A “Normal” Sunday!

Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2025 by Paul

We are off in a cloud of dust!!!

Robin crashed at our place last night, likely plotting her strategy for conquering the Spring Boutique at the Elks Lodge. I suspect she was scheming to outshop everyone while wearing her lucky shopping socks!  She was undoubtedly welcome since I had just left the ER, and Mary was concerned.

We departed at 10:30 am for the Elks Lodge and arrived just in time to miss the opening rush.  The place was loaded with goodies and people!  Even the patio was filled with booths and goodies.

It was a sea of  “must-haves,” and the girls were ready to help!

The stops along the way were met with “oohs and ohs and ahs and so-cute’s and other female shopping talk!”   I could not remember the last time Bob and I went to the hardware store and stood back looking at the mirror to see how the bucket of paint or new electric tool looked!

I just stood back and was enthralled by the scientific decision-making process and the expressions when new treasures were found.

“I’ll take two of those!”

While watching the ladies shop, and entertaining and ___ experience, I had a thought!

Bob staggered along with me as the girls searched each booth for the treasure of a lifetime.  At first, Bob and I thought we would have to rent a wheelbarrow from Home Depot next door, but the shopping level settled down to a dull roar.

We had just a few grocery bags chocked to the top with priceless mementos of today’s adventure.

They spotted the same “must have” at the same time!

On the third time around, I spotted a sign we needed, but the bags were already overflowing, so I resisted the urge to have it come home with us.

The truth!

We wandered into the McCallan Lounge and had lunch after a multi-lap exploration of every booth in the house. Dianne, Donna, and Bob had already had their breakfast.

Robin and I had Fish and Chips while Mary attacked the chicken Quesadilla! The ladies enjoyed a glass of wine while I suffered through lemonade, in keeping with the doctor’s suggestion from yesterday!

The rabbit had a good idea: a nap!!

Robin liked Mary’s new wabbit.  I even thought it was cute!  I’ll bet he will rest on the mantle when we get home!

After lunch, the girls made another quick pass through the shopping area to see if anything had changed, and indeed it had!  Mary found some bling tennis shoes!  I inquired as to why she needed white tennis shoes covered with silver bling, and I got her answer:

The rationale sounded good to me!

We headed home after filling the trunk with bags or treasures.  Soon thereafter, Robin departed to meet Bob, who was traveling home after having a gig up the coast in San Simeon.

Mary fixed a couple of snacks for dinner, and I made the fatal mistake of not looking at Mary when she was talking. I went headfirst into serious trouble!

After dinner, we watched a movie and finished off four more episodes of Evergreen!  The plot thickens!  The cancer is gone; Rose lost the election; Amy and Ephram are attempting to get back together, and the doctors are trying to be friends again after “the kiss.”  We are in season four; we are getting close to the end!

We were done by 10:15 pm, and Scout The Wonder Dog had already gone to bed!  I tried to get him to go outside, but he would have none of that.  Of course, at 3:05 am, he needed out, which he made abundantly clear by putting his cold nose on my arm, and I woke up thinking a cold octopus was attacking me!

Posted in Elks, Family, Friends | Leave a comment

Hell Of A Way To Start The Day!

Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2025 by Paul

It started differently.

The day was going to be pretty, with temperatures in the mid-70s and a small breeze. But when I arose, I was having a difficult time breathing, and it was difficult to walk. Mary got up a little bit after me and was concerned about my condition.

Using her medical skills, she felt my hand and could tell I was getting Afib.  Afib is an irregular, often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow. The heart’s upper chambers (atria) beat out of coordination with the lower chambers (ventricles). This condition may have no symptoms, but when symptoms do appear, they include palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Treatments include drugs, electrical shock (cardioversion), and minimally invasive surgery (ablation).

She suggested (hinted, implied, insinuated, intimated, demanded, ordered, etc.) that we go to the ER, and I think she was surprised when I agreed with her.

Note to self: Get new earplugs!

This out-of-breath has been going on for several days and I was getting concerned.

We jumped in the car and drove to Providence St Joseph’s in Orange, which is about six miles away. We chose that hospital because my cardiac and pulmonary doctors are associated with it, and it is an excellent facility.

St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA, is generally considered a good hospital with a strong reputation and accolades. It’s recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the Best Regional Hospital in Los Angeles and has earned various recognitions for specific specialties and procedures.

