I’m Frightened

This is a disturbing item from my referrer logs, I am apparently number three in Google for, I kid you not “septic tank guy strip club kansas.”

I just don’t want to know.

Thursday Three: Imaginary Places and Things!

It’s now time to enter the magical and mystical realm of the Thursday Three. Papa Possum wants to know what fills your dreams.

UNICORNS!!

And such things, because this week’s Axis of Weevil Thursday Three (America’s Most Popular Thing!) is all about fantasy and flights of fancy and falderal such as that! Why? I have no idea, other than the fact that I can’t remember asking questions like this before.

So then, take a moment and take leave of your senses and ponder these three questions about all sorts of made-up things!

1) Of the fictional sorts of outlandish made-up places you’ve ever seen in the movies or read about, which one would you most like to live in, and why?

2) If you were a cartoon character, which cartoon character would you most like to be married to?

3) Which would you rather have right now--flying cars, or robot servants?

There now--start dreaming and either leave your answers in the comments below or a link to that magical fantasyland blog of yours.

Hmmm, imaginary places and things, I like this topic.

1) Ha! I’ve got just the book for this week’s question. Many, many moons ago I got The Dictionary of Imaginary Places. Finally it has a use other than just sitting up in the attic.

The place I would most like to live in is a bit of a toss-up.

I like Pern, because fire lizards and dragons are cool and I would definitely be a dragonrider. Narnia (post White Witch) gets a vote because I like the talking animals. Or I could settle down in The Shire (without ringwraiths), because it seems very bucolic and I like living in the country.

Yes, I know that three places, but it is so hard to choose just one, though they all seem to fit together in that they have castles and such. I like castles.

2) If I was a cartoon character who would I be married too? That’s a hard one because most of the adult male cartoon characters are clueless. However, there is one that is both smart and available and he is Dr. Benton Quest. He is a brilliant scientist that travels around the world with really cool gadgets, solving all sorts of scientific mysteries. Race Bannon is appealing in a hunky sort of way and is good with kids, but blonds are not my thing. Mr. Incredible would be another good choice, but he would never leave Elastigirl.

3) Robot servants would win hands down. Then I would have a clean house and I wouldn’t have to actually do anything. If I was married to Dr. Quest I would get both. He would build me robots and then we would jet off in the hover car that he already owns.

Ah well, now I have to get back to reality which unfortunately involves a messy house and a busted garage door. Maybe Mr. Incredible would be a better choice, because then we could open the garage door.

Artist of the Week: Wooden Toys

This week’s artist is a special two for one edition featuring both Max and Rebecca.

Max&Rebecca
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

Max&Rebecca2
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

Last weekend Max was invited to a birthday party and Rebecca was not. At first I was a little miffed on her part and then I realized at some point they will have separate social circles and that they will not always be invited to the same parties. When I called up and accepted Max’s invite, the birthday boy’s mother told me that David (the birthday boy) wanted only boys at his party because “Girls are too loud.” (Which is a fair statement in regards to Rebecca.) Rebecca was a bit disappointed, but between an extravaganza of My Little Pony DVDs and my playing Candy Land with her she got over it very quickly. And let me state here: Candy Land is possible the world’s most boring game for an adult to play. There is no strategy, just the luck of the draw.

Anyway, all was fine until Max came home. He had received a balloon and a little kit to make a wooden biplane. She got a bit jealous and was coping until the bombshell hit.

Max told her that she had been invited and that David asked “where was Rebecca” when he first saw Max. She had a complete melt down. In the end I was able to calm her down when I pulled out an extra wooden race car from “the party box” that had been left over from an older brother’s birthday party.

Sometimes it pays to be a pack rat.

So here are the finished products:

Car&plane
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

I helped with the gluing and gave Max a few pointers on how to paint, but the color scheme was entirely up to Max and Rebecca. They love their new toys and are very pleased that they got to do some building and painting.

The Nanny State

The Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson recently signed into effect a rather odious pet ordinance into law. The 94 page document will affect all pet owners in the Louisville metro area. The problems with it are far too numerous for me to point out here, but here are a few.

All stray dogs will be spayed/neutered, even if the dog is claimed by the owner. So if I’m at a dog show and some nut (and this does happen) lets loose my dog and animal control picks it up, my dog’s show career is over and any hope of using it in my breeding program.

