Skywatch Friday - March 24, 2016

It has been raining so much, it would seem like the California drought should be at an end.  Gray skies continue to be the norm with an occasional bright sunny day to remind us that we shouldn't bemoan this monsoon-like rainfall.  When I was up in Sacramento this past weekend, visiting my two grandchildren - and their parents, of course, I was amazed to see the water level of the Sacramento River, with trees almost to their tops, under water!  Soon, with spring arriving in full force, the river will go down to its more normal levels  and the rice paddies will be planted.  

I am participating in 

Skywatch Friday.

Point your camera toward the

heavens and join in the fun!

Skywatch Friday - It Looks Like Rain - February 25, 2016

While California is still suffering from drought conditions -
and outdoor watering is being restricted - gray skies such
as these over my San Mateo neighborhood have dumped
much needed rain.  It is wonderful to see the reservoir along
Interstate 280 fill with water.  

I am participating in 

Skywatch Friday

Add your photo and join in the fun!

Monday Mellow Yellows - Schubert Bakery, San Francisco, CA - February 21, 2016

I came across this photo, taken four years ago, when Warren Fukushima, my friend of over fifty years, left the warmth of Hawaii, to visit me in San Francisco.  We stopped for coffee and a sweet treat at Schubert's Bakery on Clement Street.

What a spectacular place that was!  I had the hardest time
deciding what to eat.  I've often thought of returning but, thus far, I've managed to resist the temptation.

The bakery case was filled with so many yellow confections, perfect for Monday Mellow Yellows!

I am participating in:

 Gemma Wiseman's 

Monday Mellow Yellows

Welcome to the World, Isaac Vukasinovic - February 9, 2016

Much to my consternation, I didn't make it to Roseville,

California Kaiser Hospital in time to greet my new grandson.  After one false start last week, Alex and Laura decided not to call until Laura was actually admitted to the hospital and, since the Sacramento area is a good two plus hour drive from San Mateo, traffic and weather permitting, I arrived after his debut.  Much to her relief, I'm sure, Laura's labor was pretty brief and sweet Isaac was all swaddled and resting comfortably in his daddy's arms when I arrived.

With both children, Alex and Laura declined to know the sex of their baby in advance.  I was so delighted that their firstborn, Harper, was a girl.  Having given birth to THREE sons, I wanted the delight of having a girl in the family.  This time, I wanted a boy!  How nice of Alex, with his determining chromosome, to accommodate his mother!

Isaac Vukasinovic arrived at 0054 on February 6, 2016.  He 

weighed in at 7 lbs. 15 ounces and was 20-1/2 inches long. 

Both uncles were waiting with me at the Vukasinovic home when the baby arrived.  We had a celebration though Isaac slept through most of it.  His "big" sister, Harper, was clamoring to hold him and, occasionally, with mom carefully supervising, she was allowed to do so.

Uncle Jeremy ( left ), Uncle Shawn ( in his Air Force uniform ) and dad, Alex ( right )

Uncle Jeremy ( who will start his new position in Chicago next week ) with his nephew

Harper LOVES her uncles!

What beautiful smiles from Mommy and Harper!

I wish I weren't living so far away in San Mateo.  I hope I can 

get to Sacramento a few times before my departure to India

on April 13th.  I will fly first to Tampa, with my good friend 

with whom I've been staying.  After a three day visit with

Charlene Payton, my friend of over 45 years, Kris and I will board Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas ( my first cruise in over five years ), for a two week transatlantic crossing which ends up in Barcelona.  After five days there, Kris and I will fly to India.  She will stay with me for six weeks - I am so excited to actually have a friend with me in India.  We'll go to Goa and Jaipur and some other places.  I haven't planned our complete itinerary yet.  She returns to the U. S. mid-June but I'll stay on in India till around the first of November.

By the time I get back home, baby Isaac will be so different. I'm hoping Alex will be better about Skype than he has been in the past!!!

