Scottish Highland Games

Nikki's trying out some kids activities at the Highland Games.

Archery

Caber Toss

Sheaf Toss

Haggis Hurl

Sugar's APPLE CRISP RECIPE

I helped Nikki picked out a book named Sugar's Yummy Fall from the Angle Cat Sugar series at her school Book Fair. The graphic is very "Asian looking" very Hello Kittish. Later we found out the character "Angle Cat" named "Sugar" in the book is created by Yuko Shimizu, the same Japanese lady who created "Hello Kitty".

Well, the book ended up to be a wonderful choice. It's in season, comes with scratch and sniff stickers and a yummy fall recipe in the back. Most of all, Nikki loves reading it and I get more dessert ideas from this book. 

Here is the list of ingredients I used: 

5 medium sized apples

2 table spoons white sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Topping:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup plain oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

6 tablespoons butter cut into pieces

Directions: 

1.Preheat oven to 375 deg. Butter 9x9 inch backing pan.

2.Cut apples into thin slices, 1/6 to 1/8 inches thick. 

3.Coat apple slices with white sugar and cinnamon. 

4.Mix flour, oats brown sugar, cinnamon and butter. 

5.Pour apples in buttered pan, sprinkle the topping mixture evenly over the apples. 

Bake for 35 minutes until the apples are soft and juices are bubbling, toppings is golden brown. I spent more time slicing the apples than baking the dish. This recipe is a keeper, can easily replace the Publix cobbler one since I can make my topping mix without buying the Publix brand. The two dishes taste similar. Oats add some textures to the dish, which we all enjoyed very much. 

Publix Season's Peak Fruit Cobbler

This one is the Apple Cobbler.
Makes 8-9 servings

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
1 2/3 cup cobbler mix (12oz)-bought from store bakery
3/4 cup of milk
3 cups of bite size apples (or any fruits in season)

Steps:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in a 9x9 square baking dish.
Combine cobbler mix with milk, mixing well; pour over melted butter.
Spoon fresh bite size fruit pieces over batter; do not stir. Bake 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.

Source: Printed on the label of Publix Fruit Cobbler Mix Packaging.

"Heart Venture" Stamp Collage

While cleaning and unpacking, I found a bag full of mails from my mom sent in 1998 while I was in Switzerland, all handwritten letters. The first thing I noticed was the stamp covered envelopes, making me wonder why the post office used so many stamps on each envelope left almost no place to write addresses. I have no interest in finding how much it cost to mail a letter from China in the '90s, probably not cheap. The letter themselves are priceless. I don't think my mom would ever communicate with me in this old fashion way again. Looking at the stamps, it reminded me I used to collect stamps as a kid. I still have my stamp album sitting on my bookshelf in Tianjin. It's been there for two decades, probably untouched, and I miss it! Here is what I do to used stamps before adding them to the collection.
First soaking the stamps to get them off paper. Then dry stamps on plastic place mat. Last, pressing flat by placing dried stamps in heavy books.
Instead letting these stamp covered mails sitting in a corner, I decide to display the stamps as art. To add varieties and interests to the display I used some colorful ones Bob's grandma saved for him, mostly from Canada and New Zealand in the 80s, of course no shortage of surprises, a couple from the CCCP.

I named this piece "Heart Venture".

Decals for Apple products

They both look nice, I would only purchase the colored one, since I know I can duplicate the "geek" Snow White myself. Like what I did with this. 

It's a wall shield by the front door. Nikki can choose one out of the two decals if she gets an ipod. Still waiting for the price cut on ipod 4. To ensure daddy buys one for her, I made a sign for Nikki and hoping she's well behaved from now on. The sign is another copy of the UO poster. Nikki can surely read every word on it! 

Mythological Creatures Poster

Trying to get the idea on how to transfer typewriter style font to my poster board. If I can't think of better ideas I will try to free hand the "facts" onto my UO reproduction.

I did the poster with Sharpie pen and acrylic paint on mat board. Well, there is whole world of Sharpie art out  there. Google for yourself.

Sharpie work on Ducati

Nikki's 1st Day of Kindergarten

First day of school, maybe I was more excited than Nikki. Nikki's slow on getting ready in the morning, so we got everything ready the night before. It's important to set up a good routine.  I surely enjoy walking her to school, what a great way to spend time with her.

Nikki's got assigned to one of the only two male teachers in her school. Kids met in cafeteria on the first day and parents had a small breakfast in the Media room. She had pizza for lunch. Classes let out by 3pm. That completed the first day of kindergarten.