Gramma's Pen

CHERRIES

2010-07-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

Since Monday is our new day off, Kedg did the grocery shopping while I dealt with some food indiscretion and took a short nap.She brought home the most beautiful cherries that glistened, smelled good and had my mouth watering, lots. My doc says NO fresh fruit or vegetables. I fixed that this morning for my breakfast.I just slivered the cherry meat off the pit and covered the bottom of my cereal bowl, added a half cup of oats, a sprinkling of salt and topped the matter with one cup of water. Then I zapped it in the microwave for two minutes. I added a bit of Splenda and a splash of mocha mix. VOILA!! I had a wonderful treat according to doctor's orders. I do not feel denied or unsderpriviledged any more.

fireworks

2010-07-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

As to the few firework displays we saw on Friday night, there was nothing really spectacular...some caught my eye, the round bursts with a filtering down of sparkles. That was pretty. We watched from JLG's upper deck so had an unobstructed view. Perhps because things were happening in about seven different locations the overalaal presentation seemed lacking something. Yet when I think of all the money they were saving to be put to better use, it all evens out in the end.

Our biologist granddaughter brouoght her two puppies over Sunday night to get them used to the sound of the mini-explosions. They didn't even raise an eyebrow, just looked bored. Of course, Bently, Lily,O Jack and Jill had a rip roaring time running around the back yard fetching and rolling and sniffing and marking.

But the peak of my vacation away from home with LaLaLee was watching her create a beautiful collage of some of the fabric from Kitzel. A whole quilt had been given. It included dark prints (both ivory based & white based. Our quiltmaker immediately separated those categories into two piles and took off from there with the ivory tones. On her sliding glass closet door in the sewingn-work room is attached a curtain that looks like a flannel backed plastic tablecloth. After ripping apart the quilt, she cut the large squares into triangles, sewed each to a triangle of plain ivory. Then began the fun. Onto the contraption on the door she started placing these little squares. A captivating design evolved as she maneuvered swatches around to her liking. The completed squares are somewhat like that called "Ohio Star" with an added triangle on each of the four corners. She really has an eye for color and blending. Now I'm anxiouos to see what she will do with the pile of white based squares.

LOOSE ENDS

2010-03-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

This is a good day to stand up, gather up, wrap up and finish up a number of my interesting projects that lie around in nooks and crannies sadly waiting for my attention. It just does not make sense to have five half-pairs of mittens, six half-pairs of booties, all in assorted colors. Also I have a pair of sox down to the last toe and last two heels for my youngest granddaughter's birthday LAST year, yes, 2009. Elizabeth Zimmerman has directions for an after-thought heel in her book which I lent to CC and am waiting for its return. (Rediculous excuse, eh)? Then there is the marine blue nubby sweater that I've ripped back a bit because Freckles thought it was too uncomfortably long. Nevertheless she does wear her starry night sweater every morning on her two=mile jaunt, even though it still does not have its little twinkling stars. I do have GG's fuzzy aqua sweater ripped out, washed and re-wound waiting for a shrug for Jailgy...even have her measurements which I took from a favorite green shrug. AND...to add to the chaotic confusion, my friend Debbi just gave me a garbage bag full of yarn, Red Heart worsted which is the kind I like to use for kid sweaters because they can be tossed into the washer and dryer. Then there is the pair of water-colored sox that knitterykate made me that are now missing their heels. I do need to repair the moth damage to Freckle's pink cable-knit, too. On my list before Canada trip is Dolly's smocked dark blue dress that in wearing became un-smocked. So, now what am I doing blogging?
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2010-03-26T15:10:00.001-07:00

GERANIUM

2010-03-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

Spring iz sprung
The grass is riz
I know just where
The flowers iz

Yep! In my front yard, and the back yard, too, I have bright red flowers blooming their fool heads off. GERANIUMS or is it GERANIA? What started out as a few cuttings from my neighbor, multiplied into much joyful happiness. My dreams of a good old English Garden disappeared a long time ago. Afterall, this is Hemet and Hemet nourishes only four things: cactus (which I abhor), spider plant, crape myrtle and geranium. Sometimes hollyhocks bravely struggle to raise their heads, and occasionally we'll find early sweet peas, but California poppies peter out, daisies wilt under the sunshine and heat, daffodils and iris bloom in a hurry and are gone before they have to experience those horrid blasts of dry, hot westerly winds. Because Freckles had some after work errands to do this week, I took Lily for her necessary walk up and down the front sidewalk. I so enjoyed coming home and being welcomed by those Chinese red f;owers, spaced out, standing straight and tall, daring the aftenoon sun to do its thing to try to wilt them. Ah yes,

"...trust in the living God,who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;" I Timothy 6:17

SCONES

2010-03-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

Recently someone said that life is just like a roll of toilet paper, that the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. I must be getting close, for my days are just whizzing by. To keep occupied usefully, I've started a collection of scone recipes and am in the process of trying them all out with the ingredients I find in the pantry. This morning my refrigerator held only one egg and I had to snatch that from Freckles for she was going to use it for her breakfast. Nevertheless, I found a recipe using only ONE egg...MOCHA-CHOCOLATE CHIP!. It has been our little ritual of late to settle down to a cup of tea when she gets home from work, just shortly after five. It is so relaxing to have a scone with our tea, then our supper follows much later at around seven. Lily (her highness white/apricot toy poodle) developed a hankering for any crumbs that might fall her way, even growls softly, not a whimper, to alert us to her need.

Scones are easy...just dump all the dry things in a large bowl. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender. Make a well in the middle and then pour in the wet ingredients. Stir, scraping dry bits from the bottom. Turn out on a floured board and pat into about 3/4 inch thickness. Then cut squares or triangles or even cookie cutter rounds and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bskr at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. So far my favorite is good old:

IRISH SCONES
1/2 cup butter (or margarine)
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar (I increased to 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 cup milk (I use evaporated skim milk)

You can also add chocolate chips, currants, raisins, dates or other dried fruits to the dough.

The recipe says to roll the dough out, but it is just as easy to pat it with floured hands so they don't stick.

Try them, you'll like them, even for breakfast.

In waves of creativity

2010-01-28T13:02:00.000-08:00

Do any of you out there in cyberland have undulating waves of interest? Does your knitting call you when you want to try a new recipe? Can you put down a project and pick up an exciting new book? Do you have the willpower and stamina to FINISH all those fun things you started last week, last month, perhaps a year ago? And then, Internew beckons. My last month, my "under the weather" month, I did not turn the computer on, I didn't read a book. I didn't even pick up a pen. I guess I just hibernated while sleeping and drinking water and Gaterade. Now that I'm better, I stay awake at night wondering which project I will attack first. So-o-o-o here I an wasting time on Internet. 'Nuff said.

Tying up the loose ends

2009-11-23T12:36:00.000-08:00

Here I am, sitting at my computer, on my day's march nearer home. A lot of water has passed under the bridge and I have had a very exciting, satisfying life here in this scene. My garage shelves are full of started projects...sad to say I work on one and come to a glitch or something and just put it aside for another day. Yesterday I found an almost completed sweater vest I was making for Barry when he was about seven. I had made the neck hole too small, so ripped it out and it is waiting for me to make the shoulder parts longer and to do the ribbing around the neck and armholes. Alas, at thirteen he hardly fits it any more. I do have other grandsons who will fit it nicely. Then there is the pullover size four baby sweater made with directions I have misplaced. It started at the bottom...then the sleeves, then put together (in the round) It has little lambs knitted into the yolk and when I looked for pink to do the piggies, I could only find (here at home) some baby fine yarn. Even using two strands, it did not look right. Tnen I spilled coffee on it. Another project was put aside. I plan to finish it now without knitting in any more animals...plain pale blue will do just fine. My great grandchildren have blue eyes anyway, just Helena's are brown. I feel very noble today because I finally finished weaving the last square of my afghan...now it comes to weaving in the hanging out tails.

Would you believe?...in our little back yard we have a brave daffodil blooming, defying the calendar, in all its shining yellow brightness?

Enough said...it's time to get out needles and tackle some unfinished projects.

One potato...two potato...three potato...four

2009-10-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

I am glad I like potatoes. I am REALLY glad. My several doctor friends are trying very hard to improve my quality of life in these years of fading away. Doctor Q says, by all means, cut out sugar to control your diabetes. Yep! I try. Doctor R says: "You cannot tolerate ANY milk products. (I LIKE cheese). Alas. Doctor X tells me I cannot eat anything raw. So there goes salad, and in California yet. Doctor Y suggests limiting fruit because of high sugar content. Oh my. Doctor Z quips salt is not good for your blood pressure. Doctor reminds me that spinach works wonders with vitamin K...remember when we had to increase your coumadin? Doctor W warns against cabbage, brussels sprouts, sauerkraut, cauliflower, broccoli and onions. (too much gas) My German heritage rebels and clings with ragged fingernails. Oh well. Doctor M cautions against anything with seeds. There go strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, poppy seed muffins and even zucchini. Doctor N says NO CHOCOLATE and he wasn't kidding. Mrs. Sees, it was nice knowing you.

Potatoes here I come. Whether boiled, baked, French fried, mashed, twice stuffed, scalloped, soup, stewed, roasted in a campfire, grated into pancakes, topping onto shepherd's pie...you are for me!

Now all you lurkers out there in cyberland, take a minute and say hello.

Grey Gramma's Bobby

2009-09-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

snuggled in the corner of his bed

clipped neat and clean, not stylish

found the patio after relieving himself

Then to the water dish

Four teeth

smelled spilled kibble and cleaned it up

cuddled inside my robe while we rocked in the glider

even put his head on my shoulder

licked my nose

Gobbled down several mouthsful of kibble

Back to the security of his bed behind the wing chair

what was his history

why does he have a lump on his ribs?

broken? mistreated? sore right shoulder, arthritis?

alpha dog gets to eat first

early bedtime, yet barks in anxiety

Is it for widdle, water, kibble?

used to lie across my lap when I was reading

now needs help to get up and down.

cloudy cataracts

hearing gone

smells Freckles as she whishes by

Feels the vibrations of her walk

Needs her closeness

his adoption

foster parent

down the hall and up into Freckles lap

we were gonners

happy, perky, skittery

slowed down, now rides for morning and afternoon walks

head peaks out from satchel unless cold

Getting Ready

2009-09-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

Peppertree development, all 33 of us are having a community garage sale on Saturday. Oh what treasures we've found! And to think they have been collecting and multi-plying on our garage shelves for most of the twenty-two years we have lived in this house. Just why do we really need to have a port-a-crib? When we have guests with small children they just use folded up blankets on the floor or egg crates. And in this age of electronics and electricity, why do we harbor a treadle sewing machine? There are boxes of Tupperware and pots and pans; camping equipment and oodles of vases and glassware. Some of it is quite pretty so no doubt we'll keep it and use it when we find some storage shelves in our kitchen. We're getting excited about decorating with SueBee's Party Flags and our party garlands of silver and green. We'll hang the Chinese lanterns and space out some outgrown clothes. Freckles already prepared some freshly planted terra-cotta saucers. Today I'll give some spider plant startings a home in pretty gray ceramic pots. Deb plans to bring some Austrian crystal earrings that she's made. I have some beach robes and towels for sale. Maybe CC will bring her 30's style aprons. I have been reminded that a garage sale is just that...getting rid of stuff!

Ikebana

2009-08-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

What a glorious feeling emerged! Freckles and I got busy before the heat really hit us, and armed with our oscillating fan, proceeded to clear out our garage shelves right beside the garage door. Oh what treasures we found! Oh what junk we got to throw away! Oh what potentials for our upcoming Peppertree garage sale! A little watering pitcher is basking in a layer of catsup to restore its brass gleam. From Japan, an iron trophy, bas relief and beautifully decorated urn shape is soaking away the crud inside. Stored away were some of my flat, bonsai dishes and also bases for sogetsu ikebana left over from the classes I took. So what happens now? I'm inspired to work again in these artful media. For whom? Well, the creations can always be used for presents. Besides it will bring back happy memories of the time we spent in the Orient.

Quilting

2009-08-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

How do you tell someone how to cut for a quilt when you don't know how to do it without drawing pictures? I'vw been using all, and I do mean ALL the descriptive words I know. When I live in the middle of Riverside County and my beginning quilter is in San Diego, I can't readily drop by for some "hands on" instruction. Basically, I don't want her to become discouraged. It can be loads of fun. I've always found it so. Marcia Hohn has some fabulous ideas (with drawings) on internet. They might come up in German, but your computer can, and will, translate for you. I made my first quilt for Babeeboobee out of tan, forest green and rust corduroy blocks sewn onto Suebee's old quilted fern green bedspread. You know, start by placing first block on the corner, then the next block, wrong side on top, stitching, folding out, then the next block. It turned out o.k., at least it was warm enough for another cover. The next quilt was for Legs on her 16th birthday. I did it log cabin style in shades of peach, green, brown and ivory. I don't know if it is still around or if it has vanished into never-never land. Then I bought some books, took some classes. Now I have some 42 quilts finished and given away. I have yet to do one for myself, although I have put aside the pattern of "Storm at Sea" that I think would be pretty in blues to match my draperies. Legs did take a class with LaLa and gave that project to me. I love to snuggle under it when I snooze in my recliner.

Chiyeko

2009-08-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

My usual routine in the mornng is to clear away all clutter from my kitchen counter and to load the dishwasher. Yes, my dishwasher claim is that you just load it and forget it. All the crud is supposed to wash away and swirl down the drain in its process. Perhaps I'm just a doubting Thomas from Missouri, but I always scrape and rinse before I load. It was while I swirled my sponge around the inside of the lid to my favorite pot that I thought again of Chiyeko...This San Francisco-born lady proved to be my best friend during our stay in Japan. We visited her in Tokyo and I lamented the fact that our furniture, etc. had not yet arrived. I was happy with my newly purchased rice cooker and the electric skillet we bought, but I seemed to think I needed a pot! Immediately Chiyeko rummaged through her ampile supply of kitchen equipment and found a prize for me, a pot she "never used" and presented it to me. I was so grateful. It was a very heavy duty aluminum pan with a tightly fitting copper colored lid. That was forty years ago. Many vegetables were steamed, a chicken carcass boiled down to make stock. It's where I alwaysI burned the limas and stewed the tomatoes for soup. It made applesauce and oatmeal, sauce for barbecue on the grill. I cherish my very favorite kitchen implement. But it is the love she showered on me that now brings a tear to my eye while I remember.

Old Crock

2009-08-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when reminiscing with old friends my memory was triggered back into that part of my childhood that included that old crock. It was really ugly, pale tan ceramic, bottom, dark brown on the top and inside, about two feet high, 15 inches in diameter. We kept it stored in the cellar of 1021 Chestnut Street in Columbia. Along about September after garden harvest, we brought it out, set it on the wash bench and started filling it with a layer of shredded cabbage, then a sprinkling of salt, another layer of cabbage and some more salt until we reached the top. After we put it back in the base of the fruit cupboard, we put an especially prepared rounded wooden lid on top and weighted it down with a piece of iron railroad track. In just a month or so we had SAUERKRAUT!

In summertime we used the crock again, this time we put a couple pounds of granulated sugar in the bottom, a crumbled yeast cake, a bottle of Hires extract. We worked it all together with hands, then added water to the top. Out came the funnel and our previously sterilized collection of bottles. We ladled the liquid into the bottles leaving about two inches space from the top. Aunt Myra lent us her capper...a Rube Goldberg apparatus with a base to hold the bottle, a lever and hinge we operated to affix the cap and bend the edges over the lip of the bottle. Carefully we carried the bottles up the cellar steps to the back yard where said bottles were lined up on their sides in the sun. Then came the magic! I guess the sunshine activated the yeast. Happily we stored them in the fruit cupboard in the cellar. We looked forward to refreshing summer coolers and root beer floats.

Do you remember?

