Sunday Funday

Ok so the day was not that much fun since I spent most of it inside cleaning and doing food prep, while hubby worked on getting the boats ready for the water.  I took a break to enjoy the day and met a new neighbor.

 

 

The evening was a little more entertaining as I met some friends at the Grand Opening of the BAR at Dominicks in the Crossing.

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at Back to the 50s Diner

 

I rarely have the occasion to post anything but fine reviews on Foodie Friday.  Today I will make an exception.  Took a motorcycle ride out for breakfast looking forward to try out a new diner in Furlong.  Looked really cute on the outside.

 

It looked even better on the inside, with all the 50's paraphernalia,  Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and even Betty Boop, adorning the walls.

 

It was crowded, always a good sign.  We decided to wait for a booth.  The service was friendly and excellent.  Furman ordered an omelet and was content.

I ordered a mixed plate of eggs, pancakes and Canadian bacon.

You would think that it would be hard to mess up.  The pancakes were tough. 

I never had to work so hard to cut into pancakes.  The syrup FAKE. 

The Canadian bacon hard and dry.  The easy over eggs over cooked.  The orange juice was pretty good and I suspected it might have been fresh squeezed...another positive.

With so much going for this place, the service, ambiance and perfect distance for a morning ride, perhaps we will try it again.  I'll definitely go with a different selection. 

Just one more time to be sure.

 

 

 

 

Delaware News

Yippee, Yahooo, Yabadabadooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! 

 Sold one

 

The Foils, Foibles and Follies of MaraBella and Me

I sit here almost every morning on the soft grey leather couch to catch the morning news and prepare my posts, and even play a few games of Words With Friends, if time allows.  Next to me on the old pink and grey Mexican blanket lies MaraBella.  Unless of course she is driving me crazy or sitting on the back of the couch looking out the window as she is right now...dang cat.
From the time I brought her home, I noticed that she had a distinct odor that smelled familiar but I just seemed unable to identify it.  It wasn't horrible but it wasn't completely pleasant.  It wasn't puppy smell, and for days I found it frustrating that I was unable to identify this familiar smell.  Like trying to say a word that you know and it just wont pop into your head.  It finally became clear during a web search. Corn Chips...and guess what?  It even has a name FRITO FEET.  That just cracked me up because I never noticed it with any other dog.  I think MaraBella was a bit anxious upon arrival and was nervous and sweating through her feet.  She is much more relaxed now and I have to say I don't smell it as profusely as I did when she first arrived...or perhaps, I've grown accustom to her smell.

Delaware Issues Common Cents and the Friendship Garden

Spring Spring Spring...finally has arrived.  The Daffodils are blooming.   I can see little buds on the Columbine and the Bleeding Hearts.  The Peonies are springing up from the earth as are the pointy green leaves of the Irises.  All of these flowering beauties and more are in my garden courtesy of friends.  The cost quite simply something from my own garden.  Contributors are well aware of what has come to be known as the friendship garden....the sharing of multiplying plants that rather than toss when we divide are shared among us.  These flowering beauties make great subjects for photography. 

You can purchase your garden plants at a nursery and I suppose for the annuals you must, but if you prefer your garden to spring up from the ground each year without spending your money you can engage in the lovely habit of sharing your perennials at no cost.

I had the most pleasant surprise one year after seeing window boxes decorated with Pansies and Pussy Willows.  I had been offered cuttings from a neighbors Pussy Willow bush and tried to reproduce the look.  To my surprise, one of the stems grew ROOTS!  I immediately placed it back in the pot filled with dirt and let it winter over in a protected spot in the yard until last Spring when I planted it in my garden.  Today I have my own small Pussy Willow and in a few years will no longer have to take clippings from my neighbor to make these lovely arrangements.

 

 

 

 

Delaware Views Hues of Red

In the winter I so enjoy making a good hearty soup.  As the weather warms I want to eat local fruit.  There will never be pineapples growing naturally in my area, but soon the strawberries will be in and the blueberries will be local and there is nothing like it.  There will be NO WHITE in the strawberries and if you pick them yourself from a local farm on a warm sunny day they will be RED and warm and delicious when you eat them.

 

Sunday Funday

It always amazes me how many hours it takes to prepare my home and the food to serve when a holiday arrives and the family gathers.  OK well what amazes me is not just the time it takes to prepare but the contrast of the prep time to the time of the actual gathering.  A day for picking up the groceries and cleaning house.  Hours of food prep.  Luckily, I made a Turkey which does a lot of sitting around first in the brine and then in the oven.   That leaves plenty of time to set the table and conduct the final clean sweep...you know, that dog hair that just keeps on appearing.

 

The guests began to arrive just before 2pm to enjoy some appetizer. Not everyone can appreciate chopped liver but cousin Ronnie makes it so well and I love it. My 84 year old mother prepared a delicious Matzo ball soup that we served at about 3, then the main meal, side dishes contributed by sister and mother in law, and finally the desserts also provided by the guests.  Those chocolate covered strawberries made by my niece were just YUMMY.  Seems like everyone puts in there time to enjoy the family company.  By 7pm the last guest departed. So approximately 2 or 3 days in prep time and 5 hours to enjoy the group....or I guess I should say, serve the group. 

I wont even get into the after the gathering clean up.

I love my family and the days it takes to prepare for a gathering of 12 is well worth the hours I get to enjoy them.