Broken Bones; It’s Gym Day

We tried to sneak into the gym disguised as two people in perfect condition, thereby avoiding the need for staff assistance.   Alas, our plan failed miserably.  After thirty minutes on the upright torture bicycle, we were thrown to the ground and manipulated in such a manner as to come within 0.5 seconds of screaming in agony.  Our physical therapists are masters and bringing us to the edge of pitifulness.

By 10:00 am, we had escaped using our newly developed ability to grin and bear the maltreatment.   We often look at each other and say, “…and we are paying for this!”.

We changed plans this morning, we went directly home, and Mary began the process of deboxing the She Shed.  She worked hard, and thanks to the TV on the patio, she was able to work all day long.

Mary fixed an excellent breakfast, which we devoured with breakneck speed!  Now, it is time to work (and I thought we were retired).

The last episode of “Ginny & Georgia”

Summary: The series centers on Angsty and awkward fifteen-year-old Ginny Miller, who often feels more mature than her thirty-year-old mother, the irresistible and dynamic Georgia Miller.  After years on the run, Georgia desperately wants to put down roots in picturesque New England and give her family something they’ve never had… an everyday life.  But it’s not all carpool and Kombucha as Georgia’s past threatens her and her family’s new way of life… and Georgia will do anything to protect her family.

It was warm out, likely in the mid-80s, so I did odd tasks like moving filled boxes to their new homes, and I tried to clear the corn patch, but old age caught up with me.   I am about ready to plant the new corn.  I need to rake the area and determine where to put the eighteen corn plants.

Late in the afternoon, I surprised my bride by bringing her flowers and a drink.  She took one look at me after watching all the handsome men on TV and was agast!  What had she done?

I was in my gardening outfit!

I was equally surprised, as I had spent the last two days ordering items from Amazon.  When the doorbell rang, I rushed to see which treasures they had delivered.  One look and it’s “Oops Time”!

We had a quick bite to eat and then headed to Jeff’s house to visit and bring him information on a doctor.  We sat with him for 45 minutes before returning home, where Scout questioned us.  He asked, “How come you guys were gone for three days?” We told him it was only 45 minutes!

It was getting dark, meaning we could swim without wearing out our swimming uniforms.  I am still conscious of the fact that my magnificent unclothed physique does scare the occasional birds that fly over the house.  I also downed two drones, blinding their cameras with ease.  I guess I do have talents after all!

Mary’s first in-water task is to catch bugs and occasional leaves that manage to hit the water’s surface.  We get a couple of June bugs because they are attracted to the light.  My looks repel most bugs.  When I exit the pool in my “all together”, you can hear bugs drop to the ground, frozen in time, for one hundred square feet.  I should get a tattoo that says, “Black Flag”.

Mary, the bug catcher!

We bought two new pool noodles, and Mary is breaking them in.  It’s a battle of the wills, but Mary has the skills.  They usually give up after ten minutes.

Pool noodles, those colorful foam tubes we associate with summer fun, have a surprisingly fascinating history and trivia surrounding them.  They are often referred to as “water woggles” or “water logs” in different regions.  While their primary use is for recreational swimming, they also have surprising applications in construction and even physiotherapy.

Pool noodles are believed to have originated in Ontario, Canada, in the early 1980s.

 
They can be vicious!

Mary does battle with a noodle!

Scout is supposed to love water, but he is a strange dog.  The closest he gets to water is his water bowl!

Scout says, “No bath tonight, I’m going inside where it is safe!”

It was 9:30 pm when we departed from the fire and went inside.  We went VFR to bed right after my breathing treatment.  It has been a good day!

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It’s Magical!

Speaking of a magical day, we are off and running at 8:30 am to Los Angeles to join up with Ed & Betty, plus Vicky & Jim, to go to the Magic Castle for brunch and a couple of shows.

GPS said it would take an hour to get to Hollywood, but we left early anyway due to the potential for traffic.   As hoped, there was no traffic, and we arrived quickly!

The freeways were clear.

We used Google Earth to view the facility, which helped us locate the castle.  It is indeed a castle overlooking Hollywood.

It was indeed a castle!

We valet-parked the car, as we didn’t want to walk up the hill.

The facility was beautiful.

The facility has quite a history!

