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Too hot
The only food plants currently growing in our garden are chillies (chilli peppers), oregano and a small bit of rainbow chard that survived the long hot summer. I had a habañero plant that survived last winter but didn’t start fruiting until late autumn. There are now plenty of fruit available for picking. I hadn’t harvested any fruit until today when I was gathering chillies to add to a black bean soup I was preparing. I only picked four and the rest were mostly jalapeños and a couple of the small Thai chillies.
The habañeros went in whole so we could pick them out instead of biting into them. Last year, this worked quite well and it provided a moderate amount of heat for the dish. But I don’t think they were particularly potent last year. It would seem they have gained a lot of heat since then because they were incredibly hot this time. I had one bowl of soup with some corn chips and Greek yoghurt (instead of sour cream) and I was fine even though it was rather hot. Then I went to get a bit more and added more chips and yoghurt. The second or third bite, I got a bit of the habañero and it slowly built up to a very painful experience. I grabbed a big chunk of crusty bread to try to cool my tongue but it only seemed to irritate for the first several minutes  and then settled down a bit. I tried to eat more and it seems it had spread throughout the soup. The Scientist brought some butter to add to the bread this time and that seemed to be a bit more soothing. When i had partially recovered, I simply couldn’t eat any more and abandoned my food.
This is the first time this has ever happened to me. I have made stews and soups that were really hot. One other black bean soup was probably just a bit too hot to enjoy it properly but I carried on eating until I finished. This time was much beyond enjoyment and my body is still feeling a bit traumatized. If I use more habañeros, I think I’ll have to use just one or two in the future, if I am brave enough to risk it next time.
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Waffles
I don’t think I ever posted about the road trip we took while in the US last year. My mom, Lego Lover and I went from Fort Worth, TX to Western Pennsylvania over the course of two days. Originally the plan was to drive straight through, taking a day and a half. It became clear by the time we reached Tennessee that this plan wasn’t feasible and we needed to stay overnight somewhere. We stopped at what I think might have been a Super 8 or something of that ilk. The desk clerk’s English left something to be desired and the facilities weren’t great. But it was a place to sleep and that’s what we did for about six or seven hours. We even took time to have quick showers before heading out again later in the morning. On our return trip, we did a bit more planning and found more suitable accommodation at a place that I think was called Country Suites. We found a coupon in a travel booklet and for less than the price of the previous room, we had a room and breakfast. And it was a much nicer facility.
The highlight of that stay was the lovely breakfast offered the next morning. Available was cereal, toast, eggs, country biscuits with gravy and I can’t remember what else. And then there were the waffles. They had a couple Belgian waffle irons set up with cups of batter so we could make our own. Lego Lover absolutely loved this and Mom and I liked it too.
When we got back from our trip, a waffle iron was something that was highly desired. We particularly wanted a Belgian waffle maker. At that time, however, nobody seemed to have any in stock. I did eventually find a waffle maker in Myer, one of the more upmarket department stores. But it wasn’t the right type and was kind of expensive. Plus the reviews I read weren’t particularly favorable. Online research turned up some alternatives but they didn’t seem to be available in the usual stores. A couple months down the road, I was looking at the frequent flyer points catalog online and discovered a Sunbeam Belgian waffle maker just like we wanted. I ordered it right away and a week or so later it arrived at our house.
I’ve made waffles several times since then and it’s always a treat. Only one batch came out badly and that was due to my alterations of some ingredients. On the weekend, Lego Lover told me he was craving waffles, which was his round about way of asking me to make them. I said I’d see what i could do. Meanwhile, Game Fanatic asked if I could make some chocolate chip ones too. We had some chocolate left over from a cooking venture of some sort so I also told him I’d see what I could do. I’ve never made anything but plain waffles before so wasn’t sure how this would work out. On Sunday, I made one batch of plain and for the second batch added in chocolate chips and Milo malted milk powder. They turned out rather well although it left a lot of mess to clean up in an appliance that can’t be immersed. The boys and the Scientist seemed to enjoy all they had. I was lucky to get one of the last chocolate chip ones and it was pretty good.
