Dinner out - at a restaurant! 05-15-21

Dinner out this evening with  neighbors I don't know at all except for speaking when KoKo and I are walking.  They have two big dogs that KoKo is always looking for, although he generally doesn't like big dogs.  Guess these neighbors are looking for company as they invited me and another widow who also walks her little dog.  It was an interesting evening at a local restaurant that seems to be very popular - Rembrandts and is always talked up on Placentia Buzz Facebook site.   There were quite a few people in the bar, but not so many in the tent, which is very large.  

Just two tables occupied at the far end, behind me, and three tables at the other end of the tent. The two closest tables had reserved signs, but nobody showed up for those.  The towering things in the distance are space heaters.  Even inside the tent it was quite cool, but not uncomfortable.  My mask dangling beneath my chin sort of ruins the look.  I think I was more dressed up than anyone else in the place - lots of jeans, but it seems that that is almost a uniform these days.  

Perfectly cooked scallops on Parmesan mushroom risotto.  This is what most of us ordered - delicious. 

The others had seared Ahi tuna on harvest grains and veggies.  Some kind of crispy curls on the top.

Of course, dessert!  This is Creme Brule cheesecake.  It was very, very good, but I couldn't taste the creme Brule at all.

I've never seen this cute way of serving a dollop of whipped cream. 

Their "signature" dessert is called Wedding Cake which one of the ladies ordered.  It is very large - seven layers, but also cut very thin.  She said it was yummy - Oreos and caramel, I think.  They serve a different flavor each week. 

The sides of the tent are "see thru" - a fine mesh.  So, I had this view of the outside and the grey overcast we have been having this past week.  Sometimes there is afternoon sun, but not today.  

As for the pandemic...   All the servers were masked and the people I saw came in with masks on and removed them at their table.  There was a singer doing Rat Pack tunes to recorded instrumentals and he was not masked, of course.  It was nice to hear those old songs, but much too loud, I missed about half the conversation at our table.  I'd go back to eat there, but would request a table at either end of the tent, instead of in the middle.

How lovely to be taken out to dinner after all these months.  Very nice.

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Friday Feet, again. 05-14-21

For several years I took pictures of people's feet and posted them on Friday's blog.  It was fun and interesting - to me anyway.  But I don't go anywhere these days so no new feet images.  Here are a couple from the distant past.  Nice juxtaposition, I think.    

For more Friday Feet from the past check on "Friday Feet" in the right sidebar. 

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KoKo, again. 05-12-21

Here is KoKo showing off his light side.  Since the hair on his back is black most people think of him as a black dog.  But he is mostly tan.  

He likes to lay between my legs, but I put his little quilt between us so his toenails don't dig into my legs.  If I don't have the quilt (seen at upper right) on, he will wait for me to arrange it for him.  Such a considerate guy. 

 

When he assumes this position between my body and the arm of the chair he is saying he wants a belly rub.   Several times a day - I just sit down and he is ready. 

But, more often than not, he is in his cuddly bed with Froggy.   You can see some of Froggy's surgical scars.   And that poor limb that was almost torn off.  Froggy is a trooper, always ready to be mauled and repaired. 

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Books 05-11-21

It is so hard for me to give up books.  They are stacked on shelves and in the corners of almost every room in the house, except the bathrooms.  Those are reserved for magazines!  I have been saying for over a year that I will take some to the secondhand bookshop, but I just haven't done it.   Over the last few weeks I have put books in small boxes that I can actually lift and carry, and putting them in the car.  Today I had other errands and just drove to the Bookman (not far from Angel Stadium).  The very nice guys came out to the car and hauled the boxes in - they can carry two at a time, I can just manage one.  There are only 8 to 10 books in a box, but I still don't have the strength to do much carrying.   They sort through the books and put aside those they don't want and then tally up what the "keepers" are worth, adding that to my account.  I looked for a few books for the boys in the cul de sac.  I have no idea if they read them, but I like to give books for birthdays.  Maybe if the books are around the house the boys might get interested in reading them.  I also give them cash -  $1 per year.  They turn twelve and six this month so I need 18 crisp one dollar bills to include as "bookmarks".   

