Life with the Three Crazy Dogs

The long weekend (3 days off) came and gone.  Labor day was on Monday, Sept 7, it was also the last day of Minnesota State Fair.  I didn’t go this year.  Aafter Labor day, it sure seems like falls creeps right in right away.  Leaves on the trees and shrubs are already turning colors.  Beautiful sight tho.  The day after Labor day is the unofficial day of the end of summer.  Temps usually dip down to the lower 70’s F.

Didn’t do much this weekend except planting my ever widening butt on the chair, “farming” a few “farms”, church and eating.   We smoked some ribs for our dinner on Sunday.  Mhmm, yummy!  We don’t buy ribs all the time.  At least once a year, smoked or grilled ribs should be on our summer menu.  This smoker has been sitting by its lonesome for 2 years and we finally got her smoking good on Sunday.

Smoking the ribs while Chase getting some good vitamin D

I also made bacon-wrapped jalapenos.  Thanks Pioneer Woman!

Wow, they were good. There is a good bite to the cream cheese filled jalapenos and the bacon gives a good umph to them hot babies.   My SIL calls them pickled jalapeno.  Huh?  Pickled?  What has she been smoking??? 

Didn’t take pics of the ribs and oven baked sweet potato fried, all gone, we were too hungry waiting for the food to be cooked.   As usual, the boys get some of the rib meat, no bones tho.  I’m anal about the bones getting stuck or perforate their intestines.

….so I’m back at work today. 

It was nice to have the week off, no rush, took my sweet time to work around the house, went out for more walks than usual and had a Saw marathon.  I have seen the first Saw but not the rest 2-4.  I borrowed the DVDs from SD.  Man, that show is good.  Very bloody, gory, a hell a lot of screaming, and I watched all 4 of them.  Can’t wait for the 5th one out.

Oh, time off so I baked some cookies, cookie recipe from my sis’ blog, Cranberry walnut cookies.  I didn’t get any pecans since we have a ton of walnuts in the pantry for our oatmeal.  The cookies turned out ok but some were very crunchy which I was not too fond of.  DB as usual, ate them like they were his last batch of cookies.  I made some oatmeal and raisins but they were the ones I really did not like – too sweet even I had cut the sugar down.  Will have to make a new batch of cranberry ones this weekend.  Sorry, no pics, not worth taking pictures coz they are not the best looking ones.  Tasted good tho.  They are almost gone. 

There is this big mouse in the house, eating them since they got out from the oven on Sunday, ate so much till he has a blister inside his mouth.  He said it’s cold sore.  I said it’s “yeet hei” or “heaty”.  He said what poppy cock I was talking about, no such thing as “heaty”.  So we Googled it and here was the site we read that best defined “yeet hei”.  Gwailo do not believe in “heatiness”, but I still do.  Then where did his cold sore came from?  Stress?  I still think it’s “heaty” from the cookies and not drinking enough water.

Yep, I went to the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, August 30th with Simmie.  She drove to the bus terminal on Hwy 13 and I met her there in the evening.  I bought the fair ticket from the convenience store at work at a discounted price fo $8 for each ticket.  The price per ticket at the ticket booth at the fair grounds is $11.  We took the Metro Transit which costs us $5 inclusive of the return trip.  It’s considered cheap as parking fees at the fair areas comes to $20 and $25 depending on where you park.  This is first time I took the bus to the fair.  Save all the hassle of the jam and parking.  There are buses every 15 minutes to the State Fair.  It’s very convenient and I wish buses are that convenient on other regular days. :(

 The bus drops us off at the designated lot for buses from all over the metro – Bloomington, Burnsville-Savage, and can’t remember where else.  Get off the bus, gave our tickets at one of the entrances (didn’t see which entrance street it was), over the overhead bridge and right to the Miracle of Birth Center.

What a quinkie dink with that guy pushing a stroller when I was taking that picture!!!  We walked right into a crowd of observers observing the birth of a calf.  See the TVs up there, the veteranian is helping the cow with the birth of her calf/calves.  It was quite bloody, the vet had his gloved up arm all the way inside the cow, pulling on the chain.  (DB said if the vet had to put a chain on the calf that means the calf is position upside down – leg first and the vet has to work quick to get the calf out.)  The birth was happening right smack in the birth center, inside the building.  There were cameras surrounding the birth area.  I wanted to stay to watch the entire birth, but I was too hungry.  It was already past my dinner time.  Stomach was screaming for some deep fried food.  I could still eat even watching the gross looking stuff, no probs for me.

