Her TBT: Apple Picking

Angela at The Teacher's Desk 6 is hosting a Throwback Thursday linky party. The rules are simple - choose a previous blog post and re-post it. 

Usually I choose a post of Sean's to share as our TBT post, but today I am sharing one of mine. Fall is my favorite season - it's absolutely no contest with the others. I love the crisp weather, the changing leaves, and the holidays (Halloween and Thanksgiving). Summer is great because of my time away from school, but it is my least favorite season because of the heat. What better way to beat the heat then to reminisce about a fall activity and dream of cooler weather. Enjoy!
 
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Two years ago, Sean and I were visiting friends in the mountains of Virginia and I decided I wanted to go apple picking. I had never done this before and thought it sounded like fun. We searched and talked to our friends and we chose Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, which is almost next door to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's house). We went and had a blast so I decided that this fall we had to go back and pick more apples! 


When we arrived, it was bumper to bumper traffic climbing the hill/driveway. I could not get over how many people were there. 








Kristin, my good friend, and I love Fuji apples and that was one of the options to pick this past weekend. We were both excited but to get to the Fuji apples you had to climb up a mountain with three switchbacks. We grabbed our bags and off we climbed.







Picking apples is not a super fun and exciting event. But it is fun to walk down the row of trees, try to spot the perfect apple, then pick that "just right" one to take home. I love it! Our friends loved it too I think.






Sean and I ended up with 12 beautiful (and tasty!) Fuji apples. We also stopped by the store on the way out and got some apple butter for me and my parents. I love apple butter and there is just something wonderful and apple butter that is made with three ingredients - apple, water, and spices. Yum yum!!






I am almost sad now that we are not going back to the mountains before apple picking season is over. I would so go again later this month when Pink Ladies are available at the orchard. Oh well, I guess I can wait until next year!

This is one of my favorite photos of us ever! :)

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This summer weather is way too hot for me, but when that fall breeze picks up again, I will be back at the apple orchard picking apples. Something to dream about during these hot summer months.

Happy Thursday,

His and Her TBT: Vulcan Masaya

Angela at The Teacher's Desk 6 is hosting a Throwback Thursday linky party. The rules are simple - choose a previous blog post and re-post it. 

For a while, we did Travel Reviews every Monday on the blog. We loved sharing our travels with you guys. This one was posted in February of 2014, originally, and is a favorite memory for both Sean and I. Enjoy this active volcano and photos of a much younger Sean and Amanda. hehe
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Welcome to the Masaya Volcano.

We were sitting in church one Sunday morning, back in 2003, when they announced that there was an informational meeting for anyone interested in going on a mission trip to Nicaragua after the service. I paid it no attention, but I was taken to the meeting as Amanda had a big interest in going. After listening to the information that was given to us, we talked about it and we decided to go. I had no clue where Nicaragua was and originally thought it was in Africa but then found out it was in central America between Costa Rica and Honduras.

Old lava rock on the outside of the volcano cone.  

We had a great time at the camp where we helped with painting, construction, a basic medical clinic and bible school for the local children. One of the highlights of the trip happened the day before we flew back to the United States; we toured the capital city, Managua, and visited an active volcano. Neither of us had ever seen an active volcano and were looking forward to the experience. I had always wanted to visit a volcano, but was always worried that it would be too dangerous. We figured this is probably as safe as you can get, as it had been a long time since its last eruption. After a 4 hour bus ride we saw the sign for the national park and the bus started the long climb to the top.

We were told about the history of the volcano and that, although it was an active volcano, it had not erupted in over a century.

Steam rising from the crater of the volcano.

