I'm a Pioneer!

Wow...who would have thought that living in China (where everything seems to be about 50 years in the past) would convince me that I need to have a farm when I go back home? It turns out that the lack of easy access foods here has made me think outside of the box and I've learned some very exciting things - now I just need a cow...

Last night, I got to thinking, "There must be a way to make your own cheese. People didn't get factory made cheese 100 years ago..."

So, off I went to research and there is, indeed, a way to make your own cheese. Not just the simple cheese either! Can you imagine - making and aging your own block of blue cheese?? Mmmmmm... I now know what I want for Christmas - I cheese making kit! It may seem like buying a kit is not really making your own cheese, but I need the coagulating enzyme to avoid having to butcher a calf, cut up its tummy, and soak out said enzyme. Gross, I know, but that's how it was done. Now, we order it online. OK, so I'm a modern pioneer!

After realizing that a lot of cheese making may be in my near future, I starting wondering what other products I could technically make on my own. Here is some of what I came up with:

I wondered how one might go about making butter and looked it up. There turned out to be a very easy method requiring no expensive equipment which also yielded buttermilk in the end, a product many of the women here have been lamenting over not having access to. What the butter making process did require, however, was cream. Thinking that cream is quite expensive, I wondered how one would go about making cream. As it turns out, that is also quite easy! So, I came to realize that with a cow of my own, I could make any cheese imaginable, cream, sour cream, milk (of course), ice cream, and even butter. Wouldn't that be fantastic?!

Dairy, however, is not the only thing I came up with! I kept looking more and more. I was anxious to know what potential project was around the next corner! I know have the know-how to make ketchup, mustard, pesto, tortilla shells, and much much more! Honestly, I've had my epiphany that every product we buy had to have been produced from scratch somehow. Most of those products probably have a process that is simple enough to follow at home. With all of that said, I will share with you my dreams for our house back in Canada:

- A solar-powered greenhouse so I can grow veggies and herbs all year long.

- A tiny orchard of fruit trees, including apples, plums, pears, and cherries (basically the only ones that will grown in Canada)

- As many berry bushes as I can possibly line our fences with. All berries are welcome!

- Grape vines...Mmmmm...fresh grapes!

- A walnut tree (yes, they will grown within Canada) and any other nut tree that might withstand our weather.

- Two chickens (which is sufficient to provide enough eggs for a single family, I am told)

- A nice cow or two for milking

- Daniel would also like a goat, for goats milk and proper feta cheese



That's all I can come up with for now, but I think it's a wonderful plan! I know many people might say that it is easier, and maybe even cheaper, to go to the store and BUY all of these things, but that isn't quite the point, for me. First, everything tastes better homemade. I don't know why that is the case, but I do know that it is! Aside from that, I enjoy the thought of working our own land and teaching our children how to grown things on their own. Last, but not least, making as much of your food as possible at home ensures that you know exactly what is going into your food, rather than counting on the preservatives and additives of major companies. I think, overall, my plans for being a modern pioneer housewife are quite appealing!

I will admit, it is a bit strange to me to think that between homeschooling, working a mini-farm, and keeping house I will most likely be doing more labour than when I was in the workforce, and getting paid a whole heck of a lot less (see: nothing). It's even more strange to me to realize that the prospect does not bother me in the least. The payoff for my family is worth far more than any job could ever pay me.

Now...all I need is some sheep and a spinning wheel...


Aside from my aspirations to live as if I were 100 years in the past, nothing terribly exciting has been going on, however, I will leave you with this - today's random overview:



For today, Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Outside my window...it is a dark night, but quite pleasant! The weather was so beautiful today that I barely needed a jacket. I almost feel like I should be outside right now, just staring at the sky. You wouldn't believe the beauty of the stars where we live. Because we are outside of town, on a clear night it seems you can see every star in the sky. I have never wanted a telescope more than I do now! I'm also looking forward to the meteor shower in December. Although there will be a 3/4 full moon that night, we still should be able to see lots from where we are!

I am thankful for... my life in general. I really do feel very blessed. I have wonderful family and friends, I am healthy, happy, and have very little that I could possible complain about. I am also grateful for my gift of patience. I was accosted by someone today insisting that I must get married before the baby is born - there is no way I could be a good parent otherwise. Rather than get angry or upset with this person, I calmly explained that I didn't feel that was correct, that we are very happy with our life, and that I am more that happy to agree to disagree. I then thanked them for their concern. There was certainly a time in my life where I would not have been able to handle a similar situation with such grace. I am certainly growing as a person.

