on the move

on the move is really on the move

2009-07-20T18:02:00.003-05:00

I'm fed up with Blogger. It changes font type and size when I add pictures for no reason. It's now often in Japanese, and no matter what I do, I can't change it. For these reasons and many, many more, on the move is moving.

You can now find me at Wordpress.

on the move

If you prefer, the address is mcmilliansonthemove.wordpress.com

My recipe blog is also moving. The new address is mcmillianrecipebox.wordpress.com

I haven't finished fixing all the broken links yet, but I'm almost there. Bear with me (and perhaps let me know) if you find a problem with the new site.

pineapple sherbet

2009-07-20T17:14:00.005-05:00

We finally, finally, FINALLY (!) got our shipment on Friday. We've been busy unpacking and sorting through all our junk, but I couldn't be more thankful. We've been without it for 2 months, and really longer than that because we were traveling, or prepping the house for moving for about a month before they came to pack us out.

One of the things I've been looking forward to getting was my ice cream maker. With the weather as hot as it is, it's the perfect time of year for it. Yesterday, I got to give it another spin.

I was originally going to make pineapple sorbet with a fresh pineapple I had lying around, but realized I had a bit of heavy cream as well, so went for a sherbet instead. I love fresh sherbet!

When it's frozen as much as it'll get from the ice cream maker, you put it in the freezer for a couple of hours to completely firm up.

I couldn't wait to scoop it! The girls helped me make it, so they were really anxious to eat it as well. Of course, theirs was not served like this.

It turned out pretty good, but I think I'd make an adjustment next time - I'd use 2 Tbsp of lime juice instead of 1. It needed a bit more tartness. Here's the recipe:

Pineapple Sherbet

1 small pineapple, stemmed and peeled, flesh pureed until smooth, then pushed through mesh strainer to remove pulp

3/4 cup sugar

2 Tbsp lime juice (remember, I only used 1 and it needed more)

1 Tbsp rum

1/2 cup heavy cream

Combine pineapple, sugar, lime juice, and rum in bowl; stir until sugar is completely dissolved.

Put into refrigerator until mixture reaches 40 degrees. (I leave mine in overnight.)

Whip heavy cream in large bowl until it forms soft peaks. Slowly pour pineapple mixture in and mix until just combined.

Immediately pour into bowl of running ice cream maker and churn until frozen. Place in refrigerator for several hours to firm up. Scoop and enjoy!

bubble wrap

2009-07-14T02:21:00.002-05:00

What is it about bubble wrap that is so universally appealing?

We got a package in the mail today and Cate has taken it upon herself to introduce Meg to the joys of "pops" as she calls it.

As you can see of this photo (captured mid-jump) Meg is a fan.

life's not a paragraph is now on the move

2009-07-12T19:31:00.002-05:00

Just felt like it was time for something new. The address will remain the same, but the name (and appearance) of the blog have changed.

spam

2009-07-12T03:59:00.004-05:00

Since we've been here, we've run across several things that have made us laugh out loud. Whether it's a rough translation, an unexpected sight, or something else, I'd love to share some of what we've found.

For the first installment, I have this, which we found while browsing a Japanese grocery store - a taste of home.

Japanese Spam! If I recall correctly, they have a "Spamburger" on the American version. Here (I guess appealing to the demographic?) the have Spam sushi. (I guess it's technically onigiri, or Spam musubi, but you get the point.)

What do you think? Want to give it a try? Who needs fresh fish in their sushi when you can have Spam?

Churaumi Aquarium

2009-07-08T01:26:00.001-05:00

My birthday was on Monday, and Chris was off of work, so we decided to make a day of it and head to the Churaumi Aquarium. We'd been hearing a lot of good things about it, so I was excited to go. I must say that it lived up our expectations, and we had a great time.

The girls loved looking at the fish, and I think that they might have been as much of an attraction to some of the other visitors there. Every time I set the girls down to take a photo there were 10 other cameras also taking a picture of them. What's more is that several people asked if they could take a picture with the girls. We didn't really mind so much, but that didn't mean that the girls wanted to cooperate each time. Meg really wanted nothing to do with it, but I think Cate liked it for the most part. I think she was just over it here.

