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.

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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!

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A Fifth Anniversary Is Coming Up!

Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2025 by Paul

We spent a couple of hours working in the garden before getting ready for Girl’s Night Out at the Elks.  The first Girl’s Night Out visit was on July 23, 2020, when Bob Z, Mike A, and Bill C. pulled me out of the house and took me to lunch.  Sue had just passed in February, and I was a mess.

Today was a small group consisting of us, Bob Z., and George.  We had another person join us, and he turned out to be a Starlighter, so he was welcomed into the group.

We rested for a bit before heading to The Muckenthaller in Fullerton for an evening with Vicky, Jim, and The Alley Cats.

Mary prepared a fabulous picnic, complete with wine, grapes, blackberries, assorted nuts, and lemon squares.  She even brought flowers in a vase to set the mood!

I love this girl!!

We were home by 9:30 pm and headed for bed.  Scout the Wonder Dog decided to sleep with us this evening, so we had to remember to be careful if we get up during the night.

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Wednesday Has Arrived

Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 by Paul

Mary keeps everyone on their toes!

It’s Wednesday, and we’re off to the gym.  Since the staff knows of my impending operation, they are taking special care of me; no hanging by the neck or head-twisting exercises.

After the gym session, we went to Mary’s doctor’s appointment near UCI Orange Hospital.  By 10:30 am, we were off and running home to check on Scout, the Wonder Dog.

After two hours at home, we were back on the road to visit the cardiologist who gave the OK to get the Carotid surgery ASAP.

Carotid artery endarterectomy: The doctor recommended that I undergo a carotid endarterectomy since my carotid arteries are narrowed or blocked due to plaque.  In your neck are two major blood vessels called the carotid artery that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your brain.  You can feel the pulse of the carotid artery in your neck.  Fatty deposits, known as atherosclerotic plaques, can build up inside the carotid artery.  These plaques can narrow the passageway of the artery and interfere with blood flow to the brain.  This blockage or narrowing is referred to as a stenosis.  If blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked, a transient ischemic attack, also known as a TIA, may occur.  When the blood flow is completely obstructed, as in carotid artery blockage, a stroke can occur.

Before the procedure, an intravenous line will be started.  A carotid endarterectomy is usually done under general anesthesia, which will put me to sleep for the duration of the procedure.  In this case, a breathing tube will be inserted into your mouth to assist with breathing during the operation.

On the side of my neck along the blocked artery, the surgeon will make an incision that may run just behind the ear to the point that is close to the collarbone.

The surgeon will find the carotid artery and temporarily clamp off blood flow through it.  She will open up your artery and make a temporary bypass to keep blood flowing to the brain.  She will then remove the plaque within the arterial wall.  After the blockage has been removed, he will sew the artery wall back together, usually by placing a patch.  The patch may be made of part of one of my veins or an artificial material such as Dacron.  Finally, she will close the incision with staples and cover it with bandages.  A temporary drain is frequently left in the wound.

After the procedure, I will be taken to the recovery area where the staff will monitor my vital signs and neurologic condition.  You will be given pain medication as needed, and gradually progress from a liquid to a solid diet.

Mary will have plenty of company as Irene, Vicky, Robin, Jope, and probably Colleen will be with her.

By the time we departed the office, we were hungry and decided to visit Aces for a small snack; salad and a glass of wine.

When we got home, we took a short nap and then Mary hit the kitchen with a vengeance.  She made another batch of corn chowder, which turned out quite amazing.

So yummy!

Mary prepared dinner, making stuffed bell peppers and a small bowl of chowder.  Who needs to go out to eat when you can dine like a king at home??

We visited Jeff and brought him chowder, as he had been pretty fond of the last batch about a week ago.

We watched the series entitled “Wednesday”.

Wednesday Addams is expelled from her school after dumping live piranhas into the school’s pool in retaliation for the boys’ water polo team bullying her brother, Pugsley.  Consequently, her parents, Gomez and Morticia Addams, transfer her to their high school alma mater, Nevermore Academy, a private school for monstrous outcasts, in the town of Jericho, Vermont.  Wednesday’s cold, emotionless personality and defiant nature make it difficult for her to connect with her schoolmates, causing her to run afoul of the school’s principal, Larissa Weems.  However, she discovers she has inherited her mother’s psychic abilities, which allow her to solve a local murder mystery.

