Carmen's Chronicles: July 2010

Saturday, July 31, 2010

A Grandma's Visit - Camera Critters and Pet Pride, Saturday, July 31, 2010

I went up to West Sacramento July 19th to spend three days with the newlyweds ( my

middle son, Alex, wed his beautiful, Laura, on May 7th ). It's hard to believe that two

full months have already passed since that joyous occasion. Since Laura works twelve

hour shifts as a paramedic and Alex has a bizarre work schedule ( 4AM to 1PM ) and

is still working on his degree, I went armed with some provisions for dinner the first night.

I made a big bowl of my special potato salad, marinated a London broil and baked a scrumption banana walnut coffee cake.

I was worried that my granddogs might not even remember me since I don't get to visit

very often. It was such a nice surprise to be greeted warmly by them. They are really

such sweet dogs. I always feel so guilty because I did not want the kids to get Taffy from

the shelter. I protested because she was a pit bull and I was fearful that she would be a

mean, agressive dog. She is the total opposite. She has the most gentle, loving

disposition.

Bucky and Taffy, my granddogs

Ouch, Bucky, stop biting my legs!

Bucky loves to play with rings, Taffy rarely play with him

Whoops, I'd better get this away!

I have to lie down to do this.

Maybe if I put my head on the ring, Bucky won't be able to get it away.

We hate it when Mommy leaves for work - she goes for too long.

Grandma, what is taking you so long at that computer? Pay attention to me!

I like to snuggle with my grandma.

Taffy: Don't I have pretty feet?

I'm getting depressed - Grandma's blogging, Mom's at work, and Dad's studying.

He's been working on that calculus for HOURS! Poor me.

Oh, boy, did Daddy say walk? I can sit nicely.

I'm waiting like a good boy for my leash!

Worn out from the walk.

I am posting this on Camera Critters and Pet Pride

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Motherhood - Flash 55 Friday, July 30, 2010

I bore three strapping healthy sons,

They're a source of so much joy,

I 'd hoped to have a little girl,

But knew only how to make a boy!

My oldest son helped so much,

As did Elmira, who kept our house,

For I often did the work of two,

So I'd survive without a spouse.

Carmen Henesy

If you would like to tell a tale in exactly 55 words, post it and go and tell Mr. G-Man

A very dear friend from India, Rohan Saraf, who is a bar manager for my favorite cruise line, Royal Caribbean ( before my job loss 17 months ago, I'd done 78 cruises in 15 years with them ), posted a video on Facebook yesterday. It addresses motherhood and I thought it was hysterical, even more so, because, having raised three sons to adulthood, I could so identify with it. Especially for all the mothers among my readers, I am attaching it here. I am sure fathers could also relate to it, as well. Pass it along to other mothers you know who need a laugh to keep going!!

Red Is... Alphabe Thursday, Rainbow Colors, Red, July 29, 2010

Well, we finally made it through the alphabet in Miss Matlock's classroom and it was great fun. I think we all did very well and we learned a great deal from each other. I thought we'd get a break but, oh, no, not with our teacher. She has us right back in the classroom, doing colors now. When will we get any play time in this summer??

This week is the color red. I am not sure what to write about red. I think I'm just going to

go through my picture files and try to find some red pictures. Some of these you may have

seen before in my blogs.

This delicious Dungeness garlic crab was dinner one night at San Francisco's Crustacean Restaurant. My son Jeremy and I both had one and there was nothing left on the plate when we were done but a pile of shells. It was absolutely delicious.

Red and white floral display at the Intercontinental Hotel, Miami

A lovely red rose

Sensoji Temple in Tokyo

A crab at Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market

Robin red breast

Red Bloody Mary

Strawberries at La Boquerria Market in Barcelona, La Rambla

Red winter berries

Red Is....

Red is...

the color of fiery flames,

of rageful anger full of disdain..

of passionate lovers sipping champagne.

Red is...

the color of chilis that blister one's tongue,

a sexy lipstick that make us feel young,

the wildest of lyrics that haven't been sung.

