Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from our family to yours.

Holiday stuff

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. With one big exception, we did.

The big exception is that I got very ill on Christmas night - probably food poisoning. So if you were expecting a call from me and didn't get it, sorry. But I didn't think you wanted to talk to me while I hung out in the bathroom. :-) I'll be making some calls tonight. I'm mostly better, though I still could use some more sleep.

The dogs got a special treat of going over to Jeff's parents on Christmas day, and they had a wonderful time, especially with the giant dinosaur toys that their grandparents got them. I'm not sure that Kaylee knows they're toys. Every once in a while, she'll wander over and chew one one, much like she does Cordy's head. She doesn't really play with them, though she does like to sleep next to them.

Jeff's parents also got him a light-up palm tree, which is currently in the corner of the living room. I should have gotten a photo of it, but I was just too worn out. I'll try to get one tonight. They also got me a new iPod, one of the video ones. (This also means that Jeff gets my old iPod, so he got a bonus gift. :) I've had a fun time looking for free vids to put on it. Let me know if you know of any, OK?

Happy Holidays!

Do you think Santa likes ...

pot pies?

I'm sure he'll need something a little more healthy after all those cookies. And he can share with the reindeer, too, since they're full of veggies.

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Technorati tags: food

Holiday preparations update

Done:

• Wrapped presents
• Started Christmukuh
• Made florentines
• Made nut bars
• Made flapjacks
• Watched Love Actually
• Watched A Christmas Carol (w/Patrick Stewart)
• Watched Nightmare Before Christmas
• Watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Watched the Madagascar penguins in A Christmas Caper
• Watched The Thin Man
• Made mother-in-laws' earrings
• Made chocolate caramels
• Made honey walnut caramels
• Got Cordy groomed
  

To be done:

• Finish Cora's sweater (3/4 done)
• Set up mushroom kit (Thanks, Chris & Steph!)
• Fill stockings
• Bathe Kaylee
  

Failed or abandoned:

• Make chocolate sandwich cookies
• Make butter gems

The cookbook I was using is usually pretty good about letting me know when a cookie recipe is fiddly. It didn't let me know with the chocolate sandwich cookies. They failed horribly. So I decided to give up on cookies and not make the butter gems. They were pretty marginal on the to do list anyway. I made more caramels instead.

Other than that, done.

Happy holidays, everyone!

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Technorati tags: candy

A bread machine!

Sometime last year, my otherwise very dependable Kitchen Aid mixer decided to stop being able to knead dough. And I have to admit, that's what I used it most for because, well, I hate kneading bread dough. It's messy, it's sticky, it takes a long time, and since none of my counters are low enough, it makes my shoulders hurt. So I loved that my mixer could do it for me, but I was very sad when it decided that it didn't like kneading dough either.

So I researched bread machines and put a Zojirushi one on my Amazon wishlist in hopes that some kind person would take pity on me and but it for me for my birthday or something. Well, my mom and my stepfather did! Yay!

I finally got some more bread flour and used it to make dough last night. (We have plenty of bread at the moment, so I didn't want to use it for baking.) I made pizza dough, since that's one of the things I've really missed from not having a mechanical slave to do my kneading for me.

I used the basic pizza dough recipe that came with the machine, but added garlic and onion powder and a dried Italian herb blend. The little brown pool in the middle is yeast.

There was plenty of dough - it easily would have made three or four pizzas. But I was feeling pretty lazy, so I just made two thick-crust pizzas. Jeff's (on the left) had pepperoni, onion, and asiago, mozzarella, and Gorgonzola cheeses. Mine had faux pepperoni, onion, tomato, green pepper, and asiago and mozzarella cheeses.

They were very, very good! The crust was very thick, and nice and fluffy. And with the herb additions, very tasty in and of itself.

So thanks, Mom and Lloyd! I think I'm going to go have some leftover pizza for breakfast. :)

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Technorati tags: food

Holiday preparations

Done:

• Wrapped presents
• Started Christmukuh
• Made florentines
• Made nut bars
• Made flapjacks
• Watched Love Actually
• Watched A Christmas Carol (w/Patrick Stewart)
• Watched Nightmare Before Christmas
• Watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  
• Watched the Madagascar penguins in A Christmas Caper

To be done:

• Watch The Thin Man
• Watch A Wish For Wings That Work
• Make mother-in-laws' earrings (5 minutes work)
• Finish Cora's sweater (3/4 done)
• Set up mushroom kit (Thanks, Chris & Steph!)
• Make chocolate carmels
• Make chocolate sandwich cookies
• Make butter gems
• Fill stockings

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Technorati tags: holidays

A day off

I took the day off today. In fact, I'm taking lots of time off in the next three weeks - I've got three two-day work weeks in a row.

It's amazing how much one can accomplish in a day. These tea towels were actually completed last night, but they were actually on my list for today. The patterns are vintage ones I found online.

