Family Friday

Pug Break

aaaLucy before her surgery

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aaaRide home after surgery
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aaaAllergic reaction, poor girl!

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aaaThis evening

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Lucy has had a rough couple of weeks. I felt EXTREMELY guilty the day I brought her to the Vet's office, she wanted to sit in my lap with her head on my shoulder and she cried/whined the whole ride there. After 2 anxious hours I went back, even though they hadn't contacted me to pick her up yet, and I ended up waiting another 30 min. before she could go home due to an upset tummy. I noticed some allergic reaction spots on the way home but didn't really think too much about it. She spotted on and off for 3 days after her surgery, see 3rd pic. down, Vet said it was ok for Benadryl so treated with that for several days. Her spotting progressed to non-stop scratching and caused weeping sores on her head. This lead to a skin infection on her face and a round of ointment and antibiotics treatment which she is still on. I think that she is through the worst of it all, now just downhill til the stitches are removed and she will be 100% back to normal. I almost forgot to mention that she also had several teeth removed, she had multiple retained baby teeth, and she now has a bit more room in her mouth and her breath smells better too!

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Mt. Redoubt Volcano

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Last week we had a decent earthquake here in Alaska and now this week we have a new warning of a possible eruption of Mt. Redoubt's Volcano. Mt. Redoubt is located 100 miles south of Anchorage. Its most recent eruption was from 1989-1990 during a 4 month period of active eruptions that affected many Alaskan communities. For more info you can visit the Alaska Volcano Observatory, or Municipality of Anchorage Volcanic Ash Alert website.

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This weekend Kyle and I will be heading out to get some dust masks, air filters for the furnace, & get the air filters changed on the cars. Thankfully I have plenty of duct tape and painters plastic so I can cover over our fireplace opening and drape some plastic over the hood of the car to protect the motor from ash. There is not much I can do for the dogs having to go to the bathroom, we will have to make it quick trips outside and dust them off, and ourselves off, before coming into the house. Even with Volcano alerts being issued, no one knows if it will erupt or when, it is a waiting game to see what will happen.

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!!Earthquake!!

We had a pretty good earthquake rumble through our home this morning. Initial reports estimated it to be a magnitude 6.1, but was later reduced to a magnitude 5.7 earthquake. This has been the largest earthquake that we have felt since moving to Alaska in 2003. The epicenter was 128 miles south of Anchorage.
If you have never felt a large earthquake (over 5.0) it is a strange experience. The earthquake literally sounds like a freight train, yes earthquakes make noise and not from stuff rattling around but the actual ground moving makes an audible noise, and as it approaches your home it literally slams into your home and you can feel it roll from one side of your home to the other side. You can also see items move in your home as the earthquake rolls under the floor. We have been lucky to have nothing damaged from the earthquakes we've encountered. I'm sad to report that our beloved Pugs have yet to detect any oncoming earthquakes as some animals sense it coming and act oddly but not the case with the Pugs as they have even slept through them!
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**UPDATE** for more info regarding earthquakes in Alaska, visit the Alaska Earthquake Information Center.

Family Friday

For this weeks Family Friday, I would like to introduce you to my grandmothers.
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aaaGrandma Eleanor
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aaaGrandma Marie
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These stylish ladies are posing for there high school graduation pictures during the 1930's.
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Pug Break

My sweet happy Pugs love playing. One toy that Frank received for Christmas is something that they all want to chew/play with. That poor stuffed purple hippo has lost one leg and an eye. I am actually surprised that it has lasted this long. The previous year's stuffed Christmas toys were ripped into and losing stuffing within the same day. Guess I should stick to the hard toys.
p.s. The Pugs say HI!

Homemade Granola & Pasty Recipes

Wwwaaayyy better than store bought!

*Granola*
3 1/2 C Rolled Oats
2/3 C Almonds - slivered
2/3 C Pecans - chopped roughly
2/3 C Honey
2/3 C Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 C Vegetable Oil
1/3 C Coconut - flaked

Combine oats and nuts in large bowl. In medium sauce pot combine honey, brown sugar, vanilla, salt & oil. Heat until boiling, stir often, remove from heat and pour over oat mixture. Stir until well mixed. Spread out on 2 foil lined baking sheets. Bake 300 degrees, check after 8 minutes and stir mixture. Return to oven and stir every 3-4 minutes until golden. Once golden, stir in coconut and place in turned off oven for 1 minute. Remove from oven and let cool 1 hr. Place in airtight container until ready to enjoy.

This is a recipe I made for my morning granola, most recipes call for maple syrup but with some tinkering I made a recipe that works for my taste. My next batch is going to have an added 1/3 C raisins, 1/3 C dates, and increase oil to 1/3 C (oil is increased to compensate for the added dry ingredients).


