Category Archives: Fun

American Idol ~ Blake Lewis Day in Bothell

As of July 2017 Photobucket has blacked out all my photos and is holding them hostage on their site.

 UPDATE: BLAKE MADE IT TO THE FINAL TWO. CONGRATULATIONS BLAKE!!  More about Blake and Bothell here.

I can be an American Idol fan, especially when one of the 3 finalists graduated in the same high school class as my middle son. (Try not to judge me too harshly)  So today in our hometown in Washington we celebrated Blake Lewis Day. Fleeting fame but fun nevertheless. Bothell is now on the map. Here are some photos of the fun and festivities…

 

This is the high school that all three of my kids graduated from. Dan and Blake graduated in 1999. They are proudly displaying…Blake Lewis in Final Three!!!

 

The celebration parade took place on Main Street in downtown Bothell and the concert took place at Bothell landing along the Sammamish River.

 

Here I am with thousands of my closest friends waiting for Blake to arrive.

 

Even the river had police presence. This is a Sheriff boat.

 

The Seattle Seahawks mascot was there along with Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawk quarterback) to give Blake a personal jersey.

 

That’s Blake waving to us on the bridge. He’s wearing the stripped vest and holding the microphone.

 

This bridge was my vantage point.

 

The main crowd on Bothell Landing.

 

The overflow crowd on the other side of the river.

 

A beautiful sunny day in Bothell, Washington. We hope Blake makes it to the final two!

Borsch

Many Borsch recipes include beets in them. The familiar Borsch that we grew up with and that we had at Molokan Church Meals did not have beets in it. Here is my mother’s recipe.

Nadia’s Borsch

For the Stock:
1 Chuck Roast (with bone would be good)
1 onion
1-3 celery stalks with leaves
2-3 carrots
2 bay leaves
5-10 peppercorns
Salt to taste

In a big stock pot, cover chuck roast with good water. Add all the stock ingredients and bring to boil. Lower heat to simmer. Simmer until roast is fork tender. Strain the stock. Reserve the roast.

1 head of cabbage shredded (green is what we use)
1-3 carrots grated
1-2 onions diced
1 bell pepper diced

2-3 stalks of celery diced

(saute the bell pepper, onion, celery and jalapeno then blend before adding to stock)
2-3 potatoes diced
2 cans stewed tomatoes blended in blender (we have those that don’t like chunky tomatoes)
1 can tomato sauce
1/2-small bunch of dill (to taste)
1 handful of chopped italian parsley
salt and pepper to taste
optional – 1 can of Garbonzo beans
option #2 – add a small jalapeno diced to the saute group above.

Put the strained broth back into a stock pot. Add all the above ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer until cabbage and carrots are tender. Taste and see if the soup needs more salt or pepper at this time.

The Borsch is ready now.

My mother doesn’t include this in her recipe but when she made borsch at my house once I saw her add a half a cube of unsalted butter at the end. 🙂 My mother mashes most of the potatoes to thicken up the soup a bit.

You can bake the chuck roast with a little of the stock, salt, pepper, and sauteeed onions to serve alongside the borsch with a good loaf of bread and of course…sour cream. This was my welcome home meal for my kids last night.

 

Tolkien ~ The Shire ~ Quotes

Bilbo Baggins – The Hobbit, Chapter 2
“Bother burgling and everything to do with it! I wish I was at home in my nice hole by the fire with the kettle just beginning to sing!”

Elrond
“This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and the counsels of the Great.”

Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate
And though I oft have passed them by
The day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon and East of the Sun

Family Weekend ~ April 21-22

All my photos for this post are being held hostage at Photobucket.

This past weekend April 21st and 22nd was filled with extended family fun. Here are the pictures that tell the weekend story. I’m posting my Saturday post early, Friday night, because “Dear” and I leave early tomorrow for another family day.

 

Our oldest son Josh and his dad at the Pacific Ocean just south of Pt. Mugu

 

Father and Son

 

 

Once a mother always a mother….hoping my boy doesn’t get swept out to sea!

 

This seal was relaxing, oblivious to people and barking dogs. He (she) was kind enough to look up at me.

We came home from the beach via the fresh vegetable farm stand and got the fix-ins for Pico de Gallo and fresh strawberries from the local fields. So fresh, so good. “Dear” had some of his famous home-brew on hand which went perfectly with fresh dip that Josh prepared for us. Tomatoes, Jicama, Onion, a Jalapeno, Cilantro, Avocado and juice from a Lime. With chips it made a wonderful lunch. We went to Saturday evening service at E.V. Free where Pastor Steve gave Josh and “Dear” a supposed good excuse to get a tattoo! More to that story later…

 

Kacie, Jenna, Josh, and Annie (I’m seeing the family resemblance…the eyebrows that Josh and Jenna share, and the smile that Josh and Annie share.