I also started my holiday baking. On Saturday I made more stout bread, and today I made nut bars. The recipe said to leave the nuts whole, but I think if I were to make them again, I would chop the nuts. I think it would all just fit together a little better and not crumble so much.

I didn't make cookies last year, but I'm planning on making a few kinds this year. Not too many. Just a few. And maybe a couple candies, too. Jeff made candied balsamic pecans yesterday, so even if we didn't make anything else, I think we'd be set.

I also wrapped all the presents (except for the littlest babies' - they're not all done yet) while watching the original version of Empire Strikes Back on DVD - Christmukuh started yesterday and the trilogy was my first present.

I'm at work tomorrow and Wednesday, then off until the 27th. I hope I can get through two whole days of work! ;)

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Technorati tags: misc

Embroidery

I've been working on these embroidered floursack towels off and on for a few weeks now. Each one only took me about an hour - less for a couple of them. They're huge and wrinkle easily, but they should be perfect for a throw-over-the-shoulder towel while cooking.

They're a gift for an unnamed family member. :)

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Technorati tags: crafts

Wildlights

Tonight, we braved the crowds and visited Wildlights at the zoo. I've been before, several years ago, but this was the first time Jeff had been to see the lights.

We got there at about 5:00 p.m., and it was already crowded. We headed to the North American area, since we usually skip that when we visit during the day, since the majority of the interesting animals there are nocturnal. This time we saw both the Mexican wolves (wandering around) and the timber wolves (laying around). We also saw a puma (pacing) and a wolverine (snuffling). Disappointingly, the moose seem to be off display at the moment. They're a favorite of ours.

We also visited the new Asia Quest area and saw a sun bear (grumpy - really wanted to be sleeping), bats (upside down and excruciatingly cute), a red panda (sleepy, but cute), and a Pallas cat (very asleep, stuffed behind a log - looked just like a house cat). We also heard some extremely grouchy elephants. I saw a silhouette of mama, but didn't really see her or the baby.

More importantly, we saw GOATS! Goats, goats, goats, goats! They've moved the petting zoo since we last visited, and I think they may have gotten more goats. They also have sheep, chickens, caribou, and ponies there. Very cute. Plus, the goats are very friendly. And sheep? Still disgusting and still sound fake. And yes, we washed our hands several times after petting the animals. Even if they aren't dirty, the small children who've also been petting them are!

And the lights, were, of course, very beautiful. No picture I took comes close to how they really look. Click on the photo to the right for a bigger version of the best one that I could manage. I really like the hippos in this one, too.

It was fun, if a little too overly-crowded. That's not surprising, though, considering it wasn't too chilly. The zoo has already surpassed last year's attendance record, and there's still several more long weekends to go yet.



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Technorati tags: zoo

Thoughts on charity

It's that time of the year when I'm hit up for charitable contributions, whether in cash or in physical donations (toys, clothes, etc.). For the most part, I have no problem with that - there's no harm in people asking, even if I choose not to give to their particular charity.

There are times when I do find it inappropriate, though, particularly at work.

The United Way campaign is my bane. My workplace offers extra days off if you give a certain percentage of your salary to the United Way through their campaign. Now, I choose not to give to the United Way because I think they have too much overhead, and I can just give to the charities that they funnel money to directly, if I choose to. Why should I waste a percentage of my money on United Way's overhead? I shouldn't, so I don't contribute. They do some of their own campaigns, yes, but I still choose to support different projects - ones they don't do.

When I asked my bosses that while I don't wish to contribute to United Way, I still would make direct contributions to charities that they support and would they consider that for giving extra time off? The answer? "No." Why? They can't guarantee that I'd actually give the money (the United Way money comes straight out of our paychecks). I offered to submit receipts, but that was unacceptable, as was having the charity write directly to them, confirming my donation. Still no.

It's really no big deal, since the extra time off isn't something I particularly covet, but I dislike the company giving out perks based on contributions to one particular charity. I believe that if you're going to give time off or other perks for charitable contributions, then you shouldn't limit it to a particular charity. However, I understand that it's certainly their right to support a certain charity and even to give perks for those who support it. I just think it's an unpleasant and divisive thing to do in a workplace. (And I won't even go into the peer pressure to give. At a previous employer, if they had 100% participation, everyone got an extra day off. I still didn't give.)

Another issue I have with charitable contributions is the public displays of charity from some. I'm not religious, let alone Christian, but I think Matthew 6 says it best:

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

I think that charity should be private. If you're doing to it look good to others, it's not charity; it's self-aggrandizement. And yes, while the charities still get the money anyway, it's still distasteful.

I see nothing wrong with saying that you support a charity, or even publicizing a goal you have for collection. But when it becomes all about you and how great and generous you are, and not about charity itself, that's where I think maybe some moral searching about why you give might be in order.

The final issue I have is that I only give to charities with whose goals I agree. You wouldn't think this would be a problem, but it is, mainly because there are those who find it unbelievable that I won't give to the Salvation Army. I don't give to any religious-based charity, but I don't give to the Salvation Army in particular. (I'm not saying I trumpet that fact, but when asked, I don't. And if asked why, I'll explain...)

