Turtle Rabbit

Last night we saw something very strange (to us ex-mountain folk, anyway) wandering and digging around the fence right behind our apartment--what the Aztec's called the turtle rabbit (also known as an armadillo).  I know that they are common here, but it was exciting for us.  I ran into the house and grabbed the camera, then ran back outside to snap a picture.  Alas, it was too dark, and I couldn't figure out how to get the camera to focus while I was chasing a turtle rabbit in the dark without shoes on--sometimes I'm not very good at multitasking.

So, sadly, all I can do is grab a picture from wikipedia, and, pointing in slack-jawed yokel fashion exclaim, "That thing!  Looky there!"

I've been wondering about a number of big holes that have been dug around the fence and bushes that surround our apartment building.  I think I have my answer now.

Oh, and I saw my first armadillo roadkill this morning on the way to church.

More info on the turtle rabbit here.

Forecast

What a forecast!  This coming week will certainly be an experience for us pasty, ex-Colorado folk!

I think it is important to point out a few things.  First, this iPhone Weather app screenshot was taken @ 8:45PM--98 deg. @ 8:45PM!

Second, our AC had been out for the past 2 days.  After having dinner at a friend's house in Garland we came home to our apartment.  It was about 9PM.  The first thing I noticed was that there was no atmospheric change stepping from the outdoors into our apartment.  I checked the thermostadt: 90+ deg [maxed out].  At 9PM there is nothing you can do with a busted AC unit.  So we stripped the girls down and put little, glistening, exhausted, naked bodies to bed with ice packs and fans blowing on them.

A day later and it was off to Sam's for a backup AC unit.  With that running full time, and another that was loaned to us by the apartment complex, we were able to keep the apartment at about 86 deg.  Same routine again: glistening, little naked bodies, ice packs, and fans.

But today is a good day!  We have a brand new AC unit that is working famously........And just balance the last 2 days out a bit, we're still running the 2 backup units.  98 deg. outside; 73 inside.  Tonight it's back to PJs ;-)

"Family Monday" @ the Dallas Arboretum

Here are a few pictures from our recent outing:

FREE petting zoo!

FREE popsicles!

Giant toad fountains!  (also free)

Facepainting........select styles for FREE!

Kitty cat was popular...

See?

Zoom in on the teeth:

roar!

I think we'll use this one for their next album cover.

And off to our next adventure.

Our Home~

Here are a few pictures of where we're living now:

This is our back deck, over looking the golf course~

My 'tinsy' kitchen~

Main living room, adjacent to the kitchen~

Thea's room ;)

Petra & Ivy's room~

We're still working on a few things, picture hanging~ curtain rods~ needing a few more shelves. But all and all we're fairly settled in & enjoying the change of pace and scenery. 

Love to you all~  Ami

Etymology: Lasterday

For those of you wondering where the title "Lasterday" comes from, this post is for you.  Our youngest daughter (3) coined the term during one of her many hurried storytelling sessions.  At first her stories began with "Last time ago..." which I assume to be a form of "Once upon a time..." (e.g., "Last time ago my sister frew [threw] up in the dirt; I no lub dat [that was a distasteful experience that did not solicit my love].").  But it is also used in the sense of "before" (e.g., "Mom gave me dem [them] fishy crackers last time ago.").  During one of these urgency-laced stories her limited vocabulary tumbled over the concept of yesterday to form the word lasterday.  And it makes sense: for instance, we don't say yesteryear anymore; instead, in this modern age, we say last year.  So you see, our youngest daughter is really a cutting-edge linguist.  She's pushing the envelope of modern english and teaching us to let the old-timey terminology of yesteryear fade into the purple distance of all our unreachable lasterdays--putting "yesterday" to pasture with white-bearded thees and thous.  We'll see if it catches on ;-)

Those Conspicuous Buttons in the Margin

At the risk of looking like this:

I have added a couple of buttons to the left-hand margin of this blog.  But hear me out, I do so mainly to make things easier and less awkward for those several individuals who have already expressed interest in donating.  If you are not one of them feel free to disregard the buttons completely.  ............Hallel-u-jah!

Nudity at the Arboretum

You can't get anything past Ivy!

Pizza Toppings and Asian Markets

We had company scheduled to come over for pizza last Friday night--our first guests. I suppose I could have just purchased a link or two of Italian sausage, some peppers and onions, and made the standard pizza, but that's no fun.  I needed--you guessed it--exotic mushrooms.

Mushrooms do not like the heat, and we've had triple-digit heat here for the past 2 weeks.  And the grocery stores here seem to be a little sparse on mushroom selection: button mushrooms and portabella (both agaricus bisporus)--boring.  (Mushrooms are not a key tex-mex ingredient.)  Whole Foods didn't even have anything a mycophage would consider interesting...

Then it came to me: Asian markets.  I needed to find an Asian market.  A quick Google search and an hour or so later and the 3 girls and I were off to Hong Kong Market in North Dallas.  It was big, and part of an entire Asian mini-mall just a mile or so from the biggest Korean Presbyterian Church I (in my limited experience) have seen.

