in memoriam

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jar filled with bits & bobs from many huell-inspired road trips. pebbles, sea glass, shells, pottery, etc.

huell howser,  you truly were california's gold.

~peace.

downton abbey

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have you seen it yet? i fell in love with the series earlier this year, when it played on pbs. that link will take you to pbs' downton abbey page, & give you the dates for season two's airing. i have already seen season two! in fact, i just finished watching the last episode. i have connections, don't you know?

actually, i haven't. i watched the second season on fast pass :) 

photo :: property of here

would you just look at those gorgeous costumes? i tell you, there were times i had to replay an episode, because i'd missed so much in paying more attention to what people were wearing. i want that gown on the left - minus the lace collar. 

there is to be a special christmas episode, & then we have to wait until next year for season three. i hate waiting. until then, i shall have to be content with watching the whole thing from the beginning. over & over & over & ...

~peace.

the birthday party - part 1

i am so glad thehobbit's birthday party is no longer heading my to-do list. i loved creating a day that fully celebrated my boy, but wow! this one took a great deal of work.

i wish i had photos to share of all the food, & of the kids making their obento, but i haven't. i, in typical kat-fashion, took 2 photos, then promptly forgot i owned a camera. rats & fleas, indeed.

here is 1 of those photos:



that's the kids' table. i used a camping table, as its telescoping legs made it possible for them to sit on the floor. the place mats were ads from the japanese store. on the mats, each child had: a napkin, a packet of rice cookies, a disposable bento box, bamboo chopsticks, & a paper oshibori.

in the center of the table were: sushi grass, decorative picks, paper food cups, & dinky soy sauce bottles. not pictured is the bowl of soy sauce, & that of molded eggs. more on the eggs later.

thehobbit was concerned for their dainty knees & bums, so began placing my velvet couch pillows on the floor. hahahahaha, as if! manlyman brought out folded white towels for them to use, & though he pouted at first, in the end thehobbit was content.

the kids listened patiently to my brief explanation of obento & the things on the table. then they set about rolling sushi, cutting out carrots (there are special little metal cutters, used to turn slices of veg into various shapes. our set was of flowers.), & gathering food. the kids then spent a seriously long time designing & creating their boxes.

the parents & i were quite impressed with some of those creations! one party-goer loved hers so much, she refused to eat it. how cute is that?

after eating, they watched an amazing documentary about origami. you heard me correctly, i said documentary. i know it was a party, but we're homeschoolers, it's how we roll. you must see this show, it will blow your mind. the documentary originally aired on pbs, but we got it from netflix.

my plan was to have them then create their own origami masterpieces, but we ran out of time. they were too busy being goofy preteens, & i didn't want to get in their way. all in all a darn good day :)

i'll tell you about the food; with recipes; next time.

~peace.