A Word About Ginger

I love ginger. But it is the biggest pain ever. I don't use it in that many dishes but using fresh is so much more yummy. The thing is I buy fresh and it goes bad after a while, well or drys up. Then I need it again but don't have any *sigh*. When my Mom came to visit for Thanksgiving I lamented about my ginger dilemma. She said freeze it. What! Really, you mean in the freezer, really!? She said just drop it in a baggie and chuck it in the freezer. You don't even need to peel it. Pft. Yeah right.

I just used some of what I chucked in the freezer and oh my gosh!! What a beautiful thing. The peel comes right off and then I just used a sharp paring knife to shave off what I wanted. Love you Mom!!!!

I am using it to make Gingered Chicken Bacon Bites.

Christmas 2010

We are having a great Christmas. The day started very early, 6am. Last night we forgot to order Max's gift to Derek online. John was up with me so everything turned out fine. Both boys gave each other virtual gifts that they will have in World of Warcraft ;)

We decided the tree lights should defiantly be on for gift opening. We voted Max for the job, LOL.



After we opened gifts John helped set up my new i-Pad!!!!!!! And he is now playing his big gift, Rock Band III. We got lots of great stuff :)








New hat!!



Rolling Backpack



WoW Mount in Derek's mailbox!!!!



I made Roast Duck for dinner. John decided to open a wine we have been aging for a bit. 2005 V. Sattui Cabernet. Oh my but it does make me melt it is so delicious :)

Random Thoughts

I took Max to his music lesson last night and when he came back to the car he said he needed a new band book for school. We went back inside and I had quite a moment. The man behind the counter was strumming a guitar and humming to himself. He looked over and smiled at me and asked how he could help me. He just seemed so content. I mean it was more something I felt rather then saw. It was calmness. I am all about movement so to walk in on such a serean moment really effected me. It was nice.

random pics -



I am making a Pinwheel Sweater for myself. I am really excited about it. I've been impatiently getting other projects off my plate so I could start and concentrate on myself for a bit.



I organized my yarn. Really i just wanted to get it all out so I could look and touch it all at once! BUT when I put it away I gathered like minded yarns together into labeled boxes ;)

Juno the great fluffer-fluff

I am lovin Juno. For a while I was not so sure about her because she was attacking our other cats.
We decided to let her out to see what would happen. What a difference. She is mellow and super lovey when she comes home. She does not attack Lily and Po anymore either. Lily was skidgish to begin with and when we got Juno Lily mostly hid under the bed. Now all the kitty's are happy, healthy, lovey and pooping outside or in a box!!! Yay!!!

Just in Time

I've been working on a few small knitting Christmas projects. I thought maybe I could squeeze in new stockings for the boys. Yay!!

X-Mas Song for the Grandparents

Christmas is Coming

This year we thought maybe we would get a fake tree. I asked many of my friends which they prefer, real or fake, and it seems most everyone has fake. I also found out the Home Depot is the place to go for a good priced trees. The family is half and half.

In the end we decided real :) Unfortunately we already purchesed a tree from a tree lot, very $$$, when Andy told me about the great prices at Home Depot. At least we will know where to go next year.

Derek helped hold the tree. . .



while John secured it in the stand.



Maxwell and Juno were quality control ;)





Po seemed less then enthusiastic, LOL

Thanksgiving was Great

We had a great Thanksgiving. Mom and I roasted a fresh ham. Later that day we watched Jaws and made a puzzle.

Thanksgiving is Coming

My Mom is visiting for Thanksgiving. We have been shopping a lot for x-mas gifts for the boys and also going out to lunch. I was hoping to take her some place like Alcatraz Island but it has been raining since she got here :( We are hoping it clears up for next week.

I have been very busy this fall with boy scout treasury work. I am also part of a small group that is rewriting our by-laws and procedures. So far so good. We have a meeting every week or so to turn in what we have done and get new assignments. It is keeping me busy.

I've also been knitting up a storm. I'm in the process of making Christmas stocking for the boys and I just got done with a cosmetic bag that my Mom helped me line and put a zipper in.





