Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Misc. Christmas Activities

Hangin with the big guy.
Visiting Santa at NMU's holiday festivities. An annual tradition.


Lauren's Christmas program last night. Her hair was fabulous. She looked like a modern Shirley Temple.

Jon is the new family bumble. The tradition is passed on.


Friday, December 11, 2009

Christmas Baking

Jon busy brushing butter on the Christmas Pulla bread. Made with Finnish cardamom.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Sugar Loaf Mountain




It as so beautiful a few weeks ago that we decided to climb Sugar Loaf and enjoy the afternoon. We also periodically enjoy a good game of Scrabble.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Been busy this past month

1st day of school:

McCarty's Cove:

Strutt Your Mutt:

NMU Homecoming parade:
Lazy cats:
Salsas from the garden vegetables:

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Politics, ain't it funny?

I found this on a website and laughed so hard I almost wet myself. Really. I have voted Republican in the past and may again but really, this is funny.

Things Only a Republican Could Believe:

· Parents who don't want their children to pray in school are Anti-American zealots -- parents who don't want their children to listen to a speech by the President of the United States telling them to work hard and get good grades are noble patriots.

· Peacefully demonstrating against the country starting an international war is treason -- showing up with automatic weapons to protest healthcare reform is democracy at its finest.

· Any government official with a desk job should have every action scrutinized -- any government official with a badge and a gun should never be questioned or disrespected. At all. Ever.

· Questioning the legitimacy of an election because the "winner" was selected by the Supreme Court is sour grapes -- questioning the legitimacy of an election because the winner (by the largest number of votes in American history) is really a Kenyan born Muslim despite all evidence to the contrary is being a vigilant American.

· Lying about a blowjob is an impeachable offense -- lying about a war is no big deal, really.

· Investigating a shady land deal involving the First Lady is a matter of National Identity -- investigating the use of torture at the direction of the Executive Branch is a partisan witch hunt.

· Executing Japanese officers for waterboarding prisoners during WWII shows that we have the moral high-ground on human rights -- waterboarding prisoners of our own shows that we have the moral high-ground on human rights.

· Sitting two rows in front of Jane Fonda in a 1970 anti-war rally is an OUTRAGE! Shaking Saddam's hand in 1983...meh, not so much.

· Anyone who questions the president during a time of war is giving aide and comfort to the enemy and should be deported...unless the president in question has a (D) next to their name in which case you should undermine them at every turn even if you have to routinely make shit up to do it.

· Socialism, Marxism, Communism and Fascism are all interchangeable words that mean pretty much the same thing.

· Anyone who abuses drugs should be locked up indefinitely...unless they are a popular Republican radio host in which case they need your prayers as they recover from the illness of addiction.

· Health Insurance companies have your best interests in mind and anyone who thinks otherwise is trying to turn America into the Godless heathen nation of Sweden where EVERYONE in the country dies (eventually).

· Obama is an atheist communist muslim who attended a radical christian church.

· Believing that human activity could impact the global environment is crazy talk -- believing that an invisible man in the sky personally told George Bush to invade Iraq to fulfill Biblical prophecy is logically sound.

· The verdict is still out on evolution -- but Jesus Christ returning in our lifetimes is pretty much a given.

· The media are unquestionably biased against Republicans -- Talk Radio, The Washington Times, The Weekly Standard, The Wall Street Journal, Rightwing Blogs, Fox News and NewsCorp are not part of the media.

· The government should have no part in regulating multi-national corporations as they make decisions that impact the lives of millions of people -- government should regulate individuals by determining who they can marry, what kind of intercourse they can have, what they can smoke, how to manage their pregnancy and how to proceed with end of life decisions.

· Communicating with hostile nations is a stab in the back to our great nation -- Reagan communicating with the USSR during the Cold War was Political Genius.

· Iran is a mortal threat to our nation and anyone who attempts to talk to them is traitorous scum -- selling weapons to Iran and then funneling the money to start wars in South America is clearly in our National interest.

· George Bush kept the nation safe after 9-11 (NOTE: the Anthrax attacks, the DC Sniper and Hurricane Katrina don't count. Also, the fact that 9-11 happened on his watch despite receiving a security briefing specifically warning of the attack doesn't count either.)

· Social Security, Meidcare, public schooling, public libraries, fire departments, police departments and the US Military are as American as Apple Pie -- universal healthcare is ZOMGDEATHPANELSOCIALISM!!

· George W Bush is a regular 'ole Texas rancher just like you and me despite the fact that he was born in Connecticut, attended two Ivy League schools, bought the Crawford ranch just before running for president, sold it immediately after leaving office and is terrified of horses.

· The two guys at the center of the Watergate and Iran-Contra scandals are trustworthy voices in discussions of current national policy and should be taken at face-value.

Monday, August 24, 2009

It's Done.


I never thought this day would come. I never thought I would be happy about it. But I'm soooo glad we finally did it. She can finally wash and condition her own hair. Yippee!!!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Garden Goodness

Raspberry fruit smoothie.


I made the best green tomato salsa for dinner last night. The tomatos and chives were from the garden. The kids loved it.
3 green tomatos, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
chives, chopped
kosher salt
crushed black pepper
2 T oil
splash rice vinegar
splash hot sauce
Let sit on counter for about 30 min. before serving.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

First Harvest


The very first vine ripened tomato (not cherry).





US Naval Ship


A US Naval ship was in the lower harbor on Tuesday. We were too late for a tour, but it was fun to look at anyway. The kids were excited to spot the Finnish flag. Lauren used her new digital camera ($5.00 at a rummage sale).

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Blueberry Pancakes


These are whole wheat Blueberry Pancakes. Terrific. They come out better if you use half white/half wheat flour.

Making Wine

This is the progression of Choke Cherry Wine. Fresh from the bushes in the yard, crushed with sugar, water and other ingredients added. I will add yeast tomorrow and it will ferment for about a week.
This is a batch of Raspberry Wine I'm making. I've never made it before but I've had so many berries this year we'll never eat all that jam.