The Magic Castle is a châteauesque residence built in 1909 by Rollin B. Lane, a real estate investor, lawyer, banker, newspaper editor, and philanthropist. The house was designed by architects Lyman Farwell and Oliver Perry Dennis and constructed as a near mirror duplicate of the 1897 Kimberly Crest House and Gardens in Redlands, California, that the architects had designed over a decade earlier. The Lanes called their home “Holly Chateau”.  Rollin’s wife, Katherine, was involved in various civic volunteer communities aimed at improving Hollywood. She was college-educated and an author. Initially, the house included “seventeen rooms, including a roof garden and sun parlor”.

The Academy of Magical Arts is a mutual-benefit nonprofit corporation organized and devoted to the promotion and development of the art of magic.

The Academy of Magical Arts was founded in 1952 by William Larsen, Sr., as a loose association of magicians. Although it was not officially incorporated and its organization formalized until 1962, when Larsen’s sons, Bill Jr. and Milt Larsen, expanded the Academy into an international organization. The Magic Castle has served as the headquarters for the Academy since 1963.

Since my last visit, a hotel has been added.

Sounds like a great idea if we come back for the evening show and dinner!

We arrived early and were the second group in line at the front door.     There are NO PICTURES INSIDE for obvious reasons, and we honored their request.  We met some lovely people who had a noon lunch scheduled.

Many famous people have walked through these doors.

We took pictures of ourselves just before going inside. The rest of the group arrived around 10:30 am, and Mary and I were already at the bar and doing some exploring around the house.

Meet the motley crew! Ed & Betty, Jim & Vicky, Dave & Hilda

Vicky’s new photographic talents were put to the test!

Quite a handsome couple!

In the lobby, we could take a photo, so Mary posed right in front of the secret door (located behind the bookcase).

Mary talked to the owl, and it let us in, right by the bar!

The bar was beautiful, and we tried a couple of drinks. The hostess helped us determine where to go. When I  said, “Where is the bar?” she pointed it out and followed that by, “I’ll have a drink also!!”

The bar was at the bottom of the staircase, which led to the dining area.

We fooled her by ordering her a virgin Bloody Mary. I notified the local management that we bought the hostess a drink because she was so lovely, and I made sure that management knew it was non-alcoholic.

Everyone got here to see the first show and NOT miss lunch!

Jim and Vicky

Ed & Betty

Dave & Hilda

We saw a quick show before lunch. Lunch was great, and we filled up on all the goodies.

Lunch was buffet style, and we all had a plate full of delicious food.  I opted for shrimp, and Mary went for the omelet.  Food was disappearing left and right!

The dining area walls were adorned with pictures and framed articles about the history of the castle.

After lunch, we attended two additional shows, which were quite impressive. We were ten feet away and have NO idea how they did the magic tricks.

Magicians often perform a trick where they seemingly join two pieces of string together to form one continuous piece. This illusion, sometimes called “String Fusion” or “String Restoration”, is achieved through a specific technique that creates the visual effect of the strings melting or pulling back together. The true secret of the trick lies in the precise preparation and handling of the string, combined with skillful misdirection, to create the illusion of a seamless join. It’s a classic example of how magic relies on clever techniques to deceive the eye and build a sense of wonder. 

On our way out, we stopped to see Irma, the Magic Piano. “Irma,  the Magic Piano” refers to an invisible, ghost-like figure at The Magic Castle, a private club in Hollywood. Irma plays the piano and takes song requests from guests in the music room. She is invisible and communicates solely through the piano. Irma has become a popular attraction at the Magic Castle, with many visitors requesting her musical talents.

Irma (played by Kate) was a load of fun!

She did an excellent job playing our requests including the Hokey Pokey!

Mary and I couldn’t help ourselves. Mary requested “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by the Andrews Sisters. Irma played, and we danced along with Vicky and Jim. The room was tiny, but we danced for two to three minutes without hitting the wall or the onlookers. After the dance, we got a standing ovation from the other visitors.

I requested the Hokey Pokey and had half the room dancing. I led the dance. The young kids had no idea their parents could dance. It was fun!

We took some outside shots while our cars were being fetched,

This is a haunting picture indeed!

None of us could figure out how the magic was accomplished.

Our carriage arrived, and we are an hour from home!

Thank you, Vicky, for arranging such a delightful day!!!!

