Flickr fun

Just for a bit of fun, I made a Flickr mosaic.   I typed my answers to the following questions into Flickr to see what pictures would appear.  Above are some of my favorites.   Here are the questions & my answers, starting from upper left:

1. What’s your favorite drink?   COFFEE

2. What is your favorite color?   PINK

3. What is your name?   SUSAN

4. What is your favorite type of food?   MEXICAN

5. Where is your dream vacation?   AFRICA

6. What is your hobby?   READING

7. What would you have liked to be when you grew up?   A DANCER … like a Rockette in NYC 

8. Name something you love.    THE OCEAN

9. What word best describes you now?   CONTENT

Make your own Flickr Mosaic at www.bighugelabs.com    It’s a kick

A happy birthday

The older I get the less excited I am about birthdays.  In fact I’ve begun to dread them, ignore them for the most part, and simply sweep them under a rug.  This year it seemed like we had a lot of stuff transpiring on and around my “big” day, and as it happens, people in our neighborhood decided that I got one HUGE present on the commemoration of my 54 years of life.  Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t really a birthday gift.  Here is a snap shot of “it”:

It’s our “new to us” Winnebago Journey motor home.   This thing looks huge, and it sort of is!  We hoped to find one that was 32 to 34 feet long, but ended up with this beauty which is 36.  What an adventure we had… or should I say journey … to get it home from Olympia WA.  We navigated rush hour traffic through Tacoma and Seattle… trucked on through Everett, and then up the narrow, winding roads to home – where it barely fits in our driveway.  We’re not allowed to keep it at home for more than three days (homeowners association rules), so it will be moved to it’s home away from home on Saturday.  We are planning our first outing in July – can’t wait!

One of my goals is to get our cat, Jinx acclimated to the motorhome, so he can become a real RV cat!  The previous owners had two RV cats that went along with them.  One was an indoor/outdoor cat like our Jinx, and we were told that he adapted very well to the RV lifestyle.  I’m still not convinced that Jinx will truly adapt, but we are sure going to give it a try.  Here’s a picture of Jinx getting comfortable with the new RV. 

He actually had a great time exploring every possible nook and cranny!  On the counters, the sofa, the dash, the bed, and everywhere in between.  I do worry a bit the first time he is inside and we start up the big ol’ diesel engine…. he may go WACKO!!  Again, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he will adapt to the sound of the engine, the movement, and also the fact that he will most certainly have to stay INside while we are camping.   That’s a lot for a kitty to have to learn to live with, so we shall see.

What I really got for my birthday was this gorgeous bouquet of flowers from my precious husband – the best husband on earth (well, I think so!!).  Then we went out to dinner at Anthony’s, a popular seafood restaurant here in the Northwest.  I splurged and got the fresh Alaskan King salmon, and ohhh la la, it was delish!

Having a birthday at my age has lost it’s thrill, but there’s still something to be said for just plain happiness and contentment.  I’m lucky because I’ve got them both…. and great kids and step kids, the world’s greatest husband (oops, already mentioned him), fabulous neighbors & friends, a great job….  well, you get the point.  I’m a lucky girl and I really DO know it.

Viva Las Vegas!

We just got back from a very fun 3 days in Las Vegas, Nevada!  Ok, I know it’s known as “sin city” but to be honest, we are not very “sinful” when we go there.  And just to prove “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is wrong — I’m here to actually TELL what all we did!    First off, I am a bargain hunter of the biggest kind.  I am always on the lookout for a deal, whether it be grocery shopping or travel plans.  If I find a deal, I silently scream with joy!  Our entire trip to Vegas turned out to be “a deal”.  With direct flights for only $59 each way (I love Allegiant Air!) the airfare was indeed “a deal”.  In our depressed economy, Las Vegas is hurting and if you are at all interested in going, NOW is the time.  Our beautiful hotel room (king, non-smoking) on the 24th floor was just $60 a night.  Plus, we got a $50 resort credit.  That means we ate dinner, a midnight snack, and breakfast buffet for FREE.  Oh, and a free bottle of wine with dinner came in the coupon book we got upon arriving.  The first night we had a ball, playing the penny slots, and even hit a few “big” jackpots.  Yeah, allright, to us, a “big” jackpot is $30 or so.  It was loads of fun.  The next morning we used our 2 for 1 breakfast buffet coupon, and enjoyed a very tasty and filling meal.  (I love 2 for 1 coupons!!)   After breakfast, we hopped into our rental car and headed down the strip.  We wanted to get to the HALF PRICE ticket booth and snag some cheap show tickets!  Since we have been to Las Vegas a few times in the past, we’ve seen all of the Cirque du Soliel shows (they are all fantastic, with MYSTERE being our personal favorite).  We’ve seen Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, La Reve, and who knows what else.  So this trip we had no idea what to see.  The only Cirque du Soliel production we had not seen was Criss Angel “Believe” and after reading the reviews tripadvisor.com, we decided to give it a miss.  So, what was left?? After checking out more reviews on tripadvisor, I decided to go for….. 

