Category Writing

Decorating – Outdoor Furniture

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I went to the store to look for a small carpet to put under my bed. As I entered the store, I got the biggest SURPRISE. Look at this piece of outdoor furniture. It’s wonderful. I felt like I was suddenly on vacation in India or Thailand. It’s so unusual. I’m thinking it was a display model somewhere.

As I kept walking, another big surprise. I found this Cabana. I went from Asia to a resort in Hawaii. Outdoor furniture is getting fancy and luxurious. I’ve always wanted to fall asleep under the stars. Now, of course, there is the issue of mosquitos…

Guess what, this Cabana was manufactured in Poland by Rondo. They make furniture for restaurants, hotels, patio areas, etc. It’s very high end and durable, as you can see.

This was a fun shopping day. Ok, I didn’t find the carpet I wanted; however, I left smiling. These are beautiful pieces of furniture compared to my tiny umbrella and little beach chair. Ah, they will have to make due UNTIL I can go on that official tropical vacation.

A margarita is still calling me…

MUSHROOM coffee, oh yeah!

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Just when I thought we couldn’t get any healthier. My daughter introduces me to Mushroom Coffee. Yes, you heard that right – M U S H R O O M – coffee. I immediately thought of magic mushrooms, isn’t that a drug that is illegal. I got on Google.

The Four Sigmatic site says none of the mushrooms they use are illegal. Mushroom coffee will not make you hallucinate. Phew! It’s a combination of normal coffee and mushroom powder. You’d have to go to the site to learn more specifics.

How did it taste? Light, earthy (not like mushrooms) coffee taste. Not strong, mild. Definitely did not feel like I had a caffeine buzz of any sort. Light on the stomach, not acidic.

Would I drink it again. YES, but it’s expensive for every day drinking. Still need to learn more about it. Good to try something new. I cannot drink normal coffee anymore, too acidic, gives me stomach pains. So, trying to find that NEW favorite drink… lemon water seems BORING.

If you have tried it, share your thoughts.

Technology… and parents

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I saw this picture and thought of my parents. I am their new Tech guy.

I haven’t seen my parents for a few months, because of COVID. They are in their 80s, we’ve been vaccinated, so time for a visit.

I got to the door expecting a hug, so good to see you. Instead, I got a “Cheecholino (An Italian endearment, like darling. I spelled it like it sounds.), we NEED your help! This is an emergency. Netflix isn’t working! If you can fix Netflix, your father will say you are a HERO!”

My mother is very clever in her word usage. Build the ego up, and use my father as the one who wants Netflix working. So, I am put into childhood mode, this is a HIGH PRIORITY situation. YOUR FATHER WANTS THIS DONE. Hahaha…

No offer of tea or coffee. I was marched into the TV room, handed the TV remote. The idea here was this, while I just arrived — I would not be allowed to leave UNLESS I got Netflix to work. So, get THIS done, before I would be offered a refreshment.

My mother proceeded to tell me the password wasn’t working. They called Xfinity to reset password, again not working.

Here is what is amusing… As I was trying to type in password, my mother became a back seat driver. No, type like this — NO, this is a capital —- NO, NO, NO.

Getting a bit frustrated, I said if she needed help, she needed to let me do MY JOB!

Anyhow…. I did get Netflix working. I am a HERO.

However, just when I thought ALL WAS GOOD. My Dad tells me he’s lost all of his email contacts.

Guess what I will be doing next…. BUT this time, tea first! We know how long these tech projects can take. If my Dad is a back seat driver too, then I might need to SPIKE my tea!!

Ah – I need to be like the guy in photo – SERVICE WITH A SMILE!

Memories of my Italian grandmother…

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I enjoy knitting. I go through phases though, sometimes no knitting and other times I find knitting therapeutic. Not long ago, I was in a buy yarn, knit scarfs mode. Scarfs are easy. I wanted a pattern where I didn’t have to think about the pattern.

This scarf was easy and I loved the blue color. My Italian grandmother taught me how to knit. It was interesting, because she didn’t speak English, so I had to watch, try and look to her expressions for approval. I either got the “Si, bene (YES, GOOD) or “NO, guarda (NO, LOOK).”

I still have the small mustard colored ball of yarn she taught me with. It’s packed in my treasure chest of memories. Over the years, my treasure chest of memories has gotten smaller and smaller. Old letters thrown out, report cards (do we really need to keep those), old year books, photos (of no real importance)… you get the idea.

So, today, this post is in memory of my Italian grandmother (Nonina). I miss YOU!

In fact, for lunch I will make pastina in brodo. I loved when she made that for me!

MEMORIES — I look forward to traveling to Florence soon.

San Diego: Ships, Horatio Hornblower…

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When I was in San Diego I saw these two ships. I immediately wanted to climb aboard and stand at the helm like Horatio Hornblower OR Errol Flynn as the pirate. If you haven’t seen the Horatio Hornblower series (1998 – 2003), I highly recommend it. While it’s an older show, it’s not outdated. You will be engaged the entire time.

