It was a good afternoon.  Grant and I went for a walk that was supposed to start at the house and to the mailbox and back. 
Certainly, I got 'tricked' into walking into the woods, to the creek, crossed the creek, over some barb wire fence, onto someone's land, back on some fence.  It was quite an adventure.  I had some minor scratches from the briar, from the scratchy, thorny plants, from the barb wire. But it was all good.
Grant taught me something today. 
His favorite line on our adventure was "Face your fear Christina. That is the only way you can be braver."
That is certainly true. :)
We had lots of fun.  We talked about family, about dogs, about my childhood, about future, about science and nature. 
There were some rather heart-to-heart talk. 
As always, this is another good walk with the boy. 
I think we are going to go on another one tomorrow.  But with better shoes, better outside clothes, and better sense. :)

How was your Christmas??
Were you on Santa's good boy/girl list?

It was a good day for me. I had fun and visited with lots of people. And certainly, at this point in time, I am too full to even want to think about what I want for breakfast.

After a couple of years of not spending the entire Christmas day with loved ones but at work, this Christmas was great. I didn't have to look at my watch to be sure that I have set enough time to drive 3 hours from Christmas lunch to work. It was great. I just stayed, and chatted, and learn.

Oh boy ... I had a good Christmas and I hope u had a good one too!

Yipeeee!
The baklava is done.
Filled with lots of walnuts tossed in cinnamon, and then baked to a golden brown, with flaky crust.
Then drizzled with honey syrup ....

 

Heaven ...

Nothing beats having warm cookies with gooey chocolate chips and a glass of cold milk on Christmas morning (or any day or any time).
I am not quite done today's quests. But I do have three batches of chocolate cookies with walnuts all packaged up and ready for gifting.

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Today's love:
1) Hand beater

2) Aluminium fold

3) Jingle Bell Rock

It was good meeting with them ... we hugged, and chatted, ate the homemade baked goods in christmas baggies... and we discussed.

I guessed the central topic was communism, Asperger's syndrome and communication.

It is always interesting to talk to them. It is always thought-provoking. It makes you think about how it all works. 
We are so different in our thinking, yet we can actually stand each other to listen to each other's point of view.
We don't scream or yell at each other just because I think differently from one, and they don't want to strangle me because I think differently from them.  

Of coz' the thing that the three of us have in common is sheer love for food!!!
That, my friend, is the binding agent in our friendship.

These are the dinners I have made for the past few days.

1) TIlapia, sugar snap peas, Italian bread with olive oil and black pepper

2) Tilapia with sugar snap peas

3) Chicken breast and angel hair pasta with marinara sauce

 

Enjoy!!

This is the time of the year where the skin gets really dry.
Don't forget to slather on lots of moisturizer on your face and body.

Yeap ...
I had one of the better Friday night just this past week. :)
I had a good dinner with friends, and a good mindless chatting session with some hot tea amid the cold cold night.
The ribs were good, the chicken was good, the company was good.

All in all, the Friday night was good.

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Latest muse:

1) Peanut butter and honey on banana

2) Hot milky tea (double the power)

3) Ribs, especially those slathered in bbq sauce and those that are finger lickin' good. If u hv a good recipe, send it to me!!!!)
4) The fire place

5) Bed

 

Latest don't like:
1) Turtle neck

2) Sweater with stuff that flies in my eyes, and tickles my nose.

We just never really think about how easy it is for us to relay emotions.
In fact, perhaps, I think we even neglect and take for granted all the facial expressions, body language, and basically all the unsaid language.

It is amazing to see someone who just don't express much of their thoughts, or feelings, and whom just don't like to talk much either.
How do you overcome this - overcome the icy block and slowly chip your way through it? How do you crack this tough nut and get to the core and heart of it?

This will be my challenge this school term.

Saturday was spent creating aromas for the house.
I had a chicken roasting in the oven, which was later served with garlic bread.
For dessert, we had homemade gulab jamuns !!!
And while the chicken was roasting in the oven, I quickly prepped the ingredients for a pot roast to be eaten for the next day.

 

Here are the 12 hours ago (before) and 12 hours later (after) pictures.
P.S. No pictures of roast chicken because by the time I thought of taking pictures of it, only carcass was left!