Sunday, first stop, Anaheim Hills for Lox and Bagels. Such a rare wonderful moment for the Cousins on “Dears” side to get together.  “Dear” has one brother Terry who is married to Christina and they have 3 lovely daughters. So sad that Dan, Katie, and Laura weren’t here to share the Kodak moment.

 

Jenna the oldest who lives in New York, Annie who lives in So. California, and Kacie who just turned 16 and lives with her mom and dad in So. California. Beautiful nieces, all three!

 

We met Jenna’s boyfriend Justin for the first time. He lives in New York, also.

 

The Oldies but Goodies, “Dear”, Ellen, Christina and Terry

 

Next we zoomed to Whittier to get together with Ellen’s side of the family. Some of the cousins, Josh, Debbee, Ryan, Melissa, Michelle and Jackson.

 

Doing what we do best….cooking and eating! Baba and Deda at the head of the table. Meat, salad, rice pilaf, gourmet mac and cheese, Beautiful Strawberry Trifle and Chocolate Pecan Bars…yummy!

 

Dessert and Chai ( Plain old hot tea in Russian, not the sweet Chinese version popular today)

 

Nana (my sister Kathy) and Jackson

 

On our trip home from a long day of family gatherings I shot this from the car on the 101 Fwy in Thousand Oaks, 15 minutes from my own bed…

Saturday April 28th after I post this on my blog “Dear” and I are off on another family adventure. My two nephews are participating in the State History Day Finals in Long Beach, California today. Their performance is focusing on Honour Crimes in Pakistan. Winners move on to Nationals. Their home-school group has been to Nationals representing California twice already. I’m happy to be close by this time so I can actually see their performance. Nationals take place in Washington D.C.

Transitions ~ Hike ~ Amgen

All my photos for this post are being held hostage at Photobucket.

When “Dear” took a job in Southern California we were very surprised by many of the company perks. His company really is a little city in the Conejo Valley. They employ upwards of 10,000 people here. These people come from all over the world. The company hires an outside group (Transitions in Newbury Park) to plan and manage activities that help new employees transition to the new area and develop friendships. This really is a cool concept. They plan activities for the spouses of employees, for couples, for employees and kids. I’ve been to lunches, coffee breaks, happy hours, wine tastings, and hikes. I’ve missed spa day, movie night, potlucks, whale watching, cooking with Trader Joe’s, a Hollywood Bowl concert, and book clubs. I’ve met people from South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Canada, England, Sweden, and all over the U.S.A.  New employees are part of this transitions group for a full 2 years from their hire date. I commend Amgen for going the extra mile for their employees and families by offering this benefit. I don’t know how many companies out there would bother.

 

Yesterday there was a 4 mile hike with bagels and juice provided at the start of the hike.

 

The trail we hiked was a 4 mile loop. There were steep and gradual uphills, steep and gradual down hills, and some level areas. “Stick to the middle of the trail so you’re not surprised by a rattlesnake.” (comforting thought)

 

We had a wide range of age groups that managed the hike nicely. “Check your body for ticks after the hike!”  “Make sure you’re drinking your water!”

 

This is a view looking back at what we had already hiked. “My heart is pounding like a hammer.”

 

The happy hikers that just made it through the steepest grade and were looking forward to the downhills ahead. I’m on your left as you look at this picture. “I promise you this is the last uphill then it’s downhill all the way back.” One more comment as I knew we were truly on the downward trail. “I get dessert tonight!” Thank you Amgen and Transitions for another fun outing in the Conejo Valley!

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Blintzes

This is Nadia, she’s not making blintzes here. This was a photo from the 80’s in Wildomar for our Easter gathering.

Nadia’s  Blintzes

6 eggs
4 cups whole milk
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 Tbsp. oil

Scald the milk. Beat the eggs. Slowly add the milk to the eggs while continuing beating. Add salt, sugar and oil, beat until blended. Slowly beat in the flour until combined.

I use two 10″ heavy Teflon pans to cook the blintzes. You might want to just start with one till you get this process down. Heat the pan. Coat the pan lightly with oil. (I use a piece of cheesecloth to coat the pan with oil and if needed I’ll coat again into the cooking process). Use a 1/3 cup measure to dip into the mixing bowl (you don’t have to fill to the top just use a uniform measure of the liquid for each blintz) Pour into frying pan and swirl the pan to coat the bottom evenly.

