My Favorite Recipe for Carob Powder

I do not like carob.

It tastes bad.

It tries to mimic chocolate. (big offence)

In Medieval times, it was used for animal feed. I can see why.

So how can a recipe for carob be good? By using it up without having to eat it. This is a homemade dry shampoo. It has one part corn starch, which is what soaks up the hair oil and works really well. Just that would probably turn my hair whitish so I add about the same amount of carob powder. A makeup brush is nice to help apply it. I got the idea from this lady's blog. She also has a spray version that I have not tried yet:

DIY Wet/Dry Spray Shampoo for Light or Dark Hair

1 cup warm water
1/4 cup arrowroot or cornstarch
1/4 cup vodka, rubbing alcohol or witch hazel
Essential oils or a spritz of your favorite perfume to scent
What to do: Mix all ingredients in a small spray bottle and shake well. Shake before each use and spray on roots or oily parts of hair. Let dry and style as usual.

I'm at the age where my hair gets oily really fast. Since it's also really strait hair, the oil shows up pretty fast and it's not pretty. I've learned to wash my hair flipped over in the sink so I don't have to take a whole shower every time. A washing will last about 24 hours but sometimes I'm too busy or tired for that so this dry shampoo is nice to have. It's surprising how well it works.

Philippines Picture Post

Alright you guys, I know this has been a long time in coming. Sorry, there is a lot to do before I leave again.

The morning I left, everyone got up early to say bye. I left from Pittsburgh where I gave my coat to Mom and Papa :). I didn't need it in the Philippines.

When I got to LA, I expected the airport to be a little confusing. Was it ever! I barely made it to the gate on time. Before I got off the first plane though, I saw the plane I though I was going to take and took this picture. It was so close yet so hard to get to! :)

The airport in Manila was warm and felt like the south seas if you paid attention.

This is the house of the missionary family I stayed with.

Their truck that picked me up.

The 'park' across the street was an empty lot no one was using so the family cleaned it out, built a pavilion and used it as an all-purpose yard.

Everyone always had fans blowing if they could.

There was a coconut tree in the lot. Ate had a neighbor climb up and cut down some green nuts the first day I was there.

He cut them open with a machete and caught the coconut water.

This was my cupful.

Everyone grabbed a spoon and half a coconut and started scraping.

It was very moist and came off easily. They plopped the meat in with the water and added ice and condensed milk.

I've got to tell you guys, that first day I felt so sick. I really think it was a little heat stroke because of going from winter to hot, hot summer. When I took my first cool shower it was blissful. In the Philippines hardly anyone has a shower head. All the bathrooms have this bucket and scoop to pour the water over yourself.

Where I was, no one had toilet paper either. They all used water with a scoop. I think it was partly because there were so many Muslims in the area.

The next day I got to go to the outdoor market or palinki. It was as fun as I always imagined.

Some of the market was indoors.

Unfortunately it was the fish section. It did not help the smell any.

Did you know that the ink from squid is used as flavoring? It tastes a little like soy sauce.

Tricycles are the main mode of transportation. Not many people know how to drive a car. I saw a few jeepneys in Gen San but there are more in Davao.

The jeepney is the small bus-thing in the back of this picture.

Here you can see the tricycle a little better. Filipinos really squish into them, and onto the top of motorcycles. I counted 10 of us in a trike once, although some of them were kids. The blue motorcycle behind it isn't attached. There are two short benches in the back like the one in the front only lengthwise.

A lot of my time was spent with the family's kids. We had lots of fun. The oldest girl here especially loved meeting another white girl. Her mom is Philippine but her daddy is white so she feels different from a lot of her friends.

It is strange being the only white girl around sometimes. Many people turn to look and definitely act different towards an Americano.

The house was quite open because it did not have air-conditioning. There were always three or four little lizards on the walls and several lines of ants going steadily up, down or across. Birds flew in and out too.

Most of the lizards were 3-4" long but there was a gecko that came out after a rain storm one evening. He was maybe 8" long.

Well, that's all for now. I've got lots more to show but it is for an upcoming post. Stay tuned!

My Favorite Job

This week was one of the busiest weeks of the year at the bakery. Wednesday we made 120 dozen dinner rolls besides pumpkin pies, fruit pies, cream pies, cookies, cakes, cheese balls and loves of bread. 

Pumpkin rolls went hard and fast too but some of the other girls were able to make boxes and boxes of those earlier in the week. Most of the orders were before noon so even though I got home about 2:30 p.m., there were three girls there by five thirty a.m. and the two other girls and I were there by six a.m. It was loads of fun. It's like having a baking day with your best friends who pray before each meal and love the same God you do. I just keep realizing how blessed I am to have such a job. I know I've only had three jobs so far but I think this one will be hard to top.

I was at Aunt Margie's yesterday morning so everyone at home made the family thanksgiving dinner without me and I came home to a beautiful table set with lots of good food. Leftovers from this time of year are almost better than the big meal. We'll have sandwiches and sweet potatoes and cranberries the next few days. On Saturday Granddad and Granny will have the extended family feast but since this house is done with Thanksgiving, we are on to the next holiday.

Smooth Jazz Christmas music is playing. Mommy's Christmas Cactus is blooming. About half of my presents are bought or made. Plans are to put up the tree this afternoon. Debates are taking place about where it should be. And I only have one month left to get my act together for my trip around the world!

My new FAVORITE place

This morning I took the College Comp. CLEP test at GC. I am glad it is over but I won't get the results for a while because it is graded by actual people. Anyway, I finished about 11:00. I had Ann and La along since Ann had a test at 1:00 and La could study in the school library. We went to BK for lunch and then had an hour to waste. So we went to this little cafe in Deep creek. Each of us had been there once or twice before but just for a few min. so Papa could get coffee or something. This time Annie treated us to hot chocolate and we all went to the back where there was a nice little lounge with a fireplace.

 I got pumpkin hot chocolate which is better than pumpkin coffee and also better than the other girls' 'smores hot chocolate even though it sounded better.

 Bad camera but isn't this a cute clock?

 Ann is trying not to worry about her test which, of course, she passed.

I am already planning my all day study visit. I will go on a Friday or Monday...or maybe tomorrow...after my busy work week. I will wash my hair the night before and braid it wet and sleep in it because I like those waves and I am afraid of a curling iron.

I'll wear it like this and dress up nice. I'll go in the morning and bring school books and some money for lunch-yes they serve sandwiches-and plan on spending the day. I will sit in the back by the fire and use their nice wi-fi if I need it. I may even buy a nice mug and sip a hot drink all day. It will be Christmas only better! 

In which I nearly choke and Katie turns 10

Cinnamon hardtack! :)  

 I made all of this in one day. 20 batches. Merry Christmas! Think of me whenever you get hardtack from the bakery.

For Katie's party she had a Silly-Sally restaurant. Joshua down to Zach were waiters and waitresses. 

They named their Silly-Sally restaurant Colored Leaves. In this kind of restaurant you have no 

idea what you are ordering because the menu says things like lava instead of salsa and 

healthy gasoline for tea.

 Papa took La and Ann out and bought them scarves. I am promised a scarf too when I am off work the same time Papa is. We like to dress up for "restaurants."

 This was the first time mom did not have to be in the kitchen for a restaurant.

 Peaking into the kitchen.

 I loved Kate's dishes.

 Ann is faithful with her camera.

 The theme was butterflys.

 Happy Birthday Miss Kate!

Ya'll know I can't resist the morning sunrise. Had to throw it in.