Home Again

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

Just a short post to report that yes indeed, I am now back in Panama. It was a fantastic time with family, and I also have some photos to share of the special time we all spent together, both of my daughters and the babies!

I also took the new direct Copa flight round trip from Panama City to San Francisco, and then flew back from Panama City to David on one of the new domestic Copa flights. Since I picked up a cold somewhere along the way, I was especially happy to spend an hour on a plane instead of a day on the bus. I will share more details of the flights also.

Right now I’m just relaxing at home, trying to get back in the correct time zone and get over this cold. I’m looking forward to catching up with all my friends and activities and, if I can actually wake up before the morning is mostly over, I could even get back on my bike!

So, for all of you who wonder where I am and what I’m doing, don’t worry. All is well and I will be out and about very soon!

Posted in Miscellaneous, Panama, travel | 16 Comments

It’s Looking like Christmas

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

It is the Christmas season, and as we’ve learned in Florida and Panama, one need not have freezing weather and snow to get in the Christmas spirit. The season is also evident in the Seattle area where we have been enjoying a bit of the festivities. One fun thing was shopping for a Christmas tree.

Off to Home Depot in search of a tree
This is our tree!
They had a station set up to trim off the trunk, package up the tree in netting, and then a guy was outside to help you secure the tree to the car
Family and tree arrive home without incident
The tree was barely up when the cats claimed their spots underneath. The third cat is hidden behind the tree on the other side.
Coos had a new favorite spot.

The nearby Botanical Gardens had a gorgeous display of Christmas Lights, so we decided to check it out. It rained all day Monday but we got lucky in the evening. The rain stopped, it wasn’t too cold, and it was a perfect evening to go out. I managed to find the manual camera settings in the dark so I could get some photos. I had fun taking lots, and here are a few of my favorites. My daughter told me that the display is all done by volunteers and they did an amazing job.

The baby is a great traveler and has slept through every single outing to do errands and shopping, and tonight was no exception. The lump under Drew’s blue jacket is the baby in a fabric carrier where she slept through the whole visit.

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The cat stands by the tree looking serene and angelic. So far none of them have gotten into too much mischief with the tree. Breakable ornaments are high and out of reach though, just in case.

My other daughter and her baby are due to arrive tonight, so there is going to be even more fun in the house in the next few days! We are all excited and looking forward to this time. Poor Drew! He will be the only male in the house with a grandma, to moms, two girl babies, and three female cats. 😀 Somehow though, he seems to calmly survive anything we throw at him.

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Chili Rellenos Casserole

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

More vegetarian cooking… I was happy with this, and it could certainly be dressed up and modified to suit your tastes. I like recipes that are good but not too complicated, and this qualifies on both counts.

You will need –

  • 14 oz canned green chilies (whole or chopped, whichever you prefer)
  • 8 oz (2 cups) grated Monterey Jack cheese
  • 8 oz (2 cups) grated cheddar cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 5 oz evaporated milk
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 8 oz tomato sauce

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Lay half of the chilies in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Cover with half of each of the cheeses, then the rest of the chilies. Mix the eggs, milk, and flour and pour over the top.

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Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Pour the tomato sauce over the top and bake for another 15 minutes.

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Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and serve (or, I put it back in the oven while I prepared the rest of the dinner to keep it warm and melt the cheese well)

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This recipe could be modified in a number of ways to suit your own taste so feel free to experiment. Enchilada sauce could be used instead of tomato sauce. You could use more or less cheese, or different kinds of cheese. You could add black olives, jalapeno peppers, or other types of peppers instead of or in addition to the green chilies. You could add ground beef or chicken. This is a tasty dish and a great starting place for any number of yummy, creative dinners.

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Tofu Parmesan

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

I am currently in the Seattle area with my vegetarian daughter and family, so we are exploring vegetarian recipes. This is like eggplant or chicken Parmesan, but with tofu. It’s easy to make and very yummy. You will need –

  • a package of tofu
  • 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 5 tbsp parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • olive oil for frying
  • jar of your favorite pasta sauce
  • 4 oz (1 cup) grated mozzarella cheese

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mix the bread crumbs, 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese and the oregano in a bowl

slice the tofu in 1/4 – 1/2 inch slices, coat with bread crumb mixture, and fry in olive oil until golden brown (on both sides)

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Put a thin layer of pasta sauce in a casserole dish, then add the fried tofu. Spoon over more pasta sauce until covered. Top with the mozzarella cheese and the rest of the Parmesan.

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Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and sauce is starting to bubble.

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Let cool for a minute while you get the rest of dinner together, serve, and enjoy!

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This was our dinner last night. I put the broccoli with a sprinkle of water in the microwave for 4 minutes. (if it isn’t cooked enough, put it back for another minute).