There was no guarantee of seeing lava but it was visible on occasion. Once we got to the top of the volcano, we had some free time to view the crater and we were given evacuation instructions in case the volcano decided to erupt or the sulphur levels got too high. We both went over to the crater to see if we could see any lava and although there was plenty of smoke (with a lovely sulphur smell as well) there was no lava visible. It was obvious that it was still very active due to the amount of smoke rising from the crater. After a while we all climbed onto the bus and then headed down to the city for our tour. It was a great experience and was a great way

Crater of the volcano.

to see just how powerful nature can be. I would love to see another volcano one day and hopefully one that has some lava to complete the experience. If you ever get a chance to see an active volcano I highly recommend it.
Our first summer mission trip to Nicaragua was an incredible, eye-opening, and heart-changing experience. We are so grateful for that opportunity. Being able to tour some of the sights of Nicaragua was a beautiful bonus. Masaya looked in the distance like a mountain, but as we climbed we could see the hardened lava rock and we could see the smoke pluming from the crater. Standing on the edge, looking down at the smokey center, and thinking about the last time it erupted when thousands died was an awe-inspiring experience. We did not see lava, but we smelled the sulfur. Not having volcanoes anywhere near home, made this a unique experience for both of us. It is, hands-down, one of the coolest things we have been able to visit on our excursions. Here are some more photos - they do not do it justice!

Crater of the volcano

Amanda and I with the crater behind us. Don't we look young?

Top of the volcano (There is a large cross at the top that is barely visible in this photo)

Tourists looking at the crater of the volcano

Group photo at the volcano.

Painting of the volcano erupting in the volcano museum.

Have you ever visited an active volcano? Share that story with us in the comments or on Facebook.

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Our Nicaragua trips were life-changing for both of us. We consider ourselves blessed to have been able to take those trips. 

Happy Thursday,

His and Her TBT: Deadly Animals in the Water

Angela at The Teacher's Desk 6 is hosting a Throwback Thursday linky party. The rules are simple - choose a previous blog post and re-post it. 

Sean loves writing blog posts about the differences between living in the U.S. and living in Australia. The theme of our A-Z Challenge this year was Australia and all the cool places to visit there. I love these posts too because it is fun to compare and contrast the cultures, lifestyles, stores, language, etc. Last year, he blogged about some pretty deadly Australian sea life that we do not have in the waters off our coasts. Enjoy!

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It is pretty well known that Australia is home to some of the most unique animals in the world. It is also home to many of the deadliest animals as well. It sometimes seems that if you watch a nature program on TV you sometimes think that the country is just crawling with them and its only a matter of seconds before something bites or devours you. The truth is that although many of Australia's animals are quite deadly they are normally afraid of humans and you have to do something pretty silly to get attacked. 

   Today's post looks to the coastline of Australia and will highlight some of the nasties that could await you in the water. We will skip the sharks for now even though they do earn an honourable mention, but there are not very many unique species of sharks that live exclusively around Australia that are known to attack humans. Below are a few of Australia's marine creatures that are best avoided and left well alone.

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Blue Ringed Octopus: These little guys are usually found in rock pools along the beach and small enough for a child to pick up. When left alone they often blend in with their surrounding but if they are provoked or feel threatened they will display bright blue rings. If you happen to try and pick one of these little guys up you will likely get bitten and you may not even know as the bite is often painless. Should you get bit you will need to seek medical attention immediately as the venom is very deadly and total paralysis will set in within 10-15 minutes. Breathing will stop within this time and if assisted breathing is not administered death will soon follow. If a bite victim can rushed to a hospital and placed on an artificial ventilator they will likely recover fully as the effects of the venom are usually gone within 24 hours or so. If left alone these guys pose little danger so feel free to look at the pretty blue rings but do not pick it up for a closer look!

Box Jellyfish: These guys are next to invisible in the water and can provide a sting that is more painful than anything you have ever felt. Found in the tropical waters of northern Australia they are so dangerous many beaches are closed to swimmers during the Australian summer. It is one of the larger jellyfish and the bell can be as large as a man's head and the stingers can trail for several feet. Even when dead jellyfish or detached stingers can provide a painful sting. The venom is deadly and has been responsible for the deaths of at least 80 people in the last 150 years. If stung the recommended remedy is to flood the sting area with vinegar as it helps detaches the stingers from the skin and to seek medical attention. Its definitely best to check with the locals or heed the warning signs before heading into the waters in the tropical areas of Australia.