Yes, Donny and Marie!  Dear Hubby was not impressed with my decision, but I assured him that from what I had read, everyone really enjoys their show.  I will admit it, he was skeptical!  I think the fact that we got tickets for half-price was helpful in getting him to The Flamingo for the show.   May I mention right now that driving in Las Vegas at the moment is a total mess!!!!  Flamingo Road, Tropicana Ave, and the I-15 are all torn up and getting from here to there is truly no fun.  But we arrived in plenty of time, navigated the Flamingo’s parking garage, and settled in for the show.  It was fabulous! These folks are show-biz savvy and put on a fantastic show.  Lots of singing, dancing, costume changes, and a great band.  We both left there totally impressed.

Our hotel also has a 16 screen theater, and prior to leaving for the Donny and Marie show, we got our $3 matinee movie in, with a coupon for FREE popcorn!  We saw Angels and Demons starring Tom Hanks — thoroughly enjoyed that as well!   We soooo enjoy staying at the South Point Hotel Casino.  It’s south of “the strip” and  therefore less populated, easier to get to and from, only 3 years old, and shoot, they offer some fantastic deals!

On our last day in Las Vegas, we decided to check out the new “M Casino Hotel not far from the South Point.  I’d read, again on Tripadvisor, that it was a brand new place and should be visited.  We drove the 5 minutes or so from the South Point, to the M – just in time for lunch.  We decided to try out their buffet.  I was soooo impressed with the entire place!  Nice, clean, new, marble floors, etc etc.  We liked it so much that next time, we might actually stay there!!  The buffet was the best I have personally ever had in Las Vegas… the food actually tasted like I’d cooked it myself!  The desserts were also so delightful, and while we didn’t partake at lunch time, they offer free beer and wine with your buffet as well — unheard of in Vegas!  By the time we’d tried out a few of their penny slots, and won a bit I might add, we headed for the airport.  Time to come back to reality.  Three days in Vegas is plenty — I was ready for the peace and calm of home.  But shoot, it was fun while it lasted.  And the deals in Vegas are endless if you just look!!

A delightful week

The sun is shining, the skies are blue, and it’s been a great week here in the far northwest corner of the contiguous 48.  We were blessed not only with fabulous weather for Memorial Day weekend, but also with a visit from son #2 and dear DIL.  It was shocking to realize that they had not been over since last August!  Aren’t they a couple of cuties?  Ok, I’ll admit I’m a bit biased… maybe a LOT biased.

Anyway, it was great to have the kids here for the weekend.  We enjoyed playing Wii,  a rousing domino tournament,  a delicious barbecue, golf for the guys, a bit of ‘retail therapy’ for the girls, and neighborhood game night too!

Another fun thing was making a tart with dear DIL!   I’d purchased a tart pan last fall, thinking I’d give it a try, and had never done it.   It just sat there in the cupboard, empty and lonesome.  DIL suggested we try making a berry tart – and folks, this thing not only looked great, it tasted marvelous as well!

Last night we buzzed across the border to see granddaughter Emily in her Irish dance recital.  I love Irish music and Irish dancing, and we think Emily did a fantastic job!  Please check out the video I made on youtube. 

