Wednesday Hodgepodge on a Tuesday

I won't be around Wednesday - so today is my Hodgepodge

1. Did you watch the Kentucky Derby this past weekend? 

No. 

Have you ever been to a horse race? 

Yes - When I was raising my three boys, we used to live near the Bay Meadows Race Track in San Mateo. We could hear Doc Severinsen (of Johnny Carson fame) playing the opening bugle for certain races from our house. The legendary racehorse Seabiscuit won two major races: one in 1937 and another in 1938. 

They closed and demolished the track for upscale housing, shops, and restaurants. Grrrrrrr. Many lower-income people and the elderly were tragically displaced, some ending up homeless. All for the love of gentrification. 

Ever ridden a horse? Did you enjoy it?

 Yes. I used to enjoy horseback riding. 

Have you ever been to Kentucky? 

Yes, many times. 

Do you like Bourbon? 

Absolutely Not. 

2.  What's something you wish you'd placed in a time capsule fifteen years ago? 

Before the market crash in 2008/2009  I would have placed my 50% portion of the Lockheed pension, in a time capsule. Unfortunately, many people lost their retirement savings during that time. 

3. Are you adventurous? Elaborate. 

I used to be. I took a lot of risks, and I'm not talking about vacation "adventures" but life adventures. Mind you, these were my "BC days before Christ" I am amazed that I made it out alive! God is good - I am so unapologetically grateful for His Forgiveness. 

4. Something you want to make this year? It can be a new recipe, craft, diy project, a milestone you've set for yourself...anything at all. 

I don't know yet. Whatever comes up, if I want to do it, I'll do it. 

Sunday Dinner

5. Cinco de Mayo was also celebrated this past weekend...do you like Mexican food?  

Do I like Mexican food?  Hahahahaha! 

I love Mexican food or Mexican-inspired dishes, and we eat them several times a week. We had burrito bowls for dinner on Friday night, on Sunday I made beef enchiladas and we had the leftovers last night. Today is Taco Tuesday, so I'll be making tacos.

If so, what's your favorite dish?

It's probably best if I mention the dishes that I do not like or refuse to eat...

I dislike any dish that uses tripe, such as Menudo, any dish with shellfish, and criadillas (bull testicles). Although I have never tried it, I do not want to try it. Beef tongue falls into that category as well. I must admit that I am quite picky. I do not like to eat weird cuts of meat or fish, and I also refuse to try Mexican caviar, which is made from the larvae and pupae of ants.

Have you ever been to Mexico?  

Yes, several times to Baja, if that counts. 

Margarita-yes or no? 

That would be a BIG NO. 

In my single BC days, back in the early 70's - I had a blackout experience with tequila once.  I never got drunk again or used any other substances. Even the mere smell of tequila, to this day, makes me nauseous. My husband likes Margaritas when we eat at a Mexican place - 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

A winter-like storm blew through here this past weekend, bringing snow and rain to higher elevations. I'm glad it has passed, and warmer days are ahead. 

Friday evening, we enjoyed the concert performances of the students from Jessup University - giving me hope that not all of that generation is lost. 

Around here, these are known as Indian Hawthorne - They are a shrub. The only thing I don't like about them is when the flowers die off, its practically impossible to pick off all the spent blossoms - leaving behind a lot of dead flowers. 

 Well, that's it for me this Tuesday and for tomorrow. See you on Thursday! 

Debby

House For Sale.

In 1938, the lead role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz was given to a 16-year-old Judy Garland, which catapulted her to stardom. When she wasn't filming this famous musical fantasy, she was residing in her newly-built home in Bel Air, California. Judy and her mother had hired architect Wallace Neff to construct the traditional-style East Coast house, which was put up for sale earlier this week for around $11.5 million, marking the first time in 12 years that the property has been on the market.

Drive through the gated circle over the creek to a world of refined elegance.

1231 Stone Canyon Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90077

5 bedrooms 7 Baths 5513 sq ft

Only a mere $74,964 monthly payment 

(does not include taxes or insurance) 

The two-story residence is spread across 5,500 square feet and features five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The listing showcases old photos of Judy Garland who lived there along with recent images that highlight the same built-ins and windows. The house sits on a 2.66-acre plot, which is surrounded by well-manicured hedges. The property also includes a kidney-shaped swimming pool and a writer's studio that has a wood-burning fireplace, which is original to the property.