We watched it until 11:30 p.m. and finally crashed.  We enjoyed the series and are eagerly awaiting the August arrival of the second season.

When we finally got home, we visited Jeff for a while and then went to bed.  It has been an eventful day!  Now we need pulmonary clearance, which we will get this week.  On the bright side, we have a plan of attack!

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More Work And Then The Goodies

Posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 by Paul

You guessed it, we went to the garden first thing.  We have to because it’s summer, and it quickly gets too hot to work. Today we had a plan, trim the roses, and I needed to build a varmint protection fence for some additional lettuce plants we procured.  We also trimmed the watermelons and found a cantaloupe vine with twenty blooms on it!

As we headed out with our tools in hand, Mary stopped to smell the roses.   One of the many reasons I love her is that she finds great joy in the simple things in life!

I was so happy, I burst out in a poem: Roses are red, violets are blue; I want to watch Netflix and chill with you.  Sometimes, I cannot help myself!

It’s not ALL vegetables.

On the same rose bush, we found other delights.

Amazing colors.

The roses were so bright I needed sunglasses to avoid the gleaming reflections.

Mary could not help herself; she broke out in a poem to me. Roses are red, violets are blue; You look like a monkey, and you smell like one, too.

Looks like a paint pallet

At noon, Mary got ready for the third semester of watercolor class.  She drove today to keep in practice.  They learned about trees

I decided I liked it so much, I framed it.

In the afternoon, we rested, so to speak.  I picked some bell peppers from the garden and cleaned them, removing the seeds.

Bell peppers are a fun and nutritious fruit that comes in various colors, with red ones being the sweetest due to their ripeness.  They are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, and make a great addition to a healthy diet.  Fun facts about bell peppers include that they are technically fruits, all colors come from the same plant, and they lack the heat of hot peppers because they don’t contain capsaicin.

Freshly picked!

While I finished off the bell peppers by putting them face down in 1/4″ of water and nuking them for 10 minutes, Mary worked feverishly on the filling. I could hear Mary going over the ingredients as she added them to the filling.

I heard her say,  “a pinch of fairy dust” mixed with “a spoonful of giggle juice” or a “hair from a grumpy gnome.”,  “three pickled eyeballs,” “a squirt of unicorn tears,” and “a feather from a sleeping dragon.”

Ah ha, now I know why she wanted to go to Costco!

Mary does her magic.

She was in her cooking uniform, but it was too hot for the black witches’ hat.

Hard at work!

We discussed the upcoming operation on my neck in great detail.  I kept getting this visual!

I keep thinking about this image!

The dinner was so good that I forgot to take pictures of the finished product. We brought some over to Jeff around 8:00 pm, and he will enjoy it for lunch tomorrow.

Returning home, we went to the TV room; there was no swimming tonight, as we were too tired.  At ten o’clock, I declared victory and went to bed.  No breathing treatment tonight or for the next months. Yeah!

Mary followed me in and we both crashed!

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Ah, Monday, A Day Of Rest (Between Doctors)

Posted on Monday, July 14, 2025 by Paul

5:30 am, and Alexa went off just as requested.   I jumped out of bed and dashed to Mary’s bathroom to turn on the overhead heater. I get into serious trouble if I don’t do that first thing.

The next activity is to water the dog and make coffee. Watering the dog means I let him out to visit the yard. Scout was in his new favorite position, blocking access to the front door. I finally woke him up and pointed to the patio, and he was off like a rifle shot.

I have this coffee-making thing down to a science. I like coffee because it gives me the illusion that I might be awake.

Mary’s coffee was delivered to her bathroom, where she was doing her hair. I did notice something different.

So off we went to Mary’s doctor’s office, and I took the side street instead of the freeway; we got there 30 minutes early. From now on, we will take the side street, as the freeway can sometimes get jammed up.

