Friday, October 30, 2015

Dancers' Dinner at Halloween

The mood was set for a Halloween themed dinner with some couples we've known from dancing. I'd dug an old canvas print I knew I had out of the attic and set it up next to a plaid pumpkin. Just that morning at a HomeGoods nearby store, I'd bought some appetizer plates because they'd reminded me of that canvas. I could not believe how well they went together. I'd purchased that owl and big orange moon image many, many years ago at a T. J. Maxx.



For each table place setting decoration I'd drilled two holes in a mini-pumpkin using a wine corkscrew. I was surprised to find out that even at this small size, pumpkins are hollow in the center.  I could dribble water in one hole, while air exiting the second hole and then insert two yellow roses. I added a bright green bow and a cardboard BOO sign and voila, instant atmosphere and cuteness.



Here is the place setting complete with napkin and gold ring. I talked about my planning for this table arrangement in my DianeLoves2Quilt blog post for 10/28/15.



 I liked the simplicity of the table layout but enjoyed the lushness of its colors.



In the nook area off the kitchen I had set up snacks for if we had the energy to play some games after dinner . The witch hats in the background are made from cookies and Hershey kisses and the owls in the foreground are from Oreo cookies and Reese's pieces eyes and beaks on top of chocolate mini-muffins.



Here are those owls closeup. How does it feel to have all those eyes peering directly at you?



The first to arrive were our friends Carl and Sachi, dressed as Hans Solo and Princess Leia. It was not intended to be a costume party but what fun it was to get in the spirit.


Our friends John and Marita called on their way saying they were delayed. That night was to be the Zombie Pub Crawl in downtown Livermore. Traffic was backed up from the throngs driving to attend. Folks dressed as Zombies gather as a flash dance mob in front of the Bankhead Theater and then pub hop all dressed in zombie clothes and makeup. This is a photo from 2014 but the event grows every year, much like the zombie nation population. Livermore is a happening place! Just think of all those scientists' brains that are available to feed on.



John and Marita's delayed arrival did not upset my precisely planned menu timetable. That got thrown to the four winds when I discovered that the large burner on my stove that I was using to heat water up to boiling to steam the vegetables, had stopped working. A watched pot may never boil but an unwatched, flaky burner, that only functions intermittently, has the same issue. At one point I turned on all the burners on the stove to high and when I learned which one was working I used that one. Not a very efficient method, I know. That was OK, though. The pork loin roasting in the oven had reached an internal temperature of 145°F, as was the goal, but the meat still looked too pink to be appetizing. After slicing, back in it went. Oh well. As they say... the best laid plans...


The salad was color coded to the theme and in a crescent moon shaped dish. I'd prepared it before the timetable had run amuck. From top to bottom the ingredients on a bed of romaine lettuce were yellow corn and yellow bell peppers, orange mandarin segments, green Granny smith apples, and blackberries at the base. A centrally placed hard boiled egg section added a stark white and bright yellow accent. The egg reminded me of Mike Wazowski, the one eyed monster from the Pixar movie Monsters, Inc.


My favorite part of a dinner party is the decorating and socializing so we just rolled with the punches on the food portion of it. The cooking may not have been executed elegantly, but everything on the menu was edible. The ginger sesame marinade on the pork loin was tasty and folks like the dried fruit I'd mixed in to jazz up the rice.

Everybody loved the dessert. It was Crème Brûlée per a recipe by Betty Crocker. I'd made a trial run of the recipe a couple days before. Frank and I had learned the longest part of the operation was caramelizing the sugar on top just before serving. We decided that this would be a group activity instead me having them all ready to serve. It would be like the showmanship of the waiter who flambés the rum when preparing the cherries jubilee at the table but in this case, everyone could do his own.





Well, a waiter typically has a flame to work with, not a flickering, sputtering, irregular, smattering of sparks. Caramelizing that layer of sugar provided quite a bit of entertainment when we gathered to create that characteristic hard, crunchy top. I had a tiny "gourmet chef culinary torch" from Bed Bath & Beyond. Very small ceramic ramekins come with the torch and they are a joke. They hold two, maybe three, mouthfuls of the custard. I used bigger dishes and made a double batch. The torch was kind of a joke, too. It kept going out. We were probably at it a good twenty, maybe even close to thirty, minutes repeatedly refilling that bitty torch with butane. Fortunately I had thought ahead and bought refills. The guys were really hankering to use a large propane torch like you would for soldering pipes. We muddled through with the tiny butane torch because I was unwilling to "flavor" the crème brûlée with the smell of propane.



