that's enough about you...can we talk about me now?

2011 .. the Fall cometh

2011-09-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

Before the year ends, I'd better post an update. This year's nice trips included New York, Ensenada and, next month, New York again. Big event of the year - Carloz & Lindsay's wedding June 28th. Much happiness abounds!

Me, at Café Angelique - just before going to the theatre ... "No Child" - wonderful!

Here's Ann's Baja kitchen - it's a beauty! Turn around and it's all ocean view!

and the event of the summer...Carloz and Lindsay's wedding and reception! Here's my shy baby brother Mark!

Proud moms with Lindsay and Carloz

Oh, lest I forget - the big trip west to Cotati, CA - for the most amazing annual Cotati Accordion Festival! Two days of music and krafting!

UWS: Upper West Side week of exploration

2010-11-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

A beautiful week in the fall. Seven short days to wander around the wonderland called Upper West Side, New York City.

Every day, the same thing...get on the bus! I'm showing Julia how I use the camera to take pictures, not of others, but of ourselves! One of this week's fun lessons I'm sharing with Julia is 'how to use your cell phone's features!'

The agenda for the week includes nosh, walk, bus, walk some more, converse, look and walk some more!

Ring in the New Year 2010

2010-01-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

What a way to end the decade and begin a new year - full moon over the Ensenada, Baja California beach. Only 5 days of R&R put me in a very relaxed space ... and the relaxed feeling remains. Could it be the bloody marys at Baja Mama's brunch buffet? Perhaps. Even crossing the border - waiting over an hour as we drove down 'the line' was pleasant. I ordered fresh chopped fruit from a vendor, a ceramic piggy ... and I wanted to buy so many more tzachkes or tilichero!

Even tho' I've worked this week, I remain on vacation in my mind...

Pacific Northwest Wandering

2009-10-09T06:20:00.000-07:00

Lovely visit with brother #1 and sis-in-law. The best part: A warm cup of Ivar's clam chowder for 75 cents! It was a rainy deluge on Friday when I arrived in Seattle. So my homing instincts took me right to the waterfront...for my Ivar's fix! aaaahhhhh......life is very good!

And now, for the family pictures:

Mazel Momma & Mazel Tough Cocktail

2009-06-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

I'm just a roller derby groupie now! Proud momma follows roller derby daughter around California!

Cocina de Puebla

2009-05-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

I saw today how Ruth, Alex's mom, made two exquisite and tasty dishes - f#1 fideo con tocino y salchica. #2 enchiladas blancas con chile poblano, queso mexicano...I'm in heaven! the occasion is a potluck for the ladies who walk dogs at the Point Isabel leash-free dog park. Since Laurita and I were able to help Ruth during the whole process, I saw the process and took copious notes. I can hardly wait to make these dishes myself.

Ruth was telling us about a group in Puebla that gets together and provides home-made meals at least once a month to those who need a little outing - last month 425 showed up! omigod. So, I told her I'd donate $20. and Laurita here told her the same. Then I told her that if we advertise an evening of authentic Puebla cooking, like Cocina with Ruth, we can charge $100 each person (maybe $125, due to supplies costs) - ( we are in SF Bay ARea after all) and they will take home some of the tasty food (I bet the food won't last 'til they get home) and a recipe. They will have spent time using their Spanish - since it'll be given in Spanish (with interpreters nearby) and with the chef herself. that way she can get some extra $$ for her cause in Puebla. Well, she's leaving town in a couple weeks, but now we have an idea and Laurita's going to do the desktop publishing to get everything ready, including recipe pages! I can hardly wait!

Now I'm resting from my morning - and will knit some more - Mi hija's afghan is ALMOST DONE! And I told Ruth I'd sew up the pants legs for 2 pairs of pants. She said it makes her embarassed to have me do it. I said how could I possibly thank her for the amazing cuisine she produces each and every week? At least there's some little thing I can do!