 

Cook until the blintz turns a nice golden brown. With a spatula loosen the edges and flip the blintz and brown on the other side. Remove from pan and let cool on a dish cloth.

Repeat the process. Sometimes the only hindrance to these flipping and cooking well is the temperature of the pan. You’ll have to experiment to get it at the magic temp. Start at medium.  After the blintzes are cooled you can stack them. They can be frozen at this time if you would like. This recipe will make approximately 24 blintzes.

 

Cheese filling for the blintzes:
1- cartons of ricotta cheese (8 oz. size)
(You can also use cottage cheese, hoop cheese or farmers cheese)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1-2 tbsp. sugar.
you will also need a small carton of half and half and a stick of butter (1/2 cup)

Beat all the ingredients till smooth except half and half and stick of butter. Spread about 1 Tablespoon of cheese onto one side of blintz. Roll up and place in a 9×13 baking dish. They can be layered. Melt one cube of butter and pour over the blintzes. Bake in 350 degree oven until heated through. Heat up to 8 oz. of Half and Half until is is warm but not boiling. Pour half and half over blintzes to cover and continue baking until half and half boils. Remove from oven and serve with sour cream and preserves or syrup.

For a savory filling:

Saute 1 large onion in oil and season with salt and pepper. Add 1 lb. hamburger (15%) and brown. Add salt and pepper to taste. Dice enough broccoli to make 2 cups. Steam until broccoli just turns bright green. Combine meat, broccoli and 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and heat through. Scoop about 2-3 T of mixture onto blintz and fold in the sides to form a square. Place in a baking dish. Melt butter and poor over the filled blintzes. Bake in a 350 to 375 degree oven until heated through. Serve and if you want to make additional sauce you can serve extra sauce with the savory blintzes. Oh I almost forgot, you can serve these with sour cream if you’d like, also. Enjoy Deena!

HT: Bagdanov Family Cookbook

 

 

Walking Tour in Great Britain~Wales~Lakes~Scotland~York

In May of 2006 “Dear” and I traveled to Great Britain with 4 of our best friends. Our travel itinerary arranger was Jody and she did a fantastic job finding lovely non-smoking B & B’s with parking and good food. She also made the arrangements for a 7 passenger van that we used for the trip. It was a tight fit with 6 of us and luggage, but we managed. We all just packed one bag that we carried on the plane. (This was before liquids were not allowed anymore in carry-ons). So here’s a short explanation with pictures of our tour.

I’ll be your tour guide. The picture below is of “Dear” and I taken in Edinburgh at a Turkish restaurant.

We flew into Manchester Airport, picked up our van, and headed West to Wales. Our first B & B was in Conwy. The grounds of our B & B shared the castle walls. This was the view from our bedroom window.

The day after we arrived we tried to climb Mt. Snowden, the highest Peak in England and Wales. The day was very blustery and we were literally blown around on the upper part of the mountain and never made it to the top.

This is a Stile (steps for scaling a wall or fence). We felt like we were in a Jane Austen novel. The trail was very rocky, there was loose and fixed shale. It was uneven and very steep which made it hard on the ankles and knees.

Jan and I were happy to turn back half-way up but “Dear”, Bob and Jody made it further up till the wind got to be too much. Dave had an injury shortly before we left on this trip so he could not join us on the more strenuous hikes.

See the shale on the trail?

After that grueling hike this was our first pain killer of choice.

Then we were rewarded for such a heroic attempt by eating out at Bistro Conwy one of the highlights of our trip.

Dave the primo photographer and Jody at Bistro Conwy.

“Dear” and I shared the Welsh Lamb Shoulder. Oh my gosh, good to the last drop in a tasty reduced sauce.

On our 3rd day we headed north to the Lake District. We stayed at Hollows Farm, a 17th century National Trust owned farm outside of Keswick in the Borrowdale Valley along Derwent River. We were literally on the path of many wonderful walking trails. It is here that I heard my first Cuckoo Bird. They actually sing “coo coo, coo coo!”

The farm is in the background.

This was lambing season and it was so much fun to see all the little lambs frolicking about. The walks along River Derwent were wonderful. We went through kissing gates and over stone bridges.

Beatrix Potter’s Derwentwater and trails around this area are the inspiration for some of her books.

Jody, Jan and Bob made it to the top of the Catsbells overlooking Derwentwater.

We checked out of Hollows Farm on a Sunday and  found a little church to go to in Keswick and had some food for our Souls before we continued North to Oban, Scotland.