Looks like her friend, Micky Rooney was invited to the family Christmas. 

Custom Seagrass rugs line the enriched hardwood floors, complemented by monochromatic molded walls between storybook windows to create a harmonious living space.

The immaculately maintained grounds are equally impressive, featuring a brick-lined patio perfect for entertaining, a sprawling grassy lawn, a vine-covered staircase leading to the second tier, a luxurious in-ground kidney-shaped pool complete with a diving board, and a pool house.

The original writer's cottage at the top of the property has been fully restored, creating an ideal setting to work from home.

Heck, I could be happy in the little writer's cottage!

This property presents a rare opportunity to reside in a piece of history, where traditional charm blends seamlessly with unparalleled design in one of Bel Air's most highly sought-after locations.

I believe that is her first husband.

Street View

For More Photos

Any Takers? 

This and That with a side of Tid Bits

Source: Friends of the Redding Eagles

They're calling them E1 and E2 for now.  There was a city-wide Eagle naming contest, and their new names have not been revealed yet. 

They are so cute - 

I love this color - I decided to go out and take some pictures of the flowers because tomorrow we're expecting a winter-like storm with snow at an altitude of 3500 feet and above. After the heavy rain and wind, the flowers may not look the same as it does now. But that's spring for you, with its ups and downs.

My dad loved red geraniums - This is for him. His birthday is May 11. 

 

I am grateful that I have a video that I made in mid-May last year. We had scheduled a helicopter ride over the Trinity Mountains, but it was canceled due to rain and snow. Some people may think that this kind of weather is unusual for this time of year, but it is not uncommon.  It has happened before and this is the second year without a drought. People who grew up during the drought may not know what is normal anymore when it comes to rainfall activity in this area. 

The red roses are coming in...

It has been forecasted that the temperatures will decrease by 25-30 degrees in a single day. Therefore, we are expecting some cold weather on Saturday, and a few days later, the temperatures will rise again to the high 80's-90's. It is possible that this might be the last storm till the hot weather sets in. 

There is the beginning of an infestation of aphids. Grrr, I can't stand bugs that ruin my pretty roses.  We typically use Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle to eliminate them.

The Lavender is starting to bud - 

The yellow Iris with a Dusty Miller in the background. 

We're giving in to temptation and heading to our favorite Taqueria tonight for dinner, so I don't have to clean up after dinner before we go out. Jessup University is a Christian college that our church supports financially, and once a year they visit from Sacramento to perform. It's a great opportunity to enjoy an evening out while appreciating the exceptional young talent they showcase.

Tid Bits

• Did my grocery shopping with my son this morning. I am really enjoying this time with him plus there is an upside - he bags my groceries, and puts them in the trunk for me. I'm getting spoiled. 

• My Thursday Job bible study is wrapping up - we have about 2-3 more studies. 

• Wednesday at BSF is optional - its a share day. I plan to go to hear the testimonies of how the book of John touched them. 

• I ordered another research book that goes into detail about my dad's family and area of Scott County, Tennessee. It's called Scott County and it's Mountain Folk. It was written in the 1950's and since there is not a lot of demand for a genealogical resource book, I had to order it from the publisher, through AbeBooks. It has a leather cover and will be here by the end of June. (Publisher in India) . 

• I made my eggplant parmesan on Wednesday evening. Oh my - it is the best ever. The recipe was given to my mom years ago by my friends Italian Nonna. Real simple ingredients - extra virgin olive oil (single sourced) nice firm eggplant, marinara sauce (you're favorite) and a lot of freshly grated parmesan cheese. No egg - No break crumbs! 

• The Saturday before Mothers Day Navy invited us over to his house for a BBQ - He's having Tri-Tip. That will be nice. They have been so busy - we haven't spent any time with them since Christmas and they live 6 miles away! We talk on the phone and text but we're overdue. Sara works at the hospital 3 days a week and then the other 2 days, she works from her house and I don't know exactly what she does but her and another nurse, go to Care Facilities and teach at workshops to the Nurses, CNA's and NP's. She enjoys it but they were down a person - out on maternity and Sara just picked up all the hours. Nurses work tirelessly, dedicating their time and effort to care for others. Sadly, they are not always appreciated as much as they should be.

