They Did It Again

Kiddos went to Ovation award show Monday evening. 

I sweetly texted "Send me a pretty photo please."

At 11:30 last night I get these

Then this one

I see a pattern forming

Hard Work Rewards

The kiddo's apartment interior is adorable but I think my 

girl chose this place because of 

this outdoor space by her back kitchen door. 

No one else in the house walks or uses 

this area so they decided to take on the project 

and make an extended living area for themselves.

My girl had a vision, like her mama does.

The apple landed on her head not just close to the tree.

This is how it looked when I went down 

a couple weeks ago. They had moved in about a month prior.

My car was filled with vintage ladders, pots, rakes, 

soil, shovels and a blower. It was to be a working trip.

Those two dug and leveled and cleaned 

and worked their A's off. I washed walls, cleared ivy, planted

and reorganized all the cupboards inside.

I got permission first, I didn't just commando re-do.

I split the paver cost with them but the rest 

they did on a very modest budget.

My girl dragged the table home after

finding it on the street. The chairs Ben 

discovered for them at 13.00 each.

I provided an umbrella stand that I had extra 

from home, and Hannah just snagged the umbrella

on July 4th clearance.

They still have that small section to

 finish with turf in front of the fence. 

There are industrial edison bulb lights,

(extras from mom) and they plan to hang pots

 and more lights from the clothesline posts.

 (there are two, I cropped one out)

They sent me this yesterday as they 

completed the turf on the 

right side. Dirty knees and hands 

and so pleased with themselves.

Just out of site is an enormous tree,

providing all this pretty dappled light.

In early afternoon I would sit out there

and watch the many squirrels leaping through

the branches and pelting me with debris.

I loved it, but my son thought I was crazy to be so

happy to see squirrels. I grew up with squirrels

and found them frustrating as they ravaged my feeders in PA;

but after 30 plus years in the desert,

 I am enamored of their antics.

One last look.

Yay Tom and Hannah!

CA Road Trip

Howie and I headed to CA on Saturday 

to see the kiddos and help with a few projects.

  It was a perfect couple of days 

filled with planting, yard work, great dinners and 

lots of talk and laughter.

Ben had been thinking of an herb garden for his porch,

so we found a good set up at Lowes and viola!

Hannah has a small dirt area out her back door

 perfect for a patio and garden, so we spent a day,

 clearing and cleaning off the ivy wall 

and Hannah pulled out about 10 lawn bags of debris.

Then Tom and Hannah went back to the store for pavers

and Tom began laying 54 of them perfectly level. 

Ben and I watched while Ben also cooked and 

I organized some cupboards. 

David and Howie were helping?

Hannah has promised pictures upon completion.

I also repotted and potted new plants for a lovely little corner.

Industrial lights will be strung and it will be a cozy retreat.

THEN there was THIS...

One of the most delicious meals ever.

PERFECT RIBS and TRI TIP and INCREDIBLE 

Roasted Potatoes.

Horrible photo, just trust me.

Prepared by our favorite cook Ben.

He uses a sous vide first for hours 

and then the magic of his 

seasonings and skill.

We made yummy noises throughout the dinner.

We raved so much that Ben said he now 

doubted our sincerity. 

These three are so incredible. 

I adore them and miss them.

My last night they took me to the cutest 

Irish bar up the street.

I have declared it my bar.

The vibe and fish and chips were perfect.

I can't wait to go back.

I am blessed and never take it for granted.

Z

Granddog

Not sure how else to identify

this beautiful guy

David.

He is the beloved dog of Hannah and Tom.

They brought him up to meet me

this past weekend.

Ben was also here a couple days ahead of them

and we had some great long chats and as always

he looks around to see what he can help me with.

Such a wonderful son.

We were all a bit concerned if Howie 

could handle an intruder but he was a champion.

David hardly ever makes a sound but the one 

time he play growled to play, 

Howie leapt onto my lap then up 

over the shoulder and tried clinging to

the top of my head.

I have the nail punctures in my scalp to prove it.

He was searching for the highest point of escape

in the room. It was funny and sad at the same time.

They never played but slept pretty close

 together for 3 days without incident.

David is the mellowest dog I have ever met,

and of course he is adored by his folks.

I love having my family all home 

and it is sad to see them leave,

 but we try to get together often and

 Ben has new plan for me to make it easier.

The rest of the world is sad and horrifying and 

basically a cluster/you know what.

sigh

dog love

mama love for her kids

It's all I can focus on right now.

Oh I hear I'm in Flea Market Decor

coming out in July.

I'll let you know when if you wish to take a peek.

HIBERNATION TIME

the 100's are here.

Keep writing me folks.

I love it.

Z

The Virgin Turkey

So I realized that I never told you 

about the turkey.

The fried turkey.

My very first fried turkey.

56 minutes from start to finish

56 minutes people!

So here is the skinny.

The kids were in Toronto, 

it was gonna be just me this year,

so I made a run to Costco

 for their cranberry stuffing, 

and mashed potatoes.

 I add a little cream cheese to the taters 

and they are delicious.

Both of those can be nuked so

 mere minutes of effort.

I heated up the oil in the fryer,

that took about 45 minutes.

Then injected the 14 lb bird with organic chicken broth,

rubbed more broth on the exterior and patted on some

seasoning mix, set the digital info and 

 dunked it in my new indoor fryer.

