FOTO FRIDAY:RAIN,RAIN GO AWAY

FOTO FRIDAY: ENOUGH already. We were forewarned about 2 weeks of rain but we are saturated. 

Look what fell from the neighbor's yard!

18ft long 5" in diameter. 

All can be fixed and no one was hurt.

Last week's pic was STICKERED

MIDWEEK MUSINGS:MOMS KNOW BEST/MIND YOUR STEP

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: Our Moms imprint us with many lessons and one specific teaching keeps serving me well, and that's the importance of wearing good shoes. You know, shoes that provide good support and are appropriate for the occasion, especially walking on all types of terrain.

My computer reminded me that I had more than tripled my steps both in Costa Rica and Croatia. Hills galore and a lot of stairs especially in Croatia.

Our first condo in Dubrovnik had 192 steps out the back door when we wanted to go down to the old city... Can you imagine schlepping groceries up them?

I  finally decided to count them our last trek back up them. Even if I doubted my precision, I wouldn't be willing to recount them. It was safer to take them over the narrow winding road with pin curves, not really enough room for walkers. 

AND there were more stairs when one reached the old city...

Thank goodness I had brought two pairs of walking shoes, Merrills that could get wet, and the other was leather 'grandma' looking ones. They served me well in addition to some slippers for the long plane ride, Teva sandals for walking the beach, water ( sea urchins!) and around the pool/ hot tub. 

Accidents can happen regardless, and we had 2 amidst us that wiped out- one on sidewalk stairs and another on an uneven stone boardwalk. Luckily, no hospital visits required, and just bruised bodies and egos. 

Remember Mom knows best- Wear the best footwear for the journey wherever you are headed...

TBT: ASIAN WHITE HOUSE CHEFS

 TBT: Last week in spite of jetlag, I attended the Clinton Library's talk given by both Adrian Miller and via Zoom his co-author Deborah Chang re: their collaboration of writing Cooking to the Presidents Taste: Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History." 

Both authors met when they attended Stanford while working towards becoming  lawyers, not cookbook authors.

Years later at a dinner party the two crossed paths again and both left law to collaborate on this book.

Amiable and quick-witted Adrian found another passion in researching as a lawyer and it was Deborah who asked him to collaborate in writing about food, specifically food prepared by Asian Chefs in the White House. After all, he had been a judge in a Bar-B-Q cookoff! She had grown up in her parents' restaurant business. He handled the history and research while Deborah tested and developed all 60 recipes in the book. 

Through the years, many ethnic cooks have graced the White House kitchen, yacht, and Camp David cooking for our Presidents, especially Asian chefs. Chinese chefs like Ah Loy for Roosevelt, Harry Truman had a favorite Filipino chef, Lee Ping Quan, who cooked for Harding and Coolidge in addition to Shiro Tsurusaki. Filipinos like Ireno Esperancilla served Hoover through Eisenhower, and later Filipina Cristeta Comerford ran the White House kitchen from 2005- 2024 for 5 presidents. Right now, the executive chef is Thai American, Tony Kurpradit.

 The night's attendees were treated to a yummy chocolate chip cookie in addition to recipes both in this book and others by Adrian  Miller. 

I am so glad Miller and Chang collaborated, and I was privy to hear about their work!

tUESDAY tUNES:

Silente is  a a pop-rock band from Dubrovnik, Croatia which appeared in 2012. In its earlier years the band was known as 'Silent' (2006-2012).

We saw their stage being assembled our first day in the Old City and then that night SILENTE'S sound more than wafted up to our condo above the square.It was anything but silent... Towards the end of their concert,the crowd sang along to their most popular song. Below are the lyrics in a rough translation to read while you listen to the song...

: Terca Na Tirišinu  

The concert continued until almost midnight. My condo-mates slept through it all. I wish I could have fallen asleep but the rewards were to to hear the sing along at the end of the concert and not have to stand amidst all their fans...

Third in Silence

Chorus:

Don't make a single sound

And I will compose a third* 

I'll propose until you say ''yes''

I will invite people

You'll take care of the wine

First wedding without music

Only third in silence

You rule the air

And I will rule the ground

Don't make a single sound

And I will compose a third* in it

I'll propose until you say ''yes''

I will invite people

You take care of the wine

First wedding without music

Only third in silence You rule the air

 

I shine like a new moon

The east is resting in me

I admit, I'm responsible

For the mess in your eyes

Among your Russian writers

You're looking for someone like me

I read everything in your freckles, freckles

that look like the stars

You sleep in the skies

I will wander the world

Let's meet somewhere in the middle

Let's meet where your clouds

and my hills meet

Let's meet since your freckles and

my wrinkles already greet each other.

MONDAY MUSINGS: EXPANDING ONE'S GASTRONOMIC PALATE

MONDAY MUSINGS: Travel can not only help one see magical places but also experience new foods. I just returned from a WONDERFUL two weeks, one of those spent upon a small yacht that would visit a fraction of the over thousand islands that make up the country of Croatia.

