Thanksgiving

We had a great thanksgiving at my folks with my inlaws and my aunt and uncle from Kentucky. We were in charge of desserts. This is a caramel apple upside down cake that I made and a pumpkin pie that Gracie made.

Drew did the prayer for the first time and it was amazing! The prayer itself was great and the confidence he showed brought tears to my eyes.

When it rains it pours....

It is a miracle that we are as productive as we are with the introduction of technology into all facets of our lives. Within the last 24 hours:

* My cell phone stopped receiving texts from any verizon phones
* Our laptop was returned (completely rebuilt) from HP customer service
* My RSA token for work stopped working
* Our home telphone lines has a constant hum

Lots of time spent talking to customer service or trouble shooting.

Hilarious!

I was looking for a new fleece jacket for Ahi (she gets cold in the winter) and I saw this pic and laughed out loud! I can just see Ahi and Daisy wearing this get up. And looking quite disgruntled about it!

Stir Fried Eggplant

This is delicious!


3 TBSP of oil (about)

1 package of extra firm tofu, cut into chunks

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 lb Japanese eggplant, cut into 1 by 3 strips ( I usually use three eggplants – I go heavy on eggplant and light on peppers)

1 red or green pepper cut into 1 inch pieces

1/3 cup soy sauce

2 TBSP of sugar

2 TBSP oyster sauce

¼ cup fresh basil, cut up in strips



Spray cookie sheet with pam spray. Cut up tofu put on cookie sheet and then spray tofu with pam. Broil for 7 mins on high. Flip tofu over and broil another 7 minutes until lightly browned.



While tofu is browning, cook garlic, eggplant and peppers in oil until softened to the consistency you like – about 10 min.



Add soy sauce, sugar and oyster sauce. Cook 2 more min. Add tofu and stir. Top with basil and serve over steamed rice.

Spread the Kindness

I was chosen by Yahoo! to participate in their "How Good Grows thru Ripples of Kindness" campaign. Basically they give me a hundrdd dollars to give away as I see fit. And then I post my activity on their kindness site:

http://kindness.yahoo.com

I am going to double their money by putting $100 of my own money into the kindness pool.

I am thinking up good things to do with the money - let me know if you have any suggestions!

itchy lips

Gracie and I went yesterday afternoon to get a flu shot.

I didn't think anything of it as we have had shots in the past. But 15 minutes after the shot, I started having an allergic reaction! Apparently, there is some type of latex involvement in the flu shot and I have a latex allergy. My lips started itching just like they do if I am around balloons, rubber chickens or rubber gloves!

I took some benedryl and the itching stopped.

Not sure what this means for next years flu shot.

"Holey" Moley

I took Daisy's stitches out yesterday because it had been 10 days....and then last nite, one of the wounds opened up into a gaping hole! UGH!!! Back to the vet this morning....

Eeeeewwwww!

When we were having dinner with my bro and family this weekend, he was telling us stories of these bugs they have in El Dorado Hills that come out of their drains. We had never seen what they were describing and insisted they send us a pic. Here it is!

What makes it worse is they said it scurries like a rodent!

Rasberry Churro

We went to Cochina Michocana in Oakdale last nite and had rasberry churros with vanilla ice cream. It was DELICIOUS - sort of like a gourmet churro! Who would have thought of such a thing?

Soccer Update

Drew made the soccer team - he is playing JV - which he is happy about. He wanted to play with JV instead of varsity because all his friends are on JV. Plus people kept telling him he would get more playing time on JV.

He is practicing really hard and getting super beat up. He has a turf burn on his forearm that gets torn off everyday. He had to take a day off last week because he got a deep muscle bruise in his thigh and could barely walk. He took one day to rest and ice and was better.

He likes all the perks for high school athletes - trainers, someone getting your water, etc.

I am not sure I want to watch him play this year - I don't want to see him get beat up in goal!

Daisy Update

Daisy is healing fine from her accident. She is back to her normal activity and even went for an off leash hike this morning.

Here is Mimi.....

My beautiful niece!

what the cluck?

who gave me this cold????

Day of the Dead

Here is the cake that Gracie and Bug made this morning. They decided to each decorate one half of the cake. The theme is "Day of the Dead". Odd, I know but the theme started with tombstone sprinkles that we had for Halloween.

Lazy butts

Thank goodness I bought the GIANT couch - it allows all 4 kids to spread out!