We got home around 5:00 pm and began working on Mary’s storage boxes.   At 8:00 pm, we were pooped out and went inside to watch “The Bricklayer”, an action movie. Plot: A former CIA agent who left to become a bricklayer is asked to step in and help stop a criminal operation that is demanding a series of ransom payments.

At 10:15 pm, we declared victory and headed to bed. I stopped by the office to perform the nightly breathing treatment. Mary read her book, and at 11:00 pm, we were sound asleep!

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Saturday, Time To Dance!

Another lazy morning.  Scout wanted out at 5:30 am, so I got up and sent him on his way.  I went back to bed thinking I would get up in a few minutes.  Oh dear, it was almost 8:00 am when my eyes opened!

Mary was dressed and ready for her doctor’s appointment.  I rushed around and drove her to UCI for the appointment.  I waited in the car, enjoying leisurely reading, until she came back.

We stopped by the market for some milk and then Leslie’s Pool Supply for two new “noodles”.  It seems old Sol made the old noodles start to shed; new noodles were mandatory.

Mary fixed a marvelous breakfast while I took in the trash cans, moved some boxes, and did other chores nearby.

To my surprise, we had corn chowder, a salad, and hot, spicy cornbread muffins. Mary knows the way to a man’s heart.

Mary added some real cream to the concoction this morning, making it even better than last night.

A meal fit for a king.

Powered up and ready to take on the rest of the day!

The rest of the afternoon, we did small chores around the house, and I prepared Mary with another three large boxes to go through tomorrow or Monday.

It became 4:30 pm, and it was time to get ready for the Elks.  Tonight, Larry Fresch is there playing dance music.  We will go and have dinner with Iris & Will, and later be joined by Gail Petersen.

When we arrived and entered the lounge, Larry came up to Mary and asked if she had more red panties!  He got a lot of pictures the night of the “red panties” and put them on Facebook, and sent them to his friends.

Kick up those heels!

A video of this demonstration is required.

We departed around 9:00 pm and headed home, stopping by Aces.  As we passed the front door, we saw tables outside with people, so we thought it would be a party and too noisy, so we went VFR home.

9:30 pm, and we were in the pool floating around when all hell broke loose.  The Disneyland fireworks went off and we could hear them easily ten miles away!  It wasn’t “loud” but distinguishable as Disneyland.

The water was 93 and wonderful!!

The water and the exercise caused us to crash quickly, plus we have a date at The Magic Castle tomorrow morning for brunch and two shows, so rest was imperative.

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Fry Day Is Upon Us!

We are up and moving early today, as it’s De-Box the She She Day.  It’s a long story.   Mary had several boxes in the She Shed that had not been opened since the move, and I wanted to convert the She Shed into an artist’s studio and tea house.   Today, the process began!  I am very proud of Mary!

We moved several boxes to the patio and Mary bravely went through them, separating them into keep for herself, send to the kids, and my favorite, trash!  It’s a shame that the kids probably won’t hold or cherish the various goodies from their childhood and pass them on.

Mid-afternoon, we enjoyed a glass of vino, which seemed to help the process along!

Our gardener pulled out the corn stalks that were done because I can no longer do that myself.  It’s tough to realize that I’m 80 and can no longer do the things I used to do.    I’m getting better at recognizing my limitations, and I’m fortunate that we can accomplish those things.  God bless my son, grandsons, and our handyman!

After Carlos departed, I took the high-pressure hose and washed out the roots so I could keep the good soil in the garden.    The stalks became a lot lighter and were easier to handle.    Tomorrow, I will rake the area, replant more corn, and cut and dispose of the stalks.

Mary saw the action and decided it was time for corn chowder.

The last four ears of corn had been on too long and were “starchy”; not great to eat, but perfect for chowder.

Around 5:00 pm, we went inside, and while Mary made the corn stock, I chopped, diced, sliced, and did naughty things to the corn, potatoes, onions, and celery.  The knife was flying, approaching the speed of sound.

We had never heard of “corn stock,” so we tried it; it worked.    Guess we aren’t as smart as we thought.   We boiled water and tossed in five naked corn cobs (the corn was cut off).

