In Training

Just-In-Case Survival Kit

It's about to get a little personal up in here! I have a very, very good friend and former Royal Marine Commando that has started his own small business custom-making survival bands, animal collars, headbands and more using para cord! He was sweet enough to give me one in the early stages and I LOVE IT! Once he got a website up and running I knew I had to write about it.

The USMC Band

During the month of June, Just-In-Case is giving 20% of sales to Soldiers' Angels (you might recognize the charity as one of my favorite military organizations!)! There's even a cool graphic that he's updating to let you know what the donation is up to every day.

The Just-In-Case Survival Kit website

Just-In-Case on Facebook

Just-In-Case on Twitter

If you read this blog at all, you'll know I don't do this kind of post... ever.  I don't ususally feel comfortable vouching for somebody or something - but I can 100% tell you that this guy is sane and his products are quality.  I hope you take a look!


Headbands!

My little golden helper

He's a yellow lab, but I always call him my golden boy (aka Rio). 

This is how our golden helper helped us move into our new home...


Played with extra cardboard


Watched us get paper cuts, misplace screws, tools, documents and our minds...


Yeah.


Best of all, his happy handsome face ALWAYS makes us smile!  He loves his new home... and barking at cows.

House Hunting: Part II

I was going to write a long detailed post about how much it sucks to fight underwriters on your possible home loan.  But we all know that, right?  I'm sure most of your stories far surpass mine in horror. 

So.

WE GOT IT!  We got it and have now moved into our very first home!

Here are a few photos, though of course we haven't even begun to decorate!


The back of the house - lovely red brick with a porch!


Our backyard and beyond!  We've seen squirrels, cows, robins and cardinals so far.


A not-so-great phot of part of the kitchen. Yes, my Royal can eat a box of cereal in one sitting.  You can't tell, but the kitchen is actually a pretty red color that we would have never picked ourselves, but just LOVE.


Our pretty things in the big kitchen cabinet.  That red is pretty much the red on the other kitchen walls.


One wall of the living room.  Brand new telly was my husband's favorite part of moving...


Part of the office

Just a few phots for now.  More when we're settled in!

YAY.

House Hunting: Part I.

Kath's Guide to Making Iced Tea

In my last post I said I might do a step by step tutorial on how to make iced tea... then the lovely David said that I should, SO, here goes!

Kath's Guide to Making Iced Tea
with photos by Royal

Time: About 5 - 10 Minutes

You will need:

1 - 3 regular tea bags, it's 1 -3 depending on how strong you'd like your tea. 
1 measuring cup - or anything that will hold hot liquid
Spoon
Kettle or microwave
Ice
Sugar/lemon/honey/mint, etc. (optional)
clingfilm  (optional)

What we are going to do is make a concentrate that you will pour in a glass and then add ice & water to get your iced tea.  We are not making an individual glass of tea (in case you were freaking out about 3 tea bags!).  You will be able to save any extra - but we'll get to that later!

Trip within a Trip : Wales

Royal and I have friends in Wales - friends who came all the way to the U.S. for our wedding! - so we planned a day to go visit.  I've been to England, Ireland, & Scotland but Wales was new - perfect! Off we go...



I started to get bored during the drive so out came the camera -- just in time to snap the "Fresh Pet Meat Daily" sign.  Wha...?  Okay, okay.  Obviously I realize they aren't selling pet meat for human consumption but... 



One of the Severn Bridges - I'm sorry to say at this point I'm not sure which one - the 1966 or the 1996 version. 



We are so in.

Grafitti from Brit Trip '09

We thought the ship on the back of a sign on the quay was cool. 

Out of Pocket Because...

It's been a while since I've posted because...

I've been in Britain with hubby!  It'd been about 19 months since Royal had seen his family - almost two full years since I've been back - so we took off for England & Wales for two lovely weeks.  I've got a couple of posts lined out in my mind, but we'll start with one of my favorite pastimes: food photography!

Some people like to whine about British food, but not me!  I love it!  Cream teas, roast potatoes, double cream, lovely meat pies, full English breakfasts as far as the eye could see... sigh!  I could go on. 

 
This was the first and best meal I had while in Britain.  Sweet chili chicken with sour cream and British cheddar on a bed of white rice and zucchini.  It was luscious.  It was perfect.  It was an off the cuff meal at the first place we stayed! 

Seriously cute chocolate

I mean really!

But...

it is chocolate so I ate the little guy anyway. 

Just for fun: Photos from last weekend

Went with my Mom to Central Market (ooohh! ahhhh!) this weekend.  While she was bustling around picking up items I took some photographs*.  They make me hungry.  Enjoy!

We'll start with tomatoes:

Just look at those heirlooms.  I can still smell them.... yum!  We passed on these, but I was tempted!

Tiny grape tomatoes. So adorable.

The Faslane Peace Camp

The Faslane peace camp (and, more recently the Faslane 365 crowd) has been a blight on the landscape of Helensburgh, Scotland comparable to the San Francisco parks from the 1960s - and just about as clean - since 1982.  More importantly than that though, is what a horrible effect it has on the surrounding community and how they frankly just don't give a damn about anybody but themselves.

Most recently the protesters have been so incredibly difficult - things like keeping school kids from reaching school on time most days, but also their very stressful and super important exam days - that many in the surrounding area have started a group and protested against the protesters.  Good on them.  As my father said to me today about liberal protesters in general, "The bigger the issue and the less they can do about it, the more they whine, cry, scream and protest."  I would also add 'and do more to hurt those that have nothing to do with it, and not get anything done in the process.'

Now that you know how I feel about that (!) here are some photographs of the peace camp that I have managed to aquire:

It's plaid! All kinds of style.  More below!