Sunday, May 10, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Maple Granola
By request, here is my famous Maple Granola recipe... Enjoy!!
It is fattening, so watch your portions... I usually make a HALF recipe at a time.
Maple Granola
7 cups thick oat flakes (rolled oats), uncooked
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup almonds, sliced or broken up
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped or broken up
1 cup sunflower seeds, raw or toasted
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup raisins or additional dried fruit/nuts as desired (add after baked, if desired)
Instructions
In a very large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, wheat germ, nuts, seeds and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Pour over dry mixture in bowl, stirring and tossing till everything is very well combined (your bare hands are the best tools for this step).
Spread granola on a couple of large, ungreased baking sheets. Bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 1 hour, tossing mixture every 15 minutes or so. Remove pans from oven and cool completely. Transfer granola to a large bowl, and mix in raisins and any additional dried fruit desired—dates, figs, currants, dried cranberries or blueberries, etc. Store in a tightly closed container at room temperature.
It is fattening, so watch your portions... I usually make a HALF recipe at a time.
Maple Granola
7 cups thick oat flakes (rolled oats), uncooked
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup almonds, sliced or broken up
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped or broken up
1 cup sunflower seeds, raw or toasted
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup raisins or additional dried fruit/nuts as desired (add after baked, if desired)
Instructions
In a very large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, wheat germ, nuts, seeds and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Pour over dry mixture in bowl, stirring and tossing till everything is very well combined (your bare hands are the best tools for this step).
Spread granola on a couple of large, ungreased baking sheets. Bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 1 hour, tossing mixture every 15 minutes or so. Remove pans from oven and cool completely. Transfer granola to a large bowl, and mix in raisins and any additional dried fruit desired—dates, figs, currants, dried cranberries or blueberries, etc. Store in a tightly closed container at room temperature.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Some of my charitable works
Over a year ago, I started setting up shops on CafePress with the goal of raising money to help the victims of the terrible Chinese earthquake. Now, those same shops are still helping orphaned Chinese children through some of my favorite charities: Love Without Boundaries, Half the Sky, and CCAI's charities. I have raised close to $300 - something I am very proud of. 100% of the proceeds go directly to these charities. All of the links can be found on the right in the sidebar area.
Here is a sample of some of my designs:
Mei Mei Store
Mei Mei: Little Sister
Jie Jie: Big Sister
Ge Ge Store
Mei Mei Store
Mei Mei: Little Sister
Jie Jie: Big Sister
Ge Ge Store
Friday, April 24, 2009
Fingerprinting
Well, it's that time again... time to be re-fingerprinted for the 3rd time. Oh, joy.
We just got our letter from the Department of Homeland Security/USCIS trying to give us a second attempt at having us get scheduled to be fingerprinted - but as was the previous notice, we aren't able to make this one either. Anyone know how many times they can be refused? I even sent them a note attached with good dates and that I needed more lead time before we go there. Guess what they did - made our re-scheduled appointment even earlier than the first one and impossible to make. I am getting sick and tired of dropping these letters off at the post office. It's a waste of my time! UGH!! I hope the third time is the charm!
We just got our letter from the Department of Homeland Security/USCIS trying to give us a second attempt at having us get scheduled to be fingerprinted - but as was the previous notice, we aren't able to make this one either. Anyone know how many times they can be refused? I even sent them a note attached with good dates and that I needed more lead time before we go there. Guess what they did - made our re-scheduled appointment even earlier than the first one and impossible to make. I am getting sick and tired of dropping these letters off at the post office. It's a waste of my time! UGH!! I hope the third time is the charm!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Traveling in Style
I think I've found the coolest pix of new luggage coming out now... this is how we should be stylin' on our way to China... Finally, something besides black for luggage!!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Adoption Tax Credit Expires 2010!! HELP!!
Calling all friends to please help put pressure on your Senators and Congressmen to support making the adoption credit permanent! As it stands now, the tax credit put in place in 2001 will expire in December 2010. For those of us who expected to be waiting no more than 12 months for our children but now are looking at 4 years (yes FOUR YEARS!), this could be another slap in the face when it comes to our adoption process.