Today we had a deer family stroll through the front yard.  Normally I’m not a “deer lover” because they voraciously destroy my plant life.  But today, well, they were so adorable I had to snap a photo. 

This is the ultimate SURE SIGN that spring has truly arrived.  Aren’t they soooo cute?!! (until they get bigger and start eating my roses!!)

Happy Spring, and happy weekend everyone!

This and that – what’s on my mind

Plants Back in September ‘08 I did a post on “plants around the house”.  I had a “mystery plant” that bloomed and was so excited to learn that it was a Hoya (thanks Jayne and Glenda!).   Well it is blooming again and I just have to post another picture of it.  This time it’s blooming in TWO different colors! 

Maybe I am easily fascinated, but I’ll admit it, I’m simply loving this Hoya plant!!

You may also remember if you click on my previous plant post here, that I started an experiment with my African Violets.  Following the advice in my o-l-d houseplant book “Crockett’s Indoor Garden”, I took four leaf cuttings off my healthy African Violet, dipped them in rooting hormone, and inserted them at a 45 degree angle into a pot.  Then I developed a hearty dose of patience and waited.  I watered, I watched, and I waited.  I have been rewarded!!  What was once just four leaves is now an abundance of leafy green!!  When I first noticed the little “plantlets” appearing, I was so excited!  It worked!  Of course the true measure of success is if/when this little beauty actually blooms. This was my purple and white specimen, so theoretically when it blooms, it will also be of the purple/white variety.  Obviously I’ll post a photo of that “exciting” event, should it happen.

Food Yesterday in the late afternoon,  I pulled up a stool next to the stove and made (with love I may add, as it’s rather time consuming) some particularly delicious risotto.  I’ve made risotto before and liked it, but this was love at first bite!  The recipe is from the Martha Stewart “Everyday Food” magazine – back in April 2004.  Shame on me for waiting this long to try out this fantastic side dish!  It’s actually called Spring Risotto with peas and zucchini.  If you hate peas and/or zucchini, I’m sure you could substitute other green veggies.  Click here (the Martha Stewart Everyday Food website) for the full recipe. 

Start by cooking some lovely chopped zucchini in a 3 quart saucepan. When it is soft and golden, remove it and add your Arborio rice.

In risotto, Arborio rice, imported from Italy is a must. Well in my opinion, it’s a must.  It has a higher starch content and makes the creamiest risotto.  Our friend Martha Stewart says it’s possible to substitute medium grain white rice.  That would probably work too.  I get my Arborio rice from Trader Joes.  Gotta love that store … great selection of slightly unusual things at very reasonable prices. 

Now for the time consuming part.  You add the broth just one cup at a time, stirring until nearly all the liquid is absorbed.  Then, and only then can you add another cup of broth.  This part of the recipe takes approximately 30 minutes.   Ahhh, this is the “made with love” part!  Then, at the very end you’ll add the zucchini, peas, and some parmesan cheese (yum). 

Here it is, the final result…  Spring Risotto, a slice of ham, and some delicious steamed broccoli.  All I can say is that I’m so glad there’s leftover risotto for tonight!

So last night’s evening meal ends today’s tale of  “this and that”.  Has anybody else made risotto?  Propagated plants?  I’d love to hear all about it!! 

Lifelong wish fullfilled (sort of)

All of us who are over a certain age have dreams that we hope will come true.  So many of mine have, and today another “wish” was granted – sort of.   I am SO excited!  Today we managed to purchase some tickets to attend the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. Canada!!!  I have always been a sports fan, ever since I can remember, and have always wanted to attend an Olympic event.  I’ve always loved the winter Olympics best – especially the figure skating.  Oh yeah, back in 1976 I got the “Dorothy Hamill haircut” and even started going to the ice rink – just to give it a try (I was horrible, by the way).  Well, Lord willing I live long enough (February of next year), I’ll be going to see an actual Olympic event!  No, not figure skating (those tickets were totally sold out already) – instead a couple other things that we enjoy watching, Ice Hockey and Short Track Speed Skating.  I am soooooooooo thrilled!

