Happy Anniversary Minus One!

Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2025 by Paul

We started the day by going to the garden and working for a few hours.  Our 4th anniversary of getting married and 5th anniversary of our first “date” are tomorrow, the 28th, the same day as Colleen’s 53rd birthday!  We’re heading to Patty’s Place for a 5:00 pm rendezvous with family and friends today, as we have tickets to the Pageant Of The Masters in Laguna on the 28th.

We worked on the patio, getting it ready for our grandson’s birthday, which is coming up on August 2nd.  He and 30 of his friends, along with their parents, are coming for a swim party!  I told Charlie he would have to behave, or this might happen to him!

We headed to Patty’s around 3:45 pm to adjust the seating arrangements and have a nerve-settling drink before the shenanigans got underway!

We arrived safely at 4:25 pm with enough time to notify Patty’s that we would have a few more than earlier reported; in fact, we filled up the entire patio.

We sat at the bar until the first few people joined us; first was Vicky and Jim.

We had a great time with 26 of our closest friends and family.  Between Joe, Vicky, and Robin, we have a lot of pictures that we will post on the website in the next few days.

Dessert, the most essential part of dinner!

Meanwhile… George and Greg meet and have a lot of fun!

George was my financial man when I ran a department at Rockwell; he kept me out of jail!!

My eldest daughter, Robin, had the best seat in the house!  From her vantage point, she could see everything going on!

Robin keeps an eye on her bottle.

Bob and Robin make us very happy!  We wish that Colleen could have been here, but she is celebrating her 3rd birthday in New Orleans with her husband and in-laws.

An adorable couple indeed!

Married just five weeks, Bill and Sandee are getting to know the family!

Bill and Sandy Capps!

James joined the fun this evening!  Bob and Jim always have fun!

The President of the East Los Angeles Girls Club came with Jim and kept the evening moving right along.

Hail to the President… wanna win a turkey??

Charlotte made me face my golf demons with a smile.

Meet the Ladies’ Champion Golfer of Old Ranch!!

Donna is getting ready for the month-long European trip coming up soon.  She and Bob are jetting to the middle of Europe and gallivanting across the continent.

She is having a good salad for the last time in a month!

Dianne and Fast Eddie were a hoot all night long!  Dianne’s house training activities are coming along just fine.

Eddie and Vicky talked a lot about motorcycles, including races/clubs/individuals.

Eddie studies the menu!  Dianne, always smiling!

The Liles’ tribe occupied the corner seats, giving the two grandsons a bird’s-eye view of what adults do when celebrating.  Michele suggled right in!

Joe and family with Michele enjoying the evening.

George and I share stories of years gone by!  As George says, “Those things that didn’t happen were sure a lot of fun!!”

Mary accidentally spilled her wine, and as I ran for the mop, I remembered a similar event happening at home a few weeks back

She didn’t miss a drop!

We departed around 9:00 pm after an extended visit with the Dudas.  Going home was quick, as there was zero traffic on the 405.  We were home in eighteen minutes!

When we arrived home, we checked our watches to make sure we had enough steps in for the day.  Mary came up a little short, but she had a quick solution for the problem.

Dr. Mary is a very creative lady!

Posted in Dining Out, Family, Food and Wine, Friends, Memories | Leave a comment

We Came, We Visited, We Went Home!

Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2025 by Paul

Mary was first up, again!

We had a busy day planned, so we got ready and headed to Mary’s physical therapist at 9:30 am.  While Mary was inside, I got the fateful call.  While I was attempting to read my book, Mary asked if I could go home and get a package for the doctor.  Fory-five minutes later, I returned to the parking lot and carried in the package.  Traffic was terrible!

After she returned from the doctor’s office, we decided we wanted to visit our dear friend Irene, who had not been feeling well lately.  To brighten her day, we called Irene and she placed her lunch order with us.  We headed (we thought) to George’s Greek Cafe on 2nd Street in Belmont Shores, but the GPS was taking us to Pine Street in Long Beach!

Thank goodness we did not order it to go, because the usual 40-minute trip ended by hours and some change.

Mary dialed in George’s on her Batphone, and off we went happily, when about 40 minutes later, I knew something was wrong.

I forgot to tell Mary that Georges was in Belmont Shores, NOT Long Beach.  We spend 25 minutes attempting to navigate Long Beach with its tiny streets.