On the way home, we stopped at Orange Farmers Supply and got two more six-packs of lettuce. Six of them will be put into another round container with a two-foot wire fence around them. The others will be used in another area where I will try a new protection scheme from “the varmit!”.

Mary fixed a bacon and egg sandwich for lunch, which was outstanding. We departed for the doctor’s office at 2:00 pm.

The doctor said the carotid surgery is the priority, but we need to see the pulmonary doctor first. Then, we need to see a nephrologist because the kidney blood tests seem to be a little off track.

A doctor who specializes in kidney health and diseases is called a nephrologist. They are trained to diagnose and treat kidney conditions, such as kidney failure, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections. Nephrologists may also perform kidney transplants and provide care for patients undergoing dialysis. End-stage renal disease – Doctors and departments – Mayo Clinic

We had waited so long in the doctor’s office that we decided to stop by Ace’s for dinner.

We were relaxed and full, ready to go home and watch TV. We didn’t stay up too late watching TV and hit the hay around 9:00 pm. We had too many doctors on this fine day.

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Work Work Work!

Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2025 by Paul

At 6:15 am, we hit the garden with a vengeance.  We stopped for a cup of coffee, but then we got back to work.  I went around each raised bed and cleaned out the undergrowth, including pulling veggies that were ready to go.  We have enough red onions for two large Mason jars of pickled onions, yeah!

Mary worked inside for about two hours, doing the washing and folding clothes, and planned a fantastic dinner.  I was kind of glad she went inside because outside, she was “helping” me.

Penny for my thoughts?

Onions everywhere!  It’s okay, we already have another large area planted with onions.

Red pickled onions, wow!

Easy Peasy!

The day was magnificent with just a slight breeze to cool us off as we worked.

The creepy-crawley was doing his job!

Did I mention watermelon?  We have about ten of these puppies going.  This was in a box along our center wall.  The others are in the larger raised bed.  Tomorrow, I will inspect the watermelon garden thoroughly because if the melon vines are trimmed correctly, we will either lose the fruit or it will be too small to eat.

We are keeping our eye on him!

Yesterday, I trimmed back the leaves on the grapevines so the grapes would receive more sun.   We have an enormous number of grapes coming to fruition!   We will have table grapes for weeks to come!

Grapes galore.

During my cleanup of the undergrowth, I straightened the bell peppers and placed them on stakes, carefully tying them in a manner that made the fruit visible and accessible.

These two beauties will become dinner this week!  Mary makes an excellent filling for stuffed peppers.

Peppers were everywhere once I cleaned out the undergrowth.  These are shashiot peppers which Bob D. will be grilling up for us on the upcoming “Perogie Day”/

They look too good to eat!

The Anaheim chilies are coming along nicely, and they will be cleaned and stuffed in about two weeks.

We can hardly wait!

The tomatoes now require us to get a small stepladder to retrieve them.  They are reaching for the sky!

We can play hide and seek in the garden!

We gave up around 3:00 pm as it was getting too hot.  We cleaned up our work and ended up filling two 90-gallon trash cans with cuttings and throwaways.

Inside, Mary began her magic, which required my participation.   I had to cut the rather large zucchini in half lengthwise.  Oh my, bring on the skill saw, a hydraulic jack, and a large share knife.  Mary had 911 on speed dial in case I miscalculated.

While I was opening the zook, Mary created an amazing filling.  It was made even more amazing by the fact that she accidentally added hot chili flakes to the mix.  This filing had a kick!

Stuffed zucchini, often made into “boats” or stuffed round zucchinis, typically involves hollowing out the zucchini and filling it with a mixture of ingredients, such as meat, vegetables, rice, cheese, and breadcrumbs.  The stuffed zucchinis are then baked until tender and golden.  Below is a YouTube video that shows the basics.  Mary has secret ingredients that we cannot reveal, but they do involve Halloween and witches.

After dinner, we brought some over to Jeff.  We eat dinner early, so we hit Jeff just before we were going to make dinner.   Perfect timing.

After our visit, we headed to the pool to float around and kibitz for an hour.  We sat by the fire and then decided it was time to head to bed.  We were both exhausted, but a “good” tired.  We could see the results of our work!