National Day of Prayer

I believe in prayer, without a doubt.  I believe that God hears us and wants us to pray – and certainly not only on the National Day of Prayer!  I think this day may be a day that we – the praying, believing, American people of faith can focus our petitions to God for our country.   Whether or not you agree with our president’s policies, he still needs our prayer.   The people who have a say in how our laws are made and modified – need prayers for wisdom.  It’s a great opportunity for us to pray for the safety of our service men and women who make such a sacrifice for us…. to pray for the people whose lives have been upended by the current economic crisis.  It’s a good time to remember our police officers and border patrol – people who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe and orderly.   There is also much to express thanks for.  Personally, I’ll be thanking God for my country, my precious loving family, my wonderful neighbors, my home, and my job, among other things.   Prayer.  It’s a divine gift, any and every day of the year.

A bit of wine and Leonard Cohen

Last weekend was marvelous, simply marvelous!  We started out on Thursday evening at the WaMu theater in Seattle – a place we’d never been before – for a concert by the Canadian icon, Leonard Cohen.  I will admit that until I met my Brit/Canadian/now-American husband, I’d never heard of Mr. Cohen.  Since then I have learned to not only appreciate him, but to really like his poetry as well as his music.  His very distinctive low bass voice is just as great now as it was on his early recordings!  We both enjoyed the entire concert which surprisingly lasted over three hours with several encores!!  John was thrilled to hear  “Democracy” and I got to hear my personal favorite “I’m Your Man”.  It was amazing to think that Leonard Cohen is 73 years old.  The way he bounced around on the stage, you’d never, ever know it!!  Impressive!!  To read the Seattle Times review of the concert, just click here.

From Seattle, we moved on to the Spring Barrel Tasting event in the Yakima Valley.  The sun was shining brightly as we drove into town – gotta love that!  We had a great time visiting with my Dad, Brother, Son and Daughter-in-law!  On Saturday around noon we headed south into “wine country” – such a gorgeous part of our very diverse state.  Rolling hills, fruit orchards everywhere- all in bloom, and plenty of vineyards.  Following our map we traveled to six or seven delightful wineries – out of the 80 or so that are located between Yakima and the Tri-Cities.  What’s great about the annual Spring Barrel Tasting event is that as long as you bring your own wine glass, it’s essentially free!  Of course you have to pay for your gas to get there and back, but there is no charge for tasting the wines.  Well, let me amend that.  We did discover that this year in the Prosser area, they were charging at some wineries.  We skipped over those.  Maybe we will spring for the $35 pass to several wineries next year, but we didn’t this time.  The entire event was VERY well attended!  Lots of people out enjoying the sunshine and tasting some excellent wines.  Yes, we did purchase a few choice bottles!  We always do.  One of my personal favorites was the Viognier from Tucker Cellars.  It was the first time we’d bought any wine from there, and I’m pretty sure we’ll be going back.  After wine tasting, we got Chinese take-out and enjoyed that and a Mariners game on TV at my Dad’s house with all the family.   We promised everyone that we’d be back in June – hopefully to stay a bit longer this time.    We traveled the 4  hours back home on Sunday and were right back to work on Monday morning.  Whew!  Some days I think I am getting too old for this!  Instead I should be thankful that I can still “do it all”. 

Two great meals

 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to cook.  And eat – (especially my own cooking).  Part two of that equation can be a problem, but honestly I am working on portion control!  That’s exactly what I need, portion control!!    Believe it or not, I used to spend hours in the kitchen watching my mom cook and bake.  I could lean over the stove from behind and watch everything  just like a camera on the TV cooking shows.  It was there that I learned how to make gravy (among a zillion other things).  Mom was a great cook and I guess that’s where I got my knack - so to speak.   I’ve actually had a couple of my recipes published in Taste of Home magazine (years ago, before that magazine changed considerably).   I still enjoy subscribing to one “foodie” magazine, “Everyday Food” put out by the folks at Martha Stewart Living.  In addition to magazines, I also love to watch the Food Network.  I’m crazy for the Barefoot Contessa, although I don’t make too many of her recipes.  Another show I enjoy watching is “Big Daddy’s House”.  You just gotta love this guy!   He makes real food for real people.  

