I think I will have a sandwich for lunch

Sharp cheddar cheese

Mustard

Apple

On to the hot panini grill

Press

Perfect!

Now if only I had a glass of apple cider

Thank you for the birthday greetings

Thank you family and friends.

I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of facebook greetings, emails, telephone calls, greeting cards, and gifts.

I am very touched and very grateful.

I am also overwhelmed by being 76!  I am in good health, happy, and well taken care of.

Thank you all.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

I looked out the back door and decided no walk in the garden this morning.  Sunshine will return tomorrow.

Back inside for the breakfast bowl I enjoy every morning.
Corn flakes, a few walnut pieces, a banana, handful of blueberries, and 1% milk.

I enjoyed a nice lunch with former co-worker Brenda Dinsmore.  We dined at Braza Grill where the meat was brought to the table on long skewers.  The waiter carved and served individual portions according to your wishes.  A little green card was placed on the table.  We were to told to turn it over to the red side when we wanted no more servings.  First, the waiter brought a skewer with a large piece of roast beef cooked medium rare.  A little later he brought pieces of chicken wrapped in bacon, followed by Brazilian and Italian sausages, roast pork, and then more roast beef.  We never turned over the card but the skewers tapered off.

A steam table off to the side of the dining room contained a dozen or so side dishes.  A couple of rice dishes, green salads, carrot salad, fruit salad, okra, and some dishes I did not recognize.

A lot of fun and very tasty.

I had my camera with me but no memory card so no pictures.


The light rain lasted all day.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The day begins cool and wet with light rain, 61 degrees, and 94% humidity.  Yesterday I moved this planter of bright yellow marigolds to just outside my living room window.  It looks very nice as seen through my blue glass connection.

An early walk in the garden reveals a dead leaf strewn path, a harbinger of the coming fall season.

The pond is close to overflowing due to a couple days of light rain.

This beaten down rose bud looks so forlorn but it is still beautiful.

Back inside for 20 minutes and 3.6 miles on my exercycle and then breakfast.

I have finished reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and her niece Annie Barrows, published by Dial Press.

I had idly picked up this book from a table at the bookstore and being a little put off by the title, put it back.  A woman standing next to me said, "Oh no, you should read it.  It is very good.

Mary Ann Shaffer was an editor and a librarian.  This was her first book and when the book's editor asked for some changes, Ms. Shaffer was too ill to make the substantial changes so she asked her niece Annie Barrows to finish the book.  She passed away shortly thereafter.

The novel tells of the struggles of the residents of Guernsey Island in the English Channel during the occupation by Nazi soldiers.  It sounds grim and some parts of the novel are heartbreakingly sad but it is beautifully written and it is a delight to read.

The story is told in the form of short letters to and from the characters involved.  At the very first this device seems a little odd but you quickly become hooked and look forward with anticipation to the next letter.

I highly recommend this book.

I am bored with the Republican debate so I am taking my crossword puzzle and going to bed.

Peaches

Jim and I, and Jim's friend Kenny made our annual pilgrimage to Acushnet

to get some of the best peaches in this area.

After driving for about an hour through beautiful New England countryside we arrived at Ashley's Peach Orchard.

We parked in front of what I believe were nectarine trees.

But we came here for peaches.

Here are some of the peach trees.
Farm workers brought baskets of freshly picked peaches
directly to this little farm stand.

The peaches are sorted by hand into two groups'

the best are called firsts,

the ones with blemishes are called seconds.

I purchaseds a basket of firsts

pictured at the top of this blog.

They also had freshly made peach cobblers

and blueberry cobblers.

I bought the peach cobbler.

they also had freshly picked vegetables

grown in this garden.

They also were selling these flowers from their garden.

After the tiring wait in line to buy peaches

we were hungry.

We ate at Persey's Place

home of New England's largest

breakfast and lunch menu.

I had a Portugese Scrambler,

a large plate of eggs scrambled

with cheddar cheese and chourico sausage,

served with small pot of baked beans

and grilled cornbread.

When I got home I opened the cobbler

to discover it was more like cake,

but Delicious!

I did share it with Mary and Ed at dinner tonite,

and they loved it.

A Bridal Shower for Jody

This was the intended setting for the shower.



All day Saturday we prepared the area.
Raking, cleaning the cabana, arranging tables.
The weather forecast didn't look good
but on this beautiful day we didn't quite believe.






On sunday morning this is what it was like outside.
The forecast was for scattered thunderstorms
throughout the day.




Quickly, we improvised plan B.
Everything was moved inside.

Mary took charge
and mobilized the troops!

We hung the wedding flag.



Bows were put on the front porch columns
and the blue potted orange marigolds
(the wedding color theme)
were brought from the pool area
to the front porch steps.





Inside, furniture was pushed up against the walls,
chairs were positioned in the living room,
white table cloths were put on tables,
and decorations added.

The vestibule was converted into

a repository for the bridal gifts

The kitchen staff sprung into action.

The first guests arrive

members of Ben's family from Pennsylvania.

Appetizers were served.

Mimosas!

Ben's Mother and Grandmother

sample the appetizers.

An anxious Mother of the bride-to-be.

Soon, other guests arrive,

and, of course, ignoring all the seating in the living room,

gather in the kitchen.

Outside, the weather is deteriorating

Jody's arrival

brightens up the room.

All of the guests are ushered

into the living room

for the unwrapping of gifts.

Amanda conducts a trivia game

with questions about Jody and Ben,

with multiple choice answers.

A buffet lunch is served.

and desserts

Jody

with a practice bridal bouquet.

Jody, with her bridal attendants

Amanda and Jody

Jody and Mary

Ben, Jody, and Josh.

A wonderful party

for a beautiful bride-to-be

and her family.