Making Christmas (Part VI)... Pastelles, Ham, The Christmas Village and H1's Most Hated Snow

A Trini Christmas would be incomplete without a few things - sorrel, punch de creme and pastelles.

Well, our Christmas is incomplete because Momma HOchie forgot to buy the sorrel to make us drinks and Papa HOchie has yet to make some punch de creme.

The pastelles on the other hand went down on Christmas Eve. Every year we try this and we forget what to do.
There's always some kind of struggle for banana leaves, struggle with the corn meal and then there's the issue of tying it all together so as to not have it fall apart when cooked.

So, they taste good like the always do but they've not been wrapped in leaves, they're kind of sticking to the paper and water managed to get in to some.

Make a note to self that next year I should not be tasked with tying.





Bunji cooked the ham this year and fancied it up by making a blackberry apple type sauce. it was quite the yummies and perhaps we'll task him to do it again next year.

Oooo, Christmas breakfast -



Papa HOchie is all about putting up the little Christmas Village at the corner of Mulberry St.

Over the years, we've collected lots of shops and some have gifted us with houses and/or people in the past. It was sad but we couldn't find black girl playing basketball that Beetchie gave to him one year but we did discover that there seems to have been some sort of animal explosion in the town with more dogs than people inhabiting the town. Could it be some sort of scary Christmas nightmare tale in the making...? And will this story be made into a B movie?

Eerie, isn't it? That dog that's as big as the car?



And the ghost train at the foot of the hill with the disco church sitting on top overlooking all? Yeah, definitely B movie material.



This year we had a white Christmas. It didn't snow on the day itself but we had left over snow from the storm that blew through on the 19th. H1 was most displeased but we did get to throw Boohead out into the snow, which was fun for him.

Another B Movie in the making with the scary sky:



And scary Mechanical Reindeer:



Here's what it looked like the day after:





That's so not what H1 wanted to see or walk over.

Currently listening to: "The Dam at Otter Creek" by Live. Ah, a song for a scary movie.

So I Have to Say...

Memories are strange things.

I'm listening to "Around My Christmas Tree" by Lennox Gray (Thanks Frass and CLee) and it's nothing like I remembered. Did it always sound so... Trini?

I think I like Momma HOchieS' in the kitchen around Christmas time version better from way back in 1980-something.

Currently: Confused.

Happy Decemberween!!!!

Another year, another Decemberween. I'm dreading going over to H1's house because Diderick and The Cheat did no get to open their presents yet (oh yes, I managed to find something for them yesterday...phew) but now, we didn't get to drink and open pyos like we usually do on Decemberween Eve. Heh...

Merry Christmas to all! The pyo list will be updated later but first, thank you to all for the gifts and the well wishes!

In the meanwhile, welcome to the The HOchieS Christmas 2008 Blog Layout, where we go inside and do an extreme close up of someone's Christmas Tree. I don't think it's ours.

Happy Birthday, Pandy!

Does it suck to have a birthday the day before Jeebus'?

In Trouble

It's Decemberween Eve and I've not yet gotten a present for the Cheat...

As Boobey would say, "scared".

Brrrr, it's Winter!

Winter's here again and H1 is not happy.

Yesterday, we were hit with a bad snow storm that had us digging out ourselves from the 8-12 inches of snow left behind.

Welcome to the HOchieS 2008 Winter Blog Layout, where everything looks a lot sharper in Corel Painter (curse you JPEG and curse you Blogger for not being able to recognise RIFF files!).

Here you'll find a Snow Globe of Pine Trees that cracked and let out snow dusted hills, a lonely house with an equally large lonely reindeer, silver wind, a blue moon and a sky ripe with snow!

Did I mention H1 hates winter?

Currently: Feeling really pissed off if my package was indeed stolen today. This is what happens when Momma HOchie gets a present that she's not supposed to be getting from me.

Until Next Year, Fall

Thanks for the fun times and no thanks for the hard times at work. I see those will be spilling over to winter and that's just not right!

Perhaps next year, you pumpkins and scarecrow can visit us once more but until then...



Currently: 'listening' as H1 berates my Gmail Ninja.

It's All About Symmetry

Of which I have none.

Death the Kid would be appalled by such a disgrace.

If they weren't so expensive, I would have gotten my other ring but for now, I'll just have to wear one... on the wrong finger because it's too small to go on the middle finger.

Curses, I knew I should have gotten the next size up!

Ah well.



I love my Square Enix Soul Eater silver ring!







Thanks Sons, for putting in some of the cash for my ring for Christmas.

Currently listening to: "Soul's Crossing" and "Resonance" by T.M. Revolution, from the Soul Eater 1st Opening Single EP.

Mortified by my Clan

Um...That one Ninja is getting out of hand.

What is this?!



And why are they sullying my eyes?!

