How much is too much?!

We got into a muddle about toilet paper. Luckily, we don't use it faster just because we have 72 rolls in unopened packages, plus I'd say about 8 other rolls under bathroom sinks. Also, a plus from the baby's point of view, it has a rabbit (wabit) on the packaging.
Needless to say, we won't be buying it for a while.

Trying not to drop while shopping

Your mission:
Buy the minimum to survive in an empty townhouse.
You have a day at Ikea, plus any research you may have done before (ie, doing a shopping list on ikea, comparing prices and quality with other homewares stores)
You have a budget
You must take your two children with you.

For bonus points, tie a double innerspring mattress to the roof of your car, in the rain, with Ikea supplied 'string' (that is what they call it!). Then drive it home. Safely.

Californian Champagne

Celebrations on Friday night, because hubby has finalised the purchase of a van (Chrysler Town and Country) and picked up the keys to our town house. Now, we enter into what I would call phase three of our settling in - buying stuff to put in the house. Ikea beckons...
ps - I was going to describe the Korbel we had as dry, but I've just done an internet search and learnt that 'Brut' refers to a dry champagne. So I'll settle for very drinkable, and quite bubbly. We paid $14 a bottle, but as the prices are not inflated by as many gov't taxes, my internal quality meter is all out, so I don't know if that is a lot or not much at all.

This big, really?

I have never seen such huge strawberries. They were as big as my child's fist, easily. This photo is taken with a normal sized teaspoon for illustration purposes. The thing is, as it is all we're used to, these sort of strawberries taste like strawberries. But I vividly remember eating one of the few strawberries I managed to raise in Australia, and it was like a taste explosion in my mouth. So I sort of feel sad, while enjoying my Mexican strawberries that are as large as a kiwi, remembering that one little strawberry back home.

Eating capsicum

You know you have some bad habits when you resent leading your children by example, especially in the area of snacking, and TV! Half an hour before lunch, everyone is feeling peckish, and I very unhappily started eating a bit of capsicum to illustrate how that was all there was before lunch. The baby was finishing apple left over from morning tea, but before you know it, everyone is eating capsicum! Even the older wingey one who really wanted chopped apple! And surprisingly enough, after eating about one capsicum, no-one is feeling hungry, and I think we'll all last until lunch (30 mins). My inclinations right now are to grab comfort food (at the moment that involves burnt ANZAC biscuits) and watch something on the million and one channels that are available. The kids would be pretty happy with that too. But what do I want them to do? Eat capsicum then go play...

And again...

I post a picture as proof, it is snowing again. The grass is green, the trees are putting out buds, the spring bulbs are starting to flower, it is nearly the end of March, and it is snowing! It is very beautiful, but kind of surreal. I don't think the snow will stick around for long this time, but there will definitely be ice on the roads (and cars) tomorrow!
PS - just for the record, the easiest way to describe the taste of ANZAC biscuits here is to call them chewy oatmeal cookies.

Historic London Town

Day three of Maryland celebrations - went to Historic London Town in Edgewater, which is not far south of Annapolis proper. A sort of pioneer village, at the place of an old centre of trade/prosperous harbour town, with people dressed up in period costume to explain life as it was in the 1700's. Very enjoyable for the whole family, except for (as it turned out) the demonstration of live fire from the militia re enactors.
I hope we go back, they have gardens to look at, and hearth cookery demonstrations, and are really geared towards children.
photo credits - Baltimore Sun, as we forgot the camera.

Maryland Day

Maryland Day flag raising ceremony, which was very casual with no speeches, only a recitation of the pledge of allegiance. An amateur marching band, some navy cadets (the kiddies, not the real ones), and a Miss Teen Maryland who was freezing in a very short dress. Then, we tried to go to some museums/open houses, but none of them opened before 12! So we ended up looking at a historical garden, then going home, just as everything was getting started. A touch frustrating, but the late start seems very common around here (shops don't open until 10ish either). The flag that was raised was the state flag of Maryland, which is very colourful. I'll try for a picture at a later date

What to do?!

Just realised Maryland Day weekend is here (started today actually), and I have failed to do research or organise for it, and in actual fact we had planned to spend the weekend buying/looking at homewares for the new digs. So, major change in direction. It raises the old stress about how much to live and how much to make efforts to go and see touristy stuff. We could spend a week doing all the stuff available, but we have two days, and church, and a baby that sleeps every afternoon. So, do we buy wooden spoons at Target, or do we find out about resistance to slavery in Maryland, and the musical history of 'The Star Spangled Banner' (US national anthem), to name a few activities? Stay tuned!

