Tuesday, November 30, 2010

True blue fan

You know a child is a true Food Network fan when you hear her having this conversation:

Adult:  What do you want to be when you grow up?
5-yr old niece:  A food chef.  But first I have to win a competition.


A future Iron Chef

Monday, November 29, 2010

Funny words

While traveling this Thanksgiving, we saw quite a few funny signs, ads, and labels:

Perhaps this car would like some company?

Aren't they cute?  I'd like one Pity Party please.

This sign greeted us as we returned to Michigan.  Welcome home!

Have you ever paid for smells?
Strange, right?  I guess you always have to read the fine print.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Food Mugshots

WARNING:  If you see these products in your local supermarket, turn around and walk away! 


Consider this a warning.  These products are tasteless impostors.

Friends don't let friends eat Instant Indian.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Hello up there

Trees are the earth's endless effort 
to speak to the listening heaven.  
~ Rabindranath Tagor 

 



Thursday, November 25, 2010

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Pre-Thanksgiving Day Limerick



There once was a turkey from Michigan,
Who feared he'd be lunch like his brethren
Come Thanksgiving Day
He shouted, "Hooray!"
His owners became vegetarian.

~ Pink Stripey Socks and Hubby

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Hope you have a wonderful time feasting, chatting, laughing, and resting.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Reasoning about Elvis and Cheese

I was hungry and decided to make my lunch using these four ingredients.   

Curious?  Well, let me shed some light on my train of thought
  • I was hungry.
  • My friend Mary made a waffle sandwich with two waffles, peanut butter, and bananas.
  • I love bananas.  
  • I really love peanut butter.
  • Elvis ate grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
  • I love grilled cheese sandwiches.
  • Perhaps I would love a grilled cheese, peanut butter, and banana sandwich?
And that's when I found myself doing this

to make this.

It actually wasn't half bad. Very creamy, slightly salty, slightly spicy (due to the pepper jack cheese), and just a tad sweet.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Beauty in the details

This weekend my hubby and I visited Saugatuck.  This town is so cute and I really love all the charming details.

"Come inside," beckon the beautifully crafted door handles.


"Return back to yesteryears" chime the double letters and extra "e." 


Hope you had a wonderful weekend too,
Ye Olde Pink Stripey Sockkes 
   

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Letter from a reader

I recently received a letter from one of my many squirrel readers.  It just made my day.  Here's what the letter said:

****************************************
Dear Ms. Pink Stripey Socks,

My wife and I thoroughly appreciated your "Treasure Map" post.  During this terrible recession we've struggled to take care of our large family.  With eight mouths to feed, we're constantly searching for food.  Your map has greatly helped us.  Now we hope to make it through this winter.

Thanks very kindly,
Mr. Harold T. Squirrel

PS:  I've included a picture of my youngest daughter Matilda enjoying a recent treasure map find.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

This blog is rated P for....

For those of you with genteel eyes and stomach, stop right here! 
Read no further. 
Avert your eyes.
Be warned.
This post was not meant for you.  
(I suggest you read any of my other posts.)







Is everyone gone?  Ok, now for those of you who appreciate the many facets of our human body (and don't mind potty humor), let's continue.  Recently, my hubby showed me this chart on this website.
 
Keep your eyes on the prize.  Apparently types 3 and 4 are ideal

Isn't this fascinating?  People actually do this type of research?  Who signs up to be participants? 


Friday, November 19, 2010

Sticky reminders


I stick these brightly colored babies around the apartment.  Now,   

hubby gets fed,

I get fed,

and Charlie gets fed.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

If Mr. Rogers owned a haberdashery

my hubby would probably have shopped there. Another week, another series of quirky outfits involving one comfy gray cardigan.   

 The School Boy

Graphing actuary
 

Country driving
As always, thanks for stopping by, virtual neighbor.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Admire the beauty (again)!

