Trick or Treat!

Easter bunny ears plus

Tinkerbell wing from Disneyland plus

 

Butterfly wing from a dollar store

=

Pink butterfly and blue dragonfly

Have a happy Halloween!

Kichen Remodel Update vol.11-Tiling the backsplash-

Okay, it's been a while since I updated our kitchen status.  A few weeks ago, we tiled the backsplash.  The tiles we used are the same ones from our upstairs bathroom floor.  It's Bisazza glass tiles.  I think it's around $20-30 per sheet of 12x12 in market, but we found a crate full of new boxes at ReStore for a dollar per sheet.  We scored!  Of course, we got a car trunk full of tiles.  Since these tiles are very delicate - sort of a see-through material - we used white thin-set mortar and unsanded grout.

 

T'dah~. My favorite moment.

Here is the finished half of our kitchen.  The drawer next to the dishwasher is on back-order and it won't be here until mid-October.  The dishwasher needs to be replaced soon, but I just don't have time to shop.

Oh, this is IKEA's TIDAHOLM cabinets (solid oak).  Guess what?!  After a couple of months of planning, the day we finally ordered these cabinets, they went discontinued......which that means, bad news is there is no warranty / replacement, but the good news is our kitchen price was slashed in less than half.  Since one door went down to $5 each (can you believe it?  I had to ask a few times if that was really happening to us), we purchased extra door and drawer fronts for future replacements. 

Why am I so busy?

いまだかつて経験したことのない忙しさと疲労感。学校の送り迎えだけで午前中は終わり、午後は子供達のけんかの仲裁をしながら、山積みの作業と家事。ブログの更新も滞っています。母は、カウチ2つ分のスリップカバー作りに追われ、家のリフォームに加えてミシンやらなにやら、まるで泥棒が入ったみたいな室内。ふうぅ。子供達はいたって元気。

I've never experienced this exhaustion and busyness.  Maybe that's not true.  Maybe I'm getting older and not able to handle so many things.  My morning ends with two trips to school, then a mountain full of household chores and some remodel work to fill my afternoon while I separate two monsters from fighting all the time.  My blog is at least two weeks behind.  My mom is sewing new slip covers like she became a sewing machine.  The house is a MESS!  It's like a hurricane just went through.  Huuuu.  How do kids have so much energy?

Apple cookies for an apple cider party.

 
My shortbread

8 TBS unsalted butter (room temperature)

1/2cup powdered sugar

11/3cup flour

1. Using a rubber spatula, mix butter and powdered sugar into a fluffy cream.
2. Sift flour into the butter mixture by dusting through a mesh colander or sifter.
3. Mix until they are together.
4. Dust the work surface, then roll out the dough to desired diameter.  Wrap in plastic.
5. Rest the dough in the freezer for at least one hour.
6. Cut them and bake in 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 min.

Royal Icing

1 tsp egg white (Pasteurized)

5 TBS powdered sugar

1 to 2 drips of water or lemon juice depending on the softness.

毎年恒例のアップルサイダーパーティー。ご近所さんが食べ物を持ち寄って集まるポットラックパーティー。今年はショートブレッドを焼いてみました。パウダーシュガーに転がして、ロイヤルアイシングでりんごを描いて、でっきあがりー。ドリンクはもちろん絞りたてのアップルサイダー。おちびちゃん達も手伝います。

The best day at the beach.

晴れ女の母が来たとたんに真夏日和。時差ぼけの母には申し訳ないけど、さっそく海に行きました。子供達は遊ぶ。遊ぶ。足がつりそうな程冷たいのに、ずいぶんと長い間波打ち際で遊んでた子供達とパパ。三人とも（んっ。二人は）冷たくないと言い張ってた。冷え性の私とは明らかに違うDNA。

残念なのはカメラ。お気づきの方もいらしゃるかと思いますが、春からずっと、撮影はアマリのカメラ。私たちが奮発して買ったカメラは、不良品であることが発覚。保障期間中だったので、某有名メーカーに送り返したところレンズに大きな傷がついた中古に交換され、またまた送り返したら今度はレンズの間に髪の毛が入り込んだぼろぼろの中古が届き、もめにもめた挙句やっと新品のものに交換してくれました。私達の中では会社そのもの、そして製品に対する信頼はなくなってしまったので、違うメーカーの物を物色中。こうしてる間にも、子供達はどんどん大きくなってしまうのになぁ。