My first chow was the foot long hot dog followed by a small corn dog.  No fair is complete without mawing down a corn dog.  Then for some pork chops on a stick.  Most of every food in the Fair are on a stick.  The pork chop was a little too charred but it still tasted good.  I must be just plain greedy!  Next on the menu I thought of getting was walleye on a stick but I didn’t get it.  For some reason I’m too paranoid that there are some bones on the fillet and I might happen to swallow those bones.

 

Another food that is a must at the Fair are Cheese Curds.  They are deep fried cheese curds, very good but a sure fire heart attack, artery clogger food.  I didn’t get it coz I know I won’t be able to eat the entire serving. 

Simmie mentioned about the Nitro ice-cream and we found it.  The scream was so smooth, best ever ice-cream I ever had.  I googled nitro ice-cream and found a recipe for it but where do you find liquid nitrogen?  Hah, like I’m gonna try it. 

Our next dairy food and our last meal for the night was Dipping Dots, tiny bits of super freezing cold ice-cream, much older than the Nitro scream.  While still eating these little dots, we look took a jaunt to Sweet Martha’s Cookies.

Sweet Martha’s is famous at the State Fair.  I had to buy a bucket since both DB and I are cookie monsters.  There were “yan san, yan hoi” (people mountain, people sea) standing at lines that were forming all over the cookie booth.  Finally got to a bucket and Simmie got pictures of me with the sweet smelling cookies.  Honest to God, after consuming all the sweet diary icre-cream, the cookie was the last thing I wanted to eat, but I still ate a piece but it didn’t taste the best.  We both needed water and we were full, stomach loaded with lactose and I was kinda worried too since I am lactose intolerant now, I was not looking forward for a major diarheaa.  Luckily, no stomach aches. 

There are a lot to see at the Fair.  We walked along the streets and saw the Republican, McCain’s booth.  So, where is the Democrat, Obama’s booth.  We could not find the Democrat’s booth which has to be somewhere.  Yeah, the lady VP elect McCain picked!!!  What a disaster waiting to happen!  And I just heard on the evening news that Pallin’s 17-year old daughter is pregnant.  I can see how the Donkeys gonna bombard the Elephants. 

Anyways, on our way out we stopped by the diary barn where the goats were residing.  At the State Fair, farmers load their farm animals (goats, swines, cows, horses, roosters, turkeys) to compete for medals – which is the best looking animal, gua?  But we were at the goats barn, the goats were darn cute though.  One even tried to bite the plastic bag with the cookies in it, the picture below.  I even saw one of the farmers milking the goat, the goat that has just given birth.  There were definitely a lot of pregnant goats in that barn, probably waiting to be delivered in the Miracle of Birth Center.

 

From the diary barn, we were going to head out to the gates but then I wanted to see the horses.  We found some petting horses.  I didn’t take any pictures on my camera but Simmie took some of me with her phone and camera.  The horse are such lovely creatures.  Love them.

And that was the last place we visited.  Walked to the bus site and catch our bus back to the terminal.  Bus came, got into our seats and waited for more fair goers to board the bus.  Actually more drunkards boarded the bus and it was darn noisy.  To me, as long as they are bugging me, I’m fine with it.  I lived with a drunkard for 6 years i know how loud it can be and I can tolerate it.  Simmie on the other hand was uncomfortable with those doorknobs.  I have to say it was a bus ride from hell but we were all safe and I am not complaining.  It got me to point B to point A where our cars were. 

Overall, I thought I would spend a lot more money than I thought.  I only spent about $30+ at the fair.  I guess I’m kinda reminding myself that the food prices have all gone up, so I was a little kedukut.  I would go again next year just for the food and farm animals….I should just move to the farm……

Happy Memorial day to all whatever that’s left of the day.  It was a three-day weekend for me and it sure didn’t seem like three days.  The days went by so fast.  Yesterday, Sunday, several tornados hit the Midwest.  There was one fatal touched down in Hugo, MN, which is about 55 miles north of where I am.  A child died in that tornado.  Saw the pictures in the news, it is horrifying to see the pictures let alone if you are there to experience it. 

