Snow!

It is still fall! Winter does not begin until 21 Dec. That's my story and I'm sticking to it....but today we got our first snow. Contrary to local opinion, it DID stick....Not a lot...but it's THERE....and I realize I'm just not ready for winter.....I will embrace it when I must...but it seriously hampers my lifestyle.

First snowman of the year

The kids, however, are ecstatic! "We have so many plans for this winter."  Here are a few of their plans...

Winter plans disguised as school work. LOL 

Snow wars and forts 

A snow song.....::snort:: 

Plans for a snow castle

I'm sad we didn't take the kids for photos in the colors yesterday....LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Happy Birthday, Michael!

Fifty-two years ago, today, Michael was born. Fifty years ago, today, my parents were married. This is  a red-letter day. Both momentous events in our family history.

We began the day by decorating and wrapping gifts while Michael slept in.  I also had a Skype with the PWOC Region's local presidents.

Michael got up, had breakfast, and we Skyped with my parents.

We headed for the beach.....We saw a lot of this.....

So close to a glass float...but alas...light bulbs of varying sizes! We did find some glass bottles and sea glass. I headed one way on the beach and thought I may have discovered an icthasaurus.....afterall, they DID find one in Japan. We had just studied it. Everyone finally convinced me it was a sea lion. Sad....but it was a hands on science lesson.

Michael chose Karinbas for lunch. We LOVE the Sweet and Sour Chicken and Cashew Chicken here....last time I ordered vegetables here there was a layer of ground pork with the veggies. Today, I found vegetable chop suey...It  was quite good once I convinced myself the eggplant was not squid.  I would really like to order some plain rice and veggies and mix it with the sauce from the cashew chicken or sweet and sour chicken...but all that "explaining" is too hard with the language barrier. ::snort:: 

We dropped the children off at home and Michael and I went out for a drive to explore some new areas.

Back at home we played Quelf! Some of us love it, some of us didn't like the randomness of the game....but it was fun to play together.

  I thought it was impossible to drink the way the card told Zander to drink...but he did. Here he is right before he realized the cup had created a suction on his chin. OUCH.

 Of course, everyone else had to see if THEY could come up with a way to drink from the far side of the cup without spilling the water....who knew?

Fun game - though a bit challenging for Zander, who doesn't understand humor real well. 

Stacia was SO EXCITED for presents! She could barely contain herself. 

I had asked the kids repeatedly, "Does that say Dad?" and so as he opened gifts she said, "It says DAD!"  She got him a chain to hang a garbage bag when you're traveling.

Zander got Michael a bomb (firecracker propelled) so he could deal with on the job stress. ::snort:: 

These totally cracked us up - and we'd not read the package until tonight. 

I picked up an ipad Mini in Nashville...and he was TOTALLY surprised. I was worried he'd seen the expense on the credit card...and prepared to just act like I was hiding something I'd bought myself if he quizzed me...but he didn't see the expense and was surprised. 

Arielle and Nolan made this yummy ice cream cake -  I DID have a small slice. This was my first really off the wagon splurge since August 1st.  I'm hoping it didn't reawake any monsters. LOL

Michael was able to connect with Mom G via skype tonight. All in all a very good day.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Fall Date

Michael and Nolan had a frustrating a.m. trying to get errands done on base. 

The rest of the kids and I finished up some birthday shopping for Michael. 

Michael and I ducked out this afternoon for a walk at Komaki Resort. Beautiful day for this. I think we'll go back and get some photos of the kids with the fall colors....maybe.

Chapel of Love through the trees

Yikes - no make up! LOL 

 

We found this funny. There were so many signs we'd have liked to have translated. Like the ones below.....

 This is the only sign which was translated. 

Can you see the English? "Fish"

We followed our walk by a stop to get another case of apples. Big, red, crisp ones this time which Michael says tastes like Macintosh Apples. We also picked up some leeks, cabbage and oranges. 

Home for pizza and we watched "The Court Jester." 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Snickerdoodle Blondies (Vegan)

Ingredients: 
1 1/2 c. gluten-free oat flour
1 c. white or brown rice flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 T. + 1 t. cinnamon, divided
2/3 c. vegan margarine (i.e. Earth Balance) or organic butter, melted (Used coconut oil)
1 1/2 c. + 1 T. rapadura (sugar) divided
1 c. milk of choice
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce (or sour cream)
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 c. vanilla baking chips

Note: you can substitute all-purpose and/or whole wheat pastry flour for the flours if you do not care to make this recipe gluten free. You may need to shorten your baking time slightly.

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease  a 9×13 inch pan.

In a large bowl, combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and 2 t. of cinnamon.

Cream together margarine or butter, 1 1/2 c. of sweetener of choice, milk, sour cream or applesauce and vanilla extract.

Slowly add dry ingrediants, mixing until incorporated. Fold in baking chips (I omitted).

Spread batter evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking pan.

In a small bowl, combine remaining 1 T. of sweetener and 2 t. of cinnamon. Sprinkle all over blondie batter.

Bake blondies for 30-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. I used oat flour and whole wheat flour and it took 30 min.  Allow blondies to cool in pan for at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

I found this receipe at Peas and Thank You and recommend you visit if you've not.

Mine is really dark as I didn't read the notes about cinnamon carefully enough. I will make this without the cinnamon as a  nice yellow cake.


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Don't Play With Your Food

Age old Mommy Wisdom, "Don't play with your food," goes out the window at Co-co's Curry House.  Stacia loves to order pancakes.... They come plain, with a scoop of ice cream and a tube of icing. 

Food Artistry is a serious business!

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Misawa Traffic Jam

This sort of traffic jam is quite common out here where we live.....I thought about grabbing lunch from the back of the ubiquitous little white truck. 

Tractor, followed by little white trucks

The speed limit here is 40 kmph - 24.85 mph.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Black Bean and Rice Stew

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup water (for sautéing)
1 large yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 ribs celery, diced
8 button or crimini mushrooms, chopped (used a small can I had)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1-1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon chili powder of your choice

3 cups water
3 cups diced tomatoes (or 2 15 oz cans - I used diced tomatoes with chilis)
2 cups cooked brown rice
3 cups cooked black beans (or 2 15-oz. cans, drained and rinsed)
1 large potato, cut into small cubes (I also threw in some sweet potatoes)

2 teaspoons fresh, minced oregano or ¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro or basil

Directions:

1. In a soup pot that is heated to medium-high, add onions and sauté them without water for a minute or two, keeping them moving with a wooden spoon (this draws out the natural sugars). Add a tablespoon of water now and then to avoid sticking and burning. Add the minced garlic and continue to sauté in the same manner for one minute.

2. Add to the pot: the celery, mushrooms, and herbs and spices (cumin, coriander, chili powder), and about ¼ cup of water, which will make the mixture more saucy. Sauté for another 2 minutes.

3. Add the 3 cups water, tomatoes, brown rice, beans, and potato. Cook at a low-medium boil for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Add in the fresh herb of your choice, and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and serve. Optional: garnish with fresh oregano (shown above) or some chopped cilantro or basil.

Makes 8 cups or 4 bowls. 

NOTES: This recipe is from Straight Up Food, and she has lots of notes you may want to read.   I think this made more for me than stated. Mine was spicy...but yummy. I added Tomatoes with Chilis and used spicy sweet potato fries chopped up (only way I have found sweet potatoes here).  I'll make this again.  

For more yummy eats click the recipe tab at the top of the blog. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...