Easter 2021

 

On Tuesday of this week (3/30) Chris and I ventured out for the F-word (falafel!) at our favorite spot, Olive and Fig. It has been a long time since we dined there, and even now we planned to eat outside. It was not a day for eating outside – gray, rainy, cool – but, to the hostess’s surprise, we asked to do so. As luck would have it, it did not rain on us and we enjoyed the food and camaraderie. It was almost like old times! Chris was so pleased to be out that she even had two glasses of wine! As you can see, I was a good girl and only had a glass of water. LOL!!

The next day I had a Zoom call with Ann and Eileen. It’s amazing how quickly 40 minutes can pass! We catch up on each other and mutual friends…..and always have laughs along the way. They even tolerate my politics! Later that day, I invited Lynn, Tom, and Bogey over for a play date for Rosie and Bogey and a glass of wine for the adults. Bogey found a bone that I had gotten for Rosie years ago and forgotten I had. It’s about the size of Rosie’s head, so I don’t know what I was thinking when I bought it. In any case, he got a whiff of it and dug down into the toy basket to claim it. He chewed on that bone the rest of the time!

I had been thinking of my friend Carolyn who lives in France, so I texted her one day only to find that she was in the doctor’s office at the moment! She called a few days later and had been suffering from Covid-19 for 7 weeks. Both she and Yaakin were 3 weeks away from getting their vaccine when they both came down with it. Yaakin recovered more quickly but Carolyn was still dealing with it after all that time. I told her about my neighbor who was in the hospital with it for 5 days and he said that for 3 of those days he didn’t know whether he was dead or alive. He lost 15 pounds and was a weak as water when he came home. It isn’t anything to mess with and I hope Carolyn is feeling much better by now.

Easter weekend was busier than expected. It started with our Pan Pals gathering at Chris’s house on Friday night. We shared our usual great conversation, good food, and a few laughs. I’m so fortunate to have friends who like to laugh! On Saturday night (way past my bedtime!) I went over to Reyna’s for pizzas by Valeria and Joann. The girls have really stepped up their game since I was last there. They have expanded their repertoire of vegetables, and while I usually would not have pineapple on my pizza, they had it perfectly balanced with jalapenos! They really were delicious and filling. I took my usual chopped salad and much to my surprise, they liked it. Joann said she didn’t like salad (referring to the leafy kind), but when she tried my sturdy, crunchy salad, she liked it. It’s great to see young people learn to like veggies! Sunday evening I had dinner with my new neighbors across the street, Maria and Mark, along with their friends from NY, Robin and Peter. It was a very comfortable group and a delightful evening. They have a lovely screened-in porch where we had appetizers and enjoyed a nice breeze. Their yard is fenced so Felix and Rosie had some time outside without a leash and eventually Rosie went into her crazy run. She was doing figure-eights as fast as she could, much to everyone’s delight. Needless to say, Rosie had a good time, too, and Felix was okay with her being in his space. The food was abundant and scrumptious. Maria and Mark really outdid themselves. It was a totally enjoyable evening. I had no real plans for Monday until Tippy called and suggested we get together for lunch. SO, we met at a restaurant, picked up food, and went back to Tippy’s so we could have a glass of wine with it. It was more comfortable eating in their back year, and Tippy wanted to show me her plantings. Farmer Tippy has built a bed and planted lettuce, kale, eggplant, cukes, strawberries, and more. She calls it her dirt therapy and I could tell she enjoyed it. I was impressed, so much so that the following day I pruned (or butchered, too early to tell!) my rose bushes outback. I also discovered that the 2 amaryllises Reyna gave me last year are alive and well. That is my kind of plant – one that can withstand the weather and find a way to thrive on its own! This is the most social I have been since my birthday in January. I may now have to lie in a darkened room for about three days to re-group and re-charge!!

On Saturday of Easter weekend, Rosie was in for a surprise. I had ordered a trial sample of dog food from The Farmer’s Dog and it arrived. It isn’t that Rosie is a picky eater, it’s almost like it’s an afterthought. Sometimes I wonder if it is the rubbery-looking food she gets or if she just isn’t interested. Since I’m vegetarian, she also doesn’t get tasty table scraps that many dogs might. In any case, I have never dealt with such a consumer-oriented, helpful company! Before ordering, they know everything about your dog, even that Rosie is a Chiweenie, her weight, eating habits, health issues, etc. Before the food arrives, they educate you about the food itself, how to transition your pet to the food, portion size, etc. Then, when the food arrived, it was completely frozen, had Rosie’s name on each packet, portion sizes indicated, etc. They have thought of everything! To top it off, the box is recyclable, as one would expect, but the insulation dissolves in water! I was amazed by that! And finally, which may be more than you want/need to know, once Rosie has fully transitioned to the food, I can send them a photo of her poop and they will tell me whether it is as it should be!! Humorously, they do request that only photos of doggie-do be sent!! So, they even have a sense of humor! Thus far, Rosie really likes it and as I opened the first package, she rounded the corner to check it out, which is something she usually does only when I open cheese. Since ordering it, I’ve run into two people who get it for their dogs and they swear by it. It’s a bit expensive, but if Rosie likes it, what can I do?

This is just a little quirky thing in our neighborhood on one of Rosie's walking routes. I'm not sure when it started but it's been going on for a while. At first, there were a few painted shards by kids placed on the stump; then, I saw a few painted pine cones scattered around and added one to the collection. Then, a rubber duck showed up, and when I added the Easter egg to the stump, some Disney princesses had appeared. it's just a fun thing to keep an eye on and maybe add to a kid's day.

Time MARCHes On!

The neighborhood is getting greener, more colorful, with longer days that seem brighter and clearer. It is stimulating to finally feel the freshness of Spring, and everyone is outside enjoying it. Of course, as with all good things, there are the drags. In our case, it is the pollen. It covers everything - outside furniture, cars, sidewalks, etc. There are even spots that look like someone has taken a handful and splashed it on the driveway. This has been going on for several weeks and I can tell by the pine trees in my backyard that it is not over yet.

(3/16/21) It was in the middle of this month that I realized I had done nothing about my taxes. So, the better part of the last two days was spent with that. This seems like something I should be able to do for myself, but I fear tackling it in the event I might do something terribly wrong! I can’t imagine that my taxes are that complicated! In any case, I have everything ready and this afternoon will deliver them to the CPA, mail my passport renewal, and stop by my bank to find out if they have notary services. This is one of those pet peeves: There are two phone numbers listed for my bank and both appear to be local numbers. One can’t be connected and the other connects you to what appears to be a central answering location, not my local bank. So, there is no real way to just quickly call the bank! You can hold forever or leave a call back number, which did not happen. That really doesn’t seem like good business practice to me.

Some good news from my friend Pamela, whom I mentioned a few posts ago. She is now in San Pancho, Mexico, which looks lovely (I Googled it!). She plans to be here at the end of August and it’s wonderful to have something to look forward to. I’m very eager to learn all about her adventure and how it developed. It sounds like a 5-year plan with about 8 months spent in Mexico and then traveling around the States or other parts of the Americas in her RV. I admit to being more than a little envious. There is nothing as energizing as a new adventure. Melodee, who also plans to visit in the fall, mentioned that a friend of hers is moving to La Paz, Mexico, so there much be a trend. 

Tippy came out on Monday (3/22/21) and we went to Ruan for lunch – we Thai-ed one on! They have set up their porch to accommodate several tables. We were the only ones there for most of our meal. When someone else came in, they were seated at the other end, away from us. It was a lovely day and a comfortable setting. Then, on Tuesday I went to Drinking Liberally for the first time in a long time in a restaurant (Chow Daddy’s). It, too, was at an outside area, but it was a long table with about 10-12 people. The person I sat beside said, “Come on. Sit down.  We’ve all been vaccinated!” That didn’t make me feel any better. Tom was kind enough to help me add another table and extend the distance a bit. I think it will take us a while to feel comfortable with close encounters with others.

