Flowers From A Stranger

Song - Where Have All The Flowers Gone by The Kingston Trio

A large FedEx delivery van pulled into our driveway this morning and Mr. B was there to greet him.  He walked back into the kitchen with this massive box of flowers and a puzzled look on his face.

Mr. B said "these flowers are for you......but..........I.......didn't......buy........them............"



I should of played along for awhile but the look on his face was melting my heart.

We are having a 90th birthday party for my mom in a few weeks and I had bought them online a few days ago to see what kind of quality they were for $1 per stem. YES - $1 - the business is called Dollar Hydrangea and they are flown in from South America.  As you can see from the photo above they come a little squished in the box but just give them a gentle shake after you remove the packaging and they fluff right up!

 The stems are all tightly rubber banded with water sacks so all you need do is re-cut the stems and place them in tepid water. 

Then E...N...J...O...Y!

 The minimum you need to purchase is 40 stems and free shipping. 

I now have four and a half large arrangements that are beautiful.

Some friends on Instagram turned me on to this company. The company offers two types of white flowers, two of blue flowers or two of lime green flowers.

I got them all cut and placed in vases around the house, then I looked out my back door.

Zipper the squirrel is a gymnast now.....don't even get me started with this guy!

"When I walk with you

I feel as if I had a

flower in my buttonhole."

--William Makepeace Thackeray

You Know What They Say?

Song - Smokestack Lightening by The Yardbirds

They say that lightening doesn't strike twice in the same spot........but that's just a myth.

Because it does!

At least Hummingbirds flying into my house does happen....

....twice!!

On Christmas morning this little sweetie above flew into my office.

And this morning this little peanut flew into our bathroom.

Boy was I shocked when I opened the door!

I handed him to Mr. B and off he flew so happy to join his buds.

"Spread you wings

and let you spirit soar." 

--unknown

The Bandits Are Back

Song - Blackbird by Paul McCartney

The berry bandits that is.......Cedar Waxwings with their marvelous bandit masks on!

 They usually appear near the end of January as that is when the Privet berries ripen.

 Today happened to be a nice sunny day and as I set up my camera even more birds began to arrive.

I was outside taking these photos for about half an hour.

 Suddenly they all flew off as a small sized hawk flew directly at them!

 This isn't a great shot but it does show the bright yellow tail tip and the red wax color
under their wings. And that's how he got his name - "Waxwing"

 The hawk came in so swiftly that I didn't even get a change to take his picture.

It's been several hours now and the Waxwings have not returned.

Hopefully tomorrow but it's supposed to rain.

"Faith is the bird that feels the light 

when the dawn is still dark."

--Rabindranath Tagore

Put the Lime in the Coconut

Song - Put The Lime In The Coconut by Harry Nilsson

 Or better yet put the lemon and vodka in the fettuccine!!!

On New Year's Eve Mr. B cooked me a yummy dinner as we had decided to stay home and have a low key evening together.  We had a recipe for Meyer Lemon and Vodka Linguine from our friend John  and I had another recipe for Fettuccine and Asparagus with Lemon Vodka Sauce.

Mr. B has a hard time sticking exactly to any recipe and decided to blend the two and add a touch of his own magic. 

Goodbye 2018 Lemon and Vodka Fettuccine with Asparagus


3 large Meyer lemons, the zest of one and juice of 3
1 pt. half & half
3/4 c. vodka
2 T salt
1 lb. fettuccine
1 T butter or olive oil
1 bunch of asparagus, cut into pieces and blanched until al dente
1/2 t freshly ground black pepper
4 T fresh dill
1 sm. onion or leek diced
1 T garlic diced
6 oz Parmesan cheese - freshly grated

Grate the zest from 1 lemon, squeeze out the juice of all three. Soften onion and garlic in olive oil or butter.  Add 3/4 c. Vodka & reduce by 2/3rds. Add the cream and simmer for 5 minutes until it thickens. Meanwhile, bring water to a boil, add salt and cook your fettuccine until al dente.  Add asparagus.

Add the cooked asparagus, lemon juice and zest to the vodka sauce and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Drain the pasta (reserving some of the water), add to the sauce and toss.  Season with pepper, dill and Parmesan, stir. If the pasta is dry, add some of the reserved pasta water.

Top with Nutmeg if desired.

Serve extra Parmesan on the side.


Serves 4-6
1 hour prep and cooking time
Pre-cut and measure as much as possible ahead of time as it all comes together fast.



Eaten while watching The Thin Man series......Happy New Year!

"Waiter, will you serve the nuts? 

I mean, will you serve the guests the nuts?"

--Nora Charles from The Thin Man

Frequent Flyer

Song - Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band

New Year's morning we woke to the shrill of hawks calling to each other.  Some were far away in the valley and some were in our own backyard.  I looked out from the deck and saw this guy in a dead tree down our creek.  His tail looked like a raccoons.