The Video of the 173rd Basic Academy of the Oakland ( CA ) Police Department - February 3, 2016

My middle son, Alex Vukasinovic, graduated from six months of training at the Oakland Police Department on January 8, 2016.  I've never seen him more dedicated to completing anything.  It was especially difficult because Oakland is eighty miles from his West Sacramento home.  He had to go from being a very hands on father to studying for hours, commuting, often staying overnight at his older brother's home, when there were late night commitments.

He did it, though, and we were so thrilled on graduation day.
I saw this video at graduation but, in the excitement of the occasion, with family around, laughter and glee, it didn't impact me as it did just now, watching it alone.  I have to admit, I shed a few tears.
  
Congratulations to all you young men and women who made it through, even the experience of being tasered and tear gassed.  I pray you absorbed all you needed to make you the best officers possible.  Even more so, I ask God or the gods, depending on your beliefs, to always have your backs, your
fronts and each other.

Again, Alex, I can't tell you how proud I am of you - as I am of Shawn and Jeremy, too.

Well, I tried to embed the video on my blog ( Oakland PD allows it ) but, somehow, I couldn't figure it out.  I guess I should have consulted my brilliant Indian IT professional,

Shiju Sugunan.

At any rate, I'll just post the link and you can see it that way.  It's on the Oakland PD Facebook site, on the left side of the page as you view it, under video.  I see Alex several times in the film...with his "Vukasinovic" sprawled across his back on this sweat shirt or work out gear.

If you watch it, say a little prayer for these young officers, that they make it to retirement, without mishap, and put a lot of bad guys away.

https://www.facebook.com/Oakland-Police-Department-391011254354978/?fref=ts

Viognier, San Mateo, California

While I was definitely feeling gratitude this year on Thanksgiving ( six days after my right total shoulder replacement and not feeling that terrible arthritic pain anymore ), I didn't feel like a two hour drive to Sacramento for a family gathering.  My arm was still in a sling ( for another five weeks ).  

My dear friend, Kris Bleything, who had welcomed me back from India and offered her home to me, agreed we should dine somewhere locally in the San Mateo area.  She left the choice of restaurants up to me so I spent an hour or so reading reviews and finally picked Viognier.  I liked the menu and their wine list was excellent.  I figured I might have to drink dinner since my right hand was pretty ineffective at cutting meat!

We opted to go early which was good.  Draeger's, the gourmet market that houses Viognier, was not open, so we were given instructions to park in the garage and to phone up for someone who would bring the elevator down to us.  

The restaurant was bright and airy, with light woods and huge flower arrangements of blue hydrangeas.  

It wasn't crowded at that time and we were seated by the crackling fireplace and had an energetic, cheerful server who made excellent suggestions.

I hadn't thought to consider that Viognier might be serving a set menu for Thanksgiving.  I had already looked at their regular online menu and chosen my meal for the evening.  Not so.  Kris was happy to have turkey and dressing but I opted for a meal and an appetizer of pork!

My very good Sazerac cocktail!

A champagne cocktail - lovely but I can't recall its ingredients

We had a long leisurely lunch, enjoying the fire, our meal and an excellent bottle of California pinot noir, recommended by our server.

Turkey and dressing - with a turkey sausage, for good measure

My pork appetizer

Pork, again

I really should have ordered something different.  The pork was delicious but appetizer and entree were so much alike, I found myself craving fish at the end!

Our fine pinot noir

Bread pudding - out of this world

There was a second dessert but I can't seem to find a picture of it - a heavenly pumpkin pie cheesecake.  We must have consumed it so quickly, I forgot to snap a picture...or my phone battery protested.  

It was a nice lunch/dinner but very expensive ( $250 ) and I think both Kris and I missed being with family - though she is like a sister to me.  I was longing to hear little Harper, calling out "Nana."