Thrifting bug - could not help it - went to salvation army on 7th St in Oakland - on 50% day. Bought an alpaca vest (as a cozy for my dining room chair) and another wool sweater at an Alamo yard sale.

Harvest Brawl - Sac City Roller Girls

2008-11-10T10:15:00.001-08:00

Stacy's new activity -- see it to believe it!

Carloz was a witness to to the Harvest Brawl.

Fall Offerings

2008-11-09T20:42:00.000-08:00

`The advent of fall weather has suddenly sparked my interest in all things woolen. So I've cut and sewed numeros pieces of recycled wool sweaters. I made a pair of slippers, from the top half of sweater sleeves. Anastacia deems them "janky." Well, guess what, they are soooooo waaaarrrrmmmmm, that I shall be making and wearing these slippers! they're soooo easy to make, they don't take beaucoup $$$$$ and more time to make like the beautiful felted clogs. check out some of the cool felted purses on etsy.com here: http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=tag_title&search_query=recycled+sweater

will attached pictures soon! until then, here's a little something...

October Beauty in NYC

2008-10-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

The view from UWS - Upper West Side - is gorgeous today. A perfect Sunday to get out and enjoy all that New York has to offer. Streetside fairs, bustling restaurants and shopping ... plenty (window) shopping!

Reading and Knitting

2008-07-14T19:22:00.001-07:00

Those are the current pasttimes. Books: Murder mysteries are de riguer - although I picked up Runaway Jury again and cannot put it down. I'm also reading up on disabilities - anthologies, memoirs, etc. Very excellent, moving books - Moving Violations by John Hockenberry and Tumbling After by Susan Park; the anthology "With Wings - an anthology of women's stories on disabiities"- something like that.

I've picked up numerous books on knitting at the library - Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop, etc.

a touch of culture

2008-06-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

In May, Julia and I went to the Annie exhibition at the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. #1 - I can't believe I never had been to the Legion of Honor memorial. What a gorgeous spot to spend some time!

The Legion of Honor, San Francisco's most beautiful museum, displays an impressive collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art in an unforgettable setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.
History: Built to commemorate Californian soldiers who died in World War I, the Legion of Honor is a beautiful Beaux-arts building located in San Francisco's Lincoln Park. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Bridge and all of San Francisco, the Legion is most noted for its breathtaking setting. Its collections include Rodin's Thinker, which sits in the museum's Court of Honor, European decorative arts and paintings, Ancient art, and one of the largest collections of prints and drawings in the country.

. . . and all about Annie:

For decades, Annie Leibovitz has artistically captured the icons of popular culture with her award-winning photography. Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990–2005 looks at 200 of these photos as well as those she has taken of her family and close friends, and thus views a full “photographer’s life.” As Leibovitz says: “I don’t have two lives. This is one life, and the personal pictures and the assignment work are all part of it.”Included in this exhibition are portraits of a pregnant Demi Moore, Nelson Mandela in Soweto, and George W. Bush in the White House; searing photojournalism from the siege of Sarajevo; haunting landscapes from the American West and Jordan; and personal photos documenting the birth of her three daughters and other scenes of private family life.

Free Ticket to a Roller Coaster Ride

2008-03-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

it's the ride you never want to take. Mom's diagnosis of dementia. We're all working our way through this diagnosis - and are calling upon all the resources we can find.

A great reference book: The 36 Hour Day.
Great dementia/alzheimer's support group - Hart Senior Center in Sacramento.
Website: http://www.alz.org/index.asp

Disfarmer - Photography Exhibit

2008-03-05T05:29:00.000-08:00

Aunt Julia gave a talk February 28th at Duke University Center for Documentary Studies.

