Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Macbook
I finally decided to make the move and buy a Macbook. I read all over the web that it’s not the right time to buy it, since the new Macbooks are supposed to come out with Intel core i5 processors. I have been reading about it since January, that’s why it was about time. Let’s see how bad I did.
Backyard work
I finally decided to make a step with the last row of stones I removed from the back wall. The goal of the change was met, since now the wall is lower for Sammy to jump. He broke his ligament jumping up there, so I don’t want to take any chances.
before...
before...
Now, I am going to raise the yard a little bit towards the wall, so there’s just a slope and not a big jump. I will also finish it with weed block and mulch. Later in the season I might also put plants in there, but I want to at least see it clean.
before...
... after
before...
... after
Now, I am going to raise the yard a little bit towards the wall, so there’s just a slope and not a big jump. I will also finish it with weed block and mulch. Later in the season I might also put plants in there, but I want to at least see it clean.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Coconut flan
I decided that since I was eating a lot of that stuff that I shouldn’t, I would make something yummy with the ingredients I should eat.
Coconut Flan
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
4 large egg
14 ounces coconut milk
1 teaspoon sea salt
6 slices mango or papaya
6 unit mint leaves to garnish
Method
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place 1/2 cup of the sugar in a small heavy saucepan over low heat. When sugar begins to melt, stir gently until it dissolves completely. Continue to cook, watching very carefully, until it turns a light brownish color then remove from heat immediately. Do not allow it to darken further as it will turn hard and unusable! Pour sugar evenly into four 8-ounce or six 6-ounce custard cups and set aside.
Beat eggs in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
Heat coconut milk with remaining sugar and salt until boiling. Add hot milk slowly to the eggs, whisking constantly. Gently pour into prepared custard cups. Place cups in a large baking pan and fill the pan around them 2/3 of the way with water. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until centers are set. Remove and let cool slightly. Run a knife around the edges of the cups until you feel them loosen then invert onto plates.
Serve warm or cold, garnished with fresh mango and mint leaves.
Source: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Coconut Flan
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
4 large egg
14 ounces coconut milk
1 teaspoon sea salt
6 slices mango or papaya
6 unit mint leaves to garnish
Method
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place 1/2 cup of the sugar in a small heavy saucepan over low heat. When sugar begins to melt, stir gently until it dissolves completely. Continue to cook, watching very carefully, until it turns a light brownish color then remove from heat immediately. Do not allow it to darken further as it will turn hard and unusable! Pour sugar evenly into four 8-ounce or six 6-ounce custard cups and set aside.
Beat eggs in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
Heat coconut milk with remaining sugar and salt until boiling. Add hot milk slowly to the eggs, whisking constantly. Gently pour into prepared custard cups. Place cups in a large baking pan and fill the pan around them 2/3 of the way with water. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until centers are set. Remove and let cool slightly. Run a knife around the edges of the cups until you feel them loosen then invert onto plates.
Serve warm or cold, garnished with fresh mango and mint leaves.
Source: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Finishing the electrical work
Today we finished the panel, installed the new circuit breaker for the bedroom and install all the fixtures and sockets in the bedroom.
New nice ground bonding in the panel, and some splices to old wires that were not replaced. The next batch of the job is going to include replacing some old wiring to get rid of the old stuff.
This is a detail of the new arc-fault circuit breaker for the bedroom and a view of the entire panel finished before closing it.
After the panel was finished, I did some improvement in the layout of the wires coming out of the panel to be ready for the inspection.
The panel looks very good finished!!! We also included a whole-house surge protector, which takes two circuit breaker’s space.
The bedroom looks really good with the new lights installed.
New nice ground bonding in the panel, and some splices to old wires that were not replaced. The next batch of the job is going to include replacing some old wiring to get rid of the old stuff.
This is a detail of the new arc-fault circuit breaker for the bedroom and a view of the entire panel finished before closing it.
After the panel was finished, I did some improvement in the layout of the wires coming out of the panel to be ready for the inspection.
The panel looks very good finished!!! We also included a whole-house surge protector, which takes two circuit breaker’s space.
The bedroom looks really good with the new lights installed.
Monday, February 22, 2010
AllPro Electric Panel replacement
Today, I took the day off at work and worked with the electrician from AllPro all day installing the new electrical panel.
We started around 8 AM in the morning. First getting all the materials ready, and then by 9:30 removing the old panel and fixing the new panel to the wall.
I thought we would install conduit to the crawl space and attic, but I was wrong. Because I said that I might not even put a wall there, the electrician started installing flex cable to avoid wasting the time on installing the conduit. Luckily, he ran out of flex cable and had to go pick up some more. When he told his boss (Kevin) what was going on, Kevin called me and let me know that it would be more expensive to do it this way. I immediately told him that I would do a wall to cover the cables and we can start doing good ol’ romex cable.
By 8:30 PM, the new panel was in place, power restored, and there were just a few little things to finish on the panel and the entire bedroom wiring.