Corn stock with cobs typically refers to a cooking stock made by simmering corn cobs (the bare cob after removing the kernels) with other vegetables and seasonings in water.   His process extracts the sweet, slightly milky flavor from the cobs, creating a flavorful liquid that can be used as a base for various dishes, such as soups, stews, chowders, risotto, or even as a replacement for vegetable broth.

 
The corn looked good, and I filled the bowl with four potatoes, including eight small home-grown potatoes.   We used our onions and celery, and Mary added some goodies from the herb garden.

Magic is about to happen!

I was so excited about the chowder that I forgot to take pictures, but let it be known: my bride is truly a Master Chef, totally fearless of trying new things.   During dinner, I went back for three bowls of the concoction.

What did the corn say to the popcorn?   You crack me up!”

We took some of this delightful brew over to Jeff and spent some time visiting with him.

It was getting dark, and the pool was 95 degrees.   Today’s sunshine warmed it up two degrees, so we imbibed.

It was a glorious evening with the moon shining down like a big Cheshire Cat!

Mr. Doctor said no marshmallows this evening, so I had to go without.   While dying of starvation, I remained calm and enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Mary.

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Thursday And We All Know What That Means!

We are off to the Elks today.  I took a quick walk in the garden and ate six beautiful plums!  They are just about perfect now, but can I eat fifty plums in two days?

I researched on the Internet and found that plums are high in fiber, which adds bulk to the stool and helps it move through the digestive system. They also contain sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that acts as a natural laxative.  Eating plums or drinking prune juice (made from dried plums) can help relieve constipation and promote regular bowel movements. However, consuming too many plums can cause diarrhea.

After leaving for the Elks, we decided to stop at the beach since the weather was warm.  I soon realized that I had forgotten to bring my swimsuit.  Knowing this, I devised an alternative plan.

Hey, I worked…albeit a little large!!

When driving to the Elks, Mary decided she wanted some lip injections to adjust her appearance.  I told her she was magnificent just as she was, but if she insisted, I had a great idea.

At the Elks, George brought a bag full of apples, which will soon become apple sauce.  Bill and Bob were not present; both had been excused.  Bill was on his honeymoon while Bob was in Oregon visiting his daughter.

Bill and Sandee are near the Grand Teton Mountains!

The Grand Teton Mountains, situated in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, are renowned for their dramatic, jagged peaks and are a popular destination for outdoor recreation.

A fun fact about the Tetons is that French-Canadian trappers named them “Les Trois Tetons,” meaning “the three breasts,” due to their appearance when viewed from the west.

The French have vivid imaginations!

The pool was 92, and we soaked up the sun and had a great time exchanging stories and gazing at the stars.   When we got out, Mary found some marshmallows and we indulged.  Mary had self-control and only ate one, while Mr. Piggy gobbled up three toasted beauties.

Marshmallows, those fluffy, sweet treats, have a history that stretches back to ancient Egypt, where they were made from the sap of the marshmallow plant for medicinal purposes. Later, in France, confectioners refined the recipe by whipping the sap with egg whites and sugar, creating the precursor to the modern marshmallow. Today, marshmallows are enjoyed in various forms, from s’mores and hot chocolate to Rice Krispies treats.

Modern marshmallows typically use gelatin, sugar, corn syrup, and flavoring, with the marshmallow plant sap no longer being a primary ingredient.

 

Another pool night complete with marshmallows.

What can I say?

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Wednesday, We Are Halfway There!

Our alarm clock failed, but the backup was working just fine.  At 5:30 am, Scout, our backup system, jumped up and headed to the backyard.  I heard him going down the hallway and followed him promptly.  I opened the screen door, and he was out like a duck on a June bug.  I used my new shoes this morning.  I didn’t think orthopedic shoes would help, but I stand corrected.

Upon examining the wall clock, it was determined that it was Wednesday, which meant it was time to go to the gym.  I jumped back in bed and feigned a terrible pain so I could not go to the gym today.   Mary, being smart, brought in a cup of coffee, and my nose, which had caused my pain-ridden body to mend instantaneously, I rose to grab that luscious brew (I forgot to yell in agony).  She caught me.  We had to go!

We went; we saw; we cried!  We both walked out slowly so as not to attract attention.

We got a text from Joe and the boys; they were in Washington, DC, as evidenced by the Washington Monument in the background.  They were headed to Colleen’s house for a few days while Joe went to a conference.

