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."

New Year's Thoughts - From a Seventy-Year-Old! - December 30, 2014

I've just been reminiscing,

About great New Year's past,

I would dance the night away,

And have a merry blast!

I'd party hearty with my friends,

Raise my voice in "Old Lang Syne,"

And join the happy, rowdy bunch,

In a midnight conga line!

I'd wear a slinky, sparkly dress,

And heels, the six-inch kind,

And cleavage showing far too much,

Sexy BUT refined!

I'd see the New Year's sunrise,

Not ready yet for sleep,

And resolutions weren't for me,

Promises I'd never keep!

I'm lucky now to be awake,

When the New Year saunters in,

One martini and I'm asleep,

Much to my chagrin.

I'd love to find a partner,

To hold me while we dance,

He'd need strong arms and back,

Forget about romance!

I keep my cleavage covered,

Saggy boobs are best that way,

I do admit to vanity,

In covering up my gray!

I make one resolution,

To try to keep life fun,

To cherish those I've grown to love,

Till my New Year's days are done.

None of us can know, for sure,

When our sojourn here will end,

I'm grateful for God's gifts to me,

For each and every friend.

I wish my lovely family,

And friends both far and near,

Health, love and happiness,

In the coming year.

Carmen Henesy

December 30, 2014

Copyright Carmen M Henesy, December 30, 2014

Six Word Friday - Free - July 4, 2014

Happy 4th of July

Photo thanks to Bing Images, domain free

This is a day of celebration,

Of flags, families, fireworks, and friends,

Free and brave, we owe much,

Whisper thanks as this day ends.

We often take liberty for granted,

But I feel blessed every day,

 I was born in this country,

The best place of all - USA!

Carmen Henesy

copyright July 4, 2014 Carmen Henesy

I am participating in 

Six Word Fridays - Free

Join in the fun with your "six word" effort!

No Coal in My Stocking But a Flare Up of Kidney Stones - December 3013.

I spent the last two Christmases in far off India so I was looking forward to a 
change of pace and sharing the holiday with my bouncing, cheerful 
granddaughter, Harper Ann.  While all three of my sons would not be gathered
for the occasion ( Shawn, the oldest, is on Air Force duty in Kuwait ), Jeremy,
my youngest, drove up from San Francisco and we had a special Christmas
eve dinner at Laura and Alex's.  Harper Ann, of course, was the star of the
evening in her "waiting up for Santa" pajamas - though she was snug in bed
about 9PM.

I added a "baby's first Christmas ornament" with Harper's name on it to the 

tree which smelled wonderfully but was fast losing it's needles.  At 8-1/2-months,

Harper was easily diverted from the gifts by a shiny red bag filled with gold paper 

which kept her amused, no matter how often she reached for it.

Needless to say, with my three sons, football is going to be part of this young lady's

life.  Here she is sporting the San Francisco Forty Niners hat her Uncle Jer gave

to Laura.  Nicest of all is that Uncle Jer won the fantasy football pool this season

and donated it to start Harper's college fund.  I can't imagine what college will 

cost when she is a freshman.

Slowly but surely, there is a little bit of hair sprouting on that head.  She has bright

blue eyes and, for the most part, she's cheerful and happy - HOWEVER, Harper

can certainly exercise her lungs and let you know when she is displeased.

I just couldn't resist this little outfit - though she only got one day's wear out of

it.  After all, there is just one FIRST Christmas in a granddaughter's life.  I am so

glad I was home for the occasion.

Much to my dismay, however, early in the wee small hours of Christmas day, as

Santa was still soaring over the tree tops, I'm sure, I woke up with the first twinges 

of right flank pain.  They kept increasing in severity and, even after medication 

and drinking a couple of gallons of water, I knew I was in for a bout of renal colic.

I've had kidney stones for about fifteen years, have had lithotripsy twice withour

success, and have learned to live with them, for the most part.  If I stay adequately

hydrated, I'm usually fine but I guess I had been remiss with my water intake.  

For most of Christmas day and the next, I stayed in bed, missing most of the

festivities.  I did, however, manage to get up long enough for unwrapping of 

gifts and enjoying watching Harper Ann tear into the paper, ribbons and nibble

on all the gift tags.  While the rest of the family went off for Christmas dinner,

I stayed home with the granddogs and thanked my lucky stars I, at least, 

didn't have to head to the emergency room.

"Unlce Jer - sometime I call him Uncle J - says he is going to teach me all the

important  things like how to crab and fish and shoot a gun.  I ike it because he

reads to me from the Spanish books my mom buys.  He speaks Spanish

better than Dad or Nana."

"I know Nana was glad to have a granddaughter...she tells me that all the time.

I think she is worn out from having three sons.  Besides, I can wear cute clothes

like purple hats.  I like all my presents but I really liked chewing on the tags."