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Photographing some Scenery

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

I’m still in the Seattle area. It’s chilly fall weather but still very beautiful here. We have been biking or walking almost every day. The last few days have been more cloudy with a bit of rain, but also quite a bit warmer so it is more pleasant to be out.

We have biked to a few different lake side parks
The birds looked like they were standing on something just under the water so they could unfold and dry their wings.
It wasn’t swimming weather but the swimming area was still pretty
I like the reflections of the clouds
more pretty lake scenery
My son in law’s commuting bike is on the left, and my daughter’s bike is on the right, which she has been kind enough to let me borrow.
more pretty reflections
we passed these bushes loaded with berries on our walk
we biked through this pretty nature area on our way to Mercer island
Crossing the bridge, the sky in the distance was beautiful
it was pretty in the other directions as well
some yards have this beautiful grass with the big plumes
a little park in my daughter’s neighborhood
there is a spot on our walk where we can see Seattle and the mountains in the distance
these very strange mushroom type of things are growing beside the driveway

The new parents have been doing very well and the baby is growing quickly. It’s hard to believe she is three weeks old today already, and I only have another week here. We have also been keeping in touch with my other daughter and her baby is also doing great. She will be here for a visit in a few days and it’s going to be a fantastic time to have all of us together.

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Learn Spanish!

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

I have recently learned of a great new opportunity that I must pass along. Yaira, my former Spanish teacher is now offering classes on line. You will have video, audio, written chat, and the ability to share files so this works out very well. You can take classes from anywhere with an internet connection.

I believe if you are going to live in a country, it is important that you learn the language so you can communicate. I know it’s difficult and it takes a lot of time and effort, but it is so worth it. There are publications that say English is widely spoken in Panama but do not believe this. In areas known for expats and tourists where you will find more English speakers but in general, you will need to know at least some Spanish. Even more important, there are wonderful Panamanian people but to get to know them, you need to be able to communicate and the vast majority of the locals speak only Spanish.

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This smiling face will be waiting for you on your computer screen.

So, here is a great opportunity! I have spoken many times about my teacher, how much she helped me, how I thank her every day for my ability to communicate, how kind and patient, yet competent and professional she is, and how she has become a good friend.

If you are like me it’s very helpful to have a teacher. You are more likely to do your homework if you know someone is going to ask for it tomorrow. I like private lessons because you can go at your own pace and ask questions. I also appreciate Yaira because she is Panamanian, so she can also answer questions about the culture and customs. She usually doesn’t admit to speaking much English, so you are forced to step up and use your Spanish for everything which feels awkward at times, but this really helps you progress. But, for a novice, she has learned enough English to work with you successfully as well.

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Living the life in Chiriqui!

At the moment she is only charging $10/hr. If you have priced  the respected schools you know this is a good value. Contact her while she still has some time and flexibility in her schedule. Buy a package of lessons for a special someone who could use a very useful Christmas present. You can contact Yaira at yairatutoria@gmail.com

I know I am going on a bit, but I know what a difference this teacher has made in my Panamanian life. And, learning a new language is very good for your brain!

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My adopted Panamanian family

 

Posted in culture, Getting Things Done, Miscellaneous, Panama | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Autumn’s First Bath

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

Baby’s first bath is always a fun occasion, at least for the adults. Of course grandma had to be there, camera in hand, for the occasion.

We had a baby bathtub, but it looked more suitable for an older baby so we elected to just use the bathroom sink.

Water is pleasantly warm, and we are ready
Warm water on the head is fine
Shampoo seems OK too
How nice there is a sprayer in the sink for rinsing
Yeah, head washed, time to dry the hair.
Now, time to wash the rest of the baby
This seems to be fine too
Clean baby!
Now she decided she has something to say about the bath, or is she protesting the end of the bath?
All right, I think I’m fine after all
When is the next snack?

Bath time went great! After a couple more baths, mom and dad are going to be pros.

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More Seattle Area Scenery

Posted on November 29, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

As usual, I carry my camera with me all the time because you just never know when you will see something interesting. The Seattle area is very beautiful and different from what I have become used to in Panama, so I’ve enjoyed taking photos here.

Because of the time difference I still tend to wake up early some mornings.

A pretty sunrise
This seems to be very common in the morning.
One morning everything was covered with water droplets
More water droplets on trees
Another pretty early morning sky

Mornings are cold and frosty, and usually the frost persists all day in shady spots.

frost on the leaves
the street is also frosty
more frost covered leaves
But, there are also beautiful fall colors in the sunshine

We went shopping on Black Friday! We only needed a few things for the baby so we went to Target, and then walked in the attached mall for a while. Everything was surprisingly chill and peaceful. It was afternoon so we were probably too late for the crowds.

