Toy and Nature again

Leigh Ann remember this toy? You gave it to me in the baby shower. Now, it finally sits on the fridge and Arianna loves it when it is moving. She keeps saying circle, circle, ....


Now, this is a photo of 6 friends that attended high school together. It only took 18 years for this picture? (L-R, T - B) Lubia, Rosaura, Eufemia, Me, Rosalva.

Going more into my garden. Here is a picture of tomatoes. Why are these tomatoes so especial? Because these are the first tomatoes from the plants I started from seeds sometime in April! I did not believe any of the seedlings will survive, but at least 6-8 are going strong :)


Alma we need to get the masa and the queso Oaxaca so we can do some really good Quesadillas! I love the taste of the zucchini's flower.


Can you see the top of the carrots? I am not sure if they are ready or not. I may pulled one out to see if we can finally get some.

A carpet of Rubeckia or Black -Eyed Susan as it is commonly referred. I love how it looks.


Begonia. The first one to come from our bulbs. I hope I get more. I like how the flower has so many dimensions, can you tell it looks even nicer with some of the drops of water?


Elephant's ears. Arianna loves these leaves. They are kind of purple, and purple is her favorite color so far.


Anyone some purple pepper? I'd never seen or pay attention to this color. I know there were some red, yellow, green, and orange, but no purple. I am waiting to see what kind of taste it will have.


What to do with a poor tree that died and a huge trunk left for evidence? How about a beautiful flower arrangement. Yeah, that is what Our neighbor's did. It looks awesome.


This is the tree in the front of the house. It turns purple on May and yellow on the fall. It is really pretty, maybe next year I will focus somewhat in front of the house. Still needs some changes.


Side yard. We have some hostas, peonies, and a flower bush that I cannot find what it is yet. It is really nice, but unfortunately we do not use it much. Maybe one day I will extend our fence farther so we can incorporate this part and use it more.


Huge honeysuckel in the side yard. I guess the previous owners loved this vine/bush so much that we have 3. All three slightly different color, but equally beautiful.

Favorite Toys and more

I love how these pictures came out with the natural sunlight. She was watching Super Why and was very concentrated with the letters.

Just a tiny smile that says I can still see that you are with your camera...


Ready to play the next game. In this case was the new blocks that she got.


On Saturday, I went out with Tiffany to Huck's Finn, Michael's (always a dangerous store for me), and then a thrift store on ~64th St. It has really good kid's books in great condition. Sometimes they are even new. So, we stopped by and found quite a few for our kids. Arianna new expression when she likes something is "Wow". Can you tell she was saying in this picture?

I found about 3-4 Richard's Scarry's books and 2 of them were new. Those books at the bookstores are about 10-20 dls for hardcovers, and the cheapest I had seen them are 6 dls. Here each cost 10 cents to 25 cents. Not bad! Her favorite is the one about Colors!

Mike is enjoying some sherbet while Ari and I go through all the goodies I got.


Tiffany saw this guy at Michael's, it lights up when it hits the floor. She liked it some, but books and one stuff animal won, which follows into what are her favorite toys at this moment:


Remember Ann? She likes to have this turtle on quite often. She likes "the purple"
Duplos, she loves to destroy what we make for her. But, she helps me put the pieces back on the box and we count them so it is nice. Sometimes we separate the colors too.


This little fellow is adorable. It is an Old Navy and cost me 80 cents. I knew that she will like it and she does. It is one of her favorites.


Peekaboo!


Of course, we can't forget the little books. I bought this at a Jewel near Mike's school about 8 months or so ago. She loves them. That is something she plays with daily.


While I was watering I told her I did not want her to get wet. It was a bit chilly for that. So, she decided to wait for me by laying on the couch. How comfy.

My new Chicago Rose (that is the name of the rose). These are the second blooms of this year.

First Dahlia of the season. I planted quite a bit so hopefully it will look nice.


The name of this flower is escaping me right now :( but it is pretty.

Update in my tomatoes, they are getting bigger, can you see them?


First peppers of the season, I lost one pepper to either a squirrel or the raccon, although I am leaning toward squirrel. They bit it and realized they did not like it ;) so I had a chewed on pepper...

This soup I got t from a magazine ( I think it was Quick and Easy). It is really good for kids and tasted better the second day ( according to Mike)

Vegetable Soup

5 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup of onion, cut in small pieces
1.5 cups of fine slice carrots or you can shredded too
3 stalks of celery - finely cut
I Added 3 potatoes as well - finely cut
32 oz of Chicken broth
3 -4 cups of water
1.5 cups of ditalini pasta

I added some salt, pepper to taste. A little of thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and oregano. (To taste)

In a dutch pan, put some olive oil and when hot add the garlic for about 15 -20 seconds. Then add all the veggies: onion, potatoes, carrots, celery. Sautee for about 7-10 minutes. Then add the broth and water come to a boil. Add the pasta. Cook for 10-12 minutes, I reduced the heat to a medium heat and add all the spices.

To serve they call for some fresh parsley and permesan cheese, but you can also do some cilantro chilli, and lime instead.

