hummingbird005 In reply to Amand4 [2014-02-01 14:32:59 +0000 UTC]

thank you

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Amand4 In reply to hummingbird005 [2014-02-02 13:47:12 +0000 UTC]

ur welcome! <3

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hummingbird005 In reply to theresahelmer [2013-04-11 16:32:41 +0000 UTC]

your dishes look really good and so does your photography, I really like your flower pictures

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hummingbird005 In reply to indui [2012-12-10 21:22:24 +0000 UTC]

it's okay....life can get pretty stressful

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hummingbird005 In reply to Trinitite [2012-11-18 22:27:11 +0000 UTC]

thanks I really appreciate it

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Trinitite In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-11-18 23:00:10 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hummingbird005 In reply to designchevrolet [2012-07-19 20:06:25 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hummingbird005 In reply to teazuko [2012-07-18 18:57:59 +0000 UTC]

That's right and you do too xDD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

teazuko In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-07-18 19:53:52 +0000 UTC]

yeyyyyyy me too alot for 2 jears almost

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hummingbird005 In reply to blackbutterfly006 [2012-01-10 16:34:29 +0000 UTC]

argh I have the strange talent to not read my messages and be on dA just when somebody doesn't have much of an other choice to chat with me elswhere -__-
hm and we could chat via notes...
and as I already said no problem, it was a lot of work but i did say I would make you something myself, so I did
besides i totally adore your present to me ...that panda is just cute and we already wanted to go eat fondue last time and missed out on it because of the stuff we ate during the movie xDD
so maybe next time I will finally get to dry fondue and we better go watch a movie after that

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

blackbutterfly006 In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-01-11 16:06:25 +0000 UTC]

yeah, no problem, and your suggestion really sounds non-forcing to me XD and you can decide what to watch and when to do it^^ just tell me...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to blackbutterfly006 [2012-01-14 10:39:26 +0000 UTC]

-.-
and yeah will do...but it will take some time, since I am busy with my research paper now -__-

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

blackbutterfly006 In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-01-14 11:51:54 +0000 UTC]

same for me, with all the matches and this kind of wonderful stuff...-.-

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to blackbutterfly006 [2012-01-15 10:33:17 +0000 UTC]

yeah life is just a bother -.-
I want more vacation time >.>
btw we wanted to take pics of animals some time, didn't we?......so I thought about it and with this weather I am really not in the mood to go to the zoo.....but we could on the other hand visit the butterfly garden if we find the time.....just a suggestion though

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

blackbutterfly006 In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-01-15 16:56:13 +0000 UTC]

good that you remember because i do not XD but okay, if we find the time >.<

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to blackbutterfly006 [2012-01-15 18:48:36 +0000 UTC]

xDD
hey i have to remember some things sometimes.....
even if it's not that often xD
and yeah time is always the issue -___-

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

blackbutterfly006 In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-01-15 19:00:54 +0000 UTC]

yeah, and i'm sure when we have made up a date the weather is good enough to go to the zoo.....

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to blackbutterfly006 [2012-01-15 20:07:02 +0000 UTC]

knowing my luck .....probably -.-

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

blackbutterfly006 In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-01-15 20:09:06 +0000 UTC]

yeah, in addition to my luck....

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hummingbird005 In reply to Sessy-Lady [2011-12-27 22:33:24 +0000 UTC]

no problem...I may read your fanfic later^^
and I liked your art

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Sessy-Lady In reply to hummingbird005 [2011-12-28 00:07:14 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hummingbird005 In reply to ciradrak [2011-11-02 20:13:21 +0000 UTC]

yeah to you too
sry for not replying, but I just have so many things to do, that i can't spend that much time checking in on dA -.-'
it has been a long time since we last talked, so how are you?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ciradrak In reply to hummingbird005 [2011-11-03 05:08:49 +0000 UTC]

busy as always! Drawing, learning cinema4d, and designing a marine biology laboratory [link] (which has over the top engineering issues -- I think they're holding a competition because no one could solve it. They wan't it to be net zero, collect it's own water, and treat all effluent water.)

I managed to take some pictures of our snake, but haven't posted them yet....

And how about you? Any really good fanfiction recently? (:

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to ciradrak [2011-11-03 06:07:42 +0000 UTC]

whoa that competition sounds really tough..I would probably be lost....so good luck to you, I hope you will be able to find some kind of solution

also I wish I could draw....I think what minuscule drawing skills I had, I have by now lost....I last drew something before autumn break and the worst is that it is not even finished...I really hate leaving things unfinished -.-
but sadly we have to take tests in every subject again and since I am in drama class I have to attend a lot of rehearsals..

just post them when you've got the time for it, after all I know what it means to be busy and can wait

and nope not really, well nothing that noteworthy at least....the problem is that a lot of stories just let the characters appear godly in skills, personality etc and I really despise such things...hmm it may sound strange but I can't really say I have read something good or watched a good movie, when the characters have not suffered in it and have then grown because they had to adapt to this.....okay I am probably just really weird in that regard....

