Bathing suits!

When did the price of suits to swim in get so high? I understand if it's a fancy lay in the sun, look beautiful suit, but I'm talking about the ones you swim laps every day!  There are some pretty ones out there with support and comfort, wide straps and good construction.  The fabrics seem to be different.  After not swimming for 2 yrs, my laps are clumsy and it's hard for me to share a lane.  My arms are so weak!  I felt them after the garage but yow swimming laps they ache. I need to find my goggles.  My eyes sting.  I forgot how many towels I need two and a third maybe, a robe and I like one to stand and sit on. There were too many kids and it was too crowded and too loud.  Once I had one taken from my car.  I liked that one.  I'd like more than one.

No to get my body in one and go! Get up, suit up and head to the pool, don't think, Jusy go do it every morning!  Once the routine starts it's easier. I need to go befor the kids come at 3.

I made some whole wheat berry bread this morning.  Again, my whole wheat flout was growing spider mites or what ever.  Another bag bites the dust. It doesn't keep for long.  It needs an air tight container too. Staying in the bag and another plastic bag isn't enough.  That bread is great!  I find it impossible to resist hot bread.  I cut into it every time.

I made a pot of split pea soup.  I have to remember to soak the peas overnight regardless of what the bag says.  Otherwise they remain hard.  This time I puréed them just to try and get them smooth.
Unfortunately, the texture in the food processor is wrong.  Now at least it's better.

I need another blender....and juicer. The juicer will be my 3rd.  This time better be more heavy duty.  I am hard on my appliances, and most things.

Technical issues

I thought my iPad had battery issues!  Like last time it started loosing a charge.this time, listing to counsel, I got on to the apple store and made an apt. for the Genius Bar.  I went out, borrowed an iPad cord to charge while at work and it worked fine.  I came home and noticed my new power cord had come loose from the power strip! OMG, crisis solved! Panic for nothing.

Meanwhile, while I was working, the washer repair woman came.  In the meantime, my friend John who blessedly waited for the repair person to come between 4-7, noticed the electrical panel in the garage open and the breaker tripped!  I noticed that when we were vacuuming the carpet in the garage, but didn't put it together.

Technical issues and the logic to determine what went on and why sometimes escape me.  She told me my washer was still good.  Thank goodness!  I was looking at a front loader Bosh for over $1,200.!  They take special detergent too!

Last week, my gardener questioned what his hedge clippers stopped working.  I didn't know and it never occurred to me to check the outlet or breaker.  On Friday, I tried to use the outlet for the vacuum.  When it didn't work, I just moved to another outlet and used an extension cord.  It still didn't occur to me the outlet was bad.  Finally, today, John noticed and flipped it.  That could be why the washer stopped working.  Besides which, I needed new hoses after 35 years!  Usually they last 5 years!  They both had bulges in them!  Who knew?  Not me!  I knew that you were supposed to turn the water off between uses.

I haven't been doing that!

I joined the gym again this morning.  It will be nice to get back into swimming.  I like the water aerobics, Zumba classes and even the treadmill.  The bike is o.k. If you must.  This time I may try yoga.
I made a pot of split pea soup.  The temps. fell and I've been cold! In fact, there is a freeze warning.  WAIT!  My seedlings are sprouting!  I just covered them with 30lbs of potting soil!  Morning frost!?
Get the plant covers!

That stupid rat even chewed into a 50 lb. bag of potting soil!  What a nut!

It's a good thing my tomato seedlings are inside!  I have two seedlings out there now in 4 in. pots!

By Thursday,  it's supposed to be back in the 80's.  I'd rather it stay in the low 70's.  nobody asked me though.  A light sprinkle would be nice too.  I saw my first sunflower sprouted and in bloom today.  It made my smile and happy.  That's why we plant flowers.

I confess!  Today I ate the ears off my Easter bunny! Yum! Thank you!

Tax day!

I'm glad taxes are long done!  They make me cranky!  Although we try and be right on with deductions, I am always happy to get the refunds!