From the kitchen... pizza! Lots and lots of pizza! Actually, not as many as I would have liked, but after an early morning, a walk to town to get ingredients and a blender, making a batch of pizza sauce, making a batch of dough, forming and baking seven crusts, chopping all of my toppings, and grating my cheese I suddenly got inexplicably exhausted. I will definitely be making more pizzas tomorrow though. Also...I still have not pickled! Tomorrow...really!

I am going... out several times next week, which is rather unusual for me. Monday takes me to Kaifaqu for lasagna noodles, milk, ect. Tuesday I am going to the hospital where I will be giving birth to bribe the doctors. Friday is another ladies tea!

I am reading... lots of information on making cheese and other such things!

I am hoping... for happiness for everyone I love. Also, for the energy to get LOTS of cooking done this week..

I am creating... lots of food? And a really great pizza dough recipe today. Perhaps I will share!


Sarah's Herb and Garlic Pizza Dough


Ingredients:


1 tbsp active dry yeast

1 ½ cups warm water

3 ½ cups all purpose flour

1 ½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp garlic powder (or to taste)

3 tbsp various Italian herbs (or to taste)

¼ tbsp salt


Directions


1. Add yeast to warm water to activate. Wait approx. 5 minutes or until yeast begins to foam.


2. Pour flour, herbs, and garlic powder into large bowl and mix. Form a well in centre of mixture.

3. Pour yeast mixture into well. Add olive oil and salt.

4. Draw dry ingredients into liquid using a spatula.

5. Use hands to mix and form dough.

6. Flour work surface and knead dough until it no longer sticks to hands. Form into ball.

7. Line a clean bowl with olive oil. Place dough in bowl. Score top of dough in a cross and fill cross with olive oil.

8. Cover bowl with a cloth and allow dough to rise approx. 1 ½ hr or until doubled in size.

9. Seperate dough in to appropriately sized pieces for your desired size of crust.

10. Stretch dough onto pizza pan (Add all toppings but cheese if not freezing dough) and bake at 210C – 5-8 minutes for thin crust, 8-10 minutes for thick crust, or until slightly golden if freezing, golden brown if eating right away. If not freezing, add cheese approx. half way through baking.

11. Freeze cooked crusts for future use.

Around the house... it's a little flour-y due to the pizza dough making. Mostly clean though, although I need to do the dishes tomorrow before resuming cooking.

One of my favorite things... is cooking - I really LOVE cooking. This week, I made Thai curry for the freezer, a big butter tart pie, peanut butter cookies, pizza...

A few plans for the rest of the week... lots more cooking!! Chili, tortilla shells and taco filling, Mexican casserole, corn chowder, seafood chowder, seafood lasagna, and lasagna. I also might try ricotta cheese so I can put it in my lasagnas!

A picture thought I am sharing with you... life is good. Endeavor to see the positive in every situation and always make the best of what you have. Be thankful for all of the good in your life and count your blessings each day rather than complaining about what is not good. Life is good - you just have to see it that way.

Cooking in China

You know, it's starting to get a tad bothersome that everything I want to make here in China has to be planned in advance to I can go on a massive ingredient hunt. It's almost like I scavenger hunt, but much more annoying. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that there it a market within walking distance where I can at least get vegetables and basic staples, but as my belly grows larger, my patience seems to grow proportionally smaller. I wonder if that's a documented scientific phenomenon?

I suppose I'm really just cranky because I can't just hop in my car on a whim, buy necessary ingredients, and get ta cookin'...instead I have to plan out everything I might want to make for the next week, and go shopping/hunting at three or four completely different places just to get what I need (if I can even find it at all).