Morning Chaos!

I had a house full of kids this weekend while Jim was out crabbing for opening weekend.

This morning, Gracie and her friend, Bug, got up and started making a cake!

Drew and his friend, Chad, got up and decided they needed pizza and potstickers for breakfast!

Outcome

Ten stitches and a very sleepy dog!

Daisy vs Polar 120

Last nite when Jim got home from picking up Drew and a buddy from soccer, they were all alarmed to find a gaping wound in the side of Daisy Mae! They were suppose to be meeting us at the ice rink for dinner but instead called me in a panic to report the injury. Jim - who never worries about anything - was worried about this!

The pic makes it look better than it actually was!

We decided that it was not life threatening so we would not go to the emergency vet on a Friday nite but would wait til morning. Jim proceeded to administer first aid - see the pic with the tape around Daisy's middle. And the boys did some CSI work to figure out what happened to her. They were not able to solve the mystery.

They pieced Daisy Mae together and came down to the ice rink for some dinner. And while at dinner we were emailing pics of the wound to Tina's friend who is a vet in So Cal. She advised it needed stitches.

When I got home, I was alarmed by the size of the wound! But still decided it could wait til the morning.

Jim and I went out into the backyard to do our own CSI work. Jim quickly found the site of the injury: a polar 120 cooler with a sharp hinge. She must have run by it at great speed - probably on the way to bark at the mail man!

She was fine all nite and left the wound alone because I told her to! (She is a good dog) But she still wanted to lick it so she licked her leg instead.

This morning I took her to the vet as soon as they opened and I had to leave her there to be sedated, cleaned and stitched up!

My poor baby. More pics to come later.

Kale and Swiss Chard

One question: Who eats these?

I eat some strange veggies.....but wont eat these! Nasty!

Phil the Dog

This morning while walking the dogs, I saw my neighbor who always walks with her dog, “Phil”. She is a grumpy old lady who always scowled at us...until the day I rescued Phil when she got out in 105 degree weather and was running around the neighborhood panting like crazy. I rescued her and brought her into the air conditioning and kept her for 6 hours until they got home.

I rescued Phil one other time when she got out. By that time, she knew a good thing, so when she got out, she just came straight to my front door and sat on my porch!

This morning the lady was walking alone.

I approached her and asked where Phil was...and she started crying. Phil died on Saturday after having a tumor that made her cough. The lady was crying and crying and telling me all the details...which made me cry too. SO sad. But to think...she went from grumpy old lady to a lady that would cry while telling me about her dog!

The love of dogs brings people together.

High School Soccer

Drew has been conditioning with the high school soccer team for the last month. But, officially, the tryouts began yesterday.

I was surprised when he came home last nite and reported that they put him with the varisty team for tryouts. There is only one other freshman that they also did that for - and Drew reports that "he is an awesome player". So that bodes well for Drew.

So there are two goalies trying out with the varsity team - Drew and a kid who helped coach Drew when he was in the 7th grade and the goalie for the Jr High team. And Drew really liked him - so it would be a great experience if it works that they could play together. The other goalies - 1 freshman, 1 sophmore and 1 junior are trying out with the jr varsity team. No shortage of goalies!

I will keep you posted - I don't know where he will end up - but whatever happens, it seems like its been a good experience so far!

Halloween

Succulents

These are my latest succulents.


The ones in the waterfall are from Coach Cindy's Grandma's house.


The ones in the pot are from our trip to the succulent fair. At first, I did not like the way this pot looked, but it is growing on me!

A girl and her Muncle

Camping in a Rainstorm

We went camping this weekend for a tournament that Gracie was in. The first 18 hours, it poured like crazy. After that it was nice and we got to spend some time on the beach in between the games!

The soccer girls

This is a bunch of Gracie's friends who are on her soccer team and in her class!

Skater

Here is Drew hanging out on the couch wearing with ice skates. He is thinking about playing hockey again. I think he was doing a bit of pondering....

Score!!!!

Ahi has a new outfit to wear to the girls soccer tournament this weekend. We all laughed so hard when we put this on her!