But she liked taking this one a lot more, and Meg even got in on the action.

The main tank is enormous. I think it's supposed to be the 2nd largest tank in the world; I believe it. They have three whale sharks, huge rays, and plenty of other creatures.

We ate lunch at a cafe there along the side of the tank. We got to sit right up against the glass. It was really beautiful, and I loved watching the reactions of the girls as the fish would swim by.

After we explored the inside, we went outside to catch a dolphin show. Below is a shot of the two of them waiting for it to start. Meg really enjoyed it, but I think Cate was a little too tired and hot; she just wanted to sit down in the shade. I don't blame her.

As we were leaving, we decided to get some drinks from the vending machine for the road. The girls were thrilled to find canned lemonade in the machine. Cate insisted that we get one for both she and Meg. We caved, and they thoroughly enjoyed it, as you can see.

happy independence day

2009-07-03T16:46:00.001-05:00

We're beginning our July 4th here. Hope everyone has something fun planned.

birthday present

2009-07-02T21:54:00.004-05:00

I received my birthday present a little early this year, and it's one I've been wanting for quite a while - a Le Creuset Dutch (excuse me, French) oven. Woohoo!

This thing is gorgeous, and a dream to cook with.

I got it just in time to make a batch of my baked beans (really my mother's) for something at Chris' office.

I love you Le Creuset Cherry Red 7 1/4 quart French oven! (Even if Chris did leave you, empty, on high heat for 2 hours and melted off a coil shaped swath of enamel all the way down to the cast iron a mere day after you were purchased. Yup, even if that happened to you, I still love you.)

scenes from Okinawa

2009-06-29T17:14:00.002-05:00

I wanted to share a couple more pictures of our new home. It really is so beautiful here. First, here's the view from our bedroom window. You can see the East China Sea.

It feels like we're always going to have some body of water or another visible from our house. (I know that's likely not the case, though.)

Next, here's the view from what will be the baby's room. It's directly across from our bedroom on the front side of the house.

It overlooks the rest of the base with the hills in the background. All of this is, of course, so much more dramatic in real life.

Now for a few crappy through-the-car-window shots.

There are a lot of hills here that seem to be made of rock, but are covered with some of the most dense foliage I've ever seen. We are used to seeing green, but not this much. Hills are quite a big change for us, and it's been fun to see new and very different looking landscape. Here's a shot of one of the hills in the distance as we were driving off base one day.

For those who did not know, they drive on the left side of the road here. The cars are built with the driver's seat on what would be the passenger side in the US.

Here is a shot of one of those rock hills/cliffs up close. This is on base very near where we live.

See? Dense.

Oh, and just for kicks, here is a shot of our cars here. If you look closely, you can see the driver's seat on the opposite side.

The good thing here is that when things start to seem too different, we're always able to find a taste of home somewhere. Like Starbucks.

Or perhaps a Harley would make you feel more at home.

Moomie's beautiful burger buns

2009-06-28T22:34:00.003-05:00

When Chris and I do burgers on the grill, we really like to do it up right. After all, we can get an average burger anywhere; why not make it special? For a long time, we just used the same burger buns that everyone buys, but I always thought it was the weakest link the chain. I would have zero desire to eat the bun if there weren't a burger on it.

A few months ago, I decided to do something about it, and I found the recipe for Moomie's Beautiful Burger Buns. What a difference! These are soft, and a bit chewy. I can customize the size to fit our burgers, and unlike store bought buns, they're consumed the same day they're made.

I can hardly keep my hands off them right out of the oven. In fact, neither can Meg. She snatched a big chunk out of one of these buns below as they were cooling.

I've also found I can use this recipe for any number of other things. I made a double batch this morning, and some are going to be used for Spicy Beef Sloppy Joes, and the rest I shaped more like a hot dog bun, and we'll be using them for Bratwurst tonight.

If you're disappointed with your typical bun, you ought to give these a try. They're so easy to make, and make a huge difference.

Araha beach

2009-06-28T20:19:00.004-05:00

Weather finally cooperated yesterday and we were able to get the girls to the beach. Cate and Meg are definitely water babies, so they've been dying to go to the beach here since before we arrived.

We went to a place about 5 minutes away from base called Araha Beach.