Sometimes you don't even notice that you're missing the basics until you need them and realize, "Crap! Why don't we own that yet??" For example, today I wanted to make Daniel some ice cream because, of course, if I buy it it will melt long before I ever get it home (that and I feel that homemade everything is almost always better). Because we don't have an ice cream maker (obviously, since we don't even have plates...) I was going to make it using the two bag method. For those of you who don't know what in the world I'm talking about, you can actually make ice cream using two different sized bags - the inner bag filled with ice cream-y ingredients and the outer bag with ice and salt. These supplies combined with the magic of thermodynamics yields ice cream in less than ten minutes. I was very proud of myself. Excited to have a brilliant idea of something nice I could do for my loving husband. And then it hit me...we have no ice. Why? Because we have no ice cube trays. That revelation would not have been nearly so annoying had the option to hop in the car and go buy some been present. But nooooo. I don't even know where I would find an ice cube tray here! More hunting for me, I suppose.

There are, in fact, many things I would like to make but just don't have what I need to do so. I would like to make homemade caramels - no corn syrup. I would like to sew some toys for Lily - no sewing machine. I would like to make my Indian Curry that Daniel loves - missing half of the spices. And the list goes on...

Okay, I suppose that's enough complaining for one day. I think part of the reason I'm cranky is because I had planned to make pickles today and then realized that I didn't have nearly enough vinegar. Again, I lament no having a car so I can quickly drive to the storeandpick some up. Ooooh well...I guess it's almost time for another trip to the market. On the plus side, last night's sushi (spicy shrimp rolls) went over fabulously, once again. I'm always happy when such a simple little thing can make my hubby so very happy. He has such long days in his new job that it's very nice to see him delighted to have yummy food on the table when he comes home.

Tonight is curry night - which is why I'm blogging, actually - more procrastination! I am ahead though, I guess. It's barely after 2:00 and I already have it started...ok...I have the meat thawed - that counts, right? I also took the vegetables out. See? I'm on the ball! Actually, I would have it all in a pot and cooking by now but I'm just too lazy to clean out the pot, which still has leftover lunch in it.

Before I get to pot cleaning, cooking, and tidying the house (yet another thing I am putting off) let's have today's random overview:




For today, Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Outside my window...is a gloomy overcast sky. I assume it's also cold out because the children are wearing jackets and hats, but I'm not really sure, since I haven't left the house since Saturday. Wow...that's really sad, isn't it? I think I would be more inclined to go out and about if I had someone to go with. So far, that is not the case. China can be awful lonely when Daniel is working!

I am thankful for... family to talk to on the phone while I go about my business in the house. Without some virtual company, I'd probably go insane. On that same line of thought, I am also very grateful for my Bluetooth headset, which allows be to actually go about my chores while socializing, rather than being tethered to the computer.

From the kitchen... for lunch was a creamy vegetable rice soup. Another one of my throw together concoctions that actually turned out quite nice. In fact, I am now getting hungry thinking about it. I guess that takes care of my woes about cleaning out the pot from lunchtime!

I am going... out tomorrow, which is quite a relief now that I realize what a hermit I've been! Not that I'm off for a wonderfully exciting trip, or anything...passports and cheese...lol.

I am reading... Lots of recipes of things I might like to make if I can find all of the components and lots of patterns for baby clothes and toys!

I am hoping... that I can find vanilla in my grand hunt tomorrow so that I can make butter tarts...Mmmmmmmm...

I am creating... many plans to make things for baby. Now...just to put those plans into action...

Around the house... I need to start my curry a'boilin' and then get on to sweeping, finishing off the dishes, tidying, and folding the laundry.

One of my favorite things... Sushi! I'm so glad that it was easier to make than I thought! Since it's something that Daniel and I both love, I suspect it will work it's way into our diet quite regularly!

A few plans for the rest of the week... As I said, more cooking, as per usual - I would like to get at least ten new meals in the freezer. Aside from everything else I've already mentioned, I have a language exchange tomorrow and I think Daniel and I might go for massages this weekend.

A picture thought I am sharing with you... Be thankful if you live near a fully stocked grocery story and/or have a car to drive! If you're in the same boat as me, just go ahead and pout along with me. *POUT!*


So, there we have it for today. I would like to stay here madly typing away and pretend that I have nothing else to do. Unfortunately, that is very much not the case and I have what feels like a million other things I should be doing right now. *Sigh...*

Okay...here it goes...Curry time...I'm off!

My Belly is Heavy...

Two posts withing one week? Could it be? Yes. Unfortunately, I have nothing particularly interesting to say. My belly is heavy, my pelvis is hurty, and I need a productive way to procrastinate!

