Canning The Tell-Tale Signs Of a Depression/ Reccession or Down turn in the Economy.

It must be true, the sky is falling , all things are coming to a quick and dire end. It's obvious just look to the kitchen. The woman folk have taken to the ramparts and are preparing foods for the oncoming tide of misfortunes headed all of our ways. It seems to be happening here almost every weekend the fruits of this summers fields fill our kitchen with smells and aromas of pending doom.
The ripe pungent aroma of Italian Tomato Sauce, The tangy zest of red grape jelly. The tart sugary scent of appricot preseves. and let us not forget the heated tang of Jalapeno Jelly. This just names a few of the canned delights that came out of my kitchen in the past few months. I guess I should not say my kitchen as it primarily is Joyce's , Kristen,Tisha, Debby, Judiths kitchen than it is mine. I'm allowed in there at times and do relish those moments. I know it is tough for Joyce to cook for one, and she loves to cook and is a great cook.
As a matter of fact I've always been surrounded by incredible cooks. My Mom was awesome with pure home foods; fried chicken, mashed potatoe's, gravies of all sorts. Vegtables cooked were great and abundant and mostly from our backyard, as were the chickens and ducks and turkey's, I raised rabbit's, slaughtered them, packed them up and took them to our local Mom and Pop Grocery Store. Mom would also cook the rabbit;s, like fried chicken, and it was very good. Then I marrried my wife who's family is filled with good cooks.
Anyway back to the point of this missel the old tyme art of canning is still alive and well on 4723 Mascagni St. Pickles, Tomatoes, Jellies, Jam's we have frozen corn and string beans so we must be having a down turn in the economy the only thing we have not done is put wax on top of jelly and jam. I still love to cook , even when I can't eat and it is amazing how the smell of a paricular food can trigger a barrage of memorires. or the hint of a spice can make you recall a place or a person.
So the down side of not being able to eat or drink is not so down really it ia just another way of enjoying those senses in a different manner.

Another Day at UCLA Westwood

Another trip to UCLA Westwood for Surgery, I was very apprehensive about this time. Mainly after my last surgery at Community Memorial in Ventura. My wife was very concerned about me being intabated as I can not swallow and her concern was that I may vomit and aspirate on that. During that surgery they gave me a High Epidermal so no problem. That was not an option in this surgery. They had to knock me out.

Well I came through in flying colors and no nausea. however there is a great deal of pain. It started hurting on the drive home, and has gotten worse. Joyce gave a good dose of vicadin and that has taken the edge off along with an aspirin. Bone pain very deep and constant. I will be ok in a few days so there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I had my moral crew Joyce,Kristen, and Dakota with me Kris drove both ways Mom entertained Dakota, and Dakota entertained all the staff. Dr. Blackwell came in with an almost completely shaved head, I let him know it was not my favorite. It turns out it his ritual when he travels to Fiji to surf the big waves once a year. 20' waves so he said and he had a great time. Joyce was a rock as usual. Derek and Tisha will be over tomorrow. Derek would have come down also but I told him not to use a day off I would be fine. Great Hospital, Great Staff, #3 in the Nation and they are working hard to be #1 so they say. My fears are all behind me as they didn't say they saw anything new or to be concerned about. Knock on wood.

This pat weekend the Canning fools went at it again. They,being Joyce, Kristen,and Judith. The three of them knocked tomato's of various styles, a jalapeno jelly and grape jam. The home smelled terrific all day.

We have a new Driveway and Guess What Else ???

We finally made up our minds last month to go ahead and redo our driveway, porch, and North side walkway. We had been quoted way back in 2000, for this very project, and at the time the cost was way beyond what we were willing to afford. At this time it seems they are a considerably more eager to make a sale. We had received a discout mailer that we sent in. In short order we had a call and an in home appoitment. The salesman did his stick, and we said no at the price. He asked what it would take to sign up at this appointment,( there was the proverbial contest to win a trip to Cancun). Well I wrote a number on a piece of paper, which I was sure he would not accept. He said he had to make a call. When he came back and much to our surprise he said YES. It was less than a third of what we were quoted in 2000. Now we have a very pretty front. Joyce is dissatisfied with the curve on the north side, and the company is going to take care of her concerns.System Pavers did a great job, we had a few glitches, but they were handeled quickley and professionaly. So alls well that ends well. I would certainly recomend this company. They started at 3:30 pm on Thursday and they were done at 4:30 on Friday. The left overs were hauled off saturday morning. I even got to keep the left over pavers and have a nifty project out of the front planter bed and south side entrance.

Absolutely Nothing new is happening in my or My wife's life I was just kidding about that so there you are. What I did do is create a border around the front flower bed and a little entrance to the south side gate, with left over paver's from the driveway. It has been a great fun project over the past few days actually almost a week

Dakota's 6th Sleep Over and Great News !!!!!!!!!!!!