There were some details to take care of in the panel and the boxes in the crawl space.
The ground rods were in the ground, but not connected yet.
We started around 8 AM in the morning. First getting all the materials ready, and then by 9:30 removing the old panel and fixing the new panel to the wall.
I thought we would install conduit to the crawl space and attic, but I was wrong. Because I said that I might not even put a wall there, the electrician started installing flex cable to avoid wasting the time on installing the conduit. Luckily, he ran out of flex cable and had to go pick up some more. When he told his boss (Kevin) what was going on, Kevin called me and let me know that it would be more expensive to do it this way. I immediately told him that I would do a wall to cover the cables and we can start doing good ol’ romex cable.
By 8:30 PM, the new panel was in place, power restored, and there were just a few little things to finish on the panel and the entire bedroom wiring.
There were some details to take care of in the panel and the boxes in the crawl space.
The ground rods were in the ground, but not connected yet.
AllPro Electric Panel replacement
Today, I took the day off at work and worked with the electrician from AllPro all day installing the new electrical panel.
We started around 8 AM in the morning. First getting all the materials ready, and then by 9:30 removing the old panel and fixing the new panel to the wall.
I thought we would install conduit to the crawl space and attic, but I was wrong. Because I said that I might not even put a wall there, the electrician started installing flex cable to avoid wasting the time on installing the conduit. Luckily, he ran out of flex cable and had to go pick up some more. When he told his boss (Kevin) what was going on, Kevin called me and let me know that it would be more expensive to do it this way. I immediately told him that I would do a wall to cover the cables and we can start doing good ol’ romex cable.
By 8:30 PM, the new panel was in place, power restored, and there were just a few little things to finish on the panel and the entire bedroom wiring.
There were some details to take care of in the panel and the boxes in the crawl space.
The ground rods were in the ground, but not connected yet.
We started around 8 AM in the morning. First getting all the materials ready, and then by 9:30 removing the old panel and fixing the new panel to the wall.
I thought we would install conduit to the crawl space and attic, but I was wrong. Because I said that I might not even put a wall there, the electrician started installing flex cable to avoid wasting the time on installing the conduit. Luckily, he ran out of flex cable and had to go pick up some more. When he told his boss (Kevin) what was going on, Kevin called me and let me know that it would be more expensive to do it this way. I immediately told him that I would do a wall to cover the cables and we can start doing good ol’ romex cable.
By 8:30 PM, the new panel was in place, power restored, and there were just a few little things to finish on the panel and the entire bedroom wiring.
There were some details to take care of in the panel and the boxes in the crawl space.
The ground rods were in the ground, but not connected yet.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Preparation work for the panel replacement
Today I have to remove the wall around the electrical panel to be ready to install the new panel, which is bigger and cannot be recessed in the wall as this one is.
The demolition work was fun and let me see how poorly the old installation and wall were done. After a lot of work, the panel was ready for removal the next day.
The demolition work was fun and let me see how poorly the old installation and wall were done. After a lot of work, the panel was ready for removal the next day.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Electrical boxes make-up
Today an electrician from AllPro Electric came home to do the initial work of the electrical installation. He made up the electrical boxes and I helped doing some work in the attic.
The boxes look very well made and the inspector will come tomorrow to verify the work.
The boxes look very well made and the inspector will come tomorrow to verify the work.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Walk in Fort Vancouver
We went for a walk in Fort Vancouver that Julie got from a book she got. The day was perfect for a walk and we all enjoyed it. Sammy was a little spooked, but we don’t know why.
You can get the map for this walk here: http://www.vancouverwalkingmap.com/PDF/Map08small.pdf
We did a walk that it’s supposed to be 6 miles, but it did not feel that long. We did not go to the fort because it was the only place where there was people and the walk had been very enjoyable just getting the nice views in silence. Of course we did talk to people and they all told us how cute Sammy was.
You can get the map for this walk here: http://www.vancouverwalkingmap.com/PDF/Map08small.pdf
We did a walk that it’s supposed to be 6 miles, but it did not feel that long. We did not go to the fort because it was the only place where there was people and the walk had been very enjoyable just getting the nice views in silence. Of course we did talk to people and they all told us how cute Sammy was.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Test trip with Sammy in the van
I cut a door to the back of the van to use it with Sammy when I want to go out with him, instead of trying to protect the back seat of the BMW for him.
Sammy walk around trying to find his place inspecting and smelling everything, but he finally settled down and looked pretty comfortable right away.
Sammy walk around trying to find his place inspecting and smelling everything, but he finally settled down and looked pretty comfortable right away.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Julie walk with Sammy in Vancouver, WA
Julie took Sammy for a walk in Vancouver today. It was a 4 mile walk and left Sammy totally tired. He slept like a baby that night.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
New carb kit for the GMC truck
Today the new carb kit for the Stromberg WWC in the GMC truck arrived.
Monday, December 28, 2009
New bed and curtains
We finally got the bed and some curtains for the new master bedroom. It's almost ready!!!
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