I first went there in the mid-1990s.

We asked for Nicky, but she was home for the weekend.  She now owned the only George’s Greek Cafe remaining.  She is a lovely lady!

She is charming, funny, and a shrewd businesswoman!

George and Rodoula Loizides came to the United States almost penniless more than 40 years ago — bringing with them nothing but dreams and three young children.

They built George’s Greek Cafe from scratch, which soon became a legend on Pine Avenue in Long Beach.  They and their children — Jimmy, Euripides (known by all as Rip), and Nicky — added two more restaurants in Belmont Shore and Lakewood.  As the years advanced, they built an extended family of customers, employees, and friends.

But the longtime marriage of George and Mama Rodou, as she was known, ended in 2019 when the couple died within six days of each other.

Mary and I needed a drink after the harrowing experience navigating the backwaters of Long Beach.  We celebrated with a saganaki!

Look out, here comes the alcohol!!!

OPA!!!

We heard the fire department coming this way!!

Saganaki is a Greek appetizer made with fried kasseri cheese.  The ritual of adding brandy and flambéing the cheese was started by restaurateurs in Chicago, who encouraged customers to yell “Opa!” as the plate was being ignited.  You can recreate the tradition at home in minutes, whether you’d like to spark up a little romance for your bride on date night or just try a fast and fun cheese dish on a chilly weeknight.  Serve with sliced fresh or grilled bread.

 

We finished off our wine before heading to Irene’s home over on Atlantic.

Saganaki and Chardonnay, what a way to live!

We picked up our order, and it was in two bags; we overachieved.

Slurp, gurgle, belch… we are on our way!

We got to Irene’s around 1:30 pm and had a nice lunch with her.  She was not doing well, and her daughter is coming down tomorrow to be with her for a few days, hopefully taking her to the doctor.

Irene’s apartment is on the 11th floor overlooking Long Beach and the surrounding areas.   Palos Verdes is quite visible in the background.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula, situated south of Los Angeles, is renowned for its breathtaking coastal scenery, affluent communities, and rich history.  Trivia about the area includes the fact that it was once home to a Nike Missile base, an honor farm (prison), and is known for its wild peafowl population.  The peninsula is also home to the Palos Verdes blue butterfly, a critically endangered species.

We saw a glimpse of Catalina Island, which is 26 miles away!

We didn’t stay too long, as Irene needed to rest.

On the way home, we got the bright idea to call Charlotte and perhaps stop by the club.  Charlotte was on the course, and the timing was perfect.

We stopped, and within a few minutes, Charlotte turned the corner onto the 18th hole.

We sat by the window so we could see the golfers at work!

Charlotte joined us soon after we arrived and had pre-ordered her drink of choice, champagne with grapefruit juice.

Always a smile!

We shared medical conditions.  Wayne and I are having very similar cardiac issues, and we agreed to continue sharing in the future to see how the men are doing.

Good friends enjoy visiting.

We finally arrived home around 5:00 pm, at which time I decided to take a well-deserved nap.  I didn’t wake up until after 10:00 pm.  I joined Mary in the kitchen where she was needlepointing.  We finally crashed at 12:30 pm.  We had a full day!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Did I Say Inactive?

Posted on Friday, July 25, 2025 by Paul

We were without energy today!  We did decide to have steak for breakfast.

The way to start the day!!

We then headed to the garden to do cleanup before the gardener arrived.  We started by removing the flowers from around our pet pineapple.  They were shading it too much.  Now Mr. Pineapple is happy.  He should sprout this summer.

The flowers were from bulbs, so we dug them out and transplanted them to the front yard, filling in some blank spaces.  We needed some mulch, so that went onto the shopping list!

“Thank you, I can breathe again!”

The baby watermelons are safe in their cages, away from the roaming night monster.  What do you call a watermelon that broke the law? A water-felon!

September will be the time to pick these guys!

We cleared out all the dead/dying zucchini, making way for other veggies to be planted shortly.

The underbrush needed to be tossed and readied for more planting.

Did we mention grapes?  We have had grapes for the last month, and these guys are perfect for the table.  These snacks are much better than M&M’s!

We have more than we can eat, so we send it to our friends and neighbors.

The last of the “big” onions is now gone, but we have over 50 onions growing from eight onion sets we received a few weeks ago.