Afterwards, when there were just a few bites left, John tried an experiment with the propane. I could almost hear caveman grunts like those of Tim Allen as Tim "the Tool man" Taylor from the classic TV show Home Improvement, as he relished the use of power to get a task done. I did not smell any propane as I had feared, but the room positively stunk from the sulphur of the wood matches John had used to light the torch! We had to throw open the windows and air it out.

For the information of the uninitiated, the television series Home Improvement, with its own comedy of handyman errors, was one of my favorites. It aired from September 17, 1991 to May 25, 1999. Per the Wikipedia article, "In the 1990s, it was one of the most watched sitcoms in the American market, winning many awards. The series launched Tim Allen's acting career."

After dessert the genders separated, spontaneously and naturally, not really planned. I have no idea what the men discussed but we women just talked about family and then Marita and Sachi requested I conduct an unprepared and unscheduled tour of my dishes. I have a lot. I admit it. They said I must because, when they have dinner here, I use a different set almost each time. Looking in the far reaches of high-up cabinets, in the bases and upper portions of hutches, and even in the depth of some drawers was fun as well as a reminder to me of stuff I should use or "lose" to goodwill. Except that I like it all! We played a couple rounds of the card game Swish and then called it a night. It had been a fun evening. I enjoy planning and setting a formal table but that is certainly where the formality ends with friends.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Alex's Pumpkin Festival

In reviewing my photos, I realized I never posted about the pumpkin festival we went to with Alex on Saturday, October 10th. Alex's summer and weekend respite camp holds an annual festival one day every fall. The camp is located in Los Altos. He is a veteran camper here at least one week in the summer and several weekends throughout the fall and spring months.



The event typically has a haunted house, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, a games and crafts area, and also hosts a barbecue lunch. There is usually a cotton candy booth and a face painting booth as well but these do not interest Alex. The fall festival is a fund-raising effort for the camp for special needs kids and adults that is sponsored and run by Via Services.

Alex, as usual, is more interested in the animals than the pumpkins. His favorite part is the petting zoo and, in particular, the bunnies. Here he is with two of them. If I had posted sooner I would have remembered the names of all four bunnies. Alex had to hold every... single... one... multiple... times.


Alex is wearing the shirt we bought him when Frank and I went to see the musical Lion King in San Jose. Hmm, that is another post I never wrote.




We did persuade Alex to at least give a perfunctory pat to one of the goats before we moved on to other activities.



The lunch was great with hot dogs and chicken and salads and chips. Afterward, in the games area, Alex liked the bean bag toss game and throwing the basket ball. He liked picking up the floating yellow plastic ducks using a net and often captured two at once! Seeing a Disney princess, in this case Jasmine, was also a treat for Alex.


Alex really got into pouring colored sand through a funnel to make his own sand striated piece of artwork. Then we circled back to the pumpkin patch, detouring a bit to pass through the petting zoo again, and picked up the pumpkin Alex had previously selected.


We spent a good three hours at the fall festival and Alex was happy the entire time. Alex did carry his pumpkin home and all around St. Denis in the following days. It sat on his table by him as he did his puzzles. We may have put mileage on the car (120 miles round trip) but he got mileage out of that pumpkin.

With three pumpkin festivals in just over two weeks, it is no wonder I nearly forgot about the one in the middle with Alex. I'd blogged about a pumpkin festival we went to in SoCal with Dan and his family on Sunday, October 4th (my 10/13/15 post) and one we went to in Oklahoma with Robin and her family on Monday, October 19th (my 10/27/15 post) and now, with Alex's pumpkin festival, my collection is complete. I am "pumpkined" out but we had a good time at all three.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

OKC Visit: Orr Family Farm & Return Home

Sunday October 18th
On Sunday morning, four grandparents, two parents, and two grandkids piled into two vehicles and went off to Robin and Jeremy's church. In addition to donuts that morning, the congregation was treated to four dozen cupcakes, courtesy of the My Little Pony party the day before. Remember how in the story of Noah's Ark, God sent a rainbow after the flood? These church goers got a rainbow of a different kind.


After church we enjoyed a family buffet at a restaurant call Furr's Fresh Buffet. I had never heard of the chain before but the variety of entrées and desserts was amazing and the food was surprisingly well-prepared, good, and healthy especially for an all-you-can-eat, buffet-type dining establishment. Jeremy recalled for us from his childhood memories the treat when his parents would take him with his brothers and sisters to a similar one in the chain. We all ate our fill and then went back to Robin and Jeremy's house.