Rain gear in the summer; must be the East Coast!

After we returned home, Mary prepared an excellent breakfast of bacon and eggs, accompanied by a salad.  We worked around the house until 3:00 pm when Mary had an appointment about three miles from home.   Since her back was still killing her, I drove her to the appointment and picked her up an hour and a half later.

After picking her up, she started talking about dinner, and I interrupted to suggest Yang Ming as an alternative.  She did NOT need to be standing up cooking with a bad back.

I reminded Mary,  “You dim sum, you lose some.”

Yang Ming has been around for years, offering excellent food and fantastic service.  It is where we get our Christmas Day dinner from every year.

It is located a mile from our home.

We, as usual, went wild and had enough food to feed a small army, and enjoyed her Egg Foo Young and Buddha’s Delight, which is a selection of vegetables.   I ordered Vegetable Fried Rice and a couple of appetizers, including Paper-Wrapped Chicken and Cream Cheese Wontons.

Egg Foo Young is a Chinese-American dish, similar to an omelet, that typically includes eggs, bean sprouts, and other vegetables, often accompanied by meat or seafood.  It’s believed to have originated from a Cantonese dish called fu yung egg slices.  The name “foo young” may translate to “blooming flowers” in Cantonese, possibly referring to the way the egg puffs up when fried.

Wontons, a type of Chinese dumpling, are known for their thin wrappers and diverse fillings, often enjoyed in soup. The name “wonton” is said to come from the Cantonese word “yún t?n,” meaning “swallowing a cloud,” which refers to their appearance when floating in broth.

Here’s some trivia about Paper Wrapped Chicken: Singaporean Invention: Although a classic Cantonese dish, Paper Wrapped Chicken, also known as “chee pow kai” in Cantonese, was invented in Singapore in 1953 by an eatery called Union Farm.  Unique Cooking Method: This dish utilizes a unique cooking method that combines the benefits of both steaming and deep-frying.  The paper wrapping keeps the chicken incredibly moist and succulent, while the deep-frying process helps to caramelize the marinade on the outside, creating a delicious brown exterior.

 

Dinner was fantastic, and we brought Pork Fried Rice and Sweet and Sour sauce home for Jeff.  We visited Jeff for a while before heading home; it was getting dark!

Mary didn’t know it, but I had turned on the pool heater the previous day.  The water temperature was 92 degrees, which is perfect for an evening swim.

Alexa is wired up to the outside lights, so we tell her to turn on the gazebo lights; no getting out of the pool needed.

It was wonderful just floating around in the warm water.  The yellow duck lights up and gives us the temperature.

Mermaid, run for your life.

Scout is supposed to like water, but he will not even get close to a pool.  We bought him his own play pool three years ago, and we had to lift him into the water.  He immediately jumped out.

He walked around the pool to ensure we were okay.

The fire pit was already warm when we got out, and we enjoyed a glass of wine while drying off.  The lava rocks get hot and make the surroundings quite warm, even on windy days.

Life is good!

From our vantage point, we could see the entire pool and about half of the backyard.   While drying off, we toasted to being in love.  Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.

We also made some phone calls about our little party on the 4th of July.  We have approximately 12-24 people coming over for the party, which is between 1 pm and 5 pm on the 4th.

It was a romantic evening.

When we went inside, we were exhausted and bypassed the TV room, going straight to bed.  No one had to rock us to sleep.  It was lights out.

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Zip, Nada, Diddily!

It was a lazy day, and we didn’t get up until 8:00 am, at which time I marched into the kitchen to prepare coffee!  With the coffee made, I returned to the office where Mary was busy pounding on the computer keyboard as if it were a bongo drum.

I worked on yesterday’s Daily Diary before paying some bills!

While heading to the yard, Mary pulled a muscle in her back, so we decided that Mary ought to rest! While she rested, I headed outside to do some of the planned gardening chores.

My first chore was to fix the drip system on the patio; four sprinklers were not working.   I dug into the group, and sure enough, a rose bush had wrapped its roots around the tubing, cutting off the supply.  With my trusty drip system repair kit in hand, I replaced the sprinkler heads and associated tubing.  After a short test, the planter boxes were flooded with H2O.  We had success.

It’s easy when you have the proper tools!

