Kesan yllatysloyto / Summer's surprise find

Minulla on koko ajan haku paalla uusille helpoille ja maukkaille resepteille, joilla saisi vahan vaihtelua ikuiseen ruoanlaittoon.  No ihan yllattaen loysin FBn kautta seuraavan reseptin. Ja kaikki tykkaa. :) Ollaan tehty tata jo useamman kerran.

I'm always looking for new, easy and tasty recipes to get some variety in this endless job of cooking dinner. Well, I stumbled on this recipe in FB. And we all love it! I've made it already several times.

Asian Noodle Salad
Recipe courtesy of Ree Drummond

Ingredients

Salad:

Total Time: 40 min

Prep: 30 min Cook: 10 min
Yield:
6 servings
One 8‐ounce bag julienne/fine‐cut carrots (about 1 1/2 cups)Up to 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 head or more purple cabbage, sliced1/2 bunch kale, leaves torn off the stalks and shredded  2 cups peanuts, chopped
8 ounces thin spaghetti

One 6‐ounce bag baby sweet peppers, seeded and sliced thinly  into rings (about 1 cup)
One 4‐ounce bag bean sprouts (about 1 cup)  3 English cucumbers, peeled and sliced

3 scallions, sliced

1/2 head or more napa cabbage, sliced

Dressing:
 2 tablespoons sesame oil

 2 to 3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup olive oil 1/3 cup low‐sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup oyster sauce 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 1/4 cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger


Directions
For the salad: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti to al dente according to the package directions. Drain, rinse and let cool.
Mix together the cooked spaghetti, carrots, peppers, bean sprouts, cucumbers, scallions, cilantro, napa cabbage, purple cabbage and kale. Add the peanuts and toss together.

For the dressing: Whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, sesame oil and garlic in a medium bowl.
Pour the dressing over the salad and mix together with tongs or your hands. If the salad seems a little dry, just mix up a little more of the wet ingredients of the dressing and throw it in. It's a very organic process.
Transfer to a large platter and serve.

Recipe courtesy of Ree Drummond
© 2016 Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved. 

Brexit

Meinaan minakin kantaa korteni kekoon taman asian osalta. Se nimittain koskettaa meita. Mieheni on Britti. Molemmilla tytoilla on oikeus kansalaisuuteen isansa kautta mutta koska Suomi ja Iso-Britannia molemmat kuuluvat / kuuluivat EUhun emme koskaan nahneet tarpeelliseksi hankkia Iso-Britannian kansalaisuutta heille. Nyt asia mietityttaa. 

I'm going to also get into the subject of Brexit. The reason for this is as it's going to affect us. My husband is a Brit. Both of our girls have a right to UK citizenship through their father but we never considered necessary as both Finland and The United Kingdom are/were both part of EU. Now we've been wondering about it.

Vaikka miehenellani on kansalaisuus seka UK passi niin saiko han aanestaa kansanaanestyksessa? Ei saanut. Se kismittaa. Niin myos kaikkia niita Britteja, jotka asuvat ulkomailla ja joita asia myos taysin koskettaa. Syyna oli ettei kaikki saaneet aanestyslipukkeita. Kaikki eivat edes saaneet sahkopostia, jossa ulkomaiden osoite olisi vahvistettu.  TASSA linkki Independent lehden artikkeliin asiasta. Myos he, jotka ovat asuneet ulkomailla yli 15 vuotta blokattiin taysin aanestyksesta. Lue artikkeli TAALTA. 

Mieheni on asunut ulkomailla 14 vuotta. Han ei saanut minkaanlaista kommunikaatiota mitaan kautta aanestyksesta vaikka hanen osoitteensa on valion systeemissa useammassakin tahossa. Aanestamatta jai ja harmittaa. Eniten tyttojen puolesta. Sita mieheni sanoikin etta ei hanta muuten hetkauta mutta tyttojen takia ottaa paahan. 

Even though my husband is a citizen and has UK passport, did he get to vote in the referendum? No, he did not. It's really annoying. It's raising feelings amongst all those British people who live abroad and whom are also affected by this. The reason apparently was that not all expats got their vote slips in the mail. Not all got even the email where foreign address was confirmed.  HERE's a link to the Independent article about the issue.  Also those who had lived abroad over 15 years were completely blocked from the referendum. Read an article HERE.

My husband has been living abroad 14 years. He didn't get any kind of communications through any channels even though his address and email are in the state systems back in UK.  No vote for him and it bugs him. Especially for the girls. My husband said that he wouldn't mind so much but he would have wanted to vote for the girls sake. 