Autumn explored her birthday presents, Isaiah ate and ate, and we grandparents recouped our energy from the day before. In all the hubbub of the day before, Autumn had not opened her gifts from us. We'd gotten her some Duplo sets. She opened a small set first of an ice cream truck and we told her it was from "Uncle Alex".  She was very pleased and cheerfully called out, "Thank you, Uncle Alex!" even though he was not there.


Uncle Alex got credit for the other gifts, too. As she opened each, Autumn dutifully chimed out unprompted, "Thank you, Uncle Alex!" She especially liked the stable. Uncle Alex was really with it when he picked that one...


Monday October 19th
Frank and I breakfasted at our hotel and then mid-morning went back to Robin and Jeremy's to convene and set out for the day's outing at the Orr Family Farm in Moore, OK. Per its web site, the Orr Family Farm is "a spectacular family-friendly getaway located within the heart of Oklahoma City".  It was founded by a veterinarian and his family and provides an education and entertainment environment for children and their families with a variety of rides and activities. There is also a breeding and training facility for racehorses on the grounds. Upon entering, we were greeted by a scarecrow sign. 


The first bright red building we saw was the train station.


It was decked out with its cornstalk decorations on its porch columns.


We rode the train as our first activity since it offered a great overview of the possibilities for the day's activities. All aboard! Jeremy and his mom are ready!


The train circles its way around the perimeter of playgrounds, pony rides, and animal barns and then winds it way back past the waterside locations where parties and weddings can be held.


We pass lush foliage, scenic white rail fences,


and bright red outbuildings.


The train passes the carousel just before concluding its journey back at the station where we boarded. After the train, Autumn was just longing for a carousel ride. Grandpa Frank rides with her for the first of several trips.


Three male generations, Isaiah (in the stroller), Grandpa O, and dad Jeremy sit together companionably and look on.


This carousel is a rebuilt version of the original. May 20, 2013 had changed the farm forever when an EF5 tornado had ripped through Moore, Oklahoma. The Orr Family Farm had been directly in the path of the storm and although the Orr family, employees and animal barn animals at the Orr Family Farm survived the tornado, the Farm itself sustained substantial damage to buildings, amusement rides and other areas vital to the operation of the Farm. The carousel had been dislodged from its mounting and demolished. Volunteers did a beautiful job resurrecting it to be enjoyed once again.


I found this picture amusing. Isaiah appears to be wearing his grandpa's train cap.


Autumn went down slides, jumped in the bouncy house, climbed a huge pile of hay bales, and swung on swings. A trip to a farm would not be complete without a real pony ride. Robin walks beside her as Autumn immerses herself in the experience of being astride a real equine. She got to pick the animal she rode and Autumn picked the biggest one - so much for my "little" pony.


There was a hayride to the outskirts of the farm beyond the perimeter of the train tracks loop to pick a pumpkin, but we passed on that excursion for the day. Jeremy and Autumn got "bounce back" passes to do that another time. We left while everyone was still smiling and happy and not overly tired.


Jeremy grilled steaks for dinner and we feasted on them with baked beans, coleslaw, and potato salad. After a few breakout sessions of one-on-one time, we called it an evening. I said my tearful goodbyes to the kids and grandkids and Frank and I left for our hotel. The next day they would be back to their routine of work and daycare and we would be flying back home to California

Tuesday, October 20th
Frank and I dropped off our rental car at the Advantage satellite location and took the shuttle back to the Will Rogers Airport terminals. As we got off the bus, I could not help but notice all the people saying their goodbyes to their loved ones, a familiar scene at any airport. When we were entering the Southwest terminal, I saw this sign by the curbside valet station. It tickled me.


Jeremy's folks' flight was leaving within a few minutes of ours, but with a different airline and from a different terminal. Since we had some time before boarding and both of us couples were in the security-cleared area, Frank and I walked down to John and Anna's gate and took this final selfie to send to the kids. We added the text message. "See you soon!"

Saturday, October 24, 2015

OKC Visit: Autumn's 3rd Birthday Party

ARRIVAL
Frank and I arrived in Oklahoma on Thursday, October 15th, checked in at the Hampton Inn and Suites, and rolled on over to Robin and Jeremy's house to see Autumn and Isaiah and Jeremy's visiting parents, John and Anna. Robin opened a few gifts we had for her – her birthday had been the day before. Robin and I visited Party Galaxy for some supplies and we called it an early night. Friday, October 16th would be a busy day hugging Autumn and holding Isaiah and prepping for Autumn's party on Saturday, October 17th. Since we had a rental car, Frank and I were assigned run-around type tasks – picking up the cupcakes, re-visiting the party store for additional items, and getting the balloons inflated and delivered.