We decided it was too hot to work outside, so Mary suggested I bring some of the old storage boxes from the SheShed so she could go through them.   There are about twenty boxes of things that Mary wants to go through so we can use the SheShed for perhaps a small Tea House.

A “tea house” can refer to several things, including a private structure for Japanese tea ceremonies, a space for social gatherings and activism, or a venue for enjoying tea alongside food and entertainment.  The term can also refer to a tea shop that sells tea or a place that serves high tea or afternoon tea.

I would cover the walls with drywall and insulate them to improve sound and temperature control.  We already have electricity, and there is running water within five feet of the shed.   Most people are shocked when they discover how poorly I perform as an electrician.

Mary and I had artichokes for dinner, and just before that, we called Colleen.  She was at a water park with Mark and several nephews and grandkids.   The weather on the East Coast was warm, making it an enjoyable day.  Joe was in Boston at a conference, and Collen is keeping Charlie and Alex busy!

Mary worked on her boxes until almost 10:30 pm, at which time we crashed.

I decided to read for a while.  I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.

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The Week Begins!

Monday means the dreaded gym workout.  I weighed myself and I am now 198 pounds, so I am tempted to declare victory and stop going to the gym, but alas, the cardio still needs to be done.  So we went; we participated and most importantly we survived!

After a quick trip to CVS to pick up some medication, we were about to head home.  Mary announced her plans for breakfast/lunch.  I responded with my desire for a hard-shell taco.  Not to be outdone, Mary suggested we get the Silver Fox washed.

We had the best of all worlds, which was a bag full of tacos and burritos, and a nice place to eat at the car wash.   When the car was done, so were we!  Our tummies were full, and the Silver Fox was immaculate.

The Silver Fox felt loved again!!

Since nothing is on our schedule today, we did what we usually do: we planned the day!

We finished decorating the front of the house by hanging bunting across the garage.

The fence’s design is perfect for decorating.

We measured and did the math so the bunting would be just right.  My trusty sidekick, Mary, passed me the drill, oil*, scissors, measuring tape, and bunting as we moved from one end to the other.  She also stayed near fearing I might go butt over teakettle and land on the ground!  We work together very well, and Mary often has great ideas.

*I always put a drop of oil into the drilled holes to make it easier for the screws to go in!

Decorated!

Then it was time to attack the garden!  Mary planted additional watermelons, and I planted tomatoes, onions, and tomatillos (for Vicky!).  I felt like someone was looking at me, and indeed, Scout the Wonder Dog was keeping us in his line of sight.

Scout supervised us all afternoon from his patio bed!

The onion bed was so full we could never use them all, so we picked many and decided to do our “meals-on-wheels” act with the neighbors.

We had a bed about 6’x4′ loaded with onions!

After pulling out the existing onions, I replanted the area with new onion sets.  We always have fresh onions available!

At 6:00 pm, we declared mission accomplished and decided to visit Jeff.  On our way over to his house, we dropped by the new neighbors and delivered a bag of onions, green beans, and tomatoes.  Our new neighbors seem to be very nice.

The lady of the house is a florist, and we often receive beautiful displays of flowers from her shop!

Onions anyone?  I cleaned them up a bit before making the delivery!

After the visit with Jeff, we came home and called Colleen.  We reached her in the car with Mark, Joe, and the boys, just coming home from dinner.  On the way home, one of my buttons fell off, and Mary, always quick to help, offered her assistance.  OUCH!!

I had suggested a sewing needle and thread, but Mary said she had a better idea!

Always there to assist!

We did one final walk in the garden to decide what tomorrow’s tasks might consist of.  We need to install some bird repellent aluminum strips around the plums.

The plum tree is going wild.  It is only four years old and is producing nicely!

Did You Know?   The chalky covering on a plum is called bloom or wax bloom.

What it is: It’s a naturally occurring epicuticular wax coating, produced by the plant itself.
It’s a waxy, silvery-white substance that gives the plum a slightly dusty or glaucous appearance.

Its purpose is to act as a natural defense mechanism against insects and bacteria.
It helps the fruit retain moisture, preventing it from drying out.

Important note: Bloom is safe to eat.

It’s generally recommended to wash plums before eating them to remove any dirt or potential residues, even though the bloom itself is harmless.

