happy hannukwanzumas!

Okay, Mark had the ultimate multi-holiday name idea! We had been happy chrismakwanzakuh'ing everyone, but he will have his way!

Today was sandhill crane day -- took the hour's drive to Woodbridge Ecological Preserve -- to see the wintering 5-foot high cranes. and they did not disappoint!! In spite of the rain...like a bird cares about the rain...they flew in waves and waves by the dozens, hundreds maybe, into their evening roosting areas. Impressive!



See this website: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/51/_/Sandhill_Crane.aspx

Another gorgeous sighting -- northern shoveler ducks! See: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/97/_/Northern_Shoveler_Male.aspx. What a treat to see dozens of such lovely birds!

Justin and Tina went along, were not too sure at first if this was a "wild goose" chase, but soon became believers! Thanks, guys, it was great showing you the beautiful sights of greater Sacramento area!

second-hand rose (earnheart)

he humbles us -- Earnheart just wants a little bit of understanding. He doesn't mind using a flimsy, cheap plastic bag as his bed. No! No fancy "Kitty Pi" for him.

livin' the good vida loca

Exercise is big in Baja -- this gym, advertising Pilates & Spinning was busy at 8am on the Thursday we drove through Guerrero Negro, Baja California, at Parallel 28. Viva Mexico!

back to a different kind of civilization

Here I am, see me below...bouncing along Hwy. 1 in Baja California Sur. I'm right there...in the truck.

Made it back to Sacramento in 3 days. Each day is exhilarating and very difficult . . .

Day one, Sta. Rosalia to El Rosario. Eight hours of driving, including stops for military checkposts, gas in Guerrero Negro (pick up a couple chicken tamales for dinner) and lunch at Mauricio's Restaurant (I think it's at kilometer 72 or something like that.) Although we've never stopped at El Rosario, except to gas up, we have stopped to eat there. The Baja's Best Restaurant and B&B turned out to be a restful surprise. See this picture down there? That's the sitting room in the suite.




Then, an early start on Friday morning, San Diego-bound. But...wait...there are the tolls to be paid, another couple military checkpoints, and...best of all...the "line." If you've been there, no explanation is necessary. Spending an hour at the Mexico-US border is an experience you don't soon forget. Jockeying for position, watching the temperature gauge on the dashboard, buying a few last candies to get rid of your last few pesos. It's all part of the scene at "the line."
I didn't take any pictures, but next time I will, for sure.

Then, Saturday, 6:30am to 2pm. Finally arrive in Sacramento. It was a big day for the CHP along I-5. They were attentive enough to stop us and issue a speeding ticket. Get this...65mph, when we should have been going no more than 55mph, because we were pulling the boat! You've been on I-5 before, right? If you're not doing 80, please pull over so the San Francisco-bound folks can get by, ok? Gracias.

The bottom line... I'm well-rested, got some mystery/ suspense reading done and worked on my "Wyvern" sock. All in all, another great trip to Baja.




The plant is a "pitahaya agria," which is great for use as a tea. Helps with everything -- high blood pressure, diabetes symptoms, you name it. Just boil a chunk of it for a while...and drink 8 ounces or so every day. It tastes bitter and nauseating, but it's "natural" medicine! Many folks will tell you so...and their doctors say, "whatever you're doing, it's working, so keep it up!"

desert vistas

Baja California Sur ... desert all the way. Cactus, dirt, sand, elephant trees, cirios ... and a full moon. The beautiful breezy wintertime vistas.

Enjoy, as do I.

Tomorrow´s the last day. The wind has calmed . . .

allá en el mar

Day 7 in Baja California Sur. Dry, dusty -- yet warm and breezy. All is well in Sta. Rosalía. Cruise ship coming in on Saturday. Big excitement. I´ll have something new to gaze upon from my balcony over the sea.

Doing some great reading with murder mysteries. Sleeping in late. Good times.

early morning musing

It's 1:50am if you haven't noticed and, the loud screechy sound is in full force. I have the "smooth jazz" radio station on, but it doesn't cover the screech! The cats don't know what's up ... they're wandering about, wondering why the light's on, and where the hell is their mom?

I need to do some knitting and finish up the book I'm reading, Cane River by Lalita Tademy (Oprah's book club) -- that will help me get tired. So..will go do some of that.

ridin' the rails

Amtrak between Sacra-Pimento and Oakland...wow! I was full of energy after (& in spite of) my door-to-door 3.5 hour trip from oakland to Sac-town. That's from the office, to the train, to the bus, to home. But, like I say, rarin' to go. Not that totally drained feeling, like when I drive a car that same journey.