Haluamme molemmille tytoille tasavertaiset, monipuoliset mahdollisuudet tulevaisuutta varten. Vanhemmalla on vain Suomen kansalaisuus, nuoremmalla Suomen ja USAn. Olemme hankkimassa USAn kansalaisuuden kun se on meille mahdollista parin vuoden sisaan. Emme itseamme varten vaan tyttoja ja etenkin siksi etta vanhemmalla neidilla on samanmoiset mahdollisuudet kuin pikkusiskollaan, joka syntyi taalla ja sai kansalaisuuden sita kautta. Nyt olemme miettineet etta taidamme hakea molemmille myos Englannin kansalaisuuden. Silloin molemmilla tytoilla on mahdollisuus helposti valita missa maassa haluavat olla, opiskella, asua jne. tapahtui Brexitin kanssa mita tahansa. 

We would like both girls to have equal and wide ranging opportunities for their future. Older Miss has only Finnish citizenship where as the younger one both Finnish and American citizenship. We will be getting American citizenships when it's possible for us in few years. Not for ourselves but for the reason that Older Miss will have similar opportunities to her little sister who got her American citizenship as she was born here.  Now we've been thinking that we're probably going to get the girls also English citizenship and passports. This way both girls have possibilities to easily choose where they want to be, to study, to live etc.  no matter what happens with Brexit.

Olemme seuranneet kauhuissamme tapahtumia Englannissa. Media ja sosiaalinen media on ollut taynna kuvauksia tapauksista, joissa ulkomaalaisia on haukuttu, kayty kasiksi, kasketty haipymaan maasta vain koska he nayttavat erilaisilta. Miten ihmiset voivat kayttaytya tuolla tavalla? Ilmeisesti hyvin voivat. Tuntuu kuin kansanaanestyksen tulos olisi antanut luvan ihmisille olla rasisitisia. Ei ole hyvaksyttavaa ei! Ei millaan tasolla!

We've been following in dismay what's been going on in England. Media and social media is full of descriptions of people being called names, attacked and told not so nicely to get out of the country just because they look different. How can people behave like this? Apparently very well. It feels like the result of the referendum has given people a permission to be racists. It's not acceptable! Not on any level!

       

10 tuntia - 10 kuvaa / 10 hours - 10 pictures

Osallistun parhaillaan kaynnissa olevaan Ginger Unzueta:n "Everyday Beauty" valokuvauskurssille.  Valilla tuntuu etta kotona otetut kuvat alkavat olemaan kaikki samanlaisia. Jotain taytyy asialle siis tehda. Etsia vahan erilaista nakokulmaa. Yksi kurssin esitehtavista oli otaa 10 kuvaa yhden paivan aikana, 10 tunnin aikana. Kameraa piti siis raahata mukana jos oli jonnekin menossa. Piti laittaa puhelimesta halyt paalle muistuttamaan tunnin valein kuvan ottamisesta. Tassa meidan 10 tuntia yhtena paivana viime viikolta. 

I'm taking part in a photography course by Ginger Unzueta called "Everyday Beauty". I started feeling that all pictures taken at home were the same old same old. Had to do something about it. Trying to find a bit different view to matters. One of the course's pre-assignments was to take 10 photos during one day, during 10 hours. I had to drag the camera along where ever we went. I also set an alarm from my phone to remind me hourly about the picture. Here's our 10 hours one day last week.

Ei ihan viela hereilla. / Not quite awake yet.

Aamuraapsut / Morning cuddles.

Mr G.:n lenkkipolun varresta. / Along the way of Mr G.'s constitutional.

Tulevasiuuden Steffi Graf. /Future Steffi Graf.

Kentanlaidalla neulomista. / Knitting court side.

Keskittymiskieli. / The conctration tongue.

Kirjaston lukutoukka. / Library bookworm.

Ikinen optimisti. / Ever optimistic.

Haluan Nancy Drew:ksi. /Nancy Drew wannabe.

Paivan ilo. / Joy of the day.

Blogi on ollut unilla jonkun aikaa. Tekemista on ollut kovasti jos jollakin saralla. Uusia tuulia. Uuden opettelua. Kotiaiteilya. Koiramaisia juttuja. Elamaa.

The blog has been asleep for a while. All kinds of things going on on all aspects of life. New winds. Learning new. Being a home mum. Doggy things. Life. 