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ciradrak In reply to hummingbird005 [2011-11-09 14:15:18 +0000 UTC]

Actually I might. If I engineered a modified OTEC utilizing parabolic trough solar focusers and molten salt heat storage... ah, but the professors are art professors and are not actually interested in such things. So doing it for studio would probably not help me pass the class. And if it were to actually be built -- there would be hundreds of, "we've never done this before"s, which would mean technical bugs to work out... but the big physics problem of the heat engine's warm side being too cool would be solved. hee hee. Plus the OTEC would solve the water issues by providing more desalinated sea water than we could ever want. XD

Ah yes, busy, but I try to always make time for friends. ^..^ And at least a little drawing everyday. Yeah, I know what you mean about not being able to finish something, and i have a tendency of starting really big projects. (though the worst is when someone comes along and is critical of me about it)

Drama class could be fun. What's it like? Is there any difference between that and a theater class?

Oh no, not at all. Though it is certainly a sort of stage that most people's writing goes though. The secret desire to be above it all, invulnerable; specially when you are growing up feeling so lost and threatened by titanic forces around you. At some point though, one loses interest in being untouchable (presuming your life does achieve a certain degree of stability.)

Getting a character so well worked out that they are interesting both before and after growth is very challenging. Add to that the issue of characters which are supposedly more intelligent than you come across as unconvincing, and all of a sudden writing becomes an enormously -- ah, revealing, exercise. So, authorship can make one quite vulnerable, by displaying one's mind. So maybe its my highly self critical mind or my total lack of exhibitionist tendencies, but i'm rather conscious of posting things i've written. rewrite rewrite rewrite. XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to ciradrak [2011-11-17 16:13:11 +0000 UTC]

sry that it took me so long to answer, but I had my Chemistry test today and the things we had to know for it included virtually everything, so I had to study a lot -.-‘

okay, so I googled the words for that idea of yours and I am still a bit lost....my whole Physics education actually went to hell because of one teacher who wasn't capable of managing the students and sadly I had him for a long time -.-
Now in the upper classes I circumvented the problem by taking chemistry and getting rid of Physics entirely......so don't be offended if I can't contribute anything to this topic.
You are probably right though, when you say that the art professors won't really be interested in that, it's after all not their subject and teachers are always that way xD

Yeah, I also always try to make some time for friends, everyone needs some relaxation now and then
Sadly the drawing every day doesn't really work out for me...
and I always want to start a big project but then never find the time to actually do it.
There are a lot of people who are always critical....there was actually a time when it bothered me, but nowadays I just tell myself: why listen to them, I have my way of doing things and they have theirs and when they disapprove of mine that's their problem and not mine, after all and who are they to judge?
It's actually quite liberating to not care as much about the opinion of others.

So I have to admit, I read this and thought, damnit there is actually a difference between the two (meaning drama and theater classes)
I honestly didn't know this, in English classes it was always drama class, so I naturally assumed that it was the right term.
Now I can't really say what the difference is because when I googled it, I just thought that theater classes seemed to be more public and that people who really want to be an actor later on go there..is that correct?
If you can tell me what theater classes include, I can tell you what it's like in our drama classes xD
It is actually quite depressing when you find out time and again how flawed your English education is. Sometimes I wonder if it is the same with other languages like for example German in America or something like that....

Anyway....
Yes, that seems to be a rather good explanation for that symptom.....
You encounter it the most with self-insert stories, so it makes sense. On one hand I am pretty annoyed by it, but on the other hand I guess it must be nice to use a story like that, to maybe distract yourself from your own problems or ‘weaknesses’. It’s just like an escape from reality...

I really think you should post some of the things you have written. Of course there is always stuff that you later realize could be done better, but I think any kind of artist, be it a writer or a painter or whatever, always has to undergo some kind of evolution.....well not ‘has to’ but will....
You know what I find to be truly fascinating about art is actually, that with every work you see, you get some kind of other perspective on various topics and that way not only the artist’s style changes with their growth and opinion......but also that of the one who reads or views an artwork....
Naturally it’s not easy to write or paint something you yourself are satisfied with, because you can always find faults in everything.....I am the same, I only started posting things on dA due to the fact, that I was told again and again to do it by some friends.
Who knows, maybe I was also uncomfortable with it, since people could just comment negatively on it and it would be directly associated with me......nowadays I am not that troubled by it anymore, as mentioned above. I still believe that I am not that good at drawing at all, but I think I’ve somewhat gotten over my initial inhibition about it.
So even if paintings and texts may be two different things and texts may truly be more revealing, I think you should go for it. After all you are already over the demigod thing and that alone should be worth something and would make your writing interesting.
Besides I want to read it

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ciradrak In reply to hummingbird005 [2011-11-25 06:24:32 +0000 UTC]

*happy grin* At least you listen much better than they!

Example of parabolic trough focuser with molten salt storage: [link]

Explanation of the OTEC concept [link]

*nods* I suffered through years of inadequate history teachers. But one fantastic one changed everything. ^..^ All of a sudden it was fun and fascinating. So there is always hope!

