Just Keep Swimming

Why would I post a photo of a dirty dish? Because it used to contain my SOURDOUGH STARTER. I started dough proofing last night and fed the starter. THIS is what I found this a.m. Zander got up and thought it would be a great a.m. to make sourdough pancakes for his siblings. ::snort::  I'll google and make more starter - soon. 

I jumped on Skype for our regional prayer meeting - I was the lonely only. ::snort:: 

I went to bake for Saturday's tea (as I'm evidently driving 3 hours to rice fields tomorrow). I had CHEATED and bought sugar cookie dough - "someone" or "nobody" put them with all the other tea supplies....

I whipped up the dough for cupcakes and Arielle got them ready to bake! They look great. 

I looked up and realized I would be late to Bible study - decided I really can't get all done I need to today and go to Bible Study. Grace. 

The cupcakes were calling my name. I have two parties this weekend....I made Katie's One Minute Chocolate Cake . YUMM.  Though it wouldn't come out of the dish. Though it's "single serving," I ate 1/2 of it and left the other 1/2 for another time. 

Yes, I did make the Reeses Fudge Frosting too.  This little thing has gotten a work out the past two days. 

Arielle suggested she and the boys clean the house and work on other tea party projects while I take Stacia shopping. We went to the Y100 store to buy a few favors, decorations and parts to make a game.  We went to the BX to look at her newest-must-have-will-love-forever doll. She's saving up.  We went to the commissary to buy coconut milk and applesauce so I can try some more baking.  Stacia NEVER ONCE stopped talking. 

Back at home....the kids had CLEANED, had filled the pinata and assembled this little stand. These kids ROCK! We're going with a garden tea party theme....so the butterfly will be great. We're inviting all the neighborhood boys to join us for that...but the party is girls only. 

We had plenty of left-over for dinner....and then the girls and I got busy decorating desserts. Hopefully, I can get the rest done early Saturday a.m. Stacia is SO excited for this "Friends Tea Party." She's even practicing a speech about friendship and her guests. Note the bug, dirt, flower theme. 

I think these turned out darling! We couldn't find mint leaves or edible flowers...but this will work. 

Michael came in sometime in the midst of the baking/icing frenzy. He gave Arielle  a crash course on using the GPS and checked my directions for our adventure tomorrow. Praying we have no unexpected trauma adventures....honestly...3 hours out is a bit further than I usually venture alone,  because when you are lost in a foreign country you are truly lost. ::snort::  Michael then spent the night in our room working on something for work. 

I read a chapter to the kids...and now have a Skype ministry meeting - technology is amazing as we'll have women from all around the world on the line. 

It really wasn't a bad day - just keep swimming - and you'll be surprised where you'll end up. 

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

I THOUGHT I Knew What the Sign Meant!!!!

What do YOU think the above sign is attempting to communicate? WE did not take it to mean "no dogs," rather, "pick up after your dog." 

We worked HARD to finish school at at 3:00 p.m. we headed to the park for a quick breather. We were careful to keep Yuuki on the paths....and we DO pick up after her....ALWAYS. 

Arielle and Zander have been taking Yuuki on runs with them. She seems to have forgotten how to go on a nice polite walk. Arielle worked with her on "heeling". 

At this point, we saw a sign in Japanese and ENGLISH that said, "No Pets in Park."  The kids had worked hard today, I didn't want to rush home....I sent them to play on the playground and decided I would go back to the first sign - and walk around the parking lot until our time was up. This WAS keeping Yuuki out of the park in my mind....we were in the parking lot. I carried a bag of dog poop with me.....

This worked well for 20 minutes and then a man in a little white truck drove up to me and said, "Dame, Dame!" and pointed at Yuuki. I showed him the bag, and asked if I could stay in the parking lot with her - I wasn't going in the park. "Dame, Dame." 

I'm assuming that first sign means "NO Pets" and clueless Americans have been simply picking up after their dogs as I've often seen dogs at this park.  I was embarrassed. 

We stopped by the Produce Market and picked up some fresh corn, eggplant, spinach and beans. I'm really alarmed by the spinach situation in Misawa. The commissary ALWAYS carries bagged spinach but we haven't been able to get any for about a month. I hear we may not get any for quite some time.  Japan only carries things seasonal - lettuce and spinach simply aren't around for much of the year. I'm not sure what this means for green smoothies and fresh salads this winter. 

