The furry kids didn't let the snow bother them...
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Library
We only starting utilizing our city/country in the last few weeks. That's when Joe decided he wanted to start listening to books on tape while in dialysis. So, we started going to the library to find him books to listen to and he hit a gold mine.
Unfortunately, modern technology is changing how tapes are listened to in a variety of ways so listening to tapes on a cassette player is going the same way as the dinosaur. When we went into the library the other day, some of the staff recognized us. They said they had selected some books on tape and put them aside for Joe and we could return these tapes whenever we wanted or never. We were told to check with them every time and they'd send us home with more. How wonderful is that? These are the first books sent home - 18 in all.
This is what it looks like. It can slip into a shirt pocket or a bra with no problem...
Now I've just got to find out which earphones/plugs to use. These all came from Dollar Tree...
Maybe I'll finally get around to "reading" some books. What a great way to pass the time going to and from work.
Unfortunately, modern technology is changing how tapes are listened to in a variety of ways so listening to tapes on a cassette player is going the same way as the dinosaur. When we went into the library the other day, some of the staff recognized us. They said they had selected some books on tape and put them aside for Joe and we could return these tapes whenever we wanted or never. We were told to check with them every time and they'd send us home with more. How wonderful is that? These are the first books sent home - 18 in all.
This is what I'm checking out. They are called Playaways.
This is the size of the Playaway and it is all self-contained...
This is what it looks like. It can slip into a shirt pocket or a bra with no problem...Now I've just got to find out which earphones/plugs to use. These all came from Dollar Tree...Maybe I'll finally get around to "reading" some books. What a great way to pass the time going to and from work.The Sidewalk Fairy
For two years, someone has been clearing our walkway and sidewalk from snow. Sometimes the walks have been cleared before I've left for work in the morning. I've wondered who this person or persons may have been that's done this, but I've never caught them in the act.
However, this morning as I was sitting on my bench by the front door getting ready to go outside and clean the car off so we could go to church, I heard a sound. It was a scraping sound like some shoveling on the walk. I jumped up, looked out the window and there was our neighbor, Dave walking towards the street. Caught ya in the act!!! Then he proceeded to wipe the snow from the car. No, I didn't open the door and say something. I ran and got my camera so I could document Dave's generosity. I'll thank him later.
The shoveled walkway...
One of the many things to be thankful for - great neighbors!
However, this morning as I was sitting on my bench by the front door getting ready to go outside and clean the car off so we could go to church, I heard a sound. It was a scraping sound like some shoveling on the walk. I jumped up, looked out the window and there was our neighbor, Dave walking towards the street. Caught ya in the act!!! Then he proceeded to wipe the snow from the car. No, I didn't open the door and say something. I ran and got my camera so I could document Dave's generosity. I'll thank him later.
The shoveled walkway...
One of the many things to be thankful for - great neighbors!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
How To Make Fried Rice
I've been asked on several occasions how I make my fried rice. Somehow I've managed to replicate it to how I remember eating it when we lived in Japan. My parents used to take us to eat at the NCO Club and I remember my favorite dish I used to order was the fried rice. So, here is the way I make mine.
Step 1. I always make my rice at least one or two nights before I assemble the fried rice. Never use instant rice! I cover it and put it in the refrigerator until it's needed.
Step 2. Break up any rice balls. This is best done by hand.
Step 3. I add a packet of this fried rice seasoning to the rice.
Step 4. Mix in the seasoning well. (For a large bowl of fried rice, use two packets. These packets can be purchased at Wal-Mart or check in the Oriental aisle of the grocery store).
Step 5. Add your favorite meat to the seasoned rice. I added ham which is the original way I remember eating it. But, you can add chicken, pork, beef, bacon or any meat you might have on hand. This is a great way to use leftover meat.
Step 6. Add fresh sliced mushrooms.
Step 7. Add thawed peas. Also add some diced carrots, if you desire.
Step 8. Scramble some eyes and add to mixture.
Step 9. Lightly mix all ingredients together.
Step 11. This is what it looks like when completed. So, now it's time to eat your cha han!
Step 1. I always make my rice at least one or two nights before I assemble the fried rice. Never use instant rice! I cover it and put it in the refrigerator until it's needed.