2009-08-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

We had a very happy time "remembering" st Siam Garden again this noon. First there was lunch with the usual, wonderful care of our waiter/owner. The occasion was a get-to-gether of Marg, Sharon, Bev and me.(Sharon is here from her new home in Bonn Germany) in southern California visiting her daughter and worked us all in to her plan .And we did a lot of going back to the fond memories we have of our writing group. Some of the gang has passed away, and we do miss them: John B., Ira, and Marlene. Some have dropped by the wayside with other pursuits like Glen, Pat, Nancy, Jerry, Anita and Nina. Ingrid was out of town with Harry visiting family in Oregon or surely she would have joined. We do remember some of their offerings that showed much of their personalites and circumstances, foreign, farm, city, troubles, successes, children, parents and on and on and on. Each comment triggered another fond thought. Now I'm ready to put my feet up and take a much needed rest. Maybe I'll even fall asleep?

Wearing out

2009-08-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

Monday was a very stressful day. We just couldn't get my blood sugar under control. Freckles came home from her shop and spent three hours with me trying to help. I had insulin three times, she and Lily walked me in my nightie and straw hat, up and down the sidewalk. I drank (literally) a gallon of water. All this while we tried to get in touch with my doctor. It seems her whole office takes a two-hour lunch break and, of course, it was lunch time. Freckles had me get dressed and said we were going to the ER. I dragged my feet and said I'd like to wait to talk with Dr. Adeyemo. I guess my thought was that by the time we got there my sugar would be falling and I'd feel rediculous for wasting the ER staff's time. Gradually the levels did start to fall about ten points at a time. My ever caring daughter went back to work and I kept drinking water. You know, I then spent quite a bit of time in the bathroom. In my old age I have been having cravings for the comfort food of my childhood. I had "gravy bread" for breakfast, throw back from depression years. The advice nurse at SCAN said that was not the cause of the high sugar. We did get in touch with the doctor's office. Then, unthinkingly (I've done a lot of that lately), I opened a can of spaghetti and meatballs for lunch. Noodles always do a job on me. My two doctors have given me an eating program to prepare for my procedure on the 25th. No fruit. No raw vegetables; only cooked, no tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, corn, beans, no dairy products (yes, that includes cheese). My biggest challenge today is to plan meals to bring up the protein and cut down on carbs. Doctor called us last night and gave Freckles a detailed regimen to follow...what to do, and when to do it. We hope this helps.

Maybe someone out there in cyber-land can help me.

Doors, doors and more doors

2009-08-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

In the summer it is very, very hot in Hemet. (It's also hot in the spring and fall). It becomes so hot that it shorts out the controls to our garage door opener. There a trick we discovered that puts the apparatus back into function mode. However, this is only if someone is inside the house to maneuver the switch located just outside the kitchen door through a little cut out in the side of our appliance shelf wall. We reach in, flip the switch from up to down to up again and this shoves the door open. Freckles, granddaughter and I arrived home Friday from a pot luck/swim at Ken and Eunie's and were stranded outside. Our front security door has two locks, our paned front door has two locks. For the latter door Freckles had the key. For the former door she had ONE key. There was one key missing. All our windows were locked. Legs climbed over the fence to our back patio. Gingerly she broke the window to our bird cage and our computers. Thence she unlocked the window, crawled in, and did the magic trick to open the garage door. They proceeded to tape a beach towel over the opening and picked up all stray pieces of glass and went on to put together a fabulous tiramisu for the big spaghetti dinner the following night. Next morning Freckles took the whole window frame to Mayer's Glass and had the pane replaced at half price because the office manager was one of her clients. They figured out some kind of "deal." We decided this morning that I should carry a set of keys too, so that is added to our list of errands today.

Are we family already?

2009-06-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

Two months ago, Mr. and Mrs. Mouring Dove comandeered Freckles' favorite thriving hanging Boston Fern to use to raise their family of four little fledglings. She patiently watched while tender leaves drooped and dried. When the babies dropped out to nestle amongst the ivy while learning to fly, Freckles again watered the suffering plant. Even though the center was smished down, all that accumulated "fertilizer" kicked in and the Boston fern became lovely again under the shade cloth. Alas, the dove parents returned to start a second familly. With a vangence, Freckles chased them away, for a while. They returned. She moved the hanging fern closer to the patio door and substituted an empty pot in its place...not good enough. Mr. Dove flew into our house and perched on the ceramic pitcher (from Katz) on the refrigerator and glowered, scolding Freckles until she moved the Boston fern (complete with setting Mrs. Dove) back to its original spot. There Mrs Dove continues to "sit" and ponder the world around her. Mr. Dove is happy now and sings to her from his perch on the roof top next door. Resigned to fate, Freckles now waters from the back side under the bird. Said bird doesn't even flinch, just nestles further down into her nest. Do you think expected little ones will crack out of their shells with webbed feet? Time will tell. Meanwhile we enjoy his daily serenade.

FESTIVAL

2009-02-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago, we had a Dickens of a time! I guess that is really a minced oath so I won't say it. But, we did have a Dickens time. The city of Riverside obligingly closed off the streets downtown by the library and the spirit of Victoria reigned. Everyone joined in wearing their ideas of Victorian garb. We could not tell which were visitors and which were the characters from Dicken's picturesk books. Vendors lined the streets with their wares under tent-like contraptions. (They had had rain last year too). Four sided jobs with roll down flaps and a roof that rose to a peak. Everything from cameos to lace shawls, hats to sweaters, necklaces and leathergoods, fish and chips, Korean fare, tuxedos, agatae night lights, funnel cakes and yakitori were available. We, the three young ladies from Hemet and Pollyanna from LA had reservations with Freckles and me to indulge in the Victoria Tea. It was "high tea" and the basement room in one of one of the churches bordering the promenade and festivities. There was no ramp, so getting down the steps took some maneuvering by grabbing hold the sturdy iron railing. Our reservation was at table "0" in the furtherest corner, right next to the piano and the stage. Mop capped servers kept us well supplied tea (very good tea in fact). Each of us was served with cucumber sandwiches, scones, dark bread crammed with nuts and raisins, little cakes, and a gold foil wrapped chocolate candy. On the table were lemon slices and clotted cream and jam. During the repast three revelers provided song and somewhat of a dance, fancy steps anyway. Outside, old Scrooge shuffled from one end to the other in his nightcap and nightshirt carrying his snuffed out candle while mumbling "Bah Humbug. This added authenticity to the atmosphere. We also had Clan Gordon Troops with their bagpipes accompanying the color guard who raised the Union Jack (?) before the pagentry got underway. I think some sang "God Save the Queen" when she (a nicely rounded short dumpy lady) and her entourage entered the scene. I also vaguely aremember hearing "Rule Britannia" and some other sea chanties. A juggler took his place on the sidelines, made his bowler hat walk up his arm and plop onto his head. Also a street magician did his thing on the Library steps. When it started to rain and hail, several of us took cover in said library. Perhaps it was true, perhaps just quick thinking on the part of the head librarian, she called out for evacuationnn of the premisis because she said she smelled smoke. That sure got rid of the crowd in a hurry. Up and down the area wandered a redheaded curly man on high stilts wearing a kilt and wooly sox covering the wooden extensions of his legs. There were story-telling booths, short excerp performances by Dicken's characters. We missed some of these because the seats were situated in the rain. This did not seem to dampen any of the happy attidude of visitors. While we wandered, Pollyana took advantage of the expertise of the vendor and made a bonnet to match her lime green outfit. This was a gown sewn by her mother to fit in with a former high school presentation in early English Literature. The girls took turns helping Freckles push my wheel chair. It was handy not only to help me get around, but also a place to hang purses, etc. I took a nap in the car while the rest took a tour of the Mission. They were impressed with the grandeur and embellishments. Of course, it was a long hard day, and I turned in very tired and very happy that night.
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...............

Priviledge

2009-02-15T15:16:00.000-08:00

Today is the Lord's Day and we had that precious priviledge of remembering Him (our Lord Jesus Christ) and His death for us. It was solemn and happy too! I get real live goose bumps racing up and down my spine when I dare to consider how much He loves me and that He would have gone through that ordeal of humiliation, separation and pain, even if I were the only human being on the planet. From the chorus of one of our hymns "O, how He Loves."

Plumb, Plumber, Plumbing

2009-02-14T08:51:00.000-08:00

Rah, Rah, Hooray! In what our second and third plumbers told us would cost $480, Mr. Do-it-all-fixit-man repaired our problem in my bathroom in only one half hour. Was that original a scam or what? How grateful we are to have such close by friends, not more than a mile away. I had a nice visit with his better half while we basked by the fire burning brightly in our fireplace. Freckles helped with moral support in the back room. Our visiting lady said she had been working on a new sticker idea when doing scripture bookmarks yesterday afternoon. Also said they had found a new barbecue place where the two of them can have supper for $6 when they split a sandwich. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until next month before we go galivanting around eating out. We have lots of good stuff in the freezer because I just couldn't resist the special sales at Stater Bros. I do shop using the weekly flyer and the red tags on the grocery shelves. But you know, 99 cents a pound for chicken or pork strips is just too enticing to pass up.

We have decided against going to the quilt show this afternoon. My daughter reminded me that I have other projects to complete (quite true) and that I only get excitedly enthused when I see other peoples' work displayed. In fact, said daughter found not only the aqua and hot pink finished quilt top I started for Rapunzel's birthday last May, but also for myself, one Double Irish Chain in yellow, blue and frosty maroon already stuffed and pinned ready to stitch in the ditch and another top in watery blues and greens and a sprinkling of red accents. I should have my swiss cheese stuffed head examined, or maybe get off the computer and get some real work done. See ya later!

The plumber

2009-02-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

Now we have specialized workers to fix our sewer pipes, our drains, our fixtures in the bathroom, kitchen appliances, sprinkling systems. Don't dare ask the wrong one to fix the wrong thing!!! Alas and alack...Sunday morning our toilet overflowed all over Freckles' bathroom. We called "Rotorooter" I don't even care if I misspelled it. Lewis climbed up on the roof and rooted through the ventilator pipe twice and said it was fixed. I still get my feet wet when I go to use my facility...something is still leaking. Two gentlemen from the same company came this morning to check out the "repair?" and Mario told us the current problem was different. I asked why Lewis didn't fix it and Mario said Lewis did not do that kind of plumbing. Unbelievable. Guess it's like asking a Dermatologist to do lung surgery, or a Pediatrician to work with geriatrics. The first bill was well over $300 so necessissarily had to go on the credit card. Today Mario said $480. Silly old me thought that included the first charge. Ha, ha, no it didn't, it was in ADDITION to. I told today's visitors that I was a senior citizen, a very old senior citizen and should get a discount. He'd have to talk to his boss...Now why should I pay someone to watch what the other is doing? I called Freckles and she told them it was outrageous, that it would be a choice of whether they got paid or she could have health insurance. I called Bones to cry on her shoulder, whereupon she suggested I call our handy dandy fix anything friend John. He says he likes to keep busy, but helping the saints, he is ALWAYS busy just because he is such a nice guy. He promises to come by on his way home from painting another friend's house. He agreed, $480 is outlandish. Now it's lunch time and I'm hungry.

SESTINA

2009-02-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

iN JUST ANOTHER HOUR MY WRITING GROUP, THE WAYFARERS, WILL BE ARRIVING. I'M WORKING ON A SESTINA ABOUT THE FIFTH GRADE CLASS TRIP TO WILLIAMSBURG AND JAMESTOWN. IT IS EASY TO GATHER TOGETHER THE THOUGHTS, BUT I FIND IT QUITE DIFFICULT TO WORK IN THE PATTERN. CHECK IT OUT ON INTERNET...SIX STANZAS OF SIX LINES EACH IS EASY, BUT THEN THE PATTERN SWITCHES. kEEPING THE SAME ENDING WORDS AS IN FIRST STANZA, THE FOLLOWING STANZAS ARE: 6 1 5 2 4 3, 3 6 4 1 2 5, 5 3 2 6 1 4, 4 5 1 3 6 2, 2 4 6 5 3 1, THEN WITH AN ENDING THREE LINE STANZA (39 LINES IN ALL) CONTAINING WORDS 1 & 2,
3 & 4, AND 5 & 6. BETTER GO MAKE MY BED BEFORE THEY ALL GET HERE. HAVE A GOOD DAY YOU ALL.

Rain, rain, don't go away

2009-02-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

How happy we are to hear the rain in our bathrooms...it patters on the ventilators in the ceiling. It's almost as the patter on a tin roof. Can you see bright and gloomy at the same time? Since I haven't written for quite some time I felt I needed to get with it before I have to learn all over again and lose my password and all that good stuff. We have a fire going. Bobby is stretched out on a plush blanket, (my lavender plush blanket, my birthday present from LaLaLee). Lily is curled up on the end of the sofa as close as she can get to the fire. Bobby is not about to give up his space. I think she respects that. I'm feeling pretty good today in spite of my shenanigans last night before meeting. Becky needed my quilting tools for the "Wedding Ring" class she and LaLa are taking this morning. So I was able to retrieve my rulers and got down on the floor to pull out my cutting board which I had stored flat under the bed. Kedj pulled my other sewing supplies from the garage shelf. But, while she was rooting around on those shelves, I was stuck on the floor. My legs just would not work. The mattress was too high for me to get any leverage. Lily cried with me and I got lotsa kisses. Finally Kedj came back to see what was taking so long for me to get into the car for meeting. Of course I was sobbing because I got to feeling so very, very old. I was sitting with one foot flat on the floor, but it was the left foot and it does not work even to the getting in and out of the car. With her encouragement and a gentle shove from behind I was able to work my way over to my recliner and get leverage on the seat thereof, then the arms. I am so glad I did not fall, so I don't even have any pains beyond my usual low back (I've already taken my tylenol this morning. We are all excited about the Riverside Dickens' Festival tomorrow. Sadly more rain and even thunderstorms are predicted. If nothing else, we will enjoy the Victoria Tea.

I am so glad I signed up for another course in Memoir Writing with a different instructor. The group has varied backgrounds which makes it more interesting. Our assignment for next week is to write ten opening sentences that "grab" you and entice you to read further in your article or story. That is what I must do now for tomorrow will be in Riverside DV and Sunday is all day meeting.

My left thumb

2009-01-10T11:36:00.000-08:00

Some people may be able to use both hands well. I cannot spell the word that describes this condition. I am very, very right handed, I thought. Last night I made French Onion Soup with toasted Parmesan bread on top. I cut my left thumb along with the onions.

NOW...

I have to have help to hook my bra. I cannot turn pages in a magazine. I struggle to button Depends. I struggle to unbotton Depends. I cannot smooth out the wrinkles in said elastic. I need help pulling down my sweater. The toilet flusher handle needs the right hand. My cell phone is awkward, I used to use my thumb to press buttons while I held the instrument in my right hand. How do you open a milk carton without your left thumb? Is there another way to open skirt hangars. Try holding hangar in your left hand and pinch open the grippers with your right. I pull my skirt up with my left thumb. I hold the bottom of my sweater with my right hand, zip grabbing the tab with my left thumb and forefinger. I snap on my bedroom overhead light with my left thumb. I push the on/off switch by my bedside lamp with my left thumb. I use my left thumb when weaving, and also when knitting. I unsnap my safety belt with my left thumb. Woe is me. I might as well go back to bed and pull the covers up, but I need my left thumb to do that.

Wayfarers Meeting

2009-01-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

Our number has dwindled. This morning there were three of us, Ingrid, Dixie and me. We had a good time anyway. I.S. wrote about her grandma...how that broughtback memories of my own grandmas. My two stories were read from the computer screen again. Something is wrong with my printer (perhaps it is the computer operator). The message window says I have no ink. KJA put a new cartridge in last night. Then it says there is an error in the printer command. SO-o-o-o-o that is why I read from the screen again. I sent out e-mail messages. Maybe Marjorie is sick or something, or out of town for the holiday. I should have called Jerry because he doesn't have internet. Ah, well, one day at a time. I'll do better next month. Marjory and Jerry seem to be more interested in their poetry, which is very good.

Ingrid and I went to Mimi's for lunch. She had the Oriental Chicken Salad. I had the butternut squash ravioli with scallops. Alas, there were mushrooms in the sauce and a very good sauce it was. We got as far as Freckle's shop on our way home. Then those mushrooms had rushed their way through.

