Ordinary Life : ~k

Showing posts with label ~k. Show all posts

3D Hand Trace

A Pinterest-y Project

(That I think I can improve upon the next time I try it... if I should find myself suddenly in need of a striped 3D Hand picture... which is pretty much every day in my house..)

Football Season

Today marks the start of Football Season @ BrewCrew Headquarters. .

Specifically Carolina Football.

(some say that's the only kind there is, but I have noticed other fellas in different costumes also having these weekend pagents)

Okay, it never actually ends...we celebrate Carolina Football in Spring and Summer too.

(along with Carolina's Baseball, Basketball and Competitive Thumb Twirling if they had a team for that)

This time of year is also known to some of us as "Bring A Good Book" or "Get Stuff Done With The Comforting Sounds of Televised Football as Background Noise" or "Go Shopping" and occasionally "Roam the Stadium and Enjoy Concessions" Season. It is a time of year we all look forward to (for various reasons).

Okay...alright...those last few are mainly me.

I like football fine- I just think there is too much of it... I prefer to tune in around the fourth quarter (after getting a few chapters read, or errands run, or any other manner of productivity accomplished) to see how it all plays out. After all, knowing how a game ends is valuable information. It is generally useful as a litmus for the rest of my day/night or weekend.

If the team wins, I win.

When they lose, it is apparently all my fault. :)

Win or lose, there are some good things that come with football season.

Sometimes, the pre-game shows are really good. Especially @ Carolina. We have Hootie:

Cheering together for the same team promotes family unity. We stick together, no matter the weather.

Besides, no one really has a choice. Carolina is your birthright. If you are born into this nest, you pull for these birds. Even if this nest was located in Georgia or Kentucky when you joined it... you can like those teams 'to yourself' and only when they aren't playing the Gamecocks.

Sometimes, you rub shoulders with notable people, even if those folks are only notable in the world of football:

There's Tailgating

Trophies

And Road Trips

Team Spirit promotes creativity

There's plenty of people watching

And don't forget the pretty girls:

Best of all, football means Fall!

Pippi on Behaving

"I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL TIMES THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK I KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE, EVEN WHEN I'M TRYING AS HARD AS I CAN." ~pippi

*Let's Get Graphic: Coffee4Lunch Design*

Der Dutchman

We were recently in Sarasota for a Hurricane Tour event. Sadly there are very few photos. It was a busy weekend with unpredictable weather. Clay caddied for Chandler (too busy choosing and drying off clubs to snap pics) while I bustled the remaining children around the surrounding area (too busy climbing in and out of the car with 3 kids to snap pics)

As we explored, we discovered something pretty cool: Sarasota has an Amish population. A fact that we hadn't learned when we were in the area for our 14th Anniversary.

True to Florida style, they're their own kind of Amish. They use electricity and often opt for a bike or scooter instead of horse and buggy. Or, so we read.

We also spotted a size-able Mennonite population nearby.

THEREFORE

There are three of four Dutch inspired restaurants in the Sarasota area.

We chose Der Dutchman because it was still open when Saturday's round was over.

We intend to try the other places suggested by TripAdvisor on future trips.

It was excellent.

Der Dutchman also houses a large gift shop and bakery.

We were too busy eating the simple yet delicious buffet offerings to snap many pics, but as I passed the bakery counter on our way out, I remembered a recent text from my brother involving authentic Pennsylvania Dutch donuts and delicacies.

Only then, as we were leaving, did I think to snap some photos, the better to (eventually) lure him to Florida with. Think it'll work?

The Nude Beaches Of Nassau County

While pulled alongside a county vehicle recently, I discovered a lesser known area attraction: nude sunbathing, apparently.

Also, floating livestock & paper mills- but who doesn't have those?

Nassau County- Coffee4Lunch will donate services whenever you're ready.

Neighborly Ninjas

We have resident Fiddlers. They're like friendly little ninjas. Occasionally I will come home to a little ninja sitting on the front door thresh, waiting patiently to be let in. Other times I will walk out to find that one has been crushed by human foot, unaware.

On the day of the Great Ninja Occupation, both invading critters were trapped humanely and returned to the marsh's edge...after a bit of matching wits. Lil' guys are smart- and fast. I could see their little eyes watching me as I schemed to block or trap them- and in response they would flatten their little bodies and dart to the next corner/hiding spot within reach. This is when I realized I was dealing with ninjas.