Marbled Stuffed Potatoes

4 large russet potatoes
1 large sweet potato
1/2 cup sour cream
3 Tablespoons butter
Chives
3/14 cup shredded cheddar (medium or sharp)
Salt and pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 400. Put potatoes (regular and sweet) directly on the oven rack and bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes pierce each potato a few times with a fork and continue to bake until tender – 15 to 20 mins for the sweet potato and 20 to 25 for the russet potatoes. Be sure to put the sweet potato on a piece of foil after you pierce it.
2. Peel the sweet potato and transfer to bowl and mash lightly with a fork until almost smooth. Set aside.
3. Trim a thin slice off the top of the potato, scoop out the potato, leaving shells in tact. Add sour cream, butter and mix. Add scallions and ½ cup of cheese. And mix. Season with salt and pepper. Gently fold in sweet potato.
4. Fill the skins with the potato mixture. Top with cheese. If the potato mixture is still hot you can broil to melt cheese. If the potato mixture is cooled off – bake for 20 mins at 375 to warm up.


So yummy!

5 Star Dinner

We had a WONDERFUL dinner tonite! Meat muffins, marbled twice baked potatoes, roasted asparagus with browned butter/balsamic sauce and mixed greens with balsamic and cranberries.

Merry Xmas!

Look closely, that is Santa in the front and an elf in the back....

We are getting ready early this year.

OMG!

I was just checking my blog....those grey ballet flats with the rose are SOOOOOO cute! Can not wait to wear them!

Uncle B

Uncle B was in a bowling tournament close to us last weekend, so we took a ride up to watch. It has been years since I have seen him bowl....in fact, I don't think the kids have ever seen him bowl. The game we saw was in the 230's! But his team was not very consistent so they didn't win anything.

old lady

Check me out - I am trying out my new reading glasses. I am so old that I need reading glasses!

New Shoes!

I went to DSW at lunch yesterday and did some power shopping (Susan - I found one that is easier for me to get to!). I bought 4 pair of shoes in about 40 minutes. I did not take a pic of the running shoes so you only get to see three of them.

Cute????

Happy Anniversary!

This week we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary! I can not believe it!

Happy anniversary to my handsome husband....I would do it all again! And I hope and pray we get at least 20 more years together!

Going for a ride

Tina and Marty had to work a long day today and didn't want Murray home alone the whole time. So at 2:30 today Jim picked up Murray and brought him home with him. The kids and Jim will be home all afternoon and they can play with him. And the dogs can chase him around the yard.

This is a pic that Jim sent me of Murray riding in his truck. It cracked me up!

Blueberry Hazelnut Potato Chips

Last nite was TNDC (Thursday Nite Dinner Club) and the meal was "make your own paninis"! One of the side dishes was blueberry hazelenut pringles that a friend from work brought back from the Philippines. They didn't taste offensive and made for some good fun while taste testing.

This is a pic of Grace, Bug and Muncle Marty tasting while waiting for the panini maker to come available.

Melting Choco Cake Recipe

8 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
7 eggs, divided use
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup flour
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt chocolate and butter; cool 10 minutes.

In separate bowl, mix 4 eggs with sugar. Whisk. Add flour and whisk. Add remaining 3 eggs. Add egg mixture to chocolate mixture. Pour in individual baking cups or ramekins.

Bake until just done, about 15-20 minutes (interior will be melting, not set).

Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Makes 8 servings. Approximate nutritional values per serving: 460 calories (64.7 percent calories from fat), 8 g protein, 35 g carbohydrate, 27 g sugar, 2 g dietary fiber, 35 g fat, 250 mg cholesterol, 60 mg sodium.

Damn!

Damn those sick people on the ship. Just as I had predicted....I am getting a cold!

Frame

A couple weeks ago, I went to a succulent fair with a couple girlfriends. (I know...total nerds!) It was really fun. Succulents are cool little plants. I got a whole bunch to plan in my backyard in a pot that EVERYTHING dies in.

This succulent frame was one of the displays. I want Jim to build me one - but I really don't have anywhere to put it. So for right now, its just an idea for me.

Amish Friendship Bread

A friend at work just gave me some amish friendship bread starter and I am VERY excited! I had just recently been thinking about it and wondered why it was not around anymore. I bet its been 6 to 8 years since I have seen it.

For those of you who don't know, here is the story:

Amish Friendship Bread is a type of bread or cake made from a sourdough starter that is often shared in a manner similar to a chain letter.[1] The starter is a substitute for baking yeast and can be used to make many kinds of yeast-based breads, shared with friends, or frozen for future use. The sweet, cake-like Amish Cinnamon Bread is a common bread that is made from this starter; it is a simple, stirred quickbread that includes a substantial amount of sugar and vegetable oil, with a mild cinnamon flavor. It has characteristics of both pound cake and coffee cake.

