noggin'

I think the domestic bug finally bit me.  With things we are accustomed to eating/drinking in the States being in short supply here, I'm learning how to make a lot on my own.  This weekend I felt really ambitious and made egg nog. (Mainly because I was trying to keep myself awake to midnight on New Year's Eve and also because I've searched high and low and can't find it anywhere.)  The recipe I found makes one big ol' heapin' mess of creamy goodness, perfect for parties or for two hermits celebrating the New Year.  What started out as a whim turned into one of the best decisions I made over our break.  I might have to see if I can tag along on Mr. F's gym membership though after drinking so much.  Here's the recipe.

Homemade Egg Nog

Ingredients:

12 large eggs

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 cups whole milk

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon nutmeg (calls for freshly grated, didn't have, used my jar, turned out awesome)

1.  In the biggest saucepan you have, whisk together the eggs, salt, and sugar until blended then gradually add half of the milk (4 cups).  Do this without heat.

2.  Put pan on burner and set for lowest heat.  Stir continually until the mixture thickens into a custard consistency.  (Should coat the back of a wooden spoon.)

3.  Transfer to big ol' bowl and add the rest of the milk, the vanilla, and nutmeg.

4.  Cover and chill for a good long while.  (We waited a few hours, but it was definitely better the next morning.)

To make it more decadent, add some fresh whipped cream.

Tip: strain nog before drinking.  If you're anything like me,  you have no idea how to make a custard, so there will be chunky bits in the nog.  Just strain those out and you're good to go!

triptych

So, yesterday Mr. F was telling his sister about his birthday celebrations at work.  They had a nice lunch, chocolate cake, and champagne.  Mr. F was handed the bottle so that he might kick off the festivities.

"I took the bottle and just stared at it," he said.  "I had no idea what to do with it.  It had this weird twisty thing on the neck.  It's not like opening a Coke!  So I handed it back to my boss and told him he could have the honors."

And that's when I fell on the floor in a fit of hysterical laughter for a good ten minutes.

birthdays

How do you distract a birthday boy from the fact that he has to go into work early?  Three packages of chocolate pudding and a card from the other side of the world.

Happy Birthday, Mr. F!  I love you!

hi! my name is...

This is Mortimer.  He's my Christmas cactus.  He lives in Florida.  I couldn't figure out how to transport him then properly declare him through customs.

When we moved to Florida back in April, this little guy was an eighth of the size he is now.  Two scraggly, exhausted, desperate for Florida sunshine stubs of foliage peeked out from the dirt.

This is Mortimer yesterday.  He's enormously huge and would you check out those blossoms?  They're so vibrant and wonderfully Christmas-like!

I've been searching for a Cypriot Mortimer since we moved here but to no avail.  I'll just have to settle for photos from Momma F from time to time to get my fix.

Way to grow little Mortimer!

the stockings were hung

Y'all, I made stockings.  Two of them.  TOTALLY by hand.  Like, my little (and by little I mean long 'n' bony) fingers are calloused and aching from I don't know how many hours of hand stitching*.  We needed us some stockings so I totally avoided all of the other things I needed to do and made them.  I think they're pretty sweet if I do say so myself.  It's amazing how much cozier and homelike our little apartment feels with a few Christmas decorations while we wait these last few weeks for our belongings to arrive.  This really is the most wonderful time of the year!

* So, some really awesome people got me a really awesome sewing machine for our wedding.  But then we moved to Europe and the electronic compatibility is zero.  Sad day.  I miss you sewing machine I really wanted to learn how to use!

bows

These are from Kitty.  She sent us a pre-Christmas box, full of delights like junket, pudding, Knorr hollandaise sauce packets, paper for business cards, and these.  They are Christmas albums selected mainly by Nonny and wrapped by Kitty.  They both told me about these discs before the box even arrived, but Kitty still wrapped them.  Why?

So I could have the ribbon.

She knew I've been projecting and crafting away in preparation for my great debut in the Cypriot marketplace and she thought a few extra ribbons might come in handy.

The same day we got a box full of warmth for Mr. F from his loving mom and Nana.  A sweater, vest, and new shirt were just what the doctor ordered to help this tall guy stay warm.  

I think we seriously lucked out in the parent department.

giving thanks

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving from the Mediterranean!

warm

This is Mr. F.  He's not cold anymore because I found him an awesome sweater and some pajama pants on sale today.

A warm Mr. F is a happy Mr. F and that makes for one happy Engquist.

(and yes, there are two clocks on the wall.  we have a lot of timezones to juggle here people!)

mail call!

This cute little face was my first piece of mail in Cyprus.  She's also the first photo on my fridge in Cyprus.  Oh, I love this little girl and her momma!

the event which caused several hours of giggles

I triple dog dare you to not giggle for hours after frolicking and swirling in the sea.

because...

jet lag is killing me, my brain hurts from making so many life decisions, and I just don't want to think anymore, I'm sharing some silly.

These little cards have been providing me with so many smiles and even more inspiration for projects I'd like to tackle as soon as I can find my paints.  They're from the Florida based stationery company, Rifle Paper.  It's probably a good thing I left the States when I did, because it's a lot harder for me to get my hands on these pretties nowadays.  But oh, are they darling!  Absolutely love them!  Aren't the postcards such a great alternative to the traditional Christmas letter?  le sigh...  So much cute, so many countries in the way.  I'll have to make my own, I guess!

folk

Have I ever shared tales of my traditional Fourth of July?  If so, please excuse this recounting.  Ten plus years ago, the husband of one of the Tall Guy's coworkers was sworn in as a US citizen.  Both Big T and M are Lebanese, but M already had citizenship at the time of her husband's ceremony.  Our family joined Big T and M downtown to join in the pomp.

It was the Fourth of July.

Every year since then, we have celebrated with them.  We have homemade Lebanese food, watch real football, play football, and hear tales from their family's adventures around the globe.  Not hot dogs.  No baseball.  Baba ganoush is my food of choice to celebrate Independence Day.

Their extended family has become our own.  We have watched Big T and M have two darling sons, Lash and Little T, mourned with them as Big T's mother tragically passed away, celebrated Christmasses, weddings, and everything in between.  They have helped shape who the Stud and I are today.

When we considered moving to Cyprus, we learned that several of the employees Mr. F would be working with were Lebanese.  I truly leaped for joy and yelled, "THE FOURTH OF JULY IS SAVED!"  I could watch the EuroCup and eat tabouli once more!

Last night two of Mr. F's Lebanese coworkers graciously took us out to dinner.  Without much delay I shared my stories of Big T and M and the little I knew of their homeland.  We spent the next couple of hours chatting comfortably, exchanging views on current events and learning about one another's families.  I felt that same familiarity.

I am growing ever more grateful for my parents and the way they raised me.  When I look at who  I consider to be my extended family, the circle is wide and incredibly diverse.  My parents taught me and my brother to recognize the good in people, regardless of where they come from.  As I keep ending up in foreign locations, I find this to be such a gift my parents have given me.  Folk are folk, no matter where you are.  

if moving to cyprus means I get to see my whole family...

...then I'm moving halfway around the world more often.  This last week will go down in infamy as one of the best ever.  Luckily it's not over yet as we still have a few days with Mr. F's side of the clan.  We feel so blessed and fortunate that our families have morphed into one family.  No in-laws or out-laws here, just love, sun, guitars, and coke.