The kids enjoyed an hour playing in the neighborhood while I assembled dinner. I'd cooked the meat, sauce and pasta earlier. I sauteed portebello mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash, garlic and onions for MY lasagna...threw theirs together.... They loved theirs and I loved mine. I'm either learning how to do this vegan cooking thing or my standards have lowered. ::wink:: I heard nutritional yeast tastes like "cheese." I sprinkled some on top and it WAS good.  This little pan from MOPS is the perfect size for my meals. 

We cleaned up, read a couple of chapters from our Japanese Biography, and Michael walked in right as we prayed....not bad. LOL 

We're going to push hard again tomorrow.  The kids are determined we will drive up to the Rice Art fields again - even though Michael won't have the day off. I'm praying NOW that I don't get lost...or have any trouble....

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

School Snippet

"Would you be scolded if you put a rattlesnake on the stove?" 

"No, I'd be dead!" 

Yep.....

"Don't ever put a rattlesnake on the stove. Don't ever joke about rattlesnakes, Red." 

When obsessive memorizing of movie lines meet Explode the Code and Real Life reactions; another interesting day with Zander in the "classroom." 

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

YUMMY Vegan Dessert Site

I've discovered a new site. She asks you not post her recipes as she seems to be working up to a cookbook....and I want to honor that...so go check out Chocolate Covered Katie for "healthy," vegan DESSERT recipes.  Who would have GUESSED you can have really amazingly tasty VEGAN desserts.  My blog is my external hard drive, I have most our favorite recipes posted so I can cook while we're living in TLF's etc....but I'll write Katie's down and buy her cookbook when she gets it done - hopefully in a digital format. ::snort:: 

 In this particular recipe I changed 4 of the 5 ingredients....some out of necessity and  one by design. ::snort::... still, I'll play nice.  You know it cracked me up as I posted the title of this - I'm not sharing a KNOCK OFF recipe of a brand name? Go figure the ethics/copyright laws on THAT one.  Many of her recipes ARE originals and I do understand the need to balance, "Get your name known so you can publish," with "please don't take all my material before I publish and ask you to buy it." ::grin:: 

Oatmeal Craisin-Cashew "Lara Bar" - How cute does this look on my little Japanese Recycle plate?

Click here for Katie's original Oatmeal Raisin Walnut Lara Bars recipe.

No, I am not a Lara Bar lover....until this week. I bought some in Tokyo and they lasted from June - Sept 24th. We simply didn't like them, none of us. HOWEVER, as Michael says, "You know you've changed your eating when a Lara Bar is the height of decadence."  I tasted one a couple of days ago and LOVED it...sweet, chocolate, peanut buttery.....and so I went to order a slew of them for snacks on the go. 

I began to search for a vegan scone recipe yesterday and happened on this site....and saw the Lara Bars. I didn't think oatmeal/raisin would be very exciting...but I didn't have dates (they formerly terrified me) to make the Chocolate ones....I made this and will NOT be ordering Lara Bars. I know what is in these...cheaper, yummier! These are fantastic....and they aren't even the chocolate/peanut butter ones. Must got buy dates. 

Changes I made: Craisins as I didn't have raisins, cashews instead of walnuts, left out the salt as the cashews were salted, doubled the vanilla. I did use oats - but come to think of it - I didn't have "instant" and used my Bob's Red Mill Old fashioned. ::snort::  I'm telling you - these are good! Go make some. NO added sugar of any sort....none. Protein, healthy fat, fiber.... NOTE IT SAYS 6 TABLESPOONS OF OATS - NOT 6 CUPS...though I have lots of oat flour for using in other experiments now...

I may finally break down and buy the food processor Bosch attachment. This little (2 C) Cuisinart was working hard. 

I DID make a second bath...and all are now wrapped in the fridge. Yum - healthy and raw. I'll learn how to love being vegan.  

Stacia motivates me. She told me today, "Mom, I'd like you to be alive to play with my preschool children." OUCH -  Um.....me too, honey, me too! I can give up the cheeseburger (cholesterol, fat) - pains me to type THAT. 

