Catch Up Time

Boy, does work take up a lot of time! And it’s not like I don’t have time off, I do, but I tend to collapse in a heap when it’s all said and done.
So, to catch you up... These are actually from Mary’s (my MIL) birthday in February! I decided to mix the colors up in the vase, and I like the way it looked.

I collect (well, I have three so far) German weather houses. My grandmother had one, which I now have, and I’ve added two more. They just make me think of her and her house and all the warmth that it held. This I bought from a great shop on Etsy called Becaruns. Great prices and a fun selection.  And look how cute this was packaged? Kate thinks so, too.

And here’s the new little house, unwrapped:

My friend Sheri makes Clafoutis all the time. I finally tried one, and it came out pretty good! Not like hers (she’s a great baker!), but okay. I’ll keep trying… This was Julia Child’s recipe – easy, all ingredients go into the blender.

And, now pics of the fur children. How else to end this update, right?
Saylor says, “Is it dinner time?”

And here’s little Tonya Harding, as we like to call her because of the way she dive-bombs poor, sweet Kate. Even though it wasn’t actually Tonya wielding the police baton that hit poor Nancy Kerrigan, it’s the thought that counts! She hired the hit. For this picture, we say: Cat or Otter? We are not sure.

Personally, and it’s not like I’m biased or anything, but I think the caption for Kate’s picture should read: If I were any cuter, they’d have to arrest me. (Said the ridiculously proud Catmom.) Of course, she does now bear the name of royalty. Hee hee.

Sorry I’ve been away so long! Hope you all haven’t forgotten me!
, Robin

Chip In, No?

So, apparently back in the old days, when the Italian fishermen would come in from their day of work on the water, they'd all sit around by the docks, hungry, and decide to put together a little of this and a little of that from their nets to make a big pot of Cioppino! Only my belle mere would know this story, and she told us a few weeks ago when we made this very dish in honor of her birthday. I had 11 around the long table - no easy task in our small dining room. We were stretched almost to the kitchen!

And even Wikipedia corroborates the story: the name derived from the heavily Italian-accented cry of the wharf cooks for the fishermen to "chip in" some of their catch to the collective soup pot.

Below, our nephew Casey, stirs our day's catch. The green sprig in the background is from fennel bulbs which were diced and sauteed with shallots and onions to make the base. It turned out great...recipe here.

It's A Parade, and It's For Sherri's Birthday!!!

Is that special day here? Why, yes, I think it is! That is, if you're reading this on March 4th! It's Sherri's birthday!!

Who's that I see coming down the lane? Who could it be? Mrs. Felinski? Is that you? Well, yes, it is, and you have the whole fam damily with you today, don't you?! You must be headed over to Sherri's to say Happy Birthday!

Mrs. Felinski meowed, "Why, yes I am! I'm headed there now! And I hope she has some milk for these hungry kitties!"












Oh, and good morning to you, Mr. Pondswim! Nice tune you're playing there on your banjo. It's just the day to play Happy Birthday, because it's Sherri's birthday, donchya'know! Oh, but you knew, didn't you! I wonder what she's doing today? Seems there's quite a commotion building in honor of her day.

Answering slipperingly, he chortled, "Headed there now! Hope she has a spare fly for me to chomp!"









This is so great! All of these folks have lined up to wish Sherri a happy birthday! Even Mrs. Barksdale! My, that's some bonnet you're wearing there, Mrs. B. You're obviously in full birthday regalia!

Barking back with a snort and a growl, Mrs. Barksdale said, "Oh, I wouldn't miss Sherri's birthday for anything! I think she's the greatest!"


And, Bunny Figurine, you're here, too!?? Did you just run away from some estate sale table just to wish Sherri a Happy Birthday? Gee, your skin is radiant today, in celebration of Sherri's birthday. It's positively glass-like! Better watch out, or Sherri'll have you on her Etsy shoppe, sold, and boxed up before you can say Jack Robinson! Hee hee!














Miss Figurine glowed back, "Why thank you for that compliment on my glowing skin! I've been using that Prosacea that you lent me, and it's got my skin all squared away! Thanks for noticing! Have to hop now...headed to Sherri's so she can put me in a box and ship me off!!! I'm going to Paris!"

But, wait! Who is that coming in last! Marilyn!?? Too much! Get in here girl! Let's go get Sherri and have lunch! To be continued...at a later date!

Hiking through the Green, Green Forest

Today we went to the Bear Valley visitor's center and took one of the trails up, up, up. We hiked up the mountain 1.8 miles and at the summit we saw this. It was breathtaking. As we were hiking up, we were secluded in forest: moss covered trees, ferns everywhere, lichen, mushrooms, birds, and slugs were along the path. It was a fairly vigorous climb. Then we got to the top and it opened up. We walked out of the forest area, into a meadow, and then through some trees where we beheld this amazing vista out over tree tops all the way to the ocean. The sound of the wind and the crisp, cool air was indescribable. A few times along the path I was like, boy am I struggling, maybe we should turn back. But it was worth seeing. I've never seen anything like it. We saw this dude with his horses as we were hiking back into the forest. There were a lot of folks with horses there today. Lucky horses, huh?

And then as we were leaving, we saw some, um, visitors, outside the visitor's center. So cute! They were all nom, nom, nom on the grass.

Good Morning from Manka's

Oh, oh, oh. We're here!!! I don't know where to begin. Is it the perfect vintage logde-y interior, or the tiny library stocked with old leather-bound books? Or is it American Prayer playing on my Nano? We just had this amazing breakfast that got dropped off in this carrying case thingy that is as cool as you'd expect. Sweet french linen tablecloth to dress the breakfast nook. Homemade yogurt and granola, fresh squeezed Inverness apple juice, buns that just jumped out of the oven. And, a little surprise -- the New York Times was on top. James is outside in the Japanese soaking tub, reading the NYT (snicker). I have so many pictures to post, but couldn't find the cable in J's bag. He will find it later, and maybe tomorrow I'll post pics. What a gorgeous place this is. More to tell soon...

Birthday Goodness

Hi everyone out in blog-land. I hope this post finds you delightfully well. I am great, and even recently celebrated a birthday - on Tuesday the 28th to be precise. I got a gaggle of cards which ALWAYS makes me smile. I love seeing the mailman arrive on the days before, and on my b-day, because I usually have a card or two each day and it's so fun to open them. Here's my haul:








OK, so this next bit falls into the 'funny or sad' category. So, during my birthday shopping trip, I was walking by Godiva chocolate and saw this chocolate cat in the window. It was really cute, and it looked just like Kate. So, in I go, and buy it. Well, I sat it by the window where I had all my cards standing and it somehow melted.
















So . . . now it looks like this - kind of like it's turning it's head waaaaaaaay sideways. I cracked up when I discovered it. Because ya know? It's still tastes good. I just had a little nibble off it's melted paws. I couldn't resist posting the melty picture. It's pretty hilarious. Poor chocolate kitty!