Hill Country

Remember when I was researching this. Well funds from that expedition allowed us to have a very fun trip this weekend. Gary finished his marathon of two weeks of tests Thursday.

Friday, we headed up to Austin, and stopped at the Bluebell Ice Cream factory in Brenham for a tour and lots of ice cream. Lily really enjoyed that part.

When we were all stuffed full of ice cream we headed into Austin and camped here. It was a smaller park than I anticipated, but that means we got to see about everything we wanted to. We went swimming Friday in the waterfalls, which Lily badly needed. It was hot. There were lots of turtles, and I had to keep reminding myself that there are not alligators in Austin.

We camped in a primitive campsite, which means we had a to haul a lot of stuff about 100 yards, but it was right next to a river, very pretty. Friday night we went and looked at Gary's old home when he lived in Austin, which was quite close to our park. It was fun to see his old stomping ground, the high school he went to, and I think he was pretty excited about it. We came back to the camp and had delicious foil dinners, and Lily enjoyed staying up past dark.

Sleeping was kind of a disaster. We brought the pack' n play, but because L could see us, and she was not in a home, her orientation and mood were off. We finally evacuated her out of the campsite much to the satisfaction of our neighbors. Gary ended up driving around for a while until she was out cold. He brought her back to the tent, and we then we slept pretty peacefully, although I had to get up to go the bathroom once (which noone like to do camping) and it was a little cold.

The next morning we had nice hot showers and went into downtown Austin. We went to Zilker park, which is actually is gorgeous, and the weather was beautiful. Barton Springs is damned to form a giant swimming pool. We let L get out all her energy at the this giant playground, then we walked along the springs for a while. The area around Zilker park is set on rock cliffs overlooking the river. There are a lot of little outdoor restaurants and cantinas and we stopped for some breakfast burritos.

L was out at this point and to keep her out we decided to drive for a while. We went downtown and stopped at a farmer's market that was actually having a nice demonstration encouraging breast feeding and to support the local breast bank. I didn't even know there was such thing as a breast bank. I guess you learn something everyday. Lots of woman showed up to breastfeed at exactly 11 am, and Gary was fortunate to be there for the "unveiling". Kinda odd, but all a part of the experience.

We planned on going to the capitol and UT Austin and the LBJ library, but when we got downtown, we realized there was a football game that day, and the city was madness. There were tailgate parties everywhere. Who brings a big screen with them in the car to watch pregame? Crazy Longhorns. So we headed out of the city.

Our next stop allowed L to sleep along time, which was badly needed, considering the night before. But we ended up going here.


It is called Hamilton pool, and was absolutely gorgeous. The water was a unnatural jade, but it was very beautiful. We swam in the cold water, Lily wasn't happy about the temperature, but she did like playing in the waterfall, which surprisingly was very warm water.

Then we headed to the Salt Lick. Gary has been talking about this restaurant since I met him, and although in the middle of nowhere, it definitely was the best barbecue I have ever had. Just to give you an idea, at 3:40 the restaurant was packed. Everything was good. Their story was that a local man married a Japanese woman and started the Barbecue Restaurant. I think there is something to that Japanese influence. The sauce was the best sauce I have ever had, the meat was the best as well, and the sides weren't your ordinary sides. The cole slaw definitely had an Asian flare, (no mayonaise, yeah!) and the potato salad was also better than normal. The prices were very reasonable and we left with full stomachs and some take-out too.

Then we headed home. The weekend definitely boosted the family moral, which was good too. I think L needed a little parent time, and I definately needed some Gary time.

Birthday

My birthday was a hit. Despite having the hardest test of the 2 week period yesterday, Gary still managed breakfast in bed.

He earned extra brownie points and quite frankly almost made be cry with his present to me which apparently my family knew about, sneaky family..a trip to see my sister (who is moving to Japan shortly) next month.

The day was full of people making me feel loved, which is nice too.

The only down side was that I thought I deserved a nap (and L was wide awake, so I put on a movie). She woke me up and showed me what she had colored. Red marker on every piece of furniture I own including the couch and carpet. Now, I know this is mostly my fault for leaving a marker tempting in my piano stuff. Luckily it was a washable marker, and hot spot really works, but I am sure next time I need a nap she will have to go in the crib with some stories, and also markers have been banned from my house.

