Lunch in the Garden

Had an AWESOME lunch with some lovely ladies today. The location was absolutely stunning!



Molly was my guest at the NOSCO (Naval Officers' Spouses Club of Okinawa) social for November, which included admission to the Southeast Botanical Gardens...



And a lovely, living ichibana craft. The president of the gardens was our instructor. She was delightful.


It was such a beautiful day to be out on the patio.



Here's my finished product. I think he looks like a pineapple. He's supposed to be round, but I prefer pineapples, so I made him this way on purpose.



Isn't this gorgeous?



And then in an instant, it starts to pour. That's SO Okinawa for you!







Then we went in to get washed up for lunch. Even the bathroom is botanically.



More lovely ladies (Kaylin and Angela)



I forgot to get a before picture, but this is what the table looked like when we were done.



The produce is all organically grown on the premises. It was one of the yummiest lunches I've had on the island. I'm considering a membership just so I can come here for lunch whenever I want.



So many colors of bougainvillea in one spot. (Took this one for you dad...know you love these.)



So, Molly has been here before and had to take me down to see the rabid carp.




Is this unreal, or what? They can hear you coming and they are waiting for that first morsel to drop...and then the frenzy begins!







Had to get one more shot as we left the park. Can't wait to show Cliff!

Having a Ball (or Swingin' with the Wing)

Our next ball was for the Wing. LOTS of fun!

First of all, there was a table centerpiece contest, and each group or squadron was asked to provide their tables with centerpieces. They were to be judged and the winner would get a prize. I loved Molly's idea for ours. It involved a Beta fish and a unit coin. Molly sought the advice of several people...and I'm the only one who thought it was a good idea.


And guess who won? Uh-HUH!! In your face, nay-sayers!



I was so excited to see some of the wives from our group there. Kelly always brightens my day.



These "Foxy" people are always a lot of fun, too!



I am really starting to love random dancing shots. You just never know what you are going to capture. Do I look like a total doofus? Indeed. But enlarge this photo and look at some of the other faces here. Look at the woman in black screaming to the left. See the General in the back getting his grove on? It was too priceless not to include here, even at my expense. Oh, and the tune we are jamming to? AC/DC's "shook me all night long". Cliff's and my song. (It's a funny story...I'll have to tell you sometime. Maybe.)



Look at all the "white man overbite" going on here!



Another doofus shot. Just keepin' it real, folks!

My heart (and tongue) burns for you

Cliff and I had a great time on our date night last night. We were both craving Thai food, and Cliff still had not been here, so this is where we started:







I ordered a green shrimp curry and a mango salad. It was the hottest Thai food I have ever had in my life. I mean painful hot. Can't put the fire out with anything, can't stand to lick your own lips hot. It was not fun. I have eaten at many Thai places (including this one) and have never had such an experience.


Luckily, right around the corner, Yogurtland came to my rescue...



with its 12 flavors of creamy, fire-extinguishing goodness.




It only works if I'm actually holding it on my tongue, darn it!

Flashback Friday...Dental Destiny?

You might be asking yourself..."What on earth?"

Today's flashback took place back in 2005. Troy played the part of "Wisdom Tooth" in our Church's road show. As you might imagine...he had lots of big words to memorize. You might recognize some of his companions...baby tooth, canine tooth, buck tooth and eye tooth, to name a few. And then there's those adorable taste buds!

Looking at all the stuff caught in those front teeth still makes my stomach turn a little.

It's Muffin Season Again!

Only this time, we tried some tweaks.

(1) We used fun papers...WAY worth the extra cost when you think of the extra clean up they save.

(2) We used mini chocolate chips this time. (We always do mini muffins...we thought, "Why not mini chips?") This turned out to be a mistake. Who would have thunk it would make that much of a difference when the total chocolate volume is the same? They look nice and mini, but the chocolate flavor is also just that...MINI. We're going back to the standard chips...LOVE those bursts of chocolate flavor. (Want a little pumpkin with your chocolate?)

Fall is finally here on Okinawa! Woohoo!

Turkey Lurkey Doo and Turkey Lurkey Dap*

*Again...bonus points if you can name that tune!



Sometimes I think I'm the only geek around that LOVES turkeys! I love Thanksgiving decor in general...cornucopias and pilgrims SERIOUSLY float my boat!


But I just have this thing for turkeys. We had some wild ones near our camp site once that I stalked at length to photograph, so I guess I do have a thing for real turkeys...and I LOVE to eat turkey...but mostly, I love the turkey as a character.

I even do a GREAT turkey impersonation. I'm serious. Ask me. I'll do it for you sometime.


For today, just thought I'd share some of my Thanksgiving decor. I couldn't bring everything to Okinawa, but these are my faves.



This cornucopia is my VERY favorite. Jim Shore is awesome. (I am NOT a dork...don't hate!) Anyway, as I was saying, I bought this last year...and 3 others for some of my dear friends whom I was having to say goodbye to when we left "The IV". I'm hoping they love them and think of me when they put them out this time of year (you know, as opposed to the Ebay option).


This was my first cornucopia. I've had it for about 15 years. I made it myself (you know...in that I bought it...and the plastic fruit...and put the fruit inside). I should have gotten more of a close up on the cornucopia candle holders, too. Love those.


And LOVE Thanksgiving children's books. OK...I love to decorate with children's books for any holiday.

Bring on the turkey!

Halloween...Soaking Wet Edition

So Halloween was a bit on the lame side this year. The older two are really too old for the whole trick-or-treating thing anyway, and besides, it poured down rain, making for a miserable Halloween for everyone anyway. Jake lasted the longest, not allowing the weather to deter his candy begging efforts much...but Coree barely took a spin around the block before coming home content to feast on our leftovers.

We were warned by many to stock up on candy. We were deceived. Don't know whether to blame it on the rain or what, but we didn't have all that many trick or treaters.

Just thought I'd at least record pics of their costumes here for posterity:


Troy the docile dentist



Patrick the Narcissistic Ninja



Coree the Pretty Purple Witch



Jake the Awesome Alien Commander