These may end up pickled and used in salads!

Our vineyard is loaded with grapes this year.  We are still looking for the concord grapes, but the table grapes may have overtaken them.

A different type of grape is also ripening.

We checked the berries, and they are producing quite well.  Mary and I always visit them and come back with a large handful of berries to enjoy!

Every year, the production improves steadily.

We discovered Japanese yard-long beans last year, and this year we learned how to prepare them best.  They are better than string beans because they have no strings, duh!!

We keep picking, and the bushes keep producing!

Corn crop #2 is growing well.  We are about 6-8 weeks from getting fresh corn again!  We now have several new ways to prepare them!

Thirty plants times two ears per plant means a lot of corn to eat.

We were 90% done when Carlos and crew came to our rescue.  They did their usual thing, and then he made a fatal mistake.  He asked, “Is there anything you need done?”.

We did NOT hesitate, we pointed to the garden.  His crew cleaned up all the trimmings, and Carlos finally got the Baby Tears into the ground out behind the grapes.

Soleirolia soleirolii is a flowering plant in the nettle family.  It has several familiar names, including baby’s tears, angel’s tears, peace in the home, bits and pieces, bread and cheese, Corsican creeper, Corsican curse, friendship plant, mind-your-own-business, pollyanna vine, Paddy’s wig, and mother of thousands.

Carlos planted the baby’s breath into the dirt behind the grapes and shade-provided containers.  We hope it spreads out to cover the entire area.

Up close, they look pretty good.

They are hearty, love shade and water.

Perfect for the way out south forty!

Grow and spread your wings, little fellers.

After Carlos left, we gave up declaring the morning a success.

We then went to Home Depot, where we filled the trunk of The Silver Fox with supplies for future gardening.  We returned with new tarps to cover the workbenches, ant bait, rat poison, a small link chain for storing some keys, a motion-sensitive light to scare away the varmints, some succulents, and some other goodies.

We took some goodies to Jeff and visited for a while.  We returned home and watched TV until about 11:00 pm when we hit the sack!

Posted in Gardening, Just Us, Vegetable Garden, Working Around House | Leave a comment

Today We Celebrate!

Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2025 by Paul

After swimming last night, Mary’s eyes didn’t open until 8:00 am, and then they were at half-mast.  I only beat her by thirty minutes.  Then I remembered, “The average person needs five more minutes of sleep.”

We headed to the Elks at 11:00 am because we needed to stop at Ralph’s and pick up “the cake.”  Ralph’s Market did a magnificent job, and they also found some antlers in their “junk drawer”.  I am sure the altlers were from a Christmas decoration.

We carefully laid it in the truck of The Silver Fox!

We had a gaggle of friends here today.  It has been five years since we began this lunchtime ritual on Thursdays at noon.  The ritual began when Bob Z. pryed me out of the house, making me “move on” after Sue’s passing.   If it had not been for Bob, I would probably still be wasting away.

Top Row, L to R: Bob Z, Sydney, Vicky, Jim, George, Bill, Sandee, Karen, and Linda.
Bottom Row, L to Right: Mike Ash, Dianne, Mary, Paul, and Iris.

We took several views to capture everything!  We broke two lenses during the process.

Iris will be 99 this New Year’s Eve; she always sits to my left.

I did some speechifying, reminding everyone how it all got started.  Special thanks to Bob Zaitz, who was the real mastermind of the operation.

After a half hour of talking, I sat down, and Bob Z spoke about his memories of the initial event.  After being hit with three tomatoes and a whipped cream pie, he was forced to step back, sit down, and stop talking.  I thought Bob was quite eloquent.  His sing-song palaver was halfway between rabble-rousing and rapping.  Next time, we will suggest telepathy.

Karen also chimed in, mentioning what a lovely group we were.  It only cost us ten dollars to get her to say those words, but I noticed behind her, her fingers were crossed!!

I did happen to mention that after the first luncheon five years ago, I got enough courage to place a call to Dr. Côté for the first time (a suggestion from Jan Mongel).   We had our first “date” on July 28th, just a few days later!

After Mary asked me out to dinner several times, I finally agreed to go.  (It DID NOT happen that way, I begged, implored, pleaded; it was not pretty, but it worked, she said yes!!)

He won the blue ribbon for that afternoon’s speechifying!

