January 4th 2011

January 4th, 2011 the long awaited day for all the hogs fans. We, Melanie, Ray, Seth, and I went to 'West Mountain Brewery' on the square to watch the sugar bowl. WPS!!!!!
Unfortunately the game ended: 26 Arkansas and 31 Ohio State.
Seth in this picture is concentrating on the game. His hair and the natural mohawk he's been growing were the subject of our talk for a while.

January 3rd 2011

So during our Shiitake mushroom farm tour I got to pick fresh mushroom so I decided to cook those delicious mushrooms and it ended up being really successful and easy recipe.

• Start by frying an onion and 5 cloves of garlic all cut into small pieces (use olive oil for better flavor).

• Just when they start getting to wilt add the mushroom (discard the stem and cut into pieces, the amount and the size of mushrooms is for you to decide, if it comes back to met the more the merrier).

• Add 3/4 cup of chicken broth and 3/4 cup of white wine.

• Let them boil and smell the flavor, it's amazing. Let half of the water evaporate.
  

• Then add some heavy cream. Let them boil again and let the water evaporate until the desired thickness.

• Add salt and pepper (I actually forgot to add those but still, it turned out just perfect)

• Serve with pasta, angel hair pasta was great.

• Voila! Sahtein. Bon Apetit.

January 1st 2011 and January 2nd 2011

We went on a visit to Seth's friends' house in Kingston, Arkansas.
They have an organic Shiitake mushroom farm so we took the tour and then we listened to great old American tunes. I was just amazed by how good those people are, music geniuses.
Those two pictures will count for January 1st and 2nd since by the time the music ended it was already the 2nd.

Every Day

I want to take on this project. I know I barely have any time but it's a good project I believe.
This guy/girl wrote about the project 365. Posting one picture, everyday. Here's the link if you want to learn more about it.
I will keep my camera with me, and use my iPhone too. The pictures will therefore be of a poor quality but I promise to try my best to provide nice pictures.
I will post every week, sometimes every day.
I heard about the project on the third, therefore I am already missing some pictures but no big deal I guess.
So we'll see if I can keep up 365 days.

Momentary beauty

These pictures were taken almost 3 months ago on the Buffalo.
We were canoeing and we stopped for a while. This is what I found taking a walk on a tree.
The colors, pink and green, were glowing, and she would put her head up and move forward.
It was very amusing to watch, and I was so happy to see such a beautiful creature.
I'm really curious to know if it will keep her pretty colors when it is a butterfly.

Travel assessment

So, I might be flying to Dallas next week to take a test.
Looking back at all the flying I have done in the past year, I must say, I am proud of myself. Though, California, was and still is, on top of the list- San Francisco for that matter- and I am not sure if or when I will get the chance to go.
We might end up going to Colorado for Christmas break, which sounds interesting: skiing, white, cold, after all that's what winter is about.
Now let's see what other travel is planned.
None.
Maybe I should think more about the thesis planning. Yeah, about that thing, I might actually finish my thesis on time.

Wedding- Part 3

The ceremony was nice, I love in the orthodox weddings the part where the main actors are walking around the altar and everyone is chanting: "Ayyouha al rabou ilahouuuunaaa bil majdi wal karamati kalilhoumaaaaaa."
So at the end of the wedding we noticed that, unfortunately, the dress has yet a bigger and a more accentuated rip. However, of course, following the ceremony, people approach the front bench to congratulate the parents of the groom and the bride and wish the bachelors the same as the bride and groom. The bride and groom and their families have to take pictures in front of the altar too.
We got to take some really nice pictures and finally we were heading towards the exit door of the church and I was looking forward to getting into the car with Celine and Helena and heading towards the Casino- where the dinner will take place- to figure out what I will do with my dress.
When I got to the church's door I was surrounded with three women, a friend of mine whom I haven't seen yet, a family friend who was telling how pretty I looked, and an old aunt or a far relative who was telling me how much I have grown and that she did not recognize me.
I do not remember my conversation with the three of them well, but I do remember my replies, to the question: "How are you?" reply: "Thank you... Where's Helena?" And then I had to leave, while I was walking a woman pokes me and whispers: "Your dress has a rip in the back!" I smiled and I replied: "Yeah...Well... Celine? Helena?" And then I found Helena who was talking to her aunt, a pretty knowledgeable person in dresses. Her reaction to the rip: "Ohhh, how are you going to fix this?"
After finding Celine we decided to start. Again, me in the back with Helena and Celine (Octave the driver) driving!
However, it was getting dark... so we had to stop.
We stopped on the side of the road where the view was not as nice as you would imagine because of some minor components that spread a despicable smell in other words, garbage.
So we opened the back door, Helena was sitting on the back seat and I was standing in my high-hurting-heels. Celine was using her cellphone to shed some light so Helena can minimize the risk of poking me with the needle.
The work was labor extensive but was very well done.
We did get a bit late to the Casino but just a classy late.
The dress did survive the whole night including a non-stop dancing from my part!
Thanks Helena and Celine.
So if you ever think of sending you daughter to a school where they teach knitting and sewing, don't think twice, just do it, she might be able to save the dress of her cousin on her brother's wedding day!