Happy Howl-o-ween!

Pumpkin Custard from The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook

This looks so mmmmm delicious. I have lots of little pumpkins decorating my house :0) (the edible kind of course)! I will use them for this recipe and feel good about not wasting them by just throwing them out when they are old.

Time: 1 hour (20 minutes active)Makes: 4 to 6 servings

Four 2- to 3-inch wide sugar pumpkins (or two 5- to 6-inch wide pumpkins)

1 cup coconut milk

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

Wipe the pumpkins with a damp cloth to remove any dust or dirt.

Insert the tip of a sharp paring knife diagonally into the top of a pumpkin until it pierces through the skin and flesh and into the cavity. Make short cuts in a zigzag or hexagonal pattern and go around the stem in a circle to make a hole large enough to insert a teaspoon (1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter). With a smaller pumpkin, it might be easier just to slice the top off straight across. Repeat with the remaining pumpkins.

Lift off the lid and scrape out the seeds and stringy bits with a teaspoon.

Set up your steamer.

Fill the steamer pan half full of water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium until you are ready to steam.

In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar and coconut milk together. Crack the eggs into the bowl and whisk until just incorporated. Place the pumpkins in the top tier of your steamer with the pumpkin lids on the side. Using a ladle, carefully pour equal amounts of custard into each pumpkin cavity until only about three quarters full since the custard will rise and pouf up beyond the hole. Try not to spill any custard over the sides of the pumpkins. If you do, wipe it clean with a damp cloth.

Return the water in the steamer to a rolling boil. Set the steamer basket or rack on top of the steamer pan. Cover and steam over medium heat for 30 to 35 minutes. The custard is set when it doesn’t jiggle when shaken and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Don’t steam for more than 45 minutes or the pumpkin will fall apart.
When done, turn off the heat and wait for the steam to subside before lifting the lid. Lift it away from you to prevent condensation from dripping onto the pumpkins, or scalding yourself. Carefully remove the pumpkins from the steamer and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for 10 to 12 hours to let the custard firm up. Don’t worry if the custard falls a little.
Cut each pumpkin into 4 to 6 wedges and serve cold or warm (heat it up in the microwave). Use a spoon to scoop up some pumpkin flesh together with the custard, making sure you get a little of each with every bite.

Pat’s notes:Instead of sugar pumpkins, any winter squash such as kabocha squash or acorn squash work just as well.

Thursday Three

Three projects I am so ready to try:

1 - Michelle from Green Kitchen posted how to make sweater sleeve children's pants out of an adult wool sweater...

Those would look adorable on my T-Bone and would keep him warm during winter in Alaska!

2 - I acquired a papasan chair from freecycle and want to make a cushion for it. WikiHow is a fabulous place to find instructionals for this kind of project. The site also lists a how-to for a washable slip cover. (Yeah)

3 - I also acquired a coffee table from freecycle and have been putting off a project I thought up. I also found it on an apartment therapy site. The chalkboard table appeals to me because it looks fun and the children would play with it. Maybe they could play a game of tic-tac-toe while they watch a movie? Sounds fun to me!

Wordless Wednesday 10-29-08

One CRAZY mama +

One sweet adorable papa =

One CRAZY sweet adorable baby!

Tackling It Tuesday 10-28-08

We bought a fish for Brandon's class.

$5.oo beta fish
$2.00 fish medicine :0(
$2.00 gas

Seeing an entire classroom of excited children ready to name their new
pet fish - PRICELESS! (They named him Mr. Fred.)

I am still working on that extra closet. Less time on the computer more time getting stuff done.

I did not get a chance to go shopping at any place besides Fred Meyer for the battery organizer. Maybe next week or the week after!

So far I have organized the pictures on my computer. I need to get the old ones from my old computer and put them to disc so I can have access to them!

Christmas "album" is made.

Children's closets are now re-organized.

I went to a local craft fair and bought a few more Christmas presents there.


This week I am concentrating on ousting Freecycle, Craigslist and Goodwill items.

I am going to scrub the stair railing.

I am also going to finish up the computer files (music and pictures from old to new computer and reorganizing).

I reeeeeaally want to put up the new curtains. The old ones are so frumpy looking!