Stonefish: Thankfully these guys are rare but they can deliver a nasty surprise to anyone unlucky enough to step on one. Found along the coast of the top half of Australia, Stonefish are found partially buried in the sand. They do this to camouflage themselves from their prey but sadly this makes them impossible to see. They often will not move even if someone is about to step on them so it is recommended to wear good water shoes and tread carefully. The danger comes from a row of venomous spines that run along the top of the fish that is activated when someone steps on the fish. Although it is not as deadly as some of the other creatures around Australia's coastline these guys will do a number on the bottom of your foot and will make walking quite painful for many days. If you happen to step on one it is recommended to sooth the pain with hot water and to seek medical attention.

These are just some of the dangers along the coastline of Australia. Although they are out there most visitors to Australian beaches never encounter any of these creatures. I did see a Blue Ringed Octopus in a rock pool when I was fairly young and a dead Box jellyfish a few years later but knew enough to steer clear of them. As long as you take the proper precautions you should have an safe and fun time.

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Pretty crazy, huh? Which one do you think is the craziest/weirdest/most interesting? For me it is definitely the stone fish. That little guy seems intense!


Happy Thursday,

His and Her TBT: Australian Roundabouts

What is Throwback Thursday? How does it work, you might ask? I get to choose a blog post from the past (either a few days or a few years) and repost it as a TBT. 

Today, I chose a post from February, 2014 where Sean explained a common road feature in Australia.

Roundabouts are used in many areas in Australia.

As I was driving around on my first trip in America I noticed a lot of differences when it came to traveling by car. Some were quite obvious like being on the other side of the road and car (don't ask how many times I tried to get in the wrong side of the car) but others were not so obvious for a while. After a while I did notice one thing that was missing on American roads that most Aussies use every day and that was the roundabout. 

Even large trucks can navigate a roundabout.

In many towns and cities across Australia, roundabouts are used in place of traffic signals or stop signs to keep traffic flowing and to assist traffic on the side streets to get through an intersection quickly. In most cases you could get through a roundabout pretty quickly and if volume was light you go through the roundabout without having to come to a stop. Using a roundabout was pretty simple as you yielded to the traffic that was already using the roundabout and you entered when there was a safe gap. Since you yielded to the traffic in the roundabout and they are all going in the same direction you only have to look in one direction which makes things pretty easy. Roundabouts are used both on suburban streets and highways and even the major highways so you don't have to travel far before you find one.

Source

       Roundabouts are also known as "traffic circles" in America and are not nearly as common. Many localities have very few if any at all. Roundabouts in America are normally in quiet residential streets where there isn't a lot of traffic and it is unusual to see them on a busy road. It is far more common to see either a 4 way stop sign (I wrote about them here) or a traffic signal. It seems that in the last few years more and more roundabouts have been popping up but there are still pretty much a novelty in a lot of places.

Roundabout in Narrabri, NSW

      So why are roundabouts not so common in America? I believe it is because a lot of Americans are not familiar with them and installing a bunch of them would cause a ton of accidents and increased insurance rates for everyone. Australia started installing roundabouts back in the 1980's and they had to spend a ton of money on TV ads to try and educate people on how to use them. It took a while for the Aussies to get used to them and they had a lot less people to train as well (16 million back then compared to the 300+ million in the U.S today). There are many intersections in Virginia that I would think would benefit from a roundabout but it would take a long time for people to get used to them. Maybe one day America will catch onto the roundabout craze like Australia did 30 years ago but I am not holding my breath.

    I am a huge fan of roundabouts as I feel that they keep traffic flowing smoother than traffic lights at many intersections. Do you agree or would you like to see them ripped up and replaced with a stop sign or traffic signal?

Pretty cool, huh? I love going through roundabouts and driving through them. I think because they are different to what we have in my area. Do you have roundabouts where you live?

Happy Driving,

TBT: Breakfast in Australia

What is Throwback Thursday? How does it work, you might ask? I get to choose a blog post from the past (either a few days or a few years) and repost it as a TBT. 