Sandee and Bill showed up; we are pleased to see them out and about after being married just four weeks.  They always stand out in a group.  I remember telling Bill that I thought marriage is like a walk in the park…Jurassic Park.  I  also mentioned that marriage is a relationship where one person is always right, and the other is the husband.

They brighten up the room.

We all had a great lunch and shared stories from years gone by, some of which were actually true!

Sydney was keeping the far end of the table busy!

Iris, Will, and Sandee enjoyed the chatter among group members.   We did miss Mike Andersen, but he was taking care of Bridgette, and that takes priority!

Will was here, but he was missed in the group photo!

At the business end of the table, Bob, Mike, Dianne, and Mary told the GOOD tales of lore.

Tales of Lore generally refer to stories that delve into the mythology, history, or backstory of a fictional world, character, or concept.  These stories can be found in various forms of media, including books, podcasts, video games, Elks Lodge luncheons, and other digital platforms.  It often explores the origins, legends, and cultural narratives associated with a particular setting or entity.

They were awaiting cake!

Vicky volunteered to cut the cake, and Dianne and Mary served everyone.  The cake was outstanding.  I was planning to save a piece for Jeff, our neighbor.  I examined the scene of the crime where the 1/4 sheet cake had disappeared, vanished, became extinct, dematerialized, dissolved, or otherwise melted away, leaving only the box it came in and a few finger marks in the remaining icing.

Types of Buttercream:

  • American Buttercream: Simple, sweet, and easy to make, using butter, sugar, and sometimes milk or cream.
  • Swiss Meringue Buttercream: Made with cooked egg whites (meringue) and butter, resulting in a silky, stable texture.
  • Italian Meringue Buttercream: Similar to Swiss meringue but with a slightly different preparation method, often resulting in a glossy finish.
  • French Buttercream: Made with egg yolks and butter, resulting in a rich, decadent, and sometimes airy texture.
  • German Buttercream: Also known as pastry cream buttercream, it uses a cooked custard base thickened with starch.

 

Vicky opened the post-luncheon meeting of the “Girls Club of East Longeles”, a fundraiser for wayward men.   Ask Vicky about the club, as she has been the president for almost 55 years since its inception.

Vicky tells a story!

We departed the Lodge around 2:30 pm, and Sydney followed us home so she could go grocery shopping in the Casa Valencia Gardens, where magic happens!

Welcome one and all!

After Sydney departed, we both took naps.  We’re not lazy, we’re just in energy-saving mode.  A nap is a mini-vacation for the mind.

I did better than Mary, as Mary had to wake me up at 5:30 pm.  When my eyes opened, I thought it was Friday morning; I was perplexed!  I napped for three hours.  I must have been tired after all the festivities!

My grandmother was a very tough woman. She buried three husbands and two of them were just napping.

We had a small dinner and then went to visit Jeff for a while.  We crashed soon after returning home.

Posted in Elks, Family, Food and Wine, Friends | 1 Comment

I Am Having My Midmorning Week Crisis!

Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 by Paul

Mary says, “Good Morning, you all!”

Mary was first up on this fine day.  Meanwhile, I was having my midmorning crisis.

A midmorning crisis is a period of self-reflection and emotional turbulence that some people experience during old age, typically between 80 and 100 years old.  It’s characterized by a reassessment of one’s life choices, identity, and mortality, often leading to feelings of dissatisfaction, regret, worry about making it to the bathroom before Mother Nature calls, needing to wear Depends, and a desire for better coffee.  While not a formal diagnosis, it’s a common experience with various potential causes and symptoms.

We managed to get out of bed and head to the gym, where we suffered great indignities.  What kind of indignities, you ask?  Attempting to bend over, forgetting where we put our water bottles, losing count of the number of reps we had achieved, trying to avoid breaking wind, and leaving through the door without hitting both sides of the door jam on the way to the car!

When we got home, Mary did the dishes in our new super deluxe dishwasher.

On the way home, we got a text from Vicky, and Dianne is going to join us on the 28th at Pageant of the Masters!  This show will be Vicky’s thirty-third consecutive year (excluding the COVID year).

Mary and I got to talking about our dear friends, and we decided to post this sign shortly.

Mary made an excellent lunch.   I assisted by chopping up the watermelon.  I was surprised it was yellow on the inside.  Notice how I cut the melon.  When you reach for a “slice,” you get your own “popsicle”.

