Barbecue Party Went Well

                                  

The barbecue party (Asian Style) went over very well and was a great end to holiday break.  Two of the attendees, though were not enjoying themselves (above), because we were all told not to feed them.  This made for two very sad looking puppies.  Awwwww.

 

 Everyone had a great time!

Yes, dogsitting falls under the category of MISSIONARY ;-)

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Well, I said I wanted to sleep all day in yesterday's post.  It is the last day of vacation for Chinese New Years.  I ended up dogsitting today (which did enable me to sleep as much as I wanted today).  You never know what being a missionary means from day-to-day.  It is not as glamourous as most people think.

I actually ended up studying (again), Kenneth Hagin's book "Understanding the Anointing", working on a drawing (which I trashed because it came out all wrong, but that is okay, I know what not to do now), and sleeping with two really great old puppies.  Tomorrow is back to work :-). My job tomorrow is to attend a barbeque (we are easing in getting back to work with a Barbeque Party--rough life huh!)  ..what a great job I have !!!  Gotta love my Boss!  God is Good.  ---joy

Dreary past two days...

I needed a pick-me-up from a dreary past two days.  So I got out my camera and took a photo from the balcony of the flat (apartment) that I rent..  The view of the farms and the mountains is beautiful.  To the left (not in the pic) is spanish-style villas.  Great views from my place.  No one would ever know that the people on the otherside of the building get to look at factories and highways.  I was very blessed to get a place on this side.  I love to get up early in the mornings, sit out on the balcony (my flat is on the 18th floor), and draw before I have to get out and about for the day.  Only one more day of vacation left.  I think I am going to sleep ALLLLLL day.

In a day or so, I will be posting three new drawings for The 110 Faces of China Project on the blog.  Today, I posted a few new reference photos that are in consideration for drawing.

Time to get started on that sleeping project for tomorrow.  :-) .  Then, it is back to work, on Thursday.  I actually missed it this past week...ministry work that is.   ---joy

New drawings will be posted soon.

I have three new drawings to post as soon as I can get near a scanner.  Two are finished drawings from below.  I also have a few more reference photos that I may consider using in the near future.

I am really enjoying photographing and drawing the people I am getting to know here.  Most of the time, they like it too.  For those supporters who contributed in January this year (2011), I will be sending out the ATCs for the three drawings from January, when I go to Hong Kong around the 22nd of this month.  It will take about two weeks or so to get to your mailbox, so keep an eye out for them.

Those who would like to contribute can go to the link at World Outreach ministires on the upper right of this blog and they will let me know that you contributed.  All those who contribute for February 2011 will receive free ATCs of the February drawings.  There are three so far, with many more to come this month.

Happy Chinese New Years!!!

Happy Chinese New Years!!!  This is probably the biggest holiday of the year in China, and kicks off the beginning of it.  It actually lasts two weeks, with one week of it where everyone is off work all over China.  Here are a few pics of the fireworks that go on all night tonight  ---JOY

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Valentines is coming up quick! Right on the tail end of Chinese New Years.

Here is the heart of my latest Squidoo lens.  It is a gift to my kids for Valentine's Day.  I decided to share with them my recipe for my Strawberry Confetti Cream Cheese Cake.  Here is a copy and past of the lens.

Happy Valentines to my babies!

I am creating this lens as a valentines gift to my children, Jeremy, Andrew and Cassie. Since I am in Asia at the moment (check out the end of the lens to find out why), I have to get creative to share holidays with my (now adult) children. This lens is to share with them one of their favorite dessert recipes from when they were growing up.

"If you guys make this for Valentine's this year, think of mom. I miss you!"

Recipe Module 

Ingredients

• I Box of Betty Crocker vanilla (not white) cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup of oil
• 1/4 cup of water
• 2 cans Betty Crocker Cream Cheese Icing (not whipped)
• 1 small size box of vanilla pudding
• 1 pint of heavy cream or whipping cream
• 1 tbsp. sugar (two if you prefer)
• 1 quart of fresh strawberries (pick out the med sized best looking ones for thedecoration and set aside
• cut the remainder of them into slices)
• 1/4 cup sprinkles (any color you like)

Instructions

Prepare the cake as directed on the package with two round pans to create two layers. Then, add the pudding mix into the batter. Mix well. Last, carefully fold in the sprinkles into the batter. Cook as directed on the package.

While it is cooking, place a mixing bowl and the beaters to the mixer in the freezer. When the Cake is finished cooking cool as directed on the package. Take the mixing bowl and the beaters out of the freezer, and pour the heavy cream/whipping cream into the bowl. Add one or two tbsp of sugar and beat until thick and peaks form when you lift out the beaters. Do not over mix.

In another bowl, empty the two cans of cream cheese icing. Slowly fold in small amounts of the whipping cream until you reach your preferred taste and consistency. Be careful not to get it two thin, or it will not stay on the sides of the cake.

Now, get the sliced strawberries and the cooled cake. Put a thin layer of the whipped icing on the first cake layer. Then, layer the top of that with sliced strawberries. Add, the second cake layer, Ice this layer with the whipped icing. Use three of the best strawberries and place in the middle on the top. Cut the remainder in half, and place them at the bottom all around the side with the points facing up.

Keep refrigerated. Enjoy. It is delicious and moist.

For a printable version of the recipe go to Mom's Strawberry Cream Cheese Confetti Cake