The Observers

The two observers watching the trees being trimmed and cut at ease. They're taking two days off of chasing critters and missing in action.

Oak Tree Job

December 16 & 17, 2009.

The oak tree in front of the house gets a much needed trimming job to get rid of the mistletoes, while the dead one by the road has to go down. More pictures at Hal's Gallery (click here).

Pear Terrine

December 15, 2009.

Pear Terrine with a hint of anise flavor.

Mike's Shop's Progress

December 14, 2009.

Post erecting work at Mike's welding shop, involving Mr. Delmer, Tony, and Mike's dad. Hal and Juan helped dig the holes the day before. More pictures are available at Hal's Gallery (click here).

This also marked the end of Sony pocket camera's "service". The last picture above is the last decent picture taken by it.

Abacus Champions

Surabaya, December 10, 2009.

They may have not had any luck in fishing, but they sure do have talent in calculating using abacus. Recently Echi & Mey, my dear nieces, were crowned as International Abacus Champions in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They have been champions for East Java province and Indonesia region this year and for Echi (the big sister) two years in a row since last year. They represent different level, Echi foundation 3, Mey foundation 2. They went to Kuala Lumpur and met with 200 other abacus aficionados from England, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia (52 total from Indonesia alone). They had to finish 100 calculations in only 5 minutes using an abacus. Echi, who is going to be 11 soon, won the fourth place for level 3, and Mey, 8, won the first price for level 2.

The day they came back to school, they were greeted with the school marching band, teachers, and principal at the gate. They were ushered to board a nicely decorated tricycle (people's local transportation) with the whole students of the school walk on foot behind them, parading around the block. Then, on a specially setup stage, Echi & Mey with their trophies had a Q&A session with the students cum "press conference" which story ends up in the newspaper.

Supports from the school has been great. The teachers and principal personally wished them luck by doing a home visit just before they departed to Kuala Lumpur.

Congrats, Echi & Mey!

What's for Dinner?

For the love of cook books, photography, and Food Network!

Boris and a Mallard

Hal (he looks like somebody named Boris in camo suit) got a mallard. We smoke it in an indoor stove-top smoker (Emeril's 4-in-1) and it worked good.

Smoking Sausages

A mix of venison and wild hog sausages, processed by Mr. James Littlejohn, soaked in brine solution for one night and then smoke in the smoke house.