Plus, big benefit -- the Suisun marsh is beginning to fill up with birds making their way through the Pacific Flyway. We are so lucky to be right on the birdie freeway of the California West Coast. I spied a group of approximately 20 floppy-winged creatures, which can only be SANDHILL CRANES, between Suisun and Dixon.

I saw some of them a week ago at the Grey Lodge preserve, near the town of Gridley. Yay, it's sandhill crane season.

Let the beautiful autumn season in . . . the temperature's changing.

Marie's Donuts - Freeport Blvd

Why bake when Marie's Donuts is only a couple miles away? I really want some apple donuts from Apple Hill, but that's an hour's RT drive and I've got other pressing things to do today. So...Marie's Donuts is the closest spot -- apple fritters. The line was hecka long...all those soccer families gearing up with healthy snacks for our youth.
Marie's doesn't have a website, but Apple Hill Growers do... applehill.com.

I like Boa vista Orchards, 2952 Carson Rd. Placerville, CA 530/622-5522 Season: Open all year Hours: Daily 8am - 5:00pm Wine Tasting Daily 11 am - 5 pm -- they've got the best and most amazing apple donuts!! Yummmmm.

Maybe it's just the fresh foothill air that makes 'em taste so good.

Must...get...to....Apple...Hill.....

livin' inside a jet engine

That's what it's like today . . . I could hear the high-pitched screaming whine from half a block away, as I approached the building! It sounds just like the airplane as it's revvin' up to it's 200mph takeoff! Only, the sound doesn't go away...this monster doesn't take off and soar into the distance! It's in my head...again.

Well, to combat the bad, we did something good...yes, latkes yet again!! Rosh Hashonah is upon us, and Yom Kippur and Chanukah can't be far behind!! I am content. No new picture of latkes tonite, just look at that previous "Latkes" post...new week, same story. Yumm. This time, my apprentice, Catherine, wanted to learn. She did a bang-up job. The secret? Cast iron dutch oven. Wow....it's amazing at keeping even heat! Success looks like latkes!

latkes

Tonight, with a slight chill in the air -- it had to be potato pancakes! Tried cooking with the "new" cast iron dutch oven. Great, even heat! Not bad for the season's first.

biscotti - first try

Made kahlua fudge pecan biscotti -- can't taste the kahlua -- only calls for 2 tbs. Very tasty. Yay! My first try and they turned out great. Want to try cranberry pecan next and who knows what then!

It's a Martha thing

Must be winter setting in...baking up a storm this week. This is cranberry nut bread. Tastes good! Made 5 loaves... had to get rid of all the orange juice, so I just kept making loaves 'til the oj was gone. Also made cranberry nut chocolate chip cookies. I'm tired. Going to read a book. Good night.

HEY! what's that noise?

What's that noise? Oh, that high-pitched noise, starting at 8:52am and ending the next day at 8:52 am? That's SBC's generator -- or air conditioning system -- or an antiquated torture machine placed squarely in front of the apartment patio -- and squealing all day and all night long...incessant noise...I just can't think anymore!!!

Well, I called the non-emergency police department # and was quickly visited by a policewoman who was very courteous, and informed me that the noise was not really very loud,as far as noises go. She seemed very concerned and in touch with my complaint.

A few days ago, word has it 3 uniformed staff, with clipboards,were on the property, checking out the area. So...the long arm of the law may actually grab onto this dastardly torture machine and make my world more liveable.

I'm optimistic.

Great lentil recipe

Try it! You'll like it!
Hey, where are the lentils? Just add them! To make this a vegetarian meal, be careful of the rice mix you buy -- check the ingredients for all vegetable -- many have chicken or other meat ingredients.

Artichoke Cheese 'n Rice Casserole
1 (6 1/4-0z.) pkg. fast-cooking long grain and wild rice mix
2 cups water
1 tablespoon dry bread crumbs
1 large tomato, seeded and chopped, reserving 1/4 cup for garnish
1 (14-oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained, quartered
1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
2 green onions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Heat oven to 350 Fahrenheit. In 2-quart saucepan, combine rice, seasoning packet, water and margarine. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low' cover and simmer 5 minutes or until water is absorbed.
Spread cooked rice in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square baking dish or 1 1/2-quart casserole; sprinkle with half of the cheese. Sprinkle bread crumbs over cheese; top with tomato and artichokes.
In small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, green onions and 1 tablespoon of the parsley; spoon evenly over artichokes. Top with remaining cheese.*
Bake at 350F for 25 to 35 minutes or until casserole is thoroughly heated and cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with remaining parsley and reserved tomato .
6 (1-cup) servings.

knitting bobbins

See, this is what they look like. I'm knitting the strips (previously mentioned) for an afghan. Several strips will include "flying geese" patternwork -- and I'll use the bobbins for the 4-5 different colors of geese.