Most people either don't know or forget that the Salvation Army is a religion. Their website even downplays it. It takes several clicks to get to their beliefs, and that's when it gets interesting. I disagree with them on so many topics that it's not worth listing them all here. There are some that I agree with, yes, but the bad far outweighs the good. I know that they say that all of their money goes to social programs, but I still cannot support an organization that has beliefs with which I so strongly disagree. I wouldn't donate to the KKK if they promised to only use it to fund after-school programs for disadvantaged youth, either.

I support charities that I believe in. It's my business and not anyone else's. I donate because I think it's the right thing to do, not because I want to look good. We aren't wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but we're not hurting, and there are those who are.

What you do is up to you. Your opinions may be different than mine, but hey, if we all thought the same, how boring would that be? :)

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Technorati tags: charity

Last lunch

I've gotten a little burned out posting my lunches. I still like making them, don't get me wrong, but I'm getting a little tired of posting them. They've served their purpose: they've gotten me into the habit of making healthy, fun lunches. So now, at least for a while, this will be my last one.

Besides, I'm taking so much time off, starting next week, that it would be barely worth it anyway. :)

This last lunch is balsamic veggies with gorgonzola, rice with salsa, spinach salad, and curry potato croquette with sweet chili sauce.

The veggies were frozen, but remarkably good for all that. The croquette was just OK. The plain and veggie ones are better.

Thanks, everyone, for your nice comments on my lunches! It was fun. ... Of course, now I have to come up with other things to blog about...


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Technorati tags: lunchtime, bento, mrbento

Thrown-together lunch

Yesterday was Jeff's parents' holiday open house, and we usually spend the next week eating leftovers from that. This time, they nearly ran out of food, so I had to improvise for lunch.

Spinach salad, cous-cous, beans & carrots, and banana crisps and raisins.

Not stellar, but pretty good for a Monday morning!

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Technorati tags: lunchtime, bento, mrbento

Kaylee medical update

Well, it's been a little over a year since Kaylee got her IBD and amyloidosis diagnosis, and we went back in for her quarterly bloodwork last Friday.

And it was pretty much perfect! Her white blood count is a little low, but not low enough to be worrisome, and she is on immunosuppressants, after all.

But the year of good test results means that she gets to come off of two if her medications. They're two of the more expensive ones, so that's an added bonus. :) She'll have to stay on the Imuran, prednisone, actigall and pepcid, but it's two fewer pills to shove down her throat every day!

Kaylee seems to be feeling great, and we're just very happy to still have her around!

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Technorati tags: dogs

Damn!

I should ask for music suggestions more often! I think I got more comments on that post than on anything else in quite a while. :)

I've reserved at least one CD from each person's comment from the library (except Keven's - he's a jerk :). I had to stop at just a few, since I'm almost always near my limit on reserves - we truly believe in utilizing our library in this household!

Thanks, everyone. I can't wait to find some new music! I'm still open to new suggestions, too. I'll just reserve then as I get open spaces in my reserve list!

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Technorati tags: music

I need new music

I've been going through good music withdrawl for a while now (Kev would say for my whole life, but ...), and I could use some good music suggestions. I'll listen to just about anything, with a few caveats:

• No traditional country - alt. country is often OK and I'll at least give it a shot!
• No classical. I like it, but not what I'm looking for!
• No new age or celtic stuff. Gives me the heebie-jeebies (I don't count stuff like the Pogues as celtic, FYI)

Other than that, I'll give just about anything a shot. If you give me names and suchlike, I can get them from the library and give them a listen.

Thanks!

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Technorati tags: music

Wednesday lunch

Beans and carrots from TJs, pasta with faux meatballs, salad, and tomato cookies.

The beans and carrots would have looked much prettier if I has slightly undercooked them, then let them finish steaming when I popped the lid on. Oh well. They tasted just fine.

Probably no lunch tomorrow. I have a doctor's appointment (eye infection! fun!), and I don't know when I'll get into the office. I may just eat at home or pick something up. I really haven't eaten lunch out for a while...

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Technorati tags: lunchtime, bento, mrbento

A more reasonably-sized lunch

I really didn't have much for dinner last night after yesterday's huge lunch. Today's lunch is much less huge.

Salad, pasta, faux-chicken nuggets with pasta sauce for dipping, and carrots with a dark chocolate covered marshmallow.

Not stellar, but filling on a cold day.

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Technorati tags: lunchtime, bento, mrbento

Big lunch

I was trying to use up leftovers and ended up making myself a really big lunch.

Salad, veggie chili, stir-fried veggies, and a roasted veggie egg thingy.

Mondays are leftover nights at our house, but I think I've eaten them all. Good thing I'm not really all that hungry now!

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Technorati tags: lunchtime, bento, mrbento

Kaylee bakes her brain

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Technorati tags: dogs