If I live in the metro area, every time I travel with or board my intact dog I must notify in writing the Director of Lousiville/Jefferson County Metro Animal Services.

If I board any pet for more than three days it has to be revaccinated, even if its shots were up to date.

If it is felt that I am not capable in controlling my pet it will be impounded.

The list goes on and on.

Until this law is repealed, I am not going to Louisville with my dogs. And I think it effectively ends all dog shows and ethical dog breeding in the Louisville metro area. Ethical breeders can not function in such an environment.

Currently Virginia is in the midst of its legislative session and has its own crop of anti-pet laws. Last year a law was signed in that formed a state wide rabies vaccination database. Information about the pet, its owner and home address will be posted on this public database. The idea was to promote dog licensing. When you vaccinate your pet, the county will be notified. My guess this will cause a drop in vaccination when people realize what is going on.

My club, and others in the state, are going to be watching the bills very carefully this session and will do our best to stop them. The sad thing is if the existing laws were enforced most of the problems that the new laws “solve” wouldn’t exist.

I got two, Because I’m Special

Since all the cool kids are doing it, namely the Llamas, Jordana and Terry; I thought I would join in on the fun.

First off I went for my name:

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Most Serene Highness Lady Sarah G. the Sanguine of Old Yarkhillshire Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Then I went for my email handle:

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Milady the Most Honourable Teckelcar the Canine of Chortling Chesterton Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

This was the first result and I thought it was utterly amazing. You see Teckel is the alternate name for dachshund in Germany.

Unfortunately I don’t think the kids are going to go for calling me by either title. They all ready refuse to call me Madam President since my election last September.

Another Dreary Winter Weekend

Not

We got treated to another weekend of temperatures in the low 70’s and this time the kids upped the ante. In addition to t-shirts, and for Nate and Max bare feet, they had a squirt gun battle.

I still can’t get over the idea of squirt guns in the middle of January.

Anyway, as any good mother would I shot a little film of the boys in action. As an added bonus Rebecca flies through at one point.



It is a fairly unremarkable clip, but it makes me smile every time I watch it.

Cupcake Blogging

snowmancupcakes
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

Aren't these cute?

I made these for Jake's class before winter break. On the last day of school before break, his class had their winter party.

Originally I wanted gumdrops for the nose, but they were impossible to find so I settled on Dots. Technically they are a type of gumdrop, but they don't have the sugar frosting. The rest of face was made with the ever popular chocolate chips. I was pretty happy with how they turned out.

Jake said they weren't as popular as the last batch of cupcakes I brought in. However they were competing against a boatload of candy for the gingerbread houses they were making.

Anyway I liked them and Rebecca wants me to make them for her class.

Thursday Three: The Bold, The New And The Edgy!

It’s time to go to Terry to find out about what’s hot at the Thursday Three!

Upon the cutting edge!

As part of Possumblog’s insistence in 2007 of being NEW and BOLD and FRESH, we’re gonna take the Axis of Weevil Thursday Three (The World’s Most Exciting New, Bold, and Fresh Online Diversion!) to some new places today!

Specifically, Las Vegas, and Detroit, and Harrisburg!

Yep, today we’re going to ask you for your thoughts on the swanky 40th Annual Consumer Electronics Show, the super-sexy 100th North American International Auto Show, and the ultra-cool 91st Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest indoor agricultural show in the entire country!

As usual, the media buzz surrounding these events is deafening, and in order to stay out there where all the hip and savvy people are, we’d like to solicit your opinions about what all you’ve heard and seen there.

SO, take a moment and tell us:

1) What do you think is the most significant product introduced at the Consumer Electronic Show?

2) What is the biggest surprise of the Detroit Auto Show?

3) What one thing are you most excited about at the Farm Show?

After you’ve all had a chance to visit all the venues, leave your comments below or a link to your blog, and let’s find out what’s HOT this year!!

Right now the only hot thing I got going is my lunch. So I guess I’ll amble over and check out all the new hotness out there.

1) Nothing really grabs me at the CES. Everybody is going on about the iphone and the new mondo 108 inch LCD TV. The item that I thought was the most interesting was this gizmo under personal electronics that got a Best Innovation award. I couldn’t figure out what it was until I clicked on the tiny image and the company’s web site. It’s a hearing aid that has been all gussied up to look cool.

2) I like cars and I do enjoy driving them, but car shows are not my thing. My only observation about this year's show is the growing trend to make cars look like transformers. If they could make a car that was enjoyable to drive and could transform into a house cleaning robot or maybe a generator, then I could get excited.

