Our trip to Airport City was a resounding success, despite a rather rough start. The snow that was supposed to start at around 11am actually started at around midnight and we woke up to a wintery winterness on Saturday morning. I was hoping that's how our first big snow would come, except I was hoping it would be on a Saturday when we didn't have anywhere to go. So the roads driving down were pretty crappy.
We didn't bring home too many Christmas presents although we got a few. I got a new tshirt, the Little Goat got several summery things from the clearance rack at Old Navy (they were even having 50% off the clearance price - can you say $22 skirt for $1.49?!) and we picked up a boxed set of beginner puzzles for her Christmas present. We tested some back massagers and oh goodness, if we had lots of money, it would be back massagers all around this Christmas. Alas, one of these is probably more likely.
We did all the big box stores on Saturday, grabbed some vittles from Wendy's and headed back to our hotel which was super nice and we were kicking ourselves for not having taken advantage of the work discount there before. We didn't end up going swimming because the LG hardly had any nap at all on the way down and was on the cranky side. Also, there were several junior boys hockey teams staying there and sharing a pool with a bunch of rowdy preteen boys didn't seem like such a great idea. Then, she didn't want to go to sleep. Granted, the TV was on, but hello! CABLE! We got to watch Cops in real time plus the Iron Chef Thanksgiving special!
Sunday morning, we had planned to sleep in, but sharing a room with a 17-month-old isn't entirely conducive to such things so we were up by 8, waded through the masses for breakfast sandwiches and waffles in the lobby and headed out at 11. Sunday was less successful as a shopping day although we did enjoy lunch at this fabulous Jewish bagel place (yes, it's Jewish; no, we can't figure out why there was bacon on the menu) and some sweet, sweet festive treats at Starbucks where we actually got the quiz question right for a change. They have this question on the board when you go in and if you get it right, you get a free flavour shot or extra shot in your latte or whatever. Of course, neither of us ordered drinks that required extra anything so too bad.
Anyway, it was a good trip. It was relaxing. Next year we will try to go for two nights instead of just one, but we were glad to be home where the LG actually sleeps!
*******************
Yesterday, Mr. J. decided to go out to do a little shoveling since he never got the chance on the weekend and guess what?! Our neighbour actually lent him her snowscoop to use! HUMAN CONTACT! We think it was residual excitement stemming from the acquisition of a brand new snowblower on her part. Still, Mr. J. was grateful and now is dreaming about his very own snowscoop.
26 November, 2008
21 November, 2008
No Mother Earth tagged me for a meme wherein I post the sixth picture from the sixth folder in our picture files and wouldn't you know, it's one I've already posted. The meme also requires one to explain what's going on but as you can plainly see, the Little Goat is carefully pretending to pour Penguin a beverage. On the floor. Talented kid, she is. NoMo also posted 7 Random Things but instead of writing about herself, she wrote about her oldest boy, so I will copy her. Only I'll write about my girl because we have no oldest boy.
7 Random Things About the Little Goat:
1) We call her the Little Goat because when she was very little, she sounded an awful lot like a goat.
2) She does NOT like to get her hair washed. Oh the horror!
3) She loves tomato-y things. Hooray!
4) I don't think she can decide if she likes or loathes our two cats, though she's awfully fond of the one she got in the mail from Grama and Grampa last week.
5) She's not a big vegetable fan other than those tomatoes. 6) She always bounces in the same corner of her crib while she's waiting to be collected.
7) If you dare take Kitty away even during a diaper change, you are IN TROUBLE.
In other news, we're heading down to Airport City tomorrow and STAYING OVERNIGHT. I know! It's exciting! I can hardly wait! We'll do just a little Christmas shopping and eating out and I got all brave and packed the LG's swimsuit and a couple swim diapers because I found out today the hotel has a pool. Yippee! I'll tell you all about it next week! Have a great weekend!
19 November, 2008
18 November, 2008
What? I've Gone How Many Weeks Without Posting a New Recipe?!
