4 months ago
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
I I I I'm Stayin' Alive
The weak ones have perished but a dozen feisty crawfish remain alive! Tomorrow will be the field trip to the creek for release. Paul is warming up to them and this year he is not constantly dumping shovels of sand into the pool - hooray! Giselle likes to fly them through the air, pull them apart when they are dead, and scream when they try to pinch her. Eh, she screams when ANYONE tries to pinch her.
Monday, February 26, 2007
crawfish in the pool
It's fresh crawfish season again in the South so that means that we once again have a kiddie pool full of 2 dozen live crawfish in the backyard.
So at this point most of you are saying "oh, they're going to have a boil. I wonder if I'll be invited." First off, 2 dozen crawfish would barely feed one full-sized male. Second, these crustaceans are in a pool filled with 3 inches of de-chlorinated water and several rock caves for them to hide in. Yes, these crawfish are not for eating they are for playing with and then releasing in our local creek in a few days. We'll do this every week during crawfish season and then eagerly await it's return next year. Last year when we were releasing one of our batches we caught some BABY crawfish in our net! They were about 3/4 of an inch long and clear. I just hope that there is still water in the creek for these guys to be released into! And before I get razzed for releasing them not in their native area - this creek is a toad/mosquito/dragonfly creek NOT a fish creek since it doesn't have a true origin other than water runoff from all the surrounding neighborhoods.
So at this point most of you are saying "oh, they're going to have a boil. I wonder if I'll be invited." First off, 2 dozen crawfish would barely feed one full-sized male. Second, these crustaceans are in a pool filled with 3 inches of de-chlorinated water and several rock caves for them to hide in. Yes, these crawfish are not for eating they are for playing with and then releasing in our local creek in a few days. We'll do this every week during crawfish season and then eagerly await it's return next year. Last year when we were releasing one of our batches we caught some BABY crawfish in our net! They were about 3/4 of an inch long and clear. I just hope that there is still water in the creek for these guys to be released into! And before I get razzed for releasing them not in their native area - this creek is a toad/mosquito/dragonfly creek NOT a fish creek since it doesn't have a true origin other than water runoff from all the surrounding neighborhoods.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Now you see it ...
Now you see it
and ......
now
......
you ........
.................. still see it!
For $1.3 million I hope that the City got a guarantee of completion from the demolition company!
for video of it see:
http://www.statesman.com/news/mplayer/m/9821 http://www.news8austin.com/shared/videolists/default.asp?VLID=21¤t=194
The alarm went off at an early 6 am. The kids complained until I reminded them what we were going to go see. We were out of the house by 6:20. We parked at 7th and Nueces. We watched from 6th and Nueces - right next to the Star Bar, KVUE tv van, and a police car. It was loud and it was cool to see in person. It would have been cooler if it had collapsed all the way. I'd do it again.
and ......
now
......you ........
.................. still see it!
For $1.3 million I hope that the City got a guarantee of completion from the demolition company!
for video of it see:
http://www.statesman.com/news/mplayer/m/9821 http://www.news8austin.com/shared/videolists/default.asp?VLID=21¤t=194
The alarm went off at an early 6 am. The kids complained until I reminded them what we were going to go see. We were out of the house by 6:20. We parked at 7th and Nueces. We watched from 6th and Nueces - right next to the Star Bar, KVUE tv van, and a police car. It was loud and it was cool to see in person. It would have been cooler if it had collapsed all the way. I'd do it again.
Sunday Seven #1
Seven things that I am thankful for in this past week ended 2/24/07
1 – The health of my children – Please send good thoughts towards a wonderful little girl named Maya (and her parents) who doesn’t deserve the health problems that have just been discovered.
2 – The company of old friends – The monthly Friday night dinners are so much fun, we always learn something new about each other even though we’ve all been friends for over 15 years.
3 – The company of new friends – Its amazing how quickly you can become great friends with someone when you share common goals.