*Pasty*
1 Lb Hamburger
4 Medium Potatoes
1/2 C Onion - diced
1 Tbsp. Salt
1 Tbsp. Pepper
Pie Crust (see below)

Clean & peel potatoes, grate them in a large bowl. Add in hamburger, onion, salt & pepper. Mix well. You will need to make some pie crust, I take the short cut method and use Krusteaz pie crust mix (shh, don't tell anyone!), you will need to make a double crust batch for this recipe. Roll out pie crust in approx. 5-6 in. circles, try to keep the crust thin as this is best for baking. Place 2/3 c hamburger mixture onto half of pie crust, fold over remaining pie crust and pinch ends to form a half moon pocket (think turnover). Poke tops with fork and rub on 1 Tbsp. of milk on each pasty. Place pasties on baking sheets, you will need 2 sheets, bake 375 Degrees for 1 hour. When done, serve hot with brown gravy poured on top. These are a home favorite, if you ever visit western Montana you are bound to find restaurants that have pasties on the menu. This recipe makes approximately 10 pasties. Enjoy!
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House plants gone wild!

Kyle and I are always looking for "hidden gems" in Anchorage for times when we want to get out and do something that doesn't cost money. Last spring we discovered the city greenhouses that have open areas for the public. You cannot go into the whole greenhouses as they are for growing plants for the city parks and such. They do have one area of tropical plants that you can walk through. The greenhouse is broke into two sections, one a more natural look with the plants directly planted into the ground and this area houses several Koi ponds and a bird enclosure. The other area is a typical greenhouse with tables filled with potted plants, but theses are gigantic house plants that they take care of, I guess that maybe they were donated when people moved? Lately, I have been wanting to get out of the house so we took a walk about at the greenhouse on Friday.
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aaaArriving at the greenhouse
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aaaLighted flowers along the path
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aaaCute little Koi fish
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aaaKyle checking out the birds

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aaaOne of the residents

aaaThe natural greenhouse. Those are all house plants, Kyle is 6'3" and they tower over him!

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aaaThe regular greenhouse, also filled with house plants

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aaaMassive house plant, not sure what it is

aaaAloe Vera runneth over!
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This is a neat place to visit, with the added benches, you could bring a book and hang out for a while.

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Family Friday

Here's my first post for Family Friday. Let me introduce you to my folks.

aaThomas

aaRita

Oh, so sweet, I love these pictures! My parents live in there hometown in beautiful Montana. These photos are of there high school graduation.

This is a fairly recent photo of my parents and I.

I hope you enjoyed my first Family Friday!

Wacky Weather

This last week has been crazy for our weather here in Anchorage! One week ago, just 7 days ago, we were at -19 F for daily high and down to -26 F at night. Now today we are currently sitting at 45 F. That's an approximate 70 degree difference! We have also had wind gusts 40-50 mph, with some parts of Anchorage reporting gusts of 90 mph! I awoke yesterday morning to rain coming down and the temp was 29 F. Today is even warmer and everything is turning to slush, and the wind gusts that started yesterday evening are still going strong. We normally wouldn't see temps in the 40's til April during our spring thaw. The city has cancelled school the last two days and the streets look like ice rinks. Another storm is expected to hit Friday with wind warnings from 6 am to 9 pm, and wind gusts in Anchorage to peak near 100 mph.

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It looks like our frigid temperatures headed south to the lower 48, so stay warm everyone!

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These pictures were taken 5 days ago on my deck.

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This is how my deck looks this afternoon.

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Impending surgery

Thursday will be a bit hectic in my home as 2 of my beloved Pugs will be having surgery.

My sweetie pie Frank will be getting fixed, this will help to avoid cancer and prostate problems. We debated about getting him fixed but it is in his best interest.

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My momma girl Lucy will be having two procedures done. She developed a cyst (see picture) on her hip last fall and it has been growing. Due to infection concerns it will be removed. She also has an abundance of teeth as quite a few of her baby teeth are still intact, she is 4, and we found that she has at least one really infected baby tooth that needs to be removed.

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Thankfully Kyle and I have a long weekend from work so we will have plenty of time to baby them.

Homemade Mexican Hot Chocolate

Growing up, my parents would occasionally take us to a local Mexican restaurant and my favorite thing on the menu was the hot chocolate. Making Mexican hot chocolate at home is very easy and always tastes better than the pre-made cocoa mixes.

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Items needed:

Milk

Mexican Chocolate

Whipped Cream (optional topping)

Cinnamon & Nutmeg (optional garnish)

Molinillo or Whisk

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I use Ibarra brand chocolate for my cocoa. It is made of chocolate, sugar, & cinnamon and super tasty! The chocolate is in little disks that are individually wrapped inside the box, the disks are marked for easy cutting and I typically use half a disk, 4 wedges, for a cup of cocoa.

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A Molinillo is a wooden whisk that is used for warm drinks. A co-worker was gracious enough to bring back two Molinillo's for me last time he went to visit family in Mexico. You can also purchase Molinillo's online, however a standard whisk would work just as well.