Yesterday was a particularly productive day, actually. I did some cleaning, talked to family, turned a not so great pumpkin custard from the weekend into a delicious pumpkin cake, made spaghetti (with 4 batches of reserved sauce to go in the freezer for later!), and, of course, spent some time with Daniel. I also did some looking around for patterns for baby clothes and toys. Before anyone mentions that it would be cheaper and easier to just buy toys and clothes, please understand that I don't care. I like to make things, so why not make things that will make my baby happy and/or cute?!

Today was not quite as productive...It seems I only have the energy for one truly productive day in a row. I did manage to fit in an online Chinese/English exchange though, so now I can tell time in Chinese like a pro...well, a very slow pro...

I feel like I should be doing something productive right now, but I'm really at a loss as to what. Daniel is not home from work until 8:00 tonight, so I won't start making supper for another 30 minutes or so. In the meantime, I thought I might borrow some inspiration from a wonderful blog called http://mycountrycupboard.blogspot.com/. Here, we have a random overview of today in the life of Sarah:




For today, Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Outside my window...it's dark. I suppose I waited a little too late to write this. Also, there is a very loud dog barking. He never stops. I have to wonder where the barking comes from, as we are on a campus that doesn't allow pets. Just another one of life's great mysteries, I suppose. Unless I'm really paying attention though, it's just background noise now. Kind of like the children who live here who make screaming, banshee, "someone is killing me" noises instead of pleasant, happy child noises. They too have become background noise, thank God! It's also beginning to get quite chilly out. This is to be expected, as it is mid-November. What I wouldn't have expected is the fact that we are still waiting for them to turn our heat on. The pregnant lady is cold...

I am thankful for... So many things (as much as it may seem like I complain lately!). I am thankful that we will get to meet our baby daughter very soon (only six weeks to go!); I am thankful for a wonderful husband who takes care of me, loves me as much as I love him, and is absolutely perfectly suited for me; I am thankful for the ability to throw random things together in a pot or pan an almost always turn out something that is somewhat yummy; I am thankful for family who love and care about us and take every opportunity to show it; I am happy for a productive way to procrastinate (yeah for blogspot!).

From the kitchen... today was a strawberry turnover. Mmmmm...Just an experiment with leftover pie crust, really. Later tonight comes more sushi for supper, pickles tomorrow (along with a big ol' batch of something I can freeze), and then many, many pizzas later this week! Mmmmm...food. Food makes the pregnant lady happy. I decided this week that it's a good thing that we're not in Canada - if we were, we would both be rather fat, I think. There are so many things I want to try to cook and the only thing that holds me back is the inability to quickly and easily acquire the ingredients. Oh well, my waistline and Daniel's will be very thankful, I think.

I am going... nowhere but the kitchen tonight. I am, however, making a nice trip to the Public Securtiy Bureau this Thursday which, time permitting, will be followed by a trip to the Doctor and a trip to market where I will buy cheese (for the first time since being here) and pepperoni for pizza!!

I am reading... What to Expect in the First Year as well as Mandarin Chinese for Dummies. I always though I was not a fan of the "dummies" series, but this one book has changed my mind.

I am hoping... that baby little will stop punching me in the bladder. Naw...it's ok...I've kind of grown to like it! Seriously, I am hoping to get enough food in the freezer so that I don't feel pressured to cook things from scratch when I first come home from the hospital. So far, I'm up to seven meals! I'm also hoping to get some artwork done for Lily's wall. I would like to paint and frame some jungle animals. It should only take a few hours, I just can't seem to get up the drive to do it.

I am creating... an art doll, if my bloody clay ever arrives! I really want to make a hand sculpted doll. I have ordered the materials and everything has arrived....except the clay. So far, she would just be a large clump of hair with wings.

Around the house... I got quite a bit done yesterday and I am proud. There is, however, always more to do! I would like to wash all of the baby clothes that we have already and make sure Lily's room is ready for her arrival. I would like to get some fabric and make curtains for the lovely shelving unit in our common area which holds all of our miscellaneous crap. Unfortunately, that is the ideal place for all of our junk, so I will just put curtains up to hide it from guests!

One of my favorite things... spending time with Daniel on a daily basis. Even if we only have the time and energy to sit and watch an episode of Babylon Five, at least we can cuddle together, feel baby kicking, and bask in eachother's love. Awwwww...