Take a look:

Here was another ship I saw. I didn’t have enough time; otherwise, I would have signed up for the tour.

It’s amazing to see these ships up close. A few years ago when I was in Sardinia there was a tour ship that was on the horizon. It looked BEAUTIFUL, I longed to see it up close there is such a mystery around these ships. In San Diego, I got my chance, they are a work of art. Intricate with all the details. I did not see a plank.

I hope you enjoy these ships as I did.

LAND AHOY!!

San Diego: “Save the Kiss”

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I came to San Diego for a few days. It’s quiet here, not so many people because of COVID. Also, the weather is cool and cloudy.

This is an amazing picture and a bit deceiving. It looks like real people. That’s the beauty of this statue, it looks real. As you can see it’s gigantic, I was amazed to see it.

Here is the description:

As I was walking, ZOLTAR spoke to me in a deep voice, asking to read my fortune. So funny. I almost put a $1 in to see what he would say, but I didn’t have the proper change.

I’m an Aquarius, I read somewhere that it is my Emerald year. I wish I could remember where I read that. Somehow the planets are aligning for it to be the year of Aquarius. When I think of emerald, I think of the Wizard of Oz, and going to meet the all powerful wizard.

After our crazy COVID year, I’d like to hear what the powerful wizard would tell me.

ZOLTAR – I might just find that $1 and hear what you have to say…. just for chuckles!

You’ve got to read this book, see the title…

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A week ago, I was bored with what I was reading. Good books, but they weren’t catching my attention. I’m sure you’ve been there. When we keep reading the same paragraph over and over, it just won’t sink in. I even fast forwarded to the middle of the book to read a few paragraphs – NOPE, my interest in the story was not going to improve.

So, I went to the online library and started browsing. This book by Jack Canfield / Gay Hendricks, You’ve Got to Read This Book!, came up. The title alone got me hooked.

I’m half way through, and I gotta say, it’s a good title, good book. Great stories of people’s lives, some hardships and/ or how they got where they are. Somehow, this book has my attention. I think I like the short story aspect and learning about different people.

Time to head to a bookstore…

Spring / Summer — going to the beach, longing for a book to actually hold and read. Miss hardcover books, too much online reading.

Here’s to exploring the bookstore and buying a new book!

ART NEWS – SOLD – World’s Largest Painting, $62M, Dubai Auction

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When I say, “world’s largest painting,” I mean Guinness World Record. Imagine 17,000 sq ft equivalent to 2 football fields or 4 basketball courts of art. That’s a lot of work. “The Journey of Humanity” consists of 70 art panels.

This is a fabulous story of Sacha Jafri, British Artist, who took advantage of COVID lockdown in Dubai to create a painting that would raise money for charity (disadvantaged children specifically). What is really wonderful and inspiring is that he included children’s art from around the world into his painting. His goal was to raise $30 million, he doubled that raising $62 million.

Crypto businessman Andre Abdoune from France purchased the entire painting. Abdoune plans to build a museum for this painting. So happy to hear this, because the painting as a whole tells a story of COVID, lockdown, children suffering, etc. It should be seen as “one” piece.

I’m not an art expert, so glad by chance I came upon this article. I wish the media would share MORE stories like this. It proves there is more LOVE than hate in this world. Do away with the negative media and our world would start to work together and flourish.

I look forward to hearing more about Sacha Jafri in the future!

IKEA – New Cookbook -> The ScrapsBook; Recipes using scraps / leftovers…

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The weekend is coming, maybe you have some leftovers from the week and don’t know what to do with them. I think you’ll enjoy this new cookbook from IKEA, The ScrapsBook. Different Chefs from North America create recipes out of kitchen scraps and leftovers. Enjoyed seeing some fresh recipe ideas.

They actually fry banana peels, they look like bacon. Trying to wrap my head around whether they would be tasty, they say they are. There are some interesting recipes in this e-book.

Oh, I loved the veggie pancakes they made with leftover stems from different vegetables.

HAPPY COOKING!

Quinoa Macaroni – really good!

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I came across these quinoa noodles and thought I would try them. I like quinoa, so in a noodle form they should be good, right. I made a mistake though. I didn’t read the cooking instructions. Thinking they were like normal pasta, I let them cook for over 6 minutes.

BIG MISTAKE! They went from al dente to super inflated and mushy. I looked at directions – 4 minutes for al dente. WOW – that’s fast cooking time, but it made sense, because normal quinoa cooks in 5 minutes. I would not have known they were quinoa noodles, very good.

They are really healthy, free of eggs, nuts, gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts and GMO. The GoGo Quinoa brand is Canadian. On their website they have other quinoa products.

On a side note, I also found Banza chickpea pasta. Have not tried them yet. One new pasta at a time. If my Italian grandmother was alive, I wonder if she would embrace these new pastas.