Step 2. Break up any rice balls. This is best done by hand.
Step 3. I add a packet of this fried rice seasoning to the rice.
Step 4. Mix in the seasoning well. (For a large bowl of fried rice, use two packets. These packets can be purchased at Wal-Mart or check in the Oriental aisle of the grocery store).
Step 5. Add your favorite meat to the seasoned rice. I added ham which is the original way I remember eating it. But, you can add chicken, pork, beef, bacon or any meat you might have on hand. This is a great way to use leftover meat.
Step 6. Add fresh sliced mushrooms.
Step 7. Add thawed peas. Also add some diced carrots, if you desire.
Step 8. Scramble some eyes and add to mixture.
Step 9. Lightly mix all ingredients together.Step 10. I then "fry" the rice on either my pancake griddle or in a large frying pan. Pour a little oil on the surface so that the rice won't stir as it's being stirred. Add soy sauce to individual taste.
Step 11. Just before serving, sprinkle thinly sliced scallions/green onions on the fried rice.
Step 11. This is what it looks like when completed. So, now it's time to eat your cha han!
First Big Snow of 2011
We had been warned about lots of upcoming snow on 12/30 and it started that evening. This picture shows it just beginning and how light it was outside even at 11:30 p.m. The light from the city and our street was reflecting off the snow.
This is my netbook that I had sat outside so that Mom and Dad in Georgia could participate in what the snow looked like. It just so happened that Aunt Rachel, Aunt Ruth and Aunt Alice were there so they could see the tour of the snow coming down. I had a towel and some aluminum foil over the top of the chair to keep the falling snow from the computer.
This was looking left out of our front door...
And, this is looking right out of the front door...
This is what the sidewalk looked like after being shoveled for the first time...
Snow even stuck on the doorbell...
Snow starting to pile up again. See the sidewalk.
Out the backdoor. Note the snow piling up on the table...
A later look out the front door. The sidewalk has disappeared now...
A couple of days later, I went out to the car to make sure it would still start. When I opened up the front door I notice something stuck to my seatbelt and then saw some brown ice in the back seat. I opened up the back door and this is what I found. It was frozen, exploded Diet Pepsi. I had forgotten to bring in two 2 liter bottles that had been left in the car. Because the temperature dropped to 30+ degrees BELOW zero, one had blown up...
Here's the furry kids just laying down in the snow contemplating life and squirrels.
This is my netbook that I had sat outside so that Mom and Dad in Georgia could participate in what the snow looked like. It just so happened that Aunt Rachel, Aunt Ruth and Aunt Alice were there so they could see the tour of the snow coming down. I had a towel and some aluminum foil over the top of the chair to keep the falling snow from the computer.
This was looking left out of our front door...
And, this is looking right out of the front door...
This is what the sidewalk looked like after being shoveled for the first time...
Snow even stuck on the doorbell...
Snow starting to pile up again. See the sidewalk.
Out the backdoor. Note the snow piling up on the table...
A later look out the front door. The sidewalk has disappeared now...
A couple of days later, I went out to the car to make sure it would still start. When I opened up the front door I notice something stuck to my seatbelt and then saw some brown ice in the back seat. I opened up the back door and this is what I found. It was frozen, exploded Diet Pepsi. I had forgotten to bring in two 2 liter bottles that had been left in the car. Because the temperature dropped to 30+ degrees BELOW zero, one had blown up...This is the bottle. The lid blew off and the side ripped open...
Here's the furry kids just laying down in the snow contemplating life and squirrels.
Snow Scenes
It snowed over a week and a half ago and here are some of the lingering snow scenes -
Joe standing in front of one of the snow mounds near our home...
This equipment is parked in one of the Wal-Mart parking lots waiting for the next impending snowstorm...
Piled up snow in the Wal-Mart parking lot...
This is one of the places that the City of Casper dumps the snow taken from some of the city streets... 
Joe standing in front of one of the snow mounds near our home...
This equipment is parked in one of the Wal-Mart parking lots waiting for the next impending snowstorm...
Piled up snow in the Wal-Mart parking lot... The frozen North Platte River. There is no evidence of flowing water...
This is one of the places that the City of Casper dumps the snow taken from some of the city streets... 
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