Currently listening to: "Hero of the Wind" by Kenta Nagata, Hajime Wakai, Toru Minegishi, Koji Kondo, from the The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Original Soundtrack.

Perhaps They Need to Visit Where The HOchieS Live

Thanks to Bughie J. for pointing out this story, taken from CNN

Scientists baffled by mysterious acorn shortage

Story Highlights

Naturalists are baffled this fall by a shortage of acorns in the eastern U.S.

Residents in some areas report plenty of acorns, while others have seen none at all

Acorn growth runs in cycles, so a lean year may be normal after last year's big crop

Some scientists fear the shortage will affect squirrel populations

source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/12/12/acorn.shortage/

The real reason I wanted to write this story about the plague carriers I'm so obsessed with, was for this picture -



What a freakin' hilarious picture. Bwahahaha.

Currently listening to: "Freak Show" by Abingdon Boys School, from Songs for Death Note The Movie: A Tribute.

Obsession(s) of the Week(s): 11/10/08 - 12/15/08

Dragon Quest IV



Being a Weapons' Dealer?



That's awesome! For a while I played as a Merchant named Taloon (I think that's what it was) and who knew being on the side of the selling could be so much fun? Well, we all know how I hate to spend my hard-earned, monster dropped monies - so selling weapons to louts really worked out for me.

Soul Eater



With Professor Franken Stein. I love how cute he is - got white hair, glasses, has a great voice actor, a sense of humour, bad-assed, a giant screw in his head...



...and is damned freaking insane.



Everything can be dissected. Self included.

Justin Law



Another great character from Soul Eater, which has proven to become quite a shock fest, action-filled, great art and edgey anime. Justin's a sweetie - A priest who travels around the world with a sense of happiness to kill. Did he bring enough coffins? And what Japanese Rap/Rock track are we listening to?

Hidan



Hidan is indeed that bastard that killed Asuma. And while I only stopped crying last week, a month after the death, I actually like that foul-mouthed Akatsuki member. "Oye! Fuck you, Kakuzu! Whose side are you on?" Yeah. Fuck me because I don't know whose side I'm on either - Akatsuki or Konoha.



Hidan and his crazy rituals. He may hate the lengthy rituals himself, but they're part of his faith and he has to follow through. He's particulary strict (and extremely fond) of the part about leaving no target alive.

Rock Band 2



I swear, I don't know over half the songs in RB2 but it's been an even more fun experience even though the changes were slight in-game. I do miss my square on my chest for my girl which everyone seems to hate, but I created my love Zarnyx. He's not perfectly Zarnyx but he works for me. I'm sure you A.s like H1 will hate him too. Other than that, RB2 is fun times that I can't wait to share with Beetchie!

Currently listening to: "Wake Up Dead Man" by U2.

Making Christmas (Part V)... Or 2's 1st Christmas Card, Festive Pictures and Halloween in the Tree?

The HOchieS decorated one of two Christmas trees last weekend. Being that A'Face and B'Head are at the grand old age of 2 each, we made the tree kid friendly again this year.

Notable new tree friends this year include Kon -



Sheets, posing as the Ghost of Christmas Present (really he's just a ghost dressed up as a ghost for Halloween...I don't know how he managed to sneak into the Tree. The last time I messed with a ghost, I got scratched so I'm gonna leave him be) -



and CLee with his main squeeze:



Last week I got my first Christmas card for 2008 and I laughed lots. Thanks Sandy Cheeks.





H1 and I addressed our cards to send to friends and family, more like she did most of the work even though she did have my stamping and sealing like a Ralph (I thought Ralph only took care of tape!), and I took a picture of us (H1) busily working away.



I can't believe there are only 11 days left until Christmas. I wonder where my Christmas Spirit got to?

No! He's not in the tree!

Currently listening to: "Topo's Groove Heaven (Variant 3)" by Tsuyoshi Sekito, from the Brave Fencer Musashiden Original Soundtrack. What???!!!

"It's Written All Over Your Face...

...you just want my headphones, don't you?"

Justin Law, it's true. I do want your headphones and thanks to Gen Frien', I have a pair like them now.

My Etymotics conked out on me a few weeks ago, so I finally decided to try some Shure headphones that I've wanted for a while. Of course, until the day comes when I get the $600.00 pair (which I don't think will ever happen), I will never be satisfied.

I'm happy with my new Shure headphones for the most part - the sound is clear but the ear pieces are kind of hurting my ears (because in addition to tiny carney hands, apparently I've tiny carney ear holes as well) but struck upon a bit of genius before I ordered them to make the already awesome Shure headphones even more awesome...



(fantastic photo above of the shures taken by Gen Frien')

Why not commission my talented artist friend Gen to craft some Justin Law headphones for me?!

She's my talented artist friend but she's also one of my best friends, and insisted that she'd make them and give them to me as a Birthday pyo.

