Tour de Cure

So I decided to join the work team and ride to raise money for The American Diabetes Association. This is a big step for me. I've been putting off getting off my butt for way too long. I figured what a good way to motivate me while raising money for a great cause. We all know someone who has diabetes or has someone close to them that has diabetes, so here I go. The first step, the commitment. Done - I can check that one off the list.

Now I just need to find a bike to ride! LOL

Wish me luck and if you want to donate to the cause - check out the website http://main.diabetes.org, click on the Tour de Cure link and then the donate link, put in my name - Rae Yamane and do what you can.

Thanks!

Some times you just get what you deserve

So I have a little story to tell. A co-worker of mine has a niece who is going to school in NYC and a neighbor of hers asked her if she could take care of their dog while they went on a short vacation. She agreed. Okay now what's the worst thing that could happen when you are taking care of someones pet? She went over to feed the dog and yes, that's right, he was dead. She had to call them and let them know, apparently the dog was quiet old and the owners were not as surprised as she was. The main problem was that the dog could not be left there till the owners got back in 4 days. So they asked her to call their vet and see if they could help out with this problem. The vet said they could take the dog. Second problem, she now had to get the dog to the vets office. So she wrapped the dog up in a plastic bag and put him in a rolling suitcase. Being a starving student she had no $ for a cab, so she took the subway. A guy seeing her struggling with the suitcase offered to help her. He commented on how heavy it was and asked what was in it. She being embarrassed to tell him the truth told him it was school books and a computer. Guess what he did? Yes!!!! He ran off with the suitcase! He stole it from her! I just laughed my ass off thinking of him opening the suitcase and seeing or maybe even smelling the contents!! Did he get what he deserved? I say HELL YES!

Canning

Recently my sister and I made peach jam. It was so easy. What I really liked about it was that we did a project together. It's really great to do that.
So this past weekend I decided to make pickled beets. My friends grow a gorgeous garden and they offered beets to me. I made pickled beets a few months ago, but don't know how they turned out yet. I really need to try a jar. Especially since I did the same receipt again. What if the first batch was yucky? I also had a bit more of the pickling juice left so I added some peppercorns & fresh dill and pickled some carrots from my garden. We'll see.

The last sighting of Owlie

I'm missing Owlie! He had so many more places to see. In this scene we re-enacted an event that happened to my husband. Many years ago when his sister Monica was little, he took her to the animal park in San Diego. She saw a churro stand and wanted one, so Mike being the good brother that he is went to buy her one. No sooner does he pay for it and it's handed to him then Bam! A seagull swoops out of the sky and steals it right out of his hand. He didn't even know what happened, stunned, he pulls out his wallet and buys another one. Bam! Within seconds, Gone! Needless to say Monica did not get her churro that day. So in honor of Mike and his encounter with the seagulls we took this picture! I still laugh when ever I think of what must have been the stunned look on his face and the Churro vendors obvious smile as he sells him another one.

Weird weather

The other day the weather was very strange. The air smelled like hot pavement after it rains.

The sunset at the end was amazing.

It sure was gorgeous! I just kept staring up. It was such a nice change from our overcast 60 degree weather we had been having the past few days.

Buttermilk Cake

Buttermilk Cake

1 C all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened

2/3 C plus 1 1/2 Tbsp sugar, divided

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 Large egg

1/2 C well-shaken buttermilk

1 C fresh berries (I use what ever looks good, even nectarines!)

*Preheat oven to 400 with rack in middle. Butter and flour a 9-in round cake pan.

*Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt.

*Beat butter and 2/3 C sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes, then beat in vanilla. Add egg and beat well.

*At low speed, mix in flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. Mixing until just combined.

*Spoon batter into cake pan, smoothing top. Scatter berries (or what ever fruit you want) over the top and sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar.

*Bake until cake is golden and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool to warm, 10 - 15 minutes more. Invert onto a plate.

*THEN ENJOY!

This is the easiest cake to make. Sometimes I combine 2 different fruits like blueberries and strawberries. Or in the case of Sonja's cake I made her, it was blueberries and nectarines cut into small pieces.

Last of the fun

We had just a little bit more fun before we all

said good bye! It was really fun visiting with

my whole family! We just don't get to enjoy

each other often enough.

David helping mom! Typical! :)