Corning Museum of Glass

Yes, the Corning in Corningware happens to be in New York state, just an hour from where our cabin is! The discovery of the stronger qualities of tempered glass were discovered by accident by someone who left a plate in a furnace over night. They expected to find a blob of melted glass, but actually found something that bounced on the floor when they accidentally dropped it getting it out of the furnace.
The museum was good with an exhibition space, a history of glass exhibit, and finally, an innovation zone, with lots of more interactive exhibits. Sadly, our children's attention span didn't run to looking at the complete exhibition, and we had to cut it short before the stained glass section, which looked pretty good. However in the innovation zone, we watched someone make a glass goat, using a flame to melt glass sticks, and someone else blowing a bowl (a big one). You could easily spend the day in the museum seeing other demonstrations and looking at the rest of the exhibits.
Corning also has a historic 'gaffers district' shopping street, and some streets not far away that had a really eclectic mix of old houses. It would be a good place to walk around when the baby wasn't exhausted from a 5.30am wake up.
The photo is from the arty bit, it has a huge amount of detail in it of animals and things, all from glass. Like a 3D picture of some sort.

Christmas Day

We had a quiet Christmas Day, with just us and our family. Hubby took on the roasting of the turkey, and it was an unqualified success. Here is the finished product. We even made gravy out of the drippings. Yum yum!
The funny thing was when we were stripping the carcass we discovered the package of internal organs that the turkey people had put inside the turkey, that presumably we were meant to retrieve before cooking?!

Gingerbread Men

Me and the baby had a cooking session. We got hold of a gingerbread recipe with molasses in it! Must be the local version - you can buy molasses in the supermarket here. I was a bit nervous about the molasses taste, but it has turned out really lovely (although very thick, and a little soft). I'm not sure if it is the decorating sort of gingerbread, but hopefully it will work out!
PS - the decorating (on 24th December, for morning tea, by five boys aged 5 years and under) went just fine...

The first wonky Christmas tree decorations

I reached a mummy milestone recently, when my son, after talking about the making of it for two weeks, finally came home with a snowman, made out of clay (with a skirt, so it is actually a girl). He didn't realise, but I did, that it was meant as a tree ornament. My first, wobbly, no-one else outside the family gets it, Christmas tree ornament, to be kept and carefully added to the tree year after year.
In addition, in class he made us a Christmas present of another ornament - a stick with bits of coloured ribbon stuck to it with a glue gun. (which, unfortunatley, is untreated wood, so I don't think I'll get it through Australian customs when we go home :( )What precious, priceless moments I get!

Things that make more sense in a cold Christmas

1. Mulled wine
2. Spiced apple cider
3. Wassail
4. Christmas lights (because it is dark at 4.45pm) - both inside and outside, but especially outside
5. Living Christmas trees (that survive with a bit of water because its not 40C) because most of the trees look dead, and it is lovely to have some greenery around
6. Christmas carols talking about winter and rugging up in a sled
7. All those warm, spicy dried fruit recipes, because comfort eating is very enjoyable when you're cold, and the berries are out of season :(
8. The need for a celebration because it is cold and dark and a touch miserable
9. Roast, warm lunches/dinner
10. Putting snowflakes on the windows, holly and greenery as decoration
11. Everything to do with Santa Claus (the suit, the sleigh, the reindeer pulling it...)
12. Ugly Christmas sweaters with reindeer, snowflakes etc knitted in. I have heard of several Christmas parties where you have an 'ugly sweater' competition.
13. The celebration of Easter as a time of new life and renewal (at the beginning of Spring)

Cookies

I have been feeling smug about my Snickerdoodles, but I am such a novice in the art of baking cookies. These are Peanut Butter Blossoms, with a Hershey's Kiss chocolate stuck on each cookie as it comes out of the oven....
Then there are Molasses Crinkle Cookies to try to make too, and I had something called Tree Bark at church on Sunday that was just lovely. I have a lot of cooking to do!

No Christmas Day Services!