With the change of season, it looks like Rosie is changing our morning routine. Beginning winter before last winter, I developed the slothful habit of getting up around 7:30 AM, grabbing a cup of coffee and then returning to bed to listen to Morning Joe while checking emails and FB. That often lasted much longer than it should because Rosie made no effort to get up either! This morning she hopped out of bed right after the alarm went off and while I was still contemplating the possibility. So, I got up, gave Rosie her medicine, had a cup of coffee, and Rosie appeared for her walk. So, we were out the door for an earlier than usual walk. It was a perfectly cool morning and Rosie actually walked briskly. Maybe the weather was her reason for wanting to get out so early. She doesn’t like warm/hot weather at all and summer is a struggle for us both. We’ll try to take advantage of these spring mornings while we can. They will fade all too soon.

My friend David, who sometimes comes over for some Rosie time, sent me this cartoon. Needless to say, I loved it and it's too close to the truth. Many people in the neighborhood know me via Rosie or as the lady who walks the little dog. She welcomes everyone and I'm just her loyal attendant!

Spring is in the Air!

 After entering my last post, Rosie and I joined Tippy for a beach walk at Dolphin Head. When we arrived, we were surprised that the parking lot – and the beach – were empty, especially on such a beautiful day. We made the most of it and were able to let Rosie off-leash a bit (against the rules, but no one around). She loved it and literally ran circles around us! It was a joy to behold. As we turned around and headed back, more people were arriving and Rosie was working her charm and greeting everyone. By the time we got to the car, the parking lot was full as people can out to enjoy the day. Tippy invited us for a glass of wine and we sat on their comfy front porch and ‘chewed the fat” as they say. I left Rosie off-lease, which was fine right up until she spotted a squirrel! She headed off at a trot but did respond when I called her back. I really want her to have time off-leash whenever possible, but there are a lot of considerations and I do have to keep an eye on her!

My term as newsletter editor for Liberal Ladies has ended and I was savoring the freedom. Then, Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate decided they wanted to use an email/contact management system. So now I am learning how to use MailChimp to format a newsletter and send it to all of our followers. I use Mailchimp to notify you that I’ve updated the blog but, as you know, it is a very simple template. So now I have to learn how to format a newsletter so that it can be sent to several hundred folks and not wind up in the spam folder. I’m not actually complaining because I VOLUNTEERED (silly me) to be secretary, something I have never done before; and, I do love learning new things on the computer…..but now I’m under pressure to figure it out. Local folks: if you’d like to be on our mailing list, let me know and I will add you.

I’ve also been asked to serve on a small committee for World Affairs Council to help evaluate various aspects of their member services – their website, new member services, etc. They were looking for someone who was not a member and Jean Vahey, a voice from the past, suggested me. It only meets once a month in the afternoon, and the chair keeps it to a one-hour meeting. I can handle that. World Affairs Councils are throughout the US but ours is the second-largest, which is surprising for a town our size.

More on Food: I’ve added a few more things to the recipe section. Pilar didn’t send me the Mushroom and Black Bean Tortilla Soup recipe but she did post it on Facebook. The minute I read it, I knew it was a keeper, especially being topped with cheese, avocado, and corn tortilla strips. It is really tasty and tangy. Thanks, Pilar. I also included Tian Provencal with Polenta that I pictured some time ago and plan to make tomorrow. I had to buy a deep dish for it, but it was worth it. As planned, I made Jan’s Walnut and Mushroom Bolognese and it, too, was scrumptious!  I also went to my “Favorites” folder and added 5 or 6 recipes that had not been included previously. There are quite a few vegetarians who follow this blog so don’t forget to send your favorites…I’d love to try them and include them in the recipe file. Non-vegetarians are welcome to check out the recipes and experiment.