My visit to my primary care physician yesterday went pretty well. She LISTENS, then makes suggestions. She's happy with my a1C and coumadin check and my blood pressure is at the high side of normal. DKG called and made appointments for me for phyuical therapy. We'll see if it helps before we try cortisone shots, then a brace. She says x=rays prove that arthritis is riddling my spine. Right now I only have constant gnawing pain in my lower back. You know, where the dimples are. Tylenol usually helps, but last week I had to resort to Vicodin. I can walk pretty well with the walker as long as I keep moving. Standing for any length of time is out of the question. Mayabe if I get back to swimming, that will work out some of the kinks.

STUCK

2009-01-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

Now I've gone and done it. How can a simple chore like clearing away the breakfast clutter lead to such a frustrating mess. I don't know how to solve the problem. My sink drain, the one that leads to the disposal, is plugged up with a little old cheese or jelly glass. It JUST FITS! Of course the water cannot rush through, but sluggishly seeps down. I cannot get a grip on it. I cannot work a barbecue tongs around the edge. Perhaps Freckles can work her smallish hand in to move it out.

Another stuck situation happened when I started Sarah's mittens. I guess I pulled the loose end of yarn from the wrong end of the ball. How can you tell just by looking at it. Periodically I have to pull out a whole bunch of yarn and then try to work the knitting end free. This is not easy, especially when the said yarn is somewhat fuzzy to begin with?

Aftermath

2009-01-05T15:21:00.000-08:00

We're home from Conference, happy to have met and talked with some old, old friends. We're glad to have had some encouraging ministry, and didn't get overwhelmed with fatigue, Freckles saw to it that I rested, ate right, and didn't overextend. Alas, Saturday she came down with some horrendous malady, whether it was some kind of flu or bronchitis or a bad cold, or a combination of the three, we don't know. Truck driver went out Saturday night to get some Nyquil. We left after lunch on Sunday. My little gal went right to bed and stayed there. Well, she did get up and got herself to Urgent Care right around the corner from us. They said they would not accept her health insurance, but offered to see her for $95. She said thanks, but no thanks and came home again and got back in bed.

TIME OUT!!

LILY cried at the front door...that means move fast, so I did, fastened her two leashes so she had room to run. I didn't take time to get my glasses or my walker because her cry was urgent. Just as I stepped out the front door, old man black greased lightning swished out between my legs. He was off. Lily and I went down the sidewalk. Without my glasses I couldn't tell what was a tree trunk or wayward Bobbie. I guessed right and picked him up at Muneka's back gate. We three hobbled back to our front door, her doing business on the way. I did not have a bag with me so hope the deposit will wash away in the coming rain. The grass is patchy California gold and green so all is well hidden and not in anyone's walkway.

BACK AGAIN

lADYBUG took me shopping Wednesday so I could get dinner things. I forgot applesauce so my Galacia Ave relatives bought some on their way to dinner Thursday. Sir told his daughter, Dolly, that it tasted like pickles, so she was happy to eat sauaerkraut. I think she really liked it. The kids enjoyed the red hots in the applesauce, except Rapunzel who lined hers up on the edge of her plate. Bones took a trip to the pharmacy before dinner to get some medicines for the sicky we left at home to cough as much as she wanted. My little gal hasn't eaten anything but a scant bowl of ramen until last night when we had some chicken and rice. We plan on having tilipia tonight with a sauce of both green and black olives, chopped tomatoes, lemon juice, capers and finely chopped garlic.

While looking out my computer window, I see the wisteria has bit the dust. All leaves are crinkly brown. The bouganvilla that climbs our back fence and gate has withered from the frost and the blue plumbago by the garage door, likewise was kissed by Jack Frost. Freckles moved our Hibiscus in to bask in the morning sunshine. It has perked up after shriveling and still has shiny green leaves. The pot of narcissus shows evidence of rapid growth. They will no doubt bloom next month as February is usually our spring.

I must get back to my knitting of Sarah's mittens before that spring when she won't need them anymore.

errand day

2008-12-20T10:03:00.000-08:00

Wow!! I had a really good sleep last night I had stopped taking LUNESTA three nights ago and was experiencing eye opening to check the clock every hour on the hour. Last night was great...I slept from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. with only one wake up talking in my sleep. Freckles came in and gave me a hug and gave me fresh from the refrigerator water because what I was saying was that I was very thirsty. After a few sips I was fine and drifted right back to sleep. Many of my pills say "may cause dry mouth" and they sure do.

I'm still in my nightie and must get dressed warmly for outside, our trip to the appropriate banks, the fabric store, Penny's, pet store for bird seed, and lastly the supermarket. The pooches get dropped off at home befre our grocery excursion. Freckles said it really looked like snow this morning at six. There was frost everywhere. I'm glad we still had covers on our outside plants. They are really not the kind that will tolerate cold. I think we were down to the low 30's. Time's a wasting so I'd better get a move on.

COLD, COLD AND COLDER

2008-12-19T09:41:00.000-08:00

We knew it was coming, yes we did. After all that lovely rain it was bound to happen. As soon as Freckles got home from her shop last night she rushed out to cover our plants in the side yard and the patio. She didn't even feed the pooches first. For this they raised a great commotion, even a howl or two. With all the covering accomplished we settled down to a respectable winter meal: SAUERKRAUT, MASHED POTATOES AND BRATWURST. Yes, it did freeze last night. The hills around us and the roofs were covered with frost, even our front lawn.

I'm trying to use up all the bargains I have in my freezer so I can load up again for our after-conference guests. I'd had that bratwurst for a while. Tonight we plan to have some kind of shrimp quiche. I don't know yet whether I'll use the frozen pie crust or the frozen filo. I made a spinach tart about a month ago from the Eating Well magazine. For some reason Freckles is apprehensive about my improvising when I don't have all the ingredients, so it's been suggested that I google to find an appropriate real recipe.

It just so happened that the Acasia Business Center Compound had its Holiday Party on Wednesday. Twenty-nine people showed up, all laden with yummy food offerings. The folks gathered in the empty rooms in Building B. Freckles decorated with twinkling clear lights we often use for parties, running down the buffet table. They were nestled amongst a line of white feather boas. This is the reason we have some of the leftover shrimp. There were three offerings of those shrimp rings with the containers of sauce in the middle. How could they possibly use three when the table was also laden with smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, bean salad, potato salad, macaroni salad. They had to use our antique oak table to hold all the desserts. The sink in the side room was filled with ice and Martinelis. It was a happy time and the tenants got to chat while they ate, which is a whole lot more than a nod in greeting to and from in the morning and evening.

I've been working on my Cattle Drive story. The more I research, the more bewildered and amused I've become. So this is all for today.

Rain, rain, don't go away

2008-12-17T12:30:00.000-08:00

So it's gloomy out there, already. We're having beautiful, steady rain. Perhaps this will help dampen all that dry stuff on the hillsides. It's sad though, that the already scorched earth leftover from last summer's raging infernos is now just great big mudslides.

So far, neither Freckles nor I have caught the nasty bug that is hovering around every corner. We wash our hands a lot. All that money Freckles handles must have been in horrendous places, handled by multitudes of people. Therefore we wash, wash, wash. That's a good habit to ingrain before conference.

Bobbie has reservations to stay with Vickie again this year. Lilly has to go to stay with Dr. Ballenger. She is so apt to attack any other dog...you know, just snap and growl. I don't think Freckles has allowed her to get close enough to bite any pooch. She has even snarled at German Shepherds on their morning walk.

Now I'm going to try to decipher the "recipe co-op" that's going around. I have a good recipe for red cabbage. If I can't do it, I'll be back.

Hello again, finally

2008-12-16T07:28:00.000-08:00

It's 42 degrees out there on my patio. Brrrrr. I'm sitting here in my sweats and Knittery's sox and my spiffy new pink polar fleece robe that Freckles made me. It wraps all around and doubles in the front and reaches the whole way to my ankles. I don't believe it's needful to turn on the furnace as long as I can just put on another layer. Oh what a rain we had yesterday...I had Juana help me move my cypress tree/lantana pot out from under the eaves so they could catch some of that precious liquid sunshine. Yellow Bird (Luciano) is twittering away his happy song. Of course, like our last canary did, he's doing his best singing while Freckles is in the shower. Bobby went to see Dr. Ballenger, and came home with some special pain pills that he gets to take at night so he can sleep well. He sleeps most of the day, too. He still goes out every morning, but ends up in his walker's zip up windbreaker after a very short while. After all, he'll be sixteen in February, and that's pretty old for a poodle.

For the last month or so I have been trying to blog, honest! It's just that I am not very computer literate and wasn't able to get to the site. None of my maneuvers helped. When the gang got back from their walk my special friend/daughter pushed the right buttons, so here I am again. Good Morning!

My subscription to "Eating Well" has been inspiring. Last night we had roasted root vegetables along with our baked Tilapia. Yum. I just pared and quartered beets, turnips, sweet potato, onion and carrots, spritzed over some olive oil and shook over some garlic salt and rolled them in the casserole, baked at about 325 degrees for an hour. I'll use the beet greens and red cabbage tonight. Another new recipe we gleaned from Ina Garten:

Rolled, stuffed, pork tenderloin
Cut one pork tenderloin through the middle long wise, not quite the whole way through
Then cut the two halves almost the whole way through.
Place the meat between two layers of Saran wrap and pound with the end of a saucer.
One block of cream cheese, softened (flavored is fine)
One slivered in a bit of olive oil red bell pepper.
A small handful of chopped chives
two slices of rendered bacon crumbled

Spread the cream cheesee over the meat
On top put the sauteed peppers slices, chopped chives and bacon
Roll the whole business and tie.
Season the roll with garlic salt and paprika
Bake for 30 minutes, then let it set for 10 minutes before slicing.

This fed seven people for Sunday Dinner. Daniel came by and finished off the two leftover slices. Freckles had it all ready to go and put it in the oven when we got home from meeting. Meanwhile we did the salad (baby greens, pears, sauteed sugared pecans, crumbled feta and balsamic vinegar) and poured water in the glasses. Try it, you'll like it. I'm ready to try other stuffings.

Oooops, here comes the sunshine.

Hip, hip, horray!

2008-10-25T09:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a real BANNER DAY all day long. First off Freckles made me coffee in her French press. Bones came by as I was having lunch of a few leftover hash browns from the golf course restaurant and steamed spinach. (I do love spinach). She had a bag of sushi and miso soup, and sat right down and we chatted together while we relished our Japanese meal. I even shared my wasabi because she didn't get any. No sooner than I heard the garage door go down after she left, it went up againa to admit Ladybug who had agreed to take me to the optometrist to pick up my new glasses. I'm getting so scatter-brained that I stood in the elevator while she parked the van. I kept pushing the black button that said "2" and nothing happened. I didn't feel the car moving. I pushed open and saw I was still on the ground floor. So I pushed closed and then "2" again...still nothing. By that time Ladybug had arrived and looked me in the face when I pushed open again and found myself still on the ground floor. Ah, well, then I realized it was the little white clear button beside the "2" we moved up. I like my new glasses, this time they are pinkish plastic and a lot lighter on my nose. Because I didn't plan to go out again that day, I got into my nightie to relax. I was on my way to the kitchen toi make some popcorn when the doorbell rang. With my new windowed door I was able ti see ut was LaLa so I opened to her. She brought the quilt she had made for JRL and CT. It is absolutely beautiful...chocolate brown with pale blue accents. She calls the pattern Double Nine Patch. She also made a pillow embroidered (on her new electronic machine)) with some leftover pale blue from the quilt...her favorite wedding verse.

So, there you have it. Rather I must say I had it...visits from all four of my California girls on the same day. I am so grateful. I even got e-mail from my daughter up North. Isn't the Lord good to me?

No longer fat

2008-10-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

Early Thursday morning Freckles called out: "Who wants to ride in the car?" and you know who skidded around the corner of the hallway, slid into the kitchen and barked at the back door. Little did they know they were on the way to the "beauty shop." First stop though, was at the vet so Lily could get her shot so she would be ready for her surgery next week. It seemed everything was going well until early afternoon when Freckles got a call from Kelly and Vanessa that Bobbie was crying. He came across the parking lot from the groomer, (now they are skinny) She spread out some of her old sweats and Bobbie slept the afternoon away under her work station. They are beautiful, Lil's ears are finally poodle-looking. When we first got her, she had been so matted from no care, that they had to cut out the snarls. Today Sue is to come get me to pick up my new glasses. The doc said it has been four years. So, I'm not driving anymore anyway and I take my glasses off to read. I just didn't bother. This time SCAN covered almost everything...sure a lot better than Sears Optical. The McC clan has decided to have one BIG estate sale. That way they'll be able to combine three households of S T U F F and get rid of the clutter, I hope!

As Doug said Tuesday night: "It's down to 90" so we're having sauerkraut and mashed potatoes with bratwurst tonight. We're using up some of the Idaho potatoes that Karen and Phil brought back from Aberdeen.

Cooling Down

2008-10-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

This week started off with a trip to the Optometrist. Freckles took me before going to work and stayed because for some reason I was feeling apprehensive. About an hour later I was prescribed with a 20/30 correction for my left eye. With a shrug of the shoulders Dr. Lane announced that the vision in my right eye was two fingers at three feet...a failed corneal transplant. It's a good thing I'm not driving anymore.

My #1 granddaughter sent me an address for an inspiring collection of recipes:

http://smittenkitchen.com

I tried the meatballs and spaghetti which made the most delicious meatballs I had ever made, really tender. Then I made the beef, leek, barley soup which was absolutely fantastic. It was really a no brainer because I just put in the crockpot two meaty short ribs, two sliced leeks, two sliced onions, 1/2 cup barley and eight cups of water. After chilling in the fridge overnight it was a simple thing to take of the fat in the morning. You'll notice no salt...I try to cut down so it will be necessary to add to your own taste. I'm still chuckling at DJ's comment last night after meeting when I said it was getting to be soup weather. Yes, he said, It's down to 90 degrees.

We've been having Santa Ana's so we have a red flag fire danger. Talk about California green and gold...we sure have a lot of gold dry stuff out there. It's time for my coffee RIGHT NOW!

+

June Gloom in May

2008-05-07T11:42:00.000-07:00

Somehow I couldn't settle down last night. Yes, I went to bed at a decent 10 o'clock, but tossed and turned. Then Bobby and Lily joined me and played hop scotch beside me. I went to the kitchen and ate the leftover asparagus. Kedj had tossed it with lemon juice and Butter Smart (from Smart and Final) and it was delicious, without the butter I love. We had Tilapia and French Fried Sweet Potato (in the oven).

Maybe the sun will come out this afternoon so I can finish painting the patio table black to match the chairs. I did them for the Bistro Shower for Heather. Now they'll match. We have new cushions for the occasional chairs and the covers on the dining chairs and glider blend nicely. Would you believe: pale yellow with a gray green and ORANGE big print. I even like them, even though orange is my very un-favorite color.

The yardman is busy cutting the front lawn. Lily is on the back of the sofa and has nosed through the blinds and is telling him just how to do it. I'm sure she would be out there supervising if she could dig out the pile of rocks Kedj put against the fence. Our wisteria is going to town slithering half-way across the arbor over the swing. It was really too cold to go out to watch the morning today. We usually have our wake up coffee there.

This weekend we have our fellowship meal after B of B. We are getting tired of our usual Caesar Salad...thought we'd try some mixed baby greens and some added extras. Does someone have any ideas to share?

It's time to blow my allergy nose, water the hanging fuchsias outside my computer window and to have another cuppa.

Surprise...surprise!

2008-05-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

Last night on her way home from the shop, Kedj just happened to stop and get me a new printer. The sales clerk assured her it would fit my old PC so she bought it. We'll see tonight if it really does work for me. Of course, she has her printer right next to my PC but...it is too modern to accommodate my machine. I have not been doing my "memoirs" lately. Kedj's laptop keyboard isn't as easy to maneuver. Besides, it's too much trouble to rearrange the chairs, etc. I'll get out my notebook of jottings and thoughts to put together. I might even get the last two verses of the sestina that's been in the works for such a long time.