The yellow sun melon was the best we ever had!

The yellow watermelon was cultivated before the red watermelon and boasts a honey-like sweetness.  Yellow watermelons lack lycopene, the pigment that gives red watermelons their color, and instead contain beta-carotene.   They have been grown in Africa for over 5,000 years and were even depicted in the tomb of King Tutankhamun, suggesting their significance as a source of water and sustenance in the afterlife.

 

The smell of bacon drove Mr. Scout, the Wonder Dog, wild.  His nose was lit up, and his bark sounded like a herd of wild animals.  We had to stop eating and tear off a large piece of bacon to give to him, as we feared for our lives if we didn’t move fast enough!

Turkey bacon is a leaner alternative to traditional pork bacon, offering fewer calories and less fat. It’s typically made from ground turkey meat that’s formed into strips, cured, and smoked to mimic the taste and texture of pork bacon.  While it’s often promoted as a healthier option, it’s still relatively high in sodium.

We love turkey bacon!

I do not know what Dr Mary put into the eggs, but I saw onions, mushrooms, and some eye of newt.  I am sure there was more.

There was magic in the eggs!

We spent an hour “straightening up” before the house cleaners come; it’s just what we do!  When the girls arrived, Mary and I were trying to stuff a summer duvet, and we weren’t doing well.  Domilita stepped in and saved the day!

Did You Know?  A duvet is a type of bedding consisting of a soft, flat bag filled with down, feathers, wool, or a synthetic alternative, meant to be used with a removable cover called a duvet cover.  Duvets originated in Europe and are known for their versatility and ease of care.  They can instantly change the appearance of a bedroom with different covers.

 

We called Vicky at dinner time and asked if she would like to join us and get in hot water!  She arrived around 7:00 pm, and we headed to the pool.  I put my toe in the water and teased that the water was cold, saying, “I must have turned off the heater by accident!”  When Vicky tried putting her toe in the water, I got the evil eye.  We both laughed!

Vicky bought a special hat to keep the sun off her face.  I suggested she use it as an Easter Bonnet next year.

I jumped in first!!!  Someone said, “Now we will have a ring around the pool!” Someone else chimed in.  “Look!  It’s Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent!”   I am not even green!

I was mortified.

Talk about a fashion statement!!!

We didn’t know what to say, “Ah So”, “What happened”, or “Really?”

Mary followed us in, but she also brought us a surprise: marshmallows for a post-swimming dessert!

No self-respecting bug would dare enter the water with these two dennisons of the deep!

After an hour or so of cavorting, we headed to the campfire, where the chuck wagon, where cookie had laid out a spread of marshmallows and bamboo sticks.  Life is good!!

Marshmallows are a requirement after a long swim session!

We stuffed marshmallows into our faces, talked about life, giggled a lot, but more importantly, we stayed warm.  After being next to the first for quite a while, our towels and robes became dry!

Vicky and Paul are showing each other how to roast marshmallows!

Vicky headed out around 9:30 pm, and we went to the TV/Living room and watched a movie.

While Mary worked on her needle point, we watched Saving Private Ryan; finally, a good action military movie where every other word is NOT something you wouldn’t say in church!

Summary: Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) takes his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat.  Surrounded by the brutal realities of war, as they search for Ryan, each man embarks on a personal journey and discovers the strength to triumph over an uncertain future with honor, decency, and courage.

We finally crashed at 12:30 am!

Posted in Cooking, Friends, Movies, Working Around House | Leave a comment

We Goofed!

Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 by Paul

Us goof up?  Nah, that can’t happen, but it did!  We were happy as a pair of clams working in the office when Mary remembered we were supposed to be in Long Beach for some plastic surgery at 8:00 am.   It was 9:00 am, and we were sitting there in our jammies.  Poof!!

We called immediately and got a new appointment, and we put a note on the schedule to buy Ginger (the surgical scheduler) a bottle of purple gin, Odyssey 1908.

We called immediately and apologized!  We “never” miss an appointment under normal circumstances!

We got a message for the surgery scheduler, and I am on for August 23rd for the frontal lobotomy!  I will be awaiting the date and will ensure I get the blood test well in advance.