Lego Lover ate the most, which was pretty amazing considering he’s the smallest of the family. It’s obvious he’s well into puberty and adolescence because he’s now eating very much like a typical teenager. I don’t know where he keeps all that food because he’s become tall and lanky over the better part of the past year. He hasn’t surpassed me in height just yet but it surely won’t be long when he’s growing as fast as he is.
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Anniversaries
It occurred to me just now that the Scientist and I have known each other for over a quarter of a century. When we met, I wasn’t even that old and wouldn’t have fathomed knowing anyone for that long. Wow!
So it shouldn’t really come as such a surprise that we’ve been married (as of Sunday) eighteen years. I remember it was a gorgeous, sunny day with deep blue sky. And I remember passing by Saturday grocery shoppers as we arrived at the “church”, which was temporarily located in the shopping center while a building was being constructed. The ceremony itself is a bit of a blur in my memory, although remnants of a talk about the Velveteen Rabbit stick in my mind a bit. There was a reception at a small country club (ironically, the temporary home of another church our family attended before it was built). I remember a Glenn Miller song or two playing and my a speech that which sounded a bit alien from rather quiet father. Then we were at my parents’ house, being waved off by family and friends as we left for a honeymoon in my car, which was covered with writing in chalk (I think) which left its slight mark long after the message was gone. After driving three hours, we arrived at our bed and breakfast in Asheville and were rather impressed by the grandeur of our accommodation for the next couple of nights. Just the two of us for the next couple of days relaxing and enjoying each others’ company. And before we knew it, our brief honeymoon was over and we were headed back. All the excitement was over in a relative flash.
We celebrated this year by another Fremantle visit with lunch at the Mexican Kitchen. We’d never been there before although it has been calling out for us as many years as I can remember. Lunch was delicious, with the food being pretty close to what I associate with Mexican food back home. I had a  Mexi-plate with a taco, enchilada and flauta while the Scientist enjoyed a burrito. Dessert was pretty underwhelming, with a flan listed on the menu that didn’t seem to exist and a “Mexican mud cake” that was just a chocolate cake with some nice vanilla ice cream. We followed with a visit to the chocolateria where I think I reached my chocolate limit. No disappointment in my churros or the Scientist’s black forest trifle. All yummy! A long walk back to the car helped work off a tiny fraction of the calories and we were on our way home again. It’s very nice that the boys have reached an age where we can leave them home and go out alone. A freedom that I know I never appreciated until it was gone for several years and then regained.
Anyway, I am quite thankful for all the memories the Scientist and I have had together, in the eighteen years and for the many years before. Happy Anniversary to my dear Scientist!
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Viscious cycle of injury
A few weeks ago, I managed to injure myself in the form of a mild calf strain after several weeks of exercise. I dropped my exercise back to just walking for most of the past couple weeks. I also cut the number of sessions back so that I had more rest between sessions. After taking it easy on the exercise for a couple weeks, it was much better and seemed to be pretty close to being healed as of Friday. At least, I felt it was just about healed because I no longer experiencing any pain.
I guess I was wrong though. Friday afternoon, I had an earache and had gone to lie down after taking an ibuprofen. After I’d been resting a while, there was a knock at the door so I rushed to get to the door. That’s when I felt another popping sensation on the back of my leg and had to hobble, or perhaps hop, my way to the door before the person left. Turns out it was the delivery of the board games I’d ordered a couple days earlier. I signed for the package, then had to hobble back to the bedroom where I could collapse.