True to the day...our star jasmine has popped its buds into fragrant blooms. By the calendar, it always blooms in May. Kedj had to bring in the Boston ferns because the mourning doves threatened, then actually attempted to put their next nest in the middle. We didn't mind so much when they used the hanging geranium baskets last year. Jenny and Benny Wren thought the crafty houses made at Pine Summit were pretty neat until they discovered there was no cross ventilation and the afternoon sun beat down upon them...they moved on.

Sometimes I neglect to check my sugar level in the mornings, then eat a couple slices of a really ripe fresh pineapple and have two of those mini sandwich cookies in the afternoon. I've been feeling pretty punk lately. Before I went to bed last night I checked...only to find I was pushing 300...no wonder. Today I'm back in the saddle and am keeping a chart of what I actually do eat AND how much. I won't include calories on the chart, but will watch those 1/2 cup portions and drink lots of water.

We're getting ready to go into the beach tomorrow night after traffic clears a bit...project on the horizon is a slipcover for the barrel-backed occasional chair and a pot of Polynesian Curry with fixin's. Kedj needs a break, I go along for the ride.

Not so blue Monday

2008-04-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

This morning I didn't wake until 8:04...the trick was that Kedj had closed my bedroom door so that our "children" did not rush in to greet me with bouncing on my feet and whispering slobbery sweet nothings into my ear. Kedj took our little Princess Lily out for a brisk two milw walk through the neighbrhood while dear old man Bobby rested serenely on his bouncy chair in the sun, on the patio. This I was told because I was still fast asleep behind my closed door.

We had breakfast, me at the patio table and Kedj and the doggies on the swing in the sunshine. We wear sun visors. because the morning sun blasts in from the east through all the greenery to the west. Freckles even tilted the awning on the swing to shield some of the blaze from our faces. At first I wondered at this maneuver...afterall Shawn had built a very substantial gazebo type covering. It is beautiful, and the wisteria already has wrapped itself around the NE post and is slithering across the top. I was wishing those lovely purple blooms would hand down through, but I guess I'll have to wait until next year. Do you remember the lovely patio cover our dear brothers Ray and Ernie built for us at Jennifer? The wisteria sure did its thing there. Evidently the new owners took it down because the dropped blossoms made a mess in the pool. Incidentally, that old house has a new room added on the west end next to the kitchen and dining room. Also it has been restoned with a pretty blue concoction. All my "grandchildren" trees have been removed. There is a driveway along the west of the property for parking their RV.

Last Spring when Kedj and I drove up north for Jim and Gen's anniversary party we just happened, no, made a point of visiting our old neighborhoos in San Leandro. Duffy's is still there, but I guess all his recipes went with him when he passed away. Our house on Broadmoor is now painted a lovely apple green with white trim. The garage also is newly painted. Those old walnut trees bit the dust. What used to be our kitchen is now a huge Grandma bedroom, convenient because it is right next to the little bathroom. Next to it towards the back yard is a new modern kitchen that is accessed through a door that used to be a window at the end of the family room. Everything is manicured...even has a wrought iron gate at the front of the driveway instead of the broad redwood one I had fashioned with a wheel on the bottom because it was so heavy. The front yard is lush (I think they have a gardener). Of course, the lower branches of that ancient deodar cedar have been trimmed. It still spreads across our whole width (50') and across our neighbors yards too. Those old camellia bushes stand like sentinels on either side of the yard, are blooming their full heads off. The new owners graciously took us in to see what appeared to be a model for a fashion magazine. The whole house is hardwood floors. It was furnished elegantly in a traditional style. Gone is the separate tub and shower room, it is now all one great big room.

Our drive through the town was eerie in the fact that everything looked so small. Kedj did take time to go throuh her old schools, Bancroft and HS.

Back to today. It is a delicioyus feeling to have the table cleared, kitchen cleaned up and makings for super started in the oven. I had put together ground pork and ground beef, an egg, chopped onion, bread crumbs and Worcesterswhire sauce for meatloaf. Overnight it kept cold in the frig. This morning I took it apare to make meatballs. I suddenly came to my senses that the two of us did not do a whole meatloaf and it's not exactly a companay meal. So now the meatballs are partially cooked (in the oven), are cooling to be ready to be packaged in our sized portions, for the freezer from which they can turn into: Swedish meatballs, Spaghetti and, Stroganoff, etc, etc.

I'm feeling pretty good this morning. My lower back aches a little bit, but that too will pass when I get to moving around a bit. Guess I should get some more Glucosamine Chondriton. If our President takes it, it must be good enough for me.

HATS

2008-04-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

Do you remember when all the ladies came to meeting wearing hats? Do you remember when only the senoritas in Spain and Mexico wore mantilla's with high combs? Do you remember that that was an indication of Catholicism?

Not so very long ago there was a family of three girls and a boy. Their father insisted that they attend mid week meetings, no matter what! The oldest one came after a late class,to prayer meeting without a hat (horrors of horrors) but fashioned a covering with paper towels and bobby-pins. I thought that was a great idea. No so father! He ranted and raved and said emphatically "the bible says hats." Not so meek daughter replied: "does it?" 'Nuff said...we wear a covering because of the angels...

Yesterday our lovely lady wore a gift from her granddaughter...a bright dark blue feathered creation with just a hint of bright orange peeking out here and there. She called it an "antique" from HRH's collection. JLG tried it on for it matched her dress too. We continued on with conversation as to what hat goes with thick hair, and what kind of hat goes with thin hair...not sure we came to any conclusion.

Creeping, crawling

2008-04-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

My speed has diminished. My steps are faltering. My balance was left by the wayside. I am happy. I am satisfied. I am blessed. I have never been in want. The Lord has always provided. There are many things I can do...not the least of which is writing. In my purse I keep a notebood, about 5"x6" and in it I jot down thoughts I need to expand at a later time. You know, things like Sleigh Rides snuggled under woolen blankets, riding with new snowflakes that tickled my nose. I can still hear the horse clop, clop along in soft, fresh powdery snow, snorting steamy breath. He wore little bells on his harness that tinkled on our way. Then there was the stop for hot chocolate with marshmallows and donuts. Yes, I can still smell that cocoa.

I don't know why I'm thinking of snow. This morning the four of us, Kedj, Bobbie, Lily and I sat out on our swing and watched the birds. We'd moved the swing from the patio to the front of our little garden where we have the pavers. Kedj has placed a row of the scalloped edging stones flat along the pavers. This makes it just wide enough for my walker. We were able to get a narrower wrought iron type glider and new cushions for the patio. Of course we did all this before my hospital bill came...from a collection agent yet. I hadn't even received a bill for my stay in July. At any rate, they waived the interest and agreed that I could pay $100 a month. The Lord is good! By telephone I arranged to have the little that is left of my old IRA transferred to my account at WAMU. Heath, the fellows who are now wearing orange jumpsuits in jail sure messed up everything for lots of Hemet senior citizens. We're doing just fine...now that the nice weather is here I spend a lot of time in our extended home outside. It seems we have the space of a mansion. Now that it is already Saturday, we have compiled our list of weekly chores/errands. I've had my coffee (Kedj always makes it first off) so I'm ready for breakfast. I'm having poached egg on spinach, ww toast and some cantaloupe balls.

Yes I know I used their instead of there.

2008-04-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday

2008-04-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

This is the day I usually rest up from the week-end. I know, I should spread out the activity. Both on Saturday Morning and today I had ventured out to go to the swing under the wisteria trellis. Garage Door had helped Kedj move the swing to the trellis so we could install our new glider on the patio...(just happens to match our black mesh chairs). Anyway, while Mr. and Mrs. Dove sat on their nest along the chimeny to the inside fireplace, watching, a pair baby doves sat on the swing in the sunshine. Lily was upset by the cooing noises, but was unable to locate the little guys. Their opalescent gray feathers blended right in with the fawn gray striped swing cushions.

When we got home from meeting yesterday, only Bobbie was their to greet us. We separate the dogs. Bobbie in my room and Lily in the kitchen area. We leave the sliding patio door open just enough to allow doggie access. Once before, Lily had escaped...she dug out under the fence and bushes to the front yard. That time she was just lolligaging around close to the front door. Kedj had dutifully place big rocks at the base of the fence, except one spot she piled up dirt on top of the rocks. Yep, Lily is a digger. We found a note pinned to our screen door telling us that they had Lily on their patio. Good thing we had bought a heart medallion to put on her collar that had her name, address and telephone number. Kedj went to the neighbor to retrieve the runaway. Unbeknownst to her the little black pooch slipped out, scampered away, and was returned by another friendly neighbor. Garage Door stayed for lunch yesterday. He piled more rocks (I seem to have an endless supply) against the bases of the fence all around. Lily only tries this mischied when we are both gone.

I'm almost finished the collection of recipes for Knittery to put into booklet form. I'm working on salads from way back during the depression. So far only Tara has responded with her choice. Anybody our there in cyberland have any requests?

Even though I have my bed made and the kitchen back in order, I'd better get back to finishing some writing. I have letters to write too. Only then will I venture back to knitting finishing. I have a big plastic in the bottom of my closet calling me. It is filled with "alost done" projects.

Purpose

2008-04-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

Acts 2:17--And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams...and I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

And it shall come to pass...

My great-grandson in Marysville has wonderfully accepted the Lord. He is only 4 years old. Already he is trying to show his almost 3 year old brother the way. But, sadly, said brother just turns away. How frustrating.

Just why are we left here in this scene? What job do we still have to do? Are we ready and willing to respond to that soon coming shout?

This morning I felt very noble, pleased with myself, because my bed has been hastily made and I actually cleaned up the kitchen before I sat down at the computer to read my mail, comment on blogs, and to send a few messages to my family.

I thought surely we would have rain today as my there were twinges in my lower back last night. Two Tylenol at bedtime fixed the situation. I slept well and am ready to go up, or just to keep on keeping on.

I'm trying to submit to Knittery the old time recipes from my childhood, you know, those we used during the Great Depression. I didn't know we were really poor. We were happy because we had each other. Also, my Dad and Mother always had a garden. Dad planted and cultivated. Mother canned and canned. Gratefully, Uncle Hoss had a small grocery store and often advanced necessities like flour and sugar and salt. My gramma made butter by shaking in a quart jar, the top cream from the milk bottle. This was before everything was homogenized. Most of my children have asked for a favorite recipe from their childhood memories. So, that is my next project, starting right now.

Chicken

2008-04-02T12:12:00.001-07:00

Whoo Hoo...I did it again. A very nice Wednesday Morning Blog has disappeared into never-never land.

I'll just ask those of you out there who remember childhood food fancies to let me know so I can include the recipes for Knittery to put into our family cookbook.

Fool's Day?

2008-04-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

Good Morning All...What a way to start the month...we had breakfast at Seven Hills. A real bargain for we had two eggs, toast, hash browns and all the coffee we could drink for only $2.99. That means Kedj and I both can eat for just over $6. I guess there are places that charge that much for only a hamburger. Last Saturday we did splurge...there is just no way we can do sushi and sashimi at home. We do know how, and do have the mat to roll it in, also the seaweed laver, but we don't keep on hand the vinegared rice nor the crab. Just for lunch it was almost $30. We did enjoy it, the sashimi, especially the green tea ice cream. Saturdays I usually try to have a substantial breakfast before we take off on our jaunt.

This week we drove out to Corona to a liquidation bankruptsy sale at a patio furniture warehouse. In the ad they promised up to 95% off some items. We had seen a two-seater glider we thought we wanted for the patio. That way we could move the swing down under the gazebo. Alas, the mini gliders had been sold, so we went away empty handed. Could have bought some bouncy chairs for $75 each but decided we already had enough chairs. We stopped at Home Depot on the way home and found just what we needed, that matched the metal mesh on the two chairs we already had. Then because cushions were on sale that day, we got a big white magnolia print on a pretty yellow green fabric for our plain chair and our bouncy chair, and the new glider. (The bouncy chair is the one that has sunshine all day long and is where Bobby sleeps). He loves the warmth of the sun. At night he sleeps right in front of our little space heater in my bedroom.

Now for the good news. My great-granddaughter, Rapunzel, has asked to be baptized.
And my great-grandson in Marysville has happily accepted the Lord. Hallelujah!

This is prom and wedding season so Kedj is really busy at work. She packs a salad every morning because she has a few extra pounds to shed. She and her like short friend in Shadow Hills weigh the same and both think they need to get rid of 10 pounds. We'll see who wins.

Now is time to get to some letters. I really struggle with hand written notes because the computer is so much easier.

All because of Calvary,

JWMA

PSALM 116

2008-03-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

Years ago, while we still lived in San Leandro, Uncle Dan put this lovely psalm to music. I don't remember what chords he used on his trusty guitar, but the message flowed as we sat around the fireplace in the family room. I remember it often and am grateful for the family the Lord has given me. We love each other, even with some of the rough edges still rough. But, when jostling around with each other we do tend to wear off some of those rough spots. After all, it is the giving of ourselves that we do achieve true happiness. Verse 12 asks: "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?" Verse 17 suggests: "I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord." Can we do less?

All of us are slowing down. It is good to recognize our individual capabilities and limitations and to live accordingly. Gone are the days I delighted in having 42 for sit down dinner. I have fond memories of our get togethers with themes...the Irish, the Greek with stuffed grape leaves and baklava; Italian for Jim's birthday; Oktoberfest; Hawaiian Hukilau beside the pool with appropriate games; the potato bake after Henry and his 8-month pregnant daughter gleaned the fields in Winchester.

Soup worries with diet without potatoes, Butch struggles with weight and diet controlled diabetes, our Kakalena puts too much on her plate to maneuver, Lala Lee is all quilted out. Freckles wears her arm brace day and night but still hurts, Bones has just plain accepted Hashimoto's Syndrome...nothing to be done anyway. I am glad to wake up in the moring one day's march nearer home.

Furry Friends

2008-03-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

Saturdays we sleep late. I didn't get up until 7:30. Freckleface was already out on the patio doing things to what we had stored back in the front corner by the chimney...boards, painted and unpainted, pots, shards, etc, etc. Bobbie and Lily had decided to rest the last few minuted with me. they knew it was Saturday so they both stretched out full length and yawned.

Bobby is reluctant to go walking with Freckles every other morning. He just looks at her with one eye opened. Lily doesn't want even to go outside. So they stay home with me.

When we adopted Bobbie we took him to the vet for a look-over. Dr. Ballenger said he looked to be about five or six until he came to his eyes. "Well, he's a senior citizen...he has cataracts, he must be about ten" he said. That was five years ago. He has been spunky and frisky until lately. Evidently he must have arthritis because he can't jump as high and moves more stiffly. He gets part of a baby aspirin with his supper. We think this helps him get a good night's sleep anyway.

Lily, at a year and a half, wants to play, to wrestle and jump around. She licks his neck, his ears, but when she licks his nose he rebels. He doesn't like kisses. The last hour both have been on the patio swing with me while our other roommate scurries around rearranging the stuff out here. The Spring Fever Bug has bitten.

Tomorrow is the Sunday School Treat in Shadow Hills. My two great-granddaughters plan to spend the night so they can leave first thing in the morning. KJA will pick up Roger for the trip. J and D will trade passengers and take me to meeting.

And the thunder rolled and rolled and rolled

2008-03-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

Could that be thunder? It's not warm enough for one of those refreshing summer storms, yet...

I opened one eye, the right one, I can only wink my left eye...the right one doesn't see much. Anyway I perceived that hazy pre-dawn gentle light filtering through my blind and drapery. The digital clock on my bureau said 6:52. I tried to go back to sleep even though two furry balls took their half of the bed out of the middle. I clung to the edge.

Bump, bump, bump...in my half-awake state I dreamed Kedj was doing the treatment of our white things in the washer...Now a rattle, rattle, "HELP ME! HELP ME! M-O-M!!!" I came fully awake and bounded out of bed I stumbled down the hallway...her room was empty, the bathroom was empty. The dogs followed, curious, but not barking because they recognized her frantic call. The living room was empty as was the kitchen and dining area. There she was in her bed socks and robe out on the patio shivering.

The back gate was locked and the key was hung inside by the garage door. She couldn't climb over the fence like Comfortably Crazy does because we had moved the garbage can into the garage. The curtain rod that secures the partly open sliding glass door had fallen back down into the track. Two happy waggy tailed creatures slipped out the opening to greet her...I removed the rod and slid open the door so poor little Kedj could get back into the house to warm up with a hot shower. Three of us went back to bed.