Well, we found out there are no Christmas Day services at our church - and this is not unique... Apparently most protestant churches in America don't run Christmas Day services! They're running three Christmas Eve services - 4.30pm for the kiddies, 7pm, and then an 11pm candlelight service, (which sounds so lovely, but very unattainable for me right now).
It will truly be a different Christmas, given that I have attended a Christmas Day service for all of my years.

Fruit Mince Pasties

Take two... Not sure if it was worse or better. Pastry was initially too dry, and not foldable at all, and even when we added in some more milk, it was hard to manage. Plus, they burnt a bit on the bottom in our oven. The good news - we have plenty more fruit mince to keep on trying!

Amazon Prime

Hubby signed up to one month free membership to Amazon Prime as an introduction, and we have used it heavily in getting this years Christmas presents. For those who don't know, Amazon Prime is a subscription to Amazon, where you pay $9 per month, and in return get free shipping. There is also a lending library of e books and DVD's that you can borrow for a month for free, while you have subscription too. I can appreciate the joy of shopping in a store, and supporting the locals, and I can also appreciate that we simply wouldn't have had time to get all the presents this year without Amazon Prime. The shopping in America involves a lot more driving, and for us a lot more miss than hit (the missing being when you think something will be in a certain store, and then it isn't, and just not knowing where to look), and as I write this, we are wrapping the last of it, and I am so impressed with Amazon Prime. Where else, for example, would you find a tin Curious George kaleidoscope?! It really does feel like you just search for what you want, and there it is. Practically Magic! And the kids are too young to connect Christmas time with all the boxes that have been arriving on our doorstep. I'm really enjoying that, because I'm sure they'll wise up eventually.

Caroling

We went on our first ever children's caroling party on Friday night - starting at 4.30pm because the average age of the children was only about 7, possibly younger. We all gathered, ate a simple dinner, and then went out caroling. One of the party had printed out the words to a whole heap of Christmas carols, and most people (except us) had brought torches, and the idea is that someone knocks on the door, and then when someone answers the door, you start singing. Not everyone answered the door, but those that did seemed to appreciate it (for one song, at least, it was cold!) and then we went home and had hot chocolate and Wassail. The hot chocolate was from a store, and my five year old strongly encouraged me (with what could only be called a huge hot chocolate face) to get the recipe so I could make it! Wassail is a non-alcoholic warmed drink based on cranberry juice and spices, which I will endeavour to do more research on so I can explain it later.
We got home exhausted, but it was surprisingly enjoyable, and I can see how it would be a good way to connect with your neighbours. It was lovely to sing Christmas carols. The kids have been singing snatches of mangled Christmas carols around the house ever since.

Fruit Mince Crumble

Another hit from our kitchen... Turns out nana must have some special knack (and probably the right oven tray - we had muffin trays). Not sure what went wrong, probably several things, but it tastes great. For this year, we'll make the rest up as dim sim style, rather than trying for mini pies.

Rum Blobs

These are meant to be rum balls. No Marie or Nice biscuits, so I tried Graham Crackers. Something has gone wrong, not completely sure what, although my first guess would be that the mixture is too wet. The balls are 'melting' into disc shapes. Fortunately they still taste fine - crushed biscuits and condensed milk will always taste ok!

Lights by the Bay

Sandy Point State Park puts on a light display each year. We went on a Tuesday - so not many cars. Early dinner, kids all wrapped up in the car with pjs on. There was a radio station especially for the lights display that played Christmas music, and it took about 15 mins to drive around and look at all the lights.
A nice easy Christmas activity that the kids were pretty impressed with!

US Census

Our address was chosen to be part of the US Census! Any statistics released about foreigners living in the US in the next couple of years will include our family...

While your kids are breathing...

I have a sense of sadness as a result of the Lindt Cafe hostage situation in Sydney, and a sense of horror, that something like that would happen in a place that I was familiar with, rather than somewhere overseas that I only read about, not have jogged past.
I think my take home message is, if your kids are breathing, have an ice-cream with them. Not necessarily literally, just take the opportunity to spend time with them. Stop and help them with that jigsaw puzzle. Hold them upside down. Tickle them. Read books with them. Have indoor picnics when it is raining. Skip on the way home. Go for a bike ride. Explore not only the opportunity to bring up God's precious children, but to enjoy their sweet, loving, playful natures too.
This even applies to Mr Indescribable, the stubborn 2.5 year old, who is currently lining up the dinosaurs and doing jigsaw puzzles.

