Friday, November 30, 2012

Death by Pulling Taffy

I like taffy. It is really sweet, chewy, and smooth. Taffy is cool. So, of course, I had to try to make it. Let me tell you, there is a reason people use a machine for this. Especially the pulling part... If you don't pull the taffy  it just turns to hard candy. Sure, it is delicious hard, but it wasn't what I was going for. I pulled taffy for a good hour yesterday. Ow. Arms. Hurt. By the time I was done pulling it, I did not want to do anything with taffy ever again. That is why it is in the shape of a rope in the freezer, and not like, you know, cut into inch long pieces and individually wrapped in parchment paper how it was supposed to be. That was so not happening. I don't think I will make taffy again any time in the near future. But if you, my dear reader, want to try it, use this recipe. Try it at your own risk. I have a few tips for taffy making;

1. Grease everything! The taffy is SO sticky, it will cling to anything. Don't let it touch any fabric. Or it will be furry taffy.

2. Use a candy thermometer. You really can't make taffy, or any other candy, without it. And move it around the pot every once in a while to make sure it is cooking evenly.

3. Do not wait for the taffy to become cold before pulling it. Once it gets cold, it will harden. Start pulling it as soon as it is cool enough to handle. Be careful not to burn yourself.

4. Don't do it by yourself. Pulling taffy is really hard by yourself, and it takes forever. And you will probably need a friend to restrain you from throwing the taffy at the wall.

~Veelacat

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Field trip! Field trip!

Hello,
Most every school around will take a field trip to their state capitol. So it is only natural that us homeschoolers also go and take a field trip into the state capitol. Regrettably, as we live 4 + hours away from our state capitol, this was the first time I have been there. But it really was worth getting up at 5:30 in the morning to go there. We all got up around 5:30, but we weren't on the road for another hour. I can't say much about our ride. Illinois is a beautiful state, but the majority of it is prairie. It all kind of looks the same to me. Three cups of coffee and half my playlist later, we finally arrived in Springfield. It is a cute big (no way I could call it little) town. First thing we did was visit the State Capitol Building. Wow. It is just so incredibly amazing I can not describe it. I took as many pictures as my camera's built in memory would hold (which is ten. I forgot to put it's memory card in it before we left).

This is the old Supreme Court room. Isn't is beautiful? You can't see it,
but the wall paper says Justice.
 Everyone we met was super nice. And we got our own private tour.

I loved the chandeliers. They were as impressive as all get out.

I think this is the senate chambers. The carpet is all hand woven.

This is mind blowing. Our dome is taller then the one in DC if my facts are correct,
and I believe they are.
This is a tiny corner of the State Capitol Building.

Here is me. This can kind of give you a picture of how big the State Capitol Building
really is. This is only the front entrance.
We also went to the Lincoln museum, but it had a no photography policy.
Well I have a art class to attend,

Veelacat

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Hello People And Possible Aliens Who Are Reading This

Good afternoon.
I think I have finally finished my break from blogging, and so I shall start posting again. Even though I know it has only been about two weeks and a half since I last posted, it still feels like it has been months. I trust everyone had a amazing Halloween? I went trick or treating with my siblings as per usual. The only thing different about this year was that one of my very best friends, and one of Angela's friends, came with us. Oh, yeah, I also finally got to wear a tiara (thank you for lending it to me, my darling sister). I like tiaras. Tiaras are cool.

I have found the perfect example of team work that I just need to share.




Fezzes aren't cool. Sorry Doctor.

xx
Veela