Miscellaneous and a CAR! 03-15-22

 A busy day.  As usual I have procrastinated and am no where close to leaving on Saturday for Empty Spools.  But I have two ladies riding with me, so I better get ready, huh?  Saw the periodontist and he says my gum surgery is looking good, so he removed the stitches.  Had my Lexus serviced and they did a "trip check" - Castner's Auto is so good to me.  Attended the Surfside QGuild Board meeting on ZOOM for an hour.  Finally figured out, with the help of my friend Dick Bednar, how to send a photo album to the SQG newsletter editor - or just anyone, for that matter.  Walked, fed, played with KoKo and got his "overnight" bag ready to go with him on Saturday to his keeper.  AND I had a little nap.  Sooo much to do, but I just have to rest sometimes.  Age I guess.  

I stopped at the ATM and there was this marvelous car parked in front.  A pristine 1957 Corvette.  While I was taking pictures the owner came out.  He purchased it recently, already restored.  Made my heart go Pitter-Pat - the car, not the owner!  

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Please forgive my silence!

I haven't blogged because I don't DO anything to blog about!  KoKo and I do our half hour walk twice a day.  I sew a little, but nothing to post, mostly mending.   I have been reading the Virgil Flowers crime series by John Sandford on Kindle.  The books can be a little raw and the language is bad, but I find the story line captures my attention.  I don't enloy Kindle as much as a real printed-on-paper book, but since I am not going out much I don't have access to actual books.  Guess Kindle is a blessing during isolation, huh?  I made sure my phone had a good charge on Friday because SCalifornia Edison shut off power in our neighborhood from 9am to 6pm.  Good, thoughtful friends Carol and Dick invited us over for a lovely corn chowder lunch, perfect for a cold, powerless day.  It was dark when the power came on and I was wondering if we would spend the night completely dark.  The house had not warmed up in the morning so it was cold all day and I didn't think we could survive the night without some heat.  I have a lot more sympathy for people who endure long term powerlessness.   These days there isn't a lot one can do without electricity.  Anyway, SCE replaced four power poles on Palm, the main cross street, so maybe this won't happen again for years.  

We have been sprinkled on several days the past week, but this morning it rained pretty good whilst we were on our morning walk.  We sheltered on a handy  covered porch for about 15 minutes and the rain let up to a light sprinkle.  Of course, we were damp when we got home, but it doesn't seem to bother KoKo, who gets a good toweling off and I just change my clothes.  

So, you see, I don't really have anything to write about!  I'll keep trying.

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A Birthday Day 09-01-21

Thank you all for your birthday wishes.  I was surprised by how many I had on Facebook.  The common saying "Getting old ain't easy." certainly applies, but kind words from friends all over certainly make it more pleasant.   And I did have a pleasant day.  It was quite cool this morning at 7am when we went for our walk, almost like autumn, but I keep telling myself that September is here and Septembers are usually very hot.  We'll see.  

Even before we went for our walk we took pictures of those nice boys in the cul de sac. Julian is in 2nd grade and Emmanuel is in 6th grade.  He has grown so tall over the summer, I think he must be five feet.  They both gave KoKo some loving and he was busy licking their legs.  He does like to lick people and I find it irritating most of the time.  I have not been effective in training him not to do it. 

Mid morning I went to PTherapy and felt slightly better afterward.  My Medicare coverage has run out, so I will take a break and try very hard to do the exercises every day.  And try to arrange another spinal injection.  Hope it will help. 

This gorgeous bouquet came from Carol and Dick.  The delivery driver was a little mixed up and first brought me a vase of pink roses for "your anniversary".  I said no, birthday.  Then I looked at the card and they were from Rudy, but I don't know any Rudys.  The driver took them back to the truck and returned to the shop.  Forty minutes or so later he was back with this huge vase and told me he thought they were prettier than the pink roses!  I agree.

Dick and Carol treated me to dinner at Ruth's Chris near Disneyland.  I think the last time I had a steak was two years ago when they treated me.  It is an elegant place and the service is very good. 

They do serve about the best Caesar salad I have ever eaten. 

Even though I don't drink I had a Champagne Cocktail, one of Carol's favorites.  It was very tasty and not enough to give me a headache. 

We all had the petite filet and shared sides of mushrooms, creamed spinach, and sweet potato casserole, all of which I recommend, but especially the sweet potato.  I may try to find the recipe for that.   

They serve a free dessert for birthdays - a small bread pudding which is just bread pudding.  That single candle and the chocolate writing make it festive.  But I think the chocolate writer might need to practice their penmnship.  Looks like Buterboyz!  

