Christmas Cruisin'

Windy Dawn in the pouring rain at Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Honduras (obviously)

It only took me 8 months but I finally did it! I'm done with my photobook project of my Christmas Caribbean Cruise. I collected tons of pictures, edited them and then strategically placed them in somewhat artistic patterns in a virtual book.

Would you like to see it? You're in luck! I purchased the book last week so it should arrive in the next few days so come over and visit me. Or if you live far away and cannot, click here to see it online. And let me know what you think. 

Windy Dawn - Domini - Brenda - Erica in Tulum, Mexico

Trunked

Years ago, so many years ago I can't even remember, my parents gave me a chest to keep things in with pictures of a cat on the sides and top.  It looked something like this.

When I was 7ish that was cool.  So cool.  But after discovering my severe allergy to the vile creatures I destroyed everything I owned that had a cat on it, except this chest.  I tucked the chest away in the bottom of my closet and did not think about it for years.

In my recent move I decided something had to be done about it.  Saturday morning I pulled everything out of the box and began taping up the frame in preparation of a new paint job.

For some reason I chose purple.

After waiting 24 hours I pulled the tape off to examine my work.

It seemed a little too dark for my tastes (the purple paint that is, as you can tell I had plenty of light pouring in through the windows!).  So I added a little gold over top the purple for an effect that looks a little magical.  

I'm happy with how it turned out.  No more cat.  Cool magic box now.  And it's back in my closet once again.

Summer Projects

Summer is finally here! It's been sunny and warm and beautiful here in Seattle for a whole week now. Finals for my students are done and I've started into my slower summer schedule with work.

This means I actually have time again. Time to blog...maybe.
Some of my summer projects will include:

• paint my cat chest that hides in my closet. the cat needs to be painted over. evil creatures.
• finish framing and hang pictures from my travels in my new home.
• read The Way of Kings
• finish making my photobook for last years adventures
• make another photobook for my vacation to the Caribbean last Christmas
• finish moving into my new place (there is still one box I've not gotten to yet).
• organize my new recipe book my mom gave me.
• taking some digital photography classes, they are free with the purchase of my new camera (thanks Dad!)
• get outside and enjoy the sun while it's still around.
• read some travel books on Rio/Brazil to start planning my trip next spring.

Tonight I went through all my Caribbean Cruise pictures to edit them for the photobook.  I found this little gem and I wanted to share with all of you my love of Sirius Black.

PS After looking at pictures of myself as a redhead all night I was startled to see my reflection in the mirror and remember I'm actually a blonde right now.  Whoa.  Trippy.

What are you doing this summer?

Link

Try not to be jealous.

But you know Link from The Legend of Zelda?  Well he's actually my nephew.  

Yep. Be jealous.

Lunch Break

Seattle is the most beautiful place once the sun comes out. Since we’ve been fortunate enough to see the beautiful sunshine lately I’ve begun to eat my lunch outside admiring the view and soaking up some vitamin D. The view from where I sit is full of green grass, trees, mountains and the Seattle skyline complete with the Space Needle off in the distance. 

(Sorry, the quality of this camera phone picture is not good enough to see those details).

This is my bench on which I enjoy my view. 

And where I enjoy my Doctor Who lunch box (thanks again Kirsten!!).

Oh yeah, and I'm blonde again.

In Which Windy Gets Hit. Again.

A little over a week ago I was driving with a friend to the Kirkland Costco and was stopped at a traffic light. The light turned green and just before going... BAM!  We were hit from behind.

There was a brief moment of confusion in which I wondered what could have made my car shake so violently.  I then turned to my friend and said, "I'm prone to getting concussions, if I start acting weird or out-of-it, let me know."  Yes, that was the first concern that came to mind.  I have had 5 concussions before, 2 of them from car accidents.  

The Good News

My car is still drive-able and insurance will be paying for everything.  The damage to my car isn't all that bad, there is a 5 to 6 inch crack in my bumper.

The Bad News

The gentleman behind me has the unfortunate pleasure of hitting someone who already has previous injuries from a car accident (read: large doctor bills).  Yes, 5 years ago I messed up my back and neck and have been paying for it ever since.  I see a chiropractor on a regular basis to manage these problems.  This means when I was hit it triggered some old injuries and I'm back to being in pain every day.  A lot of pain.  

Some of the pain is, as yet, unexplained and my doctor requested I get some x-rays done.  This is me. Creepy.  I so don't look this creepy.  

The Other Good News

I've done everything the doctor ordered plus get a priesthood blessing and I am now doing quite a bit better.  The pain is manageable at this point.  Fortunately it was never as bad as the first accident.

Give me 4 to 6 more weeks and I'll be dancing again.

And that skeleton still creeps me out. 

