One Last Time: Thanksgiving in Yosemite

This year Thanksgiving was very different than our usual tradition, but then again these past 14 months haven't exactly been traditional, at least not for Max and me. As we get ready to leave California, we are doing "one last times". This was not only our last Thanksgiving here (OK, it's only our second) but we also celebrated it by giving thanks for beautiful nature, specifically Yosemite. Yes, we were there about a month ago with Matthew and Sharon, but this time we met Will and Brandy in a cabin just south of Yosemite. I'm going to miss being so close to such beautiful mountains and trees. We can drive north to Muir Woods- or the spectacular Avenue of the Giants- or south to Big Basin- or Big Sur- or to the west to lake Tahoe or Yosemite- the longest drive is 5 hours- and you see the most incredible, breathtaking, humbling experiences of God's spectacular creation. I'm going to miss this the most (except perhaps my Bay- I do love this Bay- and never tire of watching the boats come in and out- and the surf rise and fall)- But it is the forests that take your breathe away- again and again. So this Thanksgiving we met Brandy and Will to celebrate Thanksgiving in this most remarkable of places- Yosemite. Our first full day there was Thanksgiving Day, so with all due tradition, Will, Brandy and I headed for the park and Max stayed in the cabin to cook our dinner. Such a wonderful little wife I have! Actually it was her suggestion, and I think she really wanted to do it that way, or at least she insists that she did. For me it just isn't Thanksgiving if I don't spend the day in the kitchen- And I was determined- and I wasn't alone because Will and Brandy's two puppies kept me good company. So I cooked and cooked and cooked and cooked. Our Yosemite experience was a little different this time. The day was beautiful (at least at the start), but because of some snow and rain in the mountains, there was actually some water coming over the falls. It wasn't the crashing water falls the park is known for, but it was water and it was falling.

In the upper right corner of this picture you can just make out Bridal Veil Falls. That was our first stop in the Valley. We walked up to the bottom of the falls at the viewing area. Below is a good picture of how much water was actually coming over the falls.

On our last trip, Sharon and I climbed up to the very bottom of the falls where the water lands in a pool. It's a fairly rugged climb over big boulders and Will and I tried to do it again this time. But when we got close to the top the mist from the falls was too heavy making the granite surfaces very slippery. We got close, but couldn't get the whole way there.

Coming down was a new adventure too. Climbing down wet slippery rocks is a lot harder than climbing up them. So Will and I had to carefully find a less difficult path back down. Below Will is demonstrating some of the skills he learned as a combat rescue officer as he walked the plank down the rocks.

The surprise of the day was that Yosemite Falls also had water coming over it. On our previous trip the falls were only represented by a water mark on the granite wall where the water normally falls. This time you can actually see water on the 1430 foot upper Yosemite Falls. The picture below was taken quite a ