Bright Lights, Big City! Part I

San Francisco, California 

Days 1& 2

Last Thursday my younger sister and I headed out on our first road trip together to the big city of San Francisco (SF)! Our mission: Get her to the French Consulate for validation of her student visa (she is going to be an exchange student in France this next school year and is leaving in August 2014).

Day 1 Thursday:

We took off early Thursday morning, with one stop in Medford, Oregon for a couple hours to visit some family and we arrived at our motel that evening.

*Something to note....our motel was located in Oakland, California. Any of you who are unaware as I was when the room was booked by my sister should be warned that Oakland is a dump and is well known for its violent crimes and understaffed police force. Not the best place to visit!! My poor hubby was not very happy about it. But we played it safe and luckily hotels/motels tend to be little islands of security, but not anywhere else in the city.

Common Sense & Safety Precautions

• Always lock your doors
• As soon as you get in you car - lock up!
• Upon entering your motel/hotel room - lock up!
• Park in well lit areas
• When at your hotel/motel park in the front where your car is easily visible even if it means a longer walk (like in our case)
• Top floors are safer
• Especially in a motel where all of the doors are on the outside of the building.
• Keep your windows up and room windows closed!
• Don't walk to any location no matter how close, drive everywhere.
• Don't be out after dark.
• Keep friends/family appraised of where you will be and what you will be doing, have designated check in times so that if something were to happen someone will know to look for you.
• When walking to your car or motel room - have your keys in your hand and ready to go in the lock. 
• You should never fumble around at your door, your back is exposed and you aren't watching your surroundings if you are looking for your keys.
• Keep a phone on you and charged.

I'm kind of a safety nut, my father was in security we have lots of military in my family and I married a U.S Marine who does Federal Security. I'm also a strong advocate for women being able to protect themselves, for example learning self defense (and practicing regularly!) or taking up a martial art and learning a combat sport.

Day 2 Friday:

Good thing we left an hour and a half early, we barely made it to the French Consulate in time what with the hellish traffic and terrible toll bridge that causes a huge traffic bottle neck! Near disaster averted! 

After the stress of barely making it to the Consulate on time we decided to stop for coffee before making our way to Pier 39.

Their weren't many seals but it was fun visiting all of the shops!

Carousel at the Pier

My very favorite part of our visit was Alcatraz Island! We took a ferry out to the island and did a day tour we ended up spending about 3 hours on the island.

I recommend reading up on the history of this place.

Dinner for the night: homemade clam chowder and fresh sourdough bread bowls!

My sister!

We then swung by a local Trader Joe's for some snacks and juice.

What was cool about it was that the Trader Joes had its own parking garage area so we didn't have to pay, I also liked how one of their entrances was attached to the garage. It looked really cool!

One of the great things about California is that their is hard liquor in grocery stores, it was fun seeing high end and reasonable prices of liquor at Trader Joe's. I ended up picking up a nice scotch called "Monkey Shoulder" for my husband.

Swedish Meat Pies & Cosmos!

I love a good dinner, how about you?

I've been looking forward since the beginning of the summer to the Scandinavian Festival that is held every year in Junction City, Oregon. I must be honest....it's the food...I go for the food.

But its so delicious!

Aebleskivers!!

 

 Their is also dancing, crafts, homemade goodies for sale and vikings in full attire walking around!

Anyways I just couldn't hold out, I love the Swedish Meat Pies the best and decided that rather and wait for August to roll around I would make my own. And the recipe I used was a sure winner!!

Here is the original recipe (makes about 4 meat pies). I doubled it and made a few other changes as well.

Here is my version:

Swedish Meat Pies 
~ Recipe by, Aavery Nelson ~

 Filling Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. butter

2 Pounds of beef

1/2 Cup chopped onion

4 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

1 tsp. allspice

2 tsp. dried dill weed

1 tsp. nutmeg

4 large red potatoes, grated
2 Cups. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 & 1/2 Cups. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Crust Ingredients:
4 Cups. All Purpose Flour
2 Tsp. Salt
1 & 1/2 Cups Shortening
3/4 Cup. Sour Cream

Directions - Preheat oven 400* F

1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion until golden brown, add the potatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes just enough to give them a head start over the meat.
2. Add the beef, parsley, allspice, dill, and nutmeg to your skillet. 
3. Cook and stir until the meat is browned. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
4. Turn off the heat and stir in the cheese until melted. Set aside to cool.
5. In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Mix in the shortening with a fork until pea sized lumps form. Stir in the sourcream until a soft dough forms. Knead briefly on a floured surface. Divide into balls - should make about 8.
6. Roll each ball of dough to about 1/8 inch thinkness in the shape of a nice circle or oval. Place a heaping scoop of filling about (1/2 Cup) onto each flat round. Fold over into half circles, and seal by moistening the edges with warm water and pressing together with a fork. Place on a large baking sheet.
7. Bake about 20 min until golden brown.

I baked what I thought we would eat for dinner, the rest I froze without baking first for quick meals at a later date!

They were amazing! My husband was in heaven, and I think they turned out even better than the ones I usually get at the festival!

Served of course with Cosmos! Happy Monday Everyone!

Kitten - Then & Now

Recap of Our Time Together.

It occurred to me that I didn't do any side-by-side before and after pictures! Well here they are now.

About 2 and 1/2 weeks old when we first found her.

First Time We Met.

As you can see - eyes and ears barely open.

First Attempt at Feeding with a Syringe.

Had to take her to school with a heating pad.

Also to work

First Bottle Feeding.

She had to be fed every 2-3 hours at first.

Soo tiny!

Learning to use the litterbox!

Getting Curious

Getting Brave!

Getting much bigger!

Making Friends!

First Time drinking water!

Off to her new home.

Ziva & I will greatly miss her.  <3