Coughing Through Christmas

I hope everyone's Christmases and New Years were a blast and full of fun and family and overall goodness. Overall, ours was pretty successful.  Grandma came up from California, thoughtful presents were given and received, lots of delicious food was consumed, and many card games were won and lost.

The hitch was the presence of a tiny black cloud called a cold that I've been battling since the 21st.  It started as a persistent dry cough that followed me everywhere I went.  I didn't let it bother me too much though, as I was determined to have a great Christmas.  No matter how much I tried to cover it, I still ended up coughing on most of my family members and my sister came down with a cold several days later.

The biggest issue with having a cold during the holidays is the whole after-Christmas hangover that follows.  Days of eating heavy food and doing little physical exercise leads to feelings of bloatedness and sluggishness.  It's too cold and wet to feel the motivation to go outside, and everywhere you look, there's a mess to be cleaned.  This cough and cold made all these shitty feelings feel even shittier.

Part of me feels glad that I don't have to take work off to get over this, but the other part of me is angry that my vacation time is being totally wasted.  I can't do anything.  My cough was so bad that I could barely hold a conversation with anybody, my body was exhausted from my non-stop hacking, and the only thing I can do is quarantine myself from everyone so no one else has to go through this.  I've probably gained a bunch of weight from all the rich food and lack of movement.  I feel like Jabba the Hut (minus the womanizing.)  Now I have a constant splitting headache that is magnified every time I cough.  I'm just glad that the amount I'm coughing has been cut in half.

The only things that have brought any relief are Nyquil and a tea concoction I've been guzzling for the last 4 days.  I read somewhere that thyme can be a natural expectorant (nature's Mucinex), and honey ginger tea is great for soothing your throat.  So each day, I've been mincing about an inch of fresh ginger and putting it into my tea strainer that I have for our Keurig.  To that I've also been adding about a quarter of a teaspoon of thyme.  To each freshly brewed cup, I also add a squeeze of lemon and a teaspoon of honey.  I then sit on my couch and desperately cradle the mug to my face while sitting in a fetal position and try to breathe in the sweet ginger vapors to sooth the tickle in my bronchial tubes and let the tea warm my body from the inside out.  It has helped greatly.

My current favorite accessory.

But this whole ordeal got me thinking.  I feel like crap.  This must mean my body is full of crap.  In fact, I know my body is full of crap because I put it there.  And crap can't fight colds.  So I need to get it out.  I've always wanted to do a cleanse or a detox.  Shawn and I have 4 days off together starting tomorrow, so here is our chance.  I did some research and found a program, complete with recipes, that lasts 4 days.  We get to eat three meals a day, but three very specific meals.  I'll be making a lot of veggie shakes.  Will we hate it?  Probably.  Will we feel really hungry and sad that we don't get to eat carbs or sugar or dairy or caffeine?  Absolutely.  Will Shawn go into major coffee withdrawals?  Yes.  I know I have a sugar addiction.  That's a fact.  I will go into withdrawals as well.  Now Shawn hasn't really had to go through the whole cold thing as bad as I have but we've been wondering about a possible gluten issue with him so he's on board with this as well.  We might not last all 4 days, but we will try our hardest.

Of course, you will get to read all about it.

Next time you hear from me, I will likely be angry and miserable.

Here's to health and feeling better in the New Year.

Oh boy.

Decking the Cottage

I LOVE Christmas.  Love love love it.  I love the lights, the family, the food, the colors, the happiness, the joy, the presents, the decor... I could go on. 

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the hubs and I had a revelation that not only would this be our first Christmas together as a hitched duo, but it is also the first time we have our own place to deck with all the glory that is the holidays. 

So off we went. 

First Shawn put up lights around the house.  Just a few colorful strands lining the front of the house and roof and some running down the gutter next to our front door.  Sure, it's not anything people will ooh and aah at, but we do.  Every time we drive up at night we make sure to remark, "why look at this charming little cottage.  How lovely."  It's fun.

Our little cottage was made even more lovely by our additions last weekend.  First, we bought a little tree.  My family rarely did the whole live Christmas tree thing so getting a live tree is a big deal to me.  But we figured this was a special occasion.  It's a smaller one, just 5 feet tall, and nice and skinny so it doesn't take up too much space in our tiny living room.  We decorated it with all the ornaments from both our childhoods.  It's kind of perfect.