Menu Planning Monday 10-27-08

Monday: Artisanal Style Gourmet Mac and Cheese, broccoli with bacon bits, apple juice
Tuesday: "Mom's" Perfect Pork Chops, 4-bean salad, baked potatoes
Wednesday: Salmon With Basil Cream Sauce, spaghetti or acorn squash, melon and grape salad
Thursday: Chicken Divan, apple slices, chocolate milk
Friday: Ghoulish Delights, surprise dessert (will come up this Friday morning) :0)
Saturday: Dinner out with friends
Sunday: Crockpot Pumpkin Soup, easy dinner rolls, salad, juice

Edit: This is a menu plan. Sometimes I opt after all the dishes have been dirtied, the kids are wild and crazy and need to get out and I am just darn straight t-i-r-e-d to go to a fast food restaurant. I am trying to lessen those trips, though, and the menu plan helps for sure. I also can easily know what to buy at the grocery store and know ahead of time everything is in the cupboards and fridge/freezer ahead of time. Having a menu plan keeps me on my toes trying new things and in turn forcing the children to try different tastes as well. I tend to plan menus out about 3-4 weeks ahead of time so I can coordinate with my calendar if I need a crockpot meal on some super busy day. I hope this helps you in your meal ideas. Happy cooking!

Sunday Sampler 10-26-08

Since I was unable to attend church today due to a sick child, I decided to post an interesting idea which touched my heart and helped me to spiritually grow. I came across these videos which make me yearn to be closer to people around me. People who are my family, friends and neighbors but also people I never knew before. I love going to craft fairs where you can see peoples inspirational artwork. I went to a craft fair recently with my family and met up with some of the artists. I was intrigued by what influenced them and how they make "lovely things." It was refreshing to speak up and converse with them. I hope I made their day because they sure made mine. I am hoping to submit to this project which connects people from all over the world:

and the next video which explains what happened. (For some reason I had tears in my eyes. This video gives me comfort that people can work together for a cause to make lovely things and to be at peace with one another even if complete strangers.)

Enjoy! Here is her website if you are interested: whoisamy.wordpress.com

Family Friday 10-24-08

I forgot my Family Friday post!! Bad, bad girl I am. Here it is from the draft files of our blogger:

The sweet spirit our children bring into our home invites me to laugh, shake my head at times, and forces me to see things at a different level. Here is an example of the latter. The children have a camera of their own. Here are some of the pictures they took:

Little Princess a-d-o-r-e-s her pillow she calls affectionately, "Pico." It is her lovey. Yes, she is very sophisticated. When Little P was a new born, I would place this bolster pillow in her co-sleeper to give her comfort since she looked so tiny in that big bed all by herself. She started growing accustom to it and played with the fringes on the end of the pillow. She calls it a he and sucks her thumb whilst grabbing the fringes between her pointer and middle finger. She took this snapshot of him. He has a special place in her heart.

The older two love this youngest one. Unless he's knocking down their project. Or grabbing toys they are playing with. Or coming anywhere near their room when they are contently playing with stuff. No, really they love T-Bone regardless. I know this because I've seen him sit on their face with his little diaper butt and pull their hair and all they do is laugh. That's love. True love. Look at those little chubbies.

I can just imagine what's going through her head.

"You look darlink just maaahvelous..."

The other end.

Her kissy face. One eye open.

Look into my eye.....

What's the time? It's time to get ill.. What's the time? It's time to get ill!

Brandon looooooves to dance. He's got some skill in the break dance arena. Here he is busting a move. Everybody dance now. I'm just a squirrel trying to get a nut so move your butt (ooohhh I just said buuuutttt) to the dance floor. C'mon!! Don't you remember C + C Music Factory? Am I aging myself here folks? If you need to jog your memory:

Here is the YouTube

But B-man likes this video to the song better... (I think he imagines himself as the boy in the video):

YouTube Video Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) Bob Sinclair

And how could we not mention the song set to Sponge Bob? C'mon now folks this one rocks his little world two-fold! Now back to the original post topic.

B-man and his red-kneed tarantula. Don't worry folks - it is not real. See the shiny plastic butt? Oh ha, ha. I just said buuuuuutt (again)!

Later folks! We're here every Friday. Ba dum ching.

Pllllllllbbbbbb!

Hauntings at the Orpheum

Flagstaff, Arizona carries lots of history and odd yet interesting stories. Trees there smell like vanilla and it is located along the famous (get your kicks on) Route 66. The Grand Canyon is just minutes away and the natural sites around the city are fabulous. This story is not about the beautiful scenery nor is it about selling Flagstaff as a great vacation spot. This story is about spook and chills. It is about a building and its eeriness.