3) I love farm shows. I think the two most exciting events are the celebrity milking contest (sadly there are no results or video, yet) and the end of the day culinary student cook-off utilizing Pennsylvania products.

I guess I’m not edgy or cool.

Artist of the Week: Drawing

This week’s artist is little Miss Rebecca.


Rebecca
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

She constantly astonishes me on how her drawing progresses. She drew this picture a few days ago.


Charlie,Maxandthesnowman
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

It is of a man, Max (note the blond hair), walking his dog, Charlie, by a snowman.

Each figure is fully recognizable ad does not require explanations from the artist. Ok the dog is a bit odd, but you do have to grant her a small bit of artist freedom. She loves drawing snow man and it is evident with the attention to detail.

Rebecca’s drawings are so very different from her brothers. I don’t know if it is a girl thing or a Rebecca thing. Either way I love how her art changes and grows.

Smack Dab in the Middle

Diane has a link to a brain gender test over at her place. She came out as thinking like an average man. I know I have potential to skew results with my scientific leanings so I thought I would give it a try.

I came out smack dab in the middle. Apparently I’m in touch with both my male and female sides.

I would have loved to retake the match the angle bit with a slightly less balky mouse and I know I was hampered by my less than stellar typing for the verbal test. I think I got too hung up on spelling.

The most interesting part was when I measured my ring fingers and index fingers. On my right hand the two are the same size (66 mm), which is normal for women. On my left hand I got a bit of a surprise. I’ve never noticed this before, but my index finger (69mm) is significant longer than my ring (65 mm). Now it is blindingly obvious to me, but until tonight I had never noticed the disparity.

Oh and I totally ruled in the three-D spatial awareness. A trait I honed when I learned how to pack a Super Beetle for college. My husband has learned to absolutely trust my judgment on whether or not something will fit.

Rebecca's Wish

About 6 or so months ago Rebecca has been asking when it was going to snow. My stock response was “sometime in December.”

As December grew closer and the weather remained mild, I started to hedge my bets. I would tell her that there was a chance that it would snow in December, but the bulk of our snow occurs in January and February. Then I would remind her that we would be going to Nana’s at the end of December and there would be snow at Nana’s house.

Around mid-December I started to worry. My mother had gotten a light dusting of snow, but it was all gone the next day. There was no snow in Vermont. For our trip up north was going to be the Green Mountain State for real.

Rebecca was disappointed when we first got to my mother’s house, but she held firm in her beliefs that it would snow. Christmas came and went and there was still no snow. That night, as I tucked her into bed she stated “It’ll snow tomorrow.”

That night she got her wish. This is what greeted our eyes the next morning.


Nana'sbackyard
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

The kids had a quick breakfast, stuffed themselves into their snow gear (that I had fortunately dragged up North) and piled outside to play, meanwhile I shoveled the drive. About halfway through the driveway Rebecca wandered over it see what I was doing and then headed inside.

Once I was done with my self appointed task I moved to the backyard to take pictures of the kids. The boys were having a great time making miniature snowmen and knocking them over with snowballs. The snow was very wet and was perfect for packing into snowballs.


Jake
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

This is what the yard looked like after a few hours with my kids.
When I was satisfied with my pictures I headed inside.

When Rebecca saw me prying off my boots she burst into tears. After a few minutes of very distressed crying I found out she wanted me to take pictures of her in the snow.

Well that’s an easy fix.

We both bundled up and went back outside.


Pleased
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

If you click on the above picture you get a whole series of pictures of the kids playing in the snow. And as an extra special treat I even shot a short movie of their snowball fight.


I like their version of a snowball fight. There are a whole lot less tears involved than in the traditional version. Jake and Nate, with a little help from Max and Rebecca, made a series of small snowmen. The objective is knock over the other team’s snowmen.

They all had a great time and their snow pants and jackets were soaked by the end. We wisely held off on sledding until the next day. Larry and I figured that the hill would be a big sloppy mess, but with a good over night freeze it would be perfect sledding conditions the next day.

And boy were we right. At least this year we didn’t bust any sleds.

Global Warming

I don’t know if there is any truth to this whole “Global Warming “ thing, the planet has had its warming and cooling cycles before, but it has been much warmer than usual this winter.