The gardener put a new grate in the ventilation window under the house, so it's time to plant the tomatoes and wildflower, zinnia, sunflower beds with some Shasta daisies too.
I pulled 2 carts of weeds.  It's the season.

It's time for Marilyn's birthday.  Having her in Berkeley is good for me but she is pushing her frail health taking care of her grandson.  I'll have to go up and visit.
  After a BA., M.B.A, and M.S from the University there she knows the gourmet ghetto well.  She picks out some amazing restaurants.  Last time we closed down an Indian restaurant.  It was great.

Today, with not enough time, I decided to make a broccoli, mushroom soufflé.  I didn't exactly do it in the way I normally would and it's baking in my first Bain Marie, it should come out good!  I like making those on rainy days.  It would be better if I didn't have to rush out, but I'll manage,

It will be good to come home to.  I love the puff.  It was either spinach, cauliflower half each or what I ended up with.  We will see.
Well, it tastes just like a quiche.  That too was a lot less bother.  Granted by the time I got home the puff had deflated.

Lazy Sat., BBQ and relaxation

What ever happened to our afternoon and evening of quiet, stress free relaxation, dinner and time to relax, enjoy one another's company, catch up and soak all the week's tension away?

First of all, we worked till 3, so there went 3 hrs.  Meeting with prospects, potential clients snuck in. Oh yes, reality, the real world, cell phones....neighbors....

Then, my wonderful mood was infringed on my my crazy neighbor David. O.K., I can jettison his nasty comments and passive aggressive self and move on.

Somehow though retorts to his ire continue to fester.  

Finally, the beauty of the afternoon reasserts itself and the day is back on track.

After an hour of gathering a birthday present, oatmeal raisin cookies, pie, enchilazagna and everything else I think I've got everything.

On my side anyway, I was ready to be waited on, do no work and relax.  That's not quite what transpired.  I ended up doing laundry, changing sheets, setting the table, dissecting the smoked delicious chicken, folding laundry eating in a quick 15 min. Too exhausted and hungry at 9 p.m. to care. We were both just wiped out.

So much for sitting out in the back yard, lighting a fire in the pit and firing up the hot tub for a soak.  With the wine, I might have drowned! Besides, it was too cold out by then!

We did get in a lot of great conversation. I did see snippets of mindless Hillbilly liquor making in So. E. VA, and made my way through great recipes in a Chinese cookbook. I want to make 2/3 of them! I cleaned up, crawled into wonderful clean sheets and read Sunset, until I fell asleep for a cat nap.

After reaching out to touch a bit later, I remembered my lovely Lacy was still outside!  I went to rescue her cute, cold self about 2:30 a.m.

Sunday morning was more relaxing, snuggling, having Rosalita's breakfast burritos...yummy.  I wandered out on the deck to water my seedlings, happy as those burritos and gardening always make me.  I got dressed to go to the Farmer's Market and for a walk.  Everything is right in my world.

Then, standing in the garage a new dog comes curiously up followed by my lumbering, screaming neighbor David, trying in vein to capture his new dog, walking through my lawn, not capturing the fleeing dog and He just has to say ugly things again.  He can't seem to stifle himself or stop spewing venom. Ewwwww. This time I called the police. After four hrs. Had passed I just wanted to report his actions and protect myself.

I rearmed more about restraining orders and notice of harassment than I ever thought to.

Back in the world of sunshine and joy we went to the market, walked and then took a joy ride up in the hills above the McMansions and discovered a Seik temple only 4 miles from here in the foothills.  There are the most amazing properties, ranches, wildflowers and parks.  We stopped to take pictures of beautiful purple lupine with a butterfly landing for nectar. That was a lovely discovery.  I can't believe after living here for 32 years we just found this treasure today!

