Thanksgiving Wishes............

As I write this, we have entered the serene, calm part of Thanksgiving, otherwise known as "the calm before the storm".  Miss Gobbler is clean, oiled, seasoned and in her final resting place, veggies and stuffing are prepped, cranberry sauces are glistening and crab dip is ready for toasted baguette. 

We're enjoying the Macys Thanksgiving Parade and then it's time to get ourselves ready for a drive to the airport to pick up Pam and Lori.  I guarantee that things will quickly liven up once they are here.

Iraj and I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving.

gobble................... gobble

Camping Outside Of Walmart.............

My blog, today, is in honor of all those people who are sacrificing a week of their lives to camp in front of a big box store so they can be the first to buy things that will enhance their lives and bring ultimate happiness. 

Imagine the joy of living outdoors on a freezing cold parking lot, using a chemical toilet, and eating fast food for seven days so they can buy important things like another TV, video game or computer. 

All they are missing is the joy of preparing for a special Thanksgiving spent with family, friends, or neighbors - cooking and enjoying delicious food and taking time just being thankful for life and love.

I guess it's a matter of "things" versus experiencing the true meaning of living an authentic life..............

Woo-Hoo - No Line At VooDoo Donuts

So - what's the secret of not waiting in line at VooDoo Donuts?  Go on a very cold Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m.  I even found a parking place right in front...................

We're having a nice week.  Bella just went to the doggy beauty parlor, Roger is busy working on his final art projects for the fall term and the condo is finally very close to being finished.  Painters will do the wood frames on the sliders in early December.

The weather forecast is sunshine for the next week but, along with the sun, we're having freezing temperatures every night.  Leaves are pretty much all gone from the trees so it's definitely winter in the Northwest.

German Pancakes With Seasonal Fresh Fruit

I tried a new recipe for breakfast and it was so delicious, I feel compelled to share it.  It's easy to put together and the presentation is beautiful.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Put two glass pie pans in the oven to heat.  Meanwhile, peel and slice two apples, two fresh pears or a combination of fresh fruit (I had an apple and pear on hand so I used both).  Pull the hot pans out of the oven and put 2 tablespoons of butter in each pan, moving it around so it melts.  Once melted, arrange the fruit slices in the bottom of the pan.

Beat together with a hand mixer for a minute or two
4 eggs

3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup milk

Divide the batter between the two hot plates and pour it over the fruit.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and a little sugar and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes.  The pancake will get puffy in the oven but it quickly loses some of it when you put it on the dinner plate.

Serve with some warm maple syrup. 

I've not tried other fruit but it seems logical that blueberries, blackberries, fresh figs and fresh rhubarb would all make a wonderful pancake.  I can hardly wait to make another and next time I'll take a picture..............................

Wine Tasting & Harvest Dinner............

Peter and Ann hosted a spectacular evening starting with a vertical tasting of Pinot Noir wines, made by a close friend, from the years 2006 / '07 / '08 / '09.  Ed, the winemaker, demonstrated how weather and harvest dates can influence the final product and we had lively conversation about which was the favorite.  As you've already guessed, opinions were varied but, we all agreed that the 2006 / 2007 topped the list. 

Dinner was a feast with a harvest theme.  Thanks to both of our hosts and Ed for a fabulous experience.............

Hero Hair Studio In A Food Cart Pod ++ More.............

This morning I made my second visit to Hero Hair Studio, a small vintage travel trailer located in the midst of a Food Cart Pod on Sandy Blvd.  When I first visited Jen's studio she was located in a different pod so today was my first time at the new location.  This place has everything good going for it - a huge amount of street and off-street parking, an eclectic variety of food carts that feature many different cuisines and a Farmer's Market run by Krugers Farm from Sauvie Island.

This is a first class site with public restrooms, covered tables for outdoor seating and a warm covered tent for cold and rainy days.




Jen's cart fits right in and it's warm and cozy, plus being a quiet place to relax, listen to soft music and read and chat.  It's more than just getting hair cut - it's an experience.

It's Been Awhile...................

I'm not sure where the time goes but it looks like I've neglected my blog for awhile.  Probably because we're back to living a "normal" life with most of the renovations completed.  We're warm and cozy with our new heat/air units and the double paned windows also help to keep cold air out.

Weather has been "on and off" but that's what we enjoy.  A few sunny days and then some rain and then a little of each............. so each day is a new discovery.  Many of the trees are already bare but there are a few that turned a beautiful orange/gold color that continue to remind us that fall is here.

Roger keeps himself busy at school and he's produced quite a few new paintings.  Some are a bit politically incorrect as they involve some of his emotions of his life in Iran after the Revolution so I can't publish them, but here's one of my favorites that he has promised to frame for my new office.

The week started with more finishing touches to the condo but I managed to fit in some time to visit with Cindie and Milan when they visited this weekend from Truckee.  We enjoyed a couple of girl lunches and it was a great chance to catch up on things.

I have a pile of books to read (gifts from Steve, Vicki and Pam) so with a new needlepoint and finding new recipes to cook that fit into Roger's "cancer diet", my days are full.

Reflections..................

I remember the first fall season that Gary and I lived in Portland.  We had settled in and we spent a lot of time exploring the area.  One day we decided to explore the Oregon wine country which is only a 45 minute drive from Portland.  We had no agenda - just turned this way and that until we would encounter a winery.  We probably visited at least five places but, one remains on my memory because it was a warm sunny October day and we sat outside with a glass of Pinot Noir and just enjoying being together.  The sun was low in the sky and the leaves of the vines were turning beautiful shades of gold and orange.  It was like a picture that you treasure.  My memory of that moment has sustained me through the years because I looked at Gary and thought to myself, "remember this moment" thinking that there was no guarantee of what the future would bring.  I can still visualize that moment and it comforts me.

Tonight I'm thinking the same thing.  "Remember this moment" as Roger is working on a painting for a class assignment, rain is falling while we're safe and dry inside, dinner is cooking and beautiful music is playing on the stereo while I am reading one of the novels that my very special daughter, Pam, shared with me.. 

My message to all of you who read this is that you must "remember the moments" that bring special meaning to your lives.  Believe me..............