Wednesday, February 25, 2009

My New Best Friend

Two blogs ago we wished Ani a happy birthday, now it’s James’ turn...even though it was almost 2 weeks ago.  Oops.  We did celebrate with him that week, no worries there.  So let’s talk about our newest four year old for a bit and show off some photos.  James goes to school Monday through Friday from 8:30-12:30.  It has been a bit of adjustment for both of us, but it is moving in a positive direction.  He has two buddies at school, Joel and Samuel.  Joel is from Ireland and Samuel is from England.  He has also met his match from the opposite sex.  Her name is Hannah.  She is from New Zealand and they both have gotten in a wee bit of trouble this week together.   Anyway, he and I started a routine last fall (in the States) prepping dinner in the afternoon while the girls were either napping or at school and I am so glad to say that he is still my sou chef.  Yesterday we made refried beans and tortillas.  As we went to roll out the tortillas, I realized I haven’t bought a rolling pin yet, and our glasses are not round but square, so we used our Play-Doh rolling pin.  He thought that was great fun.


I would like to spend a moment telling you about my new best friend, the pressure cooker.  Now, I think anybody who has a stove and eats any sort of beans, pasta or potato or has ever had tough meat, should own one.  So, basically that means all of you should own one.  Everyone here does.  Gas is quite the commodity and when it runs out it can be a bit of a pain to refill (we don’t have a gas line coming into the house, we have a big ol’ gas tank sitting right by the stove) and because we are at 6,500 ft., it takes longer for water to boil.  So, the pressure cooker enables lots of cooking to be done w/ little gas.  Back in the States, or even here, if I were to cook dried beans, I would have to boil those suckers for at least and hour - but two days ago I made a big pot of butter beans for a Minestrone soup and it took literally 8 minutes!  I about made a belated Valentine card for my new best friend.  


Today, I am having an “I miss home” day.  I’m not quite sure why.  We had a good day, filled with book club in the morning, a play date in the afternoon (that included swimming!), and pizza for dinner.  It should really be a home run sort of day - but alas I am wishing to be home.  I have asked a few fellow ex-pats, that have lived here for a while, if this place ever feels like home.  The answer seems to vary - which I find comfort in.  Please do not sound the U.S. embassy to come and rescue me, I really am fine.  I actually would be more worried if I did not have these days.  


Jayson heads out tomorrow (Thursday) for the Freedom Firm retreat.  The kids and I will head out Friday after school.  The retreat center is in the middle of tea fields in a nearby, larger town called Conoor.  I have never been in the middle of tea fields... have you?  There are actually tea fields a-ga-ga here - making for a truly beautiful landscape.  They’re almost maze-like.  I am hoping for a Sound of Music moment this weekend with my kids while running through the tea fields.  I will let you know how that works out for us.  


Thanks to everyone who gave me insight into baking/cooking in higher elevation.  If any of you have a best friend named “pressure cooker” please let me know. 


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have a best friend named "Rice Cooker" - it even makes oatmeal and steams fish. :-)

xoxo, Dori

Julie Frizzell said...

Hmmm. I don't have any best friends like that. I'll have to look into it. I am missing you at home too...Tempted to call the Embassy, but I will heed to your request. I'll email ya instead. Love you, Jules

Kara said...

Liking the idea of the pressure cooker - how come it isn't used here? Wow. I love to think of you and James making dinner. Curious about the trouble he got into with his new friend... :)
Miss you tons! Bible study isn't the same without you!
Kara

Sarah said...

I will have to look into the pressure cooker thing. It sounds fabulous. And making your own tortillas is quite the feat! I am amazed at your culinary skills. You have come a long way from the venison green bean casserole. Good idea to make James your dinner helper. He will tell his kids one day about that special time with you...

Jennifer S said...

Well, now, I guess it's time to bring in the pressure cooker from the garage...wasn't that from YOU? Seems to me we upgraded our old one (with its flakey pressure valve) to yours...or am I confused? (No surprises there.) Not that you'd want to take up your whole suitcase weight limit with that monster. I have friends that swear by them...maybe it's the sheer mass of the thing that's intimidating. Thanks for the kick in the pants. Love hearing about everything. I sooooo wish I were there.

Anonymous said...

The strangest things can set off homesickness for me. Sometimes homesickness lasts for a day, but more often a moment. The whiff of birch trees, filter brewed coffee (since I'm in a land of tea drinkers & instant coffee), fresh fallen leaves or the scene of a pine forest all easily make that feeling twinge. But like you say, it's good to have that feeling. It's a part of you and you can't take that away, nor would you want it to go away. And in time India will become a part of you as well, to a different degree than the US, but still will. It's part of the journey...and what a journey it is! Love your entries. Keep em up! Cheers. ps. How close to Sri Lanka are you guys? pps. When the Aussies play the Indians in Cricket (a game the boys will no doubt become familiar with & the two countries are arch rivals), you can feel free to cheer for the Aussies cuz they'll win! :) hee. hee.

Anonymous said...

I know about pressure cookers...my friend Rick used it to cook tough beef for stew. It was great! (Rick grew up in Africa--guess that seem right!). It's so fun to read about your experiences there! You have a gift for writing!! Much love from Darla (and the Reign Family)

Anonymous said...

I also have a pressure cooker- we should be closer friends than what we are....I'll have to ask it if we can have a dinner date soon! It really does work fast, so I think you've motivated me to not neglect our 'friendship' :) I really enjoy your blogs!

Anonymous said...

Tarrah, Has living on a hay field prepared you for retreating on a tea field?

You simply amaze me - I am proud of you!

Glenda