Happy Halloween

I love Halloween.  Even though this year is my son's first Halloween, he's too young to appreciate dressing up in a costume and trick-or-treating.  Even he can't eat all the goodies would've gotten had he trick-or-treated.  Oh well, there is always next year.

Hope you and yours have a safe and happy Halloween. :)

That Time Again

It's that time of the year again: planting garlic, tulips, and apple picking.  Today was such a productive day that I did all the above, with my son looking on.  (I had to keep a sharp eye on my little monkey because he kept putting leaves and dry grass into his mouth.)

Our autumn has been so nice and warm.  There's a crispness in the air, sometimes a strong chilly wind, but overall it's been warmer than usual.  I was afraid that this might be the last nice weekend to get any kind of gardening done, so today I was quite proactive in planting and picking.

It was hard work, considering how out of shape I am and the fact that I had to also keep my focus on Little One.  When it was all done, I was ready for a shower, and so was my son.  I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow, but it was well worth the effort.  I can't wait until spring, when the garlic shoots peep through the wet cold soil and the tulips are in bloom.

Were you productive today?

Foot Biter

About a month ago, my son discovered his feet.  Now that he can sit up by himself, he loves bending over and putting his mouth over his foot (as opposed to putting his foot in his mouth).  I'm still amazed at how flexible he is, especially considering how much of a chunky monkey he is. Sometimes, he would rather play with his feet than his toys.  I don't know why, but his feet seem to be a huge source of interest.  I guess, the best thing about him being so interested in his feet is that it provides him with loads of entertainment and it's free.

Everyday, I'm amazed at how fast he's growing and learning things.  I already can't believe how big he's gotten.  Before I know it, I'll be running after him and needing to potty train him.  I'm trying to enjoy every moment while i can.

Tuesday's Tune: Life Goes On

Can you believe that it has been twenty years since Tupac Shakur passed away?  He passed away on September 13, 1996, but still continues to impact the world.  This article talks about the ways that his legacy is still felt in the world.

Having grown up in an urban city, in California, in the 1990's, it was hard to ignore Tupac Shakur and his music.  It was an anthem to many many, regardless of race.  So, today, I wanted to share my favorite Tupac song.  I love this song too, but if I had to choose between the two, I'd choose "Life Goes On."

I don't even know if I can explain why this is my favorite Tupac song and even if I could, I think it's going to be a complicated explanation.  I guess the simplest explanation is that the lyrics mean a lot to me, especially since my brother's death.  The song reminds me to continue to live my life, continue to remember those who have passed, but to keep living life because it's short.

What do you think of this song?  What is your favorite Tupac song?

Tuesday's Tune: Lost Boy

When my sister was here visiting me in June, she said she had listened to this song before it went mainstream.  If you're interested in the updated "mainstream" version, go here.

My Mister Man doesn't like the song because he finds it so sad.  I don't entirely disagree with him. It's a sad song when one thinks about the literal language and the images it paints (e.g. "no place to call home," "soared above the town that never loved me").  Yet, from a broader perspective, I look at the song as someone learning to deal with loneliness, even if it means being a lost boy for a little bit.  Haven't we all been a little lonely and lost?  Sometimes it's during these lonely and lost moments that we discover our own strengths and find out that we weren't really lonely or lost.  Just a little sidetracked.

Let me know what you think of this song.

Cutie Pie!

Pickled Sport Peppers

Since moving to the Midwest, I learned about Chicago-style hot dogs and pickled sport peppers.  For the longest time, I've been wanting to pickle sport peppers, but couldn't find actual sport peppers.  So, I've opted to do the next best thing, which is just pickle any ole pepper in vinegar.  The peppers I chose to pickle are thinner than jalapenos and serrano peppers, but thicker than Thai chili peppers.  I find that small chili peppers, such as Thai birds-eye peppers, don't pickle well because they become even smaller during the pickling.

I found the following recipe from Liete's Culinaria and modified the pickling method.  I didn't want any sugary tang to the peppers, so I hope that this recipe creates a savory vinegary pepper that I can eat as a condiment.  Yum.

Pickled "Sport" Peppers
Recipe from Liete's Culinaria (method modified)

• 2 C mixed sport peppers or small, slender Thai chili peppers
• 1 quart (4 C) white vinegar
• 2 tsp salt

1.  Wash and trim off green stems.  Put peppers into clean sterilized glass mason jar(s).
2.  In a pan, mix vinegar with salt.  Bring vinegar to a boil.  Salt should be dissolved.
3.  Pour hot vinegar into the jar(s).
4.  Cover and put in the refrigerator, or seal jar(s) according to manufacturer's instruction.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Sick Baby

I've been so busy with work and my son that I've had little time to do anything else, which includes blogging, watching the Olympics, or anything that isn't mandatory. 

This weekend, I've been taking care of my son and nursing him back to health because he caught a cold or the flu from his cousin's home.  He had a really high fever and threw up a lot.  His appetite wasn't severely affected, but he was really lethargic.  He just wanted to be held and sleep.

Other than being sick from getting his immunizations, the only other time he became sick was when his cousin gave him pink eye at 2.5 months old.  Like most moms, I fretted over him and worried about his discomfort.  I only wanted him to get better.

Today, it appears that he's really a lot better.  He's smiling again, cooing, and moving around like a busy little bee.  The sun is out shining (it's been raining for the last two days) and I might take him on a walk.  He loves being outside and I can't wait to take him out.  

I know this won't be the end of him getting sick, nor the last time I will nurse him back to health.  I keep telling myself that each time he gets sick, he's only strengthening his immune system.  It's great to see my son happy and healthy again.

I hope all is well with you in your world.  Take care and good health to all.

Reminiscing About Clams

This morning I was reading this chef's post about eating seafood in Paris and I was reminded of my trip to Oregon two years ago.  It really made me miss my friend, especially eating local Oregonian clams.

Our first trip together in Oregon, after I landed, was to go to the Pacific Ocean.  On our way there, we stopped off at Spirit Mountain Casino.  Seriously, I would have never thought of going to a casino to eat and I admit that I have a bias against eating at restaurants in casinos, but there we were.  She said the sit-in restaurant served some of the best local clams.  I was very skeptical, but trusted her judgment.

So we found ourselves at Legends and ordered our own meals, along with a bowl of "steamers" to share.  I got myself a salad (I think I got a "Legendary Louie") and when the clams came out, I was no match for her.  She methodically  and quickly took each clam meat out of the shell and then ate all the meat at once.  I liked doing it the slow, old-fashioned way:  eating the clam meat from each shell, sucking on the shell, licking my fingers, then moving on to the next.  I appreciate the whole dining experience while she prefers to have the clams in her tummy!

We got crusty break to soak up the delicious clam broth, which I couldn't let go to waste.  I have to admit, the whole meal was really yummy (including my salad) and one of the best I had while visiting her.

If you're ever near the Legends at Spirit Mountain Casino in Oregon, check out their steamers.  Today, I'm just reminiscing about that simple meal and realizing how much I miss my friend.

Let me know if you've ever been to Legends and tried their clams.  Happy eating.

For Sale