We walked right in like we owned the place!

As we entered the ER, I saw R2D2 entering the elevator, so I knew I was in the right place.

We were unsure what R2D2 was going to the ER for, but it was him. I beeped “Hello”!

The monitoring machine above my head sprang into action and sounded like a calliope from the circus with all those beeps, bloops, hummed, quacks, whistles, and other strange sounds.   The little graph was jumping around like a kid with an etch-a-sketch!

After a while I learned how to position my body and other organs just right and made the machine play “It’s A Small World”; I guess I am just talented!

Lying down, getting poked and prodded in all my radiant glory!

I saw people walk by and point in my direction.  I wondered what they were saying, and then it dawned on me!

Clearly!!

Mary took GREAT care of me. Going to the cafeteria for brunch and lunch was not easy; finding healthy food in a hospital was not easy; I ended up with a hamburger.

The X-ray revealed water in my lungs, and Dr. Ash was outstanding in explaining what that was and what we would do about it. They gave me a shot of Lasix. Furosemide (Lasix) is a loop diuretic (water pill) that makes you urinate more. It works in the kidneys to remove extra water and electrolytes (like sodium and potassium), which helps ease swelling and lowers blood pressure.

The shot worked rather well and I was doing the 20 yard dash in a flash.  I would say “Mary, NOW!!” and she would jump up, disconnect me from the machines, and run behind me with my hospital gown flailing in the wind warning people not to look or they could  be turned into stone.

She waitied outside the facilities to guard the door just in case I had a problem.  I went inside and sang three chorus of “Splish, Splash (I Was Taking a Bath) Along About Saturday Night”…. Thank you Bobby Darin for the memories.

This reminded me of the book, “Yellow River” by I. P. Freely!

By 4:00 pm and four runs to the privy, I felt a lot better, and the shortness of breath had disappeared.  The doctor decided to send me home, but I had to see the heart sawbones on Monday to determine a course of action.

While all of this was going on Bob Z came by to visit, Joe and Colleen kept the telephone lines warm and even Connor called after we returned home to see how I was doing.  (It’s wonderful to have so many care about you… I felt pretty special!)

Robin came over this evening, and the three of us had a nice dinner that Mary fixed. Asparagus and lasagna with homemade salad from the garden were perfect.

The three of us stayed up until 11:00 pm watching 1923.  Then we all crashed!

Posted in Doctor, Family | Leave a comment

Friday Has Arrived And We Are Ready!

Posted on Friday, April 11, 2025 by Paul

I was reminded that today was gym day, so I searched the closet for my iron suit. I must exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I’m doing. I then gave my exercise and workout activities some serious thought, and I came up with the following: The more you weigh, the harder you are to kidnap. Stay safe, and eat cake.

I was dressed to keep safe while Antony beat on my tiny little body!

When we finished, we waddled to the bagel store and enjoyed breakfast. From there, we walked to Ralph’s and shopped for groceries. We made the entire circle.

It was about a ten-mile journey from the gym to the bagel shop, then from the bagel shop to Ralph’s market, and then to our car.

After returning home, Mary got out of the “To Do List,” which I unrolled, which was only a three-foot-long section, and studied with great interest.  So, there I was, trying to tear off a huge chunk of paper like I was preparing to wrap a gift for Christmas. I thought I was being sneaky, but then—bam!—caught red-handed by the boss! It was like I was a cat with my paw in the cookie jar, and the way she looked at me, you’d think I was trying to escape with the office printer!

I must find a better place to hide her list next time!!

We walked into the yard, and to our surprise, our strawberry plants were throwing a fruit party! There they were, flaunting their beautiful red berries like they were auditioning for “America’s Next Top Model.” I half-expected them to ask us to rate their best angles! Who knew plants could be such show-offs? At this rate, we might need to hire a bodyguard to keep the squirrels from crashing the celebration! What do you call a sad strawberry? A blueberry!

A magnificent specimen; so is the strawberry!

We worked around the house and took a short nap in preparation for the drive to Seal Beach and Patty’s Place!  We met up with Christine, Kyle, and Robin for a lovely dinner.

We finished off dinner with our regular dessert drink, a Chip Shot! We shared one since we had to drive home over 20 miles away!

Do we look happy? You betcha we do!

Remember to show Nick (the owner) how to take pictures!  He captured everyone but also captured the bright lights!

Fun, Fun, Fun!!!