When I think I'm above other's words, along comes someone who compliments me and all of a sudden, I have a burst of energy to do more.

Ooop, I guess it's time for a dip in the dictionary.

drama: a depiction in words or actions of life events or characters to tell a story. Typically they exhibit emotion or conflict.

So if it can be done as a bunch of people talking and acting on a stage, it's a drama. Counter examples: non-personified animation, filming of natural scenes and animals. Heh, we refer to them as 'dramatic' rather as drama. ( drama wanna-bes XD ) Documentaries or technical presentations would also be counter examples, though they could potentially be over laid by a drama.

So. Technically, a theater class may treat other types of theatrical performances (dance, oration, music), while a drama class may cover other medium or venues beyond the theater. However, if they are as careful with their words as my professors are, then you might be baking cup cakes in your theater class! XD (We studied prefabrication in our history studio! quite annoying.)

Drama is an art form, Theater is a place.

(Can I laugh a little at your worries over English? You're better than some native speakers I know! *grin*)

Mmm, after picking though my German dictionary I can see where the confusion may be coming from. 'drama' gets used frequently in many different definitions.

drama critic = theaterkritiker
drama school = Schauspielschule
theater = theater

theater critic - theaterkritiker - we typically say 'movie critic' for both of these. Then, Americans are quite obsessed with their movies. We forget that theater theater exists sometimes. XD

schauspiel = theater house
schauspielschülerin = drama student

(The dictionary uses the british spellings even in the definitions labeled as 'US'. XD )

Yes, an escape, but an empowering one where they begin to explore how they might change the world. (:

Yeah, you're probably right. I'm letting my perfectionist tendencies get in the way of my own progress, aren't I.

"Besides I want to read it"

o///o Ok, that's flattering. XD

I shall then -- but with one caveat. I want to know what I can do to improve. I want to know every mistake you spot. I want to know if it connects emotionally, and why. And any other feedback you can come up with. Then with your review, and approval, I'll post it.

But please forgive me for not being able to move as rapidly as I'd like -- this is the end of the semester for me and it's crunch time in studio.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to ciradrak [2011-12-22 16:24:05 +0000 UTC]

sorry for the wait, but there was a lot that had to be taken care of and done..

btw thanks for the links, now I know what you are talking about....and teachers often don't listen anyway...

yeah, it often only takes a good teacher to make you interested in a subject..
History was actually pretty good with my old one, but then he didn't help me when I would have needed his help with a trainee teacher and since then I really dislike him -.-

compliments are rather motivating and nice, my "ignore other people policy" is more for those people, who only insult you and don't even give constructive criticism xD

and no I don't think I'll ever be baking cupcakes in that class...if I were to ask my teacher if we could, he would probably be happy that I have "volunteered" to do it and bring them to the next lesson xD
He is one of my favorite teachers and I have pretty much had him in lessons for forever... he was also once my homeroom teacher and we invented something called "cake duty"....it means that there are always two students, who both have to bring some kind of homemade bakery and we would each eat a piece of it during lessons.....there was actually a time, where we thought about also getting a water boiler for class, so we would be able to make coffee and cacao additionally to that...
just because we did this though, doesn't mean we didn't do anything in the lessons....while being pretty relaxed, he was also one of the most demanding teachers I have ever had and nobody wanted to disappoint him....because no matter what idiotic things we did, he always helped us...

so I guess I will be calling it drama class xD

I had him in German before and now in drama class, I still love how he teaches..
hmm, so what do we do in this class....well... there is a theoretical part and a practical one..and the theoretical is all about the history and evolution of theaters and the different styles and functions of plays during the different time periods ....
then there is the practical part, where we are sometimes told to take a passage out of some play, then interpret it and then we have to act according to the script we have chosen and are marked on that...then there is also our big project, which is a musical....and we are also graded on every area of that..meaning acting, dancing and singing...
but the most important part regarding these marks, is not that you are perfect in dancing or singing, but rather participation and initiative when it comes to interpreting the script and acting like you think you should, without having to be specifically told what to do..
if our teacher likes what we are doing, we just keep on dong it and if that's not the case he tells us what to do different...our practices are always real fun

I'm happy you think I am not too bad with my English
btw if their are commas missing it's because they are just my enemy in general...it's kind of pathetic, but I can not even put them in completely in my own language

and dictionaries are just frustrating...we are only allowed to us a specific one during our English tests and every damn time I really need to know a word, it is not in the damn book... -__-

yeah, you are right, through the development of a story and the problems, that the characters face one can't help but start thinking why those problems appear to be there in the first place and how to resolve them

well, I am happy to hear that I'll be able to read them and will also be happy to give you some feedback. I am unsure however, to what point I'll be able to spot mistakes...after all I am not a native speaker..

So how is your studio project going for you?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ciradrak In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-01-03 02:12:17 +0000 UTC]

¡Sorry for taking so long!   ;..;   Yes, we seem to be doomed to eternal regret for failing to accomplish more, but that's what we get for writing such long messages back and forth! XD

Hurrr? What's a trainee teacher?

