Ailey's First Birthday Party

Yup, a whole year has gone by . . .soooo fast.  It seems like only yesterday that me and Les were at grandma Fay's house taking Ailey's one-month old pictures. Ailey's 1st birthday party was this past Sunday at Treetops Restaurant in Manoa. Everybody had a great time, and I got choke pictures here for you to see.

 







































































This special guest made his appearance while we were doing the "Happy Birthday" song.  With my camera focused on the birthday family I could see Jamie pointing frantically behind me.  I couldn't figure out what she was trying to tell me until I finally saw him making his way down the wall to the desserts.

Michele's Somen Sushi

Coworker Michele made this lunch for me today.  Soooo nice, yah!  It made me really, really happy.  I loved it.  She said all you gotta do is make the somen noodles,  add seafood salad (the green stuff), chopped kamaboko and Tropics Oriental dressing.  Then stuff the mixture into those premade aburage sushi pouches.  Sounds like something even I could make.

Haunani and Austin

Haunani and Austin are getting married next month!  Haunani just found out that her professionally done engagement photos wouldn't be ready in time to insert into the slideshow that they plan to show at their reception, so she asked if I could do a few photos for her.  Ahem . . . could I do a few photos for her??!!   Ummmm  . . . YESSSS!!!   We met this afternoon at my favorite East West Center. 

Aileen Chun's Chinese Fish-cake Patties (Gnee Biang)

Wendell found this recipe in a recent Star-Advertiser article.  It was ono, but kinda too flat.  I coulda ate all that was left, except Wendell asked me to save two pieces for Landon.



Aileen Chun's Chinese Fish-cake Patties (Gnee Biang)


1 pound raw fish paste
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon finely chopped green onion
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
Dash of sesame oil
Dash of pepper


In a bowl, combine all ingredients, using a spoon to incorporate the mixture.


Heat a nonstick pan with a thin film of peanut oil on medium-low. Use a large serving spoon to scoop up approximately A cup of the fish cake. Drop the fish cake gently into the pan. Use your finger to scoop out all the raw fish cake from the spoon. These patties are free-form; don't worry about shapes or "tails."


Fry about 3 minutes per side. Inside should be white, not translucent. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot over rice.


Makes about 8 small patties, about the size of silver-dollar pancakes.

Scary Video

My cousin Gary shared this Exorcist-like video with me . . . scaaaaaary.

Madagascar Geckos at the Cactus Garden

Four years ago, when me and Susie were just starting out with our new hobby, "photography", our then new photographer buddy "Erick" told us that we could find Madagascar geckos at Foster Garden.  So we set out to search for them. I blogged about our adventure here. 

After that excursion Landon told me that there were a lot of these geckos at KCC's cactus garden.  Since then, I visited the garden often but never ever saw a single gecko . . . until Saturday . . . when me and Lorene were out there for her photo shoot.  She actually saw them first.  With wide eyes she pointed and said, "They just better not jump on me!"  Lo was my subject that day, not the geckos, so I vowed to return. 

And I did . . . yesterday, after work.   They were so skittish, that as soon as I approached, they dug out and disappeared.  I stood still, not moving, with damn choke mosquitoes having a feast on me somehow knowing that I dared not slap them for fear that my sudden movements would scare away the geckos.  

They started reappearing . . . just peeking at first.


Watching my every move.




Then they slowly started coming out again.


Maybe they trusted me now.

Or maybe they forgot that I was there.

These pictures are mostly cropped.  I was using my 100mm macro lens.  They let me get a little close but not too close.














I usually put my favorite shot first, but this time I saved it for last.  Looks like he's smiling for me.  I was there for only 1/2 hour before I ran out of light.  I wanna go back again.  Anybody wanna join me?  I'll show you where they are.

CQ's Basil Tarragon Egg Salad

CQ is the person who will take sausage out of its casing, mix it up with some ingredients and then restuff them back.  So you know that stuffing the yolks back into boiled eggs is right up her alley.

CQ doesn't measure anything when she cooks so this is the best recipe I could get from her.  It was really yummy.  I think I ate 3 eggs by myself.

 

Boil eggs

Cut in half length wise and take out yolk

Smash yolk and add black pepper, salt, garlic salt, dried or fresh basil, small diced red onion, small diced sweet peppers (bits of diced grapes optional)

Mix mustard and honey (equal parts) then add the meyer lemon olive oil maybe a tablespoon..or to taste

Add mayo and tarragon dijon mustard and a scoop of sour cream

Add fresh chopped cilantro

Mix dry and wet ingredients together.

Paprika and fresh cilantro leaf and thin sliced advocado to top.

;0)

CQ

Baby Eden

Isn't Eden just soooo adorable!  I was kinda Leslie's assistant yesterday afternoon, and got to sneak a few pictures myself.  It's hard for me to stay on the sidelines when the subject is so cute.  For one shot, while Leslie was lying on her stomach trying for a low-angled picture, I sneaked above her, straddled my legs at her sides and positioned my camera just over the top of her head. I practically used her head as a tripod.  Hahahaha!!  Too bad nobody got a shot of us!  One thing for sure . . . we always have good fun.    Make sure you check of Leslie's pics.  She got some good ones.