I. love. them.

It took about 2 tries before getting it on the 3rd due to my overwhelming demands and pestering but here's the set we decided on:





Of course, it was hard with the manga artist's and the tv series artists' inconsistencies and getting just the right picture but Gen did the best she could and they're fabulous as expected.

And of course, the day after I got them from her (they fit right on the Shure's so neatly!), episode 36 of Soul Eater came out and there is a screen shot of the headphones is perfectly clear and detailed. Grrr!

Well, Gen will try again to craft them as seen in Episode 36 in the near future, but for now, I'll keep rockin' these hotness ones I have on the train, so even more people can look at me and think me crazy.

No otaku has jumped me yet for my J. Laws.

H1, I am no Otaku!

Making Christmas (Part IV)... Assembling Treat Boxes

Lollipops were made of melted semi-sweet chocolate poured into Santa Claus Head molds, and wrapped up with extra holiday bags and tied with ribbon.






We made quite a number of them, with only 3 white chocolate ones sullying the lot. I keep saying it and will stand by what I believe - white chocolate's not really chocolate! In addition to which, it's a pain in the ass to melt; let us not discuss how I botched the first batch.

With the sugar cookies, lollipops and pear gruyere pie cups made, we assembled most of the Treat Boxes (Christmas Themed Chinese Take-Out Boxes, bought at Michaels. H1 and I would just like to say that Michaels is the best damned place we've been to in recent history).



On Monday, Sons made gulab jamoons and omg, those were amazing!





Only 2 friends got them, since only 2 appreciative Trinis were getting them...well, 1 appreciative Trini who gave me beautifully made, yummy sugar cookies as one of my pyos (Thanks, Gen!)



Note: Green Sugar Cookie Man was fortunate that he only lost a leg. There was a Sugar Cookie Massacre during my transport and two of them were beheaded. It was nightmarish and sad!

and one FRASS, who has yet to pick up his sad, lonely little box of treats!

He tells me though that he likes stale treats. And yes, Frass, I remembered how much you HATE pies, so you got none of that.

Forgotten Chinatown Shade

I forgot to mention it but we bought glow in the dark stars and moon to stick on Boo-Head's ceiling, and H1 was most appalled to discover that her kid's presento-pyo came in this bag:



Please click on the picture to enlarge if need be and read the various text on it.

Wha'?

Who did this? Was it those Koreans with their cuicks, again?

Ah, cuicks.

IFUCKING LOVE YOU!

That was some vintage stuff.

Making Christmas (Part III)...Pear Gruyere Pie Cups

Deserving of their own picture parade, we present to you pear gruyere pie cups.

We got the recipe and idea from the blondie and brownie blog, and they got it from the now defunct (and sadly so, even though...I rarely watched it myself but hey! I just don't watch a lot of television, not because tv is bad) Pushing Daisies.

The pears were amazing by themselves so there's not much port wine could do to muck up an already good tasting pear...would that even be possible?



It was by no means a hard recipe but the HOchieS do not usually deal with flour/crust so we were a bit scared by what the results would be.

For anyone who may want to know, it takes four Trini girls to assembly 16 pie cups but that was partially my fault, since I forgot all about the dough in the freezer while I was poaching some pears.

With X and Sons helping out, we got it done and in the oven and when they made an appearance after being baked, we just knew that these things would be fantastic times and that everyone who got one would love it (the feedback was very positive).







Oh yes.





Currently listening to: "Keiyakusha" by Yoko Kanno, from the Darker Than Black Original Soundtrack.

Making Christmas (Part II): ...and Making Christmas Piggyhs.

This year for Treats by the HOchieS, not only did we make Christmas piggyhs or Christmas Hams as I lovingly call them, but also Santa Claus Chocolate heads, filled Treat Boxes, gulab jamuns and baked the awesomeness known as Pear Gruyere pie cups instead of the regular red velvet cupcakes.

Before the pictures come rolling, the HOchieS would like to thank X and Sons for all their help. This year's Treat Bag/Boxes were of a whole other magnitude, tiring and time consuming work.

But everything was beautiful and tasted great.

Now, I present to you...the Piggyhies:

Unbaked Christmas Hams!



A Plate of Baked Hams Ready for a Paint Job:



Awww, Painted, Pink Pigghies...



What's this? A Devil Pig?



Devil Pig was given to Gen. Here he is gathering his forces. His life was quickly cut short after I tossed him a box though. It was off to Slaughter by way of Chewing for D.Pigh. All hail D.Pigh!



Memorable Quotes of the Evening:

X ::as she's painting the pigs:: : Oink

Or 2: What's with the violet eyes?
X: H1 says they're going to have violet eyes just like Elizabeth Taylor. Those were her exact words.
H1: ::after trying an eye:: Okay, no eyes.

Currently listening to: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2