Lunch & Pumpkin Carving First A Comic Overview Of The Day.... Be Prepared (Page Seven)
We dine at Panda Palace
First we prepare the pumpkins... The real hard work
Then we carve and cavort while eating pumpkin seeds and sparkling cider
To Panda Palace For Lunch Before The Carving Begins
We needed a boost of energy before attacking the pumpkins
We have been going to this restaurant for a quarter of a century...
Robin makes sure we have sufficient seating... Such a Mom
Theo shows off his toofies... The boys get aloong so well!
Wat cha doin'
?
I'll try a Chinese Beer
Did You Know? - Production and consumption of beer in China has occurred for around nine thousand years, with recent archaeological findings showing that Chinese villagers were brewing beer type alcoholic drinks as far back as 7000 BC on small and individual scales. Made with rice, honey, and grape and hawthorn fruits, this early beer seems to have been produced similarly to that of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
However, after the Han Dynasty, Chinese beer faded from prominence in favor of huangjiu, which remained the case for the next two millennia. Modern beer brewing was not introduced into China until the end of 19th century, when Russians established a brewery in Harbin, with another three following (also in Harbin), set up by Germans, Czechoslovaks and Russians respectively.
Frank is the owner of the restaurant.... and he does everything!
We be here
Bob is attempting to order "One Of Each"
Bob tries his Chinese
Don't know what he said but Frank got mad..... Kidding
This symbol means "I am hungry"
Frank takes our orders.... One order of paper-wrapped-chicken
will be air freighted to New Hampshire
Did You Know? - For Jon in New Hampshire... The receipt for Franks Paper Wrapped Chicken
1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 green onions, finely chopped
40 -50 pieces aluminum foil, cut into 5 x 6 inches
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sherry wine
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Directions: Prep Time: 30 mins; Total Time: 45 mins
1 Cut chicken into 1"x1" pieces.
2 Place in a shallow pan. Sprinkle green onions on top.
3 Mix all marinade ingredients together and pour over chicken. Marinate for 2 hours at room temperature, or overnight in the refrigerator.
4 Wrap each piece of chicken in a square of foil. Place in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
5 Bake at 450º for 12 minutes.
Watch out when these two are around
Nick and Theo are almost joined at the hip
The family is here...
The ladies get some "girl time"
Michele, Robin, and Pete
The gaggle is forming and getting ready to leave
Knives At The Ready
We were ready to go!!!!
Did You Know?
- Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
- Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.
- Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green. Great for unique monster carvings!
- Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.
- Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
- The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
- Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.
- Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1.
- Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.
- Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.
- Black cats were once believed to be witch's familiars who protected their powers.
The tools are at the ready
Tables are set up
The watch dog is on duty..... "Watch dog???"
They are about to meet their fate
Robin and Bob cut the tops off with the BIG knives
Not a great idea to make them mad
Franklyn joins right in
Great digger
Scoop the poop... Save the seeds
The ladies are getting ready to join the cutups
Keziah is from Kenya... She has never done pumpkin carving before or so she says....
Did You Know? - Keziah is a person in the Hebrew Bible. She was the second of the three daughters born to Job after his sufferings (Job 42:14). Her sisters were Jemima and Keren-Happuch.
A number of etymologies have been suggested for her name, among them the Hebrew for Cassia, from the name for the spice tree. The name has been taken to symbolize female equality, since all of Job's three daughters received an inheritance from their father, an unusual circumstance in a time period when women and men were not treated equally.
Did You Know? - Top 10 Fun Facts about Halloween:
- Halloween candy sales average about $2 billion annually in the United States.
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups rank as the most popular Halloween candy, followed by Life Savers, Baby Ruth, Tootsie Rolls and Milky Way. M&Ms and Hershey bars are also very popular.
- Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.
- Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green.
- The Count Dracula Society was founded in 1962.
- To this day, there are vampire clubs and societies filled with members who claim to be real vampires.
- Medieval stone carvers crafted gargoyles to ward off evil spirits.
- The movie "Halloween" was made in only 21 days in 1978 on a very limited budget. It was shot in the spring and used fake autumn leaves.
- Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
- The setting of the “Halloween” movie is in Illinois, but the vehicles have California license plates.
Ladies... Pick a punkin
"Oh... We have to read the instructions???"
Sue gets the seeds underway.... Each try is a different flavor
The spices make the seeds taste amazing
Meanwhile outside the pumpkin guts are flying
We love to watch work....
"It's icky but fun!!"
"Now tell me again why you do this??"
The girls are working hard
Boys and their electronics
Franklyn found his pattern
Someone is having fun
Carve a little... Text a little
Paul provides assistance along with official kibitzing...
Gwen dives right into the fray
Lisa is doing a great job
Jen is being very scientific about this
Keziah is carefully marking the punkin
Serious work underway
She is talking to her pumpkin
Greg is visiting everyone
... That's becausehe is Gregarious
Gwen takes a short rest
Greg and Laurie catch up on things
It's going to be a work of art
Sue and Michele look at old pictures while the girls are nearing the finish line
We have been doing this for over twenty-five years....
It's a beehive of activity around the tables
Sue provides guidance as requested
The homeless lady from next foor came over...
She came in the back door and scared us all!
She looks different out of costume
The "Old Folks" love watching all the hustle and bustle of activity
Punch punch punch
Punch the pattern and then carefully cut it out and volia... Works of art
The Adams family hard at work....
Bob is working real real fast
Theo visits everyone
Meanwhile back at the main table
Gwen inspects her work....
Greg is up to something???
Keziah asked for Romeo and Juliet.... and got it
Ah ha... Shakespeare
Fun AND entertainment...
Champagne for all.... OK, it's Martinelli's Sparking Apple Juice
Pour another barkeep
Fun with family and friends
This is cute.....
Girls... Get ready for the lighting ceremony
Paul and the ladies
OK... Grab your punkin
The Lighting Ceremony Is About To Get Underway
Can't tell much until the light go out
Now they come to life
The Spooky Tree was the best one... Keziah wins
The cat and the spider were super...Eek was pretty good also
The artists with their works of art
Art for the masses
The tree was fairly intricate
Eek!
Great artistic work
What a mess... But cleanup took about 6 minutes...
We have it down to a science
OK... Maybe seven minutes
Michele visits the last of the Summer garden
Yes... You should take those home
Swiss Chard
...herbs everywhere
The lemons are year around....
Vicky came over to visit
Heading home to study... So they say!
Bob is now "A Pumpkin Master"
Heading for home
Bye bye Theo
We went to Old Ranch for some Happy Hour....