Below is our main itinerary on our small yacht which only had 16 passengers for their initial trip of the season. Yes, 16! Couples from Australia, Chicago, St Louis, Seattle, Russellville (ironically Arkansas) 

 

                                    our group of 5 from La Crosse and yours truly from Little Rock.

Every day our cruise director would handwrite our day's itinerary and we could snap a picture to keep track of the day's plans and dinner suggestions. 

European breakfast bar and lunch most days would be aboard the Diamond, our recently renovated craft of the Zantium fleet. 

Dinner was always on our own, except for the Captain's Dinner., a lovely meal and dance party!

I actually tried the cheese-filled burek 

Sampling local cuisine including treats of both savory and sweet baked goods.

Burek (l)and pistachio-filled croissants, cardamon rolls, etc...

Since we were surrounded by water, seafood was a must and I tried the gamete. 

All sorts of risotto although my fave was Black risotto with cuttlefish. 

Sea bream cooked various ways, salmon, octopus salad, scorpion fish and all sorts of shellfish that had never passed my lips before.

Popular desserts including European gelato, tiramisu, custards, mousses, cakes, etc... 

Yummy fresh food every day. ..

I could get used to a Mediterranean diet for sure. 

FOTO FRIDAY: STICKERED

FOTO FRIDAY: When my children made me give up the oversized hiking backpack I had inherited from my son's leftovers in my storage, they gifted me one of those small, expandable rolling suitcases. 

I had to do something to distinguish it from all those other bags rolling around the carousel... I decided to add stickers after each trip. 

Here's my most recent memory :)

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was SON KNOWS BEST

TBT: THE BLUE CAVE

TBT:  After we left the Croatian island of Vis,  our yacht, the Diamond, visited Bisevo, a nearby island with a very small cave.  On one side of the cave, sunlight sneaks in through what appears to be a sliver of an opening, which reflects off the white limestone floor and makes the light inside the cave a fluorescent blue.

We boarded a small tour boat where its passengers have to duck as it enters the cave's small opening. I didn't dare snap a picture as we entered, but I snapped a shot of it before we left. (see left)

In fact, the day before, the waters were so rough and raised its waters too high for guests to enter.

Luck was on our side the day after...

We were very happy campers to get to see this natural wonder...

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: NEVER TOO OLD FOR NEW FRIENDS

 MIDWEEK MUSINGS Catch-Up has me thankful for the opportunity to make new friends in these senior years on my Croatian adventure. There was one couple in particular who won a special place in my heart. 

Jane at 76, and her husband Joe, 80, are active seniors back in Australia on a nice-sized farmstead. Jane, a retired G.P., now works with folks with a mental health emphasis, and Joe takes care of the farm and is currently busy building them a new, smaller home on their property in order for their offspring to move into their old adobe with their kids. It sounds like a great way to stay on one's land and let one's kids take over the day-to-day workings of the farm.

Joe wore his COEXIST t-shirts in every color throughout the trip, so I knew right away we were politically aligned. He wanted to talk politics (unfortunately, a taboo topic nowadays) and was curious when I spoke of Natureman's activism. Jane made no bones about how she felt about the U.S. and its state of affairs or what was happening in the Middle East. 

Jane also has a very unique way of remembering her trips as she collects little items and combines them to create a lovely arrangement, which she photographs and leaves them for others to encounter. 

While in the National Park of MJet, near the church,  Jane found various native products along the walk. When she spotted a brick of carved limestone lying next to a tiny chapel, she had her canvas for her finds and went to work arranging them.   

When Jane finishes, she snaps a pic and includes her small masterpiece photos in a memory book of their adventures. 

 What a lovely idea, right? 

Besides the arts, Jane also loves classical and folk music and definitely knows how to cut a rug too.  Joe obliged her to a bold sashay down the middle of our dance party one night when it was time to exit. 

They definitely know what the other likes. When Joe needs alone time,  Jane gives him space as she picks up a book/makes a point to visit with the other travelers. 

It was a delight spending time with these Aussies whether traversing a new town,  enjoying the frigid Adriatic waters/ a meal/ excursion.

 Travelling is a good way to meet people as one is never too old to make new friends!

tUESDAY tUNES: YOUNGER YOU

In water aerobics this new song was played by Miley Cyrus off of her  her latest album . Listen to the lyrics of  Younger You . 

It spoke to me. How about you?

From the "Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special"

FOTO FRIDAY: SON KNOWS BEST

FOTO FRIDAY: I stated that I had the record for staying the longest in the Adriatic waters but my son disproved this ...

Take a look...

TBT: A DECADE AGO I BECAME SOMETHING I HAD NEVER BEEN BEFORE...