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Always On Saturday!

Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2025 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

We got to work early!

We sat on the patio with Robin for two hours shooting the s**t, and then when Robin headed for home, we broke out the gardening tools and got underway.  Talking to myself is okay.  Answering back is risky.

Robin said that after swimming last night, she crashed for eight hours straight, a record unheard of for her!  While Mary trimmed her flowers, I varmint-proofed Mary’s new lettuce with 1/4 square steel netting.

Being a good eye doctor, Mary always wears her safety glasses when trimming!

I also trimmed a lot of the leaves and vines off the grapes, as they were growing a little wild.  The bright side is that I can cut the leaves, put them in a bag, and bring them to the gym.  I ended up filling half a 90-gallon container.  The shears were warm to the touch!

Remember: Grape minds think alike.

To trim grapevines mid-season (summer pruning), focus on controlling excessive growth to improve fruit quality, sunlight exposure, and air circulation.  Here’s how to do it effectively:

1.  Remove unwanted shoots: Cut back vigorous, non-productive shoots that crowd the canopy and block sunlight.  This helps direct the plant’s energy into developing better fruit.

2.  Thin the canopy: Selectively thin leaves and lateral shoots around grape clusters to increase airflow and reduce disease risk, such as powdery mildew.

3.  Pinch or trim shoot tips: If shoots are growing far beyond the trellis or support, pinch or cut back the tips to keep growth manageable and encourage the plant to focus on fruit production.

4.  Remove suckers and water sprouts: Cut off shoots growing from the base of the trunk or along the main canes that won’t bear fruit.

 

While trimming, I came across several clusters of grapes that were ready.

No, they are NOT wine grapes, they are table grapes!

The primary differences between wine grapes and table grapes are found in their physical characteristics, cultivation methods, and intended uses:

Size and Appearance

• Table grapes are larger, juicier, and usually seedless.  They have thin skins and a crisp texture, making them appealing for fresh eating.
• Wine grapes are smaller, with thicker skins and multiple seeds (usually two to six per grape).  The thick skins are crucial for imparting tannins and color to wine.

Sugar and Acidity

• Wine grapes contain more sugar (measured as Brix, typically 24–26 at harvest) and higher acidity.  This is essential for fermentation and the production of alcohol.
• Table grapes have less sugar (Brix around 17–19) and lower acidity, making them milder and more refreshing to eat.

Flavor and Texture

• Wine grapes have a more concentrated flavor due to their small size and thick skins.  Their seeds and skins contribute bitterness and tannins, which are desirable in wine but not for eating.
• Table grapes are bred for mild, sweet flavor and juicy texture, with minimal bitterness and no tannins.

Cultivation and Yield

• Table grapes are grown for high yield and visual appeal, often using trellis systems that prevent clusters from touching, resulting in up to 30 pounds per vine.
• Wine grapes are grown for quality over quantity, with lower yields (often less than 10 pounds per vine) to concentrate flavors.

Intended Use

• Table grapes are meant for fresh consumption, snacks, and salads.
• Wine grapes are explicitly cultivated for winemaking; their composition is not ideal for eating fresh due to seeds, thick skins, and intense flavor.

 

We worked from 9:00 am until almost 3:30 pm doing chores.  Mary, way in the background, is pulling weeds from the South-40 behind the grape vines.  She also replanted lettuce and the green containers, as “the varmint” ate them to the ground last week!

Tomorrow we will plant angel hair shade grass in this area, which should cover the ground and avoid the weed issue.

At 3:30 pm, we stopped and headed to the showers to get ready for the evening.  We had dinner at the Elks Lodge, but this time we did NOT order two burgers.  We shared a small flatbread pepperoni pizza and a small dinner salad.   Mary even brought her tomatoes from home to add to the salad!

We were so happy with our selection of a good diner that we celebrated with some spumoni dessert!

Vicky joined us this evening, so I got to dance with Vicky and Mary.  We had a load of fun!

After dancing several times, I need to relax and re-wine.

