Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Hot tamale!

Hello, Everyone,

Well, it's hot tonight.  I feel fine, just hot.   It's a little after midnight, Wednesday morning actually, and the temp is over 80 in my house.  Humid, which is uncommon for us in San Diego.  Sticky.   Summer is finally here in force.  The pink "naked lady" lilies are blooming in the yard.  A big bunch of them on the dining room table are making the house smell good.

I had Vietnamese spring rolls for dinner at my friend Nhien's house.  I went there for a Buddhist meeting, but she asked me to join them for dinner first.   Wow!  Her home-made dipping sauce is way so much better than what they serve in restaurants!!!   I never knew what it was really supposed to taste like before!!!  Awesomne!   Hers is full of little super hot peppers and generally super yummy. 

 I'm listening to Sahbeesation, which I have not done in years.  Very interesting. . 

Boy, did I have a big benefit today.  Last week Heather and I took Nate swimming.  She was putting sun screen on my back and she noticed a couple of colorful spots and remarked that it would be wise to show them to a dermatologist.  I thought, "With no health insurance, how am I going to pay for that?"  So I'm chanting under my breath and thinking about this, but no answer was obvious.  We stopped at Sammy's for Pizza, and there, sitting in the parking lot was a "doc in an RV" from Aveena, with a dermatologist inside doing one exam after another.  Community service from Aveena.   I signed up and got the next to last appointment.  He did not like a spot on my shoulder. He thought it looked like another basal cell carcinoma, as in cancer.  And close to the other one I had removed in January which is not good if that means it spread from one spot to another.. The words  "spread" and "cancer" do not belong in the same sentence.   So on Monday I called Dr K and asked for an appointment.  He squeezed me in today before his normal start of day to do a quick biopsy. . (Wasn't that nice of him?)   He did not agree that the spot was anything much, certainly not cancer, nothing to worry about and did not do any biopsy.  No cancer!  Then he did not charge me for the visit.. (Now that was really nice of him!!!)  Thank you, Dr. K, you rock.    Dan took me to Bread and Cie to celebrate, best coffee and pastry in town. (See: http://breadandciecatering.com/default.aspx ) Dan really is a big sweetheart.  He rocks, too, you know. 

I finished a pair of socks.  For my size 14 big foot nephew. 





These are "cheaters" as the tops that show when worn are plain black, while the feet are brightly colored.  The colorway is the German flag.   Into the Christmas drawer, with you!

Last night I came up with a new way to do juzu beads.  I crocheted them.  Interesting.


More flexible than strung ones, nice to use.  I hope they last.

And now one in progress so you can see how it's done.


Neat, huh?

Lilo and I are trying our best to keep cool.  She's sprawled on the floor in front of the fan.   You keep cool, too, ok?  I can't believe we were complaining about the cool, foogy summer we had  ... bring it back, please!

Ta-ta,
Julie

Sunday, August 15, 2010

100th post

Hello, Everyone,

It's a cool Sunday evening after a warm afternoon in August in San Diego.  Warm, not hot.  This is the summer that wasn't.

I feel fine, I'm listening to Jose Feliciano play classical guitar on Sky.com.  I really enjoy the variety on this channel.

I made a pretty crochet bridal garter with blue thread and pearl beads.  I don't have a ribbon for it yet, so you'll have to wait a bit on the pic.  I am working on a second one in white with a green shamrock row in it in and green beads for a Irish bride. 

Nate went home to his parents last night.  Gramma had fun with him.  On the way home we stopped at his favorite restaurant, Tip Top, in Carlsbad (see: http://www.tiptopmeats.com/  ) and had "Cherry-chocolate cake", aka Schwartzwaelderkirsch.  




Oh, to be 6 again.  Whipped cream on his face and loving the cherries. 

Lilo is outside enjoying the evening air tonight.  Funny psychic cat.  As soon as I type her name in the blog she comes in the cat door.  Hi, Lilo.  Welcome home.

I've been enjoying some homemade sesame flat breads today.   Topped with liver sausage, Swiss cheese, and thinly sliced onions.   Yummy.   Nate was helping me knead the bread dough yesterday.  He enjoyed that.

Must run, Dan wants to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo with me.  I should take him up on that.

See ya,
Julie

Friday, August 13, 2010

More summer

Hello, Everyone,

It's like we forgot what summer feels like.  It seems so strange to have a hot summer Friday, LOL.   I feel fine, listening to Drew Tretick play violin.  "Somewhere in Time".  All very romantic stuff.  We heard him play on our honeymoon and the music is a nice reminder.  Why, thank you, I did just have an anniversary.  Yup, enjoyed it, I did. 

Nate and I went to the City run mini water park at the Del Mar pool today.   Lots of fun and not expensive.  Nate loves it.
(See: http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/aquatics/carmelvalley.shtml )

I could post a picture of my sunburn (despite SPF 55 waterproof sunscreen) but I'll let you imagine it.

