust. I had a box of thin mints, so I filled the bottom with crushed cookies and topped it with Cool Whip and various sized chocolate chips. Scott, Katie, and I dyed eggs for Easter. I bought these artificial eggs from Michaels, but the dye didn't take to them too well. If you want to have pastel colored eggs you can use over and over again, or if you are covering your eggs in glitter, I would recommend using the artificial eggs!

Eggs, biscotti, and a bunny card made by my mom

Glorious

I bought these cups sophomore year. My mom pointed them out in Target and at first we laughed about me getting them and then it got very serious and they ended up in my cart.

Sticks for all seasons

My mom's birthday was on Easter this year so I made her this card with stationary, acrylic paint, hemp, and thread.

And finally here's my room! It's the first time I had my own space, and I was lucky that the walls were a nice blue color. They're very similar to the walls in my room at home!