A common recipe using this starter suggests using one cup (240 ml) of it to make bread, keeping one cup to start a new cycle, and giving the remaining two cups to friends. The process of sharing the starter makes it somewhat like a chain letter. One cup of starter makes one standard loaf of bread.

It is delicious! I am on day 5 of the 10 day cycle. At the end, I will have 3 starters to give away, let me know if you want some!

Trinkets

These are the trinkets that Gracie got for her friends in Mexico. They are cute little animals whose heads or tales wiggle when you move them. Perfect for 11 year old girls! Gracie enjoyed shopping for them!

Towel Animals

On the cruise, each nite there was a towel animal on the bed when we came back from dinner. Here are pics of a couple of them! Gracie loved them!

Dance vs Family Reunion

I had a request for an update as to whether Drew attended the family reunion or the Sadie Hawkins dance with his new girlfriend. Here is how it went down....

About 2 weeks before the dance, Drew came home and started talking about how the group of friends he hangs out with were talking about going minature golfing instead of going to the dance. He went back and forth about whether they would do that or not and finally made the decision that it would be more fun to play minature golf.

At which point, I said, "you can miss a family reunion for your first dance.....but not for a night of playing minature golf!" So he had to go to the reunion with us. Which he did not like but accepted with more grace than I thought possible for an almost 15 year old boy!

Tattoo

Gracie got a tattoo in Mexico....

Emails from "the ladies"

I just received an email that said “you have 7 unread emails from the ladies”.

I immediately thought, “What? Betty, Maverick and Rowdy are sending me emails from heaven?”

But after more thought, I realized it was really just a spam email from Russia and the “ladies” were not really chickens!

Cabo

Gracie and went on a cruise to Cabo San Lucas for her 11th bday. I had been on a cruise once before (around the Hawaiian Islands) but Grace has not. We left from San Diego on Friday and returned on Tuesday morning. Those who know me know that cruising is not my type of vacation. I like vacations with more outdoors activities and less people. To me, a cruise ship is something like a tacky Disneyland for adults. But Grace wanted to do it and I was willing to give it a try...artly because I am tired of hearing my mom say..."you will love cruising”. So I had to try it out...with an open mind.

The food was hit or miss. We had some really good food and some that was just not very good. My very favorite thing was the melting chocolate cake which was like warm chocolate pudding and cake topped with vanilla ice cream! Gracie tried lobster and was not impressed. When your Dad catches fresh dungeness crab, a frozen lobster just is not impressive!

We did not book any excursions because we really like to manage our own risky activities, like jetskiing and atv riding! So we took a tender into Cabo and just walked around a little. It’s a beautiful marina but so commercial and irritating with pushy people selling their wares. We bought a couple trinkets for Grace to give to her friends and had lunch at Cabo Wabo Cantina (Sammy Hagar’s bar and the setting for many a country song). We took the tender back to the ship early and hung out at the pool for a few hours. It was great because most of the ship was still in Cabo. But...holy moly...when they came back...they were DRUNK! They don’t call this a booze cruise for nothing!

Gracie’s favorite part of the cruise was when we looked out our window while cruising down the coast of Mexico and saw hundreds of dolphin swimming a long the ship.

The seasickness was a constant nagging problem. It came in waves for me and Gracie both. It mostly gave Grace a headache but also made me barfy. I never barfed...but ALMOST did once on the elliptical machine in the gym. That would not have been pretty.

One of our waiters gave us brain teasers each night at dinner that we saved and share with our family when we returned! That was fun.

Overall we had a great time but I don’t think either of us will cruise again any time soon. Maybe when we are old. I got stir crazy, a little claustrophobic and barfy. And...missed my doggies.

Lovin'

Murray is getting some loving from the girls!

What a guest....

Murray was over tonite and the dogs taught him the fine art of doing pre-wash of dishes. It was all good until his collar got caught on the dishwasher drawer and he tried to walk away. The drawer followed him! This is where it landed.....

Poor buddy was scared!

PS

The shirts from below say....

In Dogs Beers
I have Only Had One.

Best Buds

These three were made for each other!

Murray

Tina and Marty are the proud parents to Murray, formerly known as Budda, the Iranian dog! He has no idea what a lucky dog he is!