Here's the detail:

DisfarmerPhotographs from the Studio of Mike Disfarmer, Heber Springs, Arkansas 1939–1946January 17–April 6, 2008 Lyndhurst GalleryPublic Reception and Talk: Thursday, February 28, 7 p.m.Scholar/Collector Julia ScullyThere is much that we don’t know about Mike Disfarmer, but what we do know makes for a great story.He was born Mike Meyer in Indiana in 1884. When he was eight, his family moved to Arkansas—-though later in life he claimed to have been blown there by a tornado and dropped in the Meyers’ yard. At the age of fifty, not long after his mother’s death, he made the local paper when he legally changed his last name from Meyer to Disfarmer. The reporter explained the change this way: “Since ‘meyer’ means ‘farmer’ in German, and since the petitioner was not a farmer, he chanced upon the name ‘Disfarmer.’ ‘Dis’ is said to mean ‘not’ in German.”). In adopting this new identity, Disfarmer distanced himself from his family and seemed to imply his superiority to other locals. A confirmed bachelor who made a point of telling people that he didn’t believe in the Bible, he succeeded in creating a persona that was both insider and outsider in the small mountain town of Heber Springs, Arkansas, where he’d lived since 1914.This eccentric, reportedly friendless man chose to operate a portrait studio for forty years. He documented significant and random moments in the lives of rural Arkansas families through the end of the Depression and World War II. No warm conversation, no props, no frills; an irregular tack for the traditionally gregarious profession of portrait photographer. His neighbors, all white, predominantly working class, came as they were, and as they wanted to be remembered: in work clothes, in uniform, in their Sunday best. They are hearty individuals living through challenging times, sliced from a virtually homogenous life. The frank, arresting portraits Disfarmer made stand as a compelling record of the home front. The community he held at a distance; his camera, he caressed.This exhibition presents classic Disfarmer images—posthumous prints from glass-plate negatives made between 1939 and 1946—that were discovered two years after the photographer’s death by former Heber Springs mayor Joe Albright when he purchased the contents of the studio for five dollars. A selection of these images was first published in the Arkansas Sun (Peter Miller, editor) and Modern Photography (Julia Scully, editor) in 1975.The Disfarmer Project, a reclamation effort launched in 2004 by Michael Mattis, has brought vintage prints spanning Disfarmer’s full forty-year career in Heber Springs to the public’s attention. A special thanks to the Howard Greenberg Gallery in New York City for the loan of these prints.This exhibition is presented in conversation with the Bill Frisell Trio's The Disfarmer Project: Musical Portraits from Heber Springs, March 1, 8 p.m., Reynolds Industries Theater, West Campus, Duke University—part of Statements of Fact: Documentary in Performance, a series offered by Duke Performances.

Heeeerre, kitty kitty!

2008-03-05T05:21:00.000-08:00

Today's project: take 3 feral cats from around our condo to the East Bay spay and neuter clinic. Now we have only 6 cats to catch! First we called Fix Our Ferals group, which make a phone interview. Once they approve, they provide a free referral, which includes a rabies and kitty vaccinations! Looking forward to limiting our local cat population!

Do Si Do

2008-02-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

After a long day of meetings, participated in the evening's 'mystery activity', which turned out to be square dancing! Grreat - didn't have to take an extra trip to the gym! Instead, had a fun reminisence of a time, in William Land Park, about 45 years ago!

watching paint dry

2007-12-18T06:45:00.000-08:00

That's the current pasttime. Getting a fresh coat of paint - "chamois" which is definitely yellow; and pearberry, which is a rich salmon color. after 20 years of "eggshell" it's definitely an adjustment! Two rooms are painted; next, must decide on a buttery yellow for the living room. After seeing the bathroom yellow, I will definitely not use that color - too intense.

Early/Late Epiphany

2007-11-16T03:01:00.000-08:00

It's early, calendar-wise for an epiphany, but it had to happen some day! For many years I've been humming a tune. I don't know what it is. My family doesn't know what it is. But the tune persists. Then I found a cool website, Midomi Song Wizard, which has put my brain to rest! Aaaahhhhh, what a relief! See this website: http://www.midomi.com/index.php?action=main.mic_check&from=landing

And what a song it is! "A Woman in Love" -- I'm sure it's the Barbra Streisand-Bee Gee's rendition! That means I've been wondering what song this is for over 10 years - maybe closer to 15!