We had a nice pizza lunch at Sammy's after that. (See: http://www.sammyspizza.com/ )

Ever since Heather and I had Chicken Shwarma at Alladin's, we have been trying to figure out how to do it at home.  This is my last, best effort.  I feel like I'm almost there. Theirs is still better.   (See: http://aladdincafe.com/ )

Chicken Shwarma
Remove excess fat from a tray of chicken thighs and put them into the crockpot.  Add 6 plump cloves sliced garlic, more if the cloves are puny.  Sprinkle on:
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
2 tsp Pensey's Greek seasoning  (See: http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysgreekseas.html )
1 tsp Pensey's Turkish seasoning  (See:  http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysturkish.html )
1 tsp cinnamon
Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.  Remove bones.   Serve with fresh home-made flat bread, if you've got it.  Top with a bit of melted Brie.    Heaven!

Today must be my day for links.

Lilo is out enjoying the night air.  Oh, here she comes inside.  How does she know when I mention her name? Psychic-kitty.

Lilo playing with Nate's flip flop.

G'nite,
Julie

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Summer is finally here

Hello, Everyone,

Summer is finally here!  Today is nice warm, sunny summer Thursday.  Finally. 

Nate is visiting again..


He loves his race car bed at Gramma's.

I'm listening to Classical guitar on sky.fm.  Loving it!


Cinnamon roll time again.  Gotta go get 'em out.

Bye,
Julie

Sunday, August 8, 2010

baby girlie sweater

Hello, Everyone,
It's a coolish Sunday morning in this strange cold, foggy summer of 2010 in San Diego.  I feel ok, bit of a sniffle.  Listening to Nestor play Latin jazz flute on "This Side of Paradise".  Go, Nestor!


I finished a cute girlie little baby sweater.  (After all those boyish booties, LOL)


Big natural shell buttons, cables and lace. Just darling

I have 2 friends expecting and neither knows the gender yet.  Can't have too much baby stuff stashed in the gift drawer.  


Nate and I are making cinnamon rolls this morning, so I'd better go and help him.  He loves to cook at Gramma's.  Last night he made a nice salad.


Tata, 
Julie and Lilo

Friday, August 6, 2010

It's time for Nate

Hello, Everyone,
It's a lovely summer Friday afternoon in San Diego, not too hot.  I feel ok and I'm listening to Jerry Lee Lewis play honky-tonk music: I got a woman,  Chantilly lace. The great thing about JLL is all the stuff he originated.Very raw.

Nate camr to visit Gramma for the weekend.  Here we are at Tip Top eating lunch, specifically his fav, Schwartzwaelderkirsch, or, as he calls it, "Cherry chocolate cake".

Lilo sez she wants some attention.  Then she faces away when I try to get her pic.  She is always in motion, so very hard to photograph.  


Now she is rolling on the floor, really jonesing for attention, this one. 


Did I already show you this one?


I broke my chanting beads yesterday, so I'd better make up some new ones. 

See ya,
Julie

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

It's bootie time

Hi, Everyone,

It's a warm Wednesday summer night in San Diego.  I feel good and I'm listening to "the King":  Love me tender.


I have a few new things to show you. First some crocheted booties.  




No idea why I made so many.  They're like potato chips. I just couldn't stop. 


Then I liked the "Peruvian mix" colorway so much,  I got some more and made Dan a hat, Me a hair band, A sutra case and a "manly" pair of slippers, size 11.  Dan doesn't like that style, so we'll see who gets them at Christmas.  Not one of the "big feet" guys, LOL.

 Tonight was the annual stash sale at the Knitting Guild.  I bought this necklace partially finished.  After I got home I finished it.  


Like the Hallmark bag? LOL.  

I made turkey mole today and it was out of this world.  Wanna know how to make it?



Turkey Mole 


Break up about 6 large dried chili peppers into a heat-proof bowl and add  about 2 cups boiling water.  After a few minutes process (blender, food processor, stick blender, etc) until smooth.  We're doing the modern version of the molcajete here.


In a crock pot put:

The chili sauce
1 frozen turkey hindquarter (it will thaw as it cooks)
3 minced cloves garlic
1 large onion, chopped
6 ribs celery, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
3 diced potatoes (after they are well cooked they will thicken the sauce)
1 round Mexican chocolate 
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed dried oragano
1 tablespoon ground cumin
cayenne to taste for heat ( I used 1/2 teaspoon)
1 cup tomato sauce (leftover marinera is what I used.  A couple of sliced tomatoes works, too.)
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup wine vinegar
pinch dried thyme
Salt and pepper


Add water to cover.  Cook on low 2 hours. Cut the turkey into chunks and return to the pot, including bones.   Stir everything well.  Now that the chocolate and peanut butter are softened, they will mix in easily.  Let 'er rip for another few hours, until the smell is just killing you.  Serve over rice, or anyway you want!  I imagine a vegetarian version could be made by omitting the turkey and adding garbanzo beans and olive oil. 
 
Lilo sez." Hi!"  She's headed out the window to see what is afoot.


Now that I wrote about it,  I have to have a taste of mole before I go to bed. 


Goodnight.
Julie