The Santa Rosa plums are tart, just the way I like them!

Mary pointed out the apple tree, which is also producing a lot of fruit for being only three years old.

I see an apple-based dessert coming soon!

After the walk in the garden, we crashed relatively early, around 9:00 pm, after our nightly glass of wine!

To me, “drink responsibly” means don’t spill it.

Mary was in bed, and I was using the nebulizer in the office.   I turned off her reading light, and she left me with a thought for the evening.

My Dr. Mary!

The lights went out at 10:30 p.m. after Scout had finished his evening walk around the garden.  He keeps the elephants away, and so far, he’s doing a great job!

Age 80 might be the new 60, but 9:00 pm is the new midnight!!

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Working In The Garden; An Excellent Sunday Activity!

What a glorious day to awake and head for the garden with the love of your life and do battle with bugs, weeds, and varmints!  We took our coffee with us and began bright and early at 7:00 am.

First things first, we placed some of the Independence Day bunting onto our front yard fence.  All we have to do is the garage tomorrow, and the decorating for the 4th will be complete!

Bunting, in the context of decoration, refers to fabric or other materials used to create festive displays, such as flags or streamers.

On the way to the vegetable garden, I overheard Mary saying to herself…

We spent a couple of hours planting the new veggies and did a pretty good job.  Then thunder hunger struck.  Yes, it was time to tackle the two-and-a-half-pound Porterhouse.

Bringing it from the fridge using a small hand truck, I powdered its behind with a dose of salt and pepper and waited for it to come to room temperature.  Using a nice bath towel, I gave it a rub-down and then applied a little more salt and pepper!

Into the very hot pan with olive oil it went!  Poor Domilita, she will have to clean the stove on Wednesday!

The steak sizzled under the 450-degree pan for about four minutes per side.  On the second side, I added two tablespoons of butter, making basting the steak easy!

Please listen below while the steak cooks!  We had smoke in the house, so we turned on the whole-house fan, and the smoke cleared up within seconds.  The roar in the background is our stove fan running at full speed!

The crust was perfectly done before I sent the steak to the preheated oven at 450 degrees for seven minutes to finish it off.  Today I remembered that the pan, after being in the oven for seven minutes, was hot.  The hot pads were ready.

At an internal temperature of 130 degrees, the steak came out and rested.  (I didn’t know they got tired!)

While I was slaving away over the hot stove, Mary was making a salad, lemonade for me, and corn on the cob directly from our garden!  It was a feast!!

Mary had the small piece of filet mignon, and I had the New York Strip.  The steak was so big that we both cut ours in half and saved it for later.

After brunch,  we decided it was too hot to work, so we watched a movie.  I did sneak out and give the veggies a drink because the temperature was going to be over 80 degrees.  The veggies were talkative today!

Later on in the afternoon, when the sun had begun to wane, we again returned to the garden and continued our work!  I had a morning sweatshirt on, and my lovely wife brought me a t-shirt instead.   She may have had a message.

Scout was smart and stayed on the patio!

We have had varmints, and based upon the new plants we got, they would be a prime target for a midnight raid.  But I remembered I had a 100-foot roll of chicken wire hidden in the forest at the end of our lot.  It was two feet tall and easy to work with.  With the skill of a barrier craftsman, the chicken wire went up, and the varmints will go hungry!

Get through this, you pesky varmints!

We installed three barriers where the climbing vegetables were planted.  The animals seem to like the climbing plants.   The beans and peas now have a chance to produce.

The barriers were up, and it was 6:30 pm, time to hit the spa!

We finished a movie before heading into the swim spa to relieve our tired and sore muscles.  I was stretched to the limit because my Santa Rosa plum tree is now in full bloom, and the fruit is ripening nicely.  I wanted to get my plums before the darned birds, so I reached high into the tree and got some beautiful plums.

Santa Rosa plums are a popular Japanese plum variety developed by Luther Burbank in Santa Rosa, California, in 1906.  They are known for their sweet, juicy, and slightly tart flavor, as well as their dark red skin and yellow flesh with red streaks.  These plums are a favorite for fresh eating, cooking, and making jams.

After the three cycles in the spa, we were like two wet noodles, so we returned to the TV room and watched an old movie before going to bed.

Scout got his dinner with sliced turkey and steak.  He wolfed dinner down in two bites.