 In Oban we stayed at a waterfront B & B for two nights.

Our B & B is the fourth one from the left

From Oban we took a ferry to the Isle of Mull. We crossed Mull via tour bus to get to a smaller ferry that took us to the Isle of Iona. We were all so happy we followed through on plans to come to this Isle. Mull and Iona are part of the Inner Hebrides Islands. The Isle was full of history about the Book of Kells, Columba, Viking raids and the advancement of Christianity into Scotland and beyond. So much amazing history on such a small isle!

On our final morning in Oban we toured the Oban Distillery and tasted Scotch. Even though it was quality stuff only one of us truly appreciated the taste of it. We all appreciated the history and being shown the process.

We now drove Southeast across Scotland to our next stop Edinburgh.

With the help of knowledgeable staff at the Starbucks in Edinburgh we managed to find the Elephant house. This is where J.K. Rowling is said to have mulled over a cup of coffee while writing her first Harry Potter novel.

This is our B & B in Edinburgh . It is here that we experienced our first taste of Haggis, it really was quite nice. We relied heavily on the bus system here and that worked well for us.

From Edinburgh we drove to York which would be the end of the trail for “Dear and I”. Dave, Jody, Bob, and Jan would continue on from York to Bath and London.

York has wonderful cobblestone streets and narrow passageways to explore. Our B & B was just a few blocks outside the city walls and we enjoyed seeing most of York. The free guided tour was worth it, rich with history and information.

One of the highlights of our trip was our ongoing quest to find the best Sticky Toffee Pudding in Great Britain. If you have never tried this wonderful dessert you have truly missed a gastronomical delight!

From York “Dear”and I walked to the train station and boarded a train that took us straight to Manchester Airport. We exited the train took the escalator and were in the airport, fantastic! Here are the three couples who walked, prayed, ate, conversed, drank, hiked, and discovered so many wonderful sights together.

Bob and Jan in Keswick

Dave and Jody (the master planner) in Oban

Ellen and “Dear” in Conwy

The Three Amigas

The three of us have been walking together on Saturdays in Seattle for a few years now. We walk 6 miles and we talk and keep each other accountable. We try to be real and speak the truth into each other. We confess to each other and love each other, deeply. What a blessing God has given us in this friendship. When I’m in California I miss my girls!

Beatles ~ We Can Work It Out ~ Allistair Begg

O.K., you might be wondering what the Beatles and Allistair Begg have in common and why I am posting them together. Well “Dear” and I listen to Truth for Life with Allistair Begg when I drive “Dear” to work in the wee hours of the morning. We both were chuckling and singing this Beatles tune because Begg recited part of it for an illustration to his talk. He was talking about the importance of being part of a Church Family. The importance of sticking with your Church Family through good and hard times. Reconciling with your Church Family and not running away from problems but “working them out”.  Begg is an anointed preacher and he says it better than me so do click on the link below and listen to him in his own words. Growing up with the Beatles we find ourselves knowing many of their lyrics. We’ve sat around fires singing all the Beatles tunes we can remember into the wee hours of the morning. (Are you reading this D & J? Remember the Ski Lodge?) Anyway you can blame Allistair for this post and if you’ve never listened to him, we recommend you do. You can download his talks at Truth for Life. Oh, by the way, he’s originally from Scotland and he has a cool accent! He didn’t quote the whole song for sure but I am highlighting the lines he did quote.

Try to see it my way,
Do I have to keep on talking till I can’t go on?
While you see it your way,
Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.

Think of what you’re saying.
You can get it wrong and still you think that it’s all right.
Think of what I’m saying,
We can work it out and get it straight, or say good night.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.
Life is very short, and there’s no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend.
I have always thought that it’s a crime,
So I will ask you once again.

Try to see it my way,
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong.
While you see it your way
There’s a chance that we might fall apart before too long.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.
Life is very short, and there’s no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend.
I have always thought that it’s a crime,
So I will ask you once again.

Try to see it my way,
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong.
While you see it your way
There’s a chance that we may fall apart before too long.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.

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The Baby Whisperer

This is our oldest son Josh. Ask any of his friends with children and they’ll tell you that children and babies love Josh. Some people have even called him the “Baby Whisperer”. This picture was taken on Easter. Some children when being disciplined at home have been said to look at a Christmas greeting photo of Josh on the refrigerator and say ” I want Josh”.

Note: Photobucket is holding all my photos hostage and denying me access to them and blacking all the photos I’ve posted from 2007 on so I’ve had to update most of my many posts with new photos that have no link to photobucket. Bah humbug!