Koiruliini Mr G. makoilee parasta aikaa jaloissani selallaan, ketarat kohti kattoa. Vaikka onkin taydessa levossa ja nukkuu niin sydan lyo huimaa vauhtia ja lepohengitys on tiivista. Meidan pojalla on todettu sydamen vajaatoiminta. Vaikka muuten papparainen voi hyvin niin yhteiset paivat vahenee koko ajan. Kardiologi ennusti noin vuotta. Jokainen paiva yhdessa on siis lahja.  Raapsuja, haleja ja suukkoja kuuluu nyt elamaan entista enemman. Ja mina valmistaudun henkisesti siihen hetkeen kun pitaa paastaa rakas pois. 

Doggy boy Mr. G. is lying at my feet at the moment. On his back, legs up towards the ceiling. Even though he's completely relaxed and sleeps his heart is working hard and rest breathing is quicker than it should. Our boy has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Even though our grandpa is otherwise healthy our days together are getting less in numbers. The cardiologist predicted about a year. Every day at the moment is a gift. Scratches, hugs and kisses are part of our life even more so than before. And I'm preparing myself for the moment when I have to let my beloved go. 

Kotiaiteily jatkuu mutta siihen on tullut muutoksia. Mamma saa valilla tehda ihan toita. Ihan oikeita toita. Ja siihen ne meidan uudet tuulet liittyykin. Tein paatoksen tehda valokuvauksesta itselleni tyon. Tytot ovat saaneet siis opetella siihen etta lahden valilla ottamaan kuvia ja siihen etta kotona minulla menee aikaa kuvien kasittelyyn ja yhteydenpitoon asiakkaihin. 

I'm still a stay at home mum but there's been changes. This mummy gets to do some work too. Real work. And this is our new winds. I made a decision to make photography a job for myself. The girls have had to learn that I will sometimes leave to take pictures and that at home I have to spend time editing pictures and communicate with clients. 

Nettisivutkin on pystyssa. :) Niita voi kurkkia TAALTA. Oli ihana varkata omanlaiset sivut, suunnitella logo ja toteuttaa se. Ja kaikkein hienointa tietysti on se etta siella kay vakea katsomassa. Ja on niiden kautta varauksiakin tullut. Ihan mukavasti on ollut toita taman suhteen ja tiedossa talla hetkella ainakin nelja kuvaussessiota.

Valokuvauskurssejakin on tullut tehtya pari. Uuden opettelua. Taitojen kartuttamista. Viela yksi on kiikarissa ja se alkaa maanantaina. 

And my website is up. :) You have a look at them HERE. It was wonderful to make a website that looks like me, design the logo and make it. And of course the best part is that people visit my website. I've also gotten bookings through them. So, I've been quite busy with this, learning new ropes and at the moment I have at least four photoshoots booked.

I've taken few photography courses as well. Learning new. Building up my skills. One more in the horizon and it starts on Monday. 

Amerikkalaista politiikkaa ja ahdistusta / American politics and anxieties

Jos avaan television ja haluan kuulla uutisia niin sielta ei kylla mitaan muuta tule kuin presidenttikisan esivaaleista tai ehdokkaista.  Ihan kuin muuta maailmaa ei olisi olemassa. Ja tama siis CNN televisiokanavalta. Enpa ole siis televisota enaa aukaissut. 

If I open the TV and want to hear the news there's nothing else on except chatter about the presidential election primaries or the candidates. It's like the rest of the world doesn't exist. And we're talking about CNN TV channel. So, haven't been opening the TV a lot lately.

Kaynnissa on siis esivaalit (jotka kestavat kauan koska osvaltiot aanestavat eri aikoihin), joissa yritettaan selvittaa puolueiden varsinaiset presidenttiehdokkaat. 

Puoluejako demokraatit ja republikaanit on iso mutta talla kertaa republikaanit kiuhuvat myos puolueen sisaisesti. Republikaaneilla on presidenttikisassa on parhaimmillaan ollut 21 ehdokasta.  Talla hetkella heita on viisi. (Yksi heista on mahdollisesti putoamassa pian pois.)

So, we have the primary election going on (which take a long time as the states vote at different times), where the aim to decide the nominees for the each party for the actual election.

There's a big divide between the democrats and the republicans. But this time it's boiling also inside the republican party. There's been 21 nominees at one time in the Republican side. At the moment there's five of them.  (One is possibly dropping out soon.)

Loka lentaa. Suurimman osan republikaaniehdokkaiden kielenkaytosta on erittain ala-arvoista. Jopa siina maarin etten voi uskoa sita valilla todeksi. Tallainen kaytos ja kielenkaytto ei koskaan onnistuisi ainakaan Euroopassa. 