I have all my warm stuff

I finally got some boots to wear in the snow. I have been trying for approximately a month to find something. I saw hundreds of boots in the store when they first came in, and felt overwhelmed.

• I planned to buy waterproof hiking boots, but didn't like what was available. 
• Then I formed a plan to buy something on line, and when they came I didn't like them. 
• Then I decided to look in the mall again, only to find that everything was on sale, and therefore there wasn't many in my size/I couldn't fit my high arch in some of the boots/what I was looking for (cross between dress boot, snow boot and hiking boot) doesn't really exist. 
• Then I altered what I wanted (just basic Timberland boots...), and looked on line, but it had gone on sale there too, and out of stock in my very average size 7. 
• Then my husband decided arbitrarily that we were going to look at the snow boots at the local Sports Authority (big warehouse with sporty stuff in it) one lunch time.

And I was complaining that I just needed someone like a mum to focus on getting me my stuff, because I'm such a horrendous shopper, and I hate it... when my long suffering and slightly more big picture husband pointed out that he took me to the store during various lunchtimes to buy not only boots, but also gloves, jacket and snow pants... Thank you!
PS - I dislike that I was only able to look at styles of boots that had all this fluff out the top, and that the men's boots were less fluff-ful, but not available in my size... but that is another post.

Gingerbread houses, graham cracker style

Another great idea. The crackers for these houses were glued, and are not for eating, but the lollies are (I assume!). Saves making gingerbread, or buying a kit? I reckon, if you're in Australia, you could use any sort of cracker, just not the ones with salt sprinkled on them?
We also decorated some biscuits for eating. The key is, to find the cookies on the plate!!

Christmas Crafts

Ideas for simple Christmas crafts, from a crafty babysitter. The snowflakes are truly amazing. I'm not sure how much cutting my kids did, but I think they enjoyed being part of the process. The baby now has an obsession with tracing around his hand! Luckily our textas are washable.

What is missing here?

Another in our series on quirks in American architecture - what is missing in this photo?
That's right, the ceiling lights!! it is becoming more of an issue now that it is getting dark at 4.45pm. I have noticed a lot of homes have more lamps, and task lighting, rather than the big overhead light. Our kitchen, bathroom, dining, entrance and basement/laundry came with ceiling lights (oh, and our walk in wardrobe). The living area and the bedrooms do not. We thought we fixed it by buying a little lamp for Toby's room and the living area, but the truth is, in Winter, we need more lamps...
I'm hoping for another day trip to Ikea, (I'm just there for the food!) but we have precious few days before Christmas, and much other stuff to do.

Channelling my Inner Woodcutter

I am very happy that here, now, a most loved member of my cupboard is coming into its own - the flannelette shirt I got as a reward after passing Grade 4 Piano exam (yeah, I kept it that long!). I wore it constantly for probably about 2 years, and then moved on, but always kept it, and deliberately brought it here, because I knew it would be cold, and you never know...
It has become the ultimate in warm comfy wear, when teamed with my green jumper that is from our trip to Tasmania in year 7 (yeah, I kept that one too!).
Proof that you should never chuck anything out just because you don't wear it for a year :)
Mostly it seems that the men and boys wear flannelette shirts here, and I love seeing it. The women's flannelette fashion is a bit of a poor neighbour to the heartiness of the men's styles.
Flannelette shirts make me want to charge around in snow in big warm boots and chop wood and tap maple trees for syrup.
For further images of flannelette shirt wearing, look up llbean.com.

Salmon with tomato sauce

I hate it, but tomato sauce has become the compulsory extra for my children. Salad? Tomato sauce. Peas and Corn? tomato sauce. chicken? Tomato sauce, I am waiting for the day they request tomato sauce on cereal.
Tonight I roasted salmon with a marinade of garlic, lemon juice, basil, salt and pepper, in a foil packet, for 45 mins, and after declaring that he didn't like it on sight, Mr 2.5 demanded tomato sauce. Mr 5 has at least learnt not to declare that he doesn't like things on sight, but still covered his salmon with an icing of tomato sauce. They both then ate their salmon, but it was sort of depressing.