Forbidden Fruit

2007-10-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

I planted a second bush this summer . . . and now I have egg-sized feijoas on the big plant! I looked up some recipes - looks like some pulp in muffins, cakes are possibilities, and eating them raw. An LA times article says they sell for $1.99 apiece at Whole Paycheck - I mean whole foods.

All of the recipe suggestions I found were from people in New Zealand and Australia.

I think I'll try the muffin recipe tomorrow...will report on progress! Here's a recipe I'll try -- Apple and Feijoa Cake125g butter
1.5 cups grated apple
1.5 cups feijoa pulp
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sultanas (golden raisins)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Melt butter and let cool. Add apple and feijoa and mix well, then sugar and egg and mix. Sift dry ingredients and stir in sultanas and nuts. Add to fruit mixture and mix until combined. Bake in 25cm cake tin at 180 degrees C for 45-60 mins.Yummy with yoghurt or whipped cream especially when straight from the oven. Mmmmmm!!

cool, rainy autumn weather

2007-09-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

Once autumn arrives, it's time to make clam or corn chowder! Here's a recipe that's pretty close to the one Auntie Frances gave me:

INGREDIENTS:
2 to 3 slices bacon (mine: a whole package)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 bottle (8 ounces) clam juice
2 cans (6 1/2 ounces each) minced clams
2 cups diced potatoes
1 quart water
2 tablespoons butter
1 can (13 ounces) evaporated milk
1 can (approximately 8 ounces) cream-style corn
(mine: one package frozen lima beans)
PREPARATION:
Brown bacon in a heavy skillet. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon; crumble and set aside. To the hot bacon grease, add onion, clam juice, minced clams, potatoes, and water; simmer until potatoes are tender.

Add butter, milk, cream style corn, lima beans and salt and pepper to taste; heat almost to boiling point. Sprinkle crumbled bacon over each serving. If thicker soup is desired, make a flour paste by combining 2 tablespoons flour with a little cold water and add to the soup.Clam chowder recipe makes 6 servings.

signs of autumn

2007-09-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

With the wind and a teensy bit of rain upon us, we're inevitably moving into autumn!! Yaaaaayyyyy!!! and I couldn't be happier, as I tie my hair up off my *hot* neck!

The best sign of autumn . . . a gaggle of sandhill cranes, about 30, flying over the house. They usually arrive in Sacramento area around November!

whatta week!

2007-09-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

Susan's business visit last weekend was a big highlight! And we topped it off with a tasty lunch at Chez Panisse. The big epiphany was finding a pattern to make a tote bag out of a recycled wool sweater! You can check out one for sale at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6420589 Very cool!!

Another website, with instructions: http://www.canadianliving.com/CanadianLiving/client/en/Crafts/DetailNews.asp?idNews=233920&idSm=306

Check out the "crafts" Tab.

Just google "recycled wool sweater tote"to get a bunch of ideas!!! can you say "cell phone cozy?"

Okay, this post is all about kraftmania and belongs on my other blog, but hey, that was our weekend!

hot town, muggy summer in the city

2007-07-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

Lovely visit to Manhattan. Metropolitan Museum of Art has an exhibition of Poiret couture. Breakout styles from France in the early 20th century, with lovely Asian influences. So, did Art Deco start in France before Poiret's time - or did he bring it? One dress exhibited had a definite art deco flair! Beautiful use of planes, as described at the museum.

Stayed 'til 5 for the chamber music session - lovely time, excellent quartet.

Exercised at the West Side YMCA - so many rooms, with so many exercise options! Machines, free weights, stretching, swimming, etc, etc.

Independence Day 07

2007-07-03T17:43:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July Independence Day! How 'bout we develop a holiday about reducing dependence on oil? hmmmm ....

After a lovely day trip to Donner Lake, this 4th Holiday will be an opportunity to kick back and watch the flowers grow.

This looks like a good rental. Add to the "to do" list!