Cooking up a storm

I came home exhausted and threw a pot roast into the oven the night before.  by the time it was done, it was 9 p.m.!  its nice to have leftovers though.  thre is something about comfort food....  my mom used to cook a big roast every Sunday, put it in the oven before mass and have it cooked, make mashed potatoes and gravy, eat the carrots and onion along side and have a delicious Sunday night dinner done.  unfortunately from my 10 year old way of thinking, then we had icky meatloaf of roast beef sandwiched for lunch the next week.  Now, I'd  crave one and to have her still here!
I made Caro's enchilazagna yesterday to use up a chicken I cooked for stock.  It was so nice to have a homemade meal prepared when I came home.  Sure beats a frozen entree of anything.

Besides, the "deck stray cats" benefit from the chicken, roast or whatever is left.  Better they than the birds or the garbage. I have the best garbage in town.  It may invite them to come back, but better to feed a stray, feral animal that have it rot in the dump.  Those cats may still be skiddish but they become more socialized towards me and Lacy and that helps us.  Thank goodness the Gardner finally got the screen put back in to the air space under the house.  Hopefully " the rat" didn't get under the house and gnaw on the pipes and insulation.  My neighbor reported seeing a bid rat walking above the fences.  We've been taking care of cats on this cul de sac for more than 20 years.  It's time they earned their keep!

I had a wonderful, fun day yesterday, but exhausting.  I had a great time with the kids and the later, Miranda.  I made her her first artichoke.  She loved it!
We are researching dolphins.  It's fun to learn with her.  I got books for new today on fresh water and salt water species.  She has to give an oral report soon, so we did research yesterday and now in addition, we have some visuals.  It seems a lot and advanced for a seven year old!

This afternoon after work, since it was a half day, I got the bright idea to clean out the garage.  Starting at 3, by six we were ready to drop. I has discovered there was a rat that had been nesting out there.  I got the idea last night when I discovered a cloth grocery bag chewed through.  Today we learned the degree of it's infiltration!  That sucker gnawed into every box, Christmas decorations, camping gear, first aide kits eating emergency water packs, chewing through granola bars, any remaining snacks, plastic water bottles by the dozens, bandages, business cards, post it notes, books, eye glass cases.  Is there anything that it didn't destroy?  We vacuumed, filled up our large recycle bin with papers and trash and pulled most everything out and repacked boxes.  There is more to do.  Fortunately, tomorrow is Sat., there is another hour or more to do.  Tonight we just jammed stuff back in to shut down for the night.  A hot whirlpool soak never felt so good!

Mad Men v Downton Abbey

Like Downton Abbey and NOT, I watched the season 6 opener last night.  Two hours was too long with all the commercials! It was set in Hi, NYC at Christmas and all the suspects were present.  A character or two died and more attention was shown to a shoe shine man than to his mother's passing.  Like the other, it showed the difference between the have and have not's. I also caught up on the Midwives last night.
I made a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies for the "kickoff" last night.

I made another batch this morning.  It makes 3 dozen.  I gave one, overlooked one by leaving them in the oven with the oven off when I had to go out and inadvertently put the open on broil for the lat batch.  It was a bit tan on top and undercooked inside.  This batch I may make with dried cranberries or crasins since I seem to be out of raisins after my hot cross buns for Easter, my oatmeal and these two batches.

I taught at Miranda's school today.  I checked on her teacher.   I'm not sure weather to contact her or not.  I'll tutor her this afternoon.  She wants to see and try an artichoke.  I have one and took a picture for her of one growing propitious lay in Caro's front yard.

I want to make some of Kirk's whole wheat berry bread; another thing that calls for raisins to moisten and sweeten the dough.  I may have nothing remaining from that relationship but memories and the recipe, but it's a good one as were they!

I shared my kale, mushroom, roasted red pepper, onion quiche with John last night.  It was good.  It has more flavor than the asparagus, mushroom one I made after Easter.  Nothing beats the au gratin potatoes and ham though.