What a way to start the morning!

Lily

2008-03-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

Somewhere out there in never-never land in the beginning of this post. This morning, Kedj took Bobbie with her on their two-mile swift constitutional. It is just too much effort to chase and catch Lily. She doesn' want to go. However, when the two exercisers came back home there was her ladyship lollygagging around in the sun in our front yard, (thank you very much). She had dug herself out under the front fence. Bobbie has never attempted to dig. Kedj fixed the escape hatch with some bricks. Hope this helps.

We wonder about all this activity. At first we thought he needed company when we were gone. Once when we returned from an extended outing he was on the porch swing howling at the moon. It was a pitiful, but gentle howl. It made us feel sad. I didn't ask the neighbors what they thought. Lily torments him mercilessly. But there is some togetherness...they both hightail it to the front door when the bell rings and to the back door when the garage door opens. When I take my afternoon nap I usually have her draped across my hip and Bobbie settled on my ankles.

Time will tell. Kedj was told that she could return the bundle of licks. She lost her last home because she couldn't get along with the other dogs in the family.

Maybe I can find the first half of this blog and send it along.

Her Ladyship, Lily

2008-03-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

We wonder now if we have made a mistake or if we are getting too old to adjust to new situations.

When Bobbie went in to the groomer, he was treated well, got his winter coat trimmed, and came home looking lovely, but with a friend. Her immunization papers called her "Cha Cha" but that didn't seem to fit. Kedj suggested "Poppy" but that sounded too much like "Bobbie." We settled on "Lily" because it does seem to fit and she answers to it.

Her coat had been badly matted and soiled. The groomer cut short ear feathers. She is creamy white with an apricot tinge to her ears and tail. She is soft and cuddly, about a year and a half old. But she gives everybody kisses. Imagine waking up in the morning with someone wet whispering in your ear. She kisses Bobbie's neck, his ears, his nose. He does not like this at all.

We arrived home from Saturday's Shower for Jenny to find Bobbie quivering on top of our dining room table. Of course we held him and loved him and he settled down.

To anonymous...whoever you are

2008-02-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

For all those lurking, Good morning! Hello to my friends, too. We're having a heavy drizzle, sometimes mist, sometimes pouring rain. I'm so glad all the budding spring things are being given moisture in just the correct amounts. On our common side yard are some brave hollyhocks volunteering from last year's harvest. I think I'd better go out between raindrops and label them so the yardman does not make a clean sweep and uproot them. They're only about 5" tall, but already have those rounded, rough, crinkly leaves.

I just finished my breakfast: Poached eggs and asparagus on black rye toast with leftover (broken down) Hollandaise sauce. It didn't look pretty but the wonderful flavor was still there. It didn't really matter because my eyes are still somewhat fuzzy from yesterday's dilating drops which haven't worn off. KJA (do you know who that is) had the fire going when I got up. It was just enough to take off the chill and dampness of the morning.

Now I'll think abut getting dressed, probably in my pink sweats. For some unknown reason, when the backs of my lower legs, or my shoulders, get cold, I'm cold all over. Mostly I sit and read or knit all wrapped up in a blanket the whole way around.

Bobby, our toy poodle, was howling a sad, pitiful, lonesome expression when we got home from reading meeting last night. KJA commented that perhaps we should adopt a friend for him (yowee) because he is so lonely when we are both gone. When we tell him to "watch the house" as we are leaving, he turns, climbs into his bed and pouts.

Now we are into planning a Sunday Dinner, a roast yet! It's been so long because it seems wasteful to do a roast for only two people. Until now, I haven't much felt like having any company. If all goes well, we expect to have a total of sixteen. I'm really excited, but I promised to keep it simple, but ample.

Ophthalmologist

2008-02-21T10:46:00.000-08:00

Freckleface whisked me away at 8 o'clock this morning. I had an appointment to see the eye doctor for my diabetic check. Last week my diabetic feet were o.k. Today my eyes were just fine...can't even see the chart on the right (the one with the corneal graft)and I have growing cataracts on the left. Dr. Levin is my new doctor because Dr. Burns moved to Temecula to do Lazer treatments and Dr.Lee got married to another ophthalmologist and moved to Colorado. Dr. Levin says: "Don't fix what isn't broken." So I'll continue to take my glasses off to read. Somewhere I have rose tinted Computer set glasses, but I forget in which safe place I put them. I type by feel anyway. Yesterday KLB, two friends, Mom, Pop and little bro went in to Anaheim to celebrate a fifteenth birthday. Garage Door is staying with his grandma during the week to go to classes at Fullerton. DaBu came here for quiche supper. I'm feeling pretty good. I don't have the usual bothersome low back pain. It was quite tender after the fall over the side of my rolling chair. I was trying to paint patio furniture before the grand party for Dave and Heather. I am well healed (not heeled) SS increased to $561 the first of the year. Sadly eggs that used to be 99 cents at Long's are now $1.49. I sure like rice and noodles.

Grandchildren

2008-02-19T07:41:00.000-08:00

Many of you know I have a line of photographs on my bedroom wall, just below the ceiling. It is the north wall. The head of my bed is against the west window wall. Each night before I close my eyes, I look up and am reminded to pray for their needs, whether spiritual or practical. There is a special place in my heart for each of them. I pray for their joys, their challenges, their frustrations, and for their guidance. We are a day's march nearer home. How gladsome that will be!

Let's close this chapter

2008-02-18T08:46:00.000-08:00

This week the Lord allowed me to experience a vicious attack on my ignorant actions and truthfulness from someone I once respected. Could this be railing? I accepted an apology. Even though I feel like a whipped puppy, it is time to move on, for it is water under the bridge. I always thought that with age comes maturity and understanding. May we be careful not to presume that we know what another person's motivation is. God looks on the heart. We can't know. I now pray for the wisdom and compassion to let the Lord lead me to serve in the path most pleasing to Him.

Flurries

2008-02-15T11:37:00.000-08:00

Yep, we had snow flurries yesterday. They were tiny flakes and floated down lazily, but melted before they could accumulate on the ground. Meanwhile, our camellia bush has fat buds bursting at the seams. Grape hyacynths are up. The white petunias in the pots by the front door are overflowing their boundies. Germania are popping out a wonderful display. There are new green shoots on the wisteria and some swelling bumps on the red climbing rose by my bedroom window. BUT when I talked with Evelyn this morning, she said she had ice on her garage roof. I'm sure things froze here last night, too. It is so comforting to have the fireplace blazing away when I get up in the morning. I think I waited until 10:00 to have breakfast. Now it is well time to start my day...putting drawers in order.

IVY

2008-02-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

In my closet I have a new T-shirt. It's brown and really not a very flattering color for me. But Freckle Face got it for me from a special Ivy Sport catalogue offer.On the front it says in ivory Ancient Eight. On the back there is a twisted ivy sprig labelled with eight leaves, depicting the eight Ivy Leagie Schools: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton and Yale. It was only $5 so that's even better than Long's.

Half my back yard, the shady half, is covered in assorted ivy, both needle point, and English. It's a nice ground cover and spreads like crazy. It has even crawled up my chimney and on the garage wall of my neighbor. Looks great with our fountain. While rampaging up the chimney, a sprig wandered over and volunteered through my window. That is, it snaked its way through that part where the window itself is supposed to meet the frame. It is wending its way around toward the fireplace inside with new shoots.

Ladybug is here to take me to the Podiatrist for a check up. My feet are fine, but he'll do my toenails. Gotta go!

2008-02-04T11:26:00.001-08:00

Groundhog Day

2008-02-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

Alas, Punxutawny Phil saw his shadow early on the morning of February 2nd. As many of you may know, or should know, that means six more weeks of winter. His shadow evidently scared him and he crawled back into his hidey hole to continue to hibernate. If you would check google or such you will find he has been 100% correct in his predictions since the 1880's. Here in Southern California we look to the month of February as spring, on good years, that is. Maybe a late spring this year will lead to a not so hot summer. Just maybe. We've been covering our bouganvilla with table cloths to protect from the nightly frost. The potato vine seems to be strong enough to weather the storm. High winds sweep the cold air down from the mountains. It is sunny today, but only in the low 40's. It's time for me to get back to finishing KLB's sox...they're not really lavendar, but do have some mottled lavendar stripes along with reds and purples. Does that do amethyst? Gotta go.

Turn the page to another chapter

2008-01-26T13:36:00.000-08:00

It's been a long, long time.
Finally my freckled faced daughter helped me sign in again. I really don't know what the real problem is/was, but here I am.
We've had a busy 'end of the year' with our traditional "clean-out" Dinner of Sauerkraut and Spareribs, with mashed potatoes and cinnamon red-hot applesauce.
This was after Conference where we'd washed our hands again and again and again, trying to be sure we'd not pass on, or collect any germs.
Back home, we jumped into the preparation for the D and H bridal shower/lunch. All went well until two days before when I fell off my walker, (that's WALKER not ROCKER) tipping it over sideways while I was trying to paint our wrought iron patio furniture. You've no doubt seen that the setting for the party was "French Bistro" with the fat little mustachioed chef on a bicycle. About that fall...I hurt. I'm stiff. I crawled over to the curb by the driveway (cheek by cheek) and got myself up to finish the paint job.(!) That was over ten days ago and my tailbone is still tender.
We had a pizza-party for the set-up workers the night before the bash. The gang worked well into the night setting the stage. With B&B in command with their son JWB. KJA and me, as well as JD and her daughters "Lixet", we got the job done. Around 75 guests came from all around: L.A., Shadow Hills, La Mesa, Aberdeen, Tehachapi, Phoenix, Lawrenceville and of course, Pittsburgh! Moving on...
That nasty, nasty, nasty bug that I first thought was food poisoning, got me!!! Then two days later it got KJA. We were so weakened that we didn't do anything, eat anything, just stayed in bed and slept and slept. So here it is almost 2 p.m. and we're just getting out of our PJ's and into outside clothes so we can get to the bank with anxious (and currently whining) Bobby riding shot-gun in the car. Did you know he is so smart, he knows just what day of the week it is? Saturdays are his time in the car.

Friday with a bang...no, big slosh

2007-12-01T10:21:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love school assemblies? I do. I had a call from a proud parent who came to pick me up with her husband and her friend. We toodled off to the East, were dropped off at the school, signed in at the office, then wandered out to the multipurpose room...in the dripping wet and through the puddles. CC then scooted over across Florida to pick up grandma. There were only eleven little kindergartner girls. The rest of the stage was filled with boys, lots and lots of boys. An assignment had been given to the children to learn: the alphabet, count to 100 and to sing in both English and Spanish. Each success was rewarded with a colored construction paper feather to attach to the brown headband each wore. Some had a bunch. Our Superchick had one green one. Sometimes she wore it in the back, but most of the time it sat right over her forehead. Lively little ones shouted out (in melody) and did wild, in rhythm motions appropriately. Even her sister, Rapunzel was excused from computer class to attend. Then we in the audience were rewarded with pumpkin pie, whipped cream and apple juice.

Proud momma loaded us all into the van and made the rounds returning each to our designated places. Jailgy transferred me to her car in front of Ladybug's house and we took turkey noodle soup to ailing mother of four who had lost her voice somewhere. What a heyday my gang had when I couldn't talk (or scream). That little errand done we went to Jailgy's house to work on the quilts we are doing for the brides. First shower is January 19, the second somewhere in the middle of March. Enthusiastically we completed ALL the cutting for the first quilt.

It was in the late, late afternoon we learned of the catastrophe at the sewing shop. So how could we know the roof would leak? The owner was safely abroad in the Orient...Manager said it's Friday. So what? Can't do anything. The proceeded to say it wasn't her fault...what? the rain? When did managers stop managing? Schnicklefritz came to get me 7:30, had a bite to eat and then we went home in the rain to a very, very sad little poodle. He cried.

The sun is trying to shine. Hooray! Well, maybe we hope it isn't too successful, we still could use more rain.

...not turkey again!

2007-11-25T14:44:00.000-08:00

Yep! We had a scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner with most of the trimmings at #5 daughter's house. (we did forget a few things in the fridge). Saturday we had a cooperative at the Mtg Rm with visitors from LA, San Diego, and Shadow Hills. This time #4 daughter brined a big one for 24 hours in a boiled mixture of oranges, lemons, fresh thyme, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, salt and water for 24 hours in a big waste basket in the fridge. Grandson JW helped our friend KF do the carving. It was a real exercise to get the bird from our fridge to the sink to pour out the brine because #4 daughter had her right arm in a sling for her ailing elbow and I'm still using my ski walker to get around. With her left arm and my right we managed to get the bird into two grocery bags and onto the seat of my walker. We rolled out the kitchen door to the car and "deftly" slid the turkey onto double towel layer over plastic on the back seat. At 6:30 in the morning there is not much traffic on Saturday mornings so #4 was able to maneuver the car with her left arm, mostly. The loading and unloading process was repeated when we got to the mtg rm kitchen. At lunch time we enjoyed TURKEY again. Today. Well. We had hot turkey sandwiches. The carcass is simmering away along with the skin. This time I'll only make stock and freeze it in muffin tins. That way I'll be able to gather it all together in one big plastic bag and get out only what I need. Muffin tins rather than Ice cube trays because the grease is easier to clean out of metal than plastic.

So-o-o-o-o-o no more turkey for another year.

Over the river...

2007-11-23T14:49:00.000-08:00

and through the woods, to grandmother's house...we did not go. This year we got together at #5 daughter's house. We had the usual (expected) faux pas...forgot that we needed stuffing, went to the neighborhood store to get some. Sat down and relished a wonderful turkey dinner. We all partook of turkey, gravy, sweet potato/apple casserole, cream cheesed mashed potatoes, roasted garlic, peas, scrumptious green salad, fresh whole wheat rolls, Martinelli's sparkling cider, and spinach gratin. We had seconds, some of us had thirds. As we pushed back from the table, while leftovers were being put away, we discovered (second faux pas) the untouched cranberry relish that #4 daughter had lovingly made with cranberries, walnuts and orange marmalade. There in the fridge was the green jello too! We all were sad, but recognized we could use it for sandwiches and the rest for meeting on Saturday.

BUT the worst Thanksgiving ever, back in 1949, was the unforgivable trick my teen aged brother pulled off. When grandma asked for help in carrying the twenty-three pound turkey to the table (we carved the bird at the table then), he carried in his brand new niece on the platter. I was in tears and grandma was incensed. Then came the stifling comment: "She's not big enough anyway!" In fact our golden brown roasted turkey was five times her size.

The next year that little girl was in the kitchen "helping" grandma with everything. In her grown up apron hitched up with a knot around her neck, she was her grandma's pride and joy. She was given the privilege of grabbing a handful of stuffing and putting it in that yawning bird cavity facing her. She continued with another, and another, and another handful. When grandma suggested she'd done enough, she agreed and gently patted the bird on his tummy, jumped down from her perch on the chair and went about playing with her baby doll.

Ever since that time (1950), the youngest grandchild has carried on the tradition.

Spotty

2007-09-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday JJ and CMc came over after our breakfast at the Golf Course. Each carried his handy little container of necessary tools. The project was to wire safely our wall hung fountain. This they did and it is wonderful to listen to the trickling water recycling itself. However, this morning I worked with Woolite Oxyclean to try to get up the spots on our living room rug...it worked pretty well, but it still is mottled in some places. A good vacuuming should help. Sadly, I could not hear the fountain from the living room floor; but now, at the keyboard, I both hear and see the gentle trickle.

Now off to my bedroom to work on two more trees for the "Starry Night" maybe I'll get to the back neck today. Then, off to the races, or whatever, I'll switch to the front with my myriad bobbins and knit away.

Wayfarers

2007-09-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready to go back to our writing group, but alas, alack and all that...the group is not meeting until the 20th. That gives me ample time to put some long ago stories together. What will it be? Possibly the tale may be about the adventures Bubba and I had on our bicycles (we really didn't call them bikes). Or maybe I could tell about the responsibilities of a ten-year-old...scrubbing the bathroom wooden floor, or riding downtown to pay utility bills, or misty, rainy, drizzling day with slippery trolley tracks.