4 – The new show on CBS called Rules of Engagement.
5 – The great weather that we have in Austin – Park Day is so much better when it’s over 60 degrees.
6 – Access to farm-raised organic food so that I can feed my family healthy meals.
7 – The trust and love of my fabulous husband.
1 – The health of my children – Please send good thoughts towards a wonderful little girl named Maya (and her parents) who doesn’t deserve the health problems that have just been discovered.
2 – The company of old friends – The monthly Friday night dinners are so much fun, we always learn something new about each other even though we’ve all been friends for over 15 years.
3 – The company of new friends – Its amazing how quickly you can become great friends with someone when you share common goals.
4 – The new show on CBS called Rules of Engagement.
5 – The great weather that we have in Austin – Park Day is so much better when it’s over 60 degrees.
6 – Access to farm-raised organic food so that I can feed my family healthy meals.
7 – The trust and love of my fabulous husband.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Dinner Out
Our afternoon playdate turned into dinner tonight - Marinated chicken tenders, whole wheat rotini pasta w/ Parmesan cheese, raw red bell peppers, cucumbers and carrots, and broiled pesto & cheese topped tomatoes. And a bottle of 1996 Montapulciano that I had been 'cellaring' in my closet for over 5 years. It was really good - smooth, cloudy, it looked like sherry or port - brownish purple, no bite and definitely not too old - plenty of flavor and no vinegar. The kids played some more after dinner so we didn't leave until 7:30.
Unfortunately we didn't get home from our Friday Dinner With Old Friends event last night (spaghetti w/ meatballs, raw veggies, warm wheat bread and birthday cake) until 10:45 and I'm still planning on going to the blow-up tomorrow am - we'll have to try really hard to make that.
Unfortunately we didn't get home from our Friday Dinner With Old Friends event last night (spaghetti w/ meatballs, raw veggies, warm wheat bread and birthday cake) until 10:45 and I'm still planning on going to the blow-up tomorrow am - we'll have to try really hard to make that.
Like I expected anything less than expert?
| You Scored 80% Correct |
 You are an 80s expert You never confuse New Order with the Pet Shop Boys You know which classical musician Falco rocked When it comes to 80s music, you Just Can't Get Enough! |
Friday, February 23, 2007
It's coming up next weekend!
Hopefully there will be wind this year, last year there was NO wind and the festival was REALLY boring. Zilker Kite Festival Home Page
Thursday, February 22, 2007
the Intel building coming down with no black helicopters involved
Here is a report on what it is and why it's coming down: News 8 Austin 24 Hour Local News Intel Implosion What happened with the Intel building?
The demolition is scheduled for this Sunday at 6:50 am. I think that this is something worth setting our alarm clock for. I know that News 8 will broadcast it over and over all day long but it will be cool to see it in person. We'll get home and Joe will ask how it went and I'll say "It blowed up real good!"
The demolition is scheduled for this Sunday at 6:50 am. I think that this is something worth setting our alarm clock for. I know that News 8 will broadcast it over and over all day long but it will be cool to see it in person. We'll get home and Joe will ask how it went and I'll say "It blowed up real good!"
Dove does it again
Dove� pro�age™ ads I'm amazed that some WOMEN find these ads offensive!
I stopped trying to keep up with younger women when I was 27 - we were hanging out at the lake with friends and their 21 year old ti**y dancer girlfriends. I remarked then that I was 27 years old and no longer cared about trying to look as 'hot' as someone almost 10 years younger than me. I was happily married and had no desire to waste my time competing with other women about looks. That's when I actually started telling people that I am 10 years older than I really am because at that time I looked great for 37 and now I look great for 51!
Way to go Dove!
I stopped trying to keep up with younger women when I was 27 - we were hanging out at the lake with friends and their 21 year old ti**y dancer girlfriends. I remarked then that I was 27 years old and no longer cared about trying to look as 'hot' as someone almost 10 years younger than me. I was happily married and had no desire to waste my time competing with other women about looks. That's when I actually started telling people that I am 10 years older than I really am because at that time I looked great for 37 and now I look great for 51!