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 - Winter Shadows in My West Sacramento, California Neighborhood - January 25, 2015

It's been down to freezing during the winter months but the days warm up to the 50's.  The trees are still bare and their
naked branches make interesting shadows on our bright
sunny afternoons.

I am participating in

Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Add your shadow shots 

&

join in the fun!

Sundays in My City - Homeward Bound in Seventeen Days: I Love You

Coastal Scene Near Pacifica, California

Well, really, it's hard to say where home is nowadays. I have spent about as much time in India as I have in California over the last three years.  If I could establish some sort of
residency, open a bank account, and get health insurance, I would actually live here most of the time and go home twice a year for two months.  Why? Mainly because it is affordable .. and I like this country. I have so many friends here, from youngsters to people my age, get very reasonable massage, can die here without spending a fortune for cremation and departure from this earth and they have some amazing, reasonably priced hospitals as well.  I can eat inexpensively, find someone to clean, cook, wash and iron for barely a dent
in my retirement income and participate in any number
of wonderful festivals that take place.  

The downside, of course, is that my three sons live in
California and so does my daughter-in-love, Laura, and my sweet granddaughter, Harper Ann,and the two granddogs.  In spite of Skype,not one of them seems predisposed to stay in touch with me that way - though, when I am in the U.S., my Indian friends always keep in touch  via those modalities or Viber, We Chat, etc.  I am a woman of the internet. Air fare is costly between the two countries, often $1000+ round trip and it is a long journey, sometimes 25 to 30 hours.

Jal Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

I've been very pensive the last week or so, acknowledging
that I am aging and may not be able to continue to keep up this international travel forever.  Words for a poem came to mind so here it is.

I Love You

The days rush by too quickly,

Minutes go so fast.

Those we love pass through our lives, 

The treasured times don't last.

Do we pause to cherish them,

While we have the chance?

Or does God take them from us,

While we look askance?

Three simple words, "I love you,"

Are not so hard to say,

We may feel them very often,

But not say them day by day.

I often feel the anguish of a friend,

And his overwhelming pain,

At the death of one most cherished,

And words cannot be said again.

The world would be much happier,

If we'd take time, now and then,

To tell our loved ones how we feel,

From family to special friend.

Carmen Henesy

November 12, 2014

I am participating in

Sundays in My City

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Look Up, Look Down Challenge, Week 52 - Follow the Signs - Thursday, August 14, 2014

This is one of my favorite signs of all time.  It's posted in a little fish and chips place,
Briitsh to the core, called Camelot in Pacifica, California where I have lived for part
of my life.  I've been in that area for all of the 35 years I've spent in the San Francisco
area and I just love its proximity to the Pacific ocean, though it can definitely be
engulfed in fog, at times.

I am participating in 

Follow the Signs

Join us!!

Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors - #136 - Pink San Francisco Victorian - July 7, 2014

San Francisco, California, the wonderful "city by the bay," which has been a part of my 
life for nearly forty years now, boasts the most incredible Victorian houses, many
of them with "whimsical windows, delirious doors."  I would often drive around for
several hours, with camera at the ready, snapping pictures, whenever something
wonderful caught my eye.

Here is but one of the incredible houses, referred to as "Painted Ladies."

I am particpating in

Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors - #136 

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Welcome Home, Shawn - April 10, 2014

Tuesday night, my oldest son, Shawn Smith, who is with the USAF Reserves, landed at the 
Sacramento airport, with part of his squadron of the AFRC 945th, based at Travis AFB,
California.  Shawn, who is a master sergeant, has been a reservist almost twenty
years now and had been deployed with his group to Kuwait for six months.  I
hadn't seen him in nearly a year, though, since I went to India in June.

We often miss each other like that.  In fact, Shawn, who was supposed to be best
man at his brother, Alex's wedding, was deployed to Germany one week prior and,
since the whole unit had to fly together, he wasn't allowed to delay for that special
occasion.  That's life, however, in the military - and he has spent a lot of his reserve
life on active duty - not that he's complained.  He likes the Air Force and has
enjoyed his years there, moving up the ladder to his present rank.