Well I don't know about you but lately, I've been having quite the hankering for fruit. It's weird, I know. I'm retardedly picky about fruit. I can't eat bananas because they make me feel like a truck ran over my gut. And don't give me any of yer 'fancy fruits' either - none of this mango and guava and *shudder* papaya. I like citrus fruits of almost any kind, some apples, pineapple, cherries in certain preparations, nectarines, peaches, most berries, and grapes. I think that might be it.
Living in North Central Washington really ruined me for fruit. With fresh fruit available more months of the year than not and several friends with orchards, you get spoiled pretty quickly. You've really never tasted a nectarine until you've tasted one picked just that morning - Oh sweet, sweet Independence, sweet, sweet Flavortop - how I miss you! Finding a decent peach up here in No Man's Land is like trying to find a cheeseburger on an Arctic ice floe.
That said, one thing Maine really has going for it is blueberries. Wild blueberries have twice the nutritional value that cultivated blueberries have and they are readily available in the freezer section at our favourite Super W-mart. They're also reasonably cheap. So last night I set out with the intention of making blueberry pudding cake because it's three Tastes of Amazingness in one title: Blueberry. Pudding. Cake. Mmmmm....What can go wrong?
Let's check out the recipe, shall we?
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh or (thawed) frozen blueberries (wild are best, regular are okay)
Juice and rind from one lemon (I used rind from an orange and 1/4 lemon juice because we didn't have a fresh lemon around)
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup sugar (the recipe calls for 2/3 but I used 1/3 and it tasted just fine)
1/2 cup milk or soymilk
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter (or whatever you use at your house)
1 teaspoon vanilla
very scant 3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup boiling water
Directions:
1. Mix the blueberries and lemon rind/juice and spread in the bottom of a lightly greased casserole dish or 8" square pan.
2. Mix dry ingredients (flour - sugar) in a bowl. Mix milk, egg, butter, vanilla in a separate bowl, then incorporate into dry ingredients. Spread batter over blueberries.
3. Combine sugar and cornstarch. Sprinkle over batter. Pour boiling water over the sugar/cornstarch mixture.
4. Bake at 350F for 40-50 minutes.
Total prep time (including baking) is about an hour. You'll want to let it cool slightly before you eat it so you don't burn your insides. It might be good with some whipped cream or ice cream, but then again, it's quite fabulous on its own. The recipe makes four very big servings, 6 medium servings, or 8 'sample size' (or 'pointless') servings. Enjoy!
Living in North Central Washington really ruined me for fruit. With fresh fruit available more months of the year than not and several friends with orchards, you get spoiled pretty quickly. You've really never tasted a nectarine until you've tasted one picked just that morning - Oh sweet, sweet Independence, sweet, sweet Flavortop - how I miss you! Finding a decent peach up here in No Man's Land is like trying to find a cheeseburger on an Arctic ice floe.
That said, one thing Maine really has going for it is blueberries. Wild blueberries have twice the nutritional value that cultivated blueberries have and they are readily available in the freezer section at our favourite Super W-mart. They're also reasonably cheap. So last night I set out with the intention of making blueberry pudding cake because it's three Tastes of Amazingness in one title: Blueberry. Pudding. Cake. Mmmmm....What can go wrong?
Let's check out the recipe, shall we?
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh or (thawed) frozen blueberries (wild are best, regular are okay)
Juice and rind from one lemon (I used rind from an orange and 1/4 lemon juice because we didn't have a fresh lemon around)
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup sugar (the recipe calls for 2/3 but I used 1/3 and it tasted just fine)
1/2 cup milk or soymilk
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter (or whatever you use at your house)
1 teaspoon vanilla
very scant 3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup boiling water
Directions:
1. Mix the blueberries and lemon rind/juice and spread in the bottom of a lightly greased casserole dish or 8" square pan.
2. Mix dry ingredients (flour - sugar) in a bowl. Mix milk, egg, butter, vanilla in a separate bowl, then incorporate into dry ingredients. Spread batter over blueberries.