Way to go Dove!
Thursday 13 #4
The First 13 States of the United States of America
1 – Delaware – December 7, 1787 – Once I got to go inside a giant cargo plane at the Dover Air Force base.
2 – Pennsylvania – December 12, 1787 – We went to the annual Pennsylvania Dutch festival in Kutztown every few years when I was growing up.
3 – New Jersey – December 18, 1787 – I rode the bus through here on the way to visit my grandparents.
4 – Georgia – January 2, 1788 – We visited my Uncle Ted in Atlanta on the way to Texas once.
5 – Connecticut – January 9, 1788
6 – Massachusetts – February 6, 1788 – My Uncle Dan was from Boston.
7 – Maryland – April 28, 1788 – My husband used to live here.
8 – South Carolina – May 23, 1788 – My dad is from Charleston.
9 – New Hampshire – June 21, 1788
10 – Virginia – June 25, 1788 – I used to live here.
11 – New York – July 26, 1788 – My grandparents lived in Little Russia in New York City.
12 – North Carolina - November 21, 1789 – My sister Cea lives in Durham.
13 – Rhode Island – May 29, 1790
Texas joined up on December 29, 1845 – I live in the Capitol city, Austin.
1 – Delaware – December 7, 1787 – Once I got to go inside a giant cargo plane at the Dover Air Force base.
2 – Pennsylvania – December 12, 1787 – We went to the annual Pennsylvania Dutch festival in Kutztown every few years when I was growing up.
3 – New Jersey – December 18, 1787 – I rode the bus through here on the way to visit my grandparents.
4 – Georgia – January 2, 1788 – We visited my Uncle Ted in Atlanta on the way to Texas once.
5 – Connecticut – January 9, 1788
6 – Massachusetts – February 6, 1788 – My Uncle Dan was from Boston.
7 – Maryland – April 28, 1788 – My husband used to live here.
8 – South Carolina – May 23, 1788 – My dad is from Charleston.
9 – New Hampshire – June 21, 1788
10 – Virginia – June 25, 1788 – I used to live here.
11 – New York – July 26, 1788 – My grandparents lived in Little Russia in New York City.
12 – North Carolina - November 21, 1789 – My sister Cea lives in Durham.
13 – Rhode Island – May 29, 1790
Texas joined up on December 29, 1845 – I live in the Capitol city, Austin.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Dilemma
Fish industry no longer relies on fish meal
So, do I only buy wild-caught seafood (what I currently do) which contributes to the over-fishing of our planet's waters or do I buy the farm-raised/less nutritious/genetically modified seafood that keeps our oceans and rivers from being over-fished?
So, do I only buy wild-caught seafood (what I currently do) which contributes to the over-fishing of our planet's waters or do I buy the farm-raised/less nutritious/genetically modified seafood that keeps our oceans and rivers from being over-fished?
home town business makes big(ger)
Whole Foods to acquire rival Wild Oats for $565 million - MarketWatch
I wonder if they will keep the Sun Harvest at Brodie Oaks open. WF doesn't have a presence in South Austin but the location IS just across the street from Central Market at Westgate. I'll still shop at Wheatsville.
I wonder if they will keep the Sun Harvest at Brodie Oaks open. WF doesn't have a presence in South Austin but the location IS just across the street from Central Market at Westgate. I'll still shop at Wheatsville.
Tonight's dinner
Baked whiting on a bed of spinach and rice Florentine
Take a 9x9 baking pan, cover with leftover spinach & rice Florentine, push 2 frozen whiting fillets into rice (do not cover them with the rice, just nestle them into it), place several tiny slices of butter on top of fish, cover the pan with foil and bake in (toaster) oven at 400 for 15 min. After 15 min, lift foil and LIGHTLY sprinkle the fish with Old Bay seasoning, replace foil and bake for an additional 5 min. Take off foil and bake for 5 min, then drizzle creamy salad dressing over the fish (we used 3 Cheese Ranch) and bake at 450 for a final 5 min. Plate it up with the fish laying on the bed of rice. Made fish for 2 and rice for 3. And the kids loved it!