It is cool today and after breakfast I will get back to "Starry Night" sweater. With all the bobbins wound it certainly will be easier, and look a lot better on the underside too.

My English Muffin has finished toasting, Bobby is barking at the world going by our open front door, and I need my morning coffee.

Blue Sapphire Starry Night

2007-09-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

The body of the sweater is done. I've started on the ribbing of one sleeve. But, the fun part of the sweater is the yoke...I'm doing the back yoke, working in the smoky lighter blue for night sky. I'm fascinated by how the shadowing pine trees are turning out. There is a pattern showing with 3-D ripples. It ought to last forever because it will be machine washable and dryable acrylic yarn. Freckles has already "volunteered" me for a friendship sweater for our adopted daughter...I can hardly get things done for grandchildren and great-grandchildren...but I guess it really matters to her. At least, with my hands on knitting I can hardly get them into the refrigerator...even with those lucious peaches calling me.

On another note, I want to get back to my writing group, the Wayfarers. I have a pantoum ready, but Freckles suggested I do more stories. Maybe I'll finish up our camping trip up the heritage trail, or the Bobby piece, or even shopping at Ross. It seems to flow when I sit down at the keyboard.

Not so hot today, yet. Our front door is standing open and I'm relishing the view through our new screen door. There's green in the plants and grass, even new sprouts coming up at the base of our olive tree. No breeze, but it's pleasant enough for me to go sip my second cup of coffee while I watch our little world go by.

Labaor Day

2007-09-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

One more time...
Previous lovely blog has gone away, somewhere...
I only wanted to view my blog, but that made everything disappear...
It took me back to my last blog. Oh well, here goes...

I woke up at 4 a.m. this morning, and that was an indecent hour because it was still dark. I rolled over and went back to sleep until 7:55. I ambled out to the living room and discovered the front door open. Freckles called out...she had been working since 6 a.m. and had finished laying pavers (30 altogether) into a lovely patio. So now we have a front porch. It had been packed clay-like soil where plants struggled even with frequent watering. Two white plastic chairs and a table have been placed so we can sit out and watch the world go by. Not today!!! IThe thermometer reached 100 before 10:30. This September has been hotter than July and August.

Spinach

2007-08-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

How, oh how do I like SPINACH. Yes, it's full of iron and vitamins, especially Vitamin K. For this reason I'm not supposed to have it very often. I discovered this when my Coumadin dosage had to be doubled...too much clotting was going on.

I like

SPINACH SALAD WITH HOT BACON DRESSING

1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch or flour
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 eggs beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 pound bacon
bacon drippings

Salad ingredients:

1 pound spinach (washed and cut)
1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
8 hard boiled eggs, sliced

1. Mix sugar, salt, cornstarch and mustard in a blender. add beaten eggs and mix again. Add milk and vinegar. Pour mixture into a saucepan and cook until thickened.
2. Fry bacon and add crumbled pieces to dressing. To enhance taste add bacon drippings.
3. Wash spinach to remove all sand. Spin dry. Garnish spinach with mushrooms and sliced eggs. Serve with hot dressing.

SPINACH SQUARES

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
6 Tablespoons butter, softened
2 cups fresh spinach or 1 package frozen spinach
1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 onion, chopped

1. Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl. Add eggs. milk and butter and mix well.
2. If using fresh spinach cook, drain and chop. If using frozen spinach, thaw and drain.
3. Add spinach, cheese and onion to flour and egg mixture. Spread into a greased 9" x 13" pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool 10-15 minutes or long enough to cut into squares. Serve warm.

I also like SPINACH DIP

Just use the recipe on the box of Knorr Vegetable Soup.

Walk, walk, walk and walk some more

2007-08-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

That's just what the therapist said. That's just what the doctor said. That's just what my daughters said. So I walk, walk, walk. Every morning at 6 o'clock Schnicklefritz turns on my overhead light. I grumble a bit and then swing my legs out of bed and stumble to my "new in progress bathroom." JJ has made the doorway wider and installed a new door. Next the glass shower doors are coming off and then new waterproof wall siding will be applied. Already I have a new ventilating fan, bright light and night light.

I've just come back from my westerly walk this morning. I shed a few tears because my lower back is all crunched up and doesn't uncrunch until about 10 o'clock. I take a few pain pills and launch out with my handy dandy seated walker. We walked into the walkway of the next door apartment complex. It's interesting to see how other folks live. They have lots of huge boulders, scattered desert friendly plants and a dry creek bed. Maybe tomorrow I'll do both westerly and easterly walks. Yesterday I did easterly and northerly. Maybe in a week or two I can try the southerly route. There's a hill involved there.

My daughters have been so helpful in ferrying me around. Schnickle takes me grocery shopping every Saturday and drops me off at the doctor's office. Ladybug picks me up there and took me to Henry's for sprouts. Chuggy came and took me to sushi lunch and to Michael's and Smart and Final yesterday.

I'm feeling stronger every day. I'm able to keep my blood pressure in the normal range, but my sugar level seems to be all over the map. Pasta and bananas seem to make it spike. I'll give them up because I don't want to HAVE to use insulin. Even though the visiting nurse gave lessons to me and Chuggy and Schnickle and the grapefruit, I still don't want to do it. Coffee has dripped and I'm ready for my first cuppa.

Sweet Peas

2007-06-21T16:49:00.000-07:00

Just a few Wayfarers had a Birthday Party for Marjorie this morning. That's all right. I sent some flourless chocolate cake home with Ingrid and with Marjorie. the rest came home with me and landed in the freezer. When it gets solid, I'll wrap it properly and seal it for some later date when we might need dessert. The recipe is relatively simple, just a little involved, certainly worth the effort:

Danielle's Temptation

1/2 pound butter (2 tablespoons melted)
6 1/2 oz semisweet chocolate, broken into 1/2 oz pieces
1 cup granulated sugar
9 egg yokes
4 egg whites

Chocolate Ganache

3/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
8 oz semisweet chocolate broken into 1//2 oz pieces

Lightly coat the bottom and sides of a 9" x 3" springform pan with butter. Line the pan with parchment paper and butter it. (I didn't have any so used a buttered circle of aluminum foil)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat one inch of water in bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place the remainder of the butter and 6 1/2 oz of the chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Cover the top with film wrap. (I didn't bother to do this). Allow to heat for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat, stir until smooth, and hold at room temperature. (I cooled it quickly in the fridge).

Place the egg yolks and one cup of sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on high until lemon-colored and slightly thickened, about 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat on high for 2 more minutes.

While the egg yolks are beating, whisk the egg whites in a large stainless steel bowl until stiff, but not dry, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Using a rubber spatula, fold the melted chocolate mixture into the beaten egg yolk mixture. Add a quarter of the beaten egg whites and stir to incorporate, then gently fold in the remaining. egg whites.

Pour the chocolate cake batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake the cake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. (During baking, the surface of the cake will form a crust; this crust will normally collapes when the cake is removed from the oven). Invert the cake onto a cardboard cake circle (or serving plate) and refrigerate for 1 hour.

To prepare the Ganache, heat the heavy cream, butter, and sugar in a 1 1/2 quart saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil. Place 8 oz semisweet chocolate in a stainless steel bowl. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth.

Use a cake spatula (or any old spatula you have) to smooth the sides of the cake with 2 tablespoons ganache. Pour the remaining ganache over the cake, spreading with spatuala to create an even coating of ganache on both the top and sides of the cake. Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes. If you like, decorate the top with shaved chocolate curls.

(Since it was midnight when I made this last night, I happened to make a big mistake. I beat all the egg whites and incorporated them into the batter. That's a no-no. Kedg likes to save the extra five whites to make meringues. The cake may have been a little lighter, but tasted scrumptious anyway).

When Marjorie brought me home this morning, Bobby and I stayed out and picked off all the sweet pea pods from our shriveled up vines. Now I have a pill bottle half full of seeds for planting next year...guess it will be January or February. Does anyone know when?

Lavender Blue, Dilly, Dilly

2007-06-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah...what has green flecks through and through and smells like garlic? My new loaf of French Bread! Beverly graciously shared her French Bread recipe with me and I put all the Ingredients into the machine and pushed the button after breakfast this morning. It rose clear up to the top of the contraption and baked to a golden crispy, brown. In fact, I had to cut off the equivalent of three slices before I could reach the fold back handle to lift the loaf out of the baker. The first fat slice I put in the toaster oven right away. That made my open face tuna sandwich for lunch. I relished that with tall glass of skinny cranberry juice. Perhaps I was a little heavy handed with the Dill Weed (a whole tablespoonful slipped into the batter), but with a like amount of granulated garlic it turned out to be just the way I like it.

Only Wednesday

2007-06-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here it is Wednesday already. My handy-dandy notebook is jammed full of ideas for my presentation for tomorroe morning. But...

Yesterday Kedg dropped me off at DMV so I could replace my California ID card. She made an appointment on line for me to see someone at 9:15 Tuesday morning. BJB was busy all morning with various and sundry things like being a monitor of sorts for BJB's field day at Bear's school down on Lincoln. So JWB was volunteered to come pick me up. I offered to walk, but my daughters nixed that idea. JWB was scheduled to ferry his sister and Josh to school at Acacia by 8:30 so just a jog brought him to DMV early. Took off for a library errand then back to DMV. Would you believe? They made me take off my glasses for the pic that obviously broke the camera. At any rate, they now have a new right thumbprint and new signature and I only need to wait about four weeks to get my ID in the mail. Meanwhile I have been carrying my old driver's license that expired on my birthday in 1997...afterall, it's the same address and number, and a much more flattering picture. My hair isn't all gray on it. While there, waiting in one of the myriad chairs, I bumped into my old co-worker, Pat. You remember when we had such a twit for a supervisor...she made us work every other weekend with an odd day off during the week? That meant Pat missed half her son's Little League games and I missed every other Breaking of Bread meeting. We decided that I would work all her Saturdays and she would work all my Sundays. We didn't ask permission, we just made our own schedule. I doubt if our super ever checked. We had the appropriate hours punched in on our time cards. As long as it added up to 40 was all that seemed to matter to her.

Monday afternoon our chairs were ready, fresh from the warehouse. CC borrowed Ladybug's big red truck and together, she and Kedg picked them up at LaZboy. No problem. The problem came at the back door...it was too narrow. And the back gate was also too narrow. So they drove aroundd to the front. I knew the front door was wide enough. That is the way our Refrigerator had to be delivered a while ago. Now, the old wing chairs are stacked "spoon-style" in the garage. Ladybug promises a garage sale in the near future. I hope it's soon. The pile in the corner of our garage is growing to mountainous proportions, you know, all those games, clothing etc., and odd furniture.

Kedg has jumped in with both feet in putting together plans for her birthday celebration in October at Kihei, Maui, Hawaii. She and Weeze and K-Wid and Canada Gal hope to go together at PF and KF's time-share condo.

This isn't getting my story written. My sestina was such a FLOP! I really have to put some effort into it this week.

Errand Day

2007-06-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is the day we load ourselves into the car and traipse around town to do our errands: To the bank to make Kedg's weekly deposit, to JoAnn's for notions, to shop for groceries, to peruse second hand shops, to stop at Long's to take advantage of some of their specials, to the nursery just to look see. Bobby gets so excited because HE gets to ride "shot-gun" with the car window down and his ears flapping in the breeze. Before we go I must make some bread. It is such a simple exercise, and I really love the results. Today I think it will be raisin-walnut.

Today we'll be having a cook-out at the Cabana as a farewell party for John Wendt, our handy, dandy, do everything man who has been with us here at Peppertree for as long as we have been here (20 years +). I'm told this is his third farewell, for each time we have been able to coax him back. He knows how to fix everything.

This afternoon we plan to go to KLB's piano recital. She's doing so much better with a new teacher who just happens to be more strict.

Maria and Nellie came yesterday morning and now my house sparkles plenty. This is such a relief for Kedg. Her business seems to be growing by leaps and bounds since she has moved her shop, so when she gets home at night, she is really tired.

We are already working on Kedg's birthday celebration. This is a special year and we're planning DV to send her to Hawaii where she was born. Three of her friends are looking forward to going with her.

Liquid Gold

2007-06-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's what I call it. Chicken Broth is liquid gold. Anything you can do with those old stand-by soups: Cream of Mushroom, Cream of Chicken, Cream of Celery and even Cheddar Cheese, you can use Chicken Broth. Great nutrients cook out of the bones. Their goodness also contriut

After you have strained the broth, simmer it until reduced by one half.

CURRY
Saute one slivered onion and one peeled, sliced Granny Smith Apple.
Sprinkle over one tablespoon curry powder and one handful of raisins.
Add one cup of canned coconut milk or make your own
(Pour hot water through one cup coconut in a strainer three times)
Add two cups of chicken broth.
Thicken with a slurry made with one tablespoon cornstarch and one tablespoon water.

This basic sauce is good with plain parboiled vegetables cut into 1" pieces: potatoes, carrots, turnips, celery, peas, string beans. Dress it up a bit with one cup of chicken chunks, OR one cup of leftover beef, OR a can of baby shrimp. You could even use fresh shrimp.

CHICKEN PAPRIKASH
Saute one slivered onion. Add one cup leftover chicken. Add two cups chicken broth. Add one cup sour cream. Generously sprinkle one tabespoon paprika. Thicken with slurry of water and cornstarch. You can add mushrooms to this if you like.

CHICKEN POT PIE
Parboil potatoes, carrots, onions, one cup each.
Place in casserole dish. Add one handful of frozen peas.
One cup of thickened chicken broth.
Cover with biscuit topping, either bisquick or buttermilk biscuits from a tube. Bake until biscuits are done. Serve with chicken broth on the side.

BEEF STEW
Brown beef cubes in bottom of crockpot along with one slivered onion.
Add parboiled potatoes and carrots. Add two cups beef broth and one can of undiluted tomato soup. Thicken with cornstarch/water slurry. Put into crockpot. Cook on high four hours, OR on low for eight hours. Serve with crusty loaf of French bread.

GRAVY
To one cup of beef broth add one boullion cube, a little celery salt or garlic salt. Thicken with usual slurry, this time use flour instead of cornstarch. Some folks like to use a splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire Sauce too.

Thses are some of my favorites. I'm sure you can use your imagination and come up with many other uses for beef and chicken broth.

SAVE THOSE BONES

2007-06-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

I just finished lunch of consomme and grapes before I went out to water. I know, I'm a little late, but I wanted to get Ladybug's ham bone in the crockpot with beans and an onion before I went outside. I like to clean up the kitchen before I leave it, too. Now, since DaBu helped us move our furniture around, switching dining stuff and computer stuff, I'm much happier. You can't see all the computer paraphenalia from the front door. Then too, we've been eating outside on the patio, it's so pleasant in the morning with all the birds flittering about teaching their youngin's and in the late afternoon we have that ever ready breeze wafting in from the west. That blows whatever flies we might have, clear into the next county.

The trickle of the fountain is tickling my ears. His highness, Bobby is stretched out on the porch swing. But, to get to the bones. SAVE THEM! Keep a large container in the fridge and fill it with leftover chicken bones and skin. When you have steak (ha ha) keep those bones, along with pork chop bones in a separate container. When you have enough, put chicken bones and skin in a large pot. Cover with water and simmer with a quartered onion, for about an hour. Remove the bones. Strain the broth. Put in a large square round Tupperware, cover and refrigerate. The next day, or the next, turn out onto a large bowl. It will be stiff. Scrape off ALL the fat and discard. Cut gelatinized remainder into cubes and enjoy a wholesome, good for you, low calorie "soup" or, if you'd rather, continue on by adding noodles and vegetables, heat it for supper. Rice is a good addition instead of the noodles (even if leftovers hardened, they'll soften). Let's get to the beef and pork bones. When an ample supply has accumulated, spread them all on a broiler pan and bake for about an hour in s 300 degree oven. That is the secret of rich brown favor. Transfer bones to a large pot. Cover with water and simmer away for another hour. Skim while cooking or just wait and strain when you take them off the stove. Again, throw away the bones. Refrigerate overnight, then remove the fat that has risen to the top and hardened. This also is a good consumme. But,it makes a good base for gravy or barley soup,too.