The law of dominion eventually prevailed..let us *hope that it persist.

* I rarely 'conquer' a lower critter that I'm not reminded of a particular ALF episode: http://youtu.be/b5DWbVDzitw

Do Not Microwave

Do Not Microwave.

Not A Mere Suggestion (as Fisher learned while making Maruchan Cup O' Noodles for lunch) The whole house smells of burnt... days later. And inexplicably, I'm craving popcorn. (not burnt)

St Augustine Day

In July, we met up with my good childhood friend Jamie, in St. Augustine.

Jamie and I have been friends since we were in the 6th grade. Over the years we've drifted in and out of contact as life drifted us in various directions. Over the past year, we have been able to reconnect and introduce our children to one another. In a neat twist of events, her Liam and my Rye have become friends, too.

So I guess you could say it was a double play date :) We rode the Ripley's Red Trains and the carousel in Davenport Park (Say, do you know the difference between a carousel and a merry-go-round? We do.) And we rode out the rain in the nearby Dunkin Donuts. It was a really great day.

If you ever have an occasion to tour St. Augustine, take it. Learn stuff. It is a fascinating old city. I plan to go again sometime and pay closer attention to the details. And to take pictures. Again. Because the entire roll of our day together was lost to a corrupt SD card. (I've tried multiple recovery programs to no avail) It makes me heart sick to think about. I really love pictures. ( I think this is in large part because of my horrible memory... pictures help.) And I really love my friend. Glad she can't be erased by corruption. ::winky face::

Oddly enough, the last time we got together at the beach, I was so busy enjoying our visit that I didn't think to take pictures.

If I didn't know better, I'd think it was a cosmic conspiracy. Since I do know better, I know it's just sucky luck. (Filthy language, I know... but I didn't know a more fitting word...sorry)

Once Jamie & Liam got back on the road towards their location, my group made a pit stop at Gator Bob's and ended up waiting out more rain in their coin-op lobby. This five minutes was the only time I used my phone's camera. I had purposely used an actual camera for the day's visit so that I could take a lot of photos-(my phone had little space available at the time.) Figures, don't it?

ABC

From the drawing board to local print and koozies... one of my favorite parts.

Check out Amelia Boat Club online (and in person!)

Coffee4Lunch helped with the web site too.

Borrow a boat or a waverunner while you're there and be sure to compliment their new image. :)

Catching Up

Way, way behind on the photo journalism effort... apparently it's normal. We are currently reading through The Innocents Abroad (more on that at a later date). The sentiment expressed so long ago applies to both my ink & paper efforts and my virtual chronicles online:

At certain periods it becomes the dearest ambition of a man to keep a faithful record of his performances in a book; and he dashes at this work with an enthusiasm that imposes on him the notion that keeping a journal is the veriest pastime in the world, and the pleasantest. But if he only lives twenty-one days, he will find out that only those rare natures that are made up of pluck, endurance, devotion to duty for duty's sake, and invincible determination, may hope to venture upon so tremendous an enterprise as the keeping of a journal and not sustain a shameful defeat.

- The Innocents Abroad

Sesame Crunch Candy

Sesame Crunch Candy (I don't know if that is the official name) is one of my favorites.

In times past, I have had to locate a good health foods store in order to enjoy this treat. Every once in a while, I have been delighted to discover it in a specialty candy shop.

Then I stumbled on this recipe at Spoonful.com:

1 cup sesame seeds (about 6 ounces)
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons honey
-----------------
Generously coat two large sheets of waxed paper with cooking spray. In a medium skillet, toast the sesame seeds over medium-low heat, stirring often, until they're fragrant and golden, 5 to 7 minutes.

In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and honey. Cook over low heat, stirring often, until the sugar is melted and the mixture is thick, about 5 minutes (because melted sugar can get quite hot, this is a step best left to parents). Add the sesame seeds to the sugar and stir well with a wooden spoon.
Place one sheet of the waxed paper on a work surface, greased-side up. Scrape the mixture onto the paper and top it with the remaining sheet of waxed paper, greased-side down. Using a rolling pin, roll the mixture into a square about 1/4 inch thick (a great job for kids).
Remove the top sheet of paper and cut the candy into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife. Let the candy cool completely. Break apart the pieces and store them in an airtight container at room temperature until you're ready to package them. Makes about twenty-four 1-inch squares.