Red is...

a feeling of power that goes to one's head,

the violence of warfare that leaves thousands dead,

the hundreds of battlefields where soldiers have bled.

Red is...

a sign of emergency and a need to take care,

one should go cautiously if there is a red flare,

is often a sign that one should beware.

Red is...

the color of love and celebration,

it can be a source of stimulation,

and can liven up any presentation!

Carmen Henesy

I am participating in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday, Rainbow Colors - why don't you?

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Caribbean Sunset - Wordless Wednesday & Watery Wednesday, July 28. 2010

I am participating in Wordless Wednesday and Watery Wednesday.

Come and join in the fun!

Brunch at the Absinthe House, San Francisco - Ruby Tuesday, July 27, 2010

This is my first time to participate in Mary T's Ruby Tuesday.

Recently, my youngest son, Jeremy, and his lovely girlfriend, Katie, went up to the

Russian River for a memorial service for Katie's grandfather. They picked up Katie's

mom and brother at SFO, in my van, on a Friday night, and headed north for the

weekend's events. I was only too glad to let them have my van and it proved quite

handy for the large number of people who joined in the special family activities that

weekend.

To thank me, Katie's mom said they should take me out to eat ( would I ever turn
down an offer like that? ). I suggested we go to the Absinthe House in San Francisco
for Sunday brunch, a place I'd been to once before. I thought Katie might enjoy it and
maybe she could take her parents if they are in town sometime.

The Absinthe House, opened in 1998, on Hayes Street, at Gough, not far from City
Hall. It is styled after a French brasserie and serves lunch and dinner and weekend
brunch. Its bar is one of San Francisco's best and it serves some of the finest of the
old classic cocktails, along with exotic special creations.

Prices are a bit steep for someone on a budget - not a problem for me before my
job ended but it's a fun place for a splurge. I have only been there for Sunday brunch
and I haven't even looked at the menus for lunch and dinner. Reservations are a good
idea and parking in the area is always a problem!

The Absinthe House is on the corner of Gough and Hayes and traffic is quite

busy at 1PM on Sunday!

There is definitely lots of alcohol...but I wondered if the sunlight affects quality ( of course, San Francisco is often foggy - and, perhaps, there is very quick turnaround! )

This is a good Ruby Tuesday picture...pardon the glare from the sunlight!

The Absinthe House "Art of the Bar" Recipe Book

Pefect for Ruby Tuesday!

Doesn't this Bloody Mary look good?

It looks even better being held by this lovely lass, Katie! She's not only pretty, she's

smart. She just got her degree in industrial engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Here's my son, Jeremy ( it's the weekend, he wouldn't shave - or take off his glasses ) with Katie. Jeremy is my 25-year-old, 6'4" baby of the family! He does not especially

love being part of my blogs but, at least, his hand is not in front of his face this time!

My Ruby Tuesday Sazerac Cocktail - the drink of my youth in New Orleans!

Wonder how many of these I had as a student nurse? This is a very potent concoction!

Cheers, everyone!

Scrumptious deviled eggs with smoked salmon and caviar.

My dish - duck confit hash, poached eggs, arugula, sourdough toast - all heavenly.

Katie's wild mushroom omelet, roast potatoes, sourdough toast.

Jeremy's superb fried green tomatoes, poached eggs, roast potatoes -

better than any I've had in the South!

We didn't order dessert though we did check out the menu. If they had been serving pavlova as they did last time - or creme brulee, I might have been sorely tempted to find room somewhere in the far reaches of my tummy to fit it in, with a three way split.

Thanks so much, Joan, for the lovely treat. You can borrow my van anytime at all!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Cheerful Yellow Daisies - Mellow Yellow Monday, July 26, 2010

These wonderful daisies graced the steep hillside of a San Francisco Noe Valley Victorian house and yard that was also planted with bouganvilla, bird of paradise, and an assortment of other bright flowers.

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday - come join in the fun!