Sydney Mike

about me

Originally from rural northeastern Montana, I settled in Southern California in the mid-1960s.

Some years before actually retiring, more or less, I used to design & make adult-collectible, one-of-a-kind, mohair teddy bears such as the Rainbow version of my Patches! Just below him is a photo of my Hansel teddy, created for an auction fund raiser! The bears had moveable arms, legs & necks & sewing was done either on my 1940s Singer Featherweight or by hand!



Sometime after retiring I moved to the high desert of San Bernardino County and enjoy it here very much.




I enjoy baking especially during the summertime's fresh fruit period and for the winter holidays. I've been told that when I bake, I'm raisin-crazy, and I suppose that's pretty accurate!

I have two children ~ a married daughter who lives in Tennessee, & who, in turn has 3 daughters & a grandson; my son is married & living here in Southern California about 11 miles away. My life partner & I have been together since 2001! We originally had 2 miniature schnauzers, Giacomo, who died in 2006, & Valentino, who died in mid-2008. In Sep 08 we were ready to adopt a rescued mini schnauzer, & then were heard about 2 that were about 3 years old, & had grown up together! Well, I wasn't about to break them up, so now we have them both ~ Charlie Brown & Lucy, & believe me, they fit those two profiles exactly!




Beginning in Sep 2001 I started working part-time as a model for life-drawing & photography classes at a local community college. In 2007 I branched out to a 2nd college about 45 miles away, but considering the price of gas, I'm not sure how long that one will last!


I adopted 25 chefs during the Spring PAC 2007 & made 100 recipes. In the same event, I was adopted by Diana #2.

I signed up for the Apron Swap in Jun 07, which was hosted by Bert's Kitchen Witch, & was partnered with Diana #2.


Participated in the Australian/New Zealand Recipe Swap #14, Mar 08, & made 94 recipes ~ Was teamed with blancpage, Chef on the coast, happynana & PainterCook in Group #14, The Curried Currajongs.




I'm an active participant in at least 15 recipe tag games, including ~ ~

Please Review My Recipe cooking game,

[And, as of 3 May 2009 I began helping with the hosting part of this game!]

the Beverage Tag Game,


& its spinoff, This Round's On Me


the Newest Zaar Tag cooking game (unreviewed recipes),



Bargain Basement Game,



1-2-3 Hit Wonders cooking game,



Zaar Stars Recipe Tag (recipes with 5 or more reviews),


Every Day Is a Holiday cooking game,


Potluck Tag Game,


Went to the Market,


Zaar Chef Alphabet Soup Game,


Healthy Choices ABC,


I Recommend...



Make My Recipe,


Kid-friendly Recipe Tag,




NOTE: Several whirlwinds of alien orgin apparently buzzed through this portion of About Me & eliminated well over 3/4 of the information & banners that had been posted here, so

AS OF THIS TIME, THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS UNDER RECONSTRUCTION!

the US Regional Alphabet Tag,


& New Kids On the Block Tag Game


I have also participated during 2008 in the Australian/New Zealand Recipe Swaps #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24 & #25!

During 2008 I have participated in the Vegetarian/Vegan Recipe Swaps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7.

Swapped in the Spring 2008 Cookbook Swap hosted by . . . & my partner was . . .

I tagged heavily in the Spring 2008 Pick-A-Chef . . .



Fall 2008 Pick-A-Chef:



Think Pink (Breast Cancer awareness month) October 08:


Election Eats Tag Game November 08


My-3-Chefs hosted by kiwidutch November 2008


Zaar Chef Alphabet Soup Tag game:



Kittencal's cookathon December 08:



Hidden Gems Winter 2008:


Pick A Chef, Spring 2009



I participated in Zaar World Tour 5 (May-Jun 09)
& was Captain (& Score Keeper) of the great team, The Sultans of Spice, which, at the end of the tour, was in second place!

My teammates were MomLuvs6, lazy gourmet, Auntie Mags, Lavender Lynn, Crafty Lady 13, Dr. Jenny, Tarteausucre, Deantini, & FolkDiva!



In Jun 09 I participated in the Regional Food & Gift Swap ~ My partner was mandabears way over in Florida!

In July I joined in on the Summer Comfort Cafe event working primarily with beverage themes.

Also in July I started participating in the Unrated Asian Recipe Tag, which runs unti the end of August!

Favorite Foods:

My most 'famous' dish is probably my Outrageous Carrot Cake, although the Strawberry Disaster Cake is a close second. However, I really enjoy baking fruit pies, and find great enjoyment in combining several fruits together. One I'm particularly fond of is my apple cranberry pie, and when I say cranberry, I mean CRANBERRY!

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