More snow!

Second snow fall of the year. Stayed on the ground about 2 hours then melted - long enough to introduce the toddler to the snow bib and snow boots we  bought! Toasty, warm, happy child.

A real Christmas Tree

We decided to pursue the cultural experience, and go to a Christmas Tree Farm for our Christmas Tree. We possibly chose one of the wetter Saturdays in December, but we went prepared, and stayed reasonably dry.
On some rolling hills over the back of their house, they've grown rows of Christmas trees, and you take your saw, and your trolley, and go pick yourself one. Then, it is shaken, presumably to clean it up, and bound, and there was a Boy Scout troup on hand to help carry it to your car and tie it on top. We had rearranged the seats in our amazing van so we just sat the tree inside.
We're even going to try and buy a star for the top (our Christmas Tree back home still doesn't have a star, because we never saw one we liked...).
Surprisingly, the scent from the tree is really subtle, but really nice. I also like having a front window that we can have the tree in, so people can see the tree from the outside.

Holiday Trees

I was much saddened to open my newspaper and see a caption under a Christmas tree, about a Holiday tree, set up in our Capitol. I strongly get the impression that in order to avoid reference to any religion in public life, the word Christmas has been officially retired. Think, Holiday parties, Holiday trees, Happy Holidays, Holiday feasts, Holiday shopping, etc. Some Jewish holidays seem to have snuck under the radar as far as neutralisation is concerned (and I'm not sure how you could neutralise something like Hanukkah?), but most other religions are definitely being pressed into private settings.
So everyone in Australia, enjoy your Christmas shopping for Christmas presents and putting up Christmas trees and having Christmas Day!

What are singlets? (more clothing confusion)

"Oh, we call them wife-beaters..."  is often the answer to my explanation of the humble singlet. But unlike in Australia, where a men's size blue singlet is more often singled out for that questionable honour, this is all singlets - even the ones my 5 and 3 year olds wear. Undershirts are more common, and possibly proper jackets, layering and heated houses negate the need for them at all. Female varieties are called tank-tops (whereas I would call my warm undergarments a singlet, and tank tops (or singlet tops!) are what you wear on a warm day, or to the beach).
Oh, and Americans do have jumpers - that is what they call those corduroy pinnies that you put on little girls!

Colonial slips

My work colleagues have expressed much amusement at my 'colonial' language at times. Here is the latest list that we worked out just before Thanksgiving: (written Aussie - American)

boot - trunk

holidays - vacation

public holidays - holidays

jumper - sweater

lift - elevator

carpark - parking lot

queue - line

The thing is, they look at me sideways for being all colonial, but they decorate with holly and pine cones (you should see our main street at the moment...), and drink spiced cider, and go caroling, (which I only thought happened in "A Christmas Tale" and "The Wind in the Willows"), and skating and sledding, all of which is super British, if you ask my humble opinion! It is sort of like living in a time warp, but where they don't know what fruit mince is, or short bread, or rum balls...
Here is an example of a Christmas themed door wreath. We are also getting heaps of Christmas lights, which is super exciting.

ps - I have since learnt that they do know what fruit mince is, they just call it mince meat, so that is one mystery solved!

Snickerdoodles

Where else would you get a cookie that sounds like some clever expensive dog breed?!
I finally decided to give these a go, given that I had an hour before a visitor, and two children to help (yes, that was sarcasm. sometimes my decision making processes make me wonder). They are a 'sugar cookie' (plain, with lots of butter and sugar) but also with cinnamon added to the mixture, and the dough balls are rolled in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar before being put on the tray.
Thus, they have huge entertainment value for helpers, as well as potential to mess up the kitchen (did I mention I had a visitor coming?!). We did manage to finish them before company, it was surprisingly neat, and they are nice biscuits to have with a cup of tea. I burnt two trays, the sugar on the bottom makes them burn fast... but that just means that we'll have more to eat at home, rather than having done some Christmas cooking ahead of time. Oh well.