Too squemish

So on Sunday we were heading into Brad and Abby's building and I saw this guy carrying way too many boxes than he could handle. Without thinking I just kinda picked up two of them and helped him carry them to the elevator. It wasn't out of the way at all and being a mother of two toddlers I know the feeling of having more than you can handle.

I didn't think much about it, just felt like anything a thinking person would do but as he exited the elevator he handed one box back explaining it was too much for his family to eat. Well before we could really protest we were heading up in the elevator again. I had seen crabs on the box, and it was quite heavy but I still doubted the contents. But upon arriving at Abby's we discovered that in fact it was a box of live hairy crabs. They were tied up but you could still see other parts moving.

Actually I didn't look in myself but I heard the others describing them. I was thinking, cool, I am up for trying it. How hard could it be, right? Oh man, was I wrong. Looking up on line I learned it is better for taste and humane purposes to kill the crabs before boiling but it wasn't an easy process. Here is part of the description:

 Killing a Crab is very easy, first turn it onto it's back with it's legs upward. Underneath towards the back of the shell you will see a small pointed flap, lift this flap and you will find a small hole in the shell. Using a small screwdriver pierce down through this hole, with a sharp tap on the top of the screwdriver, until you feel it hit the other side of the shell. Move the handle of the screwdriver sharply towards the back of the shell then withdraw it. Finally turn the Crab right side up and allow it to drain.

That still gives me the shivers reading it!

Funny how we have come so far from really preparing meat that I forget there are 'other' parts you need to remove. At least I have. I get grossed out enough cutting up the raw meat that sometimes I can understand some reasoning behind becoming vegetarian. (Of course then I eat it and realize its not the lifestyle for me, I like meat!) But removing the 'other' parts was just too much. Even for seafood.

Some friends informed us that seeing how they are in season we should be able to bring them to most restaurants and they would prepare them for us. Can you imagine going into the Roadhouse with your own steak? Anyway, I still wasn't that into it. And then I looked into the box for myself and they just creeped me out. It was over! So thankfully our helper who comes once a week was happy to take them. A great solution for all. She gets to enjoy a local delicacy and I don't have to worry about wasting.

And yesterday I was reminded that no, my simple act of kindness is not such a thing here. I was pushing a stroller and pulling a bike up a ramp, simultaneously while three men looked on, no one moving a finger. Well, perhaps I can change the norm, one box of crabs at a time. =)

 Found this picture on the internet, I just couldn't bring myself to open the box again, even for a picture!

A chilly yet sunny day

The fall weather is here today. The sky is super blue and its so bright but chilly. I will miss the warmer temps but this can be enjoyable too. Good thing I am starting a good collection of scarves. My favs lately are the long, thin ones that you can wear a ton of ways. I have so many plain colored shirts its fun to have a great way to add some interest.

We had a good weekend. Don't really trick or treat over here. I was remembering when some friends went out many years ago for fun and were offered cigarettes. Lovely. However this year I noticed a lot of people kind of celebrating. The preschool next door definitely had some sort of activity going on with paper jack-o-lanterns and such. I saw a mall down the street with more decorations. And one across town was advertising pumpkin patches and hay rides.

So when yesterday was gorgeous and not too cold we decided to throw caution to the wind, skip the kids' naps (I know, walking on the wild side!) and head over. Well, we kept our expectations low and that was good. They did have about four 'pumpkin patches' consisting of a ten foot square area covered with hay, some pumpkins and scarecrows. At each patch they had a performer. Kinda fun. There was suppose to be pumpkin carving but it ended up being one person at each patch carving the miniature pumpkins. I don't know if it was just to see how its done. We were disappointed but really, what were we expecting? Them to hand out lots of knives to people who have never done it? That would have been far worse.

Of course the biggest show was our kids. Zoe loves dancing and I'm sure she had hundreds of photos taken of her. Whenever we would stop to decide what to do next we were surrounded by a mob. I really think I can understand the life of a celebrity in this. Sometimes I just want to scream, back off!!!

Here is a superman scarecrow, striking a pose as Sung put it.

And then there was the hay ride. An electric golf cart with hay covering the seats. So strange that this was our kids first experience. When a construction vehicle drove by with its puttering engine we were thinking, now that is what a hay ride should sound like. Oh well, I guess this was the green version. =)

Zoe enjoying her first pumpkin patch.

But Connor isn't impressed.

Finally we didn't want to end the trip across town after about an hour, 40 minutes of which were spent waiting for the hayride, so we went into the Big Goose Pagoda park. I was thinking at least walking through would be something to do. We couldn't catch a taxi home where we first were waiting, but walking back through the park, we heard the announcement that the fountain show was starting soon. Our friends had never seen it and our kids hadn't yet so it was a fun surprise.