It was beautiful. A definite upgrade from Biloxi. The spot we went was great. It was netted off to keep any critters out of the swimming area.

The water here is such a beautiful color, and so clear.

As predicted, the girls had a great time. This is what Meg did just about the entire time.

She loved floating along and kicking her feet to propel herself (what she called"wimmin" aka swimming.) She still gives me that cheesy grin all the time.

Cate ran in and out of the water about a hundred times. I managed to get her to sit still for one photo. All the others are of the back of her.

The beach was a really enjoyable, really easy activity. I think we might go again next weekend, this time with a picnic lunch.

blogger dates

2009-06-25T23:35:00.002-05:00

I finally got around to adjusting the time to the time zone here and now it seems that it's re-dated all of my old posts. So, if you're looking at something old and the dates don't seem right, it's not just you.

How frustrating. Now all my old posts are saying that the events happened a day earlier than they actually did.

the other cake

2009-06-25T23:28:00.001-05:00

As sweet as Cate's cake was, we still had another cake for Chris. Cheesecake, his favorite.

happy birthday Chris

2009-06-24T23:36:00.002-05:00

We wish you didn't have to work today, but we've been thinking of you nonetheless. Cate made this lovely playdoh cake for you this morning, complete with candles and flames. We love you very much and hope you enjoy your cake!

sometimes I think they're more aware than me

2009-06-23T22:47:00.003-05:00

I often chide Cate and Meg to pay attention to what they're doing. They're apt to run right in front of someone on crutches, or spill a drink they're holding while trying to do something else. I get so frustrated with them.

Today was a good reminder that sometimes I need to take my own advice.

I picked up Chris to grab lunch and he suggested we go to Chili's (yes, they have Chili's on base.) Now, I'm getting pretty familiar with the base, but it's not automatic yet. I don't always recognize where I am. So, I was driving, certain that I needed to make the next turn. We're stopped at the light when Meg started jabbering in the back seat. I was talking to Chris, so I did my oh-so-neglectful mother response of "Uh huh. I hear you, Meg. Yes ma'am." Only as the light changed to green again did I realize what she was desperately trying to get across to me.

She was saying, "Chili's on Meg's side, Mama!" at ever increasing intensity. (By the way, I think that's darn good sentence structure for a just turned 2-year-old.)

I had missed my turn. Chili's was, in fact, on Meg's side and she was trying to alert me to it. Perhaps if I'd listened her, or paid attention to my surroundings, I wouldn't have missed my turn.

Both Chris and I got a good laugh at least. I felt like such a fool to be corrected by a backseat driver still in diapers.

and now she's 4

2009-06-21T06:44:00.003-05:00

Can someone please put on the brakes? I want more time to soak this all in.

We love you so much, Cate.

she's 2

2009-06-19T00:22:00.002-05:00

I can't believe my baby is 2 years old already. How did it happen so quickly?

Happy Birthday, Meg. You are too darn cute for your own good. We love you.

I know we're not in the US anymore

2009-06-19T00:21:00.002-05:00

Is that a cooking pickle?

insomnia AND fatigue?!

2009-05-25T13:40:00.002-05:00

I don't understand how I can feel so tired every day but when night comes, have a hard time staying asleep.

It seems that I'm up in the middle of each night for anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours, usually starting between 1:00 am and 2:30 am. I'm suddenly awakened by nothing in particular and then can't fall asleep again.

What's worse is that I get so tired during the day that I can hardly keep my eyes open. Chris has been great about letting me take a nap, but, again, I wake up before I need to. I sleep for about 20-30 minutes and then am wide awake.

And sleeping in? Forget it. Even if I get the chance, I haven't been able to sleep past 7:00 am. Most days I'm up around 5:15.

Why do these pregnancy hormones do this to me?

home sweet tlf

2009-05-23T07:50:00.002-05:00

We've been back in Biloxi for about a week now. The mover's have done their work and all our belongings are on their way to Japan. We have a pickup of things to go to storage next week and a few more outprocessing things to do, but other than that we're done.