Not all have been successful in the kitchen. I had a major fail when entertaining the Pan Pals. I made samosas, which I’d made before and found to be very tasty. In reading the comments for the recipe, someone mentioned using empanada pastry, which I did use originally and it turned out great. So, when having my pals over, I did what you are never supposed to do, I tried something different and used egg roll sheets. I checked Google and was led to believe I could make them early and keep them in the fridge before baking. WRONG! The minute I unwrapped them, I knew I was in trouble. The Pals were very gracious and the filling was tasty, but the pastry was tough and looked awful. Lesson learned!

 

George should definitely have gotten your attention!! I include this only because I'm in the process of getting my passport renewed and had to have the required photo taken. Everything will be mailed this coming week and Reyna said hers was processed quickly, not that it matters at this point.

It is a relief to be fully vaccinated. Things went as I have hoped. Many people received an email confirmation of their scheduled time. I didn’t and was wondering if the drive-thru event would be happening. Once I turned the corner and saw the set-up, I knew I was in good shape. Rosie doesn’t like to ride in cars and I thought this a good outing to expand her confidence level. She had a little shivery spell but once she realized we were not on the way to the vet that subsided. She did give me a few pointed side glances, but once we arrived, I let her window down a bit and she enticed a few national guard people to come over and pet her! On the way home, she almost fell asleep, so I consider that a success. I would love to get her comfortable with riding distances so we could do some road trips.

And yes, spring is in the air. The days are sunnier, warmer, and longer.- or flip-flop weather, as I call it. The grass is greening and things are beginning to bloom. Even the birds seem to be singing more! My hope is that spring will linger a while. Some years it seems that it lasts only two weeks and then one morning you wake up and it's 95 degrees. It's been a drab winter, a year of pandemic sheltering, and we're hoping for a spring of rebirth and rejuvenation!

A Whole Lotta Nothing!

Feb 16, 2021: 

There will be a fiery, bright ball in the sky for much of today. This is normal. It is the Sun, the star our planet orbits around at a distance of about 93 million miles. It will provide warmth and could enhance mood.

Warning: Do not stare directly at it.

Finally, a sunny, warmer (60s) day. Much of the neighborhood was out and about enjoying the wonderful change of pace. It was so nice that for her afternoon walk, I took Rosie to Frazier Park for something different. Now today (2/17), it's back to gray and cold.

A Cautionary Tale: You can see from the photo the condition of my nails. The thumbnails are splitting while all of my other nails are peeling off in layers. This is the result of having my nails dipped in the last three months of 2019. I should never have done it because it is not the type of thing I would maintain for very long; although, they looked great and held up well. I did ask beforehand and was assured that the process would not harm my nails, etc. Well, not so! Anyway, I have ordered some type of “wrap" that I hope to use on the tip of the nail to hold it together long enough for it to grow out. With that, I’m using some type of magic oil to nourish the nail and encourage growth. It is one of those situations where you don’t appreciate your nails until you don’t have them. I’m amazed at how they contribute to my dexterity, and with my thumbnails, every single day I do something to split them even more. I am hoping my new plan works! Lesson: Don’t have your nails dipped!! 

When the Pan Pals got together at Chris’s house on the 19^th, we were in search of human warmth since the sun was scarce again. Friday itself was rainy and cold but Lynn and Tom brightened our day by bringing sunflowers for us both. There was no way to really arrange them as they seemed to have a mind of their own, but they do brighten my spirits, rain or shine.

When things were so bleak here, I touched base with Ana, my friend, and former neighbor. She and Lou moved from here to San Antonio, and while I heard a lot about what was happening in Houston, and Dallas, nothing was said about SA. They seemed to have everything Houston had but not on such a severe scale. She mentioned being without heat, rolling brownouts, etc. It didn’t sound much fun!