We worked around the house until 10:00 am and then Mary got ready for the weekly watercolor class.  I decided we ought to go to El Torito for lunch, as it was only eight minutes from her class.

Tacos are a delicious rebellion against the mundane.

We had a light lunch with a glass of vino (It was 5:00 pm somewhere!)

I drove back home and proceeded on a search and rescue mission for a cooking scale.  I knew we had two of them, but I couldn’t remember where they were.  I found it in the last place I looked, duh!

I rearranged the booze counter to make room; things were getting a little crowded.  I also put the new wine bottles in the wine storage cabinet, and now the countertop is visible again!

Just before I departed to pick Mary up, I got a text indicating she needed three previous pictures and our wall mounting kit container.  The instructor asked several of her students to put their pictures up in the lobby of the Senior Citizens Center.

We returned home via the side streets as the 55 is always bust going north in the afternoon.

We called New Hmpahire to talk to our granddaughter and great-granddaughter, but they were out and about.  Happy 29th, Jackie, and Happy 5th, Emmerson!

She looks just like her Great Grandpa!!! (Sorry about that!!)

The latest painting was examined and framed.  Mary is doing fabulous because watercolor painting is like life.  You’d better get it right the first time — you don’t get a second chance!

We had a light dinner, and then it was time to go swimming, but first, we watched “Heartbreak Ridge.” Marine Sgt. Thomas Highway (played by Clint Eastwood) is a decorated veteran of two wars.  On his last posting before retirement, he is surrounded by officers with no combat experience who view him as an odd, even dangerous, holdover.  Highway is assigned to train a group of undisciplined recruits, including Cpl Stitch Jones (Mario Van Peebles), a slick hustler who has previously encountered Highway.  As the old soldier prepares his men for a war they don’t believe will come, the U.S. invades Grenada.

The earring gets pulled off!

Just before I entered the pool, a lady showed up and knocked on my door, asking for a small donation towards the local swimming pool.  I gave her a glass of water.  I love supporting the community.

The pool is down to 92 degrees, but that seemed okay.  We fired up the fire pit, and when we exited the pool, we warmed up.

We watched TV, but Mary decided to watch “Platoon.” After listening to the dialogue for ten minutes, I headed to the office to work on the daily diary.

I thought the movie was about how many times the “F-word” could be used in a single sentence!

Summary: Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) leaves his university studies to enlist in combat duty in Vietnam in 1967.  Once he’s on the ground in the middle of battle, his idealism fades.  Infighting in his unit between Staff Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger), who believes nearby villagers are harboring Viet Cong soldiers, and Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe), who has a more sympathetic view of the locals, ends up pitting the soldiers against each other as well as against the enemy.

By 10:30 pm, it was time for bed.

Posted in Art, Movies, Working Around House | Leave a comment

Rest Required!

Posted on Monday, July 21, 2025 by Paul

Attempting to recreate the day was difficult as we were still on cowboy time.

It’s Monday, meaning the torture chamber is soon to be visited.  This morning, we crept up on it silently, coasting into the parking lot with the engine off.  Needless to say, our plan failed, as we were quickly swept into the Peak Performance offices and got to work!  We did about five miles on the stationary bike before the long arms of the trainers got us, and the twisting and turning began.

Like every Monday and Wednesday, we barely survived. Today, not only did we survive, but we also went to the market to acquire some missing ingredients.

Upon arriving home, Mary fell into her cooking mode.  Scout sensed what was coming and hid under the couch.  I tried to run, but the Alexa announcement, which rang out on all fourteen devices, compelled me to return to the scene of the crime.

Upon entering the forbidden kitchen, breakfast passed me by, going somewhere between the sound barrier and light speed.

We dined before really going to work!

Mary cooked all afternoon, and I watched and pitched in where needed.  At the end of the afternoon, Mary had made:

  • Homemade apple sauce from George’s tree and Ralph’s Market
  • Banana Nut Muffins because our bananas were starting to look a little worn out.
  • Pickled Onions we got from our garden.  We filled a large Mason jar with sliced onions and topped it off with apple cider vinegar, water, cinnamon, and sugar.
  • Japanese Yard Long beans freshly picked

We took some warm muffins and apple sauce over to Jeff and visited with him for a while. Then we headed to the pool, which I had lowered to 92 degrees after complaints from management.

Mary, the bug catcher, did not have much business this evening!