The mall was pleasant and relaxed with no crazy or frantic shoppers.
There was frost in the mall parking lot too

On the way home we did a few errands, including a stop at the car wash. I know this is an ordinary activity but I thought the drive through car wash was a lot of fun.

I had been thinking about going biking with my son in law, but the previous day was so breezy and chilly that I changed my mind. This day was better, still chilly but without wind so we set off. I was bundled up in a thermal undershirt, over shirt, heavy sweat shirt, hat, gloves, hiking boots, etc but it was still plenty cold. It was really fun to be back on a bike though (but I have definitely gotten out of shape in the last month, so I have my work ahead of me when I get home!)

My kind and patient son in law and I set off down the roads and bike paths until we arrived at a very pretty park.
The park is by a beautiful late
Timberlake Park on Lake Sammamish
More pretty lake views
As we were leaving the sun was starting to set. and the sky and water were taking on a beautiful pink hue

There is a rose bush in the yard that has a beautiful bud in spite of the chilly temperatures

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Yesterday I thought about going biking but it was really cold again. We ended up going to Aubrey Davis Park on Mercer Island for a nice walk. It was chilly but there was lots of sun which helped, and it’s a really pretty area to visit.

There were pretty fall colors here too
There were also lots of open green spaces for people to play
There are pretty views of Seattle in the distance
Another pretty view of Seattle

We have mainly been hanging out with baby. She is now 16 days old and doing really well. We have also been getting out and about a bit more for errands and exercise which has been going very well. The baby tends to sleep the whole time. At home too, she rarely fusses. Sometimes she wants to stay up late but once she goes to bed she tends to sleep well, only waking up for eating and changing and then going back to sleep. Now that her parents have gotten some rest and settled into more of a routine, I think they believe that they are going to survive parenthood after all!

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Thanksgiving Nut Loaf

Posted on November 28, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

This would be a good vegetarian main dish for any occasion. It’s a bit of work to make but I think worth the effort. I found this recipe on the Martha Stewart site.

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Put a cup of brown rice on to cook.

Then, roast 1 1/2 cups of walnuts and 1/2 cup of cashews on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes. Then these get chopped either by hand or in a food processor.

(The directions call for dried porcini mushrooms but we couldn’t find any. If you have them they need to be soaked. We used fresh shiitake and regular mushrooms and it seemed to come out just fine. A cup of chopped regular mushrooms would probably be OK too )

Saute a finely chopped yellow onion and two garlic cloves in butter. When they are translucent, add the chopped mushrooms and saute until cooked.

Mix the sauteed veggies, the rice, the chopped nuts, 12 ounces of gruyere cheese, grated (I think swiss would work as well if this isn’t available), 8 oz cottage cheese, 4 eggs, and the seasonings which are the following herbs, chopped – 2 tbsp flat leaf parsley, 1 tbsp marjoram, 2 tsp thyme, 1 tsp sage, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 fresh ground pepper. I think dried herbs would also work and keep costs down a lot, but we sprung for the fresh ones.

Put all this in a large, buttered loaf pan and bake for an hour at 350. Let stand 20 minutes before serving. The recipe calls for lining a buttered pan with parchment paper and buttering again which we didn’t do because we didn’t have parchment paper. The outside got dark and crusty which wasn’t bad but it might cook more evenly with the paper, and would be easier to get out of the pan if you want to serve an intact loaf.

This was a flavorful and satisfying loaf. The nuts gave it enough crunch to make it interesting, and the cheese and eggs helped hold it all together. I would definitely make this again.

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Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes

Posted on November 28, 2015 by Kris Cunningham

We made a new recipe for sweet potatoes and I really liked. Who would have thought that roasted grapes and feta cheese would work so well!

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I found this recipe on How Sweet It Is and it’s not that difficult to make. Start by baking four sweet potatoes until done.

Roast two cups of grapes by putting them on a baking sheet, drizzling on a bit of oil, some salt and pepper. and toss to coat. Roast at 450 for 20-25 minutes until they start to burst. They come out as warm, soft, sweet cooked fruit that is very good. They could be eaten just like this or added to a number of other recipes.

But, back to this recipe. Scoop out the cooked potato (this recipe calls for putting it back in the skin later, but it could also just be put in a casserole dish). Mix in 3 oz of feta cheese, a couple tablespoons of honey, a pinch (or more) of cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. Check seasonings and adjust as needed. Put the potato back in the skins (or in a casserole dish), top with another ounce of feta cheese, the grapes, and a drizzle of honey. Return to the oven for a little while if it needs to be rewarmed, and serve.

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