All together a lovely day.  Thanks to Carol and Dick and all my online friends.  

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Computer in the hospital! 03-21-21

Sorry to say my laptop died on me and is in the shop at Micro Center until (hopefully) Wednesday.  I took it to Geek Squad, but they didn't have the necessary battery, so I tried a few other places and finally drove down to Tustin to Micro Center.  I have had good luck with them before.  It was packed!  I wonder if that is due to Fry's closing.  Anyway, my friend Dick brought me a little laptop he can spare for a few days and helped me set it up.  I find that most computer stuff is beyond me these days.  Hope sending my blog this way will work.  

 I have been watching this succulent blooming in a neighbor's yard. 

 

The buds started to show color on March 2nd.

Last week the color showed more. 

Today they are brightly colored - like candleabra.

 

I have completed squaring up the 303 HST.  Now to decide what to do with them. 

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A medical event 02-12-21

On Sunday morning (02-07-21) when I got up I couldn't see out of the left side of my left eye!  And I was a little disoriented.  I've read enough about strokes to know that I must call 911.  The paramedics came and hauled me to St. Joseph's in Orange where I spent the day in the ER and the doctor convinced me I should spend the night in the hospital and not be home alone.  So, I agreed and spent a miserable night.  I haven't been admitted to a hospital in probably 40 years and I did find all the new technologies and practices very interesting.  There were both female and male nurses, all about 14 years old!   And they were in and out of my room contantly.  I felt very "observed".  The doctor's decided I had experienced a TIA, gave me prescriptions for Plavix, Lipator, and Amlodipine, and let me come home on Monday afternoon.  I am very tired, which may be from the meds, and a bit wobbly, but am otherwise feeling okay.  I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday.  And a fat file of things to read about exercise, diet, medications, etc.  I'll just keep on keeping on!

KoKo went to stay with Cherie and JIm, who are fond of him and such good caretakers, but he came home on Tuesday afternoon.  We have walked every day, twice a day, but not always all the way around the loop.   I go slowly and use my cane.  KoKo is very patient and avoids tripping me up.  On Sunday friend Dick took care of KoKo and delivered him to Cherie, along with Froggy, bed, and food.  Dick is a treasure!.  

One very nice thing that came out of this...   Before they closed the ambulance doors I looked out and could see 7 or 8 neighbors out there.  They were concerned and wanted to help.  I don't know many of their names, but see them when we are walking.  I always make a point of saying hello or waving, even if they don't acknowledge me.  And I keep doing it regardless.  Since Sunday I have met many of those I hadn't actually met before; they came to our door or stopped us to speak when we are walking.  I have some new phone numbers on my cell and know that I can call on them if I need help for anything.  I am surprised and gratified by all this neighborliness.  It is great.  

I may not blog much.  I will rest and not over do anything, so I won't have much to share. 

Be safe.  Keep well.  Love, Del and KoKo

A KoKo Night 02-04-21

Poor doggy needs more rest!  And more company.  Dick Bednar came by this evening to drop something off and KoKo just had a fit - jumping on him, barking, whirling around his legs.  Part of it was because KoKo loves guys!  But he also doesn't see a lot of people, except me.  When we are walking and some guy stops to give him a pet he is just thrilled.  I think KoKo needs a visit at a house where there is a guy he can sit on. 

How is this for relaxed?  As usual he is hanging on to Froggy. 

This time of year the only sun that shines in is in the afternoon through the window in the front hall.  KoKo usually sits on this box and looks out, but when there is a patch of sun he enjoys it.  In the foreground is the bed he would never sleep in, it is full of his unappreciated toys. 

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The Friday after Thanksgiving

Just a picture of the neighborhood showing the blue sky.  I took another one with palm trees, but it disappeared.   It was a lovely Thanksgiving dinner yesterday with friends Carol and Dick Bednar. We ordered a traditional meal from Cedar Creek Inn in Brea.  It was quite tasty and we had lots of leftovers so we could have turkey sandwiches today.  The wind was blowing up a storm yesterday afternoon and when I went to get in the car to drive home it took off my hat and rolled it down the street.  Carol got in the back seat and we drove down to where the hat was fortunately laying in the street.  Carol got out and retrieved the hat.  Thank You, Carol.  It is the orange straw that I have worn for probably 25 years; orange hats are hard to find.

I am improving very slowly.  Doing the PTherapy exercises and except for this evening, walking around the neighborhood twice a day.  I just couldn't get up the energy this afternoon/evening.  KoKo went out back while I watched for coyotes and I told him I would do better tomorrow.  

