{"id":45739,"date":"2020-05-25T09:18:20","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T16:18:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=45739"},"modified":"2020-05-26T09:12:59","modified_gmt":"2020-05-26T16:12:59","slug":"memorial-day-a-time-to-remember","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=45739","title":{"rendered":"Memorial Day, A Time To Remember!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cThose we love don\u2019t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear.\u201d \u2013 Anonymous<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

We traveled and saw the world, this picture below is from our twenty-two-day cruise from LA to Hawaii and on to Midway (which is one of the Hawaiian islands!) and back.\u00a0 We walked the entire island and thought about how it must have felt to be so isolated with the Japanese Navy capable of attacking anytime.\u00a0 They were very brave men who fought for us so many years ago and kept the island in American hands thus enabling the Battle Of Midway to be the turning point in the war.<\/p>\n

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Wall-to-wall birds, Laysan Albatross, and they were untouchable!<\/p><\/div>\n

Sue was eager to explore the island so off we went, as fast as her little feet would carry her.\u00a0 We had a wonderful experience on that voyage and still talk to people we met there over a decade ago.\u00a0 I miss her little smile and “let’s go get ’em” attitude.\u00a0 I love you Sue!<\/p>\n

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We did a lot of remembering on that visit!<\/p><\/div>\n

Did you Know? <\/b>Midway is roughly equidistant between North America and Asia. Midway Atoll is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States. Midway continues to be the only island in the Hawaiian archipelago that is not part of the state of Hawaii.<\/p>\n

The Japanese used many unique identifiers throughout the war, but in early 1942 they had no idea that the Americans had broken their top secret code. The only problem the Americans had was that they had no idea what AF meant. They knew it was a location, but where? In order to find out, the commander on Midway Island was told to send a message that their Water Purification plant was not working. Within days, Japaneses coded messages started to state the AF was getting thirsty. By May the Americans knew AF was Midway Island.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sue made me biscuits and gravy, vegetarian style, several times and they were excellent but today I made them using Jimmy Dean Hot Spicy Sausage.\u00a0 As I was frying up the pork sausage, it looked a tad dry so I decided to add in a teaspoon of bacon grease before adding the flour.\u00a0 It was a good call as the flour was all used up and there was still a little moisture remaining.\u00a0 I added two cups of regular milk and a lot of pepper.\u00a0 Now it was time to stir and get all the goodies off the bottom of the frying pan!<\/p>\n

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It’s almost like I can cook, next time I am going to sift the flour.<\/p><\/div>\n

I had the biscuits baking in the oven below and I timed it just right, biscuits out and in the plate when the gravy was ready! There was some gravy remaining so it in the refrigerator awaiting another morning where it will join some freshly baked biscuits!<\/p>\n

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The biscuits were perfect and made more perfect with the addition of the gravy.<\/p><\/div>\n

I sat down, took my time, and enjoyed the meal!\u00a0 I love cooking! This morning was not exactly a healthy Mel but what the hay?\u00a0 Once in awhile I must do what I must do!<\/p>\n

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Cranberry juice and B&G, a wonderful way to start the day!<\/p><\/div>\n

After breakfast, I did a stint in the garden watering everything and picking some blackberries as dessert.\u00a0 While I was out there I used my sprayer and gave the plants a little boost with Miracle Grow.\u00a0 It looks like the tomatoes are getting ready to start turning which means I will be outside every morning picking and grinning.<\/p>\n

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So good and an excellent side for almost any meal!<\/p><\/div>\n

My son, Joe, and grandson, Charlie, dropped by and delivered a TV for my office.\u00a0 Now, I can watch TV and use the computer at the same time!.\u00a0 We talked for a while and I showed them my bathroom remodel project as it was just getting underway.\u00a0 Charlie likes the blackberries I have in the backyard.\u00a0 He went picking and I only heard one “Ouch!”, now he knows about berry stickers.<\/p>\n

I decided to park the carcass in the front patio and have a glass of wine before Bob and Robin arrive.\u00a0 When they showed up, I was konked-out, perhaps getting my beauty-sleep?\u00a0 I needed the rest I guess!<\/p>\n

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Enjoying the patio before the kids arrive. 73 degrees, just right!<\/p><\/div>\n

When Robin and Bob arrived, they announced the Gourmet Pie Company is open for business, across from Costco on Katella.\u00a0 We went before anyone else found out.\u00a0 Success, we walked right in, which was amazing, because normally, the line to get in is a mile long!<\/p>\n