3. Combine sugar and cornstarch. Sprinkle over batter. Pour boiling water over the sugar/cornstarch mixture.
4. Bake at 350F for 40-50 minutes.
Total prep time (including baking) is about an hour. You'll want to let it cool slightly before you eat it so you don't burn your insides. It might be good with some whipped cream or ice cream, but then again, it's quite fabulous on its own. The recipe makes four very big servings, 6 medium servings, or 8 'sample size' (or 'pointless') servings. Enjoy!
14 November, 2008
Ack!
Well good grief! Am I slacking or what? Remember a few posts ago when I listed a bunch of new blogs that are now appearing in my sidebar? Well I forgot to mention Beth's blog! (SORRY BETH!) I've been reading Beth's blog, Beautiful Day, for....well, I can't exactly remember how long now and sheesh! What kind of bloggy friend am I!?
So, Beth lives in the midwest, she's a fellow U2 fan (already, what's not to love?) and has one GEM of a little girl! Go! Read!
So, Beth lives in the midwest, she's a fellow U2 fan (already, what's not to love?) and has one GEM of a little girl! Go! Read!
Choose Ye
Okay, so if you look over on the sidebar there, you'll see where it says MegFowler.com. She lives in Vancouver and since she's Canadian, she's automatically cool. She also blogs which adds to her level of coolness.
Periodically, she posts these lists entitled "Choose Ye." I don't think she'd sue me for copyright infringement so I'm going to do my own Choose Ye and if I get some sort of cease and desist email, well, I guess I'll know she doesn't want any mediocre versions of Choose Ye floating around the internets.
So copy and paste the list into the comments and CHOOSE! The rules are you must pick one or the other, no 'maybe' or 'both' or 'neither'. Period.
Behold! Choose Ye: We Eat Turkey in Two Weeks Edition (with props to Meg Fowler for her inspiration):
Turkey or ham?
Whole or no-berry cranberry sauce?
Thanksgiving parade or dog show?
Football or no?
Pumpkin or pecan?
Christmas carols before Thanksgiving or only after?
Fancy thanksgiving centerpiece or no centerpiece?
Celebrate with family or friends?
Stuffing or mashed potatoes?
Sweet potato casserole or green bean casserole?
Jello or lettuce salad?
Periodically, she posts these lists entitled "Choose Ye." I don't think she'd sue me for copyright infringement so I'm going to do my own Choose Ye and if I get some sort of cease and desist email, well, I guess I'll know she doesn't want any mediocre versions of Choose Ye floating around the internets.
So copy and paste the list into the comments and CHOOSE! The rules are you must pick one or the other, no 'maybe' or 'both' or 'neither'. Period.
Behold! Choose Ye: We Eat Turkey in Two Weeks Edition (with props to Meg Fowler for her inspiration):
Turkey or ham?
Whole or no-berry cranberry sauce?
Thanksgiving parade or dog show?
Football or no?
Pumpkin or pecan?
Christmas carols before Thanksgiving or only after?
Fancy thanksgiving centerpiece or no centerpiece?
Celebrate with family or friends?
Stuffing or mashed potatoes?
Sweet potato casserole or green bean casserole?
Jello or lettuce salad?
07 November, 2008
Winners!
Well here's some exciting and belated news: my Bloggy Giveaway had winners, y'all! Winners!
You people are WAY too nice, though. Zero pin pricks? Five pin pricks? A mere eight pin pricks? Hah! Let's try no less than 25! And those are just the ones that made me say "ouch!"
There were two prizes to give away but three correct answers. So FrugallM (who used to have a blog but now I can't find it) and Beck of Frog and Toad Are Still Friends are the winners of the aprons, with the bonus prizes going to Beck who correctly guessed that I pinned my left index finger to the fabric (no blood, don't worry) three times.
Out of 100 responses, the odds of three people guessing the correct answer can't be all that great, so I couldn't let the third correct answer go un-prized. Leigh over at My New Thing also has a prize on the way, but since it's supposed to be a surprise for her, I can't tell the rest of you what it is either.