Pastries during class? That's awesome! Sign me up. If you're hungry it's not easy to focus on a lesson anyway. He sounds like such a cool teacher, and nice too. My calculus teacher was one Mr. Kruten, he was a blast. It was even funny when he made mistakes. XD (Which was pretty rare.) When one of those big standardized tests loomed he would stage what was lovingly referred to as "calculus hell weekend" where we all crashed out together studying -- then we had food. ^..^ I was disappointed when I ruined my perfect AP exam by including 2 + 2 = 3 in one of my proofs. *fail* Noooo! XD So it was only worth one college class instead of two. lolz!

*reads about cacao* Mmmm, that sounds yummy. I haven't had it. Oh, speaking of food... is there any chance that you have a recipe for that pretzel bread that they make in Switzerland and Germany? I loved that so much but it doesn't seem to exist here at all.

¡Punctuation « , ; - ¿ ! ' () [] -- " » I still look up to the British because, well, it's their language; but their average ability to use punctuation is quite dreadful. The eats shoots & leaves book is soooo funny. It's by a British author and covers punctuation use and misuse. This book is a sure fire way to laugh your way out of any comma difficulties. ^..^

What good is a dictionary like that? o..o Maybe you can use it as.... hurrrm. Um. 6..6 I don't know.

Don't worry much about grammar or punctuation. Mention it if you see something wrong, but don't go out of your way for that. I'm most interested in emotional response, pacing, character development, story line, that sort of thing. Don't judge yourself. *evilgrin* I'll take the privilege of judging your skill level.

The studio project... is on going. The reviewers decided that because this was the final studio that they wanted me to develop the project further. *sigh* What this means exactly is a bit unclear. Maybe they do want a 'cooked' explanation of how all the technical stuff in my proposal works? hurrr?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to ciradrak [2012-01-10 18:59:28 +0000 UTC]

ehm okay I actually looked up the term trainee teacher, because I wasn't sure what it would be called in English.....hmmm so a trainee teacher is someone who is not yet a full teacher, but is given a class where he/she can teach....their teaching skills are then frequently reviewed by some people, who watch the lessons from the back of the classroom and they get marked on that.....that's basically it I think...we currently have one in Calculus xD

and yeah thinking on an empty stomach is not pleasent at all..I wish my English teacher would understand that...-.-
and your Calculus teacher sounds awesome
I suppose my old one wasn't bad either...still, we never had a "calculus hell weekend"...it actually sounds fun xD
I think everyone makes such dumb mistakes at least once...hell I wrote an essay full of dumb mistakes just because I was in such a hurry and wrote and wrote and in the end I couldn't even check it...it was about the book Pride and Prejudice...I managed to write "peron" instead of person....and a lot of other dumb things ..so yeah.. it actually turned out to be good though, so I won't be complaining xD

Cacao is indeed good, but I prefer coffee....I need at least two to wake up every morning
hmm I am guessing you are asking for a recipe that has already been tested and approved of xD
I am sorry to say though, I asked my mom if we even had one, since I couldn't remember her ever baking pretzel bread and found out that we don't have one at all... that's probably because you can get it in every bakery here ...it's standard you could say...
so I can't really help with it...sry.
I find it strange that they don't have something like that in America o.O

mhm, maybe I will look it up and read it...but at the moment I don't really have the time...I am going to write a research paper and have to read "In cold blood" for a book report....so much work

and I know what i will use it as...I will take it with me to tests and if somebody aks too many dumb questions and just won't shut up, I will use it as a projectile xDD

If you say so... and I am reeeeaaally scared now....or not...people are judged on a daily basis anyway xD

mhm, who knows...people are often too vaque when it comes to assignments...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ciradrak In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-02-14 09:38:59 +0000 UTC]

Ah, we call them 'student teachers'. Some of them were fun, probably because they hadn't been doing it for long yet, and still related to the rest of us as students.

Yup, that Calculus class was fun. ^..^ It's classes like that which inspire some of us to love maths rather than fear them. XD The idea for 'calculus hell weekend' came from the movie 'Stand and Deliver'. [link] Which is a really cool film for anyone trying to grok calculus. XD

Awwe, that's ok about the pretzels.... ;..;   Those little snack items that go by the name 'pretzel' here leave something to be desired. We have somethings and lack others. For instance, I would be surprised if you had tasted or even heard the Navajo fry bread which is so excellent.

*has another go at google*
*searches for "brezel brötchen rezept" *

oh! I found something! ( it helps to search using the correct language XD ) --> [link]

Of course it's in German... XD I'm going to try working it out. If you would, please correct me when I go too far astray.

1 cube yeast (1 table spoon, 15 ml)
300 ml milk
1 tablespoon honey (reduced from 100 g)
700 g flour (type 550 or 405)
3 m.wide eggs (medium eggs?)
1 teaspoon salt (5 ml)
100 g melted butter

heat milk to 30 C (86 F)
dissolve the yeast and honey in the milk
mix all the ingredients with a dough hook
let rise for 45 minutes
shape and garnish :3
let rise another 20 minutes
then...