(2/25) I feel like this is a running weather report but we’ve finally had a whole week of sunny, warm days. David came over on Monday for some Rosie time and we decided that it would be a good opportunity for Drinking Liberally to meet in person again. We gathered on our usual porch at Frazier Park on a lovely Wednesday afternoon. About 13-14 of the usual suspects attend and everyone was so happy to be able to meet up again! We may not be able to do so next time but we made the most of our nice weather while we have it.

After Mr. Welzant passed away, Reyna decided to go to Mexico for a short break. She got to the airport and discovered that her passport had expired! Since then, I have been meaning to check mine as I had no idea when it expired. Sure enough, it expires this April. There is no panic since I won’t be going anyplace soon, but had that not happened to Reyna, I never would have thought to check it. Needless to say, I’m in the process of renewing it.

I was consistent in adding recipes to the recipe page of the blog right up until I stopped, at which time I removed the page. However, I have added the page again along with three new recipes. My two additions were Spinach and Artichoke Enchiladas (with a red sauce) and Black Bean Sweet Potato Enchiladas (using salsa verde). Jan sent a recipe for Bolognese with Mushrooms and Walnuts. I haven’t tried it yet but it’s next on my list. It sounds delicious and I’ve added it, too. If you have any vegetarian favorites, send them along and I’ll be happy to include them, and I will make more of an effort to add. I'm always happy to try new things.

I hope everyone is safe, well, and vaccinated!!

I get my second shot on Saturday.

Excitement!

 

This winter has been colder and darker than usual and we have now added FOG to the repertoire!. We have had weeks of that and I find myself sleeping in later and later because the sun is not blasting through the blinds to awaken me. With the pandemic, there is also not much to get up and rush to, so I guess it doesn’t matter. Even when I sleep late and go to the kitchen for my coffee, I have to turn on the kitchen light. Too dark for me! I know I shouldn't complain as there has been snow in parts of the UK, even in Seattle....but, this is South Carolina!

Saturday, Feb. 6 – Today I got the Covid vaccine (Moderna). I wanted to take Rosie with me to get her more accustomed to riding greater distances, but I wasn’t sure of the setup. It turned out to be a drive-thru and I could have taken her. Anyway, it went very smoothly. The check-in was easy (with the printout I had) and the National Guard kept things moving. The nurse who administered my shot had been there since 7 AM and it was cold and drizzly. She put her hands to the heat vent of my car to warm up a bit before going to draw the injection for my shot, In the meantime, I ramped up the heat and had the car toasty warm when she came back to give me the vaccine.  I invited her to warm her hands for a bit before moving on to the next car. After that, we were observed for 15 minutes and instructed to blow our horns if we had negative reactions. During that time, we were scheduled for our second injection (3/6/2021). When I go for that, I’ll take Rosie along for the ride.

While I was being observed for 15 minutes, I called Herban Market and ordered and B (tempeh) LT wrap. The timing was perfect and I picked it up and parked with a nice view of the waterfront to have lunch. It was delicious. I can’t remember the last time I was in Beaufort so I just took the time to drive around the town for a while. It seemed like a treat! When things really open again, I will appreciate being able to come and go as I like….and explore old haunts.

The rest of the weekend was spent watching After Life with/by Ricky Gervais. I’d heard a lot about it and my only complaint was the language. Sometimes, once they’ve used the F-word (not Falafel!) within the first 10 minutes, things settle down. Not in this case, which I felt was a shame. It had delightfully quirky characters and some poignant moments. I think he discredits himself with the language and I hope he will move away from that….IMHO.