Just for fun, here are a couple of my recent successes.    Number one -  Roasted Vegetables (or how to use up bits of veggie in your fridge!). 

Pretty much ANY veggie will do for this recipe

Step one:Gather up any veggies you may have on hand.  I had quite a group of stuff I wanted to use up before we left on vacation about a month ago.  Carrots, celery, a zucchini, one sweet potato, an onion, some green beans, a few broccoli florets, mushrooms, and some bell peppers.   Step two: peel and cut into moderate sized chunks. 

 Since I did all the chopping in advance of dinner, I put everything into a plastic bag.   Here it is, all ready for the next step.  Step Three:  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray a baking pan with non-stick coating such as “Pam” (you don’t absolutely have to do that, but it does reduce sticking).  Put all your veggies on the pan and drizzle with olive oil, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper. 

On the pan and ready for the oven

 

Here they are, all ready for the oven.  Bake for approx 40 minutes.  It’s impossible to not like the finished product – unless you hate veggies in the first place!   

Dinner is served!

 

 I apologize that this picture is not as bright as I wanted it.  However, hopefully you can see the roasted veggies, right next to the rice pilaf and grilled flank steak.  Delightful. 

My next recent success involved fish.  Salmon to be exact.  My dear husband loves to catch them, but is simply not enthralled with eating pretty much any fish, but especially salmon.  Of course we all know that salmon is “good for you” so my mission was to find a recipe he would actually enjoy.  I have tried many different ways to prepare salmon, but honestly, this one wowed both of us!  I got this recipe after watching a recent episode of Big Daddy’s House.  Click here to get the recipe too!   In a rare move, I made “Big Daddy’s” entire menu that evening.  Blackened Salmon with Blue Cheese Sauce,  Lemon Pepper Orzo, and Spicy Swiss Chard.  We loved it all.  Every last bite!  Here is a picture of the “salmon success” I must admit that while we are definite blue cheese lovers, I happened to have some Gorgonzola on hand and used that in the sauce.  It was divine!  It is going to be hard to “top” this meal, and I probably won’t for a while.  But in the meantime, it’s time to simply figure out what’s for dinner tonight!

Our trip, part three

After visiting the fascinating Boone Hall near Charleston, we began our trek to beautiful Savannah Georgia.  We decided to let “Maggie Magellan” take us along the “back” roads instead of down the freeway this time.  I think it’s only 120 miles or so, from Charleston to Savannah (I could be wrong, but it wasn’t all that far).  After checking in to our hotel along Bay Street, we decided to get out and explore a bit.  One of the first gorgeous areas we came across was Forsyth Park. 

The fountain at Forsyth Park, Savannah

The weather in Savannah was quite pleasant, not hot, not humid, but oh so nice, compared to the winter weather we had left behind.   We wandered around the fountain, enjoying the view and the warmth.  I don’t know what the population of Savannah is, but we didn’t think it seemed like a big city.  It was perfect for a stroll around some of the city’s “squares” – of which there are 21 or 22 (not sure on that). 

A typical street in Savannah. Just lovely.

We took a trolley tour of the city, and got to see lots of great places.  Just before we left on this trip, dear hubby finished reading the true crime book entitled  ”Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” – set in Savannah.  Naturally, he wanted to see some of the spots that were pivotal in the book.  One was Mercer House.  Original home of the Mercer family – anyone heard of Johnny Mercer?  Well, I knew the name, but I didn’t realize all the great American “standards” he’d written.  More on that later.  Anyway, Mercer House is where the murder occurred in the aforementioned book.   Here is a picture of Mercer House.

Mercer House, Savannah

After our wonderful trolley tour, we returned to the hotel, slipped into our walking shoes, and meandered down to the Six Pence Pub - the starting point for our “Creepy Pub Crawl”.  Now, two things I want to make clear.  Item Number One: We got the advice to do the “creepy pub crawl” from Tripadvisor.com.  It’s a great website if you ever want to check out hotels or attractions in a city you plan to visit.  The pub crawl received rave reviews, and so, for a bit of a hoot, we decided we’d give it a try.  I guess I had no idea that we’d be wandering most of the historic district in the dark, for three full hours!  But it was great even though my feet/legs were killing me by the end.  Item Number Two: I have never, ever been a believer in ghosts or the “paranormal”.  So we were most certainly NOT out on a ghost hunt!   OK, that said…. we DID come across some very interesting “phenomena”. 