*rumbles* mmm, if 'luft shift hoch' is... then 'umluft' must be 'down' -- no... down air?...

It sounds like I should cook the pretzel bread at 170 C to 190 C [338 F to 374 F which sounds normal, we typically set 350 F for bread] for 30-35 minutes. 'Gas Stufe 2' -- um my oven only has a temperature control, i can't control where the gas comes out. (Am i interpreting this correctly?)

Humm dumm dum... it sounds like this recipe makes a good refrigerator bread as well. If I understand the alternate instructions correctly. I'll try the one-day mode first. Hee, I can't wait. ^..^

[link]

It says that Americans eat pretzels with mustard and cheese. O..o ?! Is this like how the Irish believe we use corn as a regular pizza topping in the USA? ( I've -never- seen corn on pizza. As a good little american I believe in having pizza every week! So I've seen quite a bit of pizza. ) ^..^

Indeed, there are so many book out there. ^..^ *reads about 'In cold blood'* Eeep! That one sounds frightful. I don't think I want to read that....

Fear my dictionary! *silly grin*

> If you say so... and I am reeeeaaally scared now

Buwahahaha!

> ....or not

Awwwwwwe XD

> ...people are judged on a daily basis anyway xD

Indeed, a bit more than necessary.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to ciradrak [2012-02-14 20:34:35 +0000 UTC]

ah okay I didn't know that you call them student teachers
and that's actually a good theory xD

mhm I'm really curious now...I'll have to watch the movie sometime...as soon as there is some free time that is -.-

yeah we also have a lot of things and lack others....bless thy Pocky....
*googles the bread*
how about sending me a recipe of Navajo Fry Bread and I'll try it out

I corrected the recipe for you and changed the bit about sugar and honey a bit....my mother told me that she wouldn't use honey..so I just omitted that....so here it is:

1 cube yeast ---> one cube yeast in Germany is 42 g
300 ml milk
1 tablespoon sugar at first, you can add more while mixing all ingredients
700 g flour (type 550 or 405)
3 m.wide eggs (medium eggs?) yes medium eggs is right
1 teaspoon salt (5 ml)
100 g melted butter

heat milk to 30 C (86 F)
dissolve the yeast and sugar ( only one tablespoon here) in the milk
mix all the ingredients with a dough hook (you can add more sugar in this step---> as the recipe says up to 100g)
let rise for 45 minutes ( bowl covered with a kitchen towel or something like this at a relative warm place)
shape and garnish :3
let rise another 20 minutes (same as before, kitchen towel etc)
then...

*rumbles* mmm, if 'luft shift hoch' is... then 'umluft' must be 'down' -- no... down air?...

It sounds like I should cook the pretzel bread at 170 C to 190 C [338 F to 374 F which sounds normal, we typically set 350 F for bread] for 30-35 minutes. 'Gas Stufe 2' -- um my oven only has a temperature control, i can't control where the gas comes out. (Am i interpreting this correctly?)

---> nope sry in this case you are not right...you see the recipe mentions different options on how to bake your dough according to what type of stove you have....if you don’t have a gas stove, you don’t need to regulate any gas either......
So if you have a convection mode in your oven you bake it with 170 C or if you have top and bottom heat you bake it with 190 C .......all three different options have to be baked for 30-35 minutes

ugh personally I have never heard of any of these suggestions on how Americans like to eat pretzels or pizza.. just thinking of pizza with corn on top is gross

I'm actually thankful that the book is like that....I swear if I have to read about marriage and love and happy endings one more time for the next few weeks I am gonna be puking rainbows -___-

yeah you are right with that one ...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ciradrak In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-06-02 01:32:46 +0000 UTC]

I'm sorry I was gone for so long. That semester was an exercise in frustration and unending hours. At least it's finished -- as is 80+ pages of master's project. u..u *whew*   Now I get to catch up on things that I care about. ^..^

So here you are: Navajo Fry Bread

This dish goes by many different names, Indian Tacos, Navajo Tacos, Navajo chili, etc.

The dish's essence is a deep fat fried bread, which is buttered and spread with honey. Chili is then added on top, along with shredded lettuce, grated mozzarella, chopped tomatoes, chives, and a few olives. Pretty simple. I think it's the combination of honey, fry bread, and chili which is unique about it.

The dough is baking power based.

4 Cups all purpose flour
2 Tablespoons baking power
2 Tablespoons oil
1.5 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1.75 Cups hot water

Mix together and let rest for 15 to 30 minutes. Then roll out into ellipsis about 10 by 15 cm at 1 cm thickness. The dough is now ready to be fried in a deep fat fryer. I use an electric one which takes the guesswork out of getting the temperature correct.

Navajo people prepare and sell this dish at most fairs and festivals out here.

The simple chili is Spanish flavored.