I then made a sweet potato casserole I have made

for over 30 years and 20 minutes later

 popped it into my perfectly empty and clean stove.

Exactly 56 minutes later I had 

the perfect turkey with all the trimmings.

I've been cooking a LOOONG 

time and I can honestly tell you.

It was the best darn bird ever!

I will never cook one any other way again!

This is an indoor fryer, much safer, 

so easy to drain and clean.

I have told anyone and everyone

who will listen

 that they must get one,

an it does far more than just gobblers.

Maybe the best part is no 

rushing to prep, or loads of dirty pans piled in the sink,

I just had my trusty MS storage containers to fill,

drained and filtered the oil,

then washed out two parts of fryer

and everything else was tossed into recycling.

Remember way back when when I was

doing the happy jig about my blue bucket mop?

This IS better.

so it is Butterball XXL Premium indoor turkey fryer.

I bought on QVC on a special value day

w/ free shipping for 129.00

and used easy pay.
(click QVC to see video)

It is large so I stored the digital part inside the house

and the shell in the garage.

The plan is to have a huge seafood boil for 

the holidays since DD is a pescatarian now.

DD had quick trip home last week 

to do a commercial for her Dad.

She wanted a bloody mary.

I think it was tasty

Remains Of the Days

This is what remains after two days of binge watching

with My Darling Daughter.

After Best Beau left last weekend she stayed on

through my Birthday, and this very little

tv viewer, mwah, watched 20 episodes of Vampire Diaries

in a day and a half.

She built a pallet of foam and pillows after removing 

the furniture from the den, and we ordered in food,

polished off some wine and some Moscow Mules.

Hannah had begged me to watch for months

 and so over a couple weeks 

I had made it through Seasons 1-5 

and 2 episodes of Season 6 before she arrived. 

She was thrilled. I struggled through Season 1 

not really into it and then like millions of other "girls"

(rolling my eyes here) I fell for 

Damon

Yep

That bad boy Ian stole my heart

as he vamped his way through

Mystic Falls.

Those of you who desire never to speak me again after

this admission, please know that I do understand.

But oh baby, is this guy ever the bad boy, gotta love em guy.

Season 7 is not on Netflix yet,

but once I can obtain, I will binge once more and 

then actually watch the final season as it airs.

This is embarrassing to admit but if 

Brooke Burke Charvet

can admit to incontinence,

er, I guess she says bladder leakage;

then I can admit to a slight

deviation from "high brow" television..

oh yeah and I also 

do Walking Dead

Game of Thrones

and I did True Blood

anyone sensing a theme?

anyone still speaking to me?

Z

Those of you who judge?

Watched Bachelorette, Duck Dynasty,

Housewives of (pick the city) or the Kardashians lately?

Now that I would NOT do! lol

Enjoy your weekends

with your secret obsessions

Surprise!

Two of the kids were home last week.

Surprise visit

Darling Daughter and Best Beau

Celebrating their five year anniversary

Now they're off to do films!

Howie was over the moon,

with his best playmate here.

Those crazy two keep so busy.

My personality could not handle it,

but they seem to thrive on it.

The laughter and sweet tender looks 

back and forth gives this mama such joy.

*****

Focus on the good stuff

because the bad stuff is really bad

these days.

How do I hibernate even deeper than 

I already do?

Z

On A Personal Note

DD, Hannah and BB, her beau Blake

At Del Mar for his birthday and their 4th Anniversary.

Two of my three favorite people.

Now that Dearest Son and Darling Daughter 

live five minutes apart,

they see each other often.

They like each other as friends,

as well as love each other as siblings.

Mama could not be happier.

They are even going on vacation

together this year.

The three kids are campaigning to 

get me to LA permanently and I have spent hours

researching any possibilities,

but location and financials are mind boggling.

Houses are unaffordable since I refuse to 

take on a mortgage, after not having one

for over a decade, and condos come

 with large HOA fees.

Both come with triple the property taxes 

I pay here.

The worst though is where?

What small town within 60 minutes

of Culver City would suit me?

Definitely not more than 90 minutes away.

My eyes cross after hours on Zillow

and Realtor.com.

Any CA girls out there I'll GLADLY take any advice, 

area recommendations, realtor names etc.

I'm just thrilled that they want me near.

Till then the 4 hour drive seems to

be getting easier for all of us.

We're averaging about every other month.

and if they ever would build the super train...

of course in 80 years they will live much closer as the

rising ocean will have pushed em back 1 hour my way...

BUT I'm sure I will be long gone by then.

I told them last week maybe they should hold 

onto this property as it is in the very south of town and 

will be beach front real estate some day in their retirement! 

Ha!

forever stuck in lala

*******

And yes Amy, since you asked, I would love to have

 folks travel in for a Gathering class.

3 blocks away is a lovely large casino hotel 

Green Valley Ranch

with spa, movie theaters,

and adjacent a wonderful mall called the District. 

Mall has Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma,

Anthropologie, West Elm, great dining and more.

by car

I am 2 hours from St George and 

4 hours to Culver City in LA.

if that helps...

There are still a few spots in Sept class,

and it will be cooler then.

Bring your hubby, leave him at the casino

and come play with some great gals for the day.