Chemistry "Lava Lamp"

She gathered the supplies and hoped this experiment would work better than the mento/coke thing did......

Everyone got involved

Then they went crazy with the alka-seltzer and food dye

It actually did work well - this is the best photo I got! Sort of a 70's lava lamp thing going on

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Hippie Loaf (Happy Herbivore)

This is YUMMY! It's from The Happy Herbivore Cookbook. I liked it enough to want to eat the leftovers rather than freeze them for future use. Arielle commented, "What makes it taste like meat?" so you know she liked it too. The rest of the family had Turkey Meatloaf. 

Serves 4 as written - I made 8 servings

Ingredients
1 15 oz can of black beans - drained and rinsed  (about 2 cups cooked if using dry beans)
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced (I always use more)
1 large carrot, grated
2 stalks of celery, grated
1 C coarsely chopped brown mushrooms (Crimini etc)
1 C cooked quinoa
1 T Italian seasoning
3 T flour (or brown rice flour for gluten free)
2 T soy sauce
2 T ketchup

Directions
Preheat oven to 350*.

Grease an 8 in loaf pan and set aside.

Mash beans in large bowl and combine all other ingredients.

Trust me it will taste good in the end - and since it was
raw I tasted it and nearly ate it all this way. 

Transfer to prepared pan and pat down firmly with a spatula.

Bake for 45 min - 1 hour, until firm and brown on the outside. 

Allow the loaf to cool and set up before serving, about 15 - 20 minutes. 

Nutritional info figured at 4 servings - about two slices or two of my little tarts.

Notes: When Dawn makes loaves she bakes them in muffin pans as she can eat a serving and freeze the rest since her daughter doesn't like lentil/bean loaves.  I wasn't sure I had enough to make 12 muffins (I think yes) and so I used 8 of these little tart pans. It worked well.  I baked about 45 minutes. 

I used sauce on a couple of them from the meatloaf recipe.  It was good - it was good without the sauce too - not sure which I liked best. 

I had a Quinoa incident - burned it black to the pan....I salvaged about 2/3 C and used some brown rice I had for the rest. I do think the Quinoa is one reason this looks and tastes like meat. LOL 

This was good. This is cholesterol free, nearly  fat free (not sure where the fat comes from), is loaded with fiber and protein and is delicious. A hit. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

So Cute

I still find little surprises quite often living in Japan. They think of EVERYTHING.....see the little pad of paper in my gum? The instructions show  it is for wrapping gum up to throw away! Perfect. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Chemistry?

School continues on as expected....though the ipad died in an exciting part of the Hobbit.... Arielle gave us our most excitement by inviting us to watch a chemistry experiment....

Confession: I was told to buy Diet Coke. The commissary only sells Diet Coke in 12 packs and  I didn't want 11 cans sitting around.....

We haven't been able to find it in the vending machines we've checked but it's fairly evident I'll have to bite the bullet and buy the 12 pack of Diet Coke. ::snort:: 

Ah well - it was a fun recess. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

New Holiday?

I understand Engrish signs off base...and frankly any Japanese first grader does better with our grammar than I do with theirs!  I do find it funny to find these signs ON BASE.  This one is just too good not to share! Sweet Potatoes from the states are a Thanksgiving treat - what a lovely sign to announce their arrival.   AND if, as many of you try to convince me, these are done on purpose - I don't like the new emphasis on thinking over thanking. LOL 

This was seen, still up way past Thinksgiving, in the produce section of the Misawa AB Commissary. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

SNOW DAY

I often forget American Holidays.  I found out late Saturday night that this was a "4 day weekend" - which for us means Sunday afternoon and Monday off. ::snort::  It was a pleasant surprise. 

My crazy family loves the cold. They love that tingling feeling just before their toes go numb...and they could think of no better way to spend the day than out in the snow.  I do remember having fun when we went cross country skiing at the ocean....so we headed for the base's golf course. Free skis....and we were the only ones on the course....it was beautiful. 

I love having young adults in the house! 

I missed my work out this morning. Michael assured me it wouldn't matter as I'd get a workout skiing...but I REMEMBERED the way I ski...not much of a workout...lots of falling and hefting back up.....I remembered the snow shoes the kids got me for my birthday when we lived in Anchorage. I should have remembered these much sooner.  Turns out I got a MUCH better workout than those skiing...no gliding. I'm hoping I can move in the a.m. to chase the PCOC preschoolers. ::snort::

I wanted a photo of everyone ready to go! 

Sort of a slow start

For both of them...Stacia was more concerned with the fashion of it all at the beginning. 

Everyone was doing great by the end of the day. I heard a couple comment we should do this more often - and I have a plan. Since I have to be in Tuesday mornings...and I CAN drive on base where the roads are plowed....why not bring everyone in, spend an hour or two skiing or sledding, buy groceries and errands and be ready to come home at the COB day.....not every Tuesday but once or twice a month? 

We were ready for lunch at Lakeville Grille and I enjoyed my veggie calzone - no cheese - VERY MUCH....the kids asked about sledding and so we took them to the sledding hill. We plan to rent some snowboards so they can teach themselves.....I think this would be deserted on a Tuesday afternoon. 

The kids were ready to call it a day. We dropped them off at home and Michael and I headed to the beach. How I love the beach. What a blessing to be living on an island nation. 

The ocean is fantastic in EVERY season! 

Sun sets behind the snow-covered sand dunes

The younger two are playing wii. Michael and the older two just finished a game of LIFE. I made green jello with gummy fish in it, and fishy index cards....prepping for PCOC in the morning.  I just heard I have a conference call at 11 p.m. tonight....soooo......

It was a wonderful MLK day. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Why I Don't Drive in the Winter

Michael has been telling me they are plowing more of the roads this year.  I was happy to hear they were plowing the roads out by us. I've shared how we often find cars stuck - dead in their tracks.

Yes, they started to plow the road....but evidently  the snow plow couldn't make it all the way through....and I'm content to stay home or let Michael drive.

This is the pretty little shed in the middle of the rice fields. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...