My good friend Jennifer worked at an old movie theater. We met while I attended Northern Arizona University. She would drive around town with huge movie reels sticking out the back seat of her white convertible VW Bug. I would sit on the reels to make sure they would not fly out the back of her car. She would transport the reels to her place of employment, the Orpheum Theater.

Photo Courtesy of Orpheumpresents.com

One fine autumn evening, Jennifer asked if I would like to watch the movie she had to work on that particular day. I cannot recall the movie – it is of little importance other than it had some suspenseful moments with tigers and heart racing music. Before showing me the tiger movie, she took me on a tour through the building. Jennifer showed me the booth she worked in and the back offices. The theater was empty except the two of us. She also showed me the doors one next to and one at the back of the theater screen. The theater had an underground tunnel that skirted under it as well as other buildings in the downtown area but the tunnel was closed off. It was closed because the tunnel was not secure and could collapse. Jennifer explained the tunnel was a place where many people experienced paranormal sightings. A man tired from building the tunnel told his partners to carry on and took a nap along its dirt path. He was never to be found again. It is reported Jack was sighted many times in the windows of those doors screaming for help decades after his disappearance. A filtered image of a little girl in a white pioneer dress could be seen on days it would snow hard. She could be heard singing hymns and seen circling around with her little porcelain doll all through the theater.

After learning the theaters history we grabbed a huge garbage bag of the leftover popcorn from earlier that night along with a big soda. It was 2 a.m. and the night sky pitch black. I sat alone in the seating area. Jennifer sat in the booth above winding a reel while I watched the movie. In a particular scene where the tigers were leaping out at people and with my heart already thumping… I saw a glimmer of white in the doors below. My heart flew out of my body - then back in again when I looked closer and saw the outline of a man in the window of the door to the tunnel. I sat in a silent shock with my eyes stuck wide open. I could not believe what I saw as the outline came closer and closer to me. The image disappeared for a few seconds then I heard thump, thump, thump then a loud shout of anger. I turned my head, screamed at the top of my lungs and threw the giant bag of popcorn up into the air. I covered my head as though I were experiencing an earthquake and trembled with popcorn raining all around.

An odd sound happened immediately after. I could hear shrieks of laughter. Curious, I peered up over my folded arms and saw a live person standing beside me. A few seconds later, my friend Jennifer showed up next to him laughing hysterically. Her boss showed up to check on something and discovered Jennifer had a guest. Instead of coming up politely to my seat and introducing himself, he decided to scare the insides out of me. It worked and I sighed with relief it was not Old Man Jack from the spooky story I heard an hour earlier. I tucked all my insides back in and greeted him with a proper handshake while I felt like slapping him upside the head.

A distant sound could be heard and we all stopped in silence. We could hear some sort of music. We walked out toward the front doors where we could see snow drifting outside through the windows. We heard the sound louder and stepped off toward the back offices. I stopped dead in my tracks then sighed a relief knowing this must be another trick up the bosses sleeve. Then I looked at the faces of my friend and her boss. They were stark white and shaking. I immediately realized this was for real - no spoof.

She was a beautiful little girl with dark brown ringlets under her white bonnet. She had a sad tone to her singing. She was gripping her knees sitting on the floor rocking back and forth. She sang I Need Thee Every Hour and played with the laces on her boots with one hand. She looked up suddenly with a startled expression then disappeared from our sight. We all grabbed each others hands and quickly gathered our belongings and picked up the popcorn as fast as we could. We looked around us every few minutes at any little tinkle or bump in the theater. Within 5 minutes we were done and out of the theater driving off into the dark of that snowy night. Forever the imprint will be on my mind of the Pioneer Princess sadly rocking in the old Orpheum theater.

This story is an entry to Hair Raising Ghost Story at Crash Test Dummy Diaries.

Thursday Three 10-23-08

To ease my addiction for bedspread shopping, I would like to post three bedspreads/duvet covers I love...just window shopping. :0) As you can see, I am always changing my mind as to what I want the ambiance in my bedroom to be like. Perhaps I should just buy four (one for each season) and then I would ease my addiction a bit. That would be quite an investment. My poor hubby... :0)


Number one is the Restoration Hardware Floral Jacquard Bedding (I like the thyme version):

Number two goes to this more modern Scandinavian Pottery Barn Serafina Floral duvet cover:

Number three is this fabulous Serena Paisley Bedding from Crate and Barrel:

Have a fabulous time window shopping!