After getting home, we walked over to Jeff’s and brought him some Key Lime Pie, a house specialty at Patty’s! Our home is the house with all the Easter lights. It would have looked better if the garage door had been shut.

I can change the colors from the iPhone!

I took Scout The Wonder Dog out for his evening constitutional, and we had a long father-son talk about “things.”  What we agreed on is summarized below!

It was almost 10:30 p.m., and it was time to hit the sack, so it was lights out. The “Pink Moon” is the name for the full moon that occurs in April, typically marking the start of spring. While it won’t appear pink, it gets its name from the early blooming of certain pink wildflowers like moss phlox. It signifies the return of life and the resurgence of nature after winter.

Posted in Dining Out, Friends, Gym | Leave a comment

Girls Night Out Starts At Noon!

Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2025 by Paul

Amen!

We were lazy this morning and did not rise and shine until after 7:30 am.  We rose but did not shine.   Mary and I went sweet pea picking because we were going to the Elks, and Mary liked to bring everybody fresh flowers!

They are growing high on the vine right now, meaning we need a step stool to get them!

I had a great idea after the walk in the yard and seeing the local wildlife!

By 10:00 am, we were finishing up getting ready to go to Girl’s Night Out at the Elks.  We are departing a little early to go by the dry cleaners; pickup and dropoff time!

We popped in the Elks Lodge about 11:30 am, a little early, so we had some wine and planned out the rest of the day!  Our days are generally full of activities.

I studied the menu carefully and decided a salad with chicken protein would be just right. Mary went for their soup of the day and their house salad. The food at the Elks is first-class, and their specials are often interesting.

Finally, a healthy lunch (if you discount the wine).

Bob and George were carrying on.  Hal and Sydney just came in and made their order with Karen.  I gave Sydney a letter from the LA City Housing Authority.  Those idiots wanted $35.17 to register me and my rental for some idiotic renters service.  I wish Elon Musk were here and put a stop to this silliness!   The government is just out of control!

We had a table full today.

After lunch, we visited with Sydney and her father, Hal, but had to depart at 1:30 p.m. for a 2:00 p.m. appointment with the hearing aid doctor. We get an annual tuneup, which includes sitting in a soundproof room and pushing a button every time we hear (or think we hear) something.

The audiologist’s workstation looked like the cockpit of a 747—with graphs, sounds, and buttons everywhere! I half expected to hear, “Fasten your seatbelts; we’re experiencing turbulence in the high frequencies!” And just like a pilot, they were ready to declare, “Ladies and gentlemen, we may hit some static, but we’ll be cruising at a comfortable decibel level shortly!” If only they had a button for snacks!

Audiologists use a lot of computers.

I went first to make sure everything was safe—because, let’s be real, I’m not ready to be a headline about a freak accident. Meanwhile, Mary was patiently awaiting her turn, looking like she was in a waiting room for a dental appointment, complete with the nervous fidgeting and the occasional eye roll at my antics.

Mary awaits being tested while I get my hearing aids adjusted.

I realized today was special; it’s My Day!

Yesterday was our son’s birthday, so we called and sang him a happy birthday, melting the phone lines between our home and his.  We ran across us at dinner on Joe’s birthday four years ago.  We are so lucky to have him in our lives!

Joe & Amy and us four years ago for his birthday!

When we got home, Joe dropped by and delivered us a “tricycle”! He knew we wanted to start riding for exercise but also knew we would look funny on the bicycles with training wheels. A friend of his had no use for a new Schwinn Trike, so we got it for us!

Beep, Beep, Mary’s bike goes! Beep, Beep, Beep!

We opted out of dinner since lunch at the Elks was so filling.

It was getting dark, so we got prepared to hit the Swim Spa, which helps us sleep well at night. We sat there for almost an hour at 96 degrees, so we were well done. Tomorrow, we will bring the phone out and carefully use the app that identifies stars in the sky! We could see ten stars this evening.

I got both heaters to work after taking them to the garage and overhauling them!

Back inside, we called Robin but got no answer, so we are worried that Binx, their cat, is not doing well!

We went to the TV room and watched Evergreen until 10:15 p.m., at which point I herded Scout outside for a well-needed piddle before going to bed.

Tomorrow is gym time in the morning and then Patty’s Place in the afternoon/evening with Kyle, a co-worker from twenty years ago!

Good Night All!