2007-06-06T03:08:00.001-07:00

An Anna's Hummingbird made a nest right outside the back door. Two chicks hatched and she was feeding them all weekend.

more Spain

2007-05-14T01:40:00.000-07:00

Bird banding - an excellent class, the guides set up nets and caught 6 birds; logged them and checked banding or, for new birds, banded them.

Next: Roman ruins on the beach!

Southern Spain for a Change

2007-05-13T03:50:00.000-07:00

Southern Spain was beautiful. See just how beautiful. For instance, that's the "rock" of Gibraltar in the background! And the 12-year-old mosque built for I don't know how many Euros on a prime waterfront lot!! The 2 bodies of water: the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar.

The barbary apes on Gibraltar are an amazing experience...

Feet on holiday in the beautiful city of Ronda:

Reading while touring:

Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See

Highly recommended!!

Reading for growth

2007-04-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well, growth and relaxation!
Growth:
1) "Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?": A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity (Paperback) by Beverly Daniel Tatum
2) La Nueva California: Latinos in the Golden State (Paperback) by David Hayes-Bautista (Author) "THE NARRATIVE OF THIS BOOK BEGINS IN 1940, when Latinos were a small minority and lacked political representation or public voice in California.

Relaxation:
Just One Look by Harlen Coben

Which leads to . . .

Vacation:
http://www.ebd.csic.es/
Elderhostel Trip to southern España --
Here, where Europe greets Africa, nature and history have combined to create a land of great fascination and beauty. Andalucia’s coast is embraced by the Atlantic and Mediterrean -- separated from Morocco by the Straits of Gibralter -- with Portugal to the west, Castilla-LaMancha and Sierra Morena to the north, and Murcia to the east. As we walk, we discover the flora, fauna, and geology of natural parks with ecosystems that have been little altered by man. We also learn about the rich human heritage and art of this autonomous region at the southern tip of Spain. Distance/Time: 4-8 miles per day, 3-5 hours per day. Terrain: paths and mountain trails uphill and downhill over mixed terrain. Ascents/Descents: 500'-1,000' over two miles.

Birding in Andalucia May 07

2007-03-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

Preparing for the May journey to southern Spain - walking and birding. nuff said!

Well, I can say more - or quote, as follows:

Itinerary: Arrivals Málaga, coach to Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park, 2 nights; coach to Alcornocales Nature Park, 2 nights; coach to Straits of Gibraltar, 4 nights; coach to Doñana National Park, 4 nights; coach to Seville, 1 night; departures Seville.

New Roommate

2007-02-25T19:51:00.000-08:00

Meet Monchito - my new roomie!

Alex found Klaus, now renamed Moncho, at the Oakland SPCA yesterday -- what cutie!!

I'm out of town and just heard the good news -- can hardly wait to meet the new boy!

Betcha can't say "no" to Aunt Julia!

2007-01-26T15:47:00.000-08:00

Aunt Julia had the force with her ... and brought the family together in Jan 2007.

Two new foster kittens!

2007-01-17T18:54:00.000-08:00

2 cute new foster kittens! They're both black/white. Difference; one has a black mustache! so soft and affectionate!

New Year's Readings

2007-01-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

In addition to constant knitting, have squeezed in some good reading over the holiday...you just HAVE to do something while riding BART, although so many folks are staring into space,well... Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Odichie is a must-read. Just finished her first novel, Purple Hibiscus. Excellent!!

Birds Galore!

2007-01-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

The winter birding is wonderful along the Pacific Flyway.

December, 2007, at the Cosumnes River Preserve
black shouldered kite, meadowlark, black-neck stilt, say's phoebe, long-billed curlew, tundra swan, house finch, swallows, some kind of sandpipers, northern harrier, Great blue heron, Egret, American Coot, Hawk,Red-tail, Kestrel, Turkey vulture, Yellow warbler, Ducks, American white pelicans, Sandhill cranes, Crows, Red-winged blackbirds.

cleopatra

2006-12-16T12:24:00.000-08:00

Cleopatra helped me with picture-taking today ... as I was taking Ebay fotos, she stayed close by. She's whining ... desperate that one of the 3 humans around should open a can of food for her. Ahhhhh....the whining stopped...I guess someone complied with her noisy request.