The Dinosaur Bones

First trip to Washington DC, to see the dinosaur skeletons in the Museum of Natural History before they are taken down for cleaning (a process that takes five years!). Caught the metro in, just to double the fun. The dinosaurs were actually a bit smaller than I imagined, that is because they towered so much over you that you couldn't get close to the hugeness of them. Can't wait to visit DC again!

Things I love here

To balance the things I miss -
The gas fire place in our flat
The snow
The music and singing in our church
More Melissa and Doug toys!
My gas stove (and oven)
The washer and dryer
The birds that tweet (haven't worked out what they are yet), instead of just the noisy miners at home
And here I must be honest - "Cops" on TV
The huge open easy to navigate roadways - although we haven't been in a city yet
The friendliness and generosity of the people we meet, and the fire engine drivers (who are happy to beep at small children they see while driving with lights and sirens to an emergency)
Not having to stress about children running ahead of you in the woods, as there aren't any deadly snakes or spiders

Things I miss

My teapot, my cups and saucers
Living on the ground floor
My sewing machine
ABC 702 radio, esp Richard Glover
Commercial free radio/TV
The strap in child seat at the dining table
Sanitarium no added salt, no added sugar peanut butter
Green grass that you can sit on, with sunshine (and shade for me)
The smell of eucalypt, wattle, mowed grass
A good public transport system - with buses you can take a pram on
Pedestrian pathways (sidewalks here...)

Please note this list is just things, not people. Also, I'm trying not to start on food things I miss, or we'd be here all day.

Another snow storm!

Another snow fall came through. This one was about 20-30 cm powder yesterday, which was particularly tough given we don't have proper ski pants or boots for the children. Outings are short and sweet, before the baby gets cold and says something that sounds remarkably like "I want to go home ". Which is a pity, as we have some great slopes to slide down, and a huge piece of cardboard off the cot box. Yesterday we even had a borrowed sled. I personally would love to spend half a day sledding (or even snow boarding?!), and I hope next winter we go find a mountain of snow!
PS - We do not live in this row of townhouses. We just play outside them.

Cheese efforts

I have struggled with the cheese situation here. Firstly, the normal, cheap, every day cheese is orange in colour - yes, sort of bright, cheerful, feature wall orange. I reckon the same colour as Cheezels.

Secondly flavour. We started on mild cheddar, moved to medium cheddar, then sharp cheddar but it still seemed to have less flavour than the tasty we buy at home. This is Colby Jack, which looks like an industrial accident, and is a lot softer (harder to cut for sandwiches) but tastes a bit better again.

Thirdly, and I can't report on the Colby Jack yet, the orange cheddars didn't melt properly.

My theory is, we have to move into the yellow Italian cheeses, as the deli has such a strong historical place in the USA. Hopefully the next post about cheese will have a happier ending!

Quarry Lake

Unexpected beauty on a tough day! Went for a drive to look at cars to buy. Stopped for lunch at a relatively new development in Baltimore - Quarry Lake. Built around an old quarry now filled with water (duh), you can just see some of the apartments on the far side. There were also sizable houses on the left, and a very snazzy shopping centre on the right, complete with Quarry Lake Club House. And on the hill further to the right, more big houses. Apparently sold for close 800-900k each (we assumed the houses), now not quite worth 500k due to the turn down. But a very lovely spot, with walking path around lake.

Goodbye old friend

Those who know me may recognise this top. We bought it about 5 years ago, when I was pregnant with our first baby. How time flies! It turned out to be such a good purchase. I wore it constantly thereafter, pregnant or not, but now I can no longer deny that it has holes and permanent underarm odour. So, it is getting retired. In terms of value for money and pure joy of wearing, it is definitely a standout!

Baked beans sadness

We love baked beans in our family. Our boys were/are virtually raised on it. (I think I was too). And I thought baked beans were, well, baked beans, but I was wrong. And tonight we tried two different tins, both of which made me gag. The one on the left was sort of aiming for a spicy BBQ flavour, but tasted like off molasses. The one on the right was claiming a 'tangy' sauce (with brown sugar and spices) and was more bland, but...

It is so dire, I think we will be donating the unopened tin to our church's food bank.

What is life without the comfort and ease of a baked beans meal?!