Take a 9x9 baking pan, cover with leftover spinach & rice Florentine, push 2 frozen whiting fillets into rice (do not cover them with the rice, just nestle them into it), place several tiny slices of butter on top of fish, cover the pan with foil and bake in (toaster) oven at 400 for 15 min. After 15 min, lift foil and LIGHTLY sprinkle the fish with Old Bay seasoning, replace foil and bake for an additional 5 min. Take off foil and bake for 5 min, then drizzle creamy salad dressing over the fish (we used 3 Cheese Ranch) and bake at 450 for a final 5 min. Plate it up with the fish laying on the bed of rice. Made fish for 2 and rice for 3. And the kids loved it!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
2nd grader and fractions
I've seen my future - http://letsplaymath.wordpress.com/2007/02/20/a-mathematical-trauma/ - and it resembles my present. I think that I'll be well prepared.
1st grade TEACHER attacks 5th grade CHILDREN
This teacher needs to attend some stress management classes and more.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/02/16/teacher.attacks.ap/index.html
I sure am glad that this can't happen during OUR p.e. classes here at Casa De Galletti!
BTW, Giselle voluntarily washed the dog in the back yard during her morning recess today and afterwards she and Paul washed their own hair outside too. When it came to rinse time they regretted their decision but they also learned why the dog wasn't too happy about getting hosed down either. It was in the mid 70's but the water was COLD!
http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/02/16/teacher.attacks.ap/index.html
I sure am glad that this can't happen during OUR p.e. classes here at Casa De Galletti!
BTW, Giselle voluntarily washed the dog in the back yard during her morning recess today and afterwards she and Paul washed their own hair outside too. When it came to rinse time they regretted their decision but they also learned why the dog wasn't too happy about getting hosed down either. It was in the mid 70's but the water was COLD!
pork chops
Man, I forgot to take a picture of the finished pork chops! I seared them in in butter in the cast iron fryer and then cooked them on low until they were done (140 in the center). Then, while they rested on a plate, I sliced then cooked up some portobello mushrooms with more butter, garlic and oregano (of course salt & pepper) in the same frying pan. I Reduced it all down and served the mushrooms to the side of the pork with spinach Florentine rice (brown rice, spinach, butter, garlic, salt, Parmesan cheese) rounding it out. The kids and I split one chop and Joe had the other. The dog got the scraps and the bones are in the freezer for my next batch of split pea soup. The kids had apple-strawberry sauce for dessert and I totally cracked up while putting the jar back into the fridge as I remembered the Brady Bunch episode where Peter was walking around talking like Humphrey Bogart saying "Yep, that's what we're having for dinner. Pork chops and apple sauce." Ahh, childhood was grand - that episode originally aired in 1971.
He wasn't a king and he didn't live in Scotland
The Last King of Scotland
Not that I'll go see this in the movie theater but checking out the website for this movie and then clicking on the link for the interactive time-line is quite an education. I had heard the name Idi Amin when I was a kid but I never knew what he was all about. Now I know! This reminds me that I want to see that movie with Don Cheadle did about Rawanda, I guess I'll try to rent that soon.
These are just some of those things that you heard on the news or read in the paper when you were a kid (those of us over the age of 40) but it never really sunk in: the reality of what was going on in another part of the world at that very moment. It's kind of like how I felt about 10 years ago when I realized that the Vietnam War didn't end until 1975. We common people in America are so isolated from events in the rest of the world, we have so little sense of the Big Wide World picture. We only know what other people tell us - what we see on TV and what we read in print (newspapers, magazines, Internet).
