Leave it to the government to slow down progress!
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The rain had stopped for a while, so we went to the garden to check on everything. The first stop is the rain gauge. We expected more than half an inch, but it speaks the truth.
1/2 inch, so says the gauge!
Our veggies are beginning to grow. The baby cauliflower was the first one to show signs.
Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C, which is good for skin, healing, and gum health. It is a cruciferous vegetable that helps prevent colon cancer. Cauliflower means “cabbage flower” because it is a flower that has not fully developed. Cauliflower is related to broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage.
The cauliflower is beginning to show signs of growth!
Be patient, Grasshopper; you will soon grow up!
Yummy!!
We have all sorts of lettuce underway, ranging from Butter Lettuce to a red leaf variety. There will be many salads in our future.
Amazingly, these little guys enjoy the water and the cold!
Mary checks out the back forty to see how the grass is growing and decides when to cut the grapes back. We estimate February first for a severe haircut for all the grapes.
Professor Green Thumb at work!
While walking around the pool, Mary noticed some roses heavy with dew. She decided to test out the new macro lens on her iPhone 15.
Mother Nature is magnificent!
Now for the macro-lense picture!
It’s too bad the sun isn’t shining bright; the dewdrops would have been shining brightly.
We went inside, had our coffee, and messed around in the office before getting ready for Girls’ Night Out. I selected my shirt and got some remarks from Mary!
NOT FUNNY!!!
I suggested we make a fruitcake, and Mary found an excellent recipe!
Making A Fruitcake:
1. Go to the crafts store.2. Purchase one or more bags of dried fruit, some plaster of Paris, brown paint, and a disposable cake pan.3. Return home.
4. Unwrap the dried fruit, carefully fold the wrapper inside out, and place it at the bottom of your trash can. Better yet, send it through your personal paper shredder and use it for insulation in the attic.
5. Mix the plaster of Paris with water and pour into the disposable cake pan. Place dried fruit on top, gently pushing in so it looks “baked” in the “batter.” Let dry.
6. Take your “fruitcake” out of the disposable cake pan.
7. Cover the top, bottom, and sides with brown paint, avoiding the fruit.
8. Wrap your “fruitcake” in festive, colored saran wrap and finish with a bow. I like using red wrap because it gives a warm glow to the “fruitcake.
“9. Give your “fruitcake” to someone you want to impress. When they lift it, they’ll say, “Wow! You must have made a rich fruitcake!” Don’t forget to smile and say, “Oh, it’s Paris-style fruitcake.”
10. Don’t worry about someone trying to eat your fruitcake. Nobody actually eats fruitcake … that’s just a rumor. Just so you know, the dried fruit won’t go “bad” because it has the same preservatives as Twinkies, which have a shelf-life of about 237 years.
We grabbed a quick lunch at the Elks and caught up with friends, then headed to Corona to pick up Bob, Robin, Kayla, and Nick.
Merry Christmas all!
It was a 30-minute ride to Corona from Santa Ana, and we arrived just in time to visit and jump back in the van, and head to Riverside.
Grab a coat, it might be cold!
We had to stop by their family Christmas tree and go searching for new things that were added this year!
What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper? Ribbon hood.
Mary loved that tree!
We got to the Inn just in time for our 4:00 pm reservation at the Italian Trattoria.
The hotel is a magnificent structure.
We had a great meal and enjoyed a $200 bottle of champagne at a perfect table in the enclosed patio. From there, we could observe people bustling back and forth while doing their shopping.
I remember asking my mother, “Can I have a dog for Christmas?” She answered, ” No you can have turkey like everyone else.”
Smile!
Ah, youth! It’s too bad it is wasted on the young!
Bob and Robin are a delight to be with on any occasion!
Kayla and Nick seemed to enjoy the evening.
Why was the snowman looking through the carrots? He was picking his nose!
Always a smile! (What are they up to?)
Of course, we always enjoy any occasion where we are together!
Love that girl!
We went to the galleria and walked around for quite a while seeking treasures.
One could spend hours inside this four-story building.
Mary did find a treasure, a wrap dating back to the 1940s. It was a perfect fit!
Looking good!
From the antique store, we walked back through the hotel before finding the Grey Ghost and heading for home.
Enter with care!
Driving home was easy, and we dropped off the kids before the incoming rain. We made it home by 9:30 pm and watched a Christmas movie with Henry Winkler. Summary:
Corporate analyst and single mom Jen tackles Christmas with a business-like approach until her uncle arrives with a handsome stranger in tow.
When I think of Mary!
I got the spirit and decorated the tree!
On our way to Los Alamitos in the Silver Fox, we stopped at BEVMO and picked up a bottle of purple gin for Ginger, the surgical scheduler. They asked for my ID when I bought the booze; wow! I had no idea I looked so young!
