I walk around the lake 2-3 times a week (it’s a nice 2 mile loop) but haven’t seen pelicans here before! They were constantly clustered together and even dipping their heads down for food (fish I guess?) at the same time. Synchronized feeding!

Back in San Jose for ramen and Japanese groceries including sashimi. And we always make our own California rolls but with spam!

 

One of my current works-in-progress – this is a pattern called Wonderful Shells Wrap and this is Ombré Life yarn in lovely hues of grays and pinks

 

Our first ever taco night at home! And more to come

Currently…

 

Reading:

 

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler  – Kelly Harms

 

One of Us is Lying – Karen M McManus

Watching:

Terrace House Tokyo

Eating:

A slice of marble cake that the kids and I made over the weekend

Drinking:

Yorkshire Gold with milk

Cooking:

 

Last week:

I read:

 

Bone Crossed – Patricia Briggs
I Wish You All the Best – Mason Deaver
All-New Wolverine Vol 1 – Tom Taylor, David Lopez
All-New Wolverine Vol 2 – Tom Taylor
All-New Wolverine Vol 3 – Tom Taylor
All-New Wolverine Vol 4 – Tom Taylor
Mera: Tidebreaker – Danielle Paige

I posted:

 

Library Loot (October 2 to 8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the last few days of September! And we finally had some autumnal weather this weekend. It’s amazing how the temperature can change in just a few days. It was shorts and slippers out for the first few days of the week but when it came to Friday afternoon, I was wishing I had my jacket as I shivered in the blasting wind at the playground after school.

 

 

And with the weather cool enough I finally felt like doing some baking again. The result was two walnut loaves, a cheesy garlicky tear and share, and some pesto cheese rolls.

 

Some new books that came in over the past couple of weeks!

Currently…

 

Reading:

 

The Hunger – Alma Katsu

 

 

The Farm – Joanne Ramos

 

 

Watching:

Terrace House Tokyo

Listening:

No audiobook at the moment

 

Eating:

For breakfast I had the homemade walnut bread with butter.

Drinking:

Yorkshire Gold with milk

Cooking:

I picked up a pork tenderloin from Costco and may turn it into a sort of charsiew.

Last week:

I read:
Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation – Bill Nye
Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) – Patricia Briggs
The Betel Nut Mystery – Ovidia Yu
Tongues of Serpents – Naomi Novik

I posted:

 

Library Loot (September 25 to October 1)

X-23 and Abbott – 2 comics for #ripxiv

 

 

Happy Autumn (or Spring)!

As always, California likes to push its weather luck and it’s going to be a hot one tomorrow and Wednesday. But it looks like it might cool down a bit after that (and hopefully stay that way).

I was at Trader Joe’s last week and the pumpkins were out and so were their cinnamon brooms. And it definitely provided a very fall-like atmosphere, although I am so not a fan of cinnamon (or pumpkin spice flavours). I do like pumpkins though (although most of the time I use kabocha squash instead).

I love autumn. I love the falling leaves and all those beautiful colours. I appreciate that the sun doesn’t rise so early any more but I wish it wouldn’t get dark so early. I love being able to put on my jackets and sweaters but am also thankful it doesn’t get that cold here.

 

 

It’s a sunny morning as I write this but it was lovely and foggy earlier in the week when I took a walk around the lake.

 

 

 

Currently…

 

Reading:

 

 

 

 

Watching:

 The Boys

 

Eating:

 

Last night’s dinner of wanton noodles and fishball noodles at a Hong Kong style cafe

Drinking:

 Water

Last week:

I read:

Bride Test – Helen Hoang
Monstress Vol 1: Awakening – Marjorie M Liu, Sana Takeda
The Three – Sarah Lotz
Monstress Vol 2: The Blood – Marjorie M Liu, Sana Takeda
 

 

 

 

 

 

That long awaited (at least for parents) day is here again! It’s the first day of school! Our school year here starts on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, we’ve been doing our usual share of eating…

 

Super Duper burgers

Tried out a newly opened Korean restaurant and it was quite good. We ordered bibimbap, corn cheese, kimbap, kimchi fried rice.

 

Currently…

 

Reading:

The Chocolate Maker’s Wife – Karen Brooks

 

Watching:

Chef’s Line

Listening:

 

 

Undeniable – Bill Nye

 

 

Eating:

I had toast this morning for breakfast

Drinking:

Nespresso

Cooking:

It’s still pretty hot out here so I’m reluctant to turn the oven on! Maybe I’ll just use the rice cooker more or cook pasta.