So thanks to everybody that entered. As of yet, I have not won ONE SINGLE giveaway (*pout*) but I DO love to give away prizes so I'm glad I participated. Then again, I may have won several giveaways, but my regular blog email address has been down for almost this entire week and it's driving me CRAZY so there are probably like 10 prizes waiting for me that I can't respond to. Boo! So, if I won your bloggy giveaway, or if you just feel like giving me a prize because you love me, leave me a note in the comments and we'll get in touch!
You people are WAY too nice, though. Zero pin pricks? Five pin pricks? A mere eight pin pricks? Hah! Let's try no less than 25! And those are just the ones that made me say "ouch!"
There were two prizes to give away but three correct answers. So FrugallM (who used to have a blog but now I can't find it) and Beck of Frog and Toad Are Still Friends are the winners of the aprons, with the bonus prizes going to Beck who correctly guessed that I pinned my left index finger to the fabric (no blood, don't worry) three times.
Out of 100 responses, the odds of three people guessing the correct answer can't be all that great, so I couldn't let the third correct answer go un-prized. Leigh over at My New Thing also has a prize on the way, but since it's supposed to be a surprise for her, I can't tell the rest of you what it is either.
So thanks to everybody that entered. As of yet, I have not won ONE SINGLE giveaway (*pout*) but I DO love to give away prizes so I'm glad I participated. Then again, I may have won several giveaways, but my regular blog email address has been down for almost this entire week and it's driving me CRAZY so there are probably like 10 prizes waiting for me that I can't respond to. Boo! So, if I won your bloggy giveaway, or if you just feel like giving me a prize because you love me, leave me a note in the comments and we'll get in touch!
05 November, 2008
Forget the Handbasket...
...this country is going to hell in a lead bucket! Gee whiz, people, seriously? Obama?
Well whatever. It's over. What's done is done. We are in for a very rough four years and last night I asked Mr. J. when we were moving back to Canada because this election will profoundly affect Canada (in ways I think many Canadians just do not understand), but at least we wouldn't be living under a completely socialist regime.
My friend Kurt posted some verses from 1 Samuel on his Facebook page today. I thought I would share them with you because I found them very reassuring and if you have a Bible handy, it's very interesting reading them in the context of the whole chapter. If you don't have a Bible handy, here's a link to the whole chapter.
"The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.... Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day." 1 Samuel 8: 7, 18
BUT
"...my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
and
"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1
So with a grateful heart, I will remember that God is sovereign in all things.....
Well whatever. It's over. What's done is done. We are in for a very rough four years and last night I asked Mr. J. when we were moving back to Canada because this election will profoundly affect Canada (in ways I think many Canadians just do not understand), but at least we wouldn't be living under a completely socialist regime.
My friend Kurt posted some verses from 1 Samuel on his Facebook page today. I thought I would share them with you because I found them very reassuring and if you have a Bible handy, it's very interesting reading them in the context of the whole chapter. If you don't have a Bible handy, here's a link to the whole chapter.
"The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.... Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day." 1 Samuel 8: 7, 18
BUT
"...my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
and
"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1
So with a grateful heart, I will remember that God is sovereign in all things.....
03 November, 2008
In Which I Get Up On My Soapbox and Get a Bit Preachy
Election Day is tomorrow and as most of you are aware, I'm a (LEGAL) "alien" living in a foreign land so I don't get a vote. An opinion? Yes. A vote? No, regardless of how much the outcome affects my life. I haven't posted anything really political yet because I'm not really about alienating anyone that reads this blog, but the time has come.
Abortion has been an issue of great importance for me even before our Little Goat, our little 'cluster of cells', our little baby in my womb, came into this world. Most of you who have done your political research know where the candidates stand on the issue of abortion. Obama's voting record is out there for the world to see. McCain has made it plain where he stands on abortion also.
