Saturday, October 07, 2006

thanks once again!


Hello Secret Pal! Thanks for the books! I got them last Saturday, but have had a crazy week. I was very excited to get my package--as usual. John and I both love to read. Since I am a kindergarten teacher, I am also an avid collector of children's books. I have just started collecting board books since we began the adoption process, so that part of my collection is considerably smaller. I know how hard 5 year olds can be on regular books, so I can only imagine what a 1 year old could do! Needless to say, getting board books is a high priority for me. And amazingly enough, I didn't have any of these books already--in board book or regular form. You are such a great gift-giver! I appreciate your thoughtfulness--and good taste!

Thanks to Emma & Dan's incredible secret pals!

After a crappy week my life brightened up substantially on receiving our wonderful September gift! Our amazing secret pals have outdone themselves by finding a childrens' book in Swedish!!! How did you manage that?? We also received a quilt square (no problem with the size!) with a wish written in Swedish. We are so touched that you have taken the trouble to translate it! There's no problem understanding everything, although the translation of a few words is a bit original... For example, the word for "safe" that you have chosen is the noun that means a safety box where you put your valuables! This card will be a treasure for us and our baby! On top of these two wonderful gifts we received a whole bunch of interesting books: Chinese for children, Play Time, The Eater's Guide to Chinese Characters, Swallowing Clouds, Simply Natural Baby Food and The Little Book of Chinese Proverbs. As I love reading, cooking, eating, learning foreign languages, learning about foreign cultures and about children this is an excellent collection! We also got 30 Dim Sum Flash Postcard (what an original idea!) and a cute ladybug fridge magnet. And as always, something for our cats: a box of catnip, and a nice encouraging card for us.

Thank you so much!

Emma & Dan in Sweden

P.S. You are spoiling us! You mustn't keep sending us so much stuff every month. The postage alone is too expensive!

This is the book in Swedish. It's a book of traditional Swedish nursery rhymes and it was printed in 1955!

Friday, October 06, 2006

Pina Secret Pal


Thank you so much for September's gifts! My husband could give you a big hug for the words of encouragement about the wait. We loved the beautiful chopsticks and the books! Ted especially loved the book about Daddies. Thanks for being such an incredible secret pal!

My Secret Pal

I want to thank my secret pal.. She is wonderful. We recieved two months today. I will post pictures as soon as I can get my camera charged. We love the sparkle books. Mia will love everything. Especially the pretty lady bug blanket. My secret pal has gone beyond wonderful again
Paulette

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Thank you to Sheryl's Secret Pal

Hi,

Thank you for the books, for the Beatrix Potter books, The Grouchy Ladybug, and for Real Parents, Real Children. I just love getting books for our daughter and books for me to read too. Thanks. I look forward to reading the Children's books to Kiana and I always love reading more books on Adoption and Parenting. Thanks so much. I tried to take a picture to post but my camera isn't working right now.

Thanks so much my secret pal,

Sheryl S Wall

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Thank You To The Guschel's Secret Pal

I posted an email on the Marching Panda yahoo site, thanking you so much for these wonderful books. Oh, and I haven't opened October's gift yet!!As per your instructions I'm waiting till Friday. It's sitting on the dining room table calling my name!!!! Thanks so much, can't wait to open the package!
I've neglected to mention this before but, thank you so much for the beautiful cards you send with our gifts each month. They are so beautiful, and creative, and appear to be home made...am I right?? If I am, thanks so much for taking the time, I've saved every one so I can show them to Renee when she gets older.
By the way here are the pics...

Here are how beautifully wrapped our gifts arrive, and note the card at the bottom, isn't it awesome?

And here are the wonderful books we've received.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

OT Mooncake photos and recipe




Hiya! Here are some photos of mooncakes and a recipe from Martin Yan of Yan Can Cook fame. I love his cooking show. :) Di

Mid-Autumn Moon Cake Recipes By Yan Can Cook, Inc Makes 2 dozen
1 can (17-1/2 ounces) lotus seed paste
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
Dough 4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2-cup non-fat dried milk powder
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup solid shortening, melted and cooled
1 egg yolk , lightly beaten
1. Mix lotus seed paste and walnuts together in a bowl; set aside.
2. Sift flour, milk powder, baking powder, and salt together into a bowl.
In large bowl of electric mixer, beat eggs on medium speed until light and lemon colored. Add sugar; beat for 10 minutes or until mixture falls in a thick ribbon. Add melted shortening; mix lightly.
With a spatula, fold in flour mixture.
Turn dough out on a lightly floured board; knead for 1 minute or until smooth and satiny.
Divide dough in half; roll each half into a log. Cut each log into 12 equal pieces.
3. To shape each moon cake, roll a piece of dough into a ball. Roll out on a lightly floured board to make a 4-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Place 1 tablespoon of lotus seed paste mixture in center of dough circle. Fold in sides of dough to completely enclose filling; press edges to seal. Lightly flour inside of moon cake press with 2-1/2 inch diameter cups. Place moon cake, seam side up, in mold; flatten dough to conform to shape of mold. Bang one end of mold lightly on work surface to dislodge moon cake. Place cake on ungreased baking sheet. Repeat to shape remaining cakes. Brush tops with egg yolk.
4. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F. oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a rack and let cool.
Copyright Yan Can Cook, Inc. 1991.
http://www.moonfestival.org/mooncakes/yancancook.htm

Monday, October 02, 2006

Perrotta's Secret Pal!!!

Thank you so much, Secret Pal, for October's gifts. They couldn't be more perfect--Mooncakes (which we'll share one tonight for dessert!) and a beautiful Chinese lantern, plus a neat book on the origins of Chinese festivals. It’s written like a comic book! So, it is great information condensed into a comic strip!! Pretty cool!

And please accept my apologies this past month...I just noticed that I neglected to send a thank you your way for the beautiful books you sent us last month! I was sure I sent one, because I always head right to the computer after opening your gifts…but apparently I did not this time! Yikes!! Sincere apologies. The books are so neat too--I love how they are dual language books!! What fun they are!! I look forward to sharing them with our daughter some day.

Thank you soooo very much, Secret Pal!!!!

You are always so generous!!

Love,