Posted in Doctor, Elks, Friends, Working Around House | Leave a comment

Busy Doing Nothing!

Posted on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 by Paul

We had to be in Irvine at 8:00 am for Mary’s doctor’s appointment on Wednesday.  We got up at 5:30 am, got ready, and exited the house at 7:00 am sharp.  Using GPS and our common sense (knowing the freeway traffic patterns), we arrived at 7:45 am.

Mary was done by 9:00 am, and we decided to go to the Original Pancake House, where we had a lovely meal sharing the vegetarian omelet.  I also had some bacon, and they gave us pancakes, also!

Breakfast is done; it’s time to go to work!

We went to Home Depot and got one additional Blueberry plant and some peppers for the garden.  I worked in the yard for an hour until it got too hot.  I cleaned out two of the wall planters so Mary could plant seeds in them tomorrow.

It was in the low 80s, so I finally sat on the swing and listened to Fox News.

I was trying to get up enough energy to go inside!

Before going inside, I cleaned up two planters and added soil and fertilizer.

I put in a couple of miles a day working around the house!  I will never get a speeding ticket!

Mary was busy upstairs painting. She made this today at Jonathan’s request. Jon saw it on the ship we took this past summer, and Mary has been trying to find the time to paint it.

We will frame it and give it to Jon on the family cruise to the Caribbean in September!

I thought it was so good I framed it!

Mary asked me what I thought of the picture, and I thought I had a good suggestion. Apparently, it was not! What am I going to do with a green nose?

We got a picture of the Porter family with both new babies.  The family got together and had a lot of fun.  Grandma Diane looks pretty happy!

We will be planning to visit them as soon as I get over this breathing issue that has been going on for a few weeks.

We had dinner and watched five more episodes of Everwood. Ephram is off to Europe, Mama Jo’s is closing but about to be saved, and Rose is going in for a cancel operation. It’s like a soap opera.

I looked over at Mary, and she was done for the day!

Posted in Dining Out, Doctor, Vegetable Garden, Working Around House | Leave a comment

Time To Say Bon Voyage And Paint!

Posted on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 by Paul

Tuesday has arrived, and we have a breakfast appointment based on the following note:”

From Vicky: What are you doing for breakfast tomorrow, Tuesday? We leave on Thursday morning, and I can’t imagine not seeing you both for two weeks. Maybe we can go to Benji‘s Deli if you don’t have plans. If yes, what time? If not, then we will see you when we get back.

 

I went to the office and spent a pile of money in a matter of minutes; we now have our first-class flights to and from LAX to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to enjoy a cruise with the kids (Colleen & Mark and Jon & Sarah) in September. We are going on the Rhapsody of the Seas for a week!

In October 2023, the United States State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Israel chartered the Rhapsody of the Seas to evacuate United States citizens and their families from Israel after the outbreak of the Gaza war.

The Rhapsody will never be the same!

We then took a brisk stroll through the garden, trying to avoid the ugly gnome that looked eerily like my ex-wife, and then we got ready to head to Benji’s.

But first, a quick pit stop at CVS for my latest medication—because nothing says “party time” like stocking up on my daily dose of “please don’t lose it!” I can’t wait to explain to the staff at Benji’s why I brought my “survival kit” of snacks, meds, and a garden gnome (just in case).

Mary brought Vicky some fresh flowers that were picked right out of the garden!

We visited Jim and Vicky and discussed their trip, which begins on Thursday morning as they wing their way to Italy on the Pasta Express.  Vicky is worried how she will last two weeks without Mexican food; we told her to bring plenty of hot sauce!!

The Italian cruise sounds perfect, allowing them to explore the old buildings and historical sights. Mary and I hope the sea gods will not be restless during this voyage.

Highway to Italy:

A man comes walking on the beach and finds a bottle. He picks it up and removes the stopper. Out of the bottle comes the Spirit of the Lamp. “Thank you for letting me out, I have been locked up for 140 years. I would like to give you the opportunity to have a wish fulfilled”

“Thank you, I’ve always wanted to visit Hawaii, but I’m afraid of flying and I get terribly seasick from sailing. Could you make a highway to Hawaii?”

“Certainly, but do you really want me to throw millions of tons of soil into the sea, affect ocean currents and wildlife, make it necessary to change shipping routes and much more? Is it conceivable that you have another big wish that I could fullfill instead ?”

