Temecula CA Wineries

Anne ,Karen and Dan and my husband Don

Temecula CA Wineries

Some readers may recognize our dear friends from our former hometown. From left to right, Ann worked as a teller for Don, and Karen and Dan were educators of our children. We met at the Ponte Winery Smokehouse Restaurant for dinner on Friday and I am going to add for our Ohio and Michigan fans, we had dinner outside.

Now that I got that in, I want to add the ingredients of a wonderful dip we were served with our bread. It has to be very healthy!

Olive Oil

Champagne vinegar

Garlic

Parsley

Chives

Sugar

Scallions

Salt and Pepper

Neighbors And Friends

Neighbors & Friends

Monday evening our neighbors and friends went to a nearby restaurant for dinner and a delightful evening. These folks make everyday so enjoyable while we spend summers on Lake Erie. One husband is my husband's mentor with the hot spot for catching fish and the other is a retired banker. Those are both areas of interest and great conversation for the men. Both wives are great cooks and homemakers and genuinely great friends who seem more like my sisters. They would always be there for you!

Friends

Friends

This past week we gathered with friends four different evenings as our summer nears an end in Ohio. I received an email this week with a quote, "the greatest gift you give yourself is a friend".

My Readers

My Readers

Today I would like to ask anyone who reads my blog to do one thing. Do it just for me.

1.) Click on comments.

2.) Type in the message "box" I am from and name your city.

3.) Click on anonymous. You do not have to sign up for tons of junk emails. It

doesn't happen.

I am trying to guage the worth of my efforts!

Happy Anniversary Harold and Lois!

Happy 70Th Anniversary Harold and Lois

Meet my friends Harold and Lois who just celebrated their 70Th wedding anniversary. Lois and Harold are some of those timeless people. Harold continues to work as a accountant one day a week and Lois with her many talents keeps herself busy, busy, busy. Lois continues to take art lessons. We have been the recipients of her beautiful works of art. The top photo is a watercolor of the cupola of the bank that my husband managed and retired in 2002. The middle photo is a watercolor which graces our breakfast nook. I recently visited with Harold and Lois. She showed me the diachronic glass made into pendants that were completed in one of her art classes. Lois is an expert seamstress as well as designer. Harold and Lois are two living examples of how we all want to be.

Happy Anniversary to a wonderful and most enjoyable couple who are much loved!

A Rare French Jewel Found In San Francisco

Peche Mignon

If you do not parlez francais, I will share, the name translated means guilty pleasures. Guilty NOT! When I visit San Francisco, a stop at Peche Mignon is a must. All of the merchandise is imported from France and I must say the quality is very very nice and reasonably priced for the high quality. There is something to be said for the French linens, the milled soaps, the gift ware. It is just fun to browse as the inventory is all such unique items. It never ends with just browsing!

I spent an afternoon visit today and found several unique gift items. How about candles which look like an asparagus stalk? The tea towels are of course the french linen and we have nothing that compares with the quality. I bought some food items, pesto and tea, which I thought we could sample tonight for dinner.

I highly recommend you go to the link above and scan her website. You won't be a "one time customer". Diane was so kind to pose for my blog photos. Thank you Diane!

http://www.pechemignon.com

Meet My Friend Laura.

Meet Laura

My friend Laura lives in Calgary, Canada. We met Laura and her husband Peter six years ago on our cruise through the Panama Canal. Since then we have kept in contact. Laura is visiting for ten days with her sister and brother-in-law who winter in Yuma AZ. We met today for lunch and had such an enjoyable visit. Comparing notes, we were both reading the same book so we had much to discuss. Everyone should be lucky enough to have Laura as their friend.

Our Farewell Dinner

Our Farewell Dinner

Tonight we drove to Escondido CA for a farewell dinner at our favorite haunt, La Pinata. Two weeks have passed so quickly and already we are planning the next visit. We have thoroughly enjoyed our friends visit and hope they can return soon.

Meet Uncle Bruce

Meet Uncle Bruce

Bruce is an uncle of our son-in-law Greg. We are all just one family so everyone calls him Uncle Bruce. Bruce a newly retired CPA who has always taken care of himself with daily exercise and diet has recently become a "Raw Foodie". Many of the theories behind this food preparation are exactly as I learned in my nursing program. As the body ages, the body secretes fewer digestive enzymes and our bodies receive fewer nutrients. Also, heat destroys the largest percentage of the food's nutritional value. For this reason nothing is ever heated beyond 110 degrees. So, there is never a meal that gets cold waiting for someone to arrive!!!

***

We were treated to a wonderful Gazpacho, and salad. Bruce fell off the wagon and ate some cooked food but states he is maybe just 80% Raw Foodie. Bruce was introduced to this concept about 9 months ago and it does have a period with the conversion.

Gazpacho

Blend the following ingredients until smooth;

1/2 cup water

2 Tablespoons oliove oil

5 large ripe tomatoes

2 gloves garlic

5 to 7 dates (raisins work well too)

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt

1 bunch fresh basil

Cut the following vegetables into 1/4 inch cubes;

1 large avacado

1 medium bell pepper

5 sticks celery

1 small onion

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and sprinkle with chopped parsley.