The kids’ school is on minimum days this week for parent-teacher conferences so I’ll have to think up ways to keep them occupied! Thankfully it is still warm enough in the afternoons to go swimming (also the pool is heated).

It was Chimchar Community Day on Saturday! In case you haven’t a clue what I’m talking about, it’s a Pokemon Go thing, every month they have one specific Pokemon that spawns everywhere. We then spend those three hours at our city’s main park catching Pokemon. Lots of people hang out there too so it’s fun to see all these different people, young and old, and playing together.

 

We hadn’t eaten Korean food for a while so it was off to get some bulgogi, dumplings, spicy tofu soup, and seafood pancake. Also all that banchan.

 Mango snow from a French-style bakery chain from Korea (not Paris Baguette)

 

 

 

 

Currently…

 

Reading:

 

Here And Now And Then – Mike Chen

 

 

Watching:

The Mandalorian on Disney+

I kinda like this series so far!

Listening:

Nothing at the moment. I do have a few holds on audiobooks though so maybe soon!

 

Eating:

Homemade scone

Drinking:

Tea

 

Last week:

I read:

 

The Testaments – Margaret Atwood (I have so many thoughts. Will actually put them in a post soon!)
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory – Caitlin Doughty

I posted:

Library Loot (November 13 to 19)

Royal Holiday made me do it #WeekendCooking

 

 

 

So I forgot to actually update the post with things that did happen. And then I forgot that I had scheduled the post to be posted at 7am as I always do. And I forgot that it was indeed a school holiday and I wouldn’t be up at the usual 6am and checking my phone. Instead it was a leisurely breakfast of leftovers from our Sunday breakfast out at a local diner. It wasn’t the usual rush-rush-rush to get kids ready and eating breakfast and getting them to get their bags ready and lunch ready and out the door by 8.

What I’m trying to say is, OOPS.

And so here’s some stuff we did last week!

 

At the kids’ favourite playground, the 6yo decided to take advantage of the lack of kids (it was before 9 on a Saturday) and “meditate” on top of the sabercat. He cracks me up.

 

 

An article about ramen eateries in the Bay Area had us all longing for ramen. It was also a suitably chilly day and so ramen it was! This ramen has the usual chashu pork and onsen egg as well as butter clams and prawns. My kids love clams and so I only got to eat one.

It’s been feeling a lot more autumn-ish this past week!

 

Back at our local xiaolongbao place. Not as delicate and perfect as Din Tai Fung but hey there’s no ridiculous queue and it’s so much cheaper!

Currently…

 

Reading:

 

 

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory – Caitlin Doughty

Here And Now and Then – Mike Chen

Watching:

The Great Festive Baking Show (Netflix)

This is where they bring back past GBBO contestants for a fun Christmassy special!

Listening:

Nothing at the moment. Just finished Ariel Levy’s The Rules do not Apply

 

Eating:

Pancakes and French toast

Drinking:

Coffee

Cooking:

Last night I made a cabbage and sausage Mac and cheese. It was delicious!

Last week:

I read:

Royal Holiday – Jasmine Guillory
The Avant Guards vol 1 – Carly Usdin
A Breath of Snow and Ashes – Diane Gabaldon
Rules do not apply – Ariel Levy

I posted:

Library Loot (November 6 to 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy almost Halloween!

 

The kids hit a couple of Halloween-related events over the weekend and so the candy haul has started accumulating.

There was candy corn bowling, inflatable slides, spooky dances, lots of little games and other fall fun festivities.

 

We tried out a newly opened udon eatery and they make the udon fresh in the kitchen. So delicious!

 

Currently…

 

Reading:

 

 

 

 

Watching:

Terrace House!

Listening:

 

Eating:

Had waffles for breakfast

Drinking:

Yorkshire Gold with milk

Cooking:

 

Last week:

I read:

Hit-Girl in Rome – Rafael Albuquerque, Rafael Scavone
The Fifth Season – NK Jemisin

 

 

 

 

Where did that weekend go?

 

We tried out a new-to-us restaurant in Palo Alto, and a new cuisine – Caribbean food. We had oxtail stew which came with fried plantain and beans and rice. Jerk chicken. And a roasted sea bass that had a yummy coconut milk sauce with okra and spinach. Also the top photo is a sampler platter of spicy beef patties, coconut shrimp, jerk wings.

Made more walnut bread this week!

Some recent finished projects – a Magikarp hat!

Working on some African flower hexagons to use up leftover yarn. Haven’t quite figured out what to do with it yet.

 

Currently…

 

Reading:

 

 

 

Watching:

Terrace House Tokyo

Listening:

I Am I Am I Am by Maggie O’Farrell

I am slowly listening to this one

Eating:

Had walnut bread for breakfast

Drinking:

Yorkshire Gold with milk

Cooking:

Japanese chicken curry

It’s going to be a much warmer week so won’t do so much baked stuff. Maybe noodles. Rice and dishes.

Last week:

I read:

Sudden Traveler – Sarah Hall
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler – Kelly Harms

 

I posted:

Sudden Traveler by Sarah Hall

Library Loot (October 16 to 22)

 

 

 

 

 

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