The man thinks for a moment and then he says “Indeed I have, I have always wanted to be able to understand women”

Deep sigh from Spirit of the Lamp “4 lanes or 6 lanes?”

Nenjis is a super place to dine, as they have a little bit of everything!

After breakfast, we headed home to load up on painting supplies, as Mary’s first class of her third set began at 1:00 p.m. After her accident, while gardening yesterday, I decided I would drive her to the painting class, so we loaded up the supplies and returned within six blocks of Benji’s again!

At 3:00 pm, her class finally wrapped up, and I arrived to pick her up at 3:01 pm sharp! Honestly, I was so punctual that I could have given a clock a run for its money. I even looked at my watch and said, “Wow, I’m like a human sundial!” Meanwhile, she emerged from class like a magician, revealing the rabbit from the hat, and sat outside on the park bench, awaiting the arrival of The Silver Fox and her chauffeur.

Mary’s next watercolor project is straight from the garden!

From her freehand sketch, not prompts from the instructor!

We went directly home, unpacked, and sat about making dinner. I took a short nap, and Mary made magic out of yesterday’s leftovers. The air fryer sure works miracles. The salad was terrific, and I was surprised because it made us dine alfresco. (I thought that meant dining naked, but alas, alfresco means dining outdoors.)

The weather was in the high 70s, the perfect way to have dinner overlooking the estate!

We called Claudia, my cousin, to see how Doug was doing. He is back home from the care facility, still in a wheelchair, and needs help seven days a week during the day so Claudia can get some time off.

We enjoyed a leisurely dinner and then headed to the Swim Spa for our nightly hot water and fragrance. Mary said, “You stink pretty!” after we exited the tub! I checked; no rings were around the edges, which is always a good sign!

Relaxing Lavender, Eucalyptus Mint, Coconut Yuzu, Sugarcane Vanilla, Green Tea Matcha, Orange Blossom Neroli

I was hoping Mary never says, “Paul, you smell like a mix of Yuzu and Neroli!”  I would not know how to react except to be embarrassed and run to the nearest shower with a big bottle of kerosene!

On the way to change into my jammies, I stopped by the Loquat tree to see if we had enough fruit for another round of loquat crumble.  The verdict is in; yes, we do!

Tomorrow we pick!!

We watched, or tried to watch, three episodes of Everwood and catch up on the gang and their latest escapades.  At 9:20 pm, we called it quits and headed for bed; we must be up and out of here by 7:00 am, more doctor appointments.

 

Posted in Art, Dining Out, Friends, Working Around House | Comments Off on Time To Say Bon Voyage And Paint!

On The Go! Go! Go!

Posted on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 by Paul

We had no idea when the day started that we would be on the road most of the day.

We walked the garden and observed the artichokes, which are coming along just fine. It appears the steel mesh is doing its job against the wabbits, as we have no additional damage.

They are getting bigger every day!

It is Monday, which means it is time to get the bones crushed and muscles torn from the bone at the local physical fitness establishment. Everyone was easy on me today! Mary went through her exercises like a Union General going through the South!

One-armed, no less! The machine creaked and moaned as Mary pulled the strings.

On the other hand, I did many situps and other chest-related exercises to see if I could solve the mystery of the tight chest and breathing.  Alas, the only advice I got was to go get into the pulmonologist easy instead of waiting until Thursday,

Antony runs us through the exercises, encouraging me along the way!

I did not think that “Up Fatso”  and “Faster Lardbutt” was very encouraging!

We went to CVS from the gym, got some meds, and then headed home.  Using her best female voice, Mary somehow got us in to see Dr. ______, our pulmonologist.  He is a terrific doctor, a genuine first-class guy!  He was stumped because it was apparent I had shortness of breath, but I was pulling 2500 milliliters on the breathing machine, more than expected.  The spiralizer test went just fine. I was well within my expected range, considering I smoked for twenty years.  So, he suggested additional use of prednisone every other day for a few weeks to see if that helps.

Prednisolone is a medicine used to treat a wide range of health problems, including allergies, blood disorders, skin diseases, inflammation, infections, and certain cancers. It is also used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant. Prednisolone helps by reducing swelling (inflammation) and can also calm down the immune system.

From the doctor’s office, we high-tailed it to the dentist’s office so she could verify that the implants were still aligned and working fine. We saw her for ten minutes; all was “A-OK”! Now it is 4:30 p.m., and the freeways are HORRIBLE, so we decided to go to the American Legion on BAlboa Island, where we had dinner and a drink… or two.