It's been dirty business. Most of the republican candidates use language that's been shoddy to say the least. And in the amount that it's sometimes very hard to believe it to be true. This kind of behaviour and use of language would never happen in Europe, I'm positive about that. 

Mieheni kanssa puistelemme paitamme, seuratessamme mita presidenttikisassa tapahtuu. 

My husband and I are just shaking our heads following what's happening in the presidential race.

Valitettavasti lapset eivat ole valttyneet kuulemasta aiheesta koulussa, kavereilta, opettajilta ja mediasta. Isomman neidin ihmetys erityisesti on ollut suuri kuinka aikuiset voivat puhua "noin rumasti toisille tai muista ihmisista". Olemmekin kayneet paljon keskusteluja nakemyseroista,  erilaisuuden kunnioituksesta, erilaisten mielipiteiden kunnioittamisesta, kaytostavoista, julkisuudesta ja yritetty selittaa miten presidentti taalla valitaan.  

Unfortunately the children have also heard about the topic and unacceptable behaviour of the candidates in school, from their friends and teachers and from the media. Big Miss especially, has been extremely amazed how adults can talk "so nastily to other people or of other people."  We have had several conversations already about difference of views, respecting difference, respecting difference of opinion, manners, publicity and media and tried to explain how president is elected here in America. 

Minulla on oma mielipiteeni ja pidan sen omana mielipiteenani suurimmaksi osaksi. Sen aion kuitenkin sanoa etta olen erittain pettynyt Amerikkalaisiin. En halua ottaa osaa poliittiseen keskusteluun, koska se ei todellakaan auta asiaa. En halua suututtaa myoskaan ketaan. En halua haastaa riitaa. Ihmettelen vain suuresti!

I have my own opinion and I will keep it to myself for the most part. However, I'm going to say that I'm extremely disappointed in Americans. I don't want to take part in the political discussion, as it won't help. I also don't want to make anyone mad. I don't want to pick a fight. I'm just extremely amazed!

Mina en voi aanestaa, koska en ole USAn kansalainen. Toivoisin etta olisin niin etta voisin vaikuttaa.  Olen erittain huolissani seuratessani presidenttikilpaa. Varsinainen aanestys presidentista tapahtuu vasta marraskuussa mutta tama show jatkuu sinne asti. Aikamoinen rumba siis viela edessa, aivan varmasti. 

I cannot vote as I'm not American citizen. I wish it would be so that I could give my voice to many.  I will admit that I'm worried as I'm following what's happening in the race to the White House. The actual vote for the president happens in November but this show is continuing and I'm sure will go on until then. Quite a hullabaloo still ahead of us. That I'm sure of. 

Project 365 Week 8

Valokuvausta San Diegossa / Photography in San Diego

Helmikuun alussa mina tytto pakkasin laukut ja lentelin San Diegoon ihan yksin, ilman miesta ja lapsia. Laatuaikaa mammalle. Ja mikas sen mukavampaa kuin valokuvauksen merkeissa. :)  Jopa matkustaminen YKSIN ja lentokoneessa istuminen YKSIN oli aika luksusta kun normaalisti pitaa huolehtia kahdesta pienemmansta kanssamatkustajasta.  

In the beginning of February I packed my bags and this girl headed to San Diego by my self: no husband, no children. Quality time for mummy. And what would be nicer than spend it with photography related things. :) Traveling ALONE and sitting in the plane ALONE was such luxury as normally I have two smaller fellow travelers to take care of. 

Kyseessa oli siis valokuvaus tyopaja. Kaksi paivaa tiukkaa settia kameroista, kuvauksesta ja tietty kuvaamista. Ja ehka kaikkein hienointa oli se etta muut osallistujat olivat kaikki tuttuja netin kautta (yhdessa ollaan kayty samoja valokuvauskursseja ja opittu yhdessa) ja nyt saimme tavata kasvotusten. Ihan kuin olisi tullut kotiin.... sellainen tunne ainakin minulla oli. 

I was going to a photography workshop. Two days full about cameras', photography and actually shooting. I think the best part was the fact that the other participants were all online friends (ladies I've taken photography courses with online) and now we had a chance to meet face to face. It felt like coming home...... such a wonderful feeling. 

Photo credits Kathleen Alford Pahls

Minulla oli koneenvaihto Atlantassa  ja seuraavalla lennolla olikin mukana jo kaksi muutakin samaan kohteeseen menossa olijaa. Saatiin junailtua niin etta istuttiin jos ei vierekkain niin hyvin lahekkain ainakin toisiamme. Ja se lento hujahti hirmuisen nopeasti hoppottaessa. 