Hope your Thanksgiving Day was happy and safe.  

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Sick update 10-19-20

Yes, I did go to my new "primary" doctor and she seems pleasant and to know what she is talking about.  There is no change in my condition, but she did run over the MRI results which say I have sciatica, no surprise there, and it will eventually go away or I will need to have further treatment, such as injection(s) in my back.  If that doesn't work we talk about more serious steps, such a surgery.  All if this is what I knew already, except I didn't have the interpretation of the MRI.  I will continue to take the pain pills as needed and try to start back on PTherapy.  I'll have to find transportation because if I take the Norco I can't drive.  

I mailed my ballot today at the Post Office, so that is off my mind.  SNORT!  How could it be, with politics being pounded from every source.  Received another dozen political ads in the mail - I hope the PO gets a reasonable amount of $$$ for carrying all that trash around to our doorsteps.  

Thanks to everyone who helped me today, especially Lynne Orr who drove me around for doctor, pharmacy, PO, and all.   Carol, who is always willing to help, and Dick who made an attempt at adjusting the wheels on the walker.   And to all of you who called, texted, e-mail, or just thought good thoughts for my improvement.  

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Still dragging 10-16-20

Thank you for your comments on last evening's blog post.  It is really hard to be sick when one is alone.  Thankfully my friends from Book Group and some neighbors are nearby and willing to help me out.  I have not been able to walk without a walker and I certainly can't drive in pain and taking pain pills.  So, I have to rely on others to get me around.  Today Carol picked up some things from the market and delivered KoKo's anti-flea pill to him.  In all my confusion it is two weeks late!  Since he walks out doors along with all the other dogs he is exposed and fleas will jump onto any warm blooded critter.  Hope I got it in time.  

Carol's husband, Dick, who stayed with me in the ER the first weekend of October has himself been in the hospital with heart problems.  His five day stay ended today.  We hope the meds will keep everything going correctly.  

I have struggled to do anything but moan and groan and nap.  In all this time I have read only one book because I can't concentrate.  It was "The Concrete Blonde" by Michael Connelly, one of his Harry Bosch tales.  Not the best, but since I have read most of the series it was easier to read because the local and characters are familiar.  I'm starting on Anne Cleeve's "The Moth Catcher" from her Vera series.   I would really like to sew and thought I could quilt on a couple completed tops, but no luck with that.  SAQA is calling for fish images for the 2021 SAQA conference.  Table favors?  Small auction?  Just decorations?  Don't know.  So, I thought I could whip up a hanging fish.  Managed to cut a pattern and find some bright fabrics, but had to give up with exhaustion.  Whew!  Have no energy at all.  But if I do a little bit at a time maybe I can finish it and get it in the mail on Monday when I FINALLY go to the doctor's office and find out what the MRI had to say.   Little tiny steps.

Do comment if you are so moved.  Makes a bright spot in my dreary, half conscious day.  Facebook has some great quilty stuff, but the politics are drowning it out.  

Where is Spelling on this new Blogger?

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Friday Food 05-15-20

This was the night of the very special dinner from The Wild Artichoke restaurant in Yorba Linda. CA.  It has been a favorite for quite a few years, but a little on the pricey side.  I found out earlier this week that they were serving take out so Carol, Dick, and I found our favorites on the menu.  The Alaska Halibut I had was perfect - white, flaky, just the right amount of moisture and came with nice veggies.   Carol had the fabulous mushroom soup and a huge crab cake.  Dick ordered the meatloaf which was enough for two meals and accompanied by heirloom tomatoes with Mozzerella balls.  Everything was so good and so special.   Cheesecake with Ollalieberries was our dessert selection.  Carol and Dick shared one and I ate all of the other one.  Heaven.  The cylindrical cheesecake had the Ollalieberries in the middle and was topped with an edible pansy.  Served a cup of five layers of tissue paper it looked like an exotic flower with the pansy as the stamen. 

And doesn't it look great on Carol's special plate? The brown "leaves" are the points of the brown tissue paper layered behind the cheesecake. 

 The pansy is dusted with powdered sugar.  I didn't eat it, I learned years ago that the flowers look fabulous, but they don't really taste like anything at all. 

This has been an antidote to the Corvid for me! 

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Korean Dinner Again 09-25-17

I went with Carol and Dick to the Korean restaurant tonight.  It was packed - on a Monday night at 6pm.  I'm glad we got a table right away.  We were the only Caucasian people there. 