1 pound ground beef
12 fluid ounces of tomato paste (1 can)
24 fluid ounces of water (2 cans)
1 package of taco seasoning (can you get that?)
15 ounces of kidney beans (1 can) (really any beans)

Cook the meat, mash the beans, mix everything together, and simmer it for 20 minutes.

So if you can get through all that you can try it.

# # #

I have made that pretzel bread recipe a couple times now. [link] It hasn't turned out very pretzel-like so far sadly. I found some more information though, like this site: [link] which explains that some of a pretzel's unique flavor comes by being dunked in lye.

I though about using the ash from my fire to create lye the old fashioned way, but there might be left over phenol there from burning synthetic stuff, so... I think I'll just wait a week or so to retrieve my sodium hydroxide from the other house. (vacation time)

I'm going to need a different baking sheet too -- this one is aluminum....

Now that I've occupied almost this entire message with cooking x..x how have your classes/reports been going?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to ciradrak [2012-06-03 11:23:12 +0000 UTC]

Hey, I'm glad that you're doing good and have most of your work finished^^

It's actually better that you didn't write any messages before, because I didn't have any time either and you might have thouhgt I am ignoring you xDD

I have just been coming on on dA from time to time, to see if there were any messages since my life was just one thing: seemingly endless work.
This school year has to have been the most strenuous year I have ever had....

Well, I told you about being involved in a musical and that was one of the things that occupied a lot of my time.
We performed 8 times and if the performance was at 1600 we had to be there at 1100......it was sooo exhausting..

Additionally to that I had to do a lot of homework, collect plants for a herbarium and learn for all major and minor tests.

I also told you about writing a research paper (the title is now 'Phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Turkey') and that too is finished and actually came out pretty good.....my teachers are exhilarated..and now I only have to do the colloquium...I am kind of scared though, since I have never done something like that before...
Because I wrote about Biology in English I will have two teachers interviewing me and will have to switch between both languages -.-

Other than the colloquium I still have to do 3 presentations and a book report..but compared to the previous months that is nothing really, so thankfully I too have a life again besides school xD

I took advantage of that reprieve on Saturday and together with a good friend visited the 'Japan Day' in Düsseldorf, which was quite funny.



Thank you for giving me that recipe by the way!!
I think I will try it during summer vacation, i will have a lot of time to experiment then XD

It's too bad that the pretzel bread recipe didn't work out for you....but from the links it really sounds like it only failed because it wasn't dipped in lye
(btw I sat in front of my PC like that --> o.o ...what the hell is lye? xDD....so i looked it up and learned some new vocabulary.....there are just so many words that you never stumble upon with only English lessons)

Also I am glad you will use the 2 version for the lye....you probably wouldn't be able to enjoy pretzel bread anyway if you tried the first....I don't imagine corroding your mouth and stomach helps with eating XDD

And now you see I have occupied most of my message with my life, so it balances your message out

(I'm also really sorry that I haven't truly reviewed you writing yet (I have not forgotten about it ), but I will do it as soon as my projects are over)

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ciradrak In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-07-02 20:48:06 +0000 UTC]

At least we're evenly matched. XD   I'd like to think that perhaps we could help each other not be such over archivers, but it seems more likely that we'll egg each other on. XD (and yes I'm saying this while hacking one of my servers, repairing a mechanical clockwork timer, crafting a new recipe, and drawing.)

That is quite a lot of set up time for a performance. It reminds me of marching band competitions. Lots of equipment and very intense. I recently attended a show put on by the Russian Officers Band. About 15 musicians, 25 vocalists, and 20 dancers. Very neat. Great show. They did both national anthems, some folk songs, contemporary pieces, and ended with "God Bless America". (Which was wonderfully appropriate as it was written by a Russian. I'm always surprised to meet other Americans who don't know Irving Berlin was Russian and his original name was Isidore Baline.)

Your paper sounds interesting.   You might let me read it.     That's so cool that your teachers are excited about what you wrote!   I'm not quite sure what a colloquium is though.   My guess would be a private meeting with the teacher that is like a final exam.   (Once I had Physics professor from the Netherlands, and he conducted interviews in lieu of a final exam.   I actually enjoyed it, but then I really like Physics.)

You're welcome for the recipe!   Navajo Tacos may not be the healthiest food ever but they are delicious.

Latest Pretzel attempt: [link]

*grin*   Caustic food that tried to eat you while you were eating it would be bad.   As it turns out, if anything, I was too timid with the lye.   My latest attempt resulted in only a partial browning of the crust. I could taste the beginning of the unique flavor which is 'pretzel', but it will need more.

I should mention that the chapter I sent you is only part of a side trip excursion. When I started to write I found myself working on it rather than the beginning. Beginnings are very important and I don't feel up to the task yet. (The whole thing is still a draft in my mind.) Mmm, what I mean to say is, don't spend too much time on the bit I sent you. ^..^ Kick it out, push me in the right direction, and I'll send you the next chapter.