A few plans for the rest of the week... As I said, more cooking, as per usual - I would like to get at least ten new meals in the freezer. Aside from everything else I've already mentioned, I have a language exchange tomorrow and I think Daniel and I might go for massages this weekend.

A picture thought I am sharing with you... Babies Kick Really Hard. For anyone who hasn't already been pregnant, just take it as a warning. For anyone who has been pregnant, think back (fondly?) on the pummelings you received. For any men who are reading, just imagine your kidney and your liver having a very rigorous wrestling match (using your bladder as a ring, of course) and then both trying to escape from the other through the wall of your abdomen. Yup...something like that...

Anywho, thank you all for indulging me as I procrastinate. Perhaps as I lose the will to move around on a regualar basis, you will hear from me more often!

I leave you with this...note the size of the bladder...well, and every other organ, really...



Now...off to make sushi!

Tardy Blogger...

Yes, I know, I am a tardy blogger. In my defence, it has been quite busy around here. But, that also means I have lost of news to share. Since I have so much ground to cover, I'll just splash in bits and pieces wherever I see fit!

Thanksgiving Dinner

For many of you who have already read Daniel's journal, this will be a repeat but it really is worth a mention.

This year, for Canadian Thanksgiving, the school here organized a dinner for us at Kingdom of Discovery, the amusement park nearby. It was sold to us (at quite a high price, I might add) as a "...traditional Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey and all of the fixings". Daniel and I spend days drooling while thinking about gravy... stuffing... pumpkin pie!! Upon arrival, however, our salivating quickly ceased. The only thing even remotely North American about this Thanksgiving dinner, aside from the fact that we had forks instead of chopsticks, was that there was, indeed, turkey present (even though it did come with strawberry sauce). The rest of the spread consisted of rice, pizza, chicken nuggets, sushi, and a variety of sub-par Chinese dishes.

Needless to say, the food was disappointing. But it was nothing compared to the rest of what made up our "Traditional Thanksgiving". The venue had decided that it would be a good idea to provide some entertainment for us during our meal. It could not have been less appropriate for Thanksgiving. It ranged from can-can and belly dancers to folks singing in Chinese. The most North American aspect about the entertainment was the German guy singing Eric Clapton's,
"Tears in Heaven" which, for anyone who doesn't know, is actually about the death of his son - not exactly Thanksgiving material! To make matters worse, we later found out that there was another venue in Kaifaqu that also held a Thanksgiving dinner. This one had the gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and even...pumpkin pie... All of this and it was even at a lower price!

Now, we would not have been upset at all with the dinner had the not TOLD us it was a traditional North American Thanksgiving dinner. We would have been perfectly happy to go for a Chinese, or mixed-culture, meal on thanksgiving. We just don't appreciate being lied to.

The positive side to this whole ordeal, however, was that we got to spend Thanksgiving surrounded by friends. Aside from that, I got to eat about 50 olives (Mmmmmm...), and we learned that maybe we should not put so much trust in the school when it comes to food!


Household Woes

As you all know, I have been lamenting since we arrived about the fact that we got stuck in a one bedroom apartment. We have been waiting patiently for someone to move out so we could move into a larger unit - it appeared that was never going to happen. Finally, Daniel sent out a general all-call e-mail asking if anyone would be moving soon or willing to switch and I began pestering the building manager more frequently. Miraculously, a two bedroom apartment suddenly opened up and the two bachelors that were living in the large up-down agreed to give us their apartment and move into the two bedroom! We moved in two weeks ago and are very pleased that things finally worked out (even if there is a huge pile of their stuff still here, waiting to be reclaimed).

Due to being settled in our new place, we were also able to get a few other things happening that we've been putting off. For example, we now have a stroller and crib for Lily! Now our baby won't have to sleep in a dresser drawer! YIPPEE! We also managed to buy and have delivered a freezer and a toaster oven so I can prepare some "freezer meals" for those days just before and just after baby when I would rather chew off my arm than cook a meal from scratch. Everybody is happy this way - Daniel gets fed, and I get to keep my limbs!

Aside from that, I'm still working on getting everything into it's proper place, wherever that might be. My goal is to have the place wonderfully tidy and spotless by the end of next week, which should be feasible since Daniel, as kind and wonderful as he is, has insisted on hiring a maid so I will have someone to mop the floors and clean the bathrooms for me (I can't do those chores involving harsh chemicals).