Life lately, according to my Android pictures.

moving into my new place -- new shams thanks to Merry! 

lunch with Matthew

the view from my new home office -- welcome spring!

li'l brudder Tommy visited and slept on my couch for a week
be jealous of my elmo socks

                                    visits from family and visits from friends who might as well be family

my nephew's birthday party

seattle olympic sculpture park

Mukilteo lighthouse tour -- it's all about me

the fabulously handsome Derek                            a gnarly piece of driftwood 

my roommates newest specialty cooking item--mini pie maker!

...and something for my sister Merry

Merry Robin &Windy Dawn

I've always been close with my older sister Merry, Dragon Tamer and Mother Extraordinaire.  We shared a room almost all of my growing up years and I always looked up to her.

Last weekend while I was packing a few things to prepare for my move this weekend I found some baby teeth in a ziploc bag.  Gross.  But at least they were my own teeth.  Yes, my parents, ahem, I mean the Tooth Fairy, decided to save my teeth to give to me at an older age. Again, gross.  I thought this kind of strange so when I was handed an old ziploc bag years ago my first inclination was to throw them in the rubbish bin.  At the same time if felt strange to throw them out (I mean, I grew them all on my own!) so I put them in a drawer and promptly forgot about them.  I can't justify packing up old teeth with my move so I've decided to go ahead and throw them out, but not until I opened the bag and read my letters to the Tooth Fairy.

Much to my amusement all 3 of the letters that had been kept requested the same thing: that the Tooth Fairy would bring something for my sister Merry.  Hey, I'm always looking out for you sister!

Dear Tooth fary,
Can I have the monny in pinnys
and something for my sister Merry
Thanky you
for every
think Love
Windy
P.S. the dime is for you.
(Signiger)

Dear Tooth Fairy
My tooth is under
the danket on top
of thee dlue pillow
PS and please leave some-
thing for my sister
Merry.
Sincerely
Windy

Dear Tooth Fairy,
I am geting
toothless.
Please bring
a small present for
Merry. not money
Love,
Windy

In Which Windy Dawn Plays Auto Mechanic

Remember how I am always so stubborn and insist on doing everything myself? Remember the incidents with the headlight? Or how I changed my own car battery? This is one of those stories.

This weekend I had to perform surgery on my car. My headlight went out and I decided to replace it myself to save some money. I have done this before, but it was on my previous car. I began by going to the auto parts store. I did not know the exact bulb I needed but felt confident in my skills of looking up the make and model of my car in the big thick book that's always in the headlight section of the store. To my dismay the book had been removed. I went to ask for help and found a smug kid who proceeded to look up the number I needed while he made sure to speak to me in a condescending manner.  

By the time I got home it was dark and I knew I wouldn't be able to see well enough to replace the bulb so I waited until the next day to operate. When the time came I opened the hood of my car and located the low beam bulb (yes I know the difference between the low beam and the high beam!). It was far inside in a place I could not possibly squeeze my hand into. Seriously, how do grown men with hands bigger than mine work on such small cars? I pulled out the drivers manual and it directed me the tire area of my car. It had me remove the inside fender so that I would be able to get to the headlight by going under the car and through the tire area. I hope that makes sense. It was a bit of a pain, but I did it. I pulled out the old bulb and replaced it with the new one only to find out it wouldn't quite click into place properly. I pulled the bulb out to examine it more closely and discovered they gave me the wrong bulb for my car!

I had to drive back to Redmond (luckily my mom let me take her van so I wouldn't have to assemble my car to drive it just to disassemble it again) and I got the correct bulb. As my luck would have it the new bulb cost me $1.10 more. Lovely. At least the gentlemen helping me this time was pleasant and polite. And rather handsome too. I then headed home and inserted the proper bulb into my car and voilà! Everything worked perfectly. I replaced the inside fender and I was done. Are you impressed? Be impressed.

PS, does anyone want to take an auto mechanics class with me?

Chocolate a la Taza

I recently started reading a book called Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot and it's started me on a search for my own Chocolate Pot.  I never knew such a thing existed and most people I've talked to did not know either. After doing a bit of digging I decided to give my sister Merry a call.  As expected she rattled off everything I'd researched off the top of her head, and more.  My sister is just that awesome.

I plan to buy myself a chocolate pot, but it will have to wait until I can go back to Europe as I want to buy one over there.  In the meantime I've been looking at European styles of hot chocolate to try out.  Today was my first experiment and it turned out rather delicious.  Thick and sweet like I never knew hot chocolate could be.


Chocolate a la Taza 
Chocolatería San Ginés, Madrid, Spain


1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped*
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a saucepan, combine the mild and cream and heat over medium-low heat until very hot but not boiling.  Gradually add the chocolate to the hot liquid, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth.  In a small cup dissolve the cornstarch in a few tablespoons of water.  Add the dissolved cornstarch to the chocolate mixture and stir constantly until it is almost as thick as a pudding.  Serve immediately in warmed cups.
Makes 2 demitasse servings
*I used Theo's Chocolate

Source: Hot Chocolate by Michael Turback