Today, I chose a post from one year and one day ago, when Sean explained what breakfast looks like for an Australian. It is pretty different to an American breakfast.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the breakfast experience in America and the almost endless options available to you. If you missed that post you can read about it here. This week I am writing about breakfast in Australia and the foods that are commonly consumed. Although there are noticeably less options for breakfast on Australian menus when compared to American menus there are still plenty of options.  Here are just some of them: Vegemite on toast: This is one probably best left to the locals as most visitors can not stand the taste of Vegemite. Amanda's family has many colourful names for it including "road tar" and "axle grease". Vegemite is a yeast extract and has a unique taste. It is hard to explain exactly what it tastes like except to say it is salty. It is normally eaten thinly spread on buttered toast and is a popular option for those looking for a light meal or something that can be prepared quickly.   Source  Baked Beans on Toast: Baked beans on toast is another popular option for those who are looking for a light breakfast or something that can be prepared quickly. Most baked beans in Australia are in a tomato sauce rather than the bbq sauce that is common in baked beans in America. Baked Beans on toast is served mostly at peoples home but can be found on some menus at cafes, motels and other locations. Source Australian Bacon: In my post about American breakfasts I briefly talked about the differences between the bacon served in America and Australia. American bacon is probably equal parts fat and meat. Australian bacon is mostly meat with very little fat and has a different taste to American bacon. This is because the bacon in Australia is cut from the back of the pig and the American bacon is cut from the side of the pig. Australian bacon is similar to Canadian bacon but is just a little bit different. You may be able to find American style bacon in Australia but it won't be easy to find. Source  McCafe: Most McDonalds locations in America have McCafe now but they are nothing like their Australian counterparts. McCafe was first introduced around 20 years ago and have been wildly successful. Not only do they have just about every type of hot drink imaginable, they also have dozens of food options including slices of cake, macaroons, banana-cinnamon breads, and other light fare. In most McDonalds in Australia the McCafe is a separate counter from the regular restaurant which made ordering much easier. It was like having a Starbucks and a McDonalds under one roof and made grabbing breakfast for the whole family easy even if everyone had a different taste.  My favorite McCafe order is a Double Chocolate Muffin and a Cappucino. That was a very yummy breakfast last summer when we were down in Oz.  These are just some of the more interesting options for brekkie (What many Australian call breakfast). Which of these would you be willing to try? Such a fun thing to compare and contrast. Hope you enjoyed this blast from the past. Which breakfasts sounds the tastiest to you? Happy Eating,

His and Her One Year Ago TBT: Would You Rather?

When I wanted to find a TBT post for today, I thought it would be fun to see if we had a post from January 8, 2014 and we did! I really liked the idea of posting a one-year-later TBT so here we go.

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We are linking up again for the super fun Would You Rather? party. Here we go - 

Would You Rather…

… kiss a jellyfish or step on a crab?

Amanda - I am terrified - with a capital DON'T COME NEAR ME - of jelly fish so, though I know it would hurt like crazy, I am going to have to step on a crab.

Sean - I would kiss the jellyfish. Stepping on a crab sounds painful plus I could kiss the bell of the jellyfish, which is not venomous. No one said which part of the jellyfish I had to kiss right?

  

… forget who you are or forget everyone else?

Amanda - I would rather forget who I am. At least then I would remember the names and connections of everyone else and they could tell me all our fun stories.

Sean - I would also rather forget who I am. Someone could make me a short video or book of who I am plus the girl on "50 First Dates" fared well even though she woke up each day not knowing who she was.

  

… meet a space alien or travel to space?

Amanda - Even though I am supremely afraid of heights and I hate the take off part of a regular flight, I think it would be amazing and beautiful to travel to space. The sights...the zero gravity...all of it. *sigh* Maybe Richard Branson will take me when he takes Tom Hanks and Katy Perry in 2014. That would be so much fun!!

Sean - Meet an alien. Its bad enough having to sit inside an aluminum can with wings for 14 hours to cross the Pacific Ocean, let alone several months or years crammed in an even smaller can to fly around in space.

