The Sky is Falling

All over the news today, they were talking about the NASA satellite falling from space and about to enter the atmosphere tomorrow. It's supposedly the size of a school bus and could break up into a zillion pieces when it enters the atmosphere and showers down to earth. They still can't pin down where it will fall...but it's not north america...whew!

Mmm...to be hit by a piece of the satellite, I wonder what the odds are? The odds are small but how small.

There was a woman, Lottie Williams, who claimed she has been hit by a piece of space junk in the past. Imagine that!!

Heads up Lottie!
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2009/01/dayintech_0122

Not to worry, according to Mark Matney, a scientist in the Orbital Debris Program Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the odds that any of the 7 billion people on Earth will be struck by a piece of the soon-to-fall satellite is 1 in 3,200. "The odds that you will be hit … are 1 in several trillion," Matney said. "So, quite low for any particular person."

Good to know.....

Something Someone said

I've always admired Anderson Cooper and his courageous journalism for CNN and Anderson 360. The places he had traveled to and the stories and images that he has brought to the world are incredible.

I was watching the new Anderson Cooper talk show this week and he interviewed his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt. I didn't even know that she was his mother!

Gloria Vanderbilt has endured a fascinating life. She is an iconic heiress, a painter, actor, must, designer, model, writer, entrepreneur and a survivor. There are a number of people I would admire for their grace and GV would have to be added to that list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Vanderbilt 

On the show, Gloria Vanderbilt said something that resonated in me.

"We are not put on this earth to see through one another, but to see one another through." Unknown

Gloria has it right we need to be mindful of what we do with our time here.

I found this site with a couple of other quotes there were interesting and inspirational.

http://www.dictionaryquotes.com/

“Time is the most valuable thing a [person] can spend.”      Theophrastus 

"In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport."   Julia Child 

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost."   J.R.R. Tolkien

"A good traveler is one who does not know where he is going to, 

and a perfect traveler does not know where he came from."

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow."   

Lin Yutang

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Moon Festival

 

 

 

Mid-Autumn Festival alias Zhongqiu Festival

September is always a time when we slow down get ready to go back to school. The evenings are cooler and we start gather our harvest and prepare to hibernate. This September has been extremely warm! We have enjoyed plus 30 temperatures and it seems like summer is finally here!

September 12, 2011 was the Moon Festival and my family were all together on the weekend to enjoy a meal together and celebrate. Probably only second to Chinese New Years this holiday is very significant in Asian culture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival

Our family have our own harvest festival, usually in the gathering of apples and the production of apple pies...factory style! Every fall we pick apples from my Dad's two apple trees and make a dozen or more pies, peel apples and freeze them for future apple crisps and other delights. This year the young nephews were also taking part and learning about how to make Mom's special pies.

 

u r what u eat

Every once in a while I re-evaluate my eating habits and search for new ideas. This was an article that I came across which I thought was an interesting experiment for a family seeking to eat healthier.

I do go vegetarian at least one day a week with my 'meatless Mondays.'  Consume fresh fruit, red peppers and veggies for snacks throughout the day and drink copius amounts of green tea and water.

I'm considering trying this Leake family experiment. I've have to think it through a bit more... and see if it's doable.

The Leake Family Experiment
In an effort to force themselves to consume more cautiously, the Leake family set some temporary guidelines: no refined grains or sweeteners, nothing deep fried, only local hormone-free meats and organic fruits and veggies and absolutely nothing out of a box, can, bag, bottle or package with more than five ingredients listed on the label.

http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/how-one-family-broke-their-junk-food-addiction.html

http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/8-healthy-snacks-for-kids.html


Jicama Sticks

• 1/2 teaspoon(s) grated lime zest
• 3 tablespoon(s) fresh lime juice
• 3 tablespoon(s) rice wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 tablespoon(s) sugar, honey, or maple syrup
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1  chipotle chile in adobo sauce, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon(s) adobo sauce
• 3 pound(s) jicama
• Chopped cilantro, for garnish

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Directions

1. In a 13x9-inch baking dish, to make the brine, whisk zest, lime juice, vinegar, sugar, salt, chile, and adobo sauce until blended.
2. Remove peel from jicama with a large knife. Cut jicama into 3/4-inch-thick slabs, and cut slabs into 3- to 4-inch sticks. Place in brine, turning sticks to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 6 hours, up to 1 day.
3. To serve, remove sticks from brine and sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

Read more: Sweet and Spicy Jicama Sticks Recipe - Redbook

Quest for Fire

Over a year ago, I was interested in making a penny stove. It is light, portable and extremely efficient in fuel usage. I scoured my "youtube university" and found many versions of the popcan stove alias penny stove. I had polished the can with such vigor that I could see my reflection on the surface. The one I made looked a bit more like a flying UFO.

The portability of the stove would make it a 'no brainer' for cyclist, hikers and just the typical weekend warrior. Some people have vowed that they have traveled Europe and over week long backpacking trips with this little portable gem. I haven't tried that yet...but it was still a great invention and fun to make!

It would only take a couple tablespoons of fuel to make tea for two. People have cooked full meals with this stove. I pulled out the stove tonight and set it a blazed! Works like a charm! I totally forgot about it until today!

Here is the website where I got these pics and made my stove:
http://ygingras.net/b/2007/6/a-better-soda-can-stove




A Classic song...the video is not really eye candy so if you choose just close your eyes and enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flOvM4Z355A