Since we had been at doctors’ offices all day, we thought some healthy food would be in order, so we ordered a baked potato, buffalo wings, a pizza, and chili.  Mary also ordered a salad, but that came home with us.

It’s time to eat at the American Legion.

We did not have our chopsticks, so we had to suffer from the calories this evening. The chili and buffalo wings were perfect, though.

Health food.

It was a calm day on the water, so we took our time watching the boats go back and forth. The Commodore of the Yacht Club came in and recognized us from Christmas when he invited us to be on his board for the parade. I think another invite may be coming, but we will be in South America, darn!

The day was magnificent.

We decided to take the freeway home, which was not too bad.  We stopped at Jeff’s and gave him his dessert, carrot cake!  He was happy.

We came home and watched two episodes of Everwood before crashing for the night!

Posted in Doctor, Gym, Just Us | Comments Off on On The Go! Go! Go!

Sunday Was NOT A Day Of Rest!!

Posted on Sunday, April 6, 2025 by Paul

Mary realizes she has hours of garden work ahead of her!

I took one of Mary’s latest watercolors, which looked more like an explosion of color than a masterpiece, and used it as the background for the Daily Diary. She was practicing her “spring flowers. ” Honestly, it was like a floral interpretation of a toddler’s birthday party—chaotic but full of heart! She was practicing on “spring flowers” and did well!

It’s pretty impressive for someone who has never painted before!

Mary had a grand plan for the day, but first, she needed to cleanse herself. So off to the shower, she went. Meanwhile, I figured I could channel my inner handyman and attempt to master the ten-foot stepladder. I sanded and wire-brushed the facia board like an art project, then bravely painted a five-foot length. As I launched into another segment,

Mary’s voice then floated in: “Get down!” But I felt so accomplished until Jonathan, our grandson, called in. Suddenly, it wasn’t just Mary asking nicely. “Get the hell off that ladder, NOW!!” rang through the phone. Great, now I had to come down like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

Mary asked me to get down, but I was doing fine. Then I heard a voice say, “Get the hell off that ladder, NOW!! ”  It was Jonathan, our grandson, who just happened to call, and Mary leaked what I was doing. Needless to say, I got down. (It was time, as I was on the ladder’s second rung and feeling a little nervous.)

Hey, I tried!!

While Mary tended to the flower garden like a botanical wizard, I took on the other side of the patio.   Last year’s mulch was so sun-bleached it looked like it was going for the grunge look. I dashed to the He Shed and grabbed red bark mulch I bought last week at an unbelievable price—four bags for five bucks! You’d think I was auditioning for a gardening competition. The gardens look so flawless that they could host the next floral beauty pageant.

You can’t tell the difference between the dirt and the remaining mulch!

Home Depot had the red bark on sale—four bags for $5—so I got several bags. Now, all the gardens look black and well with their red bark mulch in place.

The flowers and fruit trees are going well in the corner.

Mary disappeared while I was fixing the extension cords on the gazebo, and when she returned, she had a calendar full of loquats; this means that loquat crumble is in the future.

Armed with a paring knife and my trusty barstool, I went to war with eight cups of loquats. It took one hour, but I was a seed-extracting machine. I was on a mission! Finally, after wrestling with those stubborn little fruits, we were ready to put them into the crumble. Mary worked her magic with dark cane sugar and other “secret” ingredients, and soon, that pan was headed for the oven. The smell that wafted through the house could probably lure a neighborhood dog in a heartbeat! This has been a “Quat Weekend.”  Kumquats yesterday and Loquats today!

They are equally tricky to prepare and labor intensive but well worth the effort.

The loquats generally have two seeds, so I cut them in half and squeezed one half until the seeds popped out. Then, I removed the sheath that covered the seeds, and they were ready to go!

Eight cups of these little puppies are needed for the loquat crumble.

Into the pan for a 20-minute cooking session so the juices begin to flow from the meat.

When this is ready, Mary will have made the crumble with dark cane sugar, some flour, and other “secret” ingredients. We pour the loquats into a backing pan and pour the crumble on top of that. Then, all the prepared loquats went into the oven at 350 for about 25 minutes until the sugar bubbles!

After an hour of standing at the sink and removing the seeds and seeds covers from the loquats, we had eight cups of loquats ready to go.