DRESSING for the OCCASION
Autumn's party had a My Little Pony theme, or rather immersion. As is her tradition as a mom, Robin sewed Autumn a top for her birthday party. It had a My Little Pony print as the feature fabric and Autumn loved it. Robin asked me to french braid Autumn's hair across the crown of her head like a headband but to leave it hanging long and free down to her waist in the back. After I'd done as best I could on the little wiggle worm, I lifted her up to see herself in the mirror. Her hairdo was not as tidy as I would have wanted, but Autumn took one look at herself and exclaimed with a huge smile, "Grandma, I look like Elsa!" It melted my heart.


Elsa is one of the two main characters from the Disney movie Frozen. There is a resemblance.



Grandpa Frank dressed accordingly for the occasion, too.


Dad Jeremy also found the perfect shirt for the party.


"What is a Brony?" you ask. The definition follows, taken from the Urban Dictionary, and there is an interesting background to the term available at
http://whatisabrony.com/


EVENT PLANNING
For those unfamiliar with the cast of pony characters, a pictorial overview is supplied below. For those desirous of an in-depth study, a self-paced online tutorial is available at
http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Characters


Indoors in the sun porch there were many event stations. Pinkie Pie's Party Station was festooned with festive hats and unfurling, but judiciously noiseless, party blowers.


Rarity's Carousel Boutique was supplied with a variety of dress up items such as jewelry and stylish shades.


Twilight Sparkle's Magical Coloring School was replete with crayons and xeroxed pages from a My Little Ponies coloring book.



Apple Jack's Apple Acres was stocked with apples, squeezable applesauce tubes, and of course, Applejacks Cereal. Robin's giant homemade chocolate chip cookies were added to the mix later. False advertising on that sign was not allowed. Cookies were promised and cookies were delivered! Jeremy's sister August was the talented and diligent artist who created each of the signs for the various event stations.


These two party guests appeared to enjoy indulging in the event stations.


Outdoors, Fluttershy's Breezy Bubbles was a popular drop in activity.



There was Rainbow Dash's area for physical activities that might be associated with the Wonderbolts Academy. In the My Little Pony world, the Wonderbolts are a squad of Pegasus ponies who perform aerial acrobatics and demonstrations.



Many participants delighted in wagon rides around the arena, the "horsepower" supplied mainly by Jeremy and Frank.


And who can pass up a good game of Pin the Tail on the Pony, especially when you are good at it!


FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
There was quite a spread. Not shown in the picture was also a veggie tray, a meat and cheese platter, and Grandma O's famous seven layer dip with chips.


Those cupcakes adorned with the My Little Pony toppers that Robin had ordered online from Etsy really called out to be eaten.


All ages alike enjoyed the tasty cupcakes. Grandma O, Dad Jeremy, and Mom Robin posed as proof.


 Grandpa Frank would rather start eating than pause for a photo.


TRADITIONS
I do not think anyone took a final head count. It is difficult to count a cluster of children undergoing Brownian motion. This photo had the most kids in it, nine, so I offer it as my best attempt at a group shot.


The youngest guests are featured separately from left to right:
     Mister IamNotSleepyAtAll, brother of the birthday girl being held by his aunt,
     Miss PreciousPrincessInPeaPod, and
     Senorita LookOutCarmenMiranda&ChiquitaBanana.


After singing  ♬ Happy Birthday ♬, Autumn blew out her candle.


The final quasi-formal activity was the gift opening. Three year olds are not as interested in opening gifts as they are in playing with them. In a large crowd, if one does not want multi-component gifts to be scattered to the four winds prior to the birthday recipient being able to enjoy them, then this communal playing must be forestalled. It was my assigned role, as a grandmotherly helper, to quietly and discreetly remove said gifts to be savored later in a calmer setting. This is mainly accomplished by distracting the guests and redirecting their attention to the next gift being revealed. See the highly coveted tea set being held by Autumn in the next photo?


I was surreptitiously in the process of squirreling it away when the high-pitched, indignant voice of my granddaughter rings out, heard clearly over the din of the party,

"Grandma! You're stealing my tea set!"

I'd been caught in the act. The crowd cracked up laughing. Ya can't plan this stuff with kids, folks. It just happens. Shame on me.

The party was a success. No one dissolved in tears and the party guests went home happy. No one pressed charges on the theft episode. Whew!