Tackling it Tuesday 10-21-08

I am still working on the boxes. Unfortunately, my husband whom I rarely see these days needs to help me with the remaining boxes. That might need to be put off for a few weeks. He is venturing into finals week and I think I will let him do what he needs to do for now.

Tasks for this week:

Now that the extra closet is clean, organize it.

De-clutter the kids' closets and organize them.

Hook up the color printer and see if it operates.

Find a battery organizer. I hate that I can't tell if they are dead or not.

Figure out the remaining Christmas presents to get/make.

Buy a beta fish for Bman's classroom.

Organize pictures better from computer, copy to disc.

Download music to walkman.

Make some Christmas music files to listen to.

Wordless Wednesday 10-22-08

For instructions: Visit ThriftyFun

Menu Planning Monday

Monday: Apple Sausage Oven Pancake, omelets with green and red bell peppers, orange juice
Tuesday: Vietnamese-Spiced Pork Chops, rice, salad, apple juice
Wednesday: Rainbow Fried Rice (substituting chicken for meat), fruit mix, milk
Thursday: Flaky Garlic Toasted Spaghetti Cups, zucchini, pears, chocolate milk
Friday: Vegetable Dumplings in Easy Alphabet Soup, Bread Machine Rolls, Baked Apples
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew, salad, toasted buns

Sarah Palin on SNL

I had to post this. Sarah Palin was on Saturday Night Live this weekend. My favorite part was this little skit:





I got this from nbc.com where you can watch the rest of the show if you would like. I almost peed my pants I thought this particular part was hilarious! The moose was the tops!

Sunday Sampler 10-19-08

CHILDREN.

Today Little Princess and B-man were in a Primary Presentation at church. The children practice all year long for the event. During the program, a spiritual message is presented and the children talk about how they keep Christ's light in their life. The Pink Princess said, "I choose to be more like Jesus by helping my Mom and Dad!" B-man stated, "We are trying to be more like Jesus and live each day as if the Savior was standing beside us."

T-Bone bobbed his head to the music and conducted for the audience. Jesse spoke parts with his class since he teaches some of the older boys in our primary during Sunday School. The presentation was wonderful and I was happy to see my children actually SING during the presentation (for once). How awesome it is to see such little people bring such a big warm and fuzzy feeling to the audience.

Side note: I am sorry if my family is looking at this - I forgot completely to let you know about it. It happens once a year, though, and we would love to have you visit next year!

Family Friday 10-17-08

Car trips boring the family?

Here are some ideas I have found and come up with:

• ABC signs: Find the abc's along the way through signs.
• I Spy: Describe something you see and others try to find it.
• ABC license plates: Same as ABC signs but with license plates.

• Car trays (lap desks): http://www.angelinasuniquebabythings.com/taby_tray.htm or find a cheap one at any discount store like the ones shown at My Montessori Journey.

She also lists fabulous ideas such as:

• Road Trip Bingo or games from MomsMinivan
• Magnetic Boards
• Surprise tokens (Small gifts wrapped to give when things are tough or the child shows excellent behavior - whichever way you want to look at it :0))
• Color Wonders (mess free coloring)
• and making a large bucket of trail mix to scoop out of and dish out...fabulous idea and cheap!

• last but not least: Parent Friendly Kid Music!

Thursday Three

Three pair of heels I wouldn't mind squeezing my feet into:

I love the old fashioned appeal to these shoes. I think they would look spectacular with black tights and a cute little stretchy dress of some sort - just to make them a bit more modern.

Black Tie-Up Vintage Inspired Maryjane Pumps at Plasticland .

Oh La La. The shoe is sexy. It has nice lines, is in a soft velvety texture, and lest I forget they are crimson red. These would be for an anniversary dinner or an extra special event/date.

Stuart Weitzman - Stitch Up Scarlet Multi Suede at Jildor Shoes.

Just KIDDING! No way would you see me in these crazy things.

If you are truly interested, they are Irregular Choice Cherry Loves It (Andrea does not) at zappos.com

Here is the third (for real):

I love the modern look of these bootie heels. Don't read to hard into that.. I like the gray color and again would pair them with the same color in tights that have a slight pattern to them. I would match them with a knee length skirt or dress plain in color. Boy I can't wait to lose some weight and go outfit shopping for skinnier clothes. That will feel good!