Chi Tung

On Friday, my friend Tiffiney and I went to Chi Tung Restaurant. It is near my house and has Japanese, Chinese, and Thai food, plus a new Hibachi Steakhouse (http://www.chitung.com/). When we first moved to our house about 3 yrs now, we went once. Ordered from the Thai menu and were very disappointed. All of our dishes (our friend Bob went with us) were not good. We ordered the main dishes like Pad Thai, Thai Fried Rice, all without much taste. Also, the soup was more a version of Raman (maybe IT was raman noodles). So, we never went back.
About a week ago, Mike was saying that he had been reading reviews and that Chi Tung scored really high in its food and everytime that we drive by it is packed. I thought maybe after 3 yrs, they changed something? So, I gave it a try. [We actually waited about 10 minutes to be seated, that is how full this place was + countless of take out that I saw in that amount of time].
We ordered two Maki - Spider and Shrimp Tempura, an appetizer from the Thai menu - vegetable potstickers, and the Chinese for 2 - which came with some appetizers: Shrimp Tempura, a BBQ rib, egg roll, Hot and Sour Soup, and the main entrees: Sweet and Sour Chicken and Steak and Broccoli.
The soup came first - no taste, no spice. Oh, oh. Not a good start. Well, let's hope. The Shrimp tempura had a good batter consistency, but still missing on flavor. The rib was ok. At least the meat was soft. The egg roll average. Oh, God. Let's hope for the Thai appetizer. The potstickers came in. They were the best from the meal. Not much inside, they could be a bit more generous in their vegetables, but they were good. The chinese came in, and it was so bland, how can they cook with no flavor?! We did not eat much.
I looked around and saw many people ordering mainly sushi (at least closed to us). Their sushi was so average. I did not think the ingredients were fresh enough, it felt griddy too. In that sense (sushi) this restaurant does not hold a candle to Sesame Inn. If you are in the mood for that, there is no choice go for Sesame Inn.
Yes, the portions for the chinese are pretty big. So, after the whole experience and a huge pack of leftovers. (Tiffiney thought her brothers may eat them), we left the restaurant.
So, nothing was worth coming back. Huge menu not a good idea. I read somewhere "beware of restaurants with big menus". Now, I know why. I still don't understand why is so busy? Well, don't waste your money or time.

[[ Don't know how it is their new Hibachi Steakhouse, but I don't think I will try it]]

Sugar Lime cookies

Here is the recipe for the Sugar Lime Cookies:

Makes: 30 cookies
Prep: 15-20 mins
Chill: 1 hour
Cook : 20 (25 minutes for me)

3/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar divided
Zest of 2 limes (about 2 tablespoons)
1/2 cup sour cream
2 large egg yolks (room temp.) - 30 minutes out of the fridge before using :)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (usually one lime if it is juicy)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 1/2 cups flour

1. BEAT butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and lime zest on medium speed with an electric mixer fitted with a paddle until lightly creamed ( I don't have a paddle so I used the other kind that came with the mixer and I used a spatula or flat utensil and it works). Add sour cream, and beat just until blended. Stir egg yolks and lime juice, scraping down sides of bowl. Add salt, baking powder, and flour, and beat until blended. Chill dough 1 hour. (I don't cover it, but I guess you could if you want).

2. PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. They asked to line two baking sheets with parchment paper, but I put a little cooking spray and it works. Place remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl. Shape dough into a 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar, and place on baking sheets.

3. BAKE at 350 degrees for 20 -25 minutes or until edges begin to brown; bottoms will look light golden. (For crisper cookies, bake a few additional minutes). Remove to wire racks to cool.

4. ENJOY!

(I think I got this recipe from Cottage Living Magazine that is sadly gone. It was a nice magazine).

Legos and more...

Yesterday my sister came by with some McDonald's for lunch. Kids played for awhile and they left around 5ish since they needed to go to church. I made a batch of Sugar Lime Cookies, I guess I would find out later if they like them or not.


We noticed that Arianna was not playing with her toys as much. I guess some of them are for "younger" kids, gosh. So, we went to Toy's R us to buy some new blocks. She has been stacking everything that she sees. Mike found this lego duplos that were a huge hit with our baby.

Daddy made a hat for Arianna, I think she likes it.


Or she just likes to destroy the hat... that was fast. Anyway papa and daughter were having a great time :)


I like this picture of Betsy, she had just "attacked" the new cat... no more cats, no more cats. We have Jack already! Poor kitty.

My tomato that I put in the hanging basket (backwards) is going great so far. It grew twice as much already and I see some of the yellow flowers!

These are the seedling that I started a few months ago, I guess I still have hope to get some vegetables. I had given up on them, they looked so fragile. They are proving me wrong so far. We'll see.

The last rhododendron that I put in my square garden is doing great. I guess it liked the spot because new growth is coming everywhere. I am a happy gardener.


Here are my Black Eyed Susan - finally opened. Can you see my purple Cornflower as well in the background?

My Blushing Bride Hydrangea is given flowers again. I think is part of the Endless Summer collection. They are kind of a very pale pink flower. Nice.


This pepper is not doing that great. I gave it some food and water and I will hope it takes, but look at the cilantro and basil. Those are going strong.

Now these peppers are doing great, can you see my green pepper and the jalapenos?


And my tomatoes that I have in pots have some tomatoes coming! Few more weeks and I can do a salad!

Here is my first Calla Lily. It is the first time that I planted this flower from bulbs on the last day of May. Love the color.

Now, this is the Chicken Hawk that has been eating my poor mourning doves, squirrels, etc... I know, I know, it is Nature's cycle. I mean I think this bird is beautiful, but just don't get your food off my garden please.

This is the couple that lives in our yard. Somewhere in the back. They mate for life. Isn't that amazing?

After been outside for awhile, we came in for some snacks. Arianna ate his yogurt. I love the profile in this picture :)

I caught you mommy. No more pictures I am trying to eat here!