We got out and sat by the fire at 9:30 p.m. and decided to go to bed early.  The country western dancing from Sunday and today’s torture session did us in!

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Another Full Day!

Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2025 by Paul

It’s Sunday, and we’re in for a great day!   We did work in the garden for about two hours, but then we needed to rest for the Starkighters tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Grand Old Opry!

The kids did an excellent job of cleaning up after last night’s soiree, but only so many dishes can fit into the dishwasher.  We did another semi-load, and voilà, the kitchen was back to normal!

By noon, we were ready to relax, and we did.  By 3:00 pm, we were hunting for our clothes for the Starlighters dance this evening.

We arrived early, as we are board members and assist in setting up the event.     We were the first to use the backdrop; we were the guinea pigs!

The lighting was ready to go!

Come and visit us on the Starlighters Website. Click the cactus.

We danced and danced and visited and visited.    It was evening, and we had over eighty people at the dance; Tropic Starr did a magnificent job mixing country with other dance music.

The ladies were all dressed up for the event!

Our table was the usual culprits!

Vicky and Jim were dressed to the 9’s!

Minnie Pearl says, HOWDEE!!!!!

We tossed a few back, and someone slipped me a glass of wine?!

A cowboy with wine?   I never heard of such a thing!!

The place was rocking!

The music was fantastic, and the dancers followed suit!

We danced the two-step but just missed the Cowboy Chacha!

We had our boots on, so cockroaches beware!!

We headed out about 9:30 pm and crashed as soon as we got home.

BTW, if you can listen to Willie’s Roadhouse, you can listen to the Grand Old Opry several days a week!

Posted in Dancing, Dining Out, Elks, Friends | Leave a comment

Time For Friends And Family

Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2025 by Paul

We had our coffee and worked in the office, but Mary jumped up at 10:00 am and ran out the door!  I thought she had been bitten by something.  Well, it turns out she was.  She got bit by the Neighborhood Garage Sale, or NGS for short!

She returned with a green glass bowl that she bought for a total of $5!

Then she asked the fatal question, “Paul, would you PLEASE go with me?”.    I decided I would go, and maybe I would find some treasures.  I think she wanted me to carry her treasures back!

 

By the time we returned, it was time to get ready for company as we are having a Perogie Night and Swim Party with the Dudas and Kyle/Christina.

Robin, Bob, and Nick came a little early to help set up and get things ready.  They are such good “kids,” making party time very easy on us old folks!

Nibblers encircled the island!

The perogies and sausages were ready, and everybody came running.    We filled out plates in the kitchen and then strolled to the formal dining room, which we seldom use.  Tonight we dine with Mae West and WC Fields!

Time to fill the plates and head for the dining room!

We played a little Percy Faith on Alexa while dining and swapping stories.  The perogies were done to perfection thanks to the new head chef, Sir Bob Duda, Master Chef and bottle washer.

Dinner was fantastic!  Everybody went for seconds!

Using the formal dining room was fun!

We introduced tomato pie to Christina and Kyle, and they enjoyed it.  She shared our recipe.

Dinner was done, time for dessert!

I had a flash of brilliance.  After checking the availability of the ingredients, I offered up an after-dinner drink called “Orange You Glad This Week Was Over!”.  Mary first had it at Chewey’s in Oasadena.  Some people call it an Orange Creamsicle.

If we ate dessert first, we probably would not have eaten dinner, hic!

The ingredients are orange-flavored vodka, whipped cream, a slice of orange, and vanilla ice cream.

Easy ingredients!

Boozy Orange Creamsicle Float – This recipe combines the classic flavors of an orange creamsicle with the addition of orange-flavored vodka to create a delightful and nostalgic adult beverage.

Ingredients

2 oz orange vodka (or vanilla vodka, if preferred); consider adding an orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or Triple Sec, for a stronger orange flavor.

3 oz orange juice

1 oz heavy cream (or half-and-half for a slightly lighter version)

1 large scoop vanilla ice cream

Whipped cream, for topping

Orange slice or mini orange popsicle, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Chill your glass: Place a tall glass in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to frost it and keep your drink colder longer.

Combine liquids: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the orange vodka, orange juice, and heavy cream.

Shake well: Shake the ingredients vigorously for 10-15 seconds until well combined and chilled.