This business of injuries is very frustrating. When I exercise, I try to take care by warming up and cooling down. And yet, I seem to struggle with minor injuries. Sigh…
I felt a bit more mobile today so thought I might try to go for a walk this evening. The weather has cooled down enough that it’s quite pleasant in the evening. I had to put that idea out of mind because I am simply not up to it. The Scientist had already expressed doubt as to whether it was very advisable this morning, but I found out the hard way after a trip into Perth. Lego Lover and I had met up with a friend and her young son for lunch at Annalakshmi (a vegetarian Indian restaurant in Perth where you pay what you want). The area was a bit of a mess because they are setting up for the Perth International Arts Festival and streets were blocked off in various places so that regular parking wasn’t possible. I was driving down past one parking area and the road was blocked, well past the entrance to the paid parking lot, so that cars had to make U-turns to get out of there as it had stopped where the exit to the parking lot came out. Anyway, I ended up going back in the opposite direction to find free parking and we had to walk a fair ways to get to our destination. Every time I tried to hurry to cross a road I’d end up in pain from straining the muscle further. The walk back was much easier because we weren’t in such a hurry to be anywhere and could take advantage of benches and rest occasionally as we walked alongside the Swan River. I think I’d had enough exercise for one day by the time we reached our car. In hindsight, it would have been worthwhile to pay the parking fees and limit myself to a shorter walk.
I’m contemplating seeing a physio to help figure out a better plan before I do any further damage. And this time I might actually do it…
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Australia Day, 2010
It was a fairly low-key day for us this year. We stayed home and had a picnic in our backyard instead of going to a park or beach. By staying home, the anxiety levels were kept down for Game Fanatic and his only compromise was eating outside.
Our meal was very international this year:
cornbread with three varieties of chillies from our garden. I used a couple jalapeños, a couple Thai chillies and one habañero. The habañero didn’t quite live up to its reputation. We thought the cornbread would be quite hot but it didn’t cause that much grief in the end. I used a recipe I had found online and it came out really well except it was too sweet. I had already halved the sugar so will probably cut that down to less than a quarter cup. I also reduced the butter to less than half and the texture was quite alright.
Sliced tomatoes, fresh from the garden. Aside from half a tomato I ate a week ago (the lower part had blossom rot), these are the first tomatoes I’ve harvested. They tasted pretty good…in fact, they actually taste like something. I’m feeling a bit more motivation to keep at the garden now that there’s been some fruits of all the labor.
The Scientist also barbecued peri peri chicken for all of us and lamb burgers with coriander for himself and Game Fanatic.
Earlier, I brought lamingtons and vanilla slices from a local bakery, so there was a bit of traditional Aussie fare in amongst all the rest. The Scientist also made a trifle, which he’s been craving for several days now.
After dinner, we played Blokus in front of the tv while a cricket match between Australia and Pakistan was finishing up. The plan had been to also play our other new board game, Smallworld, after that finished. We had it all set up and had just started the first round when the phone rang. The disruption was rather lengthy so we opted to put it away and play another time. Instead, Game Fanatic put on a video game that we’ve all been watching him play and continued through a few more chapters of the story before the Scientist retired for the night.
Overall, it was a very relaxed day that I believe was satisfactory for all family members.
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I think I've worked this photo thing out
Here is a photo of the sort of Lego chocolate colored brick cake that was made for Lego Lover’s birthday. It didn’t come out quite right due to the marshmallows not being properly covered with frosting. Next time it should be better.
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Christmas cheer
The day started with the boys impatiently waiting for me to wake up. Both had barely slept during the night and had been waiting for hours for the day to begin. The Scientist already wakes pretty early so I was the lone sleeper for several hours. I finally dragged myself out of bed and the boys opened their gifts. I think both were quite satisfied with their gifts, even the couple of items that hadn’t been on their lists. Lego Lover doesn’t seem to mind alternative gifts too much but Game Fanatic isn’t too keen on surprises. Both also seem to like the now traditional pair of boring underwear that appears in their stockings each year as a bit of a joke.
