Things I See From My Window

I think I have mentioned before that we live in Brooklyn's China Town. We are pretty much in the heart of it. We live on 8th avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The number eight is a very lucky number in Chinese culture which is a main reason why they came and settled/set up businesses on 8th ave. 

On almost every block there is at least one bakery and restaurant. Not to mention the tea and fish markets,  photo shops, unisex salons, and 99 cent stores. All at your fingertips. 

It's a pretty busy street and can be frustrating trying to make your way through all the people as you walk to the train. That is a whole other topic.

It also offers some entertaining viewing from our third floor window.

There are two restaurants across the street from our house. One of which used to be called 'Groovy Taste' but now is 'Oriental Garden'. I believe it is still owned by the same people but I'll tell you one thing- we went there once when it was still Groovy Taste.. and if by groovy it meant gross, then that would be more appropriate. Honestly, you would think that with all the Chinese restaurants in our neighborhood there would be one that we liked, but we would much rather go to the Panda Buffet at Texa-Tonka in St. Louis Park. We miss that place. If you are in the area you should stop by for some cream cheese won tons. I don't know what they put in them exactly, we think it's some sort of secret, addicting ingredient. They are to die for. 

The few restaurants that we would order from and like what we get, we still avoid. 8th avenue may be a lucky place to start a business, but it's pretty dirty. To be honest with you, I don't really trust most of the food around here. Not when places have been shut down for serving cat meat disguised as chicken. No joke. 

At least we know the pork is fresh. Real. Whatever.

Sometimes the pig van will be parked on the side of the road and you wont know that it's a pig van until as you are walking by you see the big white van doors open in the back revealing the floor of the van stacked with the little pink piggies. Or you'll be walking down the sidewalk and a flash of pink flesh will catch your eye. At first you think it's a man carrying a naked child until you do a double-take and see that it's just the delivery guy with a pig thrown over his shoulder. 

This kid was really interested in the pig delivery too. 

There they go. Down, down, down... 

Tomorrow they will be served as pork and rice. 

Secrets Are Fun

Last weekend I went on a secret trip...

Only a few people knew about it. That's why is was a secret. 

You see, last weekend I went home to MN to see my girls and have a secret girl's weekend at a secret location...

It was the perfect location for a girls weekend. 

There was reading, talking, Pride and Prejudice, knitting, laughing, cooking, NERTS, talking, walking, brunch at the Sawmill and oh yea.. laughing. It was so good to spend some time with my dearest friends. 

Thank you so much Ray and Jess for a perfect weekend together. I wish we could do it every weekend!

Another fun part of my secret trip was surprising my family. They had no idea I was coming! See? It really was a secret! I called my sister on Friday when I got into Minneapolis and from there we made a scheme to surprise our parents. I was really impressed with Betsy and how well she kept the secret. Good job Red! They were totally surprised and we had a really fun night together. I even taught them NERTS (thanks to Rachel). Jessica is right- it is the best card game ever. It will change your life. 

As usual I wished I could have had more time. Whenever we come home for a visit it never seems long enough. As much as we love living in New York and with all that the city has to offer, it doesn't have the people we love back home. We miss you guys! We are planning to come back to MN for a long visit sometime this summer. It will be busy and fun and not long enough but we are really excited to see the people we miss and also Minnesota in the summer! The last time we were home in nice weather was for my sister's high school graduation almost three years ago, otherwise we have only seen it covered in snow. I can't wait!

Spring Forward!

Spring is just around the corner and I can't wait! 

Even though we got over eight inches of snow dumped on us on Monday and New York City Public Schools closed for the first time in five years, today you would have never known it. The weather was sunny and a beautiful 62 degrees. Most of the snow from a few days ago is gone, feeling like a distant memory, with only a few patches of it here and there. We spent the afternoon at Prospect Park. It was perfect. 

We met our friends Ralphy and Sharon and walked around enjoying the warmth and the sounds of spring. Kids rolling by on bikes and scooters, moms pushing strollers, people playing football, soccer, and throwing frisbees, even two guys playing diggery doos on a hilltop. Don't you just love a day at the park??

Sharon and I found a bench to sit on and talk while the guys threw the football around. Afterwards we drove to Queens and ate at a Columbian restaurant. SO GOOD. Seriously, the beans and rice is amazing. If only they delivered to Brooklyn...