TBT: It's difficult to believe that it's been ten years since I was called by a new title...  my firstborn made me a Mother of the Bride.

It was a gorgeous day in a beautiful setting in Atlanta.

                          A lot has transpired since that glorious day of May 7, 2016....

During that time,  the couple also gave me a granddog first,

followed by 2 wonderful grandchildren who call me Bubbe. 

Who could ask for anything more?

May you both continue to celebrate many more happy occasions together!

All my Love,

Mom 

MIDWEEK MUSING: I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

 MIDWEEK MUSINGS have me sharing a long overdue spring chore needing to be done.,,  

I admit I was the one who got up on the ladder to clean gutters in the End of the Rainbow Valley and Natureman's  'good enough'approach to cleaning windows was eventually replaced by a guy who did them for $2/window, including screens. 

So confession time: My children  swore me off the ladder once I  moved to Litte Rock. And for my 5 years here, the 'entire' house's windows and screens have never been cleaned. 

A couple of years ago, a couple of bids were made. But honestly, the sticker shock dissuaded me. This year, after doing some gutter work and a very pollen-filled March, it was time to bite the bullet.

The facia, overhang, screens and windows were done. And you know what?  I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

tUESDAY tUNES: KEEP GOING

tUESDAY tUNES is a lovely message delivered by soulful Jada Monroe 's version of KEEP GOING

Maybe its message is just what the doctor ordered...

MONDAY MUSINGS: GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN....

 MONDAY MUSINGS is about a drop-dead gorgeous spring weekend in the South with blue skies and an occasional breeze to cool-off 80-degree days. There was no way this gal was sitting inside if I didn't have to...

I started Saturday by tackling mowing the front lawn early before it got too hot. I apologize to my neighbors because it was the time their yard guys usually start on weekdays.SORRY. There's definitely a sense of accomplishment of looking at a newly mown lawn. It is also another one of those spring signs - the smell of freshly cut grass. Ya know, Girls just wanna have fun...

Monday's class aerobics class wasn't in my future, so it was even more fun going to my first Saturday class, as this instructor had made floral decorated visors for Derby Day.   It was a hoot, and the one male classmate was a good sport, donning one too. Cuz he knows, Girls just wanna have fun.

 Hopefully, I can get the class photo, but in the meanwhile here's mine, chosen for its simplicity of just one large bloom. 

A river walk followed mid-afternoon with a stop at the 'ole homestead for my niece's garage sale to pick up an air fryer, and then home for my art project outside 'til dark forced me inside. Ya know, Girls just wanna have fun.

Sunday, planting filled the am and then off to listen to Cliff &Susan, one of my favorite duos at BoBrooks Farm's River Bottom Winery with a good visit with a  high school buddy Laura, We got the last 2 seats. 

Great visiting, music,  cheese, charcuterie, and a couple Berry Mania slushies, made for a terrific outside afternoon.  Here's a clip of Twist and Shout with one guy amidst all those girls. " CUZ You know, Girls just wanna have fun!

FOTO FRIDAY: ANOTHER SPECIES

 

FOTO FRIDAY: The colors are a' changing, especially with all this rain.

And with the overcast skies the colors are more extreme...

I almost feel this could have been one of Georgia O'Keefe's paintings.Those of you familiar with her work know what I mean...

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was that PORCH GUEST

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: THE HIDDEN HAND THAT SHAPED HISTORY.

MIDWEEK MUSINGS is about one of my favorite activities here in Little Rock which is to attend the Clinton Presidential Center's wonderful programming.

This Tuesday evening, we had the pleasure of hearing Susan Page, long-time USA Today's Washington Bureau Chief who since '95 has covered 12 presidential campaigns and interviewed the last 10 Presidents.

Page is one smart journalist, who you may remember moderated the 2020 Pence-Harris debate. She is also a prolific writer with bestsellers about Barbara Walters, Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Bush. 

Her Little Rock visit was to talk about her newest book. Hot off the presses two weeks ago, is The Queen and her Presidents: The Hidden Hand that Shaped History, a fascinating compilation of behind-the-scenes stories of Queen Elizabeth's encounters with 13 Presidents. Yes, 13. 

Both President Truman (when she was still a Princess), followed by Eisenhower both were like fatherly figures to the would be crowned 27-year-old Queen in '53. 

Queen Elizabeth known for her colorful hats was much more and quite a strategist as she followed her Prime Minister Churchill's advice to stay close with the Americans- influencing everything from the Suez Crisis in the Falklands, her warm bond with Reagan over horses, cooperating with JFK,  LBJ's avoidance of elitists, Nixon needing her help during Watergate, warm connection with Obama and Trump's admiration of her since his childhood. 

We heard many snippets of stories of her 70 year reign. As we used to end our book reports as elementary school students... If you want to know what happened, you need to read the book.  LOL. See, not only can Susan Page plug her book, so can we who heard her speak...