This is a photo of all three of my sons taken a year ago the night

Harper Ann was born.  Shawn, who some think resembles George

Clooney, is the shortest of the three.

I didn't get any pictures Tuesday night as they landed about 10:40PM.  Alex picked them
up at the airport while I stayed home to fix one of his favorite cocktails - also, my
favorite from New Orleans nursing school days: the Sazerac.  Before I moved out
of the house we shared when my job ended, it was often enjoyed when we weren't 
planning on driving anywhere.  One Sazerac is best when one doesn't have to 
drive and a good night's sleep is soon to follow!!!

Laura made chocolate chip cookies which were a perfect accompaniment to the
drinks and Shawn presented his niece with her gift from Kuwait:  a stuffed camel!!
Harper Ann woke up when she heard all the commotion.

For those of you who have never had a Sazerac, I am including the recipe I use.
One should really use rye whiskey, NEVER bourbon

I've adapted several recipes to my taste and this is how I make my Sazerac.  I
normally use Old Overholt Rye Whiskey ( 4 yr old ).  Another good rye is 
Rittenhouse.

-1 teaspoon absinthe or more, or Herbsaint (a New Orleans brand of anise liqueur)

  Two good absinthe brands are St George, Kubler from Switzerland and St.

   George from San Francisco.  Avoid absinthe from the Czech Republic.
-1 teaspoon of simple syrup (or 1 sugar cube or 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar) -

  I prefer the simple syrup since it dissolves completely - 1-1/2 parts of sugar to 1

  part of water brought to a boil and cooled - can be stored in the refrigerator for

  future use )
-4 dashes Peychaud's bitters
-1 small dash, a scant drop, of Angostura bitters (extremely optional; some feel it 

 helps open the flavors, but traditionalists may leave it out).
-2 ounces rye whiskey.
-Strip of lemon peel

Fill old fashioned glasses with ice to chill.  Discard ice and swirl absinthe in glass to

coat completely, then discard.  Blend with whiskey, bitters, simple syrup and an ice 
cube and stir.  Twist the lemon peel over the glass so that lemon oil cascades into the 
drink, then rub the peel over the rim.  The twist should NOT be put into the drink or as 
Stanley Clisby Arthur says, "Do not commit the sacrilege of dropping the peel into the 
drink." ( funny, but, most of the time, when I get a Sazerac in a restaurant, the lemon
peel is IN the drink! ).  Remember that the flavor of the absinthe should be there, but in 
the background.  It should not dominate.  If mixing ingredients in a cocktail shaker, stir 
gently but don't shake!!!

We enjoyed a couple of rounds of these and sent Shawn on his way back 

to Travis AFB, with a designated driver.  I had no problem sleeping Tuesday

night and dreamt of long ago student nurse days, Dixieland jazz, raw oysters,

and good times in New Orleans.

The following morning, Harper Ann was up bright and early, enjoying her Kuwaiti

camel from Uncle Shawn.

Good grief, Nana, isn't that enough pictures!!!

Skywatch Friday - Sacramento Sunset - December 17, 2013

I decided to drive around last evening to look at some of the Christmas displays.
Nothing however, rivaled, that put on by nature.  It was so spectacular, I had to
pull off the road and get out, camera in hand, to snap a few pictures.  Wish I had
been near the ocean!

I stayed, watching this incredible display, till darkness settled.

I am participating in 

Skywatch Friday

Add your sky photo and join in the fun.

UE's Weekend Challenge: Clouds - November 24, 2013

What a wonderful theme this week.  I have so many cloud photos, it was 

hard to choose.  These fluffy cotton puffs were clouds hovering above

Santa Cruz, California, one of my favorite spots to sit and have a glass of

wine and count my blessings.

I am participating in 

UE's Weekend Challenge: Clouds

Send us your shot of the heavens and join in!!