Bicycle Shoe Update

Well, I finally got up the nerve to try out my new bicycle shoes and clips. I made a couple of circles around the backyard before I braved the street (and the eyes of our neighbors). I fell over once, on the grass, but both Chris and Bailey came to my rescue and I wasn't any the worse for wear. Bailey seems to get a lot of pleasure out of chasing me around the yard when I'm on my bike. So I guess it's exercise for both of us. We're going to venture out next weekend on a "proper" ride since it's dark by the time either of us get home from work in the evening. Gosh, I miss summer.

A New Record

Chris was working away at the computer this morning listening to Christmas music. Oh, the mania has started..I swear it begins earlier and earlier every year.

The Final Results!

More Pumpkin Carving

We had a couple pumpkins left over from the pumpkin carving party last weekend so I decided that three pumpkins on the doorstep are always better than one. Besides, I like carving pumpkins.
Halloween in Santa Ana is always lots of fun. We literally have hundreds of trick or treaters. And after we've handed out the contents of 10 bags of candy we turn off all the lights, hide in the back office, and watch the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Waiting for scraps.

Halloween

We've decided that Bailey should be a scarecrow for Halloween this year since he seems to spend most of his time covered in straw (grass) anyway.

Masters of Transportation

I got these pictures as a forward from a co-workers and thought they were especially interesting.

Sewing Update

The sewing project is underway. We had a few minor mishaps (such as cutting the fabric horizontally vs. vertically) but we're back on track. I think I would have perhaps picked a slightly easier fabric (such as cotton) rather than silk dupiani (sp) and I would have kept it out of reach of certain inquiring noses (see permanent print, above) but overall it's turning out well. Now I just have to scrounge up some curtain rods!

Pumpkin Party

We had a pumpkin carving party at the house today. Here are a couple examples of our fabulous masterpieces. Mine is the lecherous old man pumpkin on the far left that is winking.

Caution! Bathroom Humor!

A real porta potty!

Wedding Photos Online

We finally got our wedding photos online. I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to upload them until someone asked me the other day if they were accessible. They can be found here. I ran out of space in the web album so you won't find the entire set up there; but honestly, who wants to look at thousands of pictures from somebody else's wedding, right? :) As always, these photos are the property of our photographer Anaura Photography, and cannot be used for commercial purposes (printing for home photos albums is a-ok).

Edit: I just added a nifty link directly to the wedding albums here on the blog. Scroll down till you see the two pictures and the titles "Wedding Pictures" and "Wedding Pictures Part 2" below the toolbar on the right-hand side. Click on one of the pictures and it'll take you directly to the album. Cool, eh?

Fond Memories

I think this is my favorite picture from the wedding. The only one who looks somewhat normal is Stephanie (far right) and she appears rather disgusted with the rest of us...

Rockhounding

We went up to the Angeles National Forest today to look at an outcropping of opal and agate. We were in the company of three geologists so we had plenty of expert help.
Mindy hard at work on an outcropping. Nancy (below) surveying her finds.


We heard gunshots about two minutes after getting out of the car so Bails got to wear his smart safety vest (It's actually my work safety vest, slightly altered).

Candles

Motorbikes on the Brain

Chris and I are Netflix subscribers. We each have our own separate queues. My movies tend to run along the lines of Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean, Monsoon Wedding and the Gods Must be Crazy. Lately, I've been noticing a trend in Chris' picks. He has obviously got motorbikes on the brain. And quite frankly, his motorbike movies have actually been very interesting. In fact, I'll recommend all of them (even, if you're like me, you don't particularly like motorcycles :)

The Motorcycle Diaries
According to IMDB: The Motorcycle Diaries is an adaptation of a journal written by Ernesto "Che" Guevara de la Serna when he was 23 years old. He and his friend, Alberto Granado are typical college students who, seeking fun and adventure before graduation, decide to travel across Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela in order to do their medical residency at a leper colony. Beginning as a buddy/road movie in which Ernesto and Alberto are looking for chicks, fun and adventure before they must grow up and have a more serious life. As is said in the film itself, it's about "two lives running parallel for a while." The two best friends start off with the same goals and aspirations, but by the time the film is over, it's clear what each man's destiny has become.

Sonja here: This is probably my most favorite of all the "motorcycle"movies. The scenery is spectacular, the story incredible and the cast includes Gael Garcia Bernal and Mia Maestro.


Long Way Round
According to IMBD:This documentary series follows actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on a motorcycle trip around the world. The two friends will travel through such places as Siberia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Alaska, before finally ending the journey in New York. The filming will be done by on board cameras and one ride along cameraman.


