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.