Do you remember learning the Pythagorean theorem ( a2 + b2 = c2 ) when you were in school? Well, here's a visual way of showing it.  Eureka.  Isn't it beautiful?

Annairizi of Arabia (circa A.D. 900)

Is anyone out there a quilter?  I bet this would make a really lovely (albeit nerdy) quilt.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

A Filo feast

Double, double toil and trouble
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.



What's inside the pot?  Eye of newt?  Wing of bat?  Finger of a naughty child?  Nope, just some cabbage, pork, green beans, onions, eggplant, tomatoes, and a special blend of exotic spices.  It's sinigang, one of my favorite Filipino dishes.    

It's usually eaten with rice, but I just slurp it up sans starch. 
Sour. Salty. Tasty.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Picketing Shoes

When I woke up from my Sunday nap, guess what I saw happening on my deck?
All my thrifted shoes were outside protesting. 

How could this be?  Why were they protesting?  I provide them with a roof over their heads, a warm place to sleep, new friends to meet, and a chance to go out.

Ok, ok.  They did have a fair point.  I could do a better job with their upkeep and I probably should make sure to wear each pair.  After an hour of intense negotiations, we finally reached an agreement.  Picket line dispersed.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Food Mimicry

Today we visited a Krispy Kreme store.  Look what we found? 

Isn't it cute?  Look at how this little guy pretended to be a football to escape being eaten.  Silly doughnut.  

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Draw me something delicious

My little niece's favorite channel is Food Network and she wants to be a chef when she grows up.  (Well, either that or a princess.  Personally, I think she could be both.)  To encourage her future culinary career, I've created these coloring activity pages for her.  I can't wait to see what she draws up.        

Chef page

Dish page

Cake page


Friday, November 12, 2010

Super Hero powers

Now that we've gotten a chance to get to know each other better, I thought I'd let you in on a little secret.  Come closer to the screen.
Closer.                   Closer.                           Closer.

Ok, too close, back up.  (I need my personal space.)

You alone?
Good.
Here's my secret:
.
.
.
I have amazing superhero powers.
Really.  Why are you rolling your eyes?  

Just for that, I won't let you know all my superhero powers. I'll just share one super power with you.

I am a SUPER COOKIE EATER!  It's true.  I can eat dozens of cookies in a single bite.
See these?

Bam.  Gone.
 Poor delicious, sweet, buttery, and slightly crumbly treats.  They didn't stand a chance against my mega mouth and super sharp cookie death chompers.

What are your super powers?  Come on... everyone's got at least one....

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Congratsusagna

I recently heard some great news from two people.  One good friend recently was offered 2 jobs in California and a cousin just passed the final part of his ordination exam.  I was so happy I baked them a congratsusagna.

What, dear reader?  You've never heard of a congratsusagna?   Well, let me educate you.

Official Pink Stripey Socks definition:
Congratsusagna  (kənˌgrætjʊˈzän'yə) n.
       A dish consisting of layered pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese with the word
       "congratulations" or "congrats" written on it, often shown on websites to
       celebrate accomplishments and hard work

A real live congratsusagna

Congratulations guys.  I'm so happy for you both.  :)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Thrifty professor

I love seeing my hubby dress up for work.  He's got a great eye for fashion and seamlessly mixes second-hand and new items.  Here are four of my favorite looks: 
 
(A) Stripes Galore

(B) Classy Nerd

(C) Preppy Quirk

(D) Autumn Ready

Can you tell which items are second-hand? 

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Durian in Michigan?

A couple of days ago my hubby spotted these lying on the ground.

Looking up, he saw a tree filled with these mysterious fruit.


They reminded him of durian, a spiky green fruit that smells like gym socks mixed with turpentine.  Durian in Michigan?  Seemed a little strange, so I puttered around the internet.  According to this website these fruit are called Osage oranges (aka hedge apples, horse apples, monkey balls, and brainfruit).  Osage orange trees were originally planted to act like fences. Some say the fruit also repels insects and pests. 

So there you go.  Case closed.