 

I was disappointed in my chicken, one of their special dishes,  This is what it looked like.  The chicken was about the size of a Cornish game hen and the liquid was very bland.  The round dark thing the waitress said is a date.  I haven't tried it yet. 

You can see the size of it a little better here.  It still had it's skin on.

I ate the legs and the wings and brought the rest home to "doctor" for dinner tomorrow night.   They did supply salt/pepper mix for seasoning, it is in the picture below. 

 

Here are some of the side dishes and you can see Carol's chicken dish at the top right.

In the lower right is the dish of salt/pepper for my chicken. 

 

Clockwise from top : Cabbage in "pink sauce", Kimchee, cucumbers in spicy sauce, seaweed with hot red sauce.

 

At the top is Dick's Bimimbop - rice, meat, veggies, a fried egg.

 

Carol and I were served bowls of rice to go with our main course. 

 

When they bring the bill the serve everyone a cup of cold ginger liquid.  It is sort of thick and not at all spicy.  Very good after the assorted strong tastes of the little dishes. 

Korean Dinner 07-29-17

My friend Carol is visiting in Texas so Dick is fending for himself.  Poor guy.  We decided to go out for dinner and try something new.  So we went to a local Korean restaurant Da Rae in Fullerton, just a few blocks away.  I tried Korean food some decades ago and it was okay, but didn't give me a yearning for it.  Maybe it was time to try it again.  We did our own online researches, but when it came to ordering the waitress was very helpful.  We went mostly with her suggestions.  We told her we couldn't handle spicy.

 

The main course comes with a myriad of small bowls with mysterious tidbits.  Most were pickled something.

 

The large plate contains a sort of pancake with green onions and some other ingredients, I liked it a lot.  In the bowl in front of me is tofu with a vinegary marinade.  Directly above that is a bowl with scrambled egg cooked in a flat 'pancake', rolled and sliced, that was good.  

At top are pickles with a little spicy red sauce - they tasted a lot like bread & butter pickle and were crunchy.  Below that, pieces of mung bean cake with a slightly spicy marinade - good, but hard to pick up with chopsticks. 

We each had a bowl of plain steamed rice and a bowl of clear soup with tofu.  In the middle is a bowl of some sort of fish cake sliced - just so-so.  To the right of that is sliced daikon with hot green peppers. And in the bottom corner is kimchee made with fermented cabbage.

We thought this appetizer would be crispy rice, since that was in the name, but instead it is ground rice extruded into these soft cylinders and cooked in a soy sauce flavored broth.  There is also one hard boiled egg floating there.  We could have done with about three each instead of a huge bowl of 20-25.

This is my beef main dish.  The reason it is whitish in the middle is because it was just served and the steam is rising from it.  The iron platter is VERY hot, but rests in a wooden holder.  I had to wait for it all to cool down a bit.   I took more than half of this home and had it for dinner the next night along with the rice.

The bones from Dick's short ribs are piled on one side of his platter.  And all this food is what was left when we couldn't eat any more.  We left everything except my beef and rice. Notice the steel chopsticks on the lower right side; they could be used as knitting needles.  We are more accustomed to bamboo chopsticks at the Japanese restaurants, I think they hold onto the food a little better. 

 

We will take Carol for another experiment in Korean food soon and maybe order less and share more.  

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Sushi for dinner - yummy 12-08-16

It has been a month since I ate sushi and usually I have it about once a week.  So, I was delighted when Carol and Dick wanted to have dinner at Fish in a Bottle.  It was a delicious meal and the company was great, but it was also very tiring.  Guess I'm not completely well, yet.

 

 

 

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Getting well slowly 11-04-15

A big day - appointment with doctor and out to dinner at my favorite "Fish in a Bottle" in Placentia.  I am really scrapping bottom in my freezer and will have to get to the market soon.  So, I enjoyed the sushi and the company.  I feel like I've been stranded on a deserted island!  I also had to stop at the hardware store for a new flapper for my guest toilet - it has been flushing itself for several days.  I couldn't stand to call a plumber to install a new flapper and I couldn't get the cutoff valve to move, so I suppose the next water bill will be out of sight.  Things happen!. 

KoKo needs a bath before his mommy comes home on Saturday.  May do it myself or take him to Petco, maybe.  What a sweet little guy he is.  Now, if we only spoke the same language so I would know what he wants at different times.  I will miss him.

What a boring post.  I'll get back on track soon.

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Birthday Dinner 09-01-15

I went with friends to a fabulous birthday dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House, ate until I was stuffed and still brought home bags of leftovers. 

