Oscar Night down on the Funny Farm

We had our annual Oscar night appetizer dinner last night. Here's the champagne, soda, shrimp, and stuffed mushrooms,

Accompanied by mini crab cakes, flatbread sandwich rolls, artichoke spinach dip, smoked salmon spread, cukes, roasted peanuts, ham roll-ups, pretzel sticks, crackers, flax chips, a trio of tasty sauces, and (not pictured) lemon chocolate drizzle cookies.

Anni watching the Oscars. She liked the music.

Alex and Ari watching the Oscars. They were pulling for our favorite movie of the year: The King's Speech. We all think Geoffrey Rush got gipped. He was fab!

Huh?

A strange pink landed among the kitchen clutter this evening.

It popped its hatch to reveal...

the extraterrestrial cupcake.

Okay, okay, it was Anni's fabulous peanut butter cupcake,

made in her very own cupcake oven. So much cooler than an Easy Bake!

And here are the rest of the crew, a half dozen peanut butter cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and orange zest.

I think I need to turn around and go back to the gym for a few more miles! Groan.

Julie Ann: Eek! Is this another space critter? An intergalactic space slug?
David: No, this is my world infamous raisin braid bread.

Julie Ann: Don't you mean famous?

David: You haven't tasted it yet.

Julie Ann: I think I might be full.

David: Chicken.

Julie Ann: Cluck!

(I did eventually try some. It was delish! Back to the gym again!)

Life in pictures

Here I am in Pasco, WA at Radcon 5C. I was the science geek (I mean guest) of honor. I participating in the opening ceremonies (here with Radcon Bob), gave the science keynote presentation, did visits with two high school classes, was a member of 11 panels, and briefly modeled for the auction. Phew!

Fellow writer, Jay Lake, just had to try my hat on. He bares a striking resemblance to a Star Wars ewok. (sorry Jay).

After nearly a week of con food. I arrived home craving organic veggies. Here are the fixings for homemade pizza!

Two veggilicious pizzas about to hit the oven. YUM!

Anni getting cozy with the tea cozy!

She thought Alex needed a turn too.

The snow decided to make a reappearance in Western Washington.

At first it was just a few flakes.

And then a few more.

It began to stick

until the ground was covered

and so was the greenery.

The guard owl was not amused.

Barkley? Are you out here?

Today, it warmed up just a bit and melted some in the sunshine. Sending warm thoughts to all of you.

And finally...

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!! to Ellie and Joey on the birth of their beautiful baby girl!

Finally, a new post!

Finally, a new post! I've been taking a blog hiatus to work on another project. I'm going to be the science guest of honor at a conference next week, meaning I had to come up with a key note speech.

Then, I said I'd be happy to fill in wherever else I might be needed. Now, I'm also giving a talk to two high school science classes and being a member of nine panels, on such varied topics as Alvin the submersible, Pulling an All nighter, Brain Plasticity, and Technology of the future! It's a lot of firing up my brain, but I'm having a blast!

Dinner on Tuesday: Asian chicken salad with wanton strips - delish!
Farm box on Wednesday: celery, broccolini, red leaf lettuce, greem beams, tomatoes, lacinato kale, mushrooms, shallots, apples, pears, oranges, tangelos, and a mango.