We've been in temporary housing on base since Tuesday with nothing but what's in our suitcases. They have a few cooking items for us to use and a full kitchen, but it seems in this particular room, everything is misisng or broken (we only had one washcloth for 4 people, no soap to handwash dishes or use the dishwasher, and, I discovered after getting some dish soap myself, no stopper for the sink to hold the water in to handwash.)

In MUCH happier news, we had an ultrasound on Thursday and everything is looking good. I was very nervous and now I feel so relieved. They kept my original due date of December 27th, which puts me at 9 weeks today. Given that I'm only 9 weeks, we couldn't see much of the baby (in fact it looked a bit like a gummi bear) but he/she was measuring the right size for gestational age and the heart rate was good. I couldn't ask for anything more.

We have 1 1/2 weeks til we fly out, but a less than a week here. We'll be heading to New Orleans and spending some time with Chris' family before we leave.

So long for now.

just felt like sharing

2009-05-12T08:33:00.002-05:00

I thought I'd wait a little longer this time around but...

We're having a baby!

He or she will be due at Christmas.

This pregnancy feels a lot different than the others - I've been feeling sick morning, noon, and night. At least it's for a good reason, right?

tick, tick, tick

2009-05-11T14:47:00.001-05:00

Time is flying. We're going to be leaving the country in just a bit more than 3 weeks - wow!

Chris has had a training out of town last week and this week, so he dropped Cate, Meg, and I off at my parents' house along the way. It's been great spending time with them, but sad because I know it's the last we'll see of my family for a while. It's also sad because I soon as we get home, we have to get prepped for movers. We'll be without a house for a good long while. Let's hope they have good temporary housing on the base there? Please?

Mother's Day was very nice. My mom and I went out for a late lunch and then pedicures. I rarely spend time with her without the girls in tow, so this was a real treat. And it feels nice to have my feet looking good.

I wish I had more time to sit down and post, but it's been hard trying to find guilt-free computer time. There's always something else I SHOULD be doing.

I don't see any logical end to this post, so I suppose I'll just end it abruptly. Just wanted to post at least a little update.

Chef Cate

2009-04-27T15:42:00.004-05:00

Cate loves to help me in the kitchen. If she's not sitting on the counter "helping" me, she's throwing a fit.

I've really had to struggle to find things she can do in the kitchen. There are too many things she's not ready to do. I've found that most of the time, I can let her add ingredients to what I'm making (pre-measured if need be) and she also does a lot of stirring. A lot. She's also really great about gathering ingredients. She's even begun to learn which spices are which and can grab the correct ones.

The other day, I learned Cate is also good at chopping. With a knife.

What do you think? Doesn't she look like she's doing a good job?

I did the first go through with the onions, then she insisted on doing a second chop with "Cate's knife" - a kid-sized butter knife. If you look, she's even mimicking my technique a bit.

When she decided she'd finished, she was so proud of herself. Just look at her face.

Listening to her boast about helping me cook usually makes it worth the hassle of trying to find jobs for her to do.

first kiddie pool day 2009

2009-04-27T06:15:00.003-05:00

Cate has been begging to swim for weeks now, but although it's been warm, I haven't felt it was quite warm enough to let them submerge themselves in a kiddie pool of freezing cold hose water until yesterday.

They ended up going in twice during the day and they had such a good time! It was fun to watch them take turns jumping into the pool different ways, kicking, pouring water back and forth between cups and buckets - all the fun things you can do in a less-than-knee-deep pool.

After a while, though, they were cold. Very cold. Poor things had goosebumps raised all over their skin, blue lips, and were shivering. Needless to say, they came inside willingly. I got them dried off and dressed, then tucked them under a blanket with a major treat - a Capri Sun.

I don't know that I've ever bought juice boxes (or bags if you want to get technical) before. I don't think we'll be making a habit of it, but it was fun to let Cate have something she's been asking for, even if it is junky. You'd think the juice was some sort of magic the way they were thrilled over them. Simple pleasures.

P.S. Has anyone ever heard of having an allergic reaction to sunscreen? This weekend is the second time Cate's face has broken out in a red, bumpy rash (you can see it on her face a little bit there), and I think it might be connected to sunscreen, but we've always used sunscreen on her and she has never had a reaction before.

nothing but trouble, this one

2009-04-22T18:36:00.001-05:00

Yes, that is my lipstick.