Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
We examined Mary’s Book of Knowledge and determined that we had nothing scheduled except work around the house, mostly in the backyard. We began with a trip to our favorite store, Home Depot, where we loaded up on new storage boxes for our two potting stations in the back yard, and then we got three new Mandevilla plants. They are red, white, and pink and will grow fast, covering the patio supports.
They belong to the Apocynaceae family (which includes oleander and periwinkle) and are often called rocktrumpets.
We unloaded The Silver Fox, who was deeply offended at being treated like a pickup truck and made sure we knew it. Then we hauled everything to the backyard like two contestants on a home-improvement survival show.
We worked from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm with no breaks—unless you count the very important one-hour emergency lunch intervention when son Joe and his bride Amy came over bearing food. Naturally, all productivity stopped immediately.
We gathered around the patio table, ate, laughed, giggled, and caught up on the latest family and friend gossip—because no hard day of labor is complete without poké and vegetable sushi and a full news briefing.
Key Poké Trivia Facts Origin: It originated from Hawaiian fishermen seasoning raw, cut-off fish bits as a snack, often using seaweed (limu), soy sauce, and sea salt.
The “Fish” Types: The most traditional fish used are Ahi (yellowfin/bigeye tuna) and Aku (skipjack tuna).
Modern Twist: While traditionally just raw fish and seasonings, modern bowls frequently include toppings like sesame oil, sweet Maui onions, and avocado.
The Name: While commonly thought of as a 2010s trend, it has been a staple in Hawaii for centuries, with the name formally used for the dish since the 1960s.
Not Sushi: It is distinct from Japanese sashimi because the fish is marinated and cubed rather than sliced thin.
The rest of the day was a mix of working and relaxing. We stayed outside until dusk, sipping on wine and enjoying the backyard. We watched a little TV and then hit the sack at 10:00 pm.