At Colonial Cemetery

Our guide told us about many “creepy” things in Savannah’s past.  As we passed Colonial Cemetery, she told us about the yellow fever epidemic in the early 1800’s and that this was where 600 unfortunate people were buried in a mass grave.  There were about 20 people on the tour, and most of us had cameras and were snapping photos.  The guide asked if any of us had captured any “orbs” in our photos.  Not having a clue what an “orb” was, I asked for a description.  She said they are small, round, usually whitish balls of ‘energy’, that can show up in photos - often associated with ghosts or spirits of the dearly departed.  Well.  To me, that is all a bunch of hooey (it’s my blog, and if I want to make up a word, I can).  Except that in some of my photos I captured orbs.  In shots taken literally seconds later, NO orbs.  In the picture above, you can clearly see at least 3 orbs.  I know.  Crazy.  But, it was fun and rather queerly fascinating!  

Kehoe House, now a 4-star Bed & Breakfast

We walked on over to Kehoe House, once the home to a  family with 10 children, then a funeral home for 65 years, then purchased in the 70’s by none other than Joe Namath (the Jets quarterback).  Joe wanted to turn the house into a disco, but the fine genteel folk of Savannah said, “we want nothing of that” and Joe was outnumbered.  He sold it and now it’s a Bed and Breakfast.  But like many old Savannah mansions, it has a haunted history also.  You can read about that here.   What I know is that after a couple of photos, I did capture a small noticeable “orb” just above the handrail on right side of the steps going up.  Wierd. 

"Creepy pub crawl" guide, Rachel

We were stopped in one of the “squares”, listening to another of Rachel’s stories and I snapped this picture.  I can see two orbs surrounding her.  One immediately to her left, and one above her head and to the right a bit.  Creepy.  We stopped at several pubs along the way… 17 Hundred90 House, WG’s, and we ended the night at the Moon River brewing company on Bay St, not too far from our hotel.  The Moon River pub is supposed to be very “haunted” – however no matter how many pictures I took there, no “orbs” showed up! 

The next day we decided to have lunch at The Pirate’s House, a VERY OLD place that literally did used to belong to Pirates.  I had a fantastic bowl of gumbo!  Since the Pirate’s House has such a flamboyant history, we decided to snap a few pictures inside.  I won’t post them all, but I will post two.  These two pictures were honestly taken within 5 -10 seconds of each other. 

Picture one, inside The Pirates House

Photo two, inside the Pirates House

Allrighty, enough about orbs.  I don’t know what they are.  I don’t know where they come from.  All I know is that sometimes they show up, and sometimes they don’t.  Really strange.

Our last stop for sightseeing in Savannah was the famous Bonaventure Cemetery.  This was another place that was mentioned in “the book”; and after reading about it, I thought that yes, it would be an interesting place to visit.  In the daytime.  It was.  I have never seen such life-like sculptures at a cemetery.  The live oak trees with all that Spanish moss hanging down just adds to the mysterious look of this place.  The azaleas were all in bloom, which added some nice color to the overcast day. 

Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah

An engraved bench near Johnny Mercer's grave

On both sides of this bench are engraved the songs that Johnny Mercer – a native son of Savannah – wrote.  His most famous is probably “Moon River”. 

Another interesting grave, "Corinne Lawton"

On the stone it says, “Corinne Elliot Lawton   Died January 24th 1877   Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way”.   Old cemeteries have always intrigued me. 

Leaving Bonaventure Cemetery

Well, it was a wonderful trip.  It was such fun to have the chance to once again, explore an area we’d never been to.  We really enjoyed the two southern cities we got to sort-of know.  We loved getting to spend time with our friends/neighbors in Florida.  It was great to have a real plate of fried green tomatoes one evening in Savannah!  And it was so wonderful to arrive home again, all safe and sound, with great memories, pictures, and tales to tell!