Stacey Blogs!

We had fun at work when the Lockheed Martin F-35 flight simulator came to our factory. 

I've worked on the aileron actuator program since it's development and had a great time flying the simulator. Mike Garcia, the local US Congresssman, was also in attendance as well as local radio, TV and newspapers.

I attended the Camarillo Air Show, taking along Chris and meeting up with John Liudzius, a work mate and Rigo.

Here's a couple of photos of me and John against two of the aircraft we work on at Woodward. The H-1 Viper helicopter and the F-18 Hornet.

I recently stopped in to the Porsche dealer Saturday morning Cars and Coffee. I drove the TT and the parking man told me to park close to the front, next to a Lambo and a Corvette. It was the only TT that was at the event. The purple car in the photo is a Monteverdi. I've never heard of this car. It is gorgeous. After I walked away from admiring it, Jay Leno, walked up, got in, and drove off.

Early one morning, I got up, got the TT washed and drove up around the new housing estate that circles behind Magic Mountain. You can see the back of the park from up there.

Tidbits

Violet decided to draw one of her favorite characters - pretty darn good, huh?

She also decided to dig her finger around the new loaf of fresh-baked bread, before I'd sliced it.

Sometimes, you really need a cat on your lap at dinner time.

We are now a house without a mouse.

Sadly, Barley seemed unwell one morning this week, so I took her outside with me to sit in the sun, and to let her get some fresh outside air for once. 

She seemed to perk up and was OK the rest of the day, but died the next day, For now, I think our rodent days are behind us. Violet was always excited to get a new pet, but didn't get excited to get her out or clean the cage. 

Anyway, our mice were all sweet and I'm glad we had the experience.

Our friend is the new advertising spokesman for Advance Auto Parts - this is a national campaign, so it's a huge deal. We chose to drive to Canyon Country when we needed a few new wiper blades, and took this photo for him.
 

New Car!

It was a big weekend for Stace! After working on Saturday morning, he came home and I suggested we go to Sherman Oaks to test drive an Audi TT we'd seen online. 

Interesting little private dealership - all used luxury cars, packed like sardines on a small lot. You have to make an appointment, so they can arrange to get the car out that you want to see. And when we saw this TT, we knew it was a good one - so clean, inside and out. 

Stace drove it and loved it, and we made the arrangements to pay for it and sign all the papers. 

We'd been looking hard for a few months, after Stace settled on the TT after considering Honda Civic coupes, Minis, and Mazda 3s over the past few years. 

With all our research, we feel we've made a good decision regarding the price and mileage of this particular vehicle. 

It's actually a 2009, but very low miles for the year, and great price compared to newer models. Because the shape hasn't changed in recent years, you can't tell its age.
 

The interior is in fantastic shape, and I love the baseball stitching on the front seats. It all feels very luxurious inside.

Since it is an '09, it doesn't have satellite navigation or a backup camera. Eventually Stace could swap the radios, and get one with sat nav and the ability to hook in his phone. But for now, it's all good, and he is thrilled with his new car! 

Tidbits

Violet decided she wanted to improve her ramen-making skills, so looked up tips online. We then went to an Asian grocery store in Canyon Country - this was the noodle aisle! We also bought a couple of the many varieties of dried boba, so she can make it at home.

Here was one of her improved soups.

I found this sweet baby oak tree on my daily walk.

Nick and Melanie housesat for my parents when they were away, so we had them over for dinner and swimming on Thursday. Cora shared her Sebby with Eloise.

We found this poor lizard squashed in our screen door - I guess we can't blame Spencer for this death!

We had Colleen, Rigo and the kids over for swimming and dinner on Saturday, and pool time. 

We forced the kids to recreate some old photos we have of them. 

My own kids refused to smile. 

Just a few years ago! Cora in the middle in black, Violet in goggles. 

Back to School!

The time has come - summer has ended and the girls have returned to school, with Cora starting her sophomore year, and Violet starting 7th grade at the junior high school. 

Last week, both girls had registration on Tuesday. Cora's went very smoothly, and incredibly fast - she was in and out in about 20 minutes.

Violet's took considerably longer, and I went around the school with her, whereas with Cora I dropped her off and picked her up when she was done.

Celebratory boba tea when we were finished!
 

Cora's first day photo - she was tired after a poor night sleep, and not exactly excited, but she forced a smile nonetheless. 

Violet also was all nerves! 

Praying they both have a good year, despite the challenges they'll face. 

This was Vi walking into her second day of school. She's thankful to be in the yearbook class and to have many of the same teachers Cora enjoyed in 7th grade. She of course has many new people she doesn't know in her classes, but she is able to see her friends from 6th grade at brunch and lunch.

Fun for Stace

On Saturday, we went to a very lovely and fancy retirement party for one of Stace's longtime coworkers. Because Stace happens to be Brian's supervisor right now, he was asked to give a little speech. 

Here are some of the crew, getting their photo taken by the party host.

The hosts' home and yard were incredible, with a stunning view of the SClarita sunset.

We had a great night, and I also had the odd experience of realizing we were out late and not-so-long-ago, we would have needed a babysitter for this kind of night. I mean, it's been years since we've needed a sitter, but somehow, coming home so late, it hit me anew how old our girls are getting.

On Monday after work, Stace and I drove 60 miles down to Buena Park to test drive a 2012 Audi TT. Stace has been looking at TTs for many months now, and we've saved enough to buy one. But, we didn't know if all four of us could fit in one, since we haven't been able to get a hands-on experience. They're quite rare over here, though we saw loads of them in England a few weeks ago.

Our trip was a success in that we figured out A) we all can fit; the back seat is tiny but the girls and I are also tiny; and B) yes, it's super fun to drive and Stace liked the feel of it. 

Once we got to see this particular car in person, we knew it wasn't the one for us, as it was too scratched up. 

The search continues!

Creative Endeavors

I've been changing a few things about what we eat lately, adding in new supplements and switching some things up. One is that I've bought some wheat berries, and ground them up into flour to make my own bread. 

Here, you can see the ground flour behind, and the berries in front. Fresh flour apparently has many health benefits you lose with store flour, as they quickly diminish with the passage of time.

I'm actually able to use my high-powered blender to make the flour. I've bought three types of berries - hard red, hard white and soft white. Each has a slight differences.

My first loaf of bread! Stace has always enjoyed baking, but I was a bit intimidated. But, we have a hand-me-down breadmaker, so I decided it can't be that hard. And, after figuring out which recipe to use, it really was quick and easy to add the ingredients to the breadmaker and turn it on.

Everyone enjoyed the hot bread and butter. 

 

I'm also trying to limit our use of seed oils, like canola, grapeseed, palm oil, etc., in favor of the old-fashioned fats people have used for centuries. It was easy to switch what I use for cooking, but then you realize all the products these oils are in. 

I'm giving up my beloved flavored coffee creamer (at least what I buy at home, not that I'll refuse to use it when out and about), and switching to real whipped butter instead of canola blend spreads. Peanut butter was another thing - what I have always bought is full of palm oil. So, I'm now making my own - SO easy with my blender.

Cora also has been creative lately - Stace brought home this cookie box, a nice heavy cardboard with a magnet closure, thinking the girls might like it. 

Cora transformed it into this amazing box for her D&D minis. 

Seriously, this is impressive. She added the red felt, the dividers, and paint, plus the logo.

Grandma wanted to do something fun with the girls, so she took them to the pottery paint shop. I love this photo of them!

Their creations turned out awesome!

And, of course, Cora has been painting minis. She is talented!