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Close up of a Molinillo. They are handmade in Mexico and each one is unique.
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Warm the milk in the microwave or on the stove top until hot, add in the chunks of cocoa. Whisk until smooth and frothy. You may have to heat up again after adding the chocolate to ensure that it dissolves completely.
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My cocoa topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon & nutmeg!

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Beautiful homemade butter

I am surprised that I have never made butter before, it is sooooo easy! I have seen several blog posts regarding making your own butter and when I had a half gallon of heavy cream about to expire, I figured that turning it into butter and buttermilk would be the best way to use it up.

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I used my professional grade Kitchen Aid mixer, I am sure you could use just about any kind of mixer but it may take longer/shorter times to separate the butter from the buttermilk. I used the medium speed on my mixer as I didn't know how long it would take or how strenuous the motor would have to work.

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aaaMixer and Heavy Cream ready to go

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aaaStarted at 2:25
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aaaNot much change at 2:30

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aaaStarts to thicken at 2:35

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aaaCreeping up the bowl at 2:40

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aaaWhipped cream at 2:45

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aaaStarts to separate at 2:50

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aaaLooks like whipped butter at 2:55, but where is the buttermilk?

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aaaButter and buttermilk start to separate at 3:00!
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aaaDraining off buttermilk and a final spin at 3:02

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aaaFinished products

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Approximately 4 cups butter, and 3 cups buttermilk. I did not add any salt to my finished butter, this way I have more control over the salt that is added to recipes. However, without the added salt, the butter is on the sweet side. I wrapped up the butter pats in little wax paper squares and saran wrap, they will keep for a while in the freezer. Now, why didn't I try this sooner?
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Greetings from the New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVERYONE!!!!

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I hope you enjoyed the last of 2008, I know I did as I was able to spend the time with my family. I can't believe 2009 is already here! I have some fun stuff to share with you as to the happenings in my home the last 2 weeks.

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Did you make a New Year's Resolution?

Every year I try to stick to my resolutions, some years are better than others. I’ve thought about what I want to accomplish in 2009 and I’ve decided on two resolutions. My first resolution is to live healthier, maybe I won’t accomplish losing that 30lbs excess weight (would be better for my already shot knees) but try to eat healthier. I’ve come to the conclusion that if it was something my grandmother would have eaten than it is ok for me too (think dairy and fruits and veggies, and no prepared items or tv dinner type products, although I’m not sure where I stand on the cereal issue).
My second resolution would be to be happier. I know it is simple, but I sometimes forget how blessed I am and that I have a great life, a loving husband, three furry dogs that love me with all there little hearts, a warm home, good food to eat, a reliable job, and good health.

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Here's to 2009, lets make the best of it!

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See you in the New Year!

I'll be spending the next 10 days with family and thus will be on a short break from blogging. I'll see you in the new year where there will be more to see and to share. Here is a final 2008 picture from my home.

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The holidays are a time to remember those gifts that matter most, the love of our family and of our friends. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone, and God Bless! See you in the new year :-)

What are we really buying?

Some things to think about during the gift giving time of year.
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DIAMONDSaaaWe've all been there at one time or another; buying beautiful diamond jewelry for our loved one or for ourselves. But what most people don't know is just where that diamond comes from.
Blood diamond facts aaa

• More than half the world's diamonds come from Africa.
• Conflict diamonds account for 4-15% of the world total.
• Conflict areas include Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, & Angola.
• 60-65% of the world's diamonds are purchased in the U.S.

When buying diamonds, ask the jeweler for a certificate of origin to determine where the diamond was mined. Several years back I visited a national jewelry chain, whom I will not name, and I requested to see a certificate of origin on a ring I was interested in. They quietly asked me to leave the store, this was after I was adamant on seeing the certification before making a purchase, and I have not been back. The reason for the uproar was most likely due to the fact that they did not have country of origin certifications for some or all of there diamonds. To read more about blood diamonds click here, here, & here. Conflict diamond videos here, & here.

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FURaaaI've never had a desire to own a fur coat. I thought that they were beautiful and soft, but had no idea how the fur was harvested. Not all fur harvested is done through cruel methods, but why take the chance. China has the worst harvest methods involving cats and dogs, many whom have collars and are obviously a loved pet, are shamelessly sold for there fur. It is not uncommon for animals to be alive during the harvesting process. Fur is often dyed and sold as faux fur when in fact it is real fur. After reading several articles involving fur, and checking my closets thoroughly, I'm happy to report that my household is fur free!

To read more about fur and what you can do click here, & here. Videos on fur trade here, & here.
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CHOCOLATEaaaI must apologize in advance for ruining any one's day. I myself am a chocoholic and after reading recent news, I will be looking at the labels closer before I make my chocolate purchases. The bulk of chocolate is grown & initially processed in Africa in poor conditions with some or all forced labor of children that have been sold to work.

For more info regarding safe chocolate brands read here. Videos regarding slave chocolate is here, & here.
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Holiday Scenes from my home

aaCome on in!
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aaReindeer guarding the fireplace
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aaMy favorite ornament
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aaKyle leaves me a message, what a sweet guy!
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