BACK@WORK: PD-PB4L

The Professional Development today was affirming and thought provoking at the same time. But the one image I will take away is the video clip of child-adult pairings where the child is copying the adult actions. The clip focuses on negative behaviours and I know that this is so very true in so many ways BUT I also know that the opposite must also be true (even if it doesn't make such a powerful impact). TRY THIS LINK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En-cJqmSjFY

I would love to make a video of the reverse scenario. Today we heard a lot about making explicit what we expect in terms of behaviour and the positive version is the image I would like to hold in my heart.

HOME AT LAST: Feet on the Ground

Week 3 and counting!
It is cold as cold and I'm really grateful to Lucy for my Alaskan sweater (a cardigan by any name is warm).
Such long days and longer nights as I try to catch up with everything at work. I don't think I've ever been so tired which may just be a kind of emotional 'jet-lag' - a bit delayed as I try to settle back into some semblance of routine.
I thought I'd do a bit of writing tonight but I'm pretty much asleep on my feet so I'll do the bed thing and have another go at this tomorrow.

oops -Ukelele night tomorrow - wonder if anyone will notice that I haven't been practicing???

HOME AT LAST: Trying New Things

Crepes are so easy to make and yet it's been years since I've made them.
While I was in the States I had crepes twice in quite different circumstances.

My auntie told me about how popular 'books' were with her kids as they were growing up. In fact they still love them even though it's been a long time since anyone has referred to any of them as 'kids'! Now whatever are 'books', I can hear you ask?? Well I didn't know either but under instructions I made what are definitely NOT a dieter's choice.

A plain crepe recipe 1 c flour, 1 cup milk & water, 2 eggs and a slurp of oil or melted butter.
Cook the crepes on one side only.
Filling = Cup of cottage cheese (squeeze as much liquid out as possible and then mash fine) mixed with 1 egg, 1/2 t vanilla and 1 T sugar.

Spread the filling on the cooked side of the crepe. fold the edged of the crepe inwards to make a square. Then fold in half and then in half again making the 'book' shape.

This book is then fried to golden in butter and served plain or with sour cream or cream depending on your taste.

THEN the next lot of crepes were featured at the "Meet and Greet' before the wedding. A professional crepe maker worked flat out to keep us supplied with savoury and dessert crepes.
The savoury crepes inspired our meals this weekend.

I got a bit adventurous and put some cumin seeds into the crepe batter which was yummy.
These crepes are cooked on both sides but the filling goes onto the crepe as soon as it's turned. Roll the crepe and brown a bit longer on that side and then flip and brown a bit before serving.

Filling #1 = ham, cheese, tomato and wholegrain mustard crepes which are a lot like a grilled ham & cheese sandwiche without the butter content.

Filling #2 = shredded chicken (poached in white wine & thyme) spinache and sliced mushrooms with basil pesto/sour cream .

Crepes are quite an easy to make especially when only two are eating.

HOME AT LAST: There's Nothing Like Your Own Bed

After 3 months travelling the world I am back home.

My travels are all a bit of a blur and I still have several events including the wedding to write up. But there's nothing quite like hopping to sleep in your very own little bed.

It took a few days to put stuff away - obviously the husband has a different system to mine. He did say that while he was on his own - he had made no mistakes - at least there had been no complaints! Well that's his story and he's evidently sticking to it.

I have found the cold weather a bit hard to handle - it just gets into my bones and I can't get warm. Obviously when you move from fall into winter it's a gradual thing. But when you go straight from summer to winter the old body rebells a bit. Though I'm sure it's nothing that time won't cure. Though I do wish people would shut the door behind them when they come into the church and I'm sitting at the back!!

JOURNEY: Seattle 6

Wedding Countdown
The wedding countdown is upon us with so much to do and now so little time.

Of course the big news is that in only a few more sleeps most of our NZ family will be in Seattle to support our baby boy as he takes this milestone step.

It seems like it was only yesterday that we came back to the Whataroa Hospital for a bit of RnR before heading home to 4 other children. Those were the days, eh. The district nurse couldn't wait to spoil the mothers and dote on the new babies - it was a real home away from home with beautiful meals and loving care.

No wonder our wee boy was such a cheery soul even though he certainly knew the inside of Grey hospital with our frequent visits for all manner of breathing difficulties.Every mother knows the joy and pain of each milestone in the life of her youngest child. They are so very precious - those last experiences - you know what I mean. The last baby to nurse, the last brand new school boy, the last report card, the last 21st ...HOWEVER in our case not the last marriage but the second.

Can't wait to get to the celebrations that next week entails.

Can't wait to see the NZ family as I've been away from home since Easter!

Simply can't wait!!!

JOURNEY: Puyallup Sojourn - 10

Galloping Gertie
The first bridge across the Tacoma Narrows has quite a story to tell. So much so that even after it's spectacular collapse in November 1940 the remains of the original structure stand alongside it's replacement.

The story goes that this suspension bridge which opened on the 1st of July 1940 had a rep for vertical movement especially when the wind was up even while under construction. The construction workers nick-named her "Galloping Gertie" almost from the start and that name certainly stuck. Locals recall the movement as something to be experienced and my Auntie remembers nearly taking a group of camp fire girls across on foot but reconsidering when the wind did it's magic. I took this photo in the Washington History Museum in Tacoma. It's part of the Washington State Ikon exhibit.A video of the collapse shows almost in slow motion how it all came tumbling down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Fi1VcbpAI

An engineering nightmare after only 5 months use.

JOURNEY: Seattle - 5

OMGoodness
My cousin travelled up from Puyallup to treat me to IMAX. Always a starter (though admittedly I didn't know what an IMAX experience entailed) I put myself in her hands.

I bused into town and waited at our favourite donut shop TOP POT DONUTS (click here for the inside story on 'hand-forged' donuts) for the cousin-mobile to arrive. Being almost perfectly in sync they pulled up within minutes of my arrival.

Then we set off towards the Space Needle and the charms of the Science Centre
We were early so had some time up our sleeves to browse through the exhibits outside the IMAX theatre - YES I finally worked out that we were going to a movie.
I absolutely loved the old fashioned artifacts of a time long gone some even pre-dating my own childhood

while others were definitely a part of my childhood years.

The Movie Theatre was a real treat and I do enjoy a love story even if vampires and werewolves are some of the key characters. http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3602153984/tt1325004

Very enjoyable and particularly for the company. Afterwards we explored the music displays like big kids.The sculptures all around the outside of the Science Centre were impressive but would have been much improved by water in the fountains! So we went in search of operational foutains and were rewarded beyond expectation. One for the littlies

And one for bigger kids

It's so good to do things with your family especially when they prove to be such good friends.