Food again! 01-09-21

I was talking to a friend about how much we miss going out for lunch and I mentioned some of my favorite places, generally in Orange County.  There are a number of locations for The Hat, but the one I go to occasionally is in Lake Forest, which is right off the I-5.  They are famous for their pastrami, I think it is the best I have ever had and our conversation gave me a craving for some pastrami.  That said, I don't think it was as good this time.  Yesterday when I was out for PTherapy, I drove up to Brea and waited in line (it was lunch time) for half an hour to buy a pastrami sandwich.  There is always so much meat in the sandwich that I bring it home, open it up to remove the meat, put about a third of the meat back in the roll and heat it slightly in the microwave.  I like to add just a bit of mayo, but no mustard.  Delicious.  The remainder of the meat I refrigerate and prepare it in different ways for two more meals.  Tonight with broccoli and rice.  Tomorrow night probably with the rest of an avocado that languishes in the frig.  Or maybe I will scramble some pastrami in with a couple eggs. 

Like almost everyone I talk to I am bored with my own food and want to go out and be waited on!  However, the "body count" in SCalifornia is off the charts and I want to avoid the virus.  I now know several people who have Covid and are suffering, but not hospitalized.  The prediction is that the infection rate is only going to increase.  Restaurants are not supposed to be seating people - take out only - but the outdoor seating areas in many restaurants are occupied, which is one reason the infection rate continues to climb.  I imagine I will be home alone for quite a while yet until I am eligible for the vaccine.   Hope you are all staying safe and keeping well.  

I didn't remember that there are eleven locations.  I have only been to two. 

Well wrapped in paper the server cuts it in two and wraps it even more. There are pickles. 

 

Not too fatty or too salty. 

At least two more meals.

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Stress 01-07-21

I know I am not the only one who is feeling the stress of yesterday's horrendous events in Washington, DC.  Twenty-four hours later it is still stressing me.  I feel that I am waiting for the other shoe to drop and it is not a good feeling.  But the day rolled by with KoKo walks, meals, reading, phone calls and lots of e-mails.  Several people in, or associated with, the Book Group have Covid,  Fortunately I have not been in their company for weeks.  I have a PTherapy appointment in the morning and that is also stressful.  Not just because of the exercise and massage, but because there is possible Covid exposure.  They do clean constantly and everyone keeps their mask on appropriately.  But still .... I am in there with at least a dozen other people.  Worry, worry, worry.  

Friend Carol dropped a bag of supplies on my porch this afternoon.  So, I used them for dinner.  Rather a green and white dinner, although the avocado looks rather bright gold it was really greenish.   Cooked broccoli with a sprinkle of cheese, an individual container of cottage cheese (I didn't know they made such a size), half a perfectly ripe avocado with a pinch of salt, and a glass of Lactaid milk.  It was quite a tasty meal and I will add it to my possibilities for the future.  And I think I will buy the little cottage cheese packs, I find it hard to finish a regular carton before it goes past date.  

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Wordless Wednesday 01-06-21

 

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Actually sewing again! 01-05-21

I decided that I would just pick anything to sew.  Not worry about how it might fit unto the "agenda" of what is important.  First I mended some undies, about a ten minute task.  Yes, I do mending, it is just part of my DNA I guess - I have just always done it, by hand or machine.  

Then I took off the shelf a box with small quilts I purchased at the 2015 SAQA conference in Portland, OR.  There is always a written bid auction at the conferences and I do enjoy the action at those auctions.  So, I bid all over the place and came home with a dozen 8" X 6" lovely pieces for the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.   Each one is a little jewel and came with a white mat making them about 10" X 8".  But I don't want framed pieces, so I removed the mats.  Nothing was ever said about finishing the edges of the little works of art, so some have very raggedy edges.  It has taken me all these years to find time to tidy up the edges and mostly do a tiny zigzag around each one.  Some are very nicely finished and don't require anything more.  These four are complete as is.  But all the others need a little tidying. 

"At the Market"  Terry Grant - Oregon 2015  6"W X 8"L 

Stitched from drawing placed on the reverse side.

"Roof Lines"  Geri Patterson-Kutras  - California  2015  8"W X 6"L

Fused with house edges finished using very fine machine blanket stitch. 

"Eucalyptus Leaf"  Sue Dennis - Australia  2015  6"W X 8"L

Sue intended this to be horizontal, but I much prefer it in this orientation. 

"What's Next"  Deb Cashatt - California  2015  6" X 8"

This is fabric with a button, a part from computer innards, and a painted broken arrow.  The label is the small piece on the right, but I don't know what orientation Deb intended.  I like it this way.  

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Ten years ago in the desert 01-04-21

Ten years ago I was in Lake Havasu City with Corky, the poodle I took care of.  His "parents" had a lovely home with a view over the lake and always went out for the holidays.  This time of year the sunsets are amazing, so I have a vast collection of pictures.  How can I decide which to delete?  The moon is just a tiny crescent high in the image.  The lights on the other shore are in California, not much of a settlement over there.  .  

Corky went over the Rainbow Bridge just before Thanksgiving in 2013 and soon after everyone's life changed and eventually the desert house was sold.  Partially because it is a very long five to six hour drive out there from Long Beach where the family lives.  

Most of the drive is on I-40.  Sometimes there are other cars and trains (the light streak across the middle of the image) and, of course, big rigs.  There is a line of five big trucks going around the left curve ahead.

But usually there is not a lot of traffic and the barren desert stretches out on all sides.  Not a route to take without A/C in your vehicle.  I remember driving it in a VW Beetle with all the windows rolled down, gallons of water to drink, and wet towels to drape over our heads and necks.  That must have been about 1965.  Such a trip would surely kill me now!  I luxuriate in A/C, Cruise Control, and recorded books.  But now with Covid I am not going anywhere.  There is a huge surge of the virus in SCalifornia so I am really sticking close to home.  Wish I knew when I could be on the road again!  

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Another day in isolation! 01-03-21

The longer I am in isolation the less I seem to be able to accomplish.  Today we did our two walks around the loop, ate, read, napped, played toss Froggy, did a few little household jobs, dismantled the Christmas wreath, trolled Facebook, read and answered a few e-mails.  Didn't talk to anyone and only saw three people on both of our walks.  Is that a dull day, or what?  I must do better.  Make a list and stick to it.  

I had an e-mail from Suzanne at Empty Spools Seminars.  Looks like I might miss another year - after going every year since 1991.  They have had to cancel the first two sessions, so no class with Sue Benner.  I'll check to see where else she might be teaching later in 2021.  But I moved my reservation to Session V in April for the Independent Study.  I have taken that before, just taking a project from home and working on it all week.  As I recall I didn't finish it there, but that is my SOP anyway. Unless the vaccination program gets going there may not be any Empty Spools Sessions at all this year.  Here is a picture of one of the housing buildings at Asilomar taken maybe 15 years ago.  The blue flowers are ceonothus bushes, native to California, but I doubt these were natives.  Lots of deer all over the campus and the surrounding town of Pacific Grove.  

Asilomar is part of the California State Parks system, so when everything is locked down the entire campus is closed.  When I was up there last April to pick up quilts at Back Porch I thought I would just drive through, but the gates were chained closed.  Hope I do get to visit again one day, it is one of my most favorite places, I suppose because it hold so many happy and satisfying memories. 

Those of you who have been to Back Porch Fabrics may remember Dorothy, mother of Gail Abeloe who owns the shop.  Dorothy died recently at an advanced age.  I don't think she had Covid-19.  She was such a gracious, lovely lady, as is her daughter Gail.  

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