Where have I been?

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Well, I guess I'm not a good blogger.  Ever since I saw a Dr.Phil segment on Facebook, I've been hesitant to blog or even update much on Facebook.  I know, Dr. Phil!  The segment was talking about how self-centered we've all become and letting people know what we are doing as if people are interested.  Hmmm...actually I am interested or maybe I'm just nosy.  After watching that episode, I just thought I should limit my use of FB.  I do have a life, don't I?

So what have I been doing?  I've spent the last couple of weeks really cleaning up and really trying to get rid of all this extraneous STUFF around the house.  Why did I accumulate so much stuff?  I also finally got through my 15 years of work STUFF that has been sitting on my desk for 2 months now.  It's hard to believe why I kept so many files that I thought was important. 

I've also been cooking.  Ok, not a lot but more than ever.  I made this fabulous braised Chinese Pork Belly in Soy Sauce (Tau Yew Bak).  Filipinos love fat so this dish has plenty of that.  When I'd take a bite, I almost expected the vinegary taste of adobo but it's sweet soy sauce that makes this dish yummy.  I miss eating it at Orange Hut when I was still at work so I had to find a recipe online.  It's an easy recipe.  The only problem making it is I had to go to an Asian food store in Sacramento to get the pork belly.  I also added pork loin to it because the hubby doesn't like fat.  Next time, I'll add pork butt instead.

Braised Pork in Soy Sauce Recipe (Tau Yew Bak)

 

Ingredients:

1 lb. pork belly (cut into small pieces)
4 cups water
1 pulp garlic (lightly pounded with the back of a cleaver)
1 tablespoon white pepper corn (smashed and cracked)
5 hard-boiled eggs
8 oz. fried tofu/bean curd
4 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)
1-2 tablespoons dark soy sauce, or until it reaches your desired color
Salt to taste

 

Method:

Heat up a pot or preferably a big clay pot with 4 cups of water. Bring it to boil and then add in the garlic, pork belly, and cracked pepper. Bring the pork belly to boil before adding the hard-boiled eggs, fried tofu, soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Lower the heat to medium and braise the pork for 30 minutes or so until the pork belly is is cooked through and become tender. Add salt to taste. Continue to simmer on the lowest heat for another 15-20 minutes. Dish out and serve hot with steamed white rice.

My blogging future

I haven't blogged for a couple of days.  I'm not really sure if I'm cut out to blog.  I don't subscribe to too many blogs but did one through Posterous because there was an interesting article about entrepreneurship that I wanted to send my son and I couldn't figure out how to forward it without subscribing to the site.  Well that person (I guess out of reciprocal kindness) subscribed to mine.  I was quite shocked since this has never happened before.  The previous attempts I have had blogging were followed by people I knew, never strangers.  I didn't think i had anything really important to say so I was fine with that.  Now that someone I don't know is following me, I feel like I need to write something profound...important; instead of my retirement projects which seem to be more of a blog by some grandma crafter.  So, I'm a little apprehensive.  Do I continue to blog and explore my creative writing abilities?  Do I blog to just journal and report to people that know my what I'm up to?  TIme will tell....

My "baby's" blankie

My college-aged daughter has had this blankie since she was born 21 years ago. She finally asked me to help her repair it since it's been tattered for years. I was surprised that she still slept with it but apparently college-aged girls like to sleep with their blankies and stuffed toys. I wanted to take a photo of her baby picture with the blanket after it had been repaired. I guess I'm going to have to learn how to Photoshop now since the glare from the light above is showing on the photo. sigh....another project!

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Sock Monkey

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I knitted a sock monkey for my college-aged daughter because she said she wanted one. I actually enjoyed knitting this one over the crocheted amigurumi turtle and tiger that I did previously. I added a little snazzy cap in her school colors and also added their logo. I wasn't too pleased with the logo. I used a satin stitch using the yarn and close up, it looks sloppy. I previously tried using a cross stitch or chainstitch but that didn't work out as well. Boy, the things you remember from grade school. I was taught by Belgian nuns and we had an embroidery class. I'm sure I was probably in 4th grade when I learned all these different stitches. Too bad I don't have any keepsakes showing my needlework from that time.

Glittens

Here's a project I worked on for my son's friend. It's an easy pattern but I don't really like how the "mitten" part came out. It looks too angular. I had another pattern that looks better but it uses a smaller needle. I wanted to finish this quickly so I could send it to him. Although the pattern is easy, the finishing takes time. I'm going to have to modify this pattern someday.

After completing the pattern, I took the photo using my Nikon with the light coming from above. I made my daughter be the hand model.

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Alternative to TV?

I've always been a big TV watcher but ever since I retired, I've noticed how much the TV is on during the day.  I guess I'm uncomfortable with silence so the TV is on most of the day.  I might start with any of the morning shows like Good Morning America, move to Regis and Kelley, and then switch the TV to TLC or Bravo.  I'm a big fan of reality TV and really don't watch any TV series, although "Big Love" is coming! 

Our kids got us a Netflix subscription for our anniversary so we'll get 3 DVD's at a time.  That also sucks a lot of our time.  I sometimes end up watching really dumb movies (like 17 Again) just because.  My hubby and I have declared Mondays as a "No-TV" night but since my daughter is still home from college, we haven't adhered to that rule. 

I've discovered that Pandora is a good alternative.  I'll listen to my "old-skool" music from the 70's.  But I do have it coming in through our TV via the PS3.  I guess there's no getting around it!