Later in the day my mom topped of Gary's gift with tickets to see Wicked when I am in L.A. with Shelley...a musical I have been dying to see. I play the music daily. In fact I told Gary last month that when we actually have money (10+ years) the first excursion I want is to see Wicked. He hinted this to my mom who generously obliged.

Last night was a wonderful dinner with just Gary and I at a local restaurant.. La Escondida. I actually didn't like my dinner at all but I really liked Gary's which was amazing steak, and he obligingly switched me.

I didn't think I liked steak anymore, and actually stopped buying it. I realized last night that it is the meat I buy (usually on sale) not steak itself. Every now and then I think I need some good red meat.

Overall a very nice day.

She is cuter than ever...

By popular demand...or grandma demand. Here she is....Her favorite song is "Six little ducks that I once knew..." She goes around the house quacking .
Here's the family. We are definitely sad about the pool closing in a week....especially Lily. I am afraid she will forget how to swim.

Scrimp or Splurge

This idea was taken from Leslie's post. I am gonna be honest, I grew up in a very privileged family, and although we were still frugal in my opinion, I never worried about money. And since money is tight during student/raising kids years, I also have money on my mind a lot. A lot of times I think people are ridiculous in how they spend their money, but I am sure people would look at me and think the same thing. So here goes:

Splurge:
1) I always have parmesan cheese in the fridge, usually I can get the Kroger or Walmart brand, but it is always in there.

2) Lawn product: Our lawn looked like a disaster pit when we moved in. After a whole summer of weeding (yes, the lawn) and transplanting grass after Gary sprayed some weed killer on it that killed a lot of it, we take pride in fertilizing, buying miracle grow. And believe me, miracle grow for your garden and your trees (our front tree grew at least a foot this summer) really works. As far as plants I have been dividing and transplanting plants around as well, and the front bed now looks really good in comparison to last summer.

3) Fun with friends- now this doesn't mean going out to lunch every week, but I don't hesitate to come if it costs (a reasonable amount obviously). I think it okay to buy my visiting teachers lunch every once in while, albeit we have to budget a little differently, but I never want my friends to think I am cheap at their expense. This also includes gifts, which right now is mostly baby gifts, but again, especially for a first child, people deserve something nice and new, which you can usually find on sale too.

4) Trips to see my family- my family covers a lot of these, but we have covered a few especially to see the sisters. I want my kids to know it is important to build relationships with family, even when they live far away, so the effort is worth it. And I always want my family to know they are welcome to come see me. I will make them dinner every night. Now having Shellza move to Japan will be a little tough...

5) Our computer- this one is not mine. As long as it has Internet it would be fine, but unfortunately this is Gary's hobby, so it is updated almost every month with some sort of thing so I would say it is a definite splurge. Definitely high speed Internet, but luckily we can write that off.

6) Toll-way- Gary takes it to school everyday, and I would rather have him home 40 minutes earlier, so we budgeted this in when we moved and we are using it. And it costs a lot.

Scrimp:

1) Phone: Anyone who knows me knows what a psycho phone I have, and why do you ask...it's free. Yes, Gary, computer junkie that he is maneuvered it so that it is free, albeit a little quirky at times, some of my friends can't call me. This is one thing I could live without, or shall I say splurge a little more on, but its Gary pet project, so I can't touch it.

2) Clothes: Luckily I have my mom and L's aunts and grandmas to bail us out on this one. I don't ever buy knew clothes...except for those 2 new shirts from Target 5 months ago. But my mom usually takes me on a shopping spree to fulfill that requirement when I come home. L gets all her clothes from my piano students or the neighbor or grandmas and they are cute so I don't think too much of it.

3) Toys- all L's toys are hand-me-downs or presents. I have never been a toy person, I kinda think little kids don't know the difference between the expensive-must-have toy and measuring cups...I am sure this will change as she asks for things, but I rather save up for activities and educational things (like preschool and soccer).

4) Furniture- most of our furniture is from Gary's aunt who passed away, all hand me down, but I have to say we splurged on our couches (which I saved up 3 years for) and our piano (which I love). So this is kinda half-way.