I didn't have any leftover dessert!  Crème Brulee with fresh berries.  Yum. 

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In San Diego tonight. 08-29-15

It has been one of those weeks when anything that could go wrong, went wrong!

Yesterday the garage replaced my power steering "pump" - I think that is what he said - and finished at 4:45pm.  Too late for the driver to pick me up  and get me back to the facility by five.  So the sweet lady who" womans" the office said she would come after five when she got off work and take me back to pick up my car.   I owe her big time, but don't know how to repay her  generosity.  Thanks to her I am driving my own car instead of a rental. 

This morning I threw some shirts in the washer (a front loader) in plenty of time to have them washed and dried to bring with me on this trip.   When I went to get them out of the washer I saw that the light was off, indicating the cycles were all finished,  I just opened the door as I thought it wouldn't open if there were water inside.  I didn't look through the window to see if they were done.  Out came a tank full of water and the clothes.  The water flooded through the garage and out the door, down the driveway.  Everything was wet, including both pair of shoes - the ones I was wearing and those I was going to wear to SDiego.    What to do?  By now it was almost noon and I had no time to hunt up a laundromat.  So I called my friend Carol, who had gone off to a baby shower, but Dick was home and I asked him if I could use his laundry facilities, explaining my problem.    When I got to their house, just a few blocks away, I asked him if he knew how to do laundry and he said yes.  I asked him if he would run the clothes on the spin cycle and then dry them in the dryer and I would come back to pick them up.   I went home and finished packing and getting KoKo's things packed up.  Everything in the car, including KoKo, I went back to Dick's "Laundry Service" and he had them all ready on the hangers and he had IRONED them!  I never iron them, just pull them hot from the dryer and put them on hangers.   Is he some great guy, or what?  Another generous person to whom I owe my gratitude.   I delivered KoKo to Nancy's son in Tustin (Nancy is flying in tonight) and hit the road.  It took three hours to get to my motel, but I wasn't stressed because I knew it would be very crowded and slow going.  My average speed for the 100 miles was 35 mph.

I'm settled in and ready for the ladies in my art quilt group at 10am.  It will be a great meeting with the 61 samples in the SAQA traveling trunk to look at and whatever show & tell the members bring.  Then out to lunch at a nearby Greek restaurant and then I have the rest of the day and evening to relax.  I'll probably go look at the Visions Art Museum exhibits again.  I do enjoy seeing quilts from TCQC on display there.  Then Monday morning I will drive home and have one day of rest before I will need to gear up again.  Where did the summer go? 

When the traffic was stopped we could see 10 or so sailboats off the coast at Oceanside - they are out there somewhere on the blue Pacific. 

Further south the highway passes sand flats that to out to the ocean with long bridges for Pacific Coast Highway.  When there are high tides the water can come up in here, but I have never seen it.

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A Special Birthday Treat 09-02-14

My friends Carol and Dick Bednar decided we should go out to dinner for my birthday.  After much discussion we settled on Ruth's Chris Restaurant in Anaheim.  I had never eaten at a Ruth's Chris but Dick said I would love it.  He was right.

 

I told him to NOT tell them it was my birthday, but he didn't listen.  And I'm glad.

When we were seated, the waitress came and sprinkled a handful of confetti on the table.

An amazingly festive gesture - one I had never seen before.  It was a little celebration, but a bit of a thrill.  Just for ME?

There were "Happy Birthdays", stars, party hats, and candled cakes.  Cute.

While Carol sipped a perfect old fashioned champagne cocktail she checked the menu and ordered a steak.

Dick enjoyed a glass of champagne and also selected a steak.

While the birthday girl drank water and chose...

...the smoked salmon.  It was fabulous and so filling.

 We each chose a side - grilled tomatoes and steamed broccoli.

 

 But the best choice was the amazing sweet potato casserole.  Don't miss it - delicious.

 We passed on the standard birthday dessert and selected from the menu.  Carol had Ruth's Coffee with liqueurs and whipped cream piled on top, Dick had his favorite Crème Brulee, and I had "Duo Chocolate".  Oh, my Goodness, was it wonderful or what?

 

The little cup on the right is a cold chocolate soufflé topped with a pile of whipped cream.  On the left is a "volcano" cake served warm with a liquid chocolate center and topped with blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.  It is decorated with a vanilla cream sauce and dots of raspberry sauce.  I had to bring half of it home.

On the edge of the plate "Happy Birthday" was freshly written with dark chocolate.

 

What a special evening and wonderful dinner!  Thank you, Carol and Dick. 

We'll have to do it again next year! 

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