This weekend it hit 70, yes 70 in central Virginia. So Larry and the brown eyed boys piled outside to play a little football (Max said it was too hot out and declined to play).


JanuaryFootball
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

Yes, Nate is barefoot and both boys are in shorts.

Rebecca and I stuck to capris and I found the yard to be a bit wet and squishy, but it was fun to be outside barefoot in early January. I also like the effect on my heating bill, but I do miss winter.

I’m just a little old northern girl at heart.

Sugar Cookies

In honor of “Cultures Around the World” I baked sugar cookies for Nate’s class. Since his teacher had chosen Israel, I used my “Hebrew Alphabet” cookie cutters. I bought them a long time ago, but I had never used them. Finally I had gotten the incentive I needed to break them out.

Usually I just make chocolate chip cookies, they are easy to make. The dough doesn’t need to chill, I do not have to roll out the dough and cookie cutters are not used. The chocolate chip cookie is all about immediate gratification. Sugar cookies require advance planning and preparation. As a result, they are rarely made.

The recipe I use is from my beloved 1975 edition of “Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book”. I was all set to make “Mary’s Sugar Cookies” when I encountered a problem, a big problem. I was completely out of powdered sugar. So I decided to go with the neighboring recipe, “Ethel’s Sugar Cookies”. Ethel’s uses regular old granulated sugar and was probably a better choice since I could use vanilla and avoid the almond flavoring in Mary’s and the possibility for nut allergies in the class (I was told there aren’t any, but I like to err on the side of caution). It was a first for me to make this variation, but I have found this book to be very relable and the recipes have all turned out tasty.

Ethel’s Sugar Cookies

¾ cup shorting (part butter or margarine)*
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
½ tsp lemon flavoring or 1 tsp vanilla**
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Mix shortening, sugar, eggs, and flavoring thoroughly. Measure flour by dipping method (p. 5) or by sifting. Stir flour, baking powder, and salt together: blend in. Chill at least 1 hour.

Heat oven to 400 (mod. hot). Roll dough 1/8” thick on a lightly floured board. Cut with 3” cooky cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 6 to 8 minutes, or until the cookies are a delicate golden color. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

*All butter of course
**I used vanilla, but next time maybe lemon

I chilled the dough overnight. In fact I made 1 ½ batches and baked cookies over a three day period. It was nice being able to pull out the dough and bake small batches at a time. Another good trick is to place a sheet of waxed paper or plastic wrap on top of the dough as you roll it out. It creates a smoother top cookie.

And here is a picture of some of the finished product:


sugarcookies
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

I sprinkled a little blue sugar on them before they went in the oven. I think the effect was quite nice and the cookies were delicious. I baked a small batch for Meryl using my Star of David cutters and she agreed. In fact she wants to borrow my alef-bet cutters in the future.

Thursday Three: Shiny!

To kick off the new year Terry presents us with an all new and possibly shiny Thursday Three.

So Fresh, So NEW!

So VERY 2007ish!

Of what do we speak? Why the All New, Super Terrific, Two Thousand Seven, Axis of Weevil Thursday Three!

What with a brand new year ahead of us, why don’t we find some bright shiny new questions and see what people have to say!

::looking around for shiny things::

Hmm.

Well.

Okay, so these are going to be pretty much like any of the other set of three questions we’ve ever asked. Just play along and act like they’re fresh and exciting.

1) What new thing would you like to attempt in the New Year?

2) What one new thing do you really, REALLY need (not want, but truly need) to have?

3) What grungy old ramshackle thing do you have that you should replace with something shiny and new but just can’t bring yourself to make the switch?

SO, there you go--all of you rush out and purchase some nice new thinking caps and either answer in the comments below or leave a link to your blog and we’ll come over and oooh and ahhhh over it! Remember, anyone can play along, even if you’re a raging kainophobe!

Oooo! So Shiny! And New!

Erm, sorta, well not really unless you squint and tilt your head, but that's never stopped me.

1) I can't think of any new things I'd like to attempt this year. I think I would like to rejoin the paid workforce this fall when Max and Rebecca start kindergarten, but that is not really something new.

2) I really need to get the light in the brown-eyed boys' room replaced. It shorted out a long time ago and I tried to get an electrician to come and then I forgot about it. It really needs to be done. I would also like to replace my wall oven that is coupled with an obsolete microwave with a double oven, but that is more of a want than a need.