Dust to Glory
According to IMBD:An action-adventure documentary chronicling the most notorious and dangerous race in the world--the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Rivaling the Indy 500 and 25 Hours of Daytona, the race across Baja's peninsula is unpredictable, grueling and raw--just like the uncharted American West of yesteryear. To capture the vast desert panoramas and intense action of the race, the film team utilized, fifty-five cameras, four helicopters, a four-passenger buggy camera car and a crew of over eighty people. Thousands of participants, generations of families and racing icons such as Robby Gordon, Mario Andretti, Jimmy Vasser and Motorcycle Supercross legend Mike Mouse McCoy joined together to experience the thrill and glory of the infamous race--an event of sheer human determination.

Since we live so close to Mexico, I'd actually like to go down and see this race. It's set for early November and it looks absolutely crazy.

The World's Fastest Indian
The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle -- a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967. Cherie recommended this movie to us; it's delightful!

Greg's Motorbike Trip down the Alcan

Chris' brother Greg and his friend Derek took a motorbike trip from Anchorage down to Seattle a couple weeks ago. According to Google Maps, it's about 2,384 miles from Anchorage to Seattle, not including Greg's sidetrip up to Fairbanks. That's a long drive.

Chris and I drove the Alcan back in 2003 but that was in a car; I simply can't imagine riding it on a motorbike. Greg said that the scenery and wildlife were incredible. I've heard from various people that you experience so much more riding on a motorbike than you do in a car.

Greg, you've got Chris itching to go on some motorbike adventures with you. We can't wait for you to come down and visit us although Chris will probably snatch you immediately into the garage for some extended motorbike repair talks.

See you soon!

Motorbike Update

Look at all those nice clean parts!


A faithful garage buddy.

New Bike Pedals

I'm still working up the nerve to give my new bike pedals a try. I was hoping to practice at our local park (grass=soft landing); unfortunately, it's packed with families from dawn until dust and I don't really want an audience.

Too many pictures, too few walls

We finally got some pictures framed yet we're running out of wall space on which to hang them. Unfortunately, our living room in configured so that the wall lights occupy prime picture-hanging areas. We've got some pictures at strange heights (too low or too high) and it looks a bit haphazard. :)

Candlemaking

This was a very nice relaxing weekend for both Chris and I. Chris worked feverishly on his motorbike and I got to do all sorts of projects that I’ve been dying to do all summer. First on my list was candlemaking. I save all the used “ends” of candles from around the house and then melt them down and make new candles when I have enough. I’m one of those people that loves to have lighted candles in the house so this is a way to cut down on the number that I buy in the store.

My parents used to make candles from beeswax when they had bee hives. Those have the most delightful smell in the whole world; there isn’t a fake scent anywhere that beats fresh beeswax.

Mine don’t smell as good as those but I do only use a small amount of vanilla and not any of those gross fruity/flowerly scents.

Candlemaking is really quite easy.

Materials:

-Old Candle Stubs

-Fresh Wicks

-Candle Mold

-Putty for Candle Mold Holes

Optional:

-Scent

-Coloring

Here are the steps:


Collect your candle stubs and place them in an old (not used for food) pan. I set up a double boiler system but you can melt them straight off the burner, too. The candles will melt faster if you chop them up into smaller bits. I usually stick mine in the pot will all the bits of wick still attached since you can always fish those out later.
You will need some kind of candle mold. I have one that is specially formatted for this purpose; however, I used to use paper cups and just peel the paper away when the wax had dried. Also, if you have a candle that comes in a glass jar, you can always re-use those when the candle is spent. Scents and colors are optional. I would recommend buying the specially formulated candle scents. They work better. Also, food coloring does not work for coloring candle wax. You have to buy the color. Or, if you’re too cheap like me, you can always melt down a small colored tea candle. It’s usually cheaper and you really don’t need much coloring.

Make sure your mold doesn’t have any holes!! Many professional candle molds have a hole in the bottom. This needs to be covered with a special putty/clay (you can buy this at Michaels). Covering the hole with duct tape does not work!

Try to get your wick as straight as possible in the candle. Mine have been stored in a funny position so it’s difficult for me to have a straight wick. I usually curl it around a stick at the top to keep it in position.

When the wax is melted, it's ready to be poured into the mold. Add scent and coloring after the wax has melted and just before its poured into the mold.
Pour liquid wax into the mold.

I usually fill the mold about 1/2 an inch from the top.

Candles take a surprisingly long time to harden. Here you can tell that the edges are hardening more quickly than the middle.

A candle will form a trough in the center around the wick as it hardens. Reserve a bit of wax for filling in the trough.

The finished product!