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

Every Week - Monday!

Prepping for PCOC again.

Doubling up Science and Math in prep for tomorrow off.

Brisket baking for FIVE hours - the ultimate test for a new vegan. ::snort:: I made this as my "main dish" and a side dish for Michael (and the kids?).  I subbed leftover spicy lentils for black beans.

Via Whole Foods Markets

Unfortunately, dinner prep ran late....I ended up taking it and scarfing it down in the chapel kitchen. The older two eat dinners on Monday at the chapel.

Alas, I could find no one to go with me...but I headed for my favorite neighborhood onsen.  That will need to be a separate post. 

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

Almost Spectacular - Another G Team Adventure

Before I begin our sad saga....I must say I loved Michael's sermon this a.m. on I Peter 2:1-3. I believe the goal is to get through I Peter before we move to our next assignment. ::grin::

After church...well...it was Zander's day to pick our restaurant. We drove up to Lakeview Grill and it was CLOSED. We ate at the club.

Oh the unexpected adventures you have with a navigator such as I. I downloaded step by step directions from ITT to Inkadate...we wanted to see the Rice Art.... We discussed most mention going up the toll road...and these directions...took us OVER the mountains, around very windy roads....3 hours...and when we arrived...they had closed the observation tower 10 min earlier. That didn't deter us....we took some photos anyway....marked the coordinates on the GPS and may try again. This will be our last chance to do this before we leave Japan.  There WAS a very nice lady who tried in vain to get the guard to let us up. She knew how far we'd come...she kept saying "base, base."  The guard kept saying, "Dame, Dame, Dame."

I'm dreaming of how stunning this will be from ABOVE the fields...various kinds of rice to make designs....I'll share more about it when we get to go up the elevator.

Arielle climbed up on the top of the car and got the best vantage point of the day. 

More to come....we had noted a great playground on our way to the fields and went back there. Our plan was to check out the one field of rice art they had and then let the kids play before we headed home. 

You guessed it! They closed just before we got there...we got this shot from making Nolan balance on the top of a post....on his tip toes...while we held him and shouted encouragement. ::snort:: 

We got back to the playground to find it CLOSED too! Zander couldn't believe you can close a playground! LOL 

This zip line "thing" WAS open.....

VERY important for both parties to go the SAME way around the track

Always more fun when Dad gets involved

After playing, we found a vending machine with ice cream and treated the kids to their weekly ice cream ration. ::snort:: 

Poor Michael...I know he was exhausted. It rained all the way back...we took the toll road and it took 1 hour and 40 min to our door.  But it was about $27 in tolls - one way. 

We were told next Sunday will be the last day before the harvest the rice. Photos of the harvest may be fun too.  I've wanted to see this  for 3 years now.....I do think another try is in the future....this time we'll start early, take a picnic lunch and add another attraction or two to make the best use of the drive up. LOL 

Would you believe after 5 hours in the car to see something we couldn't really see....one of our children THANKED us for the day? These are good kids...not one complaint...

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

Tea Parties and Dishes

Remember the birthday party that wasn't? Stacia is ready to collect on the promise of a "New Friends" party. We're going to have a Garden Tea Party (without a garden) next Saturday. I didn't know this until this afternoon. ::snort::

We used our trip to Hard Off to purchase 8 little tea cups which we'll use for favors and give away to the guests.

Arielle made these cute invites! 

A small gathering

of old and new friends

to get reacquainted

and chat till no end!

Join us for a Garden Tea Party

Saturday, 29 September

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Stacia’s  House (W700 Y)

Plans are in full swing now!  I think it will be a fun party for Stacia. The focus will be all on friendship and not on birthday. 

While we were at the recycle shop (thrift store)...I picked up a few more Japanese dishes...because they make me smile....and I've become a tad bit Japanese in that I like lots of small pretty dishes at a meal....and since my portions are smaller...the new dinner plates will be a treat to use.  Arielle and I decided I needed to buy quite a bit as they are SURE to break and I won't be able to replace them from dishes purchased in Japan...and there needs to be a few to leave to the girls when I "pass on".  Did I mention they make me smile? 

 
How often will I be able to buy plates with this marking in Japan?

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