The Scientist and I had the traditional Christmas breakfast to attend so we left the boys and made our way there. We didn’t stay particularly long at the breakfast, just long enough to eat a bit and chatter with people we rarely see. It’s much nicer now that Game Fanatic is older and we can leave the boys at home. They hated going and it was a stressful experience for all when they were there. Still we don’t like to be away for too long on Christmas.
The remainder of the morning and early afternoon were spent relaxing for the most part. I was still quite tired so got in a short nap just before noon. It was that sort of tiredness that would have really dragged me down and the sleep was just enough to keep me alert the rest of the day. In the afternoon I started baking the chickpea patties and, with the Scientist, did some last minute preparations before our visitors were due at around 6-ish.
The Scientist’s older brother and family arrived pretty soon after 6pm and the kids opened their presents soon afterwards while the adults chattered. His mum and other brother arrived a while later and the present opening continued. I believe all were quite happy with their gifts. Lego Lover did quite well through all, especially considering he’d had only four or five hours of sleep.
We then moved outside for dinner. The Scientist had cut two of the small pre-cooked hams and the turkey beforehand. In hindsight, it would have been better to just slice one of the hams because it didn’t go over that well. It was far too salty in the end. My MIL also brought a turkey, not realising we’d gotten one so there was more than enough to go around. She’d also brought several packets of rice and curry called lamprai, which is a Sri Lankan burgher specialty. There were also a few salads along with the chickpea patties. I made the mistake of making a small number of the patties without the chillies I used in the rest, just in the event some of the chilli sensitive family would try one. I forgot to specify this and my MIL ended up eating from that plate and none of the chilli-sensitive family gave it a second glance.
For dessert we had gingerbread cookies that had been made by the Scientist and Lego Lover on Christmas eve. These seemed to be a big hit, especially with our dairy and soy allergic niece. We also had a cake for my brother-in-law’s birthday which is on Christmas. I think that went over quite well. Darkness soon began to fall and the colorful solar lights on the arch and one of the trees came on, along with some regular solar lights that are spread out through the backyard. The Scientist brought out the telescope and did a mini-viewing, which proved rather popular with the cousins. Lego Lover had by this time run out of steam and was mostly staying in the background. He didn’t eat any of the food aside from several banana muffins I’d made to use up some ripe bananas and the cake.
By 8:30, everyone had gone and we were left to relax for the remainder of the night.
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Easy Christmas
We did most of our shopping in less than two hours this afternoon. I’m not quite sure how that worked out, but it was almost pleasantly simple. We really only have to buy for the boys and our two nieces and nephew but it somehow drags out into a huge endeavor covering several days and multiple stores. This time, we managed most within one shopping centre. We opted to buy board games for the relatives this year rather than struggle to find something that would meet approval of parents and kids. We found one present for Game Fanatic and the other I will buy in Perth tomorrow (assuming it’s in stock). Lego Lover’s birthday present is done and we just have to find a couple Christmas presents. That pretty much covers it for us.
We’re having the family Christmas in our backyard this year, weather permitting. It’s rather early but there were reports yesterday that there will be thunderstorms that afternoon. Today the report says it’s going to be boiling hot. I wonder what they will say tomorrow…We’re going to buy precooked ham and possibly a turkey breast to slice down so we don’t have to cook. I might be making chickpea-vegetable patties (the day before) and the Scientist might be making a dessert. That should cover our part of the food. If all goes to plan we will be able to relax on Christmas day. Since the family is coming here for Christmas, we are just having light snacks and cake for Lego Lover’s birthday at a nearby park and we can keep dinner to immediate family afterwards. We haven’t done any Christmas baking as yet but I think we will try making our new traditional gingerbread people Monday or Tuesday. I am also thinking about trying cinnamon rolls but may again put that idea aside for another time.
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No ice cream at the ice cream factory
This isn’t strictly true. But it will be soon.