Every year around Easter, when asparagus hits the market, I O.D. On the stuff for a week or two.  I eat an entire bunch for dinner two or more times a week.  Sometimes two or three days in a row.  It is so tender and delicious.  I remember as a kid hating it.  Maybe it was just anything green like zucchini grown in my neighbors garden in Detroil.

The penny candy store there was so much more alluring.  I'd go make the pilgrimage just about every day after school.  Before school there was another market that sold chewable cherry cough drops or Luden's, the only candy tasting ones.  You could have them in school!  All else was banned.  In 2nd and 3rd grade that was all important.

Mickey took me ice soaking on the Rouge River when it froze over.  It was near our house and on the rare occasion it froze and we got tired of skating on theicedover sidewalks, especially when a homeowner put down rock Salk and we went flying.  This afternoon Michael and I were skating, but he fell in through the ice!  That was scary!  He got out, but it was one cold, wet hike up the bank, across the vacant field home.

My dad took Mickey and me to the store with him one snowy night and told me in his largess as he often did I could pick out anything in the store.  I picked out a snow shovel.  Then my 7 yr. older big brother pointed out the huge dolls set up near the ceiling.  It angered my 8 yr. old heart!  Oh we'll, easily fixed.  I started down the block offering to shovel a driveway for a penny.  Needless to say the value of money escaped me as did the amount of worl.  I abandoned the task partially done.

Spring has sprung!

I'm tutoring 2nd grade Miranda. We write and made bread.  She was fascinated with the concept of it being alive.  It rose, we fed it, based it and ate! Yummy yeast bread.  Not as good as the hot cross buns I made for Easter, but o.k. For a demo.  I dyed Easter eggs for her too using natural dyes like beets, spinach and red onion skins.

Who knew beets would be brown? Pass dye or food coloring with vinegar makes the bright colors, blue's and purple.  I wrote her name on it with a Sharpie.  I understand the wax in a crayon works to leave an impression too. Like that hidden wax sand candle mold perhaps?
She is so bright and curious.  We fill a gap of need for one another.
I discovered POM, pomegranate juice in the store today.  It may be filled with antioxidants, but wow is it intense and concentrated.  I'd mix a bit in o.J. Or a cocktail. No more straight!  Noe blueberry Acai juice is o.k..

I squeezed some O.J. From my oranges for the past two days, by hand!  It's time to invest in my 3rd juicer!  It sure simplifies things.  Squeezing a glass at a time is one thing.  Even 2 or 4 oz takes a lot of oranges!  I was really enjoying the larger version of the cuties that have the zip peel.  Then one day, by mistake, I got a huge bag full at the farmers market, after I won a "soup fixings" contest/voucher for $20.00. Unfortunately, they were just navel.  I have one tree of them.

Once these oranges or lemons drop or are picked, they turn very quickly.  I tossed 3 buckets of "drops" I picked up off the deck  or under the trees.  I have loaded trees and another bucket of lemons and oranges.  My lemon tree wants to take over my best navel orange tree.  I'm constantly cutting it back.

My neighbor, Bobby, trimmed my huge 60' tall blue spruce.  Jack complains the tree spits on his car with it's pine cones.  This should take care of that.  He filled the street with branches.  I've been planting poppies, violas, pansies, wildflowers galore.  Most poppies are up and in bloom now.  I planted my first sunflower seeds and lots of sweet peas.  I love the scent of freesias in the spring and sweet peas.  Narcissus or paper whits are pretty but smell funky. Hyathacins are too, almost too strong.
 I miss the lilac and crocus out here. Tulips and daffodils don't winter over here unless refrigerated.  There are no crocus poking their heads up through the snow near me.  I don't miss the snow, although it does go down to 20 and frost warnings.  Once my jade froze in a hard freeze.  Those bushes are huge and flower in the spring.  By Feb. the fruit trees are in blossom and the flowering plum in the shades of white, pink, light and dark pink.  They are so pretty.  We have mustard now and lupine with the poppies but no dogwood or forcinthia.  We do have "roadies" though in all shades, purple, pink, white and scarlet everywhere, like oleander.