Here's the other foto with the bobbins all ready to go!! Now I've just got to get ready to go ... ahead and knit the thing!

== LATKES ==

Tonight we made latkes, Catherine & I. See...she's tending to them in the picture. Why? It's not Chanuka yet! Well, Anastacia called up asking for the recipe...and that got me going. I started to make them...and then realkized there were no EGGS in the house!! AAaarrrrrgggghhhh. Ni modo de no hacerlos. We trekked on down to the Safeway...at about 9:30.m. and got the ingredients. Well, now it's 12:50 and the latkes are all ready to go...the kitchen is cleaned up.


We couldn't resist. Ate a pile of them. There are about 18 left.

Cat in Repose

Another early early morning. I envy Mr. E's ability to sleep no matter what's going on!!

sweet 'n tart carrots

This post is dedicated to "Mr. Julius," a wonderful cat. Uncomplaining, gentle, and friendly. All he asked is to have a warm spot to lay and watch the birds. And a little kibble now and then. Wherever you are, Mr. J, here's to you. Fondly.

I'm using today's post to save this great recipe. I haven't made it, but I've eaten it! And I love it. I keep meaning to make it . . . and will do so, very, very soon.

This recipe isn't really from FoodTV but their website is great -- and I can't count the times I've gotten great recipes there. allrecipes.com is great too. But this recipe is from some piece of paper in the pile of papers. So...here goes:

Sweet 'n Tart Carrots
24 oz. frozen cut carrots, thawed
1/2 C. bell pepper, chopped
1/3 C. onion, chopped
2/3 C. sugar
1/2 C. cider vinegar
1/3 C. oil
1 tsp. mustard
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 can condensed tomato soup (10 oz)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mix carrots, bell pepper and onion in a medium bowl.
Place rest of ingredients in a pot on the stove; bring to a boil over medium heat.
Pour over vegetables and mix.
Keep in refrigerator to blend the flavors.
10-12 servings

I dedicate this site to "Mr. Julius", an extraordinary cat. Wherever you are, Mr. J, you're my buddy.

Sleep is So Overrated!

Another day...another night of insomnia. Well, not insomnia, per se; more like I'm done sleeping for now. And it's 3am! By 7am, when I have to be driving down the road to work (on Saturday no less), I'll be very, very tired.

This is my active time for thinking and writing. Early a.m. -- even the birds are silent outside my apartment. The friggin' hum of the generator out there does not quit, tho'. Even at 3 friggin' a.m. SBC, fie on you!!

The lists of "to do's" at work run through my mind. Note to self: write a list of all the stuff I didn't write down in my planner -- so I can remember what to do come Monday morning!

Am writing this since I forgot to bring another excellent library book home to read. Am reading the series written by Barbara Neely: Blanche on the Lam, Blance Among the Talented Tenth, etc.

Also...started to fill out the crossword puzzle in the Alameda Journal. Trying to stave off the onset of Alzheimer's.

Knit a little, talk a little, knit a little, talk a little....cheep cheep cheep

talk a lot, knit a little more! Come on...sing along with us!!

This knitting mania is just spreading like cream cheese on a bagel! I'm working on an afghan ... little strips which, if ever sewn together, can become a real together afghan! We'll see. At least it keeps me busy while waiting....for the bus ride to the office, on the airplane, while on a Sunday drive to the country, etc, etc.
Picture of knitting coming soon...Meanwhile, getta load of this!

Stuff For Sale

Must sell stuff...lighten the load.
Am preparing for a big Ebay campaign. Lookin' around to see what can go. Don't stand still too long, because I'll take a picture of you, slap a price tag on and... before you know it, you're sold!

This is the best website, no? See ==>> http://www.craigslist.org/

May Days

Almost time for Jazz Jubilee -- wanna be a volunteer? It's four days of work...but you do get to listen to as much jazz as you possibly can!! It's not just Dixieland jazz anymore -- blues, latin jazz, etc, etc, it's a rich happenin' right in River City!!