This week I started a sourdough starter. I'm having so much fun with the bread machine Aquila used to use. Jeannette says he has retired from being the family baker. Afterall, he's only 91. 'Bout time wouldn't you say? Anyway, Hemet is not even close to the atmosphere of the San Francisco Bay area. And, what dumb-dumb would even attempt to make bread on a bright June day (no not June Gloom), but bright and sunny and warm. I guess I could have waited until another day, but I was anxious to try out a new recipe. The bread turned out to have good flavor. I have been enjoying it. It does NOT have that tantilizing sour taste I remember from the time we spent up in San Leandro.

Does anyone want the recipe for starter?

Splenda

2007-06-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

For Anonymous...Splenda is supposed to be spoon for spoon, but I think that is too sweet...I like to use 1/2 for one. Flavorwise it is two teaspoons per packet.

Why did it take so long?

2007-06-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it. I finally came to my senses and arranged with the nice WaMu people to automatically take funds monthly from my checking account and transfer them to a savings account. That way, every December and April, the property taxes will not hit me like a Mack Truck. I'll be ready. After all, I do have my Verizon, Cal Gas, Edison and Time Warner taken care of automaticaly. That's especially good since I have run out of checks. I have been managing with only my Debit Card. This is errand day and I've made my lists for: Bank, JoAnn's, Staples, Long's, Target and the Nursery for more potting soil. Thursday after Wayfarers' Group, Marjorie and I went to Siam Gardens and had wonderful soups...she had shrimp, I had coconut. Then we stopped by Henry's for blueberries. Can you imagine only 60 cents a box? They were so sweet and yummy I had Schnickle stop on her way home from the shop to pick up some more. Breakfast has never been better. Yesterday I had mapped out a plan: De-bone the chicken I had roasted. Put the skin and bones on to make broth. Put the Pumpernickle makings into the bread machine. Try to make a sourdough starter...it's now three days later. The sourdough HAS started, smells nice and sour...will put it all in the machine right after breakfast. Had Chinese with the cauliflowers yesterday, the Trucker had gospel last night. I think it shows that he does not get out to mid-week meetings. He seemed to strain a bit. We have a bright, bright Monday morning. I'll be out planting before it gets hot. Marshmallow told us that we are watering our Japanese Maple too much...that's what makes the ends of the leaves turn brown. I'm going to use my last slice of pumpernickle for my poached egg this morning.

Aftermath

2007-05-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

Whew....we rested up real well last night. This morning I packaged my suppers for the rest of the week: Three meat balls leftover from the Smart and Final package, Deloris' leftover wild rice, grape-chili sauce. Three meat balls and plain rice anad sauce. Plain Rice and Chicken. Chicken, sweet potatoes. Rice, mushroom soup, paprika and chicken. Throw in some sauteed onions. Saute celery to go with onions and rice and chicken. A chicken and sweet potatoes are roasting in the oven with garlic. I've already packaged snacks...'Nilla wafers in a little baggie (less than 100 calories). The secret seems to be, eat a little, but often, and drink lots and lots of water. Fill up on vegetables. I've put the carcas from the leftover smoked chicken in a pot with plain water. That way I'll have a good broth basis for another sauce.

BB and BB (former Red Bluff residents) took KJA and me out to Millie's for lunch Sunday. JA and DA and JA went with us. KJA had her favorite oriental chicken salad...young JA had a hamburger and fries. The rest of us just happened to have tilapia. I brought half of mine home for supper tonight. BB and BB shared their meal...The portions were very generous.

Finally, after two years, my next door neighbor's house sold. The new owner is Sonia or Sonya, I'm not sure of the spelling. She's about KJA's age and works for Deutsch, I don't know doing what. I'm just glad the house is not empty any more.

I sure wish I could know whether or not this blogging is a waste of time...I need to get going again on my sestina for Thursday morning.

A new day, Monday 21 May 2007

2007-05-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

After a busy, busy week-end, I slept in until Schnicklefritz told me good-bye before she left for her new shop. I'm all rested up. I had my coffee, breakfast and EmergenC. I'm about to clear away all the papers beside my computer. In reality I'm trying to find my Medicare Card and my Scan Card and my State ID (the one that looks like a Driver's License, but isn't).

Two weeks ago Jeanette gave me her father's automatic bread making machine, since at 92 he's decided not to make any more bread and has retired from being the family baker. I've just put the makings for another loaf of bread in the machine. This time I'm trying for raisin-nut. Schnickle bought me an instant thermometer so I can get the water temperature right. Even though I do not do any of that extra special kneading by hand, I do feel quite noble. Last week's attempt was a partial success. I did garlic bread with powdered garlic and parsley flakes. It smelled wonderful while baking, but it was lacking in good flavor. I think that maybe the garlic was old as were the parsley flakes.

My old Wayfarer friend, Sharon, who now lives in Germany, has encouraged me to write a sestina. It is a real challenge and I'm working on it. It is a 39 line poem. six verses of six lines each plus an envoi of three lines. First off you choose six end words. Then end each line with one of those words...Each verse has the same words at the end of the line, only varied in order. The last three line verse has two of the ending words in each line. If you are really interested look up the pattern under on internet. Some examples are given. I especially like the one by Damon McLaughlin. I guess you could find it by searching just for his name.

Our time at CC's and Cupcake's Tenth Anniversary party was a happy time...we ate and ate and ate and I don't even like Mexican food. Uncle BB shared a few scriptures about caring. The children had a great time driving around in a battery-operated car and with the pinata. BB didn't manage the car, but she did push around an empty tricycle and draw on the driveway with chalk.

Yesterday we had lunch at Arturo's with EW and GW. Schnicklefritz had a great salad, EW had fish, GW had Abondigas and I had a seafood salad. Worked a little while on the computer last night doing some research. I don't want to make mistakes in my facts again. (Like using plastic bags in the supermarket in 1957 when in reality they were not used until the mid 70's).

The bread machine is humming away in its kneading cycle and it is time for me to get out in this gray day and do some watering. My purple petunias are calling me.

Just one stop on the way home

2007-05-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

Thursday mornings Kedg drops me off at the Christian Church (Diciples of Christ) on her way to her new shop on Acacia. That is where the surviving Wayfarers meet to encourage each other and critique what we have written. CC and Ladybug pick up Glitter at pre-school and then come and get me to take me home. This week they said "Do you want to go home now or do you want to go to Smart and Final with us?" What a question! I can always find something, anything, that I really need there. How about toilet paper? How about meatballs for our Memorial Day meeting? How about
paper towels and honey and syrup and croutons and grated parmesan? How about, about, about? How about $88 dollars later?

I did pick up some flour tortillas flavored with sun dried tomatoes and basil for wraps...great for breakfast scrambed eggs with cheese and chives. I don't know if I'll ever be able to get back to this blogspot again.

I've been having a great time writing Pantoums again. You remember the formula...write 10 lines and then repeat each once. Like:

First verse lines 1, 2, 3, 4
Second verse lines 2, 5, 4, 6
Third verse lines 5, 7, 6, 8
Fourth verse lines 7, 9, 8, 10 and lastly
Fifth verse lines 9, 3, 10, 1

Just pick a subect and write around it...it can rhyme but doesn't have to. My latest:

Red Rose

I guess I'm having a "senior moment"
My climbing rose--what is its name?
Until I remember, I'll be in torment
Just forgotten? No, that's not the same.

My climbing rose--what is its name?
I raise the blind and open my window.
Just forgotten? No that's not the same.
I'll sleep on it and then I'll know

I raise the blind and open my window
The fragrant rose buds nod in the morning breeze
I'll sleep on it and then I'll know
Chandelier clusters are what one sees

The fragrant rose buds nod in the morning breeze
Celebrity is red, but a tomato, that's wrong
Chandelier clusters are what one sees
BLAZE! Of course! I knew it all along.

Celebrity is red, but a tomato, that's wrong
Until I remember I'll be in torment
BLAZE! Of course! I knew it all along.
I guess I'm having another "senior moment."

My next story will be about two German Shepherds, two Muscovy Ducks and a pair of cats, one Burmese and one gray Tabby. Must do some research so I don't make a mistake like having plastic grocery bags in 1956 (they weren't introduced into supermarkets until the mid-seventies).

t

Here it is...the original without corrections

2007-04-20T22:33:00.000-07:00

To Market, to Market...

Not so very long ago we were living in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. We had four wonderful children and the fifth was expected in just two more months. You’ve heard it said: “To keep your wife home, just keep her barefoot and pregnant.” Well, I wasn’t quite barefoot, for I was wearing zoris, or flip-flops, or “go-aheads,” you know, those rubber gadgets with soles and a thong worn between your first two toes.

We had only one car, and that Saturday in August I planned to leave the children with their father while I drove in to town to do a few errands and to do the weekly grocery shopping. The gang was settled at the dining room table, having a pick-up lunch of leftover spaghetti from Friday night’s supper. I gathered up my purse, my list, the car keys and took off.

“Don’t worry, Hon, we’ll be fine.” Dan called after me. I was just a little bit anxious, for he was often engrossed in study, you know, there, but not quite all there.

I did a little bit of shopping for the upcoming birthdays. Kathy’s was the 10th and Janet Lee’s was the 25th. We usually celebrated them together since the girls were only a year apart and were interested in the same things. I picked up matching rubber baby dolls since there was soon to be a new baby in our family. Then I found a doll crib and a high chair and some matching clothes.

Our needs were simple…just some meat, usually round steak for stir fry, pork chops, chicken, bacon, and lamb when it was on sale. Then there was fruit, veggies, eggs and cereal. Of course I included necessary items like t.p. and bug spray. (I fought the cockroaches the whole eight years we were living in Paradise). The grocery boy grinned when he asked whether I wanted paper or plastic. He knew I always asked for boxes. The children had a great time making trains to ride in the length of our living room.

Home again, jiggity jog. I started to unload the station wagon. Dan came out to the driveway to help announcing:

“The kids were no problem at all. Susie is enthralled in her new Nancy Drew mystery. Butch’s busy taking an old alarm clock apart. Katz took her teddy bear down for a nap. Janet Lee was so messy with spaghetti all over, I just put her in the tub to get cleaned up before her nap.”

“IN THE TUB!” I shouted as I ran to the bathroom. Dan stood bewildered with limp hands hanging by his sides.

“But I only put a little water in the tub and gave her her little duck to play with.”

The door was locked. We never locked the bathroom door. It was the most deafening silence, you could almost feel it. I called her name:

“Janet Lee, open the door. Please, honey, open the door!” I called again.”

Nothing. Frantically I tried to poke a skewer into the little hole in the doorknob. That was supposed to release the latch. It didn’t. Now, Dan was worried too. He grabbed Butch by the arm and ran out through the lanai, around the house and cut the screen on the bathroom window. He pulled out the stop and pushed Butch in through the window onto the toilet seat.

“She’s on the floor. I think she’s sleeping.” He called out.

“Hurry, just open the door.” I pleaded. He did.
.
There on the bathmat, on the floor outside the tub was our precious 20-month old daughter. She was curled up, wrapped in a pink towel. Her wet hair curled around her rosy cheeks and she was clutching her little yellow duck.

So the ice cream had melted. We unloaded the rest of the car.

What do you remember?

2007-04-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a little depressed and deflated this morning. What I thought was a good story for my Wayfareres' Group yesterday, was pulled apart, piece by piece by my daughter saying: "It didn't happen that way." I guess you could call it poetic liberty, but I had taken several actual TRUE incidents and wove them into one story. I'm working on "Memoirs" and this is what I remember. Does the time frame really matter? Yes, Butch did take alarm clocks apart; perhaps not in 1957, but much later in Japan in 1966. He even put the works back backwards so that the hands whirled counter-clockwise. Yes, Ladybug did read Nancy Drew mysteries. I think we belonged to a Junior Book Club. Maybe she was eight years old and not six. LaLa did lock herself in the bathroom, probably at age 14 or 15 months, not 22. Does it really matter that we didn't have plastic grocery bags back in 1957 and 1958? We certainly had boxes and paper bags. The dolly crib and high chair were no doubtably Christmas presents for big sister for the playhouse in the back yard. The rubber baby dolls were for a much later birthday, possibly in 1960. I do not remember if Kitzel ever had a teddy bear, maybe it was a stuffed kitty. It could have been that lunch that day was tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches, or peanut butter and jelly. Our little girl still made a mess. But, we did have leftover spaghetti, sometimes. It could be that the towel was turquoise, not pink. The ice cream DID melt while we were playing rescue. Maybe our little girl was stretched out on the floor, and not curled up. I did not intentionally tell untruths about the situation. Is it wrong to put several experiences together to make one story?

Long ago and far away

2007-04-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has been long ago...this lovely computer doesn't seem to like me...first, I'm not able to print anything at all, not even recipes. Then it keeps asking me my password...at that I'm lost. Today, my ever-ready daughter, helper and inspiration is home and able to take me step by step through the maze. This morning, before breakfast, I started another loaf of pumpernickel bread. Because Butch gave me a bunch of flowers (flour) for my birthday back in September, I borrowed Lady Bug's bread machine and am having a great time using it up. Well, to make a long story short, we went on our errands, to the bank, to JoAnn's and to Henry's and came home to a loaf in the making (?) with loose flour on the top. My gal merely stopped the machine, took a spoon and swished it around, then pushed the start button again. We'll see what happens. Maybe I'll have flat bread. At any rate, the ingredients are all good, so I'll eat it anyway.

2007-03-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

2007-02-19T09:43:00.000-08:00

1923 1935 1947 1954 1971 1983 1995 2007

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

Because of this occasion, we had an excuse to gather our gang together and have Chinese Dinner on Saturday Night. Of course this required a lot of chopping which we did beforehand and then at the last minute we put everything together. It was a cooperative effort which made it more fun. Soup brought me a pile of iris. John and Josh brought almond cookies. Brocks brought egg rolls and Jecky stood at my new counter and made cream cheese egg rolls from scratch. Kedj set up tables and benches. and made a tasty fruit punch. We left the lanterns in the party box, just used our bright red and white tablecloth and white plates. Darlene was not feeling well so we saved plates for her and John. Debbie had to work so we sent home a sampling with the Angels.

PINEAPPLE PORK
3 country style lean, meaty spare ribs
1 can pineapple tidbits
garlic salt
3 packs of Splenda
dash of apple cider vinegar
soy sauce
chopped green onions
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 Tablespoon water
Trim the meat of all visible fat. Generously sprinkle garlic salt on all surfaces. Put in crockpot and add the juice from the pineapple can. Cook on high for 4 hours. Remove meat and cool until it can be handled. Add pineapple chunks. Pull into serving sized pieces. Add soy sauce. Stir in slurry of cornstarch and water to thicken. Return meat to pot. Turn crockpot to low and keep until rest of meal is ready to serve. Sprinkle with chopped green onions at the table. ENJOY.

ORANGE CHICKEN
8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
Zest of one orange
One onion cut into crescents
Two carrots, sliced diagonally
Two cups chicken broth
Two inches of peeled chopped ginger
Toasted sesame seeds
Olive oil
Two stalks chopped celery
1/2 cup Paul Newman ginger-sesame salad dressing
Two cans Mandarin orange segments.
Two Tablespoons Honey (optional)
One half chopped green bell pepper (optional)
One can sliced mushrooms
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 Tablespoon water
Saute onions, ginger, carrots and celery in a little bit of olive oil. Add chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces and mushrooms. Add chicken broth, salad dressing and honey. Sprinkle over orange zest. Thicken with slurry of cornstarch and water. Just before serving gently stir in mandarins and toasted sesame seeds.

BEEF BROCCOLI
One round steak, partially frozen.
One onion sliced into crescents
One half green bell pepper
Two cups beef broth (can use boullion cubes and water
Cornstarch
Water
Two small heads of broccoli, stems slivered
Soy sauce
Saute onions and pepper in a little olive oil. Brown beef. Add broth, soy sauce and
thicken with slurry. Put broccoli on top and cover to steam.