On our way out, one of the security guards snapped our picture to prove we were here.  The Elks had a wedding and a 1985 High School reunion also going on in the building.

Tonight we brought our wine, two-buck Chuck from Trader Joe’s.  We find it much better than the $60/bottle of Chalk Hill Chardonnay served at the Elks.

We headed home and were in the house by 9:30 pm.  We opted NOT to go swimming this evening as six hours in the garden did us in!  We crashed.  Before I could finish my inhalation activities, Mary was dead to the world!  I prayed her e-book from her hands, flipped off the light, and was in dreamland three seconds later.

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Friday Has Arrived! The Weekend Gets Near!

Posted on Friday, July 11, 2025 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Yes, I know it’s Friday, but we had a doctor’s visit on Monday, so we rescheduled the gym for today.  That gave me two extra days without pain.   I was asked which exercise I enjoyed the best, and I answered!

It’s called “Turn and pull!”

Our trainer’s son was in the house today, visiting from Texas!  He plays baseball for Texas A&M.  I did feel a little short next to him.  With my 200 pounds, I could look like him if I were put on a stretching machine.

I was once this tall, now I am 5’8 1/2″ … I shrunk!

We again limped out of the gym, but today, no blood was visible.  We did find some new muscles that had never been used before!  The sound we made walking to the car reminded me of the breakfast cereal, Snap, Crackle, and Pop!

On the way to the car, my iPhone buzzed, reminding me of this day five years ago.  The Dudas took the old man to Patty’s Place for dinner, trying to keep me moving after losing Sue.

I looked like a homeless person with a wild beard.

The beard was getting a little bushy now!

On this day five years ago, I received a call from Jan Mongel, who was checking in on me.  She mentioned that Mary was alone and that I should have dinner with her and catch up on things (COVID was just getting started).

I waited a few days, hoping the doctor would a) remember me and b) not dismiss my offer of dinner because I was a lowly engineer.   Remembering me was no problem as they had known each other since the mid-1990s.  When I mentioned I was retired, she did NOT ask what from, so (a) and (b) were taken care of.

The fifth anniversary of our first “date”  is approaching on July 28th!  Our fourth wedding anniversary is coming on July 28th!  But I digress!

First “date”

When Robin popped in, we were watching a movie, and soon thereafter, we headed for the Elks to listen to Ronnie and grab dinner.  It was a busy night as it was a new members’ welcome dinner, and the lounge was full.

The three of us shared a bottle of Chardonnay, and Mary and I had a “Doc’s Burger,” which consisted of eight pounds of burger and three pounds of fries.  Robin was brilliant, and she had the small shrimp salad.

Note to self: Next time, order one and share with Mary!!

The house was packed and quite loud.  Mary and I danced a few dances, and then Mary did a line dance.  She asked Robin, but Robin was wearing her rubber-soled work shoes, which are not suitable for the dance floor.

Always a smile!

So help me, I will learn how to line dance again.  I used to know how, but after years of not dancing, I’ve forgotten.

Go, Girl, Go!  Stir up that dust!!

We found a friend who took our picture on the way out.

We had a wonderful time!!

We got home after dark and decided a swim in the 92-degree pool would be nice.  The three of us paddled around and told stories for a couple of hours.  We then had a visitor.  Robin saw him first!

Splish Splash, we were taking a bath!  “Who brought the soap?”

Full tunnies and warm water are a sure recipe for sleep, and we did just that.  We were all sawing logs within a few minutes!

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It’s Thursday And That Means “Girl’s Night out!”

Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2025 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The day was so pretty that we went to the patio to drink our coffee.   While we were outside on the patio, we spoke with Joe to bring him up to date on the medical situation.  Since we’re going to the Elks today, Mary had me pick a bunch of cherry tomatoes in case we have salads.

Mary took her shower, and I ventured into the badlands of Casa Valencia.  On the way to the back door, I ran across our burglar alarm, which was sound asleep.

Someone was a sleepyhead!

Looking at him made me want to go back to sleep!

Via the patio, I entered the backyard on the way to the garden.  I was greeted by “Old Red,” a local climber.

Even the patio flowers are blooming!