Right now, adoption costs will likely exceed $20,000 for each family. That is pretty tough for most people and the credit is how most people can manage to make this work. Right now the credit is $12,150 with certain limitations based on salary.
So could I ask that anyone who has come by this blog take a minute to help? We need people to write to their representatives to ask them to co-sponsor the bill that will make this credit permanent.
Here is a step-by-step guide of how to help:
1. Find the name and Washington, D.C. mailing address of your Representative and Senators at www.congress.org. To find e-mail addresses, click through to the Senator’s or Congressperson’s Web site.
2. Next, log on to http://thomas.loc.gov/ to find out whether your Congresspersons are already co-sponsors of the legislation. On the thomas.loc.gov opening page, under “Search Bill Summary and Status,” search by bill number for H.R. 213. Then click on “Bill summary and Status.” On the page that comes up, click on “Cosponsors,” “Text of Legislation,” or “All Congressional Actions” to follow the progress of the bill. (FOR ANYONE IN WI - OUR REPS ARE NOT CO-SPONSORING SO PLEASE WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!)
3. If your representatives have not signed on as co-sponsors of the bill, send them your request that they do so. Tell them how important the tax credit was to you when you adopted your children, or how much you and other families you know are counting on it to be available in the future. Emphasize that the tax credit truly results in more children finding homes. Tell them that this is so important to you that you will be following the bill’s progress through Congress.
4. INCLUDE A FAMILY PHOTO: While e-mails are valuable, a written note with a picture of your family or your children will be most effective. If sending e-mail, you’ll actually want to avoid attaching a photo; the large size of the message and the attachment could, potentially, mark it as junk or harmful e-mail.
5. If any of your Congresspersons are already co-sponsors, write them a thank-you note. Again, letters sent by snail-mail with photos of your children will receive more attention.
Here is a sample letter I found online along with the information above. If you are not a family adopting, please still write and include that you know people who are adopting and would like your representative to support giving children good and loving homes through adoption.
SAMPLE LETTER TO YOUR SENATOR or CONGRESSMAN:
The Honorable FIRST NAME LAST NAME
U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives
OFFICE ADDRESS
Washington, D.C. ZIP CODE
Dear Senator LAST NAME:
My family and I are your constituents in NAME OF TOWN. We request your support of The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213.
The adoption tax credit that this legislation would make permanent is very important to my family and me. Without this significant financial help, we would not have been able (or would have found it very difficult) to adopt our beloved son (or daughter), NAME. I include a photo of my son/daughter.
As you may know, adoption expenses can easily exceed $20,000, a significant sum to most families. (Or, if your expenses were more, say so.) Without the adoption tax credit, we would probably not be able to adopt another child.
I truly believe that the adoption expense tax credit results in many more children without homes finding new, loving families like my own.
I urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 213. This legislation is so important to me that I will be following its progress through Congress. Thank you in advance for your support of this legislation that truly serves children who need new families.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
Right now, adoption costs will likely exceed $20,000 for each family. That is pretty tough for most people and the credit is how most people can manage to make this work. Right now the credit is $12,150 with certain limitations based on salary.
So could I ask that anyone who has come by this blog take a minute to help? We need people to write to their representatives to ask them to co-sponsor the bill that will make this credit permanent.
Here is a step-by-step guide of how to help:
1. Find the name and Washington, D.C. mailing address of your Representative and Senators at www.congress.org. To find e-mail addresses, click through to the Senator’s or Congressperson’s Web site.
2. Next, log on to http://thomas.loc.gov/ to find out whether your Congresspersons are already co-sponsors of the legislation. On the thomas.loc.gov opening page, under “Search Bill Summary and Status,” search by bill number for H.R. 213. Then click on “Bill summary and Status.” On the page that comes up, click on “Cosponsors,” “Text of Legislation,” or “All Congressional Actions” to follow the progress of the bill. (FOR ANYONE IN WI - OUR REPS ARE NOT CO-SPONSORING SO PLEASE WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!)
