Sugar Pie Pumpkin

This is a sugar pie pumpkin. It is the most pumpkiny pumpkin I have ever seen. I think every pumpkin wants to look like this in their soul. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to cook with it, but research reveals that I can, which is a relief. I honestly thought these sort of pumpkins only existed in the movies.
I am going to make mum's pumpkin pie with it, hopefully!!

Pumpkin Spice M&Ms

Here are the special fall flavoured M&Ms - they taste like someone tried the concept of putting cinnamon and nutmeg with chocolate, but without using the real spices... Not a hit in my book. We won't die wondering!

Pumpkins and autumn

I don't know the origins of the tradition, but suddenly, for Fall (autumn) there is a slew of special seasonal stuff to buy. Pumpkin spice candles, tea, coffee, biscuits, muffins, M&Ms. Special pumpkin themed crockery, soup toureens, cups, and table linen (as seen in the photo above, which is a Williams Sonoma window in the mall).
New wreaths for your door - take down the stars and stripes theme, and replace with autumn leaves, interspersed with wheat and (you guessed it) pumpkin. Shops have already started selling Halloween stuff, but that seems separate to the more high brow pumpkin theme. I think maybe the high brow stuff is looking forward over Halloween to Thanksgiving?
It just all seems a little strange to focus on the pumpkin/corn/wheat harvest  in a country that sells bananas year round, no matter what the season?

Walk with your kids!

4.30pm on a wet cold day, we had had very energetic visitors in the morning, I was tired and it was nearly time for me to cook dinner... But I had promised a walk to find puddles. I'm so glad I stuck to my word!! (It helped that it was frankfurts and veggies for dinner - nice and easy and quick)
It turned into a delightful 20 min ramble - the kids sprinted ahead in search of the next puddle, the air was fresh, and on the way back, we saw a squirrel eating a nut in a tree, as well as stopping to look at various seed pods on the ground and pick up some pine needles for dad to look at.

Fall is here

You can't really avoid the fact that it is cooling down, and that the leaves are turning different colours (and falling). I guess the other indication, is that the kids are in warmer pjs, and we are trying to find jackets, boots and gloves...

Amusing themselves

This is the end of an hours solid play on the back deck. I sent them outside with the soccer ball and the blow up watermelon (don't ask) and told them to amuse themselves, so I could cook tea (new recipe).
1 - play with ball/watermelon - rolling, throwing, much giggling and exclaiming. My flowers were got several times.
2 - run in circles - around the two balls. singing "run in a circle, run in a circle" over and over. Or pretending to play the trumpet. Then falling onto the deck and declaring that they were dead. Then starting over with the running.
3 - They took some matchbox cars out on the deck, so I rolled out the carpet mat to give them a bit of comfort.
4 - rolling the carpet to make little tunnels that they could crawl through.

I really feel like today, they started getting the true meaning of amusing themselves!

Death at the Center of Love - Ruth 1:16-18

Ruth 1: 16-18

The secret of love is commitment - v17 Love given voluntarily, and until death

The cost of love is uneven - v18 Naomi silenced. No thank you recorded. The people we love may not love back the way we expect. We shouldn't be keeping track in a relationship! Eventually, because we are human, this will grate, we will get tired of this. How to endure?

The power of love is faith
Her love was rooted in God, not in a person, and it flowed out to Naomi.
Ruth didn't follow God in wealth, with His specific promises in her ear, as Abraham did. She loved Naomi inspite of Naomi having no future in a man's world. She was willing to narrow her own life to love another - this was going to cost her a chance at finding another husband and security (she doesn't know about Boaz yet!).

Faith as a noun - rather than a verb? So, instead of faith being a mountain you climb, it is a valley you fall into. She rested in her faith.

The life of love is beautiful
Ruth's love pointed to Jesus' love. So incredible that she (a woman) is included in Matthew's lineage for Jesus. God calls us not to a pilgrimage/task, but simply to receive His love. From receiving that love flows the natural consequence of wanting to tell everyone about it.