The other thing I did was make a holiday bouquet to hang on the door.  Shawn kind of wanted a wreath but we didn't really want to pay for anything else (other than the tree) that was going to die.  So I got the idea that maybe I would make something festive.

First I started with a pile of branches carefully selected from around my house.  Some pine, juniper, 2 kinds of fir, some holly complete with berries, and cedar.  I also found a pine cone along the interurban trail behind my house for an accent.

Way more that I needed.

Then I arranged them on the floor in a nice array.  I'm no florist, so I did the best I could.

I had a lot left over.

Then I banded them tightly with a rubber band including the pine cone.

The stems will all be different lengths but they can be cut after they're banded.

Next I made a festive bow out of some ribbon and tied that around the top to conceal the rubber band.

Thicker ribbon would have made a prettier bow, but it's all I had.

That's it.  Hang it on the door and all your guests will be greeted with a nice, fresh-smelling piece of festive fun.  I really like the word festive.  Can you tell?

There's nothing better than sitting in front of the fire, surrounded by the smell of a live Christmas tree, watching some great BBC programming.  It really helps in getting through the sad, cold, dark, wet Seattle winter.

Fluffier, Warmer, Stronger, Better

We've got some happy chickens.  Well, I don't know exactly how happy the ladies are (I'm sure they are a bit,) but I sure do know one chicken mommy who is happy.  Why am I so happy?

See exhibit A:

Her tail is still in the process of coming in fully.

Now see exhibit B:

Fluffy belly!  I haven't seen this in over a year!

and exhibit C:

Elsie's pantaloons are as fluffy as ever.

and finally, exhibit D:

Pearl is even whiter than she was before.

They are fluffier, their colors are bolder, they look cleaner, and I can rest easy that they have a full down jacket on during these upcoming cold winter months.  The only worry I have left is that Abby decides too late in the game that she wants to join the molting club also.  If that's the case, she may find herself sleeping in the garage for a bit.  I can breathe a sigh of great relief.

And a bonus:

Some Thanks and a Recipe I am Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving all!  Ah, I love holidays and all the joys and excitement it brings.  Despite it being a pretty busy day, I think we all need to slow down and take a moment in our day to think about all the things we are thankful for.  My rolls are rising in the oven, so this is my perfect time.

This year has been a particularly thank-full year.  I am thankful for the lovely situation that came about and put us into our new cozy home.  I am thankful for all the little birdies outside who are currently enjoying a Thanksgiving feast from the recently refilled bird feeder.  Chickadees eat hastily, before the juncos shove them aside, finches take a bite here and there, while the nuthatches hang upside down and feast.  All movement and flitting about is temporarily disturbed when the big guns show up: Stellers Jays and Flickers scare the little ones away for a bit, but their sheer number gives them the courage to hold their own.  This lovely scene is simply topped off by the pair of hummingbirds that come daily to visit our hanging fuchsia plant.  (Sigh.)

I am also thankful for the ladies getting their feathers back.  Frannie looks better then ever, and both her and Elsa are back to their normal selves.  Also, I, as well as the chickens I assume, am thankful for the awesome chicken coop that we built this year that is impervious to large rains.  Gone are the days of coop flooding!

I am thankful that I live in a household where we both have jobs, considering the struggles that so many people are still going through in finding employment.  What we have might not be much, but it brings us satisfaction and sometimes you just have to be glad for that.

I am thankful for my Gus and Nikolai, and even Skipper for welcoming me home each day, keeping me warm while on the couch and giving me unconditional love and affection daily.  They may be a pain in the ass at times and prevent us from going on any trips, but they are my babies and I wouldn't know what to do without them. 

I am thankful for my friends and family, who I can always count on to make me laugh, keep me grounded, and who's presence will never allow me to feel the pangs of loneliness.

Finally, I am thankful for my Shawn.  I am thankful for the amazing epic day we shared called our wedding that I still look back on with excitement.  I am thankful for his "stepping up" that suddenly happened after the wedding and all the hard work he puts into our household and keeping our home feeling warm and cozy.  I am thankful for his daily dealings with my crazy and reminding me it's ok to be myself.  But most of all, I am thankful for the love that he shows me each day, I only hope that I am able to reciprocate in a way that makes him as happy as he makes me.