One of the local homeschoolers organised a tour at the local dairy (Fonterra). The information sheet indicates one part showing the ice cream processing plant and the other showing the milk cartons being made. We arrived there and waited outside the security gate for what seemed like ages in in chilly winds this morning. We were ushered in right at 9:30 to a small auditorium where the group watched a ten minute film about the place. The first information given by the leader was that the factory no longer makes ice cream. The ice cream processors finished earlier this week and today was the last day on the job for what remained of those workers. The mood around the place was a bit somber from what I could tell. Earlier this year, the ice cream lines were sold off to Nestle and Bulla (Cadbury ice cream only) and the equipment was sold to Bulla. Now there is no ice cream made in Western Australia so anything we get has to be shipped from the eastern states.
The film wasn’t very good and is being remade to get rid of information on the ice cream processing that can no longer be seen. The group was then divided into two and we started out on the tour. We got to see a flow chart of how the ice cream used to be made. Wow! We got to see the room where it used to be made and the equipment that was left. It was kind of sad seeing it there, unused and partially dismantled. There was a quick look into the laboratory where products were checked for bacteria and then it was off to see how the milk cartons and plastic bottles were made. That was the only production line we were able to see in operation and it was rather interesting. The plastic milk bottles used to be made off-site (by another company) and transported to the factory but the operation was recently moved on-site to reduce costs and resource use. Apparently there are over 10000 paper cartons made every hour.
After this part there was a toilet break. before heading into the visitor area at the entrance. Everyone was given a free ice cream to eat while there and sent away with a carton of flavored milk or orange juice. There was a choice of a few ice creams, including the Cadbury and Picnic ice cream cones along with some brands I’ve never seen before (presumably exported brands).
Lego Lover enjoyed most of the tour but he was stressed out by all the noise and people in the visitor at the end. When we were ushered out with our drinks in hand, he couldn’t wait to get away from there and was extremely annoyed when I stopped to thank my friend for organising the visit. I brought my chocolate milk home for Game Fanatic to enjoy.
So while it was certainly interesting, the lack of the ice cream plant was quite a loss for us. I guess we should be happy to have gotten our ice creams since we may well have been the last group to get that benefit. It’s now school holidays here so there won’t be any further tours until late October.
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A real Independence Day picnic
Last Saturday we met with an American homeschooling friend and her son for a picnic in recognition of the 4th of July. Normally it’s a rainy day and/or it falls on a working day so our celebrations almost always are adjusted to compensate. One year, we did attend an event organized by the American Women’s Club on the day. What a disappointment that one was! It was quite expensive, the food was minimal and poor quality, and there was hardly anything in the way of entertainment. The worst part was that the people were most unfriendly and unwelcoming.
This year, however, was different. We had somewhat different fare than I’m used to and it was just a small group, but it was quite enjoyable (if you discount the mosquitos!). We ate baked potatoes, corn on the cob, chicken and sausages (not really American but all of us despise American style hot dogs so…). My friend brought a yummy salsa verde and chips, plus a pack of Oreos for the occasion. We had a nice chat and shared memories of holidays past and of the US, in general. For the adults, I think it went pretty well. The kids fared somewhat less well.
Lego Lover spent much of the time sitting with me at the picnic table and swinging at the little playground. He was mostly in a good mood but was unable or unready to interact with the young son of my friend. Game Fanatic stood around looking rather bored but eventually did eat some food. He wouldn’t sit down because the tables were all pretty grungy and he was completely put off getting anywhere near them. Besides, he really dislikes picnics as a rule, mostly for reasons even he cannot explain. My friend’s son, who was desperate for a play mate was left mostly dissatisfied that day. The Scientist spent some time with him toward the end of our short outing and that was the whole of it.
My friend and her son were still recovering from a nasty flu so we didn’t linger long after we’d eaten. As it was, she felt she had overdone it after eating so little for many days before.
And that was our real holiday picnic, even if it wasn’t quite like the ones I remembered from my childhood.