Photo - http://pastor-taylor.blogspot.com/2010/09/finding-god-in-unexpected-places.html

Sandy Point State Park

We finally got to visit this park, because there was a work family picnic on. Previously, we have turned up after the park was full, and they were turning people away at the gate.
It is a beautiful little piece of the world, on the Northwestern shore of the mighty Chesapeake Bay. We were at a big shelter that groups can hire, with some grass next door and some sand and water down the way.
The downside to this park is, it is very popular, and it costs about $5 per adult to enter. The upside is, it is beautiful on a hot day, and you can walk along the shore and get a very good few of the bridge across the bay (as shown above). No waves, but water was a little more clear compared with some other places we've swum.

Tips for cooking with two kids

Made ANZAC biscuits today, with both kiddies, after school, so that we can take them to a company family picnic on the weekend. I thought as we cooked, that I might be able to share some tips on this one, having been forced into the role for a couple of months now.
1 - two chairs, you stand in between. you can hopefully control the enthusiasm a little by increasing turn taking, also, you're closest to each child, so no-one can get creative without you being able to reach them. And, they can't hit/snatch from each other (if it gets that heated).
2 - recipe somewhere you can read it (I prop the book against the wall, my other favourite is putting the piece of paper on the fridge)
3 - get as many ingredients out onto a bench nearby as you can (but hide the eggs)
4 - by and large, no recipe that I have made with kids has been ruined by over mixing. Get them mixing if they're looking bored, or if you have to get another ingredient/duck away from the bench. Hope that the bowl doesn't end up on the floor (it hasn't for me, so far).
5 - I alternate turns with cups of ingredients - ie, child A tips cup into bowl, then child B tips cup into bowl. I also alternate mixing opportunities (generally encouraging the baby just to 'smash' into the bowl, while trying to encourage Mr 5 to do a bit of genuine mixing. The aim of the game is to keep the mixture in the bowl!!) and egg cracking opportunities, and everything. BUT, I have mum's turn too, so when things get really frustrating/desperate, I can step in (eventually).
6 - I always do the hot stuff
7 - I am always generous with licking opportunities - but AFTER we have finished cooking
8 - I put away as I go as much as I can. And while the oven is on and the cooking is happening, I put on a video, and clean up the kitchen more. The video gets them out of the kitchen, away from the hot oven.

American muffins

This is meant to be a cross sectional photo showing a muffin I bought the other day. Never again.
There was no crusty top!! It was so greasy!! And sort of crumby. The blueberries appeared limited to the outside of the muffin.
I think I missed the crusty top most.

What is missing?

I decided to start, at long last, a what is missing series, just to illustrate my minor frustrations with what appears to be common design in the US.
So, what is missing in this photo?!

I still call Australia...

I teared up a bit when I walked in on Mr 5 explaining this picture to his Sunday School teacher - it is Australia, on the earth, complete with Tasmania ("because there is always an island") underneath the sun. He obviously only had the blue pencil, but what a great picture hey? I love my boy.

American undies for kids

Just realised that our standard little boy undies are not standard here... This is what is standard. I have seen them around but figured it must be the parent preference (and, to be completely honest, thought they were a bit fussy and over the top?!). Our five year old is completely fascinated with them. We're having trouble with sizing because they seem to depend on the child having a butt and/or waist to put in the undies (I think we have a small animated stick).
Oh, and while I'm on it? Bonds singlets aren't sold here either. although we have found an alternative called Hanes that we hope will do.
What sort of country is this?!

Bathroom cabinet

Exercise: This is our bathroom cabinet. Find the Neosporin.

I think this illustrates how tired and stressed we get sometimes :)