Continuing on my journey, I looked at our potted cantaloupe, and it had at least seven fruits in the process of maturing.

We have seven cantaloupes on this vine!

1.  Not All” Cantaloupe” Is the Same: In the U.S., what we call” cantaloupe” is a type of muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus) with a netted rind.  True European cantaloupes have a smoother, pale green skin.  Ancient Origins: Cantaloupes have been cultivated for thousands of years.  They are believed to have originated in Persia (modern-day Iran) and Africa, and were later popularized in Europe.

3.  Name Game: The “ame “canta “oupe” comes from the Italian town of Cantalupo, near Rome, where the melon was introduced to Europe from Armenia in the 1700s.

4.  Nutrient Powerhouse: Cantaloupe is packed with vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and vitamin C, making it great for your skin and immune system.

5.  Water Content: Cantaloupe is about 90% water, making it a refreshing, hydrating snack, perfect for hot summer days.

6.  Seed Facts: The seeds are edible!  In some cultures, cantaloupe seeds are roasted and eaten as a snack.

7.  Ripeness Test: A ripe cantaloupe will have a sweet fragrance at the stem end and will give slightly when pressed.  The netting on the rind should be thick and well-defined.

7.  Space Melons: In 2006, Japanese astronauts grew cantaloupes on the International Space Station as part of an experiment on food production in space.

8.  World Record: The heaviest cantaloupe ever recorded weighed 67 pounds 1.8 ounces (30.47 kg), grown by William McCaslin in the USA in 2019.

 

I continued my exploration of the garden and came across some great-looking tomatoes!

Tomatoes everywhere.

The yellow pear tomatoes are lovely.

At a distance, they could have been strawberries.  These Romas make for delicious eating.

Mary had me pick a mess of tomatoes so she could pass them out at the Elks to everyone having salads (or use as a pre-lunch snack!).

I looked back at our home and realized we still have plenty of room.  Every day, we go out for some trimming and use Mary’s small garden cart, then throw the unwanted growth directly into the trash.

Looking back at the house from the garden.

Before we departed, I finally finished the July 4th Day website.  Please enjoy!

Click to see the website.

11:00 am means time to ramble over to the Elks.  We took the hot rod today, as Precious needed to get out and run!

Zoom!!!

We are approaching our fifth anniversary of having lunch at the Elks on Thursdays at noon.  I recall the first Girl’s  Night Out, which was five years ago, on July 23, 2020.  Mike Andersen, Bill Capps, and Bob Zaitz were there to assist me in moving forward after losing Sue in February.  They were all so kind, trying to help me through the loss of Sue, just five months ago.  We have done Thursday lunches at the Elks ever since.

Today, we had seven of us, and we just had a ball, teasing each other and creating chaos in the lounge.

We returned home and crashed for about an hour.  Scout came in and showed us how it was supposed to be done.  We would have lain on the floor with him, but alas, old age is creeping in, so we left him in the hallway and went to the bedroom.

By 4:00 pm, we were up and moving, and Mary planned to fix a carrot salad.  She worked for an hour on our relatively meager carrot crop.  I joined her and watched a movie.  Even after all her work, neither of us was hungry, so we decided it was time for the pool.

We cavorted in the pool for an hour or so.  I floated scaring the bugs to death, and they dropped dead mid-flight, dropping into the pool with a small splash.  Mary had her trusty bug net with her and collected my victims.  I still believe some of the insects fell into the water because they were startled by the light, not because I was flashing them.

Into the pool we went.

When we came inside, it was too late to start a movie, so I developed a plan!  I sent Mary off to get ready for bed, and I offered to close up shop and make sure Scout, the wonder Dog, had his time outside.

Being a sneaky kind of guy, I had a reason for being nice.  While the baby was outside and Mary was busy in her bathroom, I would raid the refrigerator, and Mary would never know.  I know there was cake hiding in the fridge along with a leftover hot dog and some delicious rat cheese.   OUCH!!!!!

My genius bride found a way to keep me out of the fridge, avoiding those late-night snacks!

We crashed after I applied first aid to my beat-up arm!

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