The little video, one minute and eleven seconds, will explain why these fruits are good!

Of course, we had assistance all day.  Working in the yard and not worrying about being trampled by wild elephants is so lovely.  Scot, aka The Elephant Dog, is always there with one itty bitty eye opened and ears tuned for the sound of elephant feet.  Once he hears an elephant, he roars, herding us into a safe location before chasing the elephants away.  Today, the elephants were somewhere else, so Scout for the rest!

Scout did get up to welcome Dianne, who visited us at 4:00 pm.

Dianne dropped by to visit the garden, collect her baking pan, and get some of the homepage loquat and kumquat goodies.

Mary tried another of my recipes from Facebook. We air-fried three chicken breasts in a spice mixture. The air fryer took 20 minutes to complete the job. The spiced chicken was pretty good, and Mary’s salad was outstanding.

We took some chicken and dessert to Jeff and visited him for a while before returning home. For some unknown reason, I popped up and headed for bed at 8:45 p.m.

 

Posted in Cooking, Gardening, Just Us, Working Around House | Comments Off on Sunday Was NOT A Day Of Rest!!

Work Work Work….Dance!

Posted on Sunday, April 6, 2025 by Paul

The weather forecast was for a beautiful day, so knowing our weather forecaster, we were ready for a tycoon and a lot of rain.   But a miracle occurred, the weatherman was key-wrecked!!!  It was a wonderful day with temperatures in the low 80s.

We worked in the office for a while until the temperature outside was in the 70s, and then we headed outside for a day in the garden.

Mary worked like a beaver de-weeding all the rose plants, so now the green leaves and red bark of the roses provide us with a wonderful, colorful stroll through the garden.

While she worked, I mostly fiddled around fixing some electrical devices under the gazebo, sharpened some gardening tools, and did some minor sanding and painting, much to the chagrin of my partner in crime.

I stopped once she called Jonathan, and I was ordered by the big guy to “GET OFF THE LADDER GRANDPA!!!!!”

We got cleaned up and headed for the 123rd Inaugural Ball at the Elks. Bill asked us to go, and 9 Carat Gold was playing, so the music would be just fine!

The Pledge Of Allegiance at the Elks!

Bill was called up, and he and Sandy were presented to the Elks Lodge members.

They are a cute couple!!

The presentations were not long, and everyone was dressed to the 9s!

The Elks team for this year are in place and ready to go!

I like those tuxedos, guys!

Looking good!

We had a great seat right up front and off to the side. We could get to the dance floor with relative ease, and we danced for an hour or so. Donna and Bob began to get ready to go around 9:00 p.m., which was right when Mary and I began to think about leaving. The days of staying until midnight are now gone, a distant memory.

Just us.

Maybe a little smooch is OK, but I charge her $1/kiss!

We went VFR home without stopping at Ace’s and were in bed, sound asleep by 10:00 pm!

Posted in Dancing, Elks, Gardening, Working Around House | Comments Off on Work Work Work….Dance!

Hello Weekend; Are you Ready For Us???

Posted on Friday, April 4, 2025 by Paul

Mary always brings me coffee in the morning!

It’s almost 7:00 am, and we’re ready to go! I’ve had enough coffee to power a small country, and my socks are officially on a mission to find their matching pairs. We rolled out of bed before the sun changed its mind and returned to bed!

Mary wakes up full of energy, and I can hear her singing clearly in the office while she makes coffee in the kitchen. This almost makes all the local dogs howl, and it scares the small children.

I can hear her making coffee in the kitchen (So can all our neighbors)

My oh my, the calendar is bare, meaning we will be home together all day long, YEAH!  We did our morning reconnoitering of the garden and found no evidence of the pesky wabbit.

The steel wire mesh is working. If it did not, I had a backup plan: I’d take them bare-handed by sleeping in the garden and attacking them first before they got to the veggies!

Bye, be wackily wabbits!

We went to the gym at 8:30 am and rode the bike for 30 minutes, followed by a strenuous exercise session.  Twenty minutes into my routine, I decided I don’t sweat; I sparkle.

Exercise is so challenging for us that we are both torn between cardio and pizza. The gym was decorated to look like an innocent establishment, but the sound-proofing does not always work—the screams of agony can be heard for miles!

The gym was decorated with pesky bunnies!