At 11:00 pm, we finally went to bed.  While Mary read, I went to the office and took the medical inhalation treatment.

Posted in Cooking, Fun, Just Us, Vegetable Garden | Comments Off on Working In The Garden; An Excellent Sunday Activity!

Birthday, Graduation, Wedding; We have A Busy Day!

Perhaps that was an overstatement; I planned to take over our block, but even that seemed too much.  I settled for taking over our kitchen and making a cup of coffee while doing it!

We enjoyed our coffee while sitting on the patio, as it was another exquisite day here in paradise.

Since we were going to see Michele, it occurred to us that she might need some fresh veggies, so we went harvesting.    I need to remind Mary not to wear her leopard jammies while harvesting, because someone might mistake her for a wild animal and take a potshot at her.

Mary gets the “perfect” corn for Michele!

We returned to the patio, and it was time for Scout to eat and take his medication.  Mary had a slice of cheese and carefully hid the pills inside; Scout took it like a champ!  Then we saw the advertisement in the paper, so we are awaiting a phone call from his lawyer.

We got cleaned up and headed toward Huntiongtonn Beach for a combo birthday and graduation party at Michele’s.   Michele is now ## years old, and Theo is off to the University of California, Davis.  Before he goes, he needs to have his cap put on his head correctly.  So, unwitting suspects were rounded up and given a blindfold, spun around three times, and handed a cap complete with double-sided scotch tape.   Where the cap ends up is anybody’s guess.

Looks just like him; they gave up the idea of using darts!

Mary was selected, and off she went.

She made sure the tape was sticky!

Mary did not quite make the target, and many people will wonder why the eye doctor was unable to see through the blindfold.

Looking good!

We visited everyone for an hour and fifteen minutes, but had to depart for the wedding, which was in Corona Del Mar.   Robin stayed behind and kept visiting everyone.  Bob was in New Mexico playing a gig near Las Cruces.

Just before we departed, a Monarch butterfly came to visit its Milkweed plant.

Did You Know?   Milkweed, known for its milky sap, is a vital plant for monarch butterflies as it’s the only food source for their caterpillars.  While toxic to many animals due to its sap containing cardiac glycosides, Monarchs have evolved to tolerate and even store these toxins, becoming unpalatable to predators.  Milkweed also provides nectar for various pollinators, and its floss was used to stuff life jackets during World War II.

He was as happy as a seagull with a French fry!

Now we zoom in on the Corona Del Mar Community Church for the wedding of Sandra and Bill.  We parked at Sherman Gardens and walked the two blocks to the venue, where we met up with Bob, Donna, Vicky, and Jim.

We did not take pictures during the ceremony (only the photographer took pictures, by request).  The camera resumed operation as soon as we arrived at the reception.

Wow!!!

Sandy looked beguiling at the reception.  I took it upon myself to see that she got appetizers and a drink as soon as she arrived.  That meant I had to carry the bridal bouquet and the gift for the pastor around after her while she visited everyone.

They are off to show their dancing skills!

They entered the Crystal Ballroom to a rousing cheer!  They danced to “Beyond The Sea” by Bobby Darin.

Bobby Darin, born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, songwriter, and actor with a successful career spanning various genres.  He was known for hits like “Mack the Knife” and “Beyond the Sea.” A childhood bout with rheumatic fever left him with a weakened heart, which eventually led to his death at the age of 37 following open-heart surgery.

 

We enjoyed watching them go through their routine and were happy to be a small part of the preparations!

Someone is a happy girl!

We wish Sandy and Bill the same happiness that we have!  We are fortunate!

Just us!!

Vicky and Jim are always fun to be around.

Vicky and I have been friends for almost 40 years!

What is this fine lady whispering in my ear?   I can’t tell you, but I did have an urge to hurry home.

“Really???????”

We departed for home around 9:30 p.m. after performing a couple of dances and leading the Hokey-Pokey dance.  It was surprising that we filled the dance floor with the Hokey-Pokey, but we did.

We drove home, and I thought to myself, I was glad Mary was with me!

We hit the sack and fell off into a deep sleep immediately.

Posted in Dining Out, Family, Food and Wine, Friends, Fun | Comments Off on Birthday, Graduation, Wedding; We have A Busy Day!