I realize that just because today was in the 60's that doesn't mean that it will continue to be nice warm weather. New York is expected to get rain tomorrow and as the week goes on the weather will be back in the 40's. Who knows what will happen between now and April. There could be more snow to come. But the days of 60 and 70 degree weather are fast approaching and so that is where my focus will be. I am looking forward to reading in the backyard, going to the Botanical Garden to see the Japanese Cherry Blossoms in May, more afternoons in the park, taking the sun, and eating at outdoor cafes. I am SO ready for spring and summer! What are you looking forward to about Spring?

Remember to Spring Forward and set your clocks ahead tonight! Hooray for longer days and more sun!

Like Owner Like Pet

Sometimes I leave the door open when I go to the bathroom. Especially if I am home alone. Don't pretend you don't do this too, I know you do. From the seat, with the door open, you can see our dining table. This is something that our cat is not allowed on- and he knows it- just like the kitchen counters, coffee table, and our bedroom when Chris is in there. While our cat may not like the majority of people who enter our house (he thinks he owns the place) he has learned that there are places he isn't supposed to be and it usually only takes a few loud claps of the hand and the words 'get down' firmly spoken and he'll jump off. 

Back track... when I was a little girl I was pretty well behaved, you can ask my mom. It usually only took 'the look' to remind me that I was out of line and I would snap back into the perfect curly haired little angel that I was. Except when I wanted to challenge my parents. My mom will tell you the story of the time she was on the phone (back in the day when phones had cords and you couldn't walk around your house freely while you talked) and I was in my high chair eating peas. Just out of my mom's reach. Somewhere in the course of my eating and her talking I decided that she wasn't paying attention to me and that I didn't want to put the peas in my mouth anymore- instead I wanted to stick them up my nose and she couldn't do anything about it. I think my mom saw me stick one up there but it was too late- I already had three peas wedged up my nose. 

Or the time when we were outside in the front yard and my parents were raking leaves. I think I was maybe four years old. There was a crack at the end of our driveway that separated the driveway from the street and my mom told me not to cross it or I would get a spanking. Really? A spanking? Just for crossing that little line? (You may see where this is going) Well, I looked at my mom from across the lawn, (I am sure she said something like- 'don't even think about it') and put my little foot right over that line. It was a test. I didn't pass. She brought be to the back yard and spanked my butt. 

Fast forward back to our Brooklyn apartment. The last couple of times I have gone to the bathroom (and yes, left the door open- no one was here! I promise!) Just as I sit down, who do you think decided that he'll test me? Our cat Dubbs. First, he jumps on the chair and looks at me- 'don't even think about it' I say. He stares at me a few second more and then puts his two front paws on table. "Nooo" I say in a low, firm voice. He totally ignores me and jumps right up on the table. I clap my hands- which in any other situation he would usually jump right down. But no, he just continues to check out what's on the table and walk around. Right in front of me!! The audacity! You see.. he knows I can't do anything. The little stinker. 

Thingamajig Revealed

Remember this thing? What IS it?? Well, to tell you the truth, I don't actually know what it's formal name is. I suppose you could call it a cookie stamp. Well, I guess it's more like an inverted cookie stamp.

Let me explain.. You see, the bottom of the stamp looks like this:

How cute is that little baby foot?? I'm not sure but it looks like it was made from a dark clay and then the top was painted and glazed. It's belongs to my mom and she has had it forever. She uses it for making cookies for baby showers, which is what I used it for too. You see, my very good friend Sharon is expecting a baby next month and we had her shower last weekend. I knew that I would want to make these cookies for it and a few months ago asked my mom if I could borrow this footprint stamp. She was a little hesitant to send it in the mail and risk it breaking (also, sometimes things vanish in the New York post office) so instead she brought it with to Maryland, incased in bubble-wrap of course, so I could take it home with me. THANKS MOM! 

I made a really easy Almond Cookie dough. Here's the recipe:

1 cup butter

2 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp almond extract

Cream the butter, sugar and almond extract. Add salt and flour.

Chill the dough. 

Form 1 inch balls and roll in sugar. 

Stamp with cookie stamp and bake at 350 degrees for about 12-15 min. 

The results:

This one looks like it's missing it's big toe...oops. 