Baseball!! New York Yankees vs Baltimore Orioles

We booked these tickets about three months ago, to a matinee game of Orioles vs Yankees, in Baltimore. We deliberately left the baby at home with a sitter, and boy were we glad we did that.
I loved it! The atmosphere of expectation, the lights, the crowd entertainment, the security rushing on after each innings (and off as the next innings started), it was all really cool. I hope we get to some more baseball games next year (season nearly finished this year). It was refreshing to watch a truly non-contact sport actually. No-one was trying to physically rip anyone's ears off or anything.
We had pretty good seats, middling in quality. As it happened, we were in the middle of a whole lot of Yankees fans, but that didn't stop the atmosphere being really nice. People were very relaxed, generally very respectful, and really just there to watch the game, not get all het up because the ref made a bad call.
Major League baseball has a really long season - about 8 months? And they play games practically every night of the week, In fact, the game we watched was part of a triple header - Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights of Orioles vs Yankees.
Score ended up being 3-2 Yankees won, but it came down to the last Orioles batter in the last innings, needing to hit a ball such that he didn't get out and his team mate on 3rd got home without getting out. which he didn't, but it was heaps exciting!
Things I was surprised about:
Most innings were scoreless - ie, no-one got home, infact, hardly any people got to first base without getting out. There were lots of catches, and lots of good fielding, and lots of strikeouts. The 5 people that did get home were due to homeruns being hit. (Not even 5 home runs, but enough, maybe three, to get 5 people home).
They play that if three people get out, that is the end of your turn, so instead of like cricket, where you have to get the entire team out, here, you just have to get three out, and then it is your turn to bat. Probably just as well, given there are 9 innings.
How much movement there was in the audience - there was always someone walking up and down the aisle, getting in and out of a row, or selling cold beers. The New Yorkers commented that during an innings they don't let you walk up and down the aisle, you have to wait to the end of an innings. I support that idea!

French Toast Casserole

Second attempt at dish that we can see potential in. No fruit toast, no sugar. I put in too much bread, and couldn't resist sprinkling nutmeg and cinnamon and a little butter on top. I put the spices because I had a sudden yearning for mum's bread and butter pudding, which is strange, because I hated it as a kid.
And, I served it with maple syrup... I needed an easy night from the kids.
Still have a way to go with this one.

Seafood chowder

I knew seafood chowder exists, it was an entree at our wedding reception, but that is the total experience (and I didn't get served the chowder at the wedding reception). Aparently it was lovely.
So, here is my first ever Seafood Chowder at home (I didn't cook!!). I get it now, it is like soup, only with seafood instead of chicken or beef. Probably handy for finishing off leftovers in fishing communities. Our seafood - shrimp (prawns), scallops, two types of white fish, crab. Very enjoyable!

Lemon Grass - Thai Restaurant

We took the opportunity to go out to dinner while we had grandparents around to babysit, and went to this restaurant. We have not had proper Thai for so long... so long. I could have happily ordered the entire menu.
What we ended up getting:
Spring Rolls and some sort of steamed pork dumpling for starters (entree)
Panang curry and Duck salad (bits of duck deep fried and put on a bed of greens of some sort with a hot chilli sauce? The duck was cold, and awesome.) for entree (mains), with steamed rice.
I had a Lemon Grass Mojito (with Bacardi light rum, mint, ginger, lime juice, and I think that was all) and Steve had a Thai beer of some sort.
My only reservations - I reserved a table for 7.30 pm, and when we arrived at 7.30 pm, the place was packed with the early diners, and no table was reserved. We got drinks and sat outside until a table came free, which was about 15 mins.
It is a small restaurant, although they have opened a second restaurant somewhere else, probably not more than cafe size. They have tables outside, and a pretty generous veggie patch where they evidently grow their own herbs and possibly other stuff. Service was quick and knowledgable.
We were very happy. I had to restrain myself from closing my eyes and mmming after every mouthful! In fact, that is why the photo is half way through, because I forgot.

Ikea dinnerware set review

We bought two of the Ikea Fargrik dinnerware sets - one in white, the other in turquoise, as you have probably noticed in previous posts. The white set is now starting to get lines on it - as shown in the photo above. Whenever cutlery scrapes on the bowl/plate, little grey lines appear. It is especially bad in bowls where little people scrape and scrape for that last skerrick of ice cream.
I have seen this before - hubby's work in Sydney got this set in their kitchen, and I assumed it was due to the high usage. But we have been using our set like a normal family of four, since April, when we moved, and it started marking about the end of July - ie, about three months.
Interestingly enough, the turquoise set is not marking - the glaze seems thicker, shinier and more durable?
My conclusion is, don't buy this set in white... It was only $19.95, but I would sort of expect a bit more durability.

Crazy expensive clothing

Got a clothing catalogue recently, sent to the previous resident at our place.