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What is this? A menu? What do you do with it? I am so confused!<\/p><\/div>\n

I could not understand our waitress as she was wearing a mask so I ordered a glass of water with one, and only one, ice-cube in it, guess what I got?\u00a0 One glass of water with one ice-cube.\u00a0 She was wonderful! I did not recognize her but I was sure I knew her, she had worked there for ten years.<\/p>\n

Ordering was easy, I did “The Chili Size” which is “Uncle Joe\u2019s Famous Chili\u201d smothering an open-faced burger and covered with cheese and onions. I ordered extra onions and onion rings ta boot!\u00a0 I got it with a garden burger to attempt to control the calories.<\/p>\n

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Did You Know?\u00a0 <\/b>What is known for sure is that the chili size was developed in Los Angeles at a place named Ptomaine Tommy\u2019s. In business from 1913 until 1958 at 2420 N. Broadway, Ptomaine Tommy\u2019s was the largest and best-known chili parlor in town. Reportedly, movie stars such as Mae West and Mary Pickford were regulars, devoted to Tommy de Forest\u2019s chili. Other newcomers like Chili John\u2019s in Burbank (established in 1946 and still in business) have sprung up since then with their own version of the chili size, but Ptomaine Tommy\u2019s was the original.<\/p>\n

Tommy de Forest, a local restauranteur, claimed the invention of the chili size in the 1920s. His specialty was hamburgers, so he looked for a way to make a different burger for his diners. As the legend has it, he had a few ladles that he used to spoon the chili into bowls. When a customer wanted straight chili, he used the large ladle and the order was served. On the hamburger, however, he used the small ladle, calling that \u201chamburger size\u201d. And finally, he came up with a variation, serving the larger amount of chili over an open-faced burger and then covered it with cheddar cheese and chopped onions. This open-faced sandwich was henceforth referred to as \u201cchili size\u201d, and sold for 20 cents as opposed to the chili burger for 15 cents. Soon, people all over Los Angeles were asking for a chili size, or sometimes ordering just the straight chili in a bowl as a \u201cbowl of size\u201d. By the time Tommy de Forest closed up his restaurant in 1958 due to financial difficulties, the chili size was a popular item all over the West Coast.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Yummy! The onions were perfect!<\/p><\/div>\n

When I was served, I forgot what I asked for and Bob gently reminded me with quick use of his index finger. As usual, I got exactly what I asked for!<\/p>\n

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I wondered what it was and Bob reminded my of what I ordered. Serves me right!<\/p><\/div>\n

Bob took most of the rings as I am watching my girlish figure.\u00a0 They make great ring toss devices.\u00a0 The people at the bar, sitting six feet apart, did not appreciate the occasional landing of the ring-toss devices on their straws.\u00a0 They are lucky that I am good at this game!<\/p>\n

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Neat, we got ringtoss toys while we waited for our food.<\/p><\/div>\n

After harassing the waitress, she asked me to put on the mask so she could avoid talking to me (good idea).\u00a0 I forgot my mask, so she assisted me with a PPE outfit. She didn’t even offer to cut air holes in the bag?\u00a0 I wonder why?<\/p>\n

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She said I should wear a mask but I forgot mine so….<\/p><\/div>\n

Robin and Bob made my day by joining me for dinner!\u00a0 We had a good time and shared our many adventures here with Sue.\u00a0 Right after Sue passed, Robin and I came here as we had been up all night in the ICU.<\/p>\n

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Fun with family<\/p><\/div>\n

We all returned home and dived into a mixer full of Strawberry margarita’s while sitting in the patio talking.\u00a0 A lovely afternoon it was.\u00a0 We called Colleen but had to call her back as she was out and about, this time at the ER with Mark who apparently had a bad reaction to something in the yard?<\/p>\n

The kids departed and I checked the house making sure all was cleaned up. I checked on the new TV and while it is working, the FireStick seems to be malfunctioning?\u00a0 It just continues to cycle over and over.\u00a0 I have another one on order as I am planning a TV in the shop so I will use it before I call Zack for help!<\/p>\n

Time for a shower and climb into bed and watched a little TV.\u00a0 Tonight I watched three episodes of Haven.\u00a0 Summary: FBI Agent Audrey Parker arrives in Haven, Maine, on what she believes is a routine assignment. But the longer she stays, the more curious she becomes — about the townspeople, who seem to be beset by a range of supernatural afflictions; about the town itself, which contains many secrets; and about her own surprising connection to this strange place.<\/p>\n