"Nana REALLY does take a lot of pictures...not just of me but of everything."

"Ohhhh, I knew this was a Spanish book - "El Camioncita Azul" or something

like that - because Mom said Uncle J had to read it to me.  Nana said that,

someday, he will take me to Barcelona, one of her favorite cities or, maybe,

even to Cuba!"

Well, that was my Christmas.  I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and that

it did NOT include coal or kidney stones.

Blessings and may 2014 be filled with love, properity, happiness and peace.

Camera Critters #264 - The Bees Are Buzzing - April 27, 2013

Today is a bit cool ( 54 degrees right now ) and a bit overcast ( I keep thinking
that I'll be sweltering in Mumbai's 100 degree temperatures in a month ) but
flowers are blooming everywhere and, with them, bees are cavorting and 
satiating themselves with nectar.

I'm excited because my brother, who lives in the Atlanta area, called and will
be out on Monday to see a client in Sacramento.  He'll stay over Tuesday to
meet his new great niece, Harper Ann Vukasinovic, who debuted on April 14th,
so I'll drive up Monday and have a couple of days with my granddaughter, too.
Wish Susan, my lovely sister-in-law were making the trip with him. I haven't
seen them since they were out for Laura and Alex's wedding which was three
years ago May 10th.  They will will celebrate an anniversary and Laura's first
Mother's Day!

I am participating in 

Camera Critters #264.

Add your critter picture 

and join in the fun!

Thanksgiving 2012

What a gorgeous day Thanksgiving turned out to be.  It was beautiful and crisp, 
sun shining and my youngest son, Jeremy, recovered from his liquid
celebration with his buddies the night before, decided he would drive.  That was
fine by me so I could take photographs as we whizzed along Interstate 80...that
is, we made good time as far as Fairfield when thing's slowed to a snail's pace.
The trip to West Sacramento, which normally takes two hours, was a tedious three
hour drive.  I kept thinking, though, at least we weren't driving on Indian roads,
dodging cows, camel carts, entire families on motorcycles, and monstrous 
potholes!  Ah, but I do miss India!

I picked Jeremy up at his San Francisco apartment building, near Japan Town,
about 11:30.  There were very few people out and about.   

  

Interstate 280 on my drive in from Daly City - not much traffic

Jeremy's apartment building - very quiet!

A few souls were playing tennis in the courts across the street and

dog walkers were reminded to pick up after their pets

San Francisco Victorian houses

A bit of traffic back up here

Heading over the Oakland Bay bridge - construction of the new

span is coming along

At the Carquinez Bridge toll booth

Ummm, a visit to the Napa Valley is in store soon!  Wine, wine, wine!

A little colorful foliage remains for me to enjoy!

I saw none in India so I was delighted!

So pretty...

Such nice scenery

A wonderful show for me

Isn't this tree a beautiful shape?

 

At last, we arrived at Laura and Alex's home ( my middle

son ) and, after 5 months away, my granddogs remember me!

Alex, 30 ( rear ) and Jeremy ( 28 ) in front

A wonderful red wine blend...I didn't even get the winery name...

we didn't wait for dinner to open it!

Alex, at the grill

Bucky loves the smell of the turkey on the grill!

Laura inherited my fine china and my mother's sterling silver

Checking out my detective friend's new Kimber semi-sutomatic pistol ( unloaded ).

He's promised to take me to a firing range to show me how to shoot.  I'm

not sure I want to do that.

Loaded or not, Bucky doesn't like it - guess he wouldn't make a

good police dog.

My baby - Jeremy, all 6'4" of him

My kind of Thanksgiving....I hardly had to do any work!

Always a lady, my granddog, Taffy

y 

Beautiful Dawn Lockhart - my oldest son, Shawn, has

excellent taste

Did I hear food in my dog dish?

Alex's backyard at sunset

My first born, Shawn, 41, with his lovely lady, Dawn

Dawn, with her chihuahua, Chiquita

Look how sweet I am, Grandma...who ever got the idea that pit bulls are mean?

Borrowing Jeremy's 49er's cap & sipping wine to keep warm

Bucky &;Taffy are exiled to the rug when folks are having a 

meal at the table...don't they look pathetic?

Bucky took over Chiquita's carrier which gave us quite a laugh!

My two youngest - they are actually both 6'4" - they

played high school football - Alex played in college and

Jeremy was a decathlete in college

Poor Laura, a paramedic, worked a twelve hour shift on Thanksgiving day but the

feast had her touches, that's for sure.  I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of the

food.  That is so unlike me.  I guess I was just too focused on the eating.  Believe me,

all the food was divine.  I wanted my friends in India to get an idea of what Thanksgiving

was like & I left that out.  Oh, well, stay tuned for Christmas.

I hope everyone had a very special Thanksgiving with family and friends.  That's what

the day is all about, after all.

,