He let me get quite close but kept and eye on what I was doing.  After about 40 photos, my bare feet were beginning to freeze to the ground but one second later another hawk flew into a nearby tree. They are Red-shouldered Hawks and smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk.

She was a bit smaller than the first hawk so I am assuming this one is female and the first is a male.

He watched her as she called to him and then they both flew away together.......how romantic to start 2019 off with a whirlwind romance!



"If you want to make God laugh, tell her your plans." 
--Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

A Wild New Years Eve

Song - Celtic New Year by Van Morrison

On New Year's Eve Day Mr. B got us some great yummy sandwiches from our neighborhood deli Morucci's and I packed a picnic basket with Prosecco, linen napkins, crystal goblets, chips and cookies.  We picked up my mom & her sweet dog Buddy and headed to Danville.

Past the town of Danville and out towards Mt. Diablo where there is still farm land, cows, wild turkeys, deer and sheep.

Did I mention that the sky was a brilliant blue but it was cold and oh so windy?  Brrr......it truly felt like winter! 

Our destination was the Tassajara One Room Schoolhouse on Finley Road because I knew it had picnic tables and some history that my mom probably did not know about. But it was oh so cold!

Mom spotted a little wooden table inside the "garage" so that we were protected from the wind but could stand in the sunshine and eat our lunch.

Narcissus bulbs surround the property and are about to burst out.  Buddy sniffed and explored but even he was chilled. We popped the bubbly and toasted to the New Year then.....

...... we took a quick little photo shoot while the wind whipped our hair and we hurried to the warmth of the car.

And enjoyed the Oaks and hills with the heater on!

....and the variety of animals nearby......(one is a lama and the rest are goats or sheep).

"Can you remember who you were, 

before the world told you who you should be?" 

--Danielle Laporte

A Hummer of a Christmas

 Song - Dueling Jingle Bells by the US Navy Band

'Twas the night before Christmas.......and Santa came to visit to the delight of all the children and even some of the adults! The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.......

....and on Christmas morning our three boys and Ashley, Monica, Jacque and Chewy arrived with a twinkle in their eyes............

............and some of them dressed festively for the occasion with outfits from previous years.

We had just settled down to open some presents when out in my office there arose such a clatter.....I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter.......Away to the office window I flew like a flash, closed all the shutters and threw up the sash. When what to my wondering eyes should appear.....

.....but a miniature hummingbird so lively and quick....

Trapped and frightened and we all had different ideas on how to help him back outside.....we opened the windows & took off the screens, opened the doors, gently trying to herd him to the openings, perhaps with a net suggested Mr. B?  As the poor little creature flew near me I gently reached out and caught him in my hand.

His eyes how the twinkled, his nose - what nose - his head and neck like a cherry and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself! A wink of my eye and a twist of my head......told the little creature he had nothing to dread.

We all walked outside while I released him and away he flew, like the down of a thistle.  But I heard him exclaim, as he flew out of sight....Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

"A hummingbird is just like a regular bird......

except it doesn't know the lyrics."

--John Brown

The Big Night

Song - Tarantella by Beppe Gambetto, Carlo Aonzo & David Grisman

On Saturday night our family had a cousins reunion......

let me introduce you to the Malacarne Family!

These are my grandparents, Art & Sophie Malacarne.  They had four daughters and each daughter had three children - my cousins.  The cousins spent a lot of time together growing up because the sisters were so close and........we're Italian. So they are more like my siblings than my cousins.  Great memories there!

 This photo was taken at the family cabin in Lake Tahoe with all twelve grandchildren and our Grandma Sophie (on the right) and her mother Grandma Mary (on the left).

Can you tell we had fun together?

 For many years Art & Sophie would host a Christmas get together on Christmas Day but the families grew too large once we started marrying and having children of our own.  But we still have that Malacarne bond. So every 5-10 years someone would host a reunion, usually in the summer months.
Last year the "boys" decided to host a Christmas party at a local restaurant. 

It was great to get together but the sitting arrangements were to tight to get up and go visit anyone else other than the people sitting next to you.

So Saturday night it was the cousins turn to host and invite the two remaining daughters - my Aunt and Mom at a new place that turned out to be perfect!

Being the family historian, I was in charge of the slide show and music for the event. Six hundred and sixy-four photos later.........they are still talking to me!

We have aged just a smidgen since the photo above in Lake Tahoe.

 But we still enjoy each others company and getting caught up on family events.  Even the "out-laws" have fun. (They are the SO's who are honorary cousins)

A great night and thanks to those "boy" cousins who know how to throw a proper shindig!!!

 Love each and everyone of you!

"The bond that links your true family 

is not one of blood, 

but of respect and joy in each others life."

-- Richard Bach

Giving Thanks

Song - Take Me Home Country Road by Shaney-Lee (7 years old)

Falling leaves

hide the path

so quietly

--John Bailey 

Hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving Day with family and friends.