I have no answer on this and don't know if I should be ashamed for not knowing or be happy that I don't know.
Even worse - when getting the link for Hotel Rwanda I saw that it just happened in 1994. What's my excuse for not knowing about this before the movie was made?
Not that I'll go see this in the movie theater but checking out the website for this movie and then clicking on the link for the interactive time-line is quite an education. I had heard the name Idi Amin when I was a kid but I never knew what he was all about. Now I know! This reminds me that I want to see that movie with Don Cheadle did about Rawanda, I guess I'll try to rent that soon.
These are just some of those things that you heard on the news or read in the paper when you were a kid (those of us over the age of 40) but it never really sunk in: the reality of what was going on in another part of the world at that very moment. It's kind of like how I felt about 10 years ago when I realized that the Vietnam War didn't end until 1975. We common people in America are so isolated from events in the rest of the world, we have so little sense of the Big Wide World picture. We only know what other people tell us - what we see on TV and what we read in print (newspapers, magazines, Internet).
I have no answer on this and don't know if I should be ashamed for not knowing or be happy that I don't know.
Even worse - when getting the link for Hotel Rwanda I saw that it just happened in 1994. What's my excuse for not knowing about this before the movie was made?
thumbs up to new blogger
As you can see, I played a tiny bit with the colors on the blog. I'm actually very happy with the orange so I didn't go making any crazy changes. I really like that I can do this in the New Blogger (no longer in beta) - I just made the switch to an updated template last night. I'm still not happy about IE not always recognizing me but I'm getting used to it. You can check out the new templates before you change - most of the old templates are available if that's the reason you haven't changed yet.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Pork Chops Soon!
They have been thawing since this time last night but they need another day to be all the way un-frozen. Tomorrow night it will be food of the gods - giant pork chops for us all! I was inspired to finally cook these behemoths after reading this post on www.ethicurean.com .
Now to come up with what to serve with it - carrots, beans, rice, potatoes, salad, I just don't know! Maybe Martha will help me out, she usually has good ideas.
Now to come up with what to serve with it - carrots, beans, rice, potatoes, salad, I just don't know! Maybe Martha will help me out, she usually has good ideas.
Last Night's Dinner
So I spent the last 2 days going through my Kraft Foods magazines culling out the recipes that I want to keep and recycling the rest of the magazine. While going through one issue I came across this recipe and, when we got home from Marie's, I made it for dinner:
Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese The picture is VERY enticing
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing (I used HEB brand)
1 lb. ground beef
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce ( I used a 32 oz jar of my homemade sauce)
1 can (14 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained (I omitted this)
2 Tbsp. PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese (I used garlic basil neufanchel cheese from Full Quiver Farms)
12 oz. spaghetti, uncooked (I used Bionature organic whole wheat)
1/4 cup KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese (I forgot to add this)
COOK onions in dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Increase heat to medium-high. Add meat; cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Stir in tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 15 min. Remove from heat. Stir in cream cheese until well blended.
MEANWHILE, cook pasta as directed on package.
SPOON sauce over pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. (I mixed the pasta into the sauce in the big pan so the finished product looked like the picture)
All 4 family members loved it!
Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese The picture is VERY enticing
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing (I used HEB brand)
1 lb. ground beef
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce ( I used a 32 oz jar of my homemade sauce)
1 can (14 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained (I omitted this)
2 Tbsp. PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese (I used garlic basil neufanchel cheese from Full Quiver Farms)
12 oz. spaghetti, uncooked (I used Bionature organic whole wheat)
1/4 cup KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese (I forgot to add this)
COOK onions in dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Increase heat to medium-high. Add meat; cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Stir in tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 15 min. Remove from heat. Stir in cream cheese until well blended.
MEANWHILE, cook pasta as directed on package.
SPOON sauce over pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. (I mixed the pasta into the sauce in the big pan so the finished product looked like the picture)
All 4 family members loved it!
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