In Atlanta I had to change planes and for the next flight I had two friends going to the same place. We managed to arrange so that we were sitting if not all sitting next to each other then close to each other. And the time went so fast on this flight as we just talked and talked. 

Ja tietysti mukana erittain oleellista valokuvaukseen liittyvaa..... puikot ja lankaa. :D

And of course I had something extremely essential to photography..... knitting needles and yarn. :D

Itse kurssi oli San Diego ulkopuolella Oceanside, CA. Ja talo, jossa olimme oli aivan meren rannalla. Siis todellakin. Nousuveden aikana jotkut aallot tyrskivat vetta pation lasiseinaan. Metreja veteen oli noin kymmenkunta patiolta. Siis melkein vedessa. :D Ja se tyrskyjen pauhu. Sita olisin voinut kuunnella koko ajan.  Oli hienoa herata aikaisin aamulla ja katsella paivan valkenevan ja aaltojen vyoryvan merelta.  (Valitan etta video on huono mutta kuulette ainakin sen aaltojen tyrskyn.)

The workshop itself was a bit outside of San Diego, in Oceanside, CA. The house were stayed and had the workshop in was right at the edge of the sea. I mean really. At high tide some of the waves sprayed the patio glass wall when the waves hit the wave breaker.  And the sound of the waves hitting shore. I could have listened to it the whole time. It was wonderful to wake up early in the morning and watch the day break and the waves rolling in from sea. (I'm sorry the video is not very good but at least you'll hear the waves rolling in.)

Yksi paiva hotkin lounaan ja kiiruhdin rannalle kuvia ottamaan etta voisin todistaa todellakin olleeni siella. :) 

One day I gulped down my lunch and rushed to the beach so that I had proof that I had been there. :)

 Kaksi paivaa meilla oli todella tiivis ohjelma. Aamusta heti aloitettiin ja lopelteltiin virallisesti kuuden aikoihin. Valissa pikainen lounas ja lopuksi syotiin ja sitten keskustelut jatkuivat epavirallisina yomyohaan. Jai unet hieman vahalle.  

Vaikka olikin tiivista menoa ja paa pyori kaikesta uudesta niin olipa todella antoisa tyopaja. Opin hurjasti. Kivaa oli. Aikaa olisi saanut olla enemman kuvaamiselle mutta kaksi paivaa on loppujen lopuksi tosi lyhyt. 

The two days were really full.  Started early in the morning officially ended about 6pm. In between a quick lunch and dinner at the end. And then the talking resumer unofficially until late... or should I say early. Sleep was not on the agenda... at least not much. 

Despite the amount of info that left my head spinning this was a great workshop. I learned a lot. I had fun. I was hoping more time for actual shooting but two days is such a short time after all. 

Photo credits Wendy Whitacre

Photo credits Ordinary Miracles Photography

Ja kuten aikaisemmin sanoin niin oli mielettoman hienoa tavata kaikki ne upeat naiset, joihin olin aikaisemmin valokuvauskursseilla verkossa tutustunut. Pelkastaan heidan tapaaminen olisi ollut matkan vaartti. Kovasti odotan seuraavaa tapaamismahdollisuutta.  

As I mentioned earlier it was amazing to meet all the wonderful ladies I've had the privilege  to study online  with. If I had only met them during this trip it would have been totally worth wile it.  I'm looking forward to the next possible meeting. 

Kotona odottikin sitten aikamoinen urakka kuvien lapikaymisessa ja editoimisessa. Lupaan laittaa kuvia niista perheista jotka meilla oli ilo kuvata taman tyopajan aikana. 

When back home I had a big job of culling and editing ahead of me. I promise to post some of the pictures that I took of the families who posed for us during the workshop. 

Project 365 week 7

Olipahan viikko! Kouluilla vietettiin ystavanpaivaa ja vaihdettiin pienia "lahjoja". Kakkusaagasta saitte jo lukeakin. Ja sitten meilla onkin ollut varsinainen rumba. Paatait tai "erityiset ystavat" kuten niita nyt taalla meilla kutsutaan, ovat aiheuttaneet tyota ja vaivaa. Tama mamma on aika puhki!

What a week! Schools celebrated Valentine's day and the children exchanged little "gifts". You got to read about my cake already. And then we've had quite a hulabaloo. Head lice, or "special friends" as they are now called in our household,  have created a lot of work and grief. This mummy is pretty exhausted!