Pour and float: Fill the chilled glass halfway with ice cubes and strain the cocktail mixture over them.

Add the ice cream: Gently drop a scoop of vanilla ice cream into the drink, allowing it to melt and slowly mingle with the liquid.

Top it off: Add a generous swirl of whipped cream on top of the float.

Garnish and enjoy: Garnish with an orange slice or a mini orange popsicle for a fun and flavorful finish.

 

It is also a pretty drink!!

Yummy!!!

The pool was a delicious 94 degrees, making entry a joy!  We lit the fire pit to make it glow red as we exited the water.   I was going to take pictures, but alas, we were having so much fun floating around and swapping stories that I forgot.

Kyle had to depart around 9:15 pm to ensure Christina’s puppy was visited; they wanted to avoid any accidents.  Robin, Bob, Mary, and I stayed in the water for another thirty minutes!

After an hour or so of hot water, we were ready to return to land and enjoy some marshmallows by the fire.  The evening was beautiful.

The fire was hot, and the evening was relatively warm.

We were exhausted after a day of treasure hunting and then hosting family and guests.  We decided to get some rest, a recurring condition of suspended consciousness by which the body rests, sometimes referred to as “shuteye,” and returned to the arms of Morpheus.

Posted in Cooking, Family, Food and Wine, Friends, Fun | Leave a comment

Friday Has Come And Gone!

Posted on Friday, July 18, 2025 by Paul

Friday has arrived, and all we have is one doctor’s appointment; it must be a magical day!

Becky called us and she was sick, so we decided to send her some flowers to perk her up.  We ensured that the florist delivered them and that they arrived safely.  Phoenix was 112 degrees today!

They looked beautiful.

Last time we were at the market, I picked up four good-looking steaks, and today,  half of them will be subjected to extreme heat!

Olive oil, mixed with butter and some wonderful cloves of garlic, ensures the steaks are delicious!

After a brief walk through the garden, we departed for the pulmonologist to get clearance for the upcoming surgery.   Our regular doctor was out sick, so we saw his PA, who was quite good.  I’ve been cleared; I’m ready to go!

We did mention that I needed my hearing checked.

Upon returning home, Mary decided it was time for tomato pie.  Yes, you heard it right here, tomato pie.  Mary would make a great Southern Belle, ding dong!!!

We set up the flowers so we could enjoy them as preparations got underway.

We needed two cups of basil, so we went shopping in the garden.

Mary sent me out to capture the elusive “large tomato,” and I succeeded in getting some three-pounders.  These puppies were giant, and we only needed about five to make two pies!

They were so big that the skins split, but after some trimming, they were ready for slicing.

I sharpened my Ginsu knives (as seen on TV) and, after whirling them around several times, clicking them together with precision, and speaking a loose form of Japanese, I attacked those tomatoes with a vengeance!

They did NOT stand a chance with junior chef Paul at the counter.  I thought I heard applause from the head chef.

The heat of the blades warmed up the tomatoes!

After doing the same thing to a couple of onions — two white and two red — Mary was ready to prepare the pie.

I volunteered to make more basil as she was preparing the pies!

She called me, saying, “Chop Chop!”

The recipe is something like this:

1 baked pastry shell (quiche or pie pan)

4 to 6 beefsteak tomatoes, peeled and cut into thin slices

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil, or one teaspoon dried basil

2 tablespoons chopped chives

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 cup of grated cheese

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Layer the tomato slices evenly in the pie shell.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, basil, and chives/onions.  Repeat until it fills the shell.

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the mayonnaise and cheese, then spread the mixture evenly over the tomatoes.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and slightly golden.  We use aluminum foil for half the time and remove it at the end, ensuring the cheese will not burn.

The pies looked wonderful!

One nice thing about this pie is that you can serve it hot or cold!

The house smelled wonderful with the tomato pie cooling down.

We knew Jeff, our neighbor, loved tomato pie, as we had introduced it to him the previous year.  As soon as the pie was ready to cut, we called Jeff and he responded with, “COME ON OVER!”

He had just finished dinner, but he knew he had room for the tomato pie.

Returning home, we decided not to swim as the air was a little cool, so we watched TV for an hour before going to bed.

Just before going to bed, I checked my email, and my grandnephew Owen got to try his first solid food this week: oatmeal!

Posted in Cooking, Doctor | Leave a comment