I watched a show about JK Rowling recently.   She guarded her unfinished manuscripts quite jealously.     I'm trying to get over feeling that way.   It's also interesting to note that while JRR Tolkien succeeded at the things Rowling failed at, (was accepted into Oxford, had a job teaching, was 'successful') that Tolkien never made much money off of his writings while Rowling, in the end, has become fashionably wealthy. Her life makes a nice rags to riches story.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to ciradrak [2012-07-18 17:25:31 +0000 UTC]

xDD
You are right, that's probably what will happen ^^
but I guess being somewhat of an over achiever isn't always too bad....of course it sometimes causes you a lot of grief, when you are just exhausted and can barely keep your eyes open (there is a reason why coffee and I are best buddies xD), but it can also help you reach the goals you want to achieve, which at the same time makes it kind of satisfying.....if everything works out as planned at least.
yay for many things to do and little time

yeah we worked quite hard for it to be good
Sounds interesting and it must have been a lot of work to coordinate everything with so many people participating in it.
*quickly sneaks away and listens to Irving Berlin*
okay now I can say I know who he is and I listened to the song XD
(sorry I am just not that knowledgable about musicians)
hmhm I don't really know if I would know him or that he was Russian if I was American, but there are always a lot of people, who just assume someone well known with a name that may "fit" the country, is actually from that country
(does that make sense??)

I am not quite comfortable with giving someone else my paper since you never know where it may end up....I don't want you to be offended or anything...it's just an issue I have....I hope you understand......
if you wrote a paper for university, you probably also wouldn't want to give it out...since it could always later be used to show you did something on a subject and are knowledgable in it....

A colloquium is exactly what you thought it was, only that I had a larger audience.
There were two different options how it could be conducted:
1) you could present your paper to your class of the subject it was about
2) you could present it to your teacher of this subject

I had to choose the 2. option, since my paper involved two subjects, English and Biology. I couldn't present it to my English class since they would not have understood the biologic/geographical terminology and there were too many for everyone to keep track of them on a handout....the same was also true in reverse...my Biology class didn't know the english terms.

So I was to present it to my English teacher and the Biology teacher, who was involved to check if it was scientifically correct. Turns out that two other Biology teachers were also interested...only one of them turned up though and a friend of mine also attended, saying it was for mental support xD
I then stood next to a whiteboard.....and was feeling horrible >.>
I had an iron grip on a piece of paper I didn't use for the presentation and I thought I had never ever spoken in English as bad as that day.....next the whiteboard just skipped to the next part without me doing anything. While I reversed that, I cursed in German and when I noticed, quickly got back to talking about my paper in English.
I continued cursing at myself in my head though....I mean who starts cursing during a damn important presentation ....
The Biology teacher just continued taking notes....he mostly never stopped..the others all listened and then after presenting my paper for 35 minutes...still wasn't done then..it was just too much to cover...the Biology teacher wanted to use the last 10 minutes for questions. I really thought now I was done for after that writing marathon he did. Turns out it wasn't as bad as I believed it to be and I could answer everything.
Funny fact was, that my audience actually thought me cursing in front of them and then switching back to my presentation, while also switching between languages showed my confidence in my presentation and that I knew my stuff enough to not be too tense while presenting.
I just managed to not gape at them and suddenly had to think of "Madagascar", where the penguins want to break out of their cage and then visitors come by, prompting one of the penguins to say: just smile and wave......yeah that's exactly what I felt like...xDDDDDDDD
In the end I got the highest amount of points on my paper and was reeeaaaally relieved.

I plan to try out the recipe in the next few days or so... I am really excited how that will turn out
and not everything can always be healthy xD

Looking pretty good there ^^
you will get it right eventually....now it seems you only need a few more attempts for the "finishing touches".

I'm on that now...and beginnings really are difficult, since you somehow need to justify why a character behaves a certain way ....at least until he/she might develop along with the story....
Will do...you can expect a note right along with this comment xD

Mhhm maybe for her it does make sense to do that...she is rather successful and well known because of her books and people would have probably tried to steal the drafts....there are always people who will -.-
My guess with Tolkien and Rowling is, that right now people are just more interested in the fantasy genre.....especially in contemporary fantasy...so in that regard Rowling probably had better chances with selling than Tolkien. That's just what I think though, so who knows...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ciradrak In reply to hummingbird005 [2012-08-25 17:27:32 +0000 UTC]

* cira

Yes! Well, we can have fun tinkering all through the night.   ^..^   Actually, I don't try to stay up, there's so many interesting things to work on though that I have trouble stopping to sleep. Maybe its the dragon's blood . . . regardless, I avoid caffeine (with the exception of chocolate) for the sake of being able to sleep at least a little.

Of course, staying awake on demand comes in handy for astronomy trips.

It does make sense. With most countries it would be a bit more difficult to get away with, but here we have all sorts of backgrounds. For instance, I look like I'm from perhaps Spain or Italy, but I have just as much heritage from Britain and Scandinavia as I do from the South countries. Anyone can be from the States.