5) Activities for L- She has never been to gymboree or little gym, we did not hire baby proofers inc. to come baby proof our house. This has definitely been the hardest. I think she doesn't really know the difference between going to a playgroup and those activities, but she will soon enough. We have a little playgroup here of first time moms and they all signed up their kids for a gymboree music class. This has been the hardest. Now I think I could probably teach a better class, but it is still hard to be the one left out. I definitely think we will budget in for gymnastics, soccer, or swimming when that time comes, because L is so athletic. We'll let her pick, then it will be special.

We'll stop it at that otherwise I will start thinking I am doing without everything...but at least not parmesan cheese.

Look like me?

While I should be researching Native Hawaiians and cancer statistics...don't ask, I am tired of it... I instead am looking at blogs and decided this is the haircut I want:

compliments of J. Crew and this blog

So Katie, prepare for cutting my hair to this style come Christmastime. This should be your sole purpose, never mind general surgery rotations. Okay, maybe I will have to give this to a hair dresser.

There is something about long hair that I just like. Until a certain age that is, and I haven't reached that certain age and won't for a long time.

Cooking Fetish

Lately, I have had a fetish with cooking. I really like to eat really good food. And because of certain HDR (husband diet restriction) I have to be pretty healthy and very creative.

Rules with cooking:
1) I really like to make recipes really good which mean 10-12 times to perfect them (especially for baked goods
2) I utilize leftovers (because waste not want not)
3) I like to use things from my garden, which currently included chives, basil, beans, STRONG romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and green onions. (Just a side note, L and I planted the garden Friday with all sort of yummy fall produce aka. cilantro, squash, and sugarsnap peas. Now we just need a new tomato plant, zucchini plant, and acorn squash seeds, and we will be set.
4) I don't eat a lot of meat. I am not vegetarian, but I do like smaller meat portions the majority of the week.

Here are some things I made had recently:
1) Mushroom Pasta: with minor modification of losing the cheese, chicken, and half and half, and replacing with leftover roast beef and gravy with a little milk.

2) Won Ton Soup: Did you know won tons are pretty healthy and freeze really well. Good thing we have such a great chinese grocery store so close. For those who haven't been, warning there is a fish market in the back that smells like uh...fish. This recipe also utilized all the carrots left in my garden, romaine lettuce (which considering the variety I have taste a lot like bok choy)

3)Curried Squash Soup: Very gourmet, quite tasty, but a little thin (as you puree everything) However, L gobbled it up. Found some squash in the freezer.

4) Whole Wheat Sour Dough Pesto Pizza: I just found a recipe I actually liked for pesto to utilize the basil in my garden. I brought it to Gary's AMSA potluck last night, but sadly did not win the prize. I also put the basil on some leftover pasta for lunch. It was really good. Here is the pesto recipe from a friend:

Basil Pesto
1 cup basil
1-2 cloves garlic
2 T. pine nuts
dash salt
dash pepper

Blend the above in a food processor, adding olive oil until pesto consistency,

add 1/4 c shredded fresh parmesan, and 1-2 T. ricotta

cheese.

The cool thing is that you can freeze the pesto (before adding the cheese). We'll see if it tastes as good.


A project I am currently working on:

1) San Fransisco Sour dough bread: My good friend's husband who just moved to Utah, and is an avid experimental cook...gave me the starter. I have been working with it to get it to taste like the store.

I've tried a whole wheat sourdough recipe, which failed to rise after 15 hours, but tasted great, albeit dense. I did add a slightly larger amount of whole wheat flour than listed.

I've also tried a recipe that adds yeast. Actually I made rolls out of this which I took to relief society last week and were gobbled up, but still it didn't taste like sourdough. It did rise well, though.

This is currently sitting on my counter. Again it needs to rise 15 hours. We'll see if it works.

Any tried and true recipes for sourdough out there?

Language Test

Your Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English 20% Upper Midwestern 5% Dixie 5% Yankee 0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

I got this from Leslie's blog. The results are kinda interesting considering my background is Southern Indiana, and I have 0% Midwestern. However, my parents are not from there, so I suppose how I spoke was greatly influenced by them.