A very pose-friendly chipmunk near Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Getting ready to head off for a big road trip tomorrow, from Nevada to Minnesota. We’ll be staying at J’s grandfather’s place near Twin Lakes.

I’m so excited!

Edit: We did the trip in around 25 hours, after a 2 hour stop in Des Moines, Iowa to meet J’s uncle and his family. I didn’t have much internet access during the trip, but photos are incoming!

In a couple of days, it will be the 2 year anniversary of our arrival in the USA.

One year ago, I picked up my parents and sister from LAX for a 3 week vacation.  It wasn’t all fun and games. Living in such close quarters makes you remember why you left home in the first place, but still … because it’s been a year and because it’s Dad’s birthday and he has family around him today, I’m feeling particularly homesick.

Somehow, a phone call just doesn’t seem to cut it.

I’m having serious cravings for my Dad’s Louise Cake today, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Please note that the following are in Kiwi measurements:1 cup is 250ml and 1tsp (teaspoon) is 5 ml.

Ingredients: 3 3/4 oz butter, 1 1/2 cup sugar, 3 egg yolks, 7 1/2 oz flour, 1/4 tsp baking powder, raspberry jam.

Topping: 6 oz sugar, 3 oz coconut, 3 egg whites

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolks and sift in flour and baking powder. Mix well. Roll out fairly thin, put on a greased tray and spread on raspberry jam. Beat egg whites until quite stiff and add sugar and coconut. Mix and spread on top of jam. Bake for 30 minutes at 180C (360F).

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!