• Lastly, Foodie will be once again, serve as Union shop-steward at his Care Facility. I have to hand it to him. It's a position that is always contentious. It can be stressful and this will be his 3rd time in this position, negotiating a union contact - his duties are part of a balancing act between the wishes of the management and fellow employees. People get mad - from both sides at him and he always takes it in stride. 

I guess that about concludes this Friday's post. I hope you all have a refreshing weekend doing whatever you want! Stay safe - Until next time...

Debby

 

Eggplant and Plums on Hodgepodge

 

1. Mayday! Mayday!...when was the last time (or a recent time) you literally or figuratively needed to call for help? Elaborate. 

The only thing that jumps out at me is last August, my family and I went on a dinner cruise on Lake Shasta. It was a scorching hot day, with temperatures reaching 111 degrees. When I got off the boat and started hiking up the hill, my legs felt weak, and then I finally passed out.  I didn't have a chance to call for help; fortunately, my daughter-in-law, who is a nurse, quickly realized the severity of the situation. I was cold and clammy, had a fever, and was disoriented - had rapid shallow breathing. My BP, which always is low, dropped dangerously low.   Paramedics arrived promptly and rushed me to the hospital.

It was determined I was dehydrated and had heat exhaustion - 

As our Hot, Dry summer approaches, I will be mindful of the heat - I'm 70 now, and I just can't the extreme heat like I used to.  

 

 2. May Day...when was the last time you danced? 

When I hear music I like,  I dance

 or groove to the music while grocery shopping. 

Do you have a lot of baskets? What's something you keep in a basket? 

About five years ago, I got rid of all my baskets - well most of them. I just got tired of them. Now I miss them. I have a few...and plan to get some more. I'll look at thrift stores.

I don't keep anything specific in them. Small baskets by the door hold keys.  

What's your favorite purple flower? 

Lavender. 

I have some purple Irises.

 Wild Hyacinths

 Fuchsias...

Oh, heck, I like them all. 

 

3. What's something you may do this month? 

Go to my son and his wife's house for dinner. Maybe this weekend. 

We're attending a musical concert at our church put on by Jessup University. They come every year and they put on an excellent performance. 

 

4. Do you like eggplant? Quick topic changes lol? If you said yes in answer to the eggplant question how do you like yours prepared? Of the following purple foods, which one is your favorite...plums, purple carrots, purple asparagus, eggplant, acai berries, blackberries, purple cauliflower, elderberries, purple potatoes, or passion fruit? 

I love eggplant! I have 2 of them in my crisper and will be making my favorite, Eggplant Parmesan. 

 Santa Rosa Plums are my favorite. The others on the list above are fine—I'll eat them. 

Luther Burbank was a plant breeder who was responsible for over 800 varieties of fruits and vegetables. One of his crowning achievements was the Santa Rosa Plum developed in 1906. They used to account for more than a third of production in California's plum harvest. You can only find them at Farmers Markets now. They are soft and fragrant - rich and tangy. 

5. The calendar turns on Hodgepodge Day...

"Then you have to remember to be thankful; but in May one simply can't help being thankful that they are alive, if for nothing else."-L.M. Montgomery

Tell us one thing you're thankful for today. 

Since I am just finishing up the Book of John bible study, I am thankful that I found Jesus almost 40 years ago - after a rocky 30 years before. I was the last person who would have ever believed - yet I did when it was presented to me by a gal who was similar to me - She was a new Christian - at only 6 mos. She presented it to me just one time.  She came from a rough background - we had similar experiences. In those 30 years, others tried to reach me - but I never related to them.  We didn't share the same experiences or struggles. 

She told me to read the book of John. It brought me to my knees and opened my eyes! 

So yeah, I'm thankful today and every day that God put that very special person in my life at just the right time for me. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

One of my favorite childhood memories growing up in San Francisco was the Maypole Dance on May 1.  Grattan, the school I attended, organized a Maypole dance every year where I would wear my prettiest spring dress and flowers from the garden in my hair. Then my folks sold out, and we moved 20 miles down the coast to Pacifica - and they didn't do Maypole dances. I remember the girls would fret over having to hold hands with a boy - and, of course, the boys acted like they were being tortured because they had to hold hands with a girl. Some of them would spit on their hands - Goofy boys! 

Thanks for stopping by - and if this looks like fun to you - why not join in? 

Answer on your own blog, then hop over to Janice's blog to get the link to the party. 

Until next time,

Debby