Pluto

# 328

As you can see, I have not been making any bento(s).  The little man has outgrown the cute cute lunch box I prepared previously.  However, I'm still very much inspired by fellow bento mum/blogger.  So I decided to make for myself instead.  My first karaben!!   Pluto was made of pumpkin mash and its face was cut out from crabstick and seaweed. In the box, I have cold soba (dipping sauce separated), blanched cauliflower/green pea, dumplings, mandarin oranges.  I'm still not used to eating cold food....haha... 

I have a dog at home too.  Nitro is his name and going 7 years old this October.   A shih tzu breed yet, an active one. He loves his food to the extent that I could only describe him - tamchiak! (hokkien for greedy for food).  He will patiently wait for his turn when he saw me cutting fruits for the family or when we had it in our mouth munching away.  Yes, our dinner place is his favourite place.  He might get lucky to pick up some crumbs when my son accidentally dropped his food at times.  Nitro, unlike some dogs, does not chew my shoes or cabinets. Sharing some of the characteristic of my dear Nitro here.

Things Nitro does for fun (or probably out of frustration) that I find it peculiar
Fiddle with small insects till dead
Shred tissue paper
Scratch the wall (resembles a dog digging on the ground)
Lick and eat the hairs off the floor
Chew his paws
Pee on my son's bed/mattress (out of jealousy)

Things Nitro fears
Lightning and thunder!  First he will sniff, then shiver/tremble and last, look for place to hide.  It's annoying during the raining season.  We could not get a good night sleep and always rudely awakened by his incessant scratching at our bedroom doors (note - we do not sleep with our dog).  He will also pee and poo in front of our doors.

And recently, he is scared by the sound came from our brand new water heater which is powered by gas.

Things Nitro loves and enjoys
Squeaky toys
Balls (we kept my boy's football away from Nitro)
Tug of war with toys or my old t-shirt
Food - boiled meat, fruits, treats, bread
Walk in the park

Things Nitro dislikes
Bathe time
Hair drying with a blower
Medicine

One of his sleeping position with one paw covering one of his ear. Nitro is a good companion and adorable like a baby at times.  However, he is a alpha male!

Nitro!

Superhero - Puppet Iron Man made from cereal box



To cheer up my son who was recuperating from his fever last week, I made this Iron Man from cereal box with reference from the following sites:

 

1. http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/11939/1/1/how-to-draw-iron-man-easy.htm
2. http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/11939/1/1/how-to-draw-iron-man-easy.htm
3. http://idrawgirls.com/tutorials/2012/05/12/how-to-draw-iron-man-mk-5/

 

Looking at the sketches, it was very daunting to work on the details.  I started with the mask and followed the step by step instructions closely.  Remarkably, the tutorial No. 1 above made it easy to draw.  However, I improvised a simple version for his body and limbs. Painted with yellow and red paints with the help of my boy who did a few pieces (thereafter went for a nap due to drowsiness caused by the medication).  Finish with outline in black marker. For the glow, I used aluminium foil.  Finally, Papa assisted by stapling the joints to allow movements of the limbs. 

 

Materials used :-

 

• A large cereal box
• Aluminium foil
• Black marker
• Red and yellow paint
• Staples

 

Hi, How do I look?



I'm stronger



Don't mess with me

Staple between the joints to allow movement

Unique horse craft

Fever is a very common childhood illness that every parents has a fair share of experience.  When my boy was down with fever, we will bring him to see the doctor.  Many a times, we came home with a bag full of medicine, including antibiotics sometimes.  I decided to allow my son's body to fight the fever last year thinking he's older now.   And he did healed and recovered pretty well in a few cases without medication.  Just by drinking plenty of water and letting him rested and slept as much as possible.  It was a difficult decision at first despite I had read a lot of articles about fever.  It is also harder to convince the old folks that it is not serious and alright to let the child fight the virus.

This time my boy's fever soared to 39.7 degrees on the second night which I felt it was a high grade fever that warrant a visit to the doctor.  Yet Papa did not agee and still insisted to continue sponge him was good enough. In the end, we consulted the doctor for fear the temperature would continue to rise and the diagnosis was upper respiratory infection. My boy was prescribed with medicine for his congested nose/dry cough and fever as well as antibiotics.  It's the fourth day now; stuffy/blocked nose and loss of appetite.  During the period, my son was still able to do things sensibly, play on his own and fairly alert.  He even could laugh and joke about the latest lego movie we watched in Malaysia.  On top of which, he sang "Everything is awesome" to our amusement.  Was he seriously ill?  Would he be able recuperate have he not gone to see a doctor despite a high fever?   At that point in time, I only have one thought in my mind i.e. better to be safe than sorry. 

On the lighter note, we made this horse craft together to kill his boredom at home.

• A kitchen towel toilet roll (body)
• Blue felt (mouth, face and ears)
• Light yellow crepe paper (crest)
• Wiggling eyes
• Buttons for the nostril
• Dark blue ribbon (Harness)
• Ice cream sticks (neck and legs)
• Different colours of threads (tail)
• Green and black colour papers (saddles)
• Tapes and glues
• Needle and threads

And unexpectedly, he drew a 'Do not Touch' sign to be displayed.  The signage is still there.

I did most of the parts since he was sick.  The unique of this craft was my son wanted a horse with not one but three saddles!

Updated 23 February 2014 - my son has recovered from fever on the 6th day.


Front view

Rear view

Close up

Linking up with :-



Valentine Day

#327

A belated post about Valentine Day.  Coincidentally, the western Valentine Day and Chinese Yuan Xiao Jie 元宵节 happened to fall on the same day this year 2014.  It's also know as Chap Go Meh in hokkien dialect. Chinese believes it's a celebration of first full moon on the 15th day of lunisolar calendar  and also marks the end of Chinese new year. 

For lunch, I cooked spaghetti topped with minced meat/Portobello mushroom with basilico sauce which I made a heart shape using a mould.  Plus a dollop of mozzarella cheese.  I also planted two tiny petals that I cut out from the green part of spring onion.  The basilico sauce (I used Barilla brand) was really yummy.  Having said that, my boy wiped clean the plate although he did hesitated at the first sight of mushroom. (To note, my son was not a mushroom lover).   That was after I explained that mushroom is like sponge and absorbed all the delicious sauce that he would not even taste the mushroom at all.  On the sides were blanched broccoli and Japanese cucumber.

For dinner, I attempted a mini hotpot at home and layered/arranged the ingredient inside the Chinese claypot.  For the soup base, I cheated using the Maggi chicken stock :P

• Wong bok (Chinese cabbage)
• Carrot
• Japanese pumpkin
• Spring onion
• Chicken breast (marinated with soya sauce, sesame oil, pepper and cornstarch)
• Fishball
• Fish fillet ((marinated with soya sauce, sesame oil, pepper and cornstarch)
• Crabstick
• An egg

You could add any types of food you like.  Lastly, generous splash of garlic oil (very important and makes a lot of difference on the taste).  It's ready to serve.  In addition, we had udon and glass noodles.  An easy one dish meal yet simple and delicious onValentine day.  I was pleased that both the boys like it so much!  Thanks to 五姑 who is so encouraging and taught me how to do it.

Layer vegetables at the bottom of the pt

Top layer - meat and egg