May we be this jolly for ever and ever.

Now back to those rolls.

This is a recipe that my family has been making for as long as I remember, and since they are SO DELICIOUS, naturally, they only get made for the Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts.  Though I would like to make them more often since they are SO DELICIOUS, they would probably lose their charm so I painfully await them each year.  I've taken them to many a Thanksgiving feast outside of our family and I get rave reviews each time.  I've heard people call them Firecracker Rolls, Orange Rolls, or just "those amazing rolls."  Seriously, you'll be thankful for this recipe.

Holiday Citrus Rolls

Ingredients
One large orange
1 1/2 tsp. Lemon or Orange Zest
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cardamom
1 packet yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
5+ cups bread flour
1/2 cup sugar
4 tbs. butter (plus 2 more for later)
2 eggs

First, zest the lemon or orange.  Then squeeze all the juice out of the orange into a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup.  Add one cup of water and the butter to the juice and heat until the butter is half melted.  In a large mixing bowl, stir together a cup of flour, the yeast, the cardamom, the sugar, and the salt.  Add the warmed mixture and stir till smooth.  Then add the eggs and zest, stir until smooth again.  Now add the rest of the flour until the dough gets to kneading consistency.  Turn out onto floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes.  Place into greased bowl and let rise for about an hour or two.  (I did it overnight since I wouldn't have time to make it and bake it the next morning and it rose really well.)

After first rise, punch down and knead for another couple minutes.  Cut them into the size of your choice and shape them into balls.  Place them into a greased casserole dish or a high sided jelly roll pan about a half an inch apart and let rise again until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.  Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a dish.  Paint the tops of each roll with the butter then sprinkle with some sugar.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden.  Enjoy.  The fluffiness, the crunchy sweetness of the sugar, and the citrus/cardamom combination is to die for.  Try not to eat them all before dinner.  I've eaten two already.  You know, for poison testing.  But don't worry, I made a batch and a half so there's plenty left... as long as I don't eat them all on the ferry to our dinner destination.

I am so lucky to have so many things to be thankful for.

Sparkles...

No 'Poo: The Conclusion

Before I get started, I have a challenge for you.  What is this a picture of?  Hint: it came from the kitchen.  (Don't scroll down if you don't want the answer right away.)

So it's been five weeks since I started my no shampoo experiment.  Last time you heard from me at the end of week two, I was feeling a little disappointed in how little my hair had improved and the stickiness that was lingering.  I was also noticing dandruff that I didn't notice before, which just about made me quit the whole thing altogether.

Luckily, things have gotten a ton better since.  First, I experimented with the amount of vinegar I was using, and found that it really doesn't make too much difference.  I think using less worked better for me, and I focus spraying to the ends of my hair to help with de-tangling.

At the end of week 4, my hair went through a breakthrough.  The stickiness I was feeling, which made it feel like my hair wasn't clean at all, suddenly went away.  It still gets too greasy to go more than 2 days without washings, but now, each time it's been washed it feels just like it did when I was using shampoo. 

I've also begun using baking soda to wash my face.  It's got great exfoliating powers, and it rinses away much easier than face soap.  And my face feels super clean.  I use it every other day.

To top it all, I'm so used to the hair washing proecss now that I don't even think twice about it.

I was skeptical there for a while, but I think this no 'poo thing is here to stay.  Yes.

Ok, now for the answer to our little riddle.

Eggs!  It happened when I was trying to oil them.  Usually when an egg cracks while boiling only the white comes out.  But for some reason, the yolk broke and all of it came out and solidified in ribbon form.  So cool and kind of gross at the same time.

Korean Mac and Cheese.

It's cold.  I feel like summer just ended and winter hit us like a ton of bricks.  This calls for rich, hearty, soul food that warms from the inside.  Dduk Bok Ki, or as I like to call it, Korean Mac and Cheese, does just the trick. 

I was introduced to this delicious dish several years ago when a friend of mine brought it to our big family and friends Thanksgiving feast.  There was cheese, lots of carbs and a delicious spicy sauce.  It made me happy in just the same way mac and cheese does.  Thus, we dubbed it Korean Mac and Cheese.