We love this new link up! Click the logo above to go to Jennifer's blog to join in the fun. If you don't have a blog, choose a question (or all of them) and answer them in a comment or on Facebook. **Amanda's favorite was the last one and she is wondering about everyone's answers.**

Happy Hump Day,

His and Her TBT: A Footy Game

Angela at The Teacher's Desk 6 is hosting a Throwback Thursday linky party. The rules are simple - choose a previous blog post and re-post it. 

Football season has started - but that doesn't mean much in our house. Neither Sean nor I are fans of American football. Australian football - aka rugby - is another story. We got to go to a game last year and Sean blogged about it last November. Enjoy!

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A Rugby Scrum

While we were in Australia we had the opportunity to attend a National Rugby League game in Newcastle. The National Rugby League (NRL) is the NFL for Rugby in Australia. Neither of us had been to a game before but was something we both wanted to do while we were in Australia this summer. 

     We went to the box office a couple of days before the game to buy tickets as you save on the additional fees that online ticket sites charge you. We also were able to pick our exact seats which you aren't able to do for a lot of events online. The prices for the tickets were quite reasonable and ranged from $25 (for general admission) to $45 for the best seats. Tickets for a regular season NFL game in America are at least $100 and can be well over $300 depending on the team and opponent. It was satisfying that we were able to get some great seats and they only cost us $45 each.

Scored a try/touchdown

We got to the game early so we can park somewhere close to the field and not feel rushed and gave us time to find something to eat before the game. I almost didn't make it in because the lens on my camera exceeded the limit and was considered a professional lens but after I promised to use the smaller lens I was allowed in. We then went to check out our seats and they were pretty good and gave us a great view of the field. 

Since we were hungry we decided to see what culinary delights were on offer at the stadium. Amanda and I are used to having several different choices when going to professional sporting events. At most events in America you can get hot dogs, burgers, fries, nachos, icecream, funnel cakes, Dippin Dots, pizza, chicken tenders, and other options depending on location. At many locations they have restuarant quality food in addition to the standard fare. At Hunter Stadium the choices seemed more limited. All I found was hot dogs, meat pies, sausage rolls, fries and burgers. I was content with a meat pie and a sausage roll and Amanda decided to get a hot dog. Once we got back to our seats we realized that an Aussie hot dog is nothing like an American one. They look different with a red skin, have a totally different taste and was not at all tasty. I'm certain that many people in Australia love their hot dogs but after having both I would much prefer a Ball Park frank or a Nathan's hot dog any day.
**Note from Amanda --- No kidding about the hot dog! That Australian dog was GROSS!!!! I get shivers just thinking about it now. Ewwww!!**
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The Knights player trying to get through the Broncos defense.

Before long it was time for the game and it proved to be one of the best games I had ever seen. Rugby is a fast paced game and nothing like American football. For example in Rugby you are not allowed to pass forward and you only get 6 tackles/downs then the ball is handed over to the other team. The other thing that is different is that the action is pretty much non stop. Once the tackle is complete the player who is tackled gets up and immediately passes the ball to a teammate and the game continues. In American football you can often go to the kitchen and prepare a snack between plays and not miss any of the action. 

      The game had a great flow and both teams were evenly matched. Both the Knights and the Broncos were more determined than ever to win as they were both chasing a playoff berth. After 90 minutes of play the score was tied at 18 all. Even after two overtimes the scores were still tied so the game was declared a draw. At no point did I lose interest in the game which was pretty impressive as I have about a 15 second attention span. Even with the two overtimes the game was over in a little over two hours from start to finish which is impressive considering an American football game would still be somewhere in the third quarter at the same point in time.

Crowd getting into the game.

       We had an awesome time at the game and would definitely attend another game when we are in Australia next. Americans may love their football but they don't know what they are missing out on as Rugby is a much more active and exciting game. I am a rugby fan and I don't think I will ever convert to American football, no matter how long I live here.
**Note from Amanda: Me too! Me too! Rugby is awesome! American football is borrrrrring!**



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Which sport is your favorite - rugby or football?


Happy Thursday,

His and Her TBT: Amanda's Bakery

Angela at The Teacher's Desk 6 is hosting a Throwback Thursday linky party. The rules are simple - choose a previous blog post and re-post it. 