Foster Kittens

2006-12-14T22:25:00.000-08:00

Alex volunteered to be foster mom for 5 kittens from a Berkeley animal shelter. So, after a couple days corralled in the bathroom, I opened up my bedroom to them. Plenty of room to stretch! They're delightful. We now have only 2 kittens left, Torti and Snowball. Word is that a number of folks saw the Craigslist ad and most likely these little critters will be adopted out this weekend!

I will miss them. Well, job well done. Looking forward to another litter after the new year.

NYC November 2006

2006-11-18T08:39:00.000-08:00

4-day weekend in NYC. Beautiful sunny days were my reward. As always, had a yarn emergency - thank goodness for the Yarn Co. @ 79th & Broadway! They always come through for me!
The leaves were turning colors.
It wouldn't be a Carla trip if there weren't travelin'feet! So...here you see us walking through town.

Business in Guad

2006-10-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

Short business trip to Guad. Visited with family on Sunday. This morning walked around the hotel neighborhood and had breakfast at La Chata Restaurant. Good trad mex food.

Hotel Morales is a good one. Very comfy and the staff are helpful and cordial.
Check it out here:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150798-d582442-r5806690-Hotel_Morales-Guadalajara_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html

On to the meeting now.

La memoria es como el mal amigo; cuando más falta te hace, te falla

2006-09-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

Today is a day for wandering thoughts:

Lovely song -- "Mala Memoria" por Jose Zamacona

When I saw the quote above, it immediately resonated with me!! Cure for failing memory: Complete 3 crosswords per day.

I bet following a knitting pattern is an aid to memory, too. Stimulates the brain cells.

Going east

2006-09-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

Preparing for a trip to DC next week. Hit Nordstrom Rack. Being on vacation is a wonderful, scary feeling. Because I'm spending a few days vacationing at home. Not travelling. That's scary, something I'm not used to. But, there are so many things to do, including waking up & getting dressed whenever I want.

I made my nail appointment at 11am, so I wouldn't have to rush to get up. But, since I was up at 7am, after all, I happened to hit the Nordstrom Rack @ 8am for their early morning sale. Ah...when was the last time I got some quality shopping in? Very nice, to be there first thing...with only a few other shoppers!! Who knows...maybe Macy's will get a visit tomorrow!! And, maybe I'll be able to check out fall styles in DC and New York next week!

how to cope with distressing?

2006-06-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

I AM DISTRESSED . . . worried about a work issue, dismayed at a home issue . . . I've got this nifty cd staring at me -- so, what to do? Exercise is a sure cure. Even if it's short-term, it's better than this icky feeling!

15 minute workouts "cardio" by, who else: McDonalds!!!!!! Will march away those worries. Or maybe color my hair and then go for a bike ride when the sun tips below the horizon.

Must finish this weekends reading also:

Floaters by Joseph Wambaugh. Good, clean murder mystery! (See "Current Reading" below, on the right, for links.

Have you read this one yet? Noted on the New York Times Book Magazine "Notable Books"

Outside Passage - A Memoir of an Alaskan Childhood by Julia Scully

Sacramento Jazz Jubilee 2006

2006-05-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

Workin' the Jubilee this weekend with Anastacia. Last nite's zydeco sets were rockin'! Tonite? The Blues ... all over Old Sacramento. Want to see this New Orleans group, new to Sacto Jazz Jubilee, group: Bonerama from New Orleans.

tijuana...on business

2006-04-08T04:01:00.000-07:00

Tijuana -- I've been to Tijuana twice on business -- in about 2 months time. Aaaaahhhh....that's a nice thing. Seafood...good people...it's good to get to the border again. Even a day trip is a good feeling. I got caught up with the new Restaurants in the Zona Rio Tijuana. We went to Saverio's or something like that.