3) I don't know if this qualifies, but I do have an armchair that desperately needs to be recovered. It is quite grungy and old. But do to budgetary restraints and the fact that I'm loath to get nice furniture before certain members of the family stop jumping on the furniture I'm not going to make the switch. I just keep reminding myself that it's an antique.

That's it for me, I'm not that exciting this week. I guess I'm not one of those shiny and new types.

Artist of the Week: Gingerbread House

This week's artist is Jake.


Jake
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

This is an out take from our yearly holiday card photo session (to see the winning entries click here and here). I think he looks so handsome here and even Crunch looks good.

Now onto the gingerbread house.

It was a class project on the last day of school before winter break. I was amazed that it made it home in one piece.


front
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

If you click on the picture it will lead you to a whole series of photos from different angles.

Anyway, I think it is very cute and I love how you can see the milk carton in the rear view. He did a nice job decorating it and dearly wanted me to preserve it in pictures. I never made these growing up and a small part of my Yankee soul views them as a big waste of candy and gingerbread, but I do like looking at them.

An Evening with the Governor

As I mentioned last year, my husband and I got to attend a party at the Governor's mansion.

It was the first night of Chanukah and Meryl was just able to get the candles lit before Sabbath. It was a close call, I was out picking up dinner while she watched the kids and got things going.

Anyway, for once I was ready and left the house on time. Life is so much easier when I don't have to marshal the troops. The plan was that I would meet Larry in Richmond and we would enter the Governor's mansion together, enjoy the party and then we would go out for dinner at a nearby sushi place.

The mansion was quite pretty and nicely lit on the outside. I took a picture, but since I didn't have a tripod handy the picture really doesn't do it justice.


Governor's
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

Larry got a much better shot of me at the front door just before we went in.


Frontdoor
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

It actually took him a couple attempts to took this picture. The first time he was just about to take it when the doorman whipped the door open. He quickly understood what we were doing and closed the door and waited for us to be ready.

When we entered the mansion the first person we noticed was the Governor. He is a very approachable person, he welcomed us to his home and then we chatted a bit with him when my cell phone rang. Figuring it was Meryl, since the only other person who ever calls me on my cell was next to me, I excused myself and retreated to an empty room to take the call. It was indeed Meryl and she was wanted to know if the dogs had been fed. The kids did not know and the dogs, being hounds, looked hungry. I told that the dogs had indeed been fed and then said "guess who I was just talking to? It was the Governor!" Once I was done with the phone I wandered back into the hall to find my husband.

We mingled for a bit with some of his coworkers and then we joined the line for a photo with the Governor. When it was our turn I was very impressed that he remembered us from earlier, namely he asked me who called. I cheerfully told him it was the babysitter and she wanted to know if the dogs had been fed.

I know it is a minor detail, but a telling one. Tim Kaine is a pretty sharp guy. I don't think Warner would have noticed and certainly not Gilmore.

The party itself was quite good. There was an open bar stocked with top shelf drinks and an outrageously tasty buffet. I could have easily grazed there all evening and would have gotten a nice meal out of it. Instead we ate heartily, but not fully since we were planning to go out for sushi afterwards. It worked out well. I like sushi, but I don't find it particularly filling. This way I could savor our dinner without filling starved afterwards.

As for pictures of the party I limited myself to just one.


gingerbread
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

I couldn't resist photographing a gingerbread house made by the Governor's family. If you click to enlarge the picture you can just read the card next to it. I thought it was a charming little thing nestled amongst all the antique finery of the mansion.

Normally I hate cocktail parties, but this one was fun. I know some of Larry's coworkers and I had a good time talking with them. Of course the two gin tonics didn't hurt either. I was in a very happy place. It was a fun date night for me and my husband. Thank you Meryl for a such a lovely birthday present.

Happy New Year!

I wish you all a healthy and happy New Year.

We are home again and I must say it is nice to be back.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all that celebrate.

Eighth Night

Friday was the last night of Chanukah, but we didn't get to Grandma's until very late, curse you rainy weather and holiday traffic. So Saturday Morning we lit the candles for the last time.

I hope you all had a happy Chanukah.

Seventh Night

We were eating dinner when it suddenly hit me that I forgot to take a picture of the menorah. I was just able to get this picture before the candles were completely gone.


Seventh Night
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar.

Nate wanted to be in the picture, so here we have Nate's smiling face on the seventh night of Chanukah.

He is such a cutie.