For this week's throwback, I went ALLLLLLL the way back. This is the third post ever on the blog. It's really the first post with content, because the first two introduced Sean and I to our readers. In this post I talked about some of the recipes I made in one day. They are still favorites around here. Enjoy!

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"Amanda's Bakery" was definitely open for business today! That is what Sean calls it when I bake up a storm in the kitchen.

It is a dreary, over-cast, rainy at times Sunday here in VA. I finagled myself a work-free weekend which NEVER happens (I'm always grading papers or lesson planning on Sunday afternoons), so, other than laundry, I had several open hours looming ahead. I decided to fill them with baking. *fingers crossed they all turn out delicious*

Rum Raisin Rice Pudding - Click here for recipe (from Ina Garten on FoodNetwork)

Ingredients for Rice Pudding

     Last summer, Sean and I went on a Princess Cruise through New England and Canada. Sean discovered on our first morning that they had rice pudding cups on the breakfast buffet and ate at least two a day each day of our cruise (9 mornings of rice pudding!). It was then that I realized the deep love my husband has for the dessert. He told me the story of how it all got started with a happy smile as he ate.When he was growing up, his grandmother made rice pudding when she knew he was coming over for a visit. She would have a huge pot of it cooking away on the stove when he arrived and he would dive right in. Sean did not have the best of relationships with his grandmother towards the end of her life, but I am grateful that he has this happy memory of her to hold on to.

Raisins softening in the rum

     Now usually when I bake, Sean will eat one serving of whatever it is, maybe two, and then he's done. (I have been blessed with the sweet tooth in our family apparently. See below for proof.) I discovered the Rice Pudding recipe on FoodNetwork and surprised him with it as a way of remembering our cruise. He loved it! He devoured it in a few days and asked me to make more. I was so happy that I found a dessert he liked and wanted. Now he asks for it every few months; it's nice to have something special to make him that I know he enjoys.

Still pipping hot...Sean dove in :)

*Notes about the recipe: Sean likes a thicker rice pudding consistency so I only use three cups of milk. Oh, and I use milk and not half-and-half...not for any reason other than we never have half-and-half in the house and milk is cheaper. Finally, I usually add a little extra rum to the raisins because I know Sean likes the extra flavor.



Snickers Brownies (recipe from the brain of my sister)

A piece of Snickers for each brownie

     My sister, who lives in South Carolina, also likes to bake. She was home a year or so ago and was making brownies. I watched her add pieces of fun-sized candy bars to the batter and thought, "What an amazing way to spruce up plain, ordinary brownies!". This time I decided to use Snickers Bars because I thought my students would like them.

     Each week, my English students get the possibility of a reward on Friday. I have discovered recently that my students will do homework and monitor their own behavior if food is the potential reward, so two weeks ago I offered chocolate. Apparently that was too vague because too many students did not do their work and the class did not get the reward. This week I was more specific and offered a special, homemade (by me!) chocolate reward and they were scrambling to make sure every student had their homework so they could be fed. These Snickers brownies are for them!

Yum! Yum!

     The only pan I use to make brownies anymore is the Amazing Brownie Pan my mom gave me a few years ago. I love it and the fact that it cuts the brownies as they bake. Easy portion control and perfect for a recipe like this one. Just drop 1/4 of a fun sized candy bar into each square, bake according to package instructions and --- viola! Perfect brownies every time! I hope my students enjoy them!!




Black Bean Brownies - Click here for recipe (from Skinnytaste.com)

The only two ingredients you need

     When I joined Weight Watchers last August, I thought my days of brownies and desserts were all but over. I am so glad to be wrong! At one of the first meetings I attended, I heard about "Black Bean Brownies" and dismissed them completely because I hate black beans. I tried Diet Coke brownies but didn't like the crumbly texture and I tried pumpkin brownies but didn't like the chewy texture. Then a friend made the black bean brownies and brought me one. I was hooked! You don't taste beans at all, just yummy chocolate with an awesome brownie texture. If you haven't tried them and want to eat some less-guilty brownies, you should try these!!

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Which recipe is your favorite?

Happy Thursday,