Since my next vacation will be in September 06, I need a little R&R, even if it's a dinner -- after a day of meetings! For the first time in approx. 25 years, I walked across the border back to the U.S. The woman driving has one of those commuter passes -- only the person holding the pass may cross in the car. And, knowing how loooooong "la linea" is, we jumped out and walked across while she got in the "short" commuter line. A very pleasant trip. *sigh* Hope to be back real soon!

one beautiful sunny day...today

2006-03-26T17:44:00.000-08:00

The sun finally shone through today...ah, it's a beautiful day!!
In spite of the beauty, your elected officials are embarking on an ugly
course of action. It's HR4557 or some such...the immigration bill.
Just say NO to idiocy!! Don't get me started.

I'm going to find a book and read it.

LONG WEEKEND

2006-03-13T20:38:00.000-08:00

What a nice long weekend. Got a kick in the pants from Anastacia, to get working on my projects! Continued working on the Flying Geese crocheted afghan. Going to start on the one-skein scarf with beaded tassels. Thank you, mi hijita.

where in the world is....

2006-02-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

Here's my schedule:
Friday 2/10: Bakersfield, CA
Tuesday, 2/14: 8pm or so -- Sta. Barbara overnite
Wednesday, 2/15: Training
Wednesday, 2/15: 8pm or so -- Del Mar, CA overnite
Thursday, 2/16: San Diego
Thursday, 2/16: 5pm approx -- Tijuana
Fri & Sat, 2/17 & 2/18: Tijuana
Sat 2/18: approx. 6pm - San Diego - Sacto
Sun & Mon 2/19 & 2/20: Sacto
Tues. 2/21: Oakland
Wed. 2/22: Oakland to Riverside, CA
Th. 2/23: San Diego
Fri. 2/24: San Diego
Fri. 2/24: approx. 6pm -- San Diego to Sacto.
Sat & Sun 2/25 & 2/26: Sacto.
Whew!

time for a change

2006-01-21T02:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I'll be moving next week -- about 10 miles away. As I planned the packing job, my smart roomie Catherine said that magic word...plastics. it's the future! (remember The Graduate?) Well, plastic see-thru bins are this week's amazing tool!!

So my stash is clean and easily seen in a nice clear plastic box! Yay! It makes packing a happy thing. I'm not so happy about lugging all this stuff down my stairs ... and then up the stairs to my new place! Heeeellllllppppp!!!!!

Now, more than ever, I must think ... LESS is MORE, LESS is MORE!!

Let me interject - this month's amazing word is -- "flummoxed." To be complemented by "bolloxed." I've used the two words quite a bit this month -- and they appear to be virus-like. Once you utter them, people around you begin to use them, too!! Try it. I dare you!

I don't have my recent pics with me, so I'll close with this pic of Anastacia and me in Tijuana, BCN, Mexico -- where I'll be next month!! In the photo, we're in front of Caesar's Hotel & Restaurant -- yes, the place the caesar salad was first made and served! yum

happy hannukwanzumas!

2005-12-25T22:07:00.000-08:00

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)

2005-12-07T19:22:00.000-08:00

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

2005-11-23T20:11:00.000-08:00

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

2005-11-19T19:23:00.000-08:00

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

2005-11-15T10:21:00.000-08:00

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

2005-11-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

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

2005-10-27T01:49:00.000-07:00

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

2005-10-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

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

2005-10-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

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

2005-09-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

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

2005-09-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

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

2005-09-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

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

2005-09-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

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?

2005-09-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

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

2005-08-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

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

2005-08-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

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 ==

2005-08-17T00:45:00.000-07:00

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

2005-08-16T05:46:00.000-07:00

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

sweet 'n tart carrots

2005-08-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

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!

2005-08-13T03:20:00.000-07:00

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

2005-08-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

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

2005-07-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-15T16:56:00.000-07:00

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!!