Walking through the entrance was an experience.  Instantly we hit a wall of strong seafood odor that stopped the girls in their tracks.  Thea gagged loudly and Ivy began to cry.  Petra put on a good face...which was hidden form the nose down under her shirt.  I stopped to encourage the kids to move onward.  I told Thea that she couldn't sound like she was vomiting while in a grocery store--she might hurt someone's feelings.  (We're still working on developing a healthy amount of self-consciousness in that one.)

Reactions under control we proceeded.  I felt like I was walking into a market in a sci-fi flick.  Giant geometrically horned fruits the size of large watermelons, banana blossoms, strange roots, pickled puffballs, live conchs, catfish, carp, crabs, clams--the girls felt like they had arrived at the Dallas aquarium.  They were enamored by a customer picking through live crabs with an experienced eye, and tossing their wriggling, clamping bodies into a plastic bag.  I have never seen so many fruits, creatures, products that I didn't know the names of--it was like being a kid again.  I half expected to find gagh (http://www.startrek.com/database_article/gagh).

The girls seemed to be having as good a time as me.  They ran up and down the aisles (with their shirts over their noses) asking me to buy everything.  They drew more than a few laughs from elderly Asian women pointing at their noses.

In the end we found the fresh mushrooms.  Enokitake, Beech Mushrooms, Shiitake, Oyster, Royal Trumpet...and all at the best prices I'd ever seen.  I bought a little bit of everything--except pickled puffballs (next time).

All done we hopped in the car and started back.  From the back seat Petra called my name.  "Yes, Petra."  She exalted, "Dad, that was the funnest, smelliest place I've ever been!!"  I agree.

Here's to the funnest, smelliest place ever! and our new favorite grocery store.

We have arrived

So to speak, anyway. We've settled into our humble little abode in Dallas Texas in a second story apartment a midst a quiet neighborhood. We back up to a beautiful golf course, surrounded by trees and lush greenery. Not a bad find for an apartment complex in this vast city! The girls seem to enjoy it, especially Thea as she's gained her own room and space away from her sisters. Petra, on the other hand, begged not to have to share a room with 'Ivy.' Can't say I blame her~ Thea tried her best to console her, (with a boastful undertone I might add) "Petra, it's okay- You get to have the top bunk." Petra was not sold. They've been adjusting well, perhaps better than Andrew & I. They've run us a bit ragged, especially since we're in the midst of re-establishing a routine & accomplish some sort of order around here. Re-establishing a 'household' is what it is: work. Between juggling the little ones, unpacking one box at a time, I might have time for a bath (or a phone call) but not much. Then hang a picture here, perhaps one there~ I here my youngest daughter, Ivy~ 'Mom! I need help!' It's really not until they turn about 4, they figure out the whole 'hygiene in the bathroom' thing. Cleaning, laundry (a lot of hand washing btw- my washer hasn't operated since we arrived) more cleaning-up 'stuff.'  I hate 'stuff', why do I have all this 'stuff'?!  fill up the car, hit the grocery store (find the local thrift !) keep up with the kids energy levels- and might I add, since it gets up to about 104 degrees midday, it's unbearable to go outside, so we've had to get creative with the girls. and the Dallas Arboretum is one of the  places we've been frequently visiting. It's a stunning 66 acre 'conservatory' type attraction here in town (only about 1 mile from our place!) Tho it's outside, it's very shaded & we go early enough to beat the heat. Today we went after breakfast & attended 'Family day' with a small petting zoo, face painting and lunch. The girls come dressed in there suits and play in the large water fountains til their little hearts content. Between that and the pool here at our complex, we're trying to stay cool! Andrew rarely goes outside, I think it'll take more than a couple weeks for our burly-mountain man to adjust to such extreme heat & humidity! We end our day around the kitchen table to enjoy a family dinner together & then it's off to bed for the ladies. (ya~ that's not as easy as it sounds and a whole other 'blog' entry for another day ;)  Love to our beloved friends and family back home in CO, we love you, miss you and we'll be posting again soon.  Ami out.

Chrysalis Designs Jewelry

Welcome to Ami's Chrysalis Designs custom jewelry page.  New pieces will be listed here weekly.  Each piece is one of a kind and will be removed after it has been purchased.  Shipping is free.  As always, custom orders and remakes of previous pieces will be considered; email thesani@mac.com for more info.

To purchase, simply click on the "Buy Now" button below the listing, and follow the steps.

August 2, 2011 Jewelry Post

Description: Necklace: 2 Strand, length apx. 27", pink & charcoal f.w. pearls, marbled garnets, glass, crystal, hematite, and raspberry colored rose quartz. Charm consists of jade, crystal, garnet, and stone.  Bracelet: three-strand braided 7 1/2" (same gems & stones as the necklace).  Earrings: rose gold chain and hooks, green Swarovski crystal, and garnet.  Retail for the set (including the standard 10% f.f. discount) $75.60.

Special price for my first 'jewelry post' additional 30% off: $49.00