So, overall, we are pleased as punch that we finally have a place big enough for a family and are working very hard on making this place a home!


Language Learning

I am a little ashamed to report that, for a few weeks, we just stopped learning Chinese entirely. We barely practised, and I didn't even keep up with my reading and writing. We have now remedied that! We are doing a language exchange twice a week with two of the Chinese staff here on campus. That, combined with our "Chinese for Dummies" book, is helping us speed along!

I'm always very excited when I go out shopping and am able to communicate things that I didn't realize I could say. Last weekend, we went shopping for crib, stroller, freezer, etc. and I had the opportunity to use a LOT of Chinese. I was able to ask a vendor what a specific fruit was called, find out if a shop sold spaghetti, tell someone that I couldn't leave because my husband was coming and I had to watch for him...it was a good day. It's very nice to be able to get out and speak and actually have people understand you!

I have also noticed Daniel picking up on things more frequently like when one of the Chinese staff was trying to tell as that someone was sick. She said it in Chinese and Daniel still understood!


Baby Lily

I have been going to the hospital for all of my routine test and an pleased to tell you that all is well! Baby and I are both very healthy and everything is as it should be. I did, however have quite the shock when I went to the hospital last week. It was as if I had stepped into the Twilight Zone...

So, there I was, waiting to be seen by the doctor when, suddenly, she walks out and says in very good English, "Has your glucose test been done?" I stared at her blankly for a moment before answering her question. You see, in Dalian, very few people speak English beyond, "Hello!!!" so it was quite a shock. I went about my appointment with her, all in English, and finally decided that it was not so odd that her English was so good, seeing as she is a doctor and there are a good number of English speakers in the area. I had decided that all was normal afterall, untilll...

I went to get my ultrasound and the tech started speaking English to me, and then her assistant, and then the nurse who had been with me all day speaking Chinese! EVERYONE was speaking English. Very odd...very odd indeed. I did, however, get to almost make them pee their pants when I told them that my father had nine brothers and sisters and that my uncle had seventeen children. They were all VERY shocked. I explained to them that they lived on a very small island (Cape Breton) and there was not much to do there but make babies. They thought that was very funny. As it turns out, I could have shocked them even more - my father tells me that one of my aunts has 21 children - EEEP!


Goals

I have not forgotten about my list of goals! I'm still hard at work and completing them bit by bit. Here's what I've been up to lately:

16. Start a band - COMPLETE

Well, I did start a band at the school, as many students seemed to be interested. Turns out, they actually weren't. I started the band, but nobody came. I still feel that I did my part well enough to say that this goal is complete. I made sign up sheets, I attended the extracurriculars fair, I even held meetings. Oh well...not what I expected, but it is finished.

19. Help someone learn English

As I said earlier, we are now doing a language exchange with two of the Chinese staff here. I make a lesson for each get together and teach them English. YIPPEE!

37. Bargain with someone in Chinese

I have actually had the opportunity to do this more than once now, but I don't get the chance as often as most other people. You see, as I am pregnant, people seem to actually give me fair prices right away!

48. Make sushi

Mmmmm...sushi! I did this just this week and I proud to say that it turned our remarkably well. I think if Daniel hadn't already been in love with me, that would have worked - He's still very happy about our meal two days ago!

For round one of sushi making, I did Spicy Shrimp Rolls & Chicken Teriyaki rolls (both my own recipe) and threw in some vegetable rolls for filler. I think I will make a habit of making sushi quite often!

54. Make lemon chicken

Once I finally found lemon in this bloody place, I was able to comply with Daniel's request of lemon chicken. I didn't do the battered version that you see in most Chinese restaurants, but it will still yummy...and good and lemony!


So, that's the update! I'm sure there is more, as it has been a while since writing, but those are the highlights as I see them today. Thank you to all of my loyal followers who keep asking when the blogging will happen - it makes me feel that I have an actual audience to write to! I will do my best to keep you up to date a little more often!

Overall, things are still going very well here in China. As much as things sometimes aren't what we would expect, we never know what's going to fall apart, or we have to be careful of people adding the "White Tax" to things we are trying to purchase, we are making the best of every moment and still enjoying our time here very much!