Naw, I won't be offended. However, I do hand out my papers if you'd like to read any of them. Mostly because, after I spent all that time writing them, I'd like others to hear my ideas; as I believe in what I write. --Ah-- I'm not trying to convince you to change your mind; I only want you to understand my point of view. After all, the writings which I care most about, and would be most devastated if someone were to plagiarize, are my stories; and I already let you read a little of that (even though it's just fiction and regardless of how amateurish it may still sound.)

What an experience that presentation was! Eventually you'll be able look back on the 'penguin presentation' and laugh. Score for making the grade! And it's nice that one of your friends came along too. Knowing that you have a cheering section is a good thing. It all sounds so familiar: XD having more information than you can cover, technical failures, and knowing all your own mistakes. Then you needed to do it in a second language which is something I've never attempted. All I can say is bravo! ^..^

I had a math teacher in High School who would swear in French if he made a mistake on the board. He was very good so it didn't happen often, but it always amused me for some reason.

We have a lay clergy at our church so that means every once in a while you give a talk to the congregation. I didn't appreciate that growing up, but it certainly has helped me feel more comfortable giving presentations.

Yes, it would be difficult to share a draft of the third book of a very popular story.

I've spoken with a few other authors and an editor/agent, and it turns out that while having self-published, or having put your stuff on the Internet, used to be a death knell a decade ago, that many publishers no longer see it that way. Instead a few of them are now viewing such steps as a sort of proving ground for possible works to publish. Possibly a sign of things to come?

I like the thought of this being an era of fantasy.


( pretzel recipe updated. [link] :3   Now I need to spend some more time editing stories.)

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

hummingbird005 In reply to ciradrak [2012-09-14 08:29:02 +0000 UTC]

It's the same with me
Although caffeine doesn't really seem to bother me anymore… I guess I got so used to it, that it doesn't really affect me anymore, or at least it doesn't feel that way.

That it does.

Yeah, that's true.You know every time we talk about the US, we always mention the words melting pot and multiculturalism at least once.
Do they talk about that at length in American schools and also mention these words?
(sry just curious )

I'm really sorry and I do understand your point, but you see it's just against the principles that I have set for myself.
I do not believe, that you would be a person to just give away my work, but I've sworn to myself, that I would never even remotely take a risk like that.
Every day in the news, you hear about some other thing, someone fell victim to.
Because of that, there are certain things I just won't do. That's just because I can still use that paper in the future, when I go to university or something. Were I to write a story, I would gladly share it with you, even if I would probably be embarrassed about my writing style or my lack of talent......

And I really liked the part of your story, that I read. all the details you put in made it amazing and not amateurish at all.

'penguin presentation'.......xD
I have never heard this expression before… Is it some kind of phrase?
Yeah, the cheering section did ease my nerves a bit.
well, I don't really know, if it would have been that great to a native speaker …
My pronunciation probably needs a lot of work

That does sound funny xD
It's a pity, that I don't really have any teachers that swear....>.>

A lay clergy? Could you explain that and why you would need to give presentations? o.O

I also heard about something like that. There are some authors I believe, that send copies of their unreleased work to volunteers, that have a writing career. At least I found a site like this once.

Me too. Fantasy is great! ^^

They look really good. Just like you would find them in a bakery here.....I bet they are really delicious

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ciradrak In reply to hummingbird005 [2013-01-18 16:21:21 +0000 UTC]

They did talk about it being a 'melting pot' and so forth in High School, after that it sort of registered as old news. The feature of the United States which continues to strike me is how different the various states are from one another while still getting along. Oregon is extremely controlled -- they won't let you pump your own gas for your car, and everyone strictly follows the speed limits. California is amazingly high tech (well, northern anyway). New Mexico is very loose and laid back. The old decayed rust belt such as Michigan are the only place you can find modern ruins. The Bank and Business areas such as Connecticut -- where they all seem to wear suits and drive BMWs. It's amazing that the States ever get along let alone vote the same way. How the whole conglomerate continues to function so well is a marvel. XD Honestly, if this lot can get along there really is no reason all of Europe, and the world can't do the same.

*chuckle* perhaps that is why I do not listen to the news? -- naw. Although I do not understand, that's ok. If it makes you feel better, I am in the process of taking out some patents on sundry inventions of mine -- and I didn't bother to share those so . . . *shrug*

Thank you! <3 I am writing/polishing more. ^..^
*writes* *draws*

XD I made that up because you mentioned the Madagascar penguins. "Just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave."

Pronunciation is specific to various regions anyway. Because I grew up in California, that to me is the 'gold standard' of pronunciation. The Texan and East coast drawls don't count in my book. XD But I do respect the British pronunciations.

Ah, a lay clergy means no one is paid to give sermons; no one does it 'for a living'. That means that everyone has a regular job and that every once in a while YOU are the one who gets up and preaches a sermon. Everyone takes turns. Well, almost everyone -- no one kicks you out if you don't. The truth is, there are so many people in a normal congregation that you only get a chance to do it once a year or so. I've never said 'no'.

I'm happy with the pretzel bread recipe now. I need to find the time to polish it off and post it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1