For my part, I cannot STAND Barack Obama. He's an arrogant, elitist, smarmy jackass who has, unfortunately, wrapped much of America around his little tentacles. I've tried to listen to the guy, but I just cannot get past the fact that the man supports abortion - in all its heinous forms. Honestly, people! Obama says if his daughters make a "mistake" he doesn't want them "punished with a child." Are you kidding me? Any consenting adult with living brain cells knows that babies are conceived via sex. No birthcontrol is 100% infallible (with the exception of abstinence) and if you're not ready for a baby, you're not ready for sex either. Why should a baby, who has no choice in his/her conception, be PUNISHED for the MISTAKE of its parents? What a pile of horse waste!
Anyway, check out the links below because there are a lot of bloggers out there who have already said this better than I ever can.
This post includes a video combining several of Obama's thoughts on abortion, plus a link to a really well-written post detailing one blogger's perspective on the issue.
This post has some great article links, including several about babies that have survived abortion.
This is what actually happens during a partial-birth abortion. If you think it's a bunch of crap, scroll down and read the articles written by doctors that confirm the accuracy of the illustrations.
Edit: One more article from World Magazine about the topic of single-issue voting.
And finally, you think an abortion is just a bunch of cells, hey? Click here to see otherwise.*
If I had a vote, it would be going to John McCain, if for no other reason than that he is pro-life. I have confidence that somebody who respects even the tiniest of human beings will govern in a way that shows respect for all human life. How you treat the least is surely an indication of how you'll treat most. If you vote for Barack Obama tomorrow, fine; but the blood of innocent, helpless children is on YOUR HEAD. Furthermore, if you're a Christian voting for Barack Obama tomorrow, I ask you this: where the hell has your conscience gone?
This baby is Pro-Life.
*Some of these images are extremely graphic and some of you may be offended. Sometimes though, the truth isn't very pretty.
**I should also add that Independent Ralph Nader is decidedly pro-abortion as well. So are a quite a number of 'conservative' candidates in our own county!
Abortion has been an issue of great importance for me even before our Little Goat, our little 'cluster of cells', our little baby in my womb, came into this world. Most of you who have done your political research know where the candidates stand on the issue of abortion. Obama's voting record is out there for the world to see. McCain has made it plain where he stands on abortion also.
For my part, I cannot STAND Barack Obama. He's an arrogant, elitist, smarmy jackass who has, unfortunately, wrapped much of America around his little tentacles. I've tried to listen to the guy, but I just cannot get past the fact that the man supports abortion - in all its heinous forms. Honestly, people! Obama says if his daughters make a "mistake" he doesn't want them "punished with a child." Are you kidding me? Any consenting adult with living brain cells knows that babies are conceived via sex. No birthcontrol is 100% infallible (with the exception of abstinence) and if you're not ready for a baby, you're not ready for sex either. Why should a baby, who has no choice in his/her conception, be PUNISHED for the MISTAKE of its parents? What a pile of horse waste!
Anyway, check out the links below because there are a lot of bloggers out there who have already said this better than I ever can.
This post includes a video combining several of Obama's thoughts on abortion, plus a link to a really well-written post detailing one blogger's perspective on the issue.
This post has some great article links, including several about babies that have survived abortion.
This is what actually happens during a partial-birth abortion. If you think it's a bunch of crap, scroll down and read the articles written by doctors that confirm the accuracy of the illustrations.
Edit: One more article from World Magazine about the topic of single-issue voting.
And finally, you think an abortion is just a bunch of cells, hey? Click here to see otherwise.*
If I had a vote, it would be going to John McCain, if for no other reason than that he is pro-life. I have confidence that somebody who respects even the tiniest of human beings will govern in a way that shows respect for all human life. How you treat the least is surely an indication of how you'll treat most. If you vote for Barack Obama tomorrow, fine; but the blood of innocent, helpless children is on YOUR HEAD. Furthermore, if you're a Christian voting for Barack Obama tomorrow, I ask you this: where the hell has your conscience gone?
This baby is Pro-Life.**I should also add that Independent Ralph Nader is decidedly pro-abortion as well. So are a quite a number of 'conservative' candidates in our own county!
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