USA/Australian dictionary

Cell = Mobile phone
Diaper = Nappy
Nappy = possibly small cloth to wipe up sick
Condominium (condo) = Apartment (although sometimes apartment = apartment)
Garden condo = ground level apartment. Not always with a private garden. Usually just some bushes nearby.
Flat = nothing. don't use this word, especially in relation to real estate
Mini-van = People Mover (owning these cars is not solely limited to large christian families) Not to be mistaken with the 12 seater vehicles in Australia. Sometimes the mini-vans are the smallest cars in the carpark...
Truck = extremely large ute, often with four doors plus a tray (owning these cars is not limited to singles and workmen) Very very cool.
Protein Bar = Museli bar, I think
Cookie = Biscuit
Sweater  = Jumper (apparently worn with or without things under it)
Cheque book = cheque book (given out by most banks when you get a bank account. ownership not limited to the older generation. Not sure if we'll use ours or save it for Australian play paper!)

Miller "Genuine Draft"

The half of me that drinks beer regularly says this is not a very beery  beer... I think the fact that I was happy to drink it, with a bit of lime in the top, indicates what taste it had. For the sake of others, I'm going to say, close to Hahn light? Less beery than Carlton draft. Their claim - that it is a genuine draft beef as it is not heat treated. Don't ask me. There is a world of beers out there, but they leave a taste on the back of the tongue that makes me shudder. The pertinent thing - $6.99 for a six pack...A lot less government taxes in America!

Quiet Waters Park

Went for a walk yesterday afternoon, in what I hope will become a regular place to visit. Quiet Waters Park used to be a farm, but then it was acquired, not sure by who, and turned into a public space. There is a childrens playground and walking trails, some open space, picnic tables, and of course, you can hire gazebos to get married in. There are walks to views over Harness Creek (leads into South River, which leads into Chesapeake Bay). People jog, ride, walk their dogs, bring the kids, and generally enjoy time outside. At the moment everything is grey and brown and drab. It looks sort of messy. I am interested to see how it changes in Spring/Summer. It is good to get outside and burn off some energy away from traffic!

All available aids

My new theory, fresh from the memory of having to recycle heaps of good crafty stuff when packing up to come here - use everything. Don't keep it for a rainy day. Don't save it because you know it will be really fun and you want it used 'right'. Just pull it out, turn off your inner perfectionist, and let them play. And so, a really smart packet of post it notes was ransacked to create a five minute artwork that was later destroyed before dad could come home and see it. I'm not sure if my soul is completely surviving this, but I'm really trying!

Yummy bacon

This is the bacon we can find. Most bacon seems to be like this. Wood smoked, 50% white fat, long skinny strips, and so, so yummy. I try to chop the easy fat off if possible (ie, on the left hand side of this lot) and then we just enjoy it and try not to think too much about it. It is a lifetime away from our (practically fat free) short cut bacon in Australia.

Good packing decisions III

Number 3 - Masking tape. Uses - possible toy on aeroplane, though we didn't end up using it this time. We shut our food containers with it (ie, to stick cereal packets shut), and we are also using it as a fridge magnet to stick up important bits of paper, until we manage to get some fridge magnets. (Possibly, consider packing some fridge magnets next time, they wouldn't have taken up much room!) Finally, labelling the baby's drink bottle when he goes into childcare situations.

More snow!

A storm came through last night, it rained in the evening, but started snowing early morning, and by 3pm when it stopped there was about 15cm of powder. It was so beautiful! I saw the actual snowflake shapes like what you make with paper cutouts in primary school! It is completely silent when it snows. It just all swirls down in silence. I don't know about anyone else, but I love this weather.

Good packing decisions II

I thought it was stupid at first, but I'm convinced now - plastics for the children. They took up a bit of space, and had we known that the little one would chuck a tantrum over being given plastic bowls and plates when everyone else had china, we may have just brought the cups, but...

Very few kitchens will ever stock plastic stuff for kids, unless they themselves have kids. So the furnished apartment provided by our employment here had none, and it wasn't expected. It is great not to be on a knife edge every time someone wants a drink!

Australian wine!

Yes, we did it, bought Australian wine. Not sure if we got a bargain or not at $7.99, but nice to taste something more familiar than the Italian reds we've been drinking. 

More sausages

I think I finally got it. They're like frankfurters, only you know what is in them... More beef franks, only this time, I boiled them. I felt a bit funny, it just doesn't seem right, but they still tasted ok, and no-one has food poisoning. In fact, oldest child is quite enthusiastic about "American sausages".