October 2010

[Honeylioness]

04 October 2010[/u]


This past weekend the girls went with me to test drive yet another candidate for the position of my new vehicle. The difference this time is this one was a winner.

A 2004 Ford Escape being sold by an elderly man's son in law as he was no longer able to drive. At only $8,000 and 26,100 miles it is a cream puff. Monday afternoon when they came home the new car was outside and they both helped me vacuum and wipe down the new "toy" before we all drove over to my office where I introduced them to my co-workers and bosses.

It's a good thing I think that I bought the car as soon as I did - Thursday evening I am picking up a girl from Laconia, NH to spend the night then Friday morning we pick up a fourth girl from Weston, MA before heading out past Springfield to meet up with the tour bus that will be taking Ines and Siying to Niagara Falls for the long Columbus Day weekend.

[Honeylioness]

16 October 2010[/u]


Well, our second long trip/adventure in the new vehicle. After dropping by the bank and picking up Ruth and Theron we were headed off to OSV for the day.

www.osv.org/

I knew the girls were a bit unsure of what to expect when I told them it was like and "outdoor museum". But after a few minutes of skepticism they both got into the experience and enjoyed themselves and the property. They got to thresh grain, see animals working, tour houses and even dig up root vegetables from the garden.

At the end of the day we stopped by my Uncle Ken's home in Auburn. Earlier that morning his sister, my Aunt, Sharon passed away. Not only was I able to give him some family connection time but the girls were exposed to yet another variant of an American Family.

Ruth then took us to dinner at that great restaurant in Arlington where the sushi is amazing and both Ines and Siying indulged to the fullest.

[Honeylioness]

22 October 2010[/u]


I came home early last week with a surprise for both Ines and Siying. I told them I was taking out of school on Tuesday, November 2nd for an educational trip about our government. Their looks at first were rather wary as Ines asked tentatively just what did that mean. That's when I informed them I had purchased airline tickets and we were flying to Washington DC for the day.

Their reaction was at first non-belief, then concern about the ticket price ... but when I told them due to a great promotional deal with Jet Blue airlines I had acquired the tickets for $35 RT each way. Well, their reaction moved rapidly to giddy excitement and disbelief that we would be taking a REAL plane to DC.

Towards the end of last week and last weekend I became aware that Ines was not acting like herself. Some gentle prodding revealed that she was having a major attack of Home Sickness.

It's not uncommon that at about 6-8 weeks into the experience it hits the kids that this is for real and for a very long time. I encouraged her to talk to her parents about this during her Sunday video chat and while reluctant at first she did. It was very emotional on all sides, as is to be expected, however I think it did help overall.

As a result of Ine's feelings and the incident with Siying we all had a very quiet day at home on Sunday. Though Ines and I were able to spend some time alone while doing the grocery shopping.

[Honeylioness]

25 October 2010


A fairly quiet week here in Lowell - although this past weekend it was borderline insanity in our kitchen at home. My annual jam making, pumpkin processing bonanza.

So from Friday evening until Sunday evening the following went on at home:

* Pre-soaked sliced green tomatoes for chutney
* Went and picked out a large pumpkin for carving with Siying
* Picked out 9 sugar pumpkins for cooking
* Tried five different stores with Ines before finding the really small canning jars - or any jars for that matter
* Peeled, cored and chopped 10 pounds of green tomatoes, eight pounds of apples, peppers, onions and herbs for chutney
* Made and canned 13 jars of chutney
* Halved and scooped six sugar pumpkins. Roasted said pumpkins then scraped the shells clean.
* Pureed pumpkin flesh and set aside to drain
* Roasted saved pumpkin seeds
* Cooked down berries for jams:
* Six pints raspberry
* Seven pints blueberry
* Ten pints mixed berry (raspberry, blueberry, strawberry)
* Made a blueberry pie
* Then made dinner (buttermilk fried chicken, twice baked potatoes and green beans)
* AND had a home visit from our YFU Area Rep during the height of the nuttiness.

And I don't think we are done because even after adding more than enough (in my opinion) pectin my STUPID jams are runny!!!! I might have to re-do the whole batch of raspberry and blueberry.