3. If your representatives have not signed on as co-sponsors of the bill, send them your request that they do so. Tell them how important the tax credit was to you when you adopted your children, or how much you and other families you know are counting on it to be available in the future. Emphasize that the tax credit truly results in more children finding homes. Tell them that this is so important to you that you will be following the bill’s progress through Congress.
4. INCLUDE A FAMILY PHOTO: While e-mails are valuable, a written note with a picture of your family or your children will be most effective. If sending e-mail, you’ll actually want to avoid attaching a photo; the large size of the message and the attachment could, potentially, mark it as junk or harmful e-mail.
5. If any of your Congresspersons are already co-sponsors, write them a thank-you note. Again, letters sent by snail-mail with photos of your children will receive more attention.
Here is a sample letter I found online along with the information above. If you are not a family adopting, please still write and include that you know people who are adopting and would like your representative to support giving children good and loving homes through adoption.
SAMPLE LETTER TO YOUR SENATOR or CONGRESSMAN:
The Honorable FIRST NAME LAST NAME
U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives
OFFICE ADDRESS
Washington, D.C. ZIP CODE
Dear Senator LAST NAME:
My family and I are your constituents in NAME OF TOWN. We request your support of The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213.
The adoption tax credit that this legislation would make permanent is very important to my family and me. Without this significant financial help, we would not have been able (or would have found it very difficult) to adopt our beloved son (or daughter), NAME. I include a photo of my son/daughter.
As you may know, adoption expenses can easily exceed $20,000, a significant sum to most families. (Or, if your expenses were more, say so.) Without the adoption tax credit, we would probably not be able to adopt another child.
I truly believe that the adoption expense tax credit results in many more children without homes finding new, loving families like my own.
I urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 213. This legislation is so important to me that I will be following its progress through Congress. Thank you in advance for your support of this legislation that truly serves children who need new families.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
Monday, April 6, 2009
Qingming Festival
Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the most common English translations of Qingming Festival.
For the Chinese, it is a day to remember and honor one's ancestors at grave sites. Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks, (joss) paper accessories, and/or libation to the ancestors. The rites are very important to most Chinese and especially farmers. Some people carry willow branches with them on Qingming, or put willow branches on their gates and/or front doors. They believe that willow branches help ward off the evil spirit that wanders on Qingming. Also on Qingming, people go on family outings, start the spring plowing, sing, dance, and Qingming is a time where young couples start courting. Another popular thing to do is fly kites (in shapes of animals, or characters from Chinese opera).
For the Chinese, it is a day to remember and honor one's ancestors at grave sites. Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks, (joss) paper accessories, and/or libation to the ancestors. The rites are very important to most Chinese and especially farmers. Some people carry willow branches with them on Qingming, or put willow branches on their gates and/or front doors. They believe that willow branches help ward off the evil spirit that wanders on Qingming. Also on Qingming, people go on family outings, start the spring plowing, sing, dance, and Qingming is a time where young couples start courting. Another popular thing to do is fly kites (in shapes of animals, or characters from Chinese opera).
Saturday, April 4, 2009
April matches are in!
While it's hard to get excited over a 2-day referral batch, it is better than what we were expecting. March 7th was a HUGE day and the fact that they added in an extra day beyond that is good news. March 7th was supposedly as large as some other referral months alone. So, we can chalk off another two more referral days. Inching ever so slowly to the finish line... Only 128 more log-in dates to go...So, congratulations to those families who are getting to meet their daughters (or sons) for the very first time.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Meeting my "sisters" in Nashville
Well, I am finally going to meet some of my "Ma Ma Sisterhood" in Nashville over July 4th weekend. There will be 5 of us ladies (and some of their kids) and after over 2.5 years of talking over the internet, we're going to finally meet in person. I am so excited. I just booked my flight and hotel today. Poor Robert has to stay home and work. Not too happy about that. Ah, well...
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