The funniest part was when the big jet sprayed the water 30 meters into the air above us. The seven of us were just admiring the plume when it slowly began to dawn on us that the water had to come down and boy did it look like it was heading our way. We grabbed the children and ran screaming out of the way. It would have been more enjoyable had it been summer but still it made the day. Zoe is of course still talking about it.

Sorry I don't have any pictures of the fountain. I had run out of battery minutes after arriving. But soon I will have my new Flip camera! Yeah!! Hope you all had a fun, safe weekend!

The lentil saga

Or perhaps soggy? Well so the lentil burgers got mixed reviews. Right after making them up, a couldn't wait to fry up a small one to taste. I loved it! So crispy and flavorful. I was so excited for dinner.

I made up the rest of the patties and fried them up right before dinner. Well, not everyone felt the same way I did. Actually no one did. The kids just refused to eat them which I found surprising. They are usually up for anything. They have been not feeling up to par lately and well, Zoe did get sick a few times Tuesday night so maybe that makes more sense. But Scott wasn't a huge fan either. With the bigger patties, it was harder to get it not smushy in the middle. Maybe adding more corn meal or wheat germ might have helped with texture.

Next time I will stick to smaller patties and ditch the buns. I would just ditch the whole recipe but it made a ton and we have at least two dinner's worth in the freezer. Yikes! Hopefully it will get better reviews. Or I could just not mash it and enjoy the lentil stew.

But in more exciting news, or maybe not depending on who you are, I found a great jacket at our local supermarket! Who knew? After date nights, its not totally uncommon for us to stop in to grab some cookies. Especially now since they have soft Chips Ahoy! Unfortunately they were out last night. =( But on our way to get a replacement, chocolate covered Oreos, I spotted a cute jacket.  A heather grey almost pea coat style but with a mandarin collar. Not that I NEEDED another coat but Sung has had this one similar to it that I have always thought was so cute. 

I tried it on because I told Scott it would be a great birthday idea and I wanted to make sure he knew the right size.  Scott's reaction was one I will remember for a long time, and definitely every time I wear it. He stared and said, "Wow! I don't usually notice these things but that looks like something they would buy for you on What Not to Wear." Not that he's a fan of the show, poor guy. Sometimes while we are in America I watch it to his protests of hating the hosts and the whole concept of the show. And he bought that coat for me right then and there! It will probably be my favorite coat of my life! I am already imagining the fun I can have with different colored scarves!

I promised not to wear it until my birthday. Not too difficult since our weather has been in the upper 60's/low 70's and its only two weeks away. I will have to have him snap a picture of me in it sometime afterwards.

Okay, Zoe helped me take a few pictures. She has some work to do before becoming a professional though. =)

(Okay so these pics don't really do the jacket justice, trust me, its cute.)

Trying out some lentils

Shhhsh, don't tell my family before they try it but I'm making lentil burgers for tonight. Basically it is lentils, brown rice, potato, carrot, celery and onion simmered and mashed up, add some wheat germ and powdered milk for right texture, and fry up those patties. We will see but so far it smells really yummy. My friend Abby tried it first and it was a hit for her family. Cheap and quite nutritious.

Our family is getting through our first round of colds. Usually that means one bad night of sleep and then lots of nose blowing. If we get through the winter with only a few colds I will be a happy camper. So far, the kids have never had a flu and I'd love to keep it that way. We don't come into contact with a lot of people, well as much as you can say that just living in a country of over a billion. =) I'm not really too scared about the H1N1 thing but once and a while it starts creeping in and making me concerned. Especially since we are just now getting to the flu season. Wash hands, wash hands, wash hands, right?

Finally bought a few pumpkins, over here they are pretty small, and will make some pie soon. I am just making myself wait until November. I don't know why. I just am. But then we will do all things pumpkin. Muffins, bars, try some pancakes perhaps, soup. Maybe that's why I am waiting because before long we will all be shades of orange and tired of it. Ha ha.

Well, have a super day.

(The kids were still napping but I wanted to get photos of our mini photos so I pulled some volunteers out of the toy basket.)

And the ball who came home

As a bit of an update, we found the ball! Saturday we were out for a walk and a daughter of a friend ran up with our ball. She was playing with us when it was lost. It apparently had fallen into a hole. Must have been a rather big hole because it stands out in color from the grass. Glad one of the kids didn't fall in it. =)

So anyway, it has rejoined the family. Hope it doesn't feel replaced, just that it has a friend.