Okonomiyaki

 On Dan's recent trip to Japan, he tried a dish called okonomiyaki. So, we decided to give it a try as well. After a few specialty items ordered off of Amazon (dashi powder, Bonita flakes, seaweed flakes, Kewpie mayo, and okonomiyaki sauce/Brown sauce), we were ready to try these out.  

The main ingredient is cabbage. We weren't sure how we would like pancakes with cabbage in them, but thanks to the toppings, it tasted good. In fact, we will be making it again. I just need to slice the cabbage even thinner next time.

The toppings are essential to this dish.  The pancakes by themselves do not taste all that great.

What will we try next?  

Tacoma Baseball and Stadium High School

 We got away for the weekend and enjoyed a baseball game and a tour of a really cool high school.

The Tacoma Rainiers won 10-4 against the Las Vegas Aviators.  

                                       

Ballsy the Tiger - Mascot for Stadium High School

Cool 4-story attic

The Stadium that Stadium High School is named after

Wow!

Apparently, Tacoma buildings use to be heated by these underground steam tunnels

Neat Stairwells.  The School was remodeled in 2005.  You can see what the school use to look like in 10 Things I Hate About You

Home Alone?

 

I am home alone and just out of the shower and I see Waddles in the hallway.  I definitely did not put him there nor is there any explainable way to how he got there.  

Then I remember Joey should be getting home soon (Joey was in the dining room smiling). Way to go freaking out your mother!

Bob Ross Paintings

 

The Blackthorn Key Series

 The Blackthorn Key Series is by Kevin Sands. I enjoyed this series immensely. The characters were so well written. They were not overly intelligent like some kids are portrayed; they made mistakes like normal preteen kids. 

Summaries of books:

Book One 

The Blackthorn Key

Christopher Rowe is an orphan that is chosen to be an apothecary's apprentice. The year is 1665. His best friend is Tom, a kind and tall boy. Christopher has to solve all sorts of puzzles and clues to figure out who is murdering apothecaries in London

Book Two

Mark of the Plague

The plague has come to London along with unscrupulous men. Christopher has to figure out whether it is just the plague killing people or also evil men.

Book Three

The Assassin's Curse

Someone is attempting to kill the king's sister. Christopher is recruited to go with her to Paris and figure out who it is before they succeed.

Book Four

Call of the Wraith

On the return voyage from Paris, Christopher falls overboard and loses his memory. He struggles to figure out who he is and also who has kidnapped children in the area.

Book Five

The Traitor's Blade

There's a plot to kill the king and Christopher follows clues to figure out who is behind it.

Book Six

The Raven's Revenge

The year is now 1666. There's an underlying story line that has been building through the books of an evil mastermind that wants revenge. Can Christopher, Tom, and Sally figure out who it is and survive?

I enjoyed following along as the characters grow in wisdom and stature.  I sense that the author might be catholic. There was a definite reverence for God throughout the books, though one could argue the "voice" Christopher hears in his head takes the place of the Holy Spirit.  I didn't mind the voice, because you know who it is suppose to be (no spoilers). The series has a very satisfying ending. I will definitely read through these again!

Lighting Lego Buildings

 We found these super cool lighting kits for our Lego modular building sets. Assembly Square and Book Shop.

You have to disassemble the buildings a little bit to run the wires and attach the lights. The buildings look amazing. The picture doesn't do them justice!

LEGO Galaxy Explorer Build

We really know who the LEGO nerd in the M Troop household is, right?

I found a great retro release of a reimagined LEGO Space set from 1979, the Galaxy Explorer!

This 1,254 piece kit only costs $100 from LEGO.com (https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/galaxy-explorer-10497).  This is one of many sets released to celebrate LEGO's 90th anniversary.

On both the LEGO.com and Walmart.com shopping Web pages this model received all 5-star reviews without exception, and I agree.  It is an incredible set.

One of the really special features of this feature-rich set is that the creator re-imagined it twice the size of the original because he knew that adults would be assembling this nostalgic set and wanted them to feel the same relational size as when they first built it as a child.  What a cool idea.

The set comes complete with four classic Space astronauts in their original 1970's colors (red and white only!), a space buggy, and one robot serving drinks (of course that's what robots did in the 70's!)

Here's some pictures of my very own assembled Galaxy Explorer. :-)

- Big Daddy Andy

End of Summer Mini-Vacation

 Wonderful Hubby allowed himself to be dragged to the Pacific County Fair and then to the Chehalis GarlicFest. He then endured the Dinner Train/Escape Room Adventure.

We stayed in this adorable tiny house in Centralia. If we ever do turn one of our outbuildings into a tiny house, we will definitely have stairs to a loft and not a ladder!

Sticker from the garlic festival

lovely watercolor note card by Emily Lee

We then worshiped at Christ Covenant Church with our brothers and sisters. This church is a church plant from Benji's church.

What a lovely weekend with Andypie!

Crocheting Therapy

 I have been wanting to make something lovely to give as gifts.  Something that is useful and will last.  Then I saw this blog and I was smitten! This lady lives in England and makes the most colorful blankets!  Not only can you admire her creations, but you can purchase the same color yarn and follow her instructions for each blanket!

Here are the blankets so far:

Moorland Blanket

I pray for the person while I am making the blanket.  It has been like therapy and has helped me keep my focus on God.

Meadow Blanket

Sweetpea Blanket

Coastal Blanket

Fluffies on the Farm