I finished the shawl for Mr.V's mother.



I made a flower scarf for Kitty!



I have my scarf/shawl done!



I made a hat for Mr.V's mother to match her shawl ;)



And finally I am making felted slippers for my Mom. This is a really rough view of them. They will look like normal slippers when they are done, REALLY.

Blizzcon 2010

I have not posted in so long. I kind of have a back log of pictures. So John and I went to blizzcon and had a great time.





We mostly sat in on WoW conferences but also a few Diablo discussion as well. It was my turn this year to stand in line for t-shirts. It is quite a task but I did not mind because it's a great time for people watching. I also got myself a special treat.



Now Grrgie has a girlfriend. I haven't figured out a name for her yet.

Juno the increadibale sleeping cat ;)

Again with the weird position!? How, I ask, could that possibly be comfortable?

Pre Blizzcon Henna

I am kinda in love with henna. Kamala my henna artist is wonderful and so talented. I thought it would be cool to have her make something special for the game conference. I e-mailed her a design of the Horde symbol, the faction I play in WoW, so she could get the feel of what I wanted. A handful of people at blizzcon noted my "tattoo", saying they like it ;) One attendee was quite vocal in fact, LOL.








My hands and feet were done in a Moroccan style. Kamala thoughts it's geometric form would go very well with the Horde crest.

To soft?

I just don't get cats, LOL. Juno started out on our ultra soft and comfy bed but decided she rather sleep in the laundry basket?

Celebration with Friends

Derek asked if we could make a cake for 10 10 10. I'm always up for any kind of occasion which calls for cake :)



I was not sure what flavors Fran and Aedan liked so we went with a yellow cake with both vanilla and chocolate.

After 24 hours

I'm not sure how much darker it will get. It usually continues to darken 24 to 48 hours after you take the paste off. I'm at about 16 hours actually. It depends on you chemistry and skin also.

Taking some Time

Well . . . Getting the Henna paste off is not a trivial matter. It took 1 1/2 hours. John had to help with the backs of my arms. I had not though of that when she was applying the Henna. It is good to get the kinks out now because I plan on having Henna done at the end of the month for the Blizzcon conference. I'm thinking of doing it again on my arms but also some that will run across my chest.

More Self Expression

I've been looking into henna for a while now. I wanted to do it for my last birthday but did not get around to it. I found a henna artist in my area and met with her this morning. She is wonderful and does the most beautiful work! I'm so happy I found her. I'm hoping this year to have a henna party for my birthday.

The Good the Bad and the Burned

I Burned dinner last night :( Spicy Meat with Peas


BUT. . . I made up for it tonight :) Teriyaki Salmon

Home from Japan

John is home from his business trip today. Yay. And he came home bearing gifts!!!!


The boys got light saber chop sticks. John also got the boys a game that helps you practice using chop sticks. It's kind of like a chess board then you pick up little bean people and put them in the squares. It's all in Japanese so John will have to sit and decipher it for them.



Today we are all wearing our new t-shirts.


John also brought home some pastry's. They are little banana shaped sponge cakes filled with banana custard. I think they must be quite well known as someone from John's work requested a box.


AND John bought me the most beautiful silk kimono! I love it!!!!


This has been one of his longer trips in a while. Seemed like everything went wrong while he was gone. But now he is home and we are all very happy. The boys seemed to have missed him more this trip to.

Really Hot Coffee

I just blew up a cup of coffee in the microwave!? The mug is fine but the coffee is all over the inside of the microwave. I guess the microwave did not like that mug, LOL

Getting There

I'm about 40% done with the pink shawl for Mrs. V. but I am going to put it aside for the weekend and work on my scarf. It will be the perfect weight for fall. I'd like to say I will be done with it soon but Sunday is going to be busy. The boys and I are going to the Art & Wine festival at Almanden Lake. We are going to sell popcorn with our Boy Scout Troop (234).

Here is Mrs. V's scarf


And my scarf. I love the colors. I am so excited about wearing it!!


Woot!!! And dinner was muy muy delish ;)

Adventures in Traveling

John encountered a special bathroom in the Tokyo Airport.