Well well Here we are again watching " Curly Top " not a bad movie. Our little Angel is sitting with Gaugee watching, after dinner and a bath. She is a pretty tired little girl. I knew she would love the pile of sand and dirt in the street which she did indeed. She raced up and down the pile. The pile was left after the paving job, it will be gone tomorrow but Dakota sure loved it today. My Word what a great afternoon and evening. We are all pretty yawnie tonight. I know that's not a word, but it describes us perfectly this evening, it has been a very fast week or so it seems to me.

We did have one near emergency right before dinner in her zeal to play Dakota rushed out of the kitchen into the garage, and pulled the door shut on her fingers, owwwweeeeee that hurt big time. Both Gaugee and I leapt to our feet and rushed to see what was the matter, with Dakota in Gaugee's arms she let Papa take a look at those hurt fingers, Whew all seemed ok and the crying had become sniffle's, and in another moment she wanted to see what something was on the key hooks. All was well, and dinner was served. After dinner there was a bath and then the movie and then she fell fast asleep right after the Movie, well almost. A couple trips to the kitchen and it was over for the night.

Gary Player ( The Golfer) Infamous Quote

While being interviewed on air, after winning a Senior Tournament he was asked what he thought of his putting performance over the Tournament. "Well if I had to choose between my Wife and my putter, well I would miss her. " I don't know why that struck me so funny today, but it did while working out back I would find myself chuckling out loud over it. It really isn't very nice, but there are a whole genre of male chauvinist jokes out there, much to the disgrace of my liberated soul I still find them funny.
The driveway/ Porch/ sidewalk is almost done another 2 hours or so the super. says. After a somewhat shaky start the project is zipping right along, and I really like the look, Now it must pass Joyce s eagle eyes. I think it will. I should have new pictures in a few hours of the finished product, as well as some of the during construction phase. Well as usual I'm wrong the curve on the right side is not as big an S as she had wanted. Oh well--------------- It's done and I do like it .

Speaking of things I like, today was one of those days that I have every few months. That is I think of food and my missing one of life's great pleasures. I think about the favorite meals I've had in my life. I used to love going out to dinner as well as Breakfast and Lunch, for that matter. Some of my favorite restaurants are "The Bruckenkeller" in Frankfurt Germany; start at 6:30 pm and finish around 11:00 pm What a meal a nice wait between courses time to talk and reflect on the past wine etc. The Western Rib House in Rancho Cordova incredible BBQ: Tony's in Ventura with the old staff , great everything and then apple pie ala mode with a warmed snifter of Grand Mairne, and Linda Fey on the keyboards; There were several restaurants in Sacramento; La Salles, Wolf's The Firehouse, The Herford House, to name a few. Here in Venura, the old Charthouse, The Sportsman, now The Aloaha. Santa Barbara Buchon's and the Mexican restaurant in the open air mall. Breakfast at the Deer Lodge, The Biltmore for Easter Brunch in Santa Barbara. Lunch at once was Tommy;s in Camarillo and then moved and became Jimmy's in Camarillo, as well as Chili Peppers, and The Crab House. Thats just a few of the many , but my point here is really what I miss, and that is Home cooking and Baking I love going out , but I really LOVE eating at home Here are a few of my favorites Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimings, Christmas Dinner with a Prime Rib, New Years with a Pork Roast, Black-eyed pas, and collard greens, mashed potatoes and gravy. Other Fav's Meat loaf, English eggs, Tuna on toast, Chipped beef on toast, Mom.s fried chicken My potato salad, and Chili, Liver and Onions,Pork chops,Beef stew, Navy bean soup, French Onion soup.

My Heart is Proud

My heart is proud, my soul is full. My Son sees me in a different light than I had thought. He strives and learns, by doing. I love him dearly.
My heart is proud, my soul is full. My daughter and her wonderful Husband have created a new life Dakota Lillie Moore.
How very fortunate I am My Daughter Tisha is expanding and growing. Trying lifes offerings with a real zeal. I'm going to quote a poem from my son to me. It truly touched my soul and moved me deeply. It is written from a time in our family's life that was both adventurous and turbulent. Idealic, and devastating. We as a family were living on our 30' sailboat the IRENICON in the Park Marina at Morro Bay California.

Slide the hatch back
but keep the 3 wood slats in,
stand on the top stepand pop my head out...
The cold pushes through me,
The storms darkness looms overhead,
the wind screams its presence,
the wet drapes itself over everything,
the sea sprayhits like tiny steel splinters.
The ocean roars in chorus with the wind,
The Irenicon chops into each swell,

A thick full beard,
a tan wool cap,
bright orange rain pants,
a heavy gray wool fleece,
the sleeves rolled up, like , always, no matter the weather,
blue and yellow rubber boots,

Both hands on the helm,
one leg up on the bench,
eyes squinted behind blurred glasses,
and a inner calmthat always made me calm,
Man against Nature
This is you from my etes... Dad Father, Friend