Monday, Feb. 8 – My excursion into Beaufort AND an upcoming special event motivated me to go shopping! You know that I’m not a shopper, and the pandemic adds to the reticence, but I needed something presentable for Saturday. I was looking for something to nicely cover the pounds I’ve put on. To justify that, I’d been through my winter clothes with a heavy hand and have 6 bags of clothing on the floor of my closet. My plan is to have noticeably fewer clothes but things that fit and feel comfortable. I went to Chico’s, Belk’s, and Aiden Lane. Chico’s had a top that I liked but not in my size. Belk’s is bankrupt and everything was on sale but I found only one thing that I liked. Then, Aiden Lane worked – there was no one else in the shop the entire time I was there, the young sales lady was wonderful, AND the dressing rooms were open (with no one around). I came away with four pieces that I really like, AND I enjoyed the experience, which isn’t often the case. So, I’m set through the rest of the pandemic!

The Excitement! On Saturday, February 13, after 24 years together, Tippy and Kieran got married. It all happened very suddenly. Several weeks ago, Tippy had an appointment in Bluffton and asked if she could stop by....she had some good news she wanted to share. I actually thought that they might be getting married. Needless to say, when she confirmed that I was delighted, as have been all of their friends. At that time, she didn’t mention a date and I didn’t think to ask. When I saw her about a week later, I did ask if they had set a date. Her response was, “Saturday!” It all happened that quickly. It was a lovely gathering. Due to Covid-19, it was held outside on their front porch with about 10-12 family and friends in attendance. Even though it was a very rainy day, the sky held until the ceremony was over and a champagne toast was made. They wrote their own vows which were both serious and humorous (you know Tippy!).  The house was full of flowers and the table was set beautifully. Before going inside, everyone masked up and filled their plates before finding a socially distanced spot to enjoy the food. I ate out on the porch with Annie and Ivan, Tippy’s friends from Asheville. It was all topped off by the cutting of the cake, which was as delicious as it looked. It really was a joyous occasion that brightened the year of the pandemic.

The Birthday Continued!

Monday, Jan. 25 - The birthday celebration goes on!  Tippy and I were to get together for lunch but she got an appointment for a Doppler scan at 1 PM. That definitely took priority, but she came by afterward. The scan showed no other clots!! She had also spoken with her nephew who is an ER nurse and got encouraging information. Together, that is all good news.  In addition to that good news, she gave me a beautifully illustrated book titled "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse."  In addition to the charming animal characters, it is filled with wonderful messages. I am thankful for the book and Tippy’s good health information, and not necessarily in that order!

Shortly after Tippy left, I took Rosie for a walk. As we were nearing home, I saw this little van pass. I waved, as I always do, and lo and behold it turned into my driveway. Rosie, knowing that people get out of cars, picked up the pace so as to get some attention ASAP. Little did I expect that it would be flowers for me from Jim and Anthony! They are absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for thinking of me. That made my day!

Also, after my birthday post, I received birthday wishes from Pam, whom I hadn’t heard from in ages. She does follow my blog (Thank you, Pam) and I’m so glad she got in touch. In her first email, she talked about seeing the video of our protest at the local republican gathering. With her permission, I’m sharing it with you. You have heard so much from me other the years and I think Pam’s reaction confirms how many of us are affected by all that has transpired over the last four years, as well as the craziness that continues. You can read it HERE.

Thursday, Feb. 4 – I’m happy to report that I just scheduled my vaccine injection for Saturday at noon in Beaufort. Over the last few days, I’ve applied at several websites and finally received a confirmation email from VAMS (Vaccine Application Management System, or something like that) which allowed me to register and select a date and time. The first few locations within 10 miles didn’t have anything until April. I searched further away (20 miles) and went down the list, finally finding a clinic in Burton (near Beaufort) for Saturday! I figured I couldn’t do much better than that. It will also allow me to pick up lunch at Herban Market, one of my favorite vegan restaurants. I’m happy to have this scheduled and I hope they will schedule my second one before I leave the clinic. Am hoping that all goes well!

Have you had your vaccine yet? I’d love to know how things are going in other areas. I think I read of FB that Jean (and Doug, I assume) in the UK had theirs some time ago. In any case, I hope everyone is safe and well and that we will all be through this soon.