In one of the Terry Pratchett Discworld books, Sam Vimes muses about the rich actually saving money because they can afford to get stuff that lasts - ie, buy boots that last years, instead of buying cheap boots that last three months, and having to buy multiple pairs. Also, not having to buy stuff, because the previous generation already bought it and it is stored up in the attic somewhere, waiting to be reused.

This clothing, to me, is that sort of clothing.We have been feeling pretty pleased with ourselves, because hubby managed to buy some work shirts (old ones literally falling off back). At $65 a pop, we will be looking after them. But guess how much the little jacket pocket square costs?! $79.95. I'll leave you to guess the cost of the other stuff Mr Serious-Beard is wearing. (you're welcome to submit any estimates!)

We can't think who would wear this - not Obama, the celebrities would be paid to wear it, we wondered about finance types, or CEO's, but it seems a bit too country estate-ish (you have to admit it is definitely dapper)?

Our only answer - cosmetic surgeons? (The ones that do the celebrities?) Any other thoughts?

Pleasure of Allegiance

So, Mr 5 comes home saying that he says the "Pleasure of Allegiance" every morning. I tried to suggest that it was more likely to be a Pledge, but he insists.
A quick search on the internet, and I find the standard Pledge of Allegiance:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Students can't be compelled to repeat it, and a couple of states have made it non compulsory at the beginning of the school day. Composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892, and taken on formally by congress in 1942. A couple of word changes since then, the most recent being the addition of "under God" in 1945.
This may add to why the flag is so important?
PS - We went to a PTA (Parents and Teachers Association) meeting, and they said the pledge at the start of the meeting!!

Soccer Mum adventures

Everything has started again with the new school year, including soccer. I have made a milestone; I am now a soccer mum (mom?!). I am enjoying it. Tuesday's we go to practise and learn skills, Saturday mornings we watch small children run around after the ball for an hour. Small fields, no score taken. Shirts seem to be a one size is big on most.

Angry Orchard Apple Ginger cider

This was recommended after I shared drinking the straight Apple Cider by this brand. All I can say is, less sweet than straight apple cider, due to a twist of ginger, and most enjoyable. The evil tree has a different smile, not sure of the significance. Possibly the marketing people do.

Last days of summer

This is another 'beach' we can go to with friends. Same deal as the other beach - more a river bank, owned by the community. Lovely to get to the water though, and in that oppressive heat before a storm (although at the moment, we're just getting oppressive heat and humidity. The storms aren't clearing the air, just making it worse).

French Toast Casserole

 

We have managed another cultural experience, and solved a mystery while we were at it. The mystery was 'what was that dish they served at MOPS brunch', and the cultural experience was the French Toast Casserole. A local bakery gave out the recipe on their newsletter, being a breakfast you could make with minimal cooking. I mulled over it for a while, a bit intrigued by the ingredients, then took the plunge and made it.

Ingredients:
1 loaf bread, chopped into 1in cubes (about 10 cups) (recommended loaves included Cinnamon Chip, Apple Scrapple, normal white bread and Challah )
8 eggs
3 cups of milk
4 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 tsp salt (optional)

Method:
Place bread cubes in a greased 13x19x2 in. baking dish. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and salt. Pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 mins before baking. Dot casserole with 2T butter (cubed). Combine 2T sugar and 2t cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Cover and bake at 350 for 45-50 mins or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes. Serve with your favourite syrup. Makes 12 scrumptious servings! ( I made the full recipe, but we are struggling to finish it, I recommend halving the recipe)

We ended up using a whole wheat fruit loaf, sort of - it had raisins (sultanas) and little cinnamon chips (compacted cinnamon?) and definitely sugar in it. So the end result was sort of sweet, but with eggs. We're sort of at a loss about when you could serve this. In the USA it is for brunch, but it seems a touch sweet to serve regularly. The sweetness makes me think it could be a slice for morning/afternoon tea, but then there is the egg element, and the serve with maple syrup element. We're looking at making it more savoury - ie, real proper french toast casserole - just eggs, milk and bread, and that way, it would be an easy dinner. Correct me if I'm wrong, but normally brunch in Aus is bacon and eggs based?!