Beef Chow Mein
Round steak sliced thin
One onion sliced into crescents
One half green bell pepper
Sliced two stalks of celery
Handful of Sno Peas.
One can sliced mushrooms
One can bamboo shoots
One bag spinach
Two packages Ramen
Any other vegetable you may have on hand
Saute onion, celery, pepper. Push aside. Saute beef strips. Add two cups beef broth , soy sauce and Ramen. Thicken with slurry. Lastly add spinach, sno peas, bamboo shoots and mushrooms.

Serve all these recipes with lots of fluffy white rice.

Bright and Sunny

2007-02-13T10:13:00.000-08:00

And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:8

Just home from our traditional Tuesday Morning Breakfast get together with John and Darlene and Coyle. Last night I remarked to my daughter..."How blest we are to have such a loving, caring assembly family. We can go anywhere in the world and be welcomed with warmth and open arms." Now I'm off to finish up some letter writing.

2007-02-11T18:05:00.000-08:00

What a wonderfull fellowship day...we had visitors from all over...a bunch of Adkins from Tehachapi, Tom and Marie from San Diego, Dan, Rachel and Kids from Walla Walla, of course, Clem and Mina who are wintering here from Illinois, Craig from Shadow Hills, John from Fullerton. Young Luke, back from Africa, had Sunday School. We worked on the second chapter of Hosea. Theme of meeting was about shepherds and lambs, etc. And we had pouring down rain. The cheapie umbrellas I put in the coatrack a while back, somehow have walked away during our dry summer. Yesterday JL and TL took me to the annual quilt show. I was really disappointed...not in the workmanship for most of it was good, but the choice of patterns was dull and the color combinations were atrocious. A couple of Bargello entries caught my eye as well as a few Double Irish Chains. KJ cleaned out some of the dead stuff from our little yard. That frost really hit hard. Went to Brocks for supper. Tried a new recipe for Sunday Lunch...POLISH SPRINGS...Twisty noodles, sauerkraut, Polilsh sausage, caraway seeds and sour cream. We had it warm, but I"m sure it would be good cold. Rose made a twisty noodle with pesto salad. It's really hard to be selective when going through the buffet line because everything looks so-o-o-o-o good. KJ brought me home right after lunch for I was really exhausted from the big day yesterday. I camped out with my weave-it loom in front of the fireplace...I sure can't get a square done in 15 minutes. Guess I'll just have to try harder.

TOO LATE

2007-01-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

Arctic air from Alaska decended upon us last night. Really, it blew in with a vengence. Temperature dropped way down (26 degrees). Our bouganvilla shriveled up, turned all brown and crinkly. Our rubber plants sagged and drooped limply. Potted bulbs braved the elements, their green spikes reached toward the hazy sun. We've dispensed with a dining room and now have a greenery wall to wall, even over my new countertop. I think I see smiles of gratitude from my garden friends. Certainly if BB and BB can allow Argentina access to the downstairs bathroom at night in this bitter cold, can we do less for our struggling plant life? Our patio is bare. Reluctantly Kedj picked our lone tomato. (I had harvested only two this summer). In a last ditch effort the vegetable has sprouted two golfball sized products in the middle of December. We were just waiting for them to ripen. Instead they froze. With all the energy they could muster, my purple pansies and paper whites are doing their thing in the front yard. They tell me "Spring is just around the corner." Hah! I'll believe it when I see it AND feel it.

I can swim

2006-12-17T08:25:00.000-08:00

My countertops are beautiful! I am thrilled at the look of space and brightness. The microwave and the toaster oven are back in their places. JJ shaved off some more of the cupboard bottom so the microwave would fit. Bit by bit we are getting the pots and pans and laquer and salad bowls and trays put away. BUT I was merrily loading the dishwasher last night when Kedj screamed at me...the kitchen floor was one big puddle and I did not even know it. It seemed some water had accumulated in the bottom of the dishwasher. In putting on the countertop some shims had been removed and upon opening the dishwasher door, the whole works slid out and dumped a waterfall onto the floor. We grabbed towels and mopped up and dried the mess. I propped the door on top of a wastebasket and continued loading. So it goes...

Under under the Counter

2006-12-12T14:30:00.001-08:00

We had a great time at breakfast at Seven Hills Golf Course. The price is right ($2.59) and we were seated off in the side room since all the little tables were occupied. Since Mike sold M. T's and moved back to Michigan, Tina, his old cashier and general handygirl has moved over to be cashier at 7Hills. Hence we get preferential treatment. There were five of us today: JJ, DJ. CMc, KJ and me.

Under...under...under the counter. Yeah, Man! Tomorrow is the big day when our poured to measure Corian counter-top is to be installed. Our good friend and general fix-it man has come to help us out. Used to be we had our good friend CMc come and do all that needed doing. Right now he is recovering from surgery and taking it kinda easy. Still he comes and volunteers what he can do anyway. JJ is on the spot. In taking the bull by the horns after Cupcake and Trucker crow-barred the old counter off, the measuring man suggested we install "cleets" to hold up the back of the counter. His description was a plain 3" board nailed to the studs on the wall. This JJ did. A little pressure on the "floor" of the cabinet showed said particle board floor to disintegrate, and under the under contact paper was a solid covering of powdery black mildew. This was probably the cause of my morning sneezes and wheezes and nose drippings. No doubt this infiltration was caused by a leaking pipe under the sink. Right now I'm closed in the living room with Bobby since he and JJ are NOT particular friends. The floor is being vacuumed out and sprayed with straight Clorox to kill all the mold. JJ even brought his own vacuum and Clorox since he said testing my Clorox showed it to be old and weak. He also brought along some old cabinet to use to make new floor. Such a bag of worms. We thought the new counter would be so simple. We also discovered the disposal went kaput when we removed it, so that means a new disposal. This is something KJ has wanted to do for quite a while. Neither of us dreamed it would be so involved. JJ is willing and able to rescue us.

Both DJ and I went to BB's to work on JL's quilt this morning. We're on the home stretch, stitch in the ditch. BB picked up the old slant needle at the shop along with the walking foot. We wound the bobbin on KB's machine, since the slant-needle job does not wind bobbins. KJ keeps the ruffler hooked up to it for use at the shop.

JJ went over to Hilmer street to lend a hand to CMc to move VS furniture to her room at the nursing home. KF was there to help too. What would we do without the willing help from our brethren?

Just had another call from the Corian folks at Home Depot. They want us to move the stove. What more can happen in the 20 hours we have left before they arrive with the works? Time for me to sign off.

Under under the Counter

2006-12-12T14:30:00.000-08:00

We had a great time at breakfast at Seven Hills Golf Course. The price is right ($2.59) and we were seated off in the side room since all the little tables were occupied. Since Mike sold M. T's and moved back to Michigan, Tina, his old cashier and general handygirl has moved over to be cashier at 7Hills. Hence we get preferential treatment. There were five of us today: JJ, DJ. CMc, KJ and me.

Under...under...under the counter. Yeah, Man! Tomorrow is the big day when our poured to measure Corian counter-top is to be installed. Our good friend and general fix-it man has come to help us out. Used to be we had our good friend CMc come and do all that needed doing. Right now he is recovering from surgery and taking it kinda easy. Still he comes and volunteers what he can do anyway. JJ is on the spot. In taking the bull by the horns after Cupcake and Trucker crow-barred the old counter off, the measuring man suggested we install "cleets" to hold up the back of the counter. His description was a plain 3" board nailed to the studs on the wall. This JJ did. A little pressure on the "floor" of the cabinet showed said particle board floor to disintegrate, and under the under contact paper was a solid covering of powdery black mildew. This was probably the cause of my morning sneezes and wheezes and nose drippings. No doubt this infiltration was caused by a leaking pipe under the sink. Right now I'm closed in the living room with Bobby since he and JJ are NOT particular friends. The floor is being vacuumed out and sprayed with straight Clorox to kill all the mold. JJ even brought his own vacuum and Clorox since he said testing my Clorox showed it to be old and weak. He also brought along some old cabinet to use to make new floor. Such a bag of worms. We thought the new counter would be so simple. We also discovered the disposal went kaput when we removed it, so that means a new disposal. This is something KJ has wanted to do for quite a while. Neither of us dreamed it would be so involved. JJ is willing and able to rescue us.

Would you believe, I found this old blog had not been posted. It' Friday Morning, the eighth of June! For what it's worth, here goes.

Suitcase

2006-12-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

We have a fire blazing in the fireplace, but no, his highness knows it is Saturday and...Saturday is the day we do our errands. With both of us at keyboards he jumps from one to another, trying to hurry us in our usual endeavor. It's not easy to type with hyper-poodle on my lap. Also I happen to have ants in my keyboard. They're not happy either. To make a long story short...just how does one go about packing a suitcase surreptitiously. He's just too smart and knows we're going south for San Diego's All Day Meeting. 'Nuff said.

Everything but the kitchen sink...

2006-11-30T10:04:00.000-08:00

We do not realize how much we use our kitchen sinks until we don't have one to use. My SIL and his son, my grandson, came and ripped out all the counters in preparation for the measurer for out new Corian tops. The measuring has been done as of Tuesday. A template has been made. But, the new counter will not come for two weeks from Tuesday. Of course it is the day Kedj has a dentist appointment. It is not easy to wash dishes in the bathtub. My daughter has volunteered to do just that. We're using paper plates and styrofoam glasses. Still there are bowls and pans and pots and utensils to wash. We'll probably go to Siam Gardens tonight before meeting for supper. It's on the way, right across from the Bank of Hemet. They have healthy food, too.

Last night it went down to 27 degrees. Guess we'll lose our bouganvilla again. It always comes back in the spring.

Haiku How to for Heidi

2006-11-29T15:30:00.000-08:00

Probably the most simple form of haiku is the common:
5-7-5. That is, the first line has five syllables, the second has seven syllables and the third line has five syllables. Usually the subject has a reference to season. Daffodils--spring. Mosquitos--summer. Falling leaves--autumn. Snow--winter. It is a Japanese form of poetry. But, it is not just poetry...it is recording of an experience as well. A favorite theme is nature. If you would go to a search engine, you could find a wealth of inspiration and history. Try it, you'll like it.

2006-11-28T16:31:00.001-08:00

All the sweaters and jackets and raincoats came home safely after spending the night out. A good time was had by everyone. They enjoyed the ceremony but passed on the refreshments. If I had your address I would respond appropriately.

Home again jiggity jog

2006-11-28T16:31:00.000-08:00

Haiku

2006-11-27T14:24:00.000-08:00

Just one red berry
Clinging to a leafless twig
Winter's coming soon

Pale sunlit morning
Nary a cloud floats by us
Quiet as we wake

Barbecue odors
Wafting into our back yard
Hunger increases

Fireplace flickering
Toasty mornings with coffee
Greet the day with joy

Breezes tinkle chimes
Seeds scattered on the back porch
Welcome little birds

Follow red tail lights
Winding swiftly through traffic
Airport here we come

But it's a wedding
Jackets we need at sundown
Our warm scarves help too

We hear traffic roar
And see cars line upon line
While smelling fumes

I feel gentle breeze
Tickle my cheek and then go
To play somewhere else

Slumber, dream away
Erase those cares from your brow
Awake soon refreshed

Now getting older
Is not very important
Enjoy each moment

Can Spring be just around the corner?

2006-11-16T11:15:00.000-08:00

This morning while having my second cuppa, Kedj brought me a very light green pot, not too big, not too small. "Just look, they're all kapakahi." Incidentally that is Hawaiian for all really mixed up. And they were. Some sideways, some slanted, some curled. You see, whatever bulbs they are, have started to sprout. They are smallish so they're not daffodils, they're not narcissus, probably not crocus, possibly grape hyacinths. The amazing part is they've not only started to sprout 2" green things, each bulb has done its thing and divided, forming two little bulbs. So, since they were sitting on top of the soil, I just pulled them out and broke up the planting medium with the handle end of my fork, separated the bulblets and replanted the little guys back into the pot. On another note we have some garden soil to amend the ground where we want to plant the wisteria. Mrs. Wister hasn't complained, much, just lost a few leaves during the summer. We must plant it soon. After all, this is the reason Cupcake and CC worked so hard on the trellis. Our Boston fern is swelling out of its pot, the one hanging over the kitchen counter. He came down this morning to get a good soaking in the sink. Now, he'll probably get hung over the water jug where there is ample light.

Because of Daffodils

2006-11-12T20:23:00.000-08:00

To those of you dwelling out in the Bloggisphere,you are well aware of the fact that the trio living in this house does errands on Saturday mornings. You know, the usual, to the bank, to the fabric store, to the BBBB's to drop off coupons (sometimes), and to the supermarket. Yesterday I suggested we get some Daffodil Bulbs for it is high time to get them into the ground for bloom in the spring. Spring here is often February. Kedg thought it was a good idea for we could get new fluorescent light bulbs for the dimmed laundry. We made stops #1 #2, #3, and then landed at stop #4 : Home Depot. The light bulb was easy to find. We picked it up and tried to fit it into the magic ride around chariot. The one I got that day only went "FAST" and "STOP" and nothing else. I couldn't gently slow down going around corners, so I didn't, just whipped around full speed ahead. Some carts have levers--left to the left, right to the right. Not this one, left went straight ahead and surprise of all surprises, right went backwards, FAST. I didn't hit anyone or anything. After all when I was in Japan they told me I was a 'professional driver'. Maneuvering through the aisles toward the comfort station, we skidded by the counter top section. We paused. Kedg returned the fluorescent back to its spot in the cart. There was a special. Aha! My enterprising daughter contracted to have a new kitchen counter installed. She just happened to bring along measurements. I got to pick out a speckled white composite. We went on to pick out a new faucet arrangement. THEN we tootled over to the garden shop. I found only miniature daffodils, but that's all right. All this time Bobby has been entertained by extra tall granddaughter, who came along for the ride. Back to the service desk to check out: light bulbs, daffodil bulbs and kitchen counter. (This just happened to include a sink molded into the whole). That was the special, but there was another special. Any veteran or member of a veteran's family, or someone related to a veteran was to be granted a 10% discount because it was Veterans' Day. We learned this after the transaction was completed. "Bring back proof of relationship and we'll see what we can do." Last month, when going through some of my mother's old papers in the green file box, I found my Dad's Army Discharge Papers. I also knew where I had stored my great grandfathers' (McLaughlin and White) pension records. These I had garnered from Washington when I was active in doing family history searches. This afternoon Kedg took said documents back to the service desk at Home Depot. She spoke to another clerk who wondered why she had to come back. Without even looking at the papers, present helpful clerk automatically took the purchase papers and gave the 10% discount on the complete purchase, bulbs, bulbs and counter top.

Because of the Daffodils? I think not. I have never been in want. I've always had a home to live in, food to eat and reasonably good health. My Lord has ALWAYS provided for necessary things. But Daffodil Bulbs were a little something extra, a blessing for which I am truly grateful.

Griswolds Muffins

2006-11-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

This morning we searched for my copy of that wonderful muffin recipe from Griswolds. Well, it wasn't in my litte card file with my other muffin recipes like Commuter Muffins, Honey Bran Muffins, Add to Muffins. So I just turned on my computer and asked for it. Here goes:

BRAN MUFFINS FROM GRISWOLDS

Muffin Spread:
1/4 cup butter or margarine
6 Tablespoons brown sugar
6 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons honey
1 Tablespoon water

Muffin Batter:
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup cake flour
6 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup raisins
2 eggs lightly beaten
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup crushed pineapple, drained
3 cups whole bran cereal
1 & 1/2 cups buttermilk

To make muffin spread: Cream butter in electric mixer. Gradually beat in sugars. Blend in honey and water and whip until fluffy. Coat muffin tins liberally and evenly with mixture, using about 2 teaspoons per tin.

To make muffin batter: Combine flours, sugar, salt, cinnamon and baking soda in a medium bowl. Stir in raisins, eggs, honey, oil and pineapple. Stir in bran and buttermilk and mix until batter is smooth. DO NOT overmix Fill coated muffin tins three fourths full. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Remove muffins from tins immediately by turning tins upside down onto cooling racks. Makes 18 muffins.

This recipe may sound involved, but the effort is sure worth it. These muffins are scrumptions.