When the storm hit Hugo we (DB, SD BF and I) were getting ready for our dinner of ribs and corn on the cob.  We had the TV in the dining room on to NASCAR Coca Cola 600 (Channel 9) and the TV in the executive office to another local channel where we can watch the weather alert.  Yesterday was the first 80 degree temperature for the year.   We had a thunderstorm the night before, the morning was cool and muggy and when the sun came out, it was just utterly disgusting.  I hate humidity.  No wonder we had bad weather for that day – warm front colliding with the cold front.  Over at our end, all we had was wind and clouds which soon disappeared to clear skies and cool right down around 6 p.m.  

The crabapple tree flowering.  They were really pretty but after yesterdays strong winds, they are all gone. 

Yeah, SD’s baby is still not ready yet.  I sure feel bad for her being so uncomfortable and miserable.  Today is the actual due date.  Tomorrow is the appointment with her doc.  Hopefully he will induce her this week.  My BIL became a grandpa on yesterday.  Her daughter gave birth to a baby boy name Hunter.  I think he was 7 pounds some thing.  Can’t remember the details.  All of us are now waiting SD to pop! 

Today, I was all rested, took the boys out for their walk and baked some granola bars.  Thanks, Gertrude for the recipe.  DB said it’s better than the ones by Nature Valley or Kashi.  Mhmm, I can see this is gonna be an every or every other week thing with different kinds of fruits, nuts and grains.  Then I made a chiffon cake.  What a disaster that was, but still had to keep it in the container.  Can’t waste food, right?  The cake tast good but it hardly rise!!! 

It’s a holiday so there are sales in every store and departmental store you go to.  I have one thing in mind to get since Friday.  It is the new flip flops call FitFlop.  In actual fact, Barb from Little Chumsy’s blog wrote a review on this new wonder flip flops where it supposely stimulate your muscles when you are wearing it.  My boss bought a pair which she loves it.  She said it gives her a better posture when wearing the fitflops.  It also suppose to tone your calfs and thighs muscles and your glutes, too, I think.  In addition, those who have problems with their joints, heels will benefit from this sandals. 

So, I went to Macy’s yesterday afternoon, which is around my neighborhood to get a pair, but na -da.  I have to go to Southdale in Edina.  I went this afternoon, found them but too bad ithey are a little big for my extremely skinny feet.  The length and arch works good but where the strap is way too loose.  In other words, it did not fit snugly.  Very disappointed.  When I tried it on, walked around them I noticed I have better posture, my right heel was not hurting and my knees were pain free. 

Since I couldn’t get what I wanted, I should have left the store, right?  But no, dear me had to walk the shoe section and looked at other shoes on display showing 50%, 60% and if I use the Macy’s card, I will get another 30% off.  Good deal, huh?  Yes it was.  I found a pair of Clark’s instead.  It was 50% off and since I don’t have a Macy’s card, I paid $41+ for the pair of shoes.  I didn’t want to apply for the Macy’s card now but will later when my credit score is more stable.

Here is my Clark’s sandals I bought today. I think it’s the same as my mom’s? Not sure but I’m sure my sis can confirm that and I will be hearing a load from her. She is the queen of “Chaat” this and that.  Another reason why I didn’t take any picture of the disaster chiffon cake!

At least this pair of sandals does not hurt my right heel.

I was reading Cat’s and Gertrude’s blogs and see how much they like the products they bought from MyTasteofAsia.  I, too, ordered some items and within a week, they arrived this afternoon.

Delimas Prawn Noodle paste; Rasaku Nasi Lemak Mix; Delimas Curry Laksa Paste; ChanHong Sambal Ikan Bilis; Delimas Crispy Prawn Chili; and Cheong Kim Chuan Sambal Rojak sauce

 I told DB he will be having some kind of noodles this weekend.  Most probably prawn noodles!  I can’t wait to try out all of them.  DB looked at the ikan bilis and asked what it is.  Well, it’s anchovies, dear.  One thing he does not like is anchovies.  I must find a way to make the ikan billis not stinky so that he will eat them! :D