So here we go.  First you need to go to an Asian or Korean food market and get a package of dduk and gochujang, a Korean hot chili paste.  Dduk are basically rods of rice gluten.  In addition to that, you are really free to add whatever you want.  To make it as healthy and wholesome as possible, I also included fried tofu, carrots, cabbage, onion, and red and green bell peppers.  (In the past, I've also made it with fish balls instead of tofu.)

First you have to make the sauce.  In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the gochujang with a tablespoon of sesame oil, 2 tablespoons or so of soy sauce, and a tablespoon of sugar.  Mince a clove of garlic very finely and add that to the sauce as well.  You can add salt and pepper of you want, but all those ingredients are really heavy on flavor so I don't think the salt is necessary.  Set aside.

Cut the dduk rods into 2 inch pieces and place in a bowl of cold water.  Set a separate pot of water to boil.

Now, saute onions for a few minutes in a large wok or saute pan.  Add the carrots, cabbage and peppers and cook for several minutes. 

Boil the dduk for about 5 minutes.  They will float and puff up when they're ready.  Add a tablespoon of the boiling water to the sauce that you made earlier.  This makes mixing it in at the end a little easier.

Before the dduk.

Once the dduk are boiled and the vegetables are cooked and heated through, add the dduk to the pan and pour on the sauce.  Stir to combine. 

After the dduk and sauce.

Now you're almost there.  At this point, I bet many of you are saying "Hey, where's my cheese?  How can it be called mac and cheese without any cheese?"  Trust me, I totally understand, I too feel very strongly about cheese.  Never fret, here it is:

Slice up some cheddar baby!

Layer the top of the whole pan with slices of cheddar and cover to let it melt all delicious-like. 

Now, you're finished.  Sprinkle on some sliced scallions and sesame seeds, and try not to eat the whole pan.  It's really easy.  But it's also really easy to get a major stomach ache because of it.  There are two things in this world that, never fail, I will eat until I am in complete pain.  Those two things are Popcorn and Korean Mac and Cheese.  Don't be like me.  Don't get a stomach ache.  But enjoy.  It'll keep you warm all over.

It's even prettier with the scallions and sesame seeds.

Weekend Update

Remember my pumpuchinis?  So they totally grew to be a pretty decent size and for the most part turned orange.  We got three of them.  One was given to the neighbor kids who helped with the planting of the plant, one was carved into a Jack-o-Lantern, and one still sits awaiting its fate.  The reason we didn't carve the third one is because carving the first one was such a pain in the ass.  I don't know why, but the outermost skin of the pumpuchini was super duper hard.  It almost had a candy shell that broke when the knife was stuck into it.  My design I had in mind had to be simplified, but after just one injury to the palm of my hand that I acquired when my hand slipped down the knife, I was able to carve to completion.  So the moral of the story is: crossing zucchinis and pumpkins results in fruit that is more worthless that its parents.

Pumpuchini on the right, regular pumpkin on the left.

Now remember Frannie's poor feather affliction?  Well, it's gotten both better and worse.  It's gotten worse because now she's officially molting.  Like, Elsa style.  She has huge patches of baldness on her wings, but also has a ton of pin feathers.  She also has pin feathers on her belly where all of her previous baldness was, so once this is over, she should be as good as new.  Speaking of pin feathers, Elsa also has so many covering her whole body that she looks like a porcupine.  I apologize for the series of poor quality photos, but it's hard to take pictures of chickens when you can't hold them.

Porcupine.  One week ago.

Pin feathers slowly opening up.

She's so ugly it's cute.

Is this a bit much?  Sorry for the ass shot.

This is the first year we are letting the ladies have a winter.  For the past 2 winters, we've had lamps in their coop to keep their daylight hours up to maintain their laying.  Though it was nice to have fresh eggs all year round, I got to worrying about their health and their calcium levels.  If nature decides that they need a break, who am I to deny them their break?  Since the days have been getting shorter, their laying has really declined to the point where we get an egg every other day.  I'm sure it'll get to be zero here soon, and I'll have to buy my first dozen eggs in over 2 years.  I think this is why we haven't had a molt until now.  The moral of this story is: let your ladies rest in the winter.  That way their bodies won't get confused.

Now lastly, remember the peas that I planted at the end of summer?  I did it last year with not so good results, and this year, though much better, proved to still not be worth the seeds.  I think I harvested a total of 10 pea pods.  One last moral for ya: peas don't grow too good in the fall.

That's all I have for today.  Good night everyone.