That's much better. 

So there you have it folks! I know you were waiting in great anticipation to find out just what exactly that thing was and now you know. Oh, and by the way- you don't have to have a cookie stamp to make these delicious almond cookies. You can just use a fork dipped in sugar and press them down like you would a peanut butter cookie. You should try it! For real. 

HOLLA!

I know that in my last post I said that I would tell you what the object in the photo was, and I will, but seeing as how there was only one response I think I'll wait a few more days. I'm thinking that either you are all stumped and in a state of perplexity that you just have no idea as to what it is and will be posting your guesses soon, or maybe since I haven't been posting very much lately people have given up and are no longer checking to see if I have written anything.. don't give up on me!! If it's neither one of the first two, then maybe my (few) readers just really don't care. Which is fine because I am still going to tell you what is. 

Later. 

For now I would like to share a blessing I was bestowed with today. Something that makes me want to say HOLLA! It's good to give thanks and share the good things, whether small or great, that God does for us. So here's my story.

Thursdays my work is split up between the two schools I interpret at. I am at one school in the morning and another in the evenings. The school I work at Thursday nights is off today in remembrance of Lincoln's birthday. This is a nice thing in itself because it would mean that I had my afternoon and evening free. But wait, it gets better. 

I try to check my email every morning before leaving for work but honestly, sometimes I just don't get around to it. I'm not a morning person and if I can spend just three more minutes in bed then I will. I wasn't going to do it this morning but after finishing doing my hair and putting on my mascara something told me to quickly check it. Whew, am I glad that I did because there was an email from the student I interpret for saying that she wasn't coming to class! HOLLA! Not only did this mean that I had the whole day off, but it saved me from traveling almost an hour to the City to arrive at the school, wait the required 30 minutes for her not to show up, and then come all the way back home for nothing.. just because I wouldn't have checked my email! HOLLA!

And so I would now like to take a moment to thank God for prompting me to open up my hotmail account this morning, for giving me the whole day off. For making it possible for me to crawl back into bed and sleep for a little longer, spend some *quality time* with my husband this morning, and make french toast and scrambled eggs for breakfast. And finally, so that I could be sitting here at my cafe with my new 'list' book. HOLLA!

I promise that's the last time I'll say HOLLA! in this post. 

What is that?

Well, it's been a while since I have posted anything. Call it a lack of creativity, lack of motivation or just a lack of anything to say.. I don't know. But here I am- hoping to get back into the swing of things. 

Since my last post I have officially started back at work for the spring semester. For those of you who may not know- I am a Sign Language Interpreter and I work the majority of my hours between two colleges, one is City Tech which is here in Downtown Brooklyn, and the other is the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in the City. (NY lingo- 'The City" refers to Manhattan- although all five boroughs are part of New York City we don't say 'I am going to Manhattan tonight to meet some friends', instead you would say 'I'm going to the City...') I have really enjoyed working in education because when the students don't have to go to class either do I!

Since the start of the semester on Jan. 26th, I have already had to take a sick day and just as I was getting better; Chris got the flu. Although, I can confidently say that he didn't get it from me. Chris, aside from being the youth pastor, works at our church's after school program called SAY-YES and he is pretty sure he caught it from a little girl (the cutest little girl I might add- seriously, I want to take her home with me. I'm sure her parents wouldn't mind...) who comes to the program. My poor husband had it much worse than I did and I am happy that he is feeling better now. And it's a good think too, because he has about 6 high schoolers coming over to the church tonight to skateboard with. He's so cool. 

With the start of a new semester of course comes a busy schedule again but I am happy to be back into a routine. I would much rather be busy than idle. And regardless of the fact that my Tuesdays and Thursdays start with my first class 9am and go until about 9pm.. I think I am actually going to enjoy it.. why you may ask? Well, in the middle of the day I have a few hours between my last class at FIT and my first class at City Tech which means that I can sit at one of my favorite cafes downtown with a book and a chai latte. This is going to be crucial to my stress level and my sanity, and for that I am thankful. 

Some of you might be wondering what the photo at the top has to do with this post.. well, it doesn't. But it does have something to do with what I did this past Saturday. Can anybody (besides my mom*) guess what it is?? Here, I'll give you a few more shots..

Answer to come...