After the workout, we were hungry, so we stopped at Ralph’s and got some asparagus. While Mary prepared the broiled asparagus, I cooked the steaks!

Our favorite dish is broiled asparagus drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt and parmesan cheese. It’s so good that it might just turn you into an asparagus enthusiast—who knew stalks could be this charming?

Brunch is served

Our square pan with ribs is perfect for fixing steaks; four minutes on a side at medium-high, and we are ready to go. We ate two of these beauties, and the other three were sliced and readied for this week’s salads. Oh, and Luigi got half a steak and loved it.

Yummy; plenty of steaks all week long.

After brunch, we headed to the garden and were surprised by a voracious man-eating duck sitting by the pool, taking in the rays. I wondered why he was up so early, and then it dawned on me.  What time do ducks get up?  The quack of dawn.

I attempted to sneak up and catch him by putting salt on his tail, but his peripheral vision caught me in the act.  When he showed his teeth and hissed with fire coming out of his beak, I immediately backed off and threw him a steak as a peace offering.

What do you call a duck that breaks into people’s houses?  A robber ducky!

What are you doing here?

Mary and her trusty sidekick joined me for an afternoon stroll in the garden. Mary spotted the first rose of the season, called a “Butter Cup,” because it resembles the color of some butter.

Ready to go to work on the kumquats!

The roses will be beautiful this year.  Tomorrow, Sunday, Mary plans to weed around the base of the plants and feed them!  I shall have a first-aid kit ready and 911 on speed dial.

The first rose of the season!

What is this?  We spotted a varmint in the roses.  A grasshopper, my oh my!

Here’s a more detailed look at grasshopper facts:
Ears: Unlike humans, grasshoppers don’t have ears on their heads but rather a sound-detecting organ on their bellies called a tympanum.
Eyes: Grasshoppers have five eyes: two large compound eyes and three smaller ocelli (simple eyes) that detect light and dark.
Jumping: Grasshoppers are known for their impressive jumping abilities, propelling themselves into the air using their powerful legs.
Flying: While known for jumping, grasshoppers can also fly, using their wings to escape predators or travel long distances for food.
Sound: Some grasshoppers make sounds by rubbing their legs against their wings, while others bang or even rub their wings together.
Diet: Grasshoppers are herbivores, primarily feeding on plants, including leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds.
Predators: Grasshoppers have many predators, including birds, spiders, beetles, and lizards.
Ancient History: Grasshoppers are among the Earth’s oldest insects, dating back approximately 250 million years, predating dinosaurs.
Locusts: Locusts are essentially grasshoppers that form swarms under certain conditions, such as after heavy rains.
Good Luck: In Japan, grasshoppers symbolize good luck and are sometimes kept as pets.
Edible: In some parts of the world, grasshoppers are a good source of protein and are eaten by humans.
Camouflage: Grasshoppers often have colors and patterns that help them blend in with their environment, providing camouflage from predators.

I thumped him with my finger, sending him over the fence into the neighbor’s yard! It was difficult to make out, but I heard him say, “OUCH, what the heck was that?” in Grasshopper.

Bite our roses, and we will bite you!!!

Going back inside, we spent two hours preparing kumquats, which meant cutting them into quarters, using a paring knife to remove the pith and seeds, and then chopping the quarters into quarters.

Kumquats, known as “golden oranges” in Cantonese, are unique citrus fruits where you can eat the entire fruit, including the peel, which is sweet, while the flesh is tart. 

They are delicious to pop in the mouth and eat!

While the kumquats were macerated for two hours, we slipped into the swim spa and relaxed while we macerated the kumquats.

Macerating, in a culinary context, means softening or enhancing the flavor of food, especially fruit, by soaking it in a liquid, like sugar, juice, or alcohol. This allows the fruit to absorb the liquid and become tender and flavorful.

Mary found the glasses we used three years ago to house this marmalade, and we sterilized them in the dishwasher before filling them with the kumquat marmalade, which had just been cooked and boiled down into the proper consistency.

The jars are sterilized and ready for the kumquats!

The kumquat syrup is ready to be poured.

Four cups of prepared kumquats.

While we waited for the kumquats to get ready, we slipped off to the TV room and continued watching Everwood!  We finally crashed around 10:00 pm.

Posted in Cooking, Gardening, Vegetable Garden, Working Around House | Comments Off on Hello Weekend; Are you Ready For Us???