TBell Amusement

I am probably sharing more of the conversation than I need to, but decided the actual exchange is better than me writing a story about it.

TBell (age 6): Mommy, can we go to Washington DC?

Me: Why?

TBell: Because I want to see all of the buildings and the White House

Paco: We'll take you when you are older, TBell, there's a lot of walking and you have to be into it.

Me: Your father is wrong! I went when I was in first grade just like you. I remember because I fell feeding the ducks and ripped my Jordache jeans.

TBell: You're wrong, Daddy!

Me: I would also like to take you to Williamsburg.

Tbell: What is that?

Me: It's a town that does things like they did in colonial days. You can see people make candles and horseshoes. They dress like people used to dress. You would really like it.

TBell: Is it old-fashioned?

Me: Yes

Tbell: Is it in black and white?

Glass Etching

Like I said before, glass etching sounds much more complicated than it actually is. Below is a list of what you need for your first project: Polka dot glasses

• etching cream - any craft store should have it


• glass (a set of glasses - tumblers or wine glasses, perhaps - from anywhere...even the dollar store)


• paper to cover your table


• rubber gloves


• q-tips (The name brand work best here...the cotton stays on better)
  
• paper reinforcers, those little round sticker that you use for loose leaf paper

Wash the glasses and dry them thoroughly. Spread the paper out to cover your table. Take each glass and arrange the stickers in a nice pattern. Once done with all of the glasses, put the rubber gloves on. Open the etching cream. Dip your q-tip into the cream and carefully put an ample amount of cream inside the circle of each sticker. You need to use enough that it covers the hole nicely, but not so much that it drips down. The cream will turn any piece of glass it touches, so be careful. After waiting 10-15 minutes, dip the glass into a warm bath and carefully wash off the stickers and cream. Dry the glasses again.

Polka dots were my first project and are by far the easiest. I have done initials and other things, but love the dots the most. You can buy stencils, as well, when you are ready to move on to bigger things.

Holiday Gift Giving

I really enjoy giving homemade gifts for Christmas. The gifts don't always turn out the way I had hoped, but the receiver is always happy and I admit that I can be a bit self-critical. In the spirit of the holidays, I have decided to give you some ideas for homemade gifts that you can in turn make and give to the people in your life. (By the way, if you are looking for some great canning/food item gifts to give, you should look to my sister here. I may add one or two food items, but not many.)

Things I have made in the in the past:

1. knit scarves (I am attempting to knit legwarmers this year - I will keep you posted on those results.)

2. stamped note cards

3. mixed cd with a hand-stamped cover (This was a favorite of mine - I found songs that my family listened to when I was young, many of which we hadn't heard in years, and made a mix. I also converted a homemade tape of my sisters and I as children singing various songs into a CD and burned it onto the mix.)

4. etched glasses (wine glasses as well as tumblers) - this one sounds much harder than it is. I will give instructions soon in a different post.

5. beer bread mix in a canning jar - I will also post instructions for this

6. homemade vanilla

I think there are many more things that I should have on this list, but I can't think at the moment. However, I encourage everyone to add at list one handmade gift to their list this year...it's so satisfying!

Fried Rice Update

I ended up making the fried rice tonight instead of yesterday. (See? I never end up doing things as I had planned. We didn't go out last night, though. Paco made pancakes because I had a meeting.) It was SO good! I heated some sesame oil in a pan and then added the chopped meat from Sunday. After that was heated through, I added the leftover carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower from Sunday's dinner as well as the cold brown rice I had pre-made. Once all of it was heated through, I just used a fried rice seasoning packet and some soy sauce. It was really, really good. I served it with frozen eggrolls. I know I could probably make those, too, but I have to draw the line somewhere for quick dinners. I used to make fried dumplings every Christmas Eve and serve an assortment of homemade and restaurant purchased Chinese food. But, Christmas Eve tradtitions continue to evolve and I don't do that anymore.

Planned Dining

I always have good intentions for weekly meal planning, but it just never works out. I very rarely end up making what I initially thought I would or Paco uses something I was counting on or I thaw the meat but we end up eating out. Today, however, I have a plan. I am making a beef roast, which I have never done before, for dinner this evening. It will be served with cheesy mashed potatoes, vegetables, gravy and biscuits. I am also making some brown rice to be cooled and placed in the fridge. Tomorrow, we will be having fried rice with sliced leftover meat from tonight's roast. I think I may buy some egg rolls to serve with the fried rice, but that assumes that I will make it to the store before then. Since I have already been to store once today I am not sure if I will have the energy or desire to go back.

It's On

It's Election Day. I am terrified. This is the first election that I have become so emotional that I am having a hard time keeping quiet. I typically don't like to talk about politics at work or in other "public" places because I am not going to change anybody's mind just by spouting off my beliefs. While this method has worked for many years, it is not effective this year. However, I don't know that it's just me - people on both sides seem to be more vocal this year.

Whatever your opinion, be sure to get out there and vote. It is our right!