LuoDai

This past Saturday we went to the newly built ancient town of Luo Dai. The weather was actually pretty nice, it was warm enough to be outside in light jackets, and the sun actually shined every so often. I'm not actually sure what it is you are supposed to see while you are there, but the town was nice. A paved pedestrian area lined with shops, snack places and restaraunts, sprinkled with a couple of old temples and gates. It was great scenery as well as excellent people watching. Chinese people seemed to either be getting rides in pedi cabs or these weird wheelbarrows with seats decorated with flowers and playing music. I know it sounds weird, but these things were all the rage. Way more popular than the traditional pedi cabs. It was also very popular for young ladies to dress up in 1980's style prom dresses and take a prom picture (I don't think they were taking prom pictures, but that's what it looked like). Since it was one of the first nice days we had it was pretty crowded. Babes, of course, was the center of a lot of attention. It always amuses me when people almost walk into one another because they can't stop staring at my beautiful daughter.

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

crafts, cars, and lunch

I finally finished one of the two baby sweaters I've been knitting for the little baby boom that has been going on in my world.  My brother and a good friend from college are both having babies this summer so I decided to knit them baby bear sweaters. It was just supposed to take two months, but I wanted them to look awesome AND I was super busy in the US so they bled into a third month.  They also required me to seam which I've never done on such a large project but I found an excellent online guide at Studio Knits.

From Blogger Pictures

Also yesterday I went to get an oil change, all by myself.  Now, you might be thinking to yourself "so what, getting an oil change is no big deal"  But you'd be wrong.  First of all, they are doing construction up and down the airport expressway so while the Toyota dealership is only 15 minutes away, it took me over 2 hours to find the place.  I could see it almost the whole time, but I could not for the life of me figure out how to get there.  I kept getting closer and further away, closer and further away.... When I finally did make it there it was during lunch time and all the front office people kept trying to get me to go get lunch.  But I told them, in my toddler Chinese, that it took me forever to find the place so I would just wait because I wasn't leaving.  Now onto the second problem....  How much do you know about what they are talking about when you get an oil change?  I know that there's a filter involved, and oil, but that's about it.  Now, imagine trying to conduct this business in a language you barely speak.  None of my Chinese involves anything to do with cars.  Basically I told them, Change Oil, and if they asked me anything, I said just Change Oil.  They tried to sell me the expensive oil (I think) and I said, no, just the common oil, and then they asked something else, and I said Change Oil.  I'm sure they thought I was none too bright.

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

On the bright side, they took pity on the poor lost foreigner and fed me lunch at the Toyota Employee cafeteria.  The food was pretty good.  It didn't look great (Chinese food served buffet style almost never does) but it tasted pretty yummy.  And they washed the car.  So I got the signature Toyota service oil change, lunch, and a car wash for about $50 US.  Not cheap, but I found it myself, got it done-in Chinese, and made it back in one piece.  All in all a successful trip!

Lemon Tea Bread Muffins

Just to keep posting. Here's some pics of muffins I made from the Lemon Tea Bread recipe in the Southern Living Cookbook. Very different from my usual muffins, but it has gotten me thinking.... Lemon leftover oatmeal muffins? While searching around I also came upon strawberry muffins... Lemon Strawberry Leftover oatmeal muffins? Stay tuned for more experimenting.

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

The only thing is I think I over mix my muffins. I rarely get the rounded top.... I'm going to have to do some research...

Pasta Pasta!

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

This week in an attempt to cure my doldrums on returning to post I decided to finally crack open the pasta making attachment I got for Christmas this year.  And I have to say WOO HOO for the proper equipment!  I made pasta by hand once a long long long long long time ago, but the resulting mess was horrible.  The noodles were thick and spongy and just generally unappetizing.   Plus it took FOREVER!  With that in mind I blocked off a huge chunk of time for pasta and sauce making, but swish swish!  I was done in half the time.  I LOVE MY KITCHENAID!  The pasta making attachment zipped the dough through in no time, and then lickety split cut up the pasta into thin noodles.  I am so excited!  We can have fresh pasta all the time!