 

Last week:

I read:

Book Love – Debbie Tung
Skim – Mariko Tamaki
Naturally Tan – Tan France (audiobook)
Rocket Raccoon – Vol 1 Skottie Young, Jake Parker
Rocket Raccoon – Vol 2 Skottie Young, Jake Parker
Hawkeye Vol 3: LA Woman – Matt Fraction et al
Hawkeye Vol 4: Rio Bravo – Matt Fraction et al
Hawkeye Vol 5:All-New Hawkeye – Jeff Lemire, Ramon Perez
The Adventures of Superhero Girl – Faith Erin Hicks

I posted:

Eating Singapore 2019 #WeekendCooking

The Dragon Republic by RF Kuang #tlcbooktours

Library Loot (August 21 to 27)

 

 

 

 

Hello hello. It’s been quite a few weeks since the last Monday post and well, I was on vacation. I know some people may still put up posts while on vacation, and yes, I did continue with my co-hosting of Library Loot  but other than that, this blog remained rather stagnant for a few weeks, for we were in Singapore visiting family, friends, doing all kinds of touristy things (although I’m not exactly a tourist but Singapore changes so fast and every year there’s something different, something new, something being torn down, something being built, roads changing etc). We also took a mini trip to Bintan island, Indonesia, which is a one-hour ferry ride away from Singapore.

Here are some random photos of Singapore.

 

 

 

 

The boys went rock climbing – and I tried it too but the height kind of freaked me out a bit and I didn’t dare go too high.

 

View of the skyline from the rooftop of the National Gallery.

 

The amazing fountain in the new Jewel at Changi airport. The fountain simply gets more amazing as you go further down the levels.

 

One of the newest libraries in Singapore is at the Vivocity mall. It faces Sentosa island and is largely volunteer-run.

 

Currently…

 

Reading:

 

Lily and the Octopus – Steve Rowley

 

Watching:

Chef’s Line

Listening:

Naturally Tan – Tan France

Eating:

I had some homemade walnut bread for breakfast

Drinking:

Green tea

Cooking:

Bak Kut Teh or literally translated, ‘meat bone tea’. Essentially a pork rib soup with herbs and spices, sometimes very peppery. And delicious.

 

Last week:

I read:

 

 

Jessica Jones Vol 1: Uncaged – Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos
Loki: Agent of Asgard vol 1 – Al Ewing, Lee Garbett, Jenny Frison
Loki: Agent of Asgard vol 2 – Al Ewing, Jorge Coelho
Puddin’ – Julie Murphy
Jessica Jones Vol 2: The Secrets of Maria Hill – Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week…

It was my birthday last week and there was a lot of eating.

We ate at an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ. I wasn’t sure if I could eat that much meat. And if it was worth it for the kids (who paid 50% of the adult price) but in the end we did pretty good. The 6yo probably ate enough prawns to cover his tab 😂

The husband took me out to lunch (yes, no kids!) and we ate at Ramen Izakaya in Mountain View which seems to usually have a long line of people on weekends but on this Thursday, we could walk right in and get a table. I had tsukemen which is ramen but with the broth on the side to dip in. The broth was especially delicious!

 

 

Currently…

 

Reading:

 

 

 

Watching:

Stranger Things

 

Eating:

More leftover birthday cake

Drinking:

Lots of water – it’s a very rich cake!

 

Making:

More amigurumi

 

Last week:

I read:

The Priory of the Orange Tree – Samantha Shannon
Pie in the Sky – Remy Lai
Vox – Christina Dalcher
The Great Unexpected – Dan Mooney
Idaho – Emily Ruskovich

I posted:

#WeekendCooking Black Sesame Ice-cream recipe

South Pole Station by #BookBeginnings #Friday56

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Library Loot (July 10 to 16)

Books read in June

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Monday!

I’m sending the kids off to a Rocks and Minerals camp this week. Hope they learn all kinds of fun things!

Meanwhile here are some things we did last week:

Ate at a French bistro in Yountville – I had tomato soup and as my main course, rabbit

 

Bought pastries from Bouchon Bakery (it’s part of the Thomas Keller group). Lovely lemon meringue tart, fruit tart, chocolate eclair and what’s called “Oh Ohs” that wrapped chocolate cake at the back.

Made bread with the tangzhong method.

 

Food Truck Friday complete with kids play area (mini golf, table tennis etc). Tried arepas for the first time.

 

Lots of park and playground days as that’s what summer is all about!

 

Currently…

 

Reading:

The Priory of the Orange Tree – Samantha Shannon

(I’ll probably be done with this by the time this post is up tomorrow though!)

 

 

Watching:

Stranger Things Season 3

Listening:

Consider the Lobster and other essays by David Foster Wallace

 

Latest crochet project:

Eating:

Homemade raisin scone for breakfast

Drinking:

Yorkshire Gold with milk

Cooking:

I’m about to make some pizza rolls for the kids for their lunches this week – just homemade pizza dough, some ham and cheese and tomato paste.

Last week:

I read:

A Fire Story – Brian Fies
Spider-Gwen Vol 1: Greater Power – Jason LaTour, Robbi Rodriguez
Spider-Gwen Vol 2: Weapon of Choice – Jason LaTour, Robbi Rodriguez
Black Widow Vol 1: SHIELD’s Most Wanted – Mark Waid, Chris Samnee
Record of a Spaceborn Few – Becky Chambers
Beijing comrades – Bei Tong

I posted:

#WeekendCooking Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie

Library Loot (July 3 to 10)

Sadie by Courtney Summers