Me Too Fremont at zappos.com.

Wordless Wednesday - Moose in our driveway! (Mama and baby)

Tackling It Tuesday 10/14/08

Just to make myself feel a bit better, I am posting pics of some things I have accomplished recently (can you tell I need a pat on the back):

I scrubbed the tubs

I scrubbed the fish tank

I bought flowers for the house (they usually last about 2 weeks). One for the dining table, and another bouquet for my bedroom. Don't mock my flower arranging skills. I am just happy to have them on the table!

Oh, and I bought 2 fall pillows for my house. I guess I should buy winter pillows since the snow is sticking to the ground already! Plllbbbb.

I did 5 loads of laundry, washed 3 loads of dishes, sewed my sons Halloween costume, worked out, made dinner and had guests over, cleaned both bathrooms, swept bare floors, and vacuumed carpeted floors (all in one day - yesterday....snore snore yep need some sleep). Lest you think - WOW she is dynamite (or maybe this is a usual day for you)... there is a reason so much work was to be done. The reason being I let the work sit undone for days before hand. Now to process my Flylady within me (helllooo helllooo are you in there?) and make sure I keep on top of these things before they all pile up into one day. Okay I am off to procrastinate again! Goodnight all.

Oh- yeah my list for the week:

File paperwork pile (and designate a paperwork spot).

Hem, mend and iron.

Hang pics, take family pics.

Go through 3 storage boxes.

Set up the start of our 72-hour kits.

Recycling to the center.

Clean off toys from back patio.

Get newsprint rolls from newspaper office.

Wrap Christmas gifts.

Work on other Christmas presents.

Hang other curtains.

Sunday Sampler 10/12/08

Putting more gusto into our relationship with the Lord. There is a message for you and me. Not that I am preaching to anyone... If anybody needs that message right now it is me. How oft do I become impatient, lose my temper, slack in doing something I should...and I know most women feel that way. I am blessed with many women in my life that uphold wonderful qualities I yearn for. But that is not what I think the Lord wants us to do - sit on our pitty-potty and worry about all the qualities we do not have within us. I think He wants us to magnify the wonderful qualities we do obtain and repent from the wrongs we have happened upon. He takes care of the rest. Truly. That is why He is named our Saviour. I am grateful for his sacrifice, suffering, and now eternal understanding in all that I am concerned with.

A scripture I am going to concentrate on:

(KJV)James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Here's to a peaceful home!

Silly Saturday 10/11/08

Offering Ramen to The Princess:

"Would you like pork or chicken Ramen?"
"I dunno which one is pork?"
"Pork is pig."
"I don't want pig noodles - mama do YOU eat PIG noodles?"
"I'll take chicken because it's made outta chicken, right?"

Apparently Little T loves piggin' out on pig noodles.....

Family Friday 10/10/08

I have some catching up to do:

Bman raced cross-country at a running "JAMBOREE" a short while ago and received a medal for his efforts (I am glad he is not the highly competitive type - he was so excited to get the medal but it was the same one everyone got :0)). Here is a picture of us at the Jamboree:

Frigid rain was falling from the skies and the trail was nothing but muck. It was our first time attending the annual event. We were late because we didn't realize how many people would be parked in the lot and that people were not clearly informed where to go...so while I found a spot with the littlest two to park, Jesse ran Bman to the proper tent to get his number bib then raced off with him as the gun shot for his race to start the same time they passed him his number. Jesse just came from work so he was in his work attire - work shoes and all. He was told to keep an eye on his child so he did what any honorable dad would do and just took off with him in the race. It was quite a site seeing Jesse run back with Bman in his work clothes with his leather jacket. Gotta love the man! The rest of us arrived just as the runners came across the finish line. Next year I will wear my running gear and go with them (the Princess wants to try running too)!

On to other family things:


At the end of September, we attended a fall harvest carnival which doubled as a birthday party for my nephew. Here are some of the pictures:

The Princess was not to be outdone. She knocked all the pins down with that lettuce ball in one fatal kick. That's ma grrrl.

These three cousins just have trouble written all over their faces:

I will have to explain the last picture above...he insisted on showing me how his eyes roll back into the back of his head. A skill I am sure his mother is thrilled about!

Isn't Grandma cute? Almost as cute as little T!

No, this isn't little T's mama - I am his mama but you would think he came from his auntie:

Isn't she perrrrty?

Hey - move your big red head out of the mountain view! :0)