I am so proud of myself for getting those books out of the house.  Now to start filling more boxes and then take another drive to the Bookman.  Hurrah for me!

This bag is all the Anne Cleeves novels with Inspector Perez.  They are the basis of the television series "Shetland".  I numbered them on the bottom so that I could read them in order.  Haven't decided if I am willing to part with them yet.  I do re-read series, especially if I am struggling with bronchitis or some other affliction and have to spend a lot of time off my feet.   And this series is so very good.  

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Quilt from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 05-08-21

For quite a few years I posted a quilt from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection every Sunday.  Don't know how I got away from that and I think I will start doing it again.  So, here is the first of many.  There are now about 380 quilts in the Collection from postcard size to a few that fill a wall.  I do have my favorite artists, there are 34 Ruth B. McDowell quilts!  

"The Red Hen" Ruth B. McDowell  2010 17"W X 20"L

Commercial cotton fabrics, cotton batting, cotton thread.

Machine pieced (straight line piecing) and machine quilted. 

Ruth's method of piecing is complicated to learn, but once mastered it is a very effective way to construct a quilt.  I have taken dozens of classes from her and always hoped I could acquire the skill she has at fabric selection.  She is the very best, but I have concluded that it is an intuitive skill, not one that can be learned.  This quilt shows some of that skill.  Who else would use a plaid against a large flower and the various patterned white for the background?  And look at those outrageous feet!   You will see more of Ruth's chicken (and duck) quilts in future postings.  I find them enchanting.

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Flowers, again 05-07-21

This cactus grows on the next street close to the sidewalk and we see it almost every day when we walk.  But I hadn't noticed any buds or blooms previously.  There must be 20 or more "columns" and some have fallen over and grow almost horizontal.  The bed they are in is all yellow gazanias, rather unkept and scraggly.  I don't know if they get any water. 

 

Although the flower looks much like a Selenicereus (Queen of the night) it is not. These images were taken about 10am so it is not a night bloomer.   It might be an Echinopsis, but the ridges and spines seem too close together for that.   

You can see another bunch of the columns in the background.  

Whatever it is, it is very lovely and I hope more blossoms will appear, although I didn't see any buds growing.  However, I didn't see this until it was wide open.  

This is my reference book for this sort of plant.  Usually I can find an identity for the plants I photograph, but nit in this instance. 

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Discovered Kindle 05-06-21

Well, I've known about Kindle for years and have contemplated using it.  But I do like the feel of REAL books and don't have trouble reading them.  My hands do sometimes ache and cramp up from holding hardbacks, but generally I prefer reading paper books - hard or soft!  But recently Kindle had a "deal" online so I signed up.  And I have read five Kindle books!  I think I have all the ins and outs figured out, but sometimes I put my finger in the wrong place and have to go back to "GO".  However, they make it very easy to find my place.  I don't have a tablet so just read on my cell phone.   Not something I want to do exclusively, but maybe when traveling (which I hope to do soon) it will be handy to have the current book at my finger tips.  One funny tale on myself...   When I go to stop reading and put the phone down I keep feeling around on the table for my book mark!!  A habit of at least 70 years is hard to break.  And I do have a huge drawer of bookmarks exchanged with the Book Group for about forty years.  

One of the first books I read was Nomadland by Jessica Bruger and I enjoyed it very much.  So many of the locations are familiar from travels over the years.  I have seen many of those people who live rough on the road, but don't think it is anything I could ever do.  I tend to be a "nester" and like having my space and my collections, even if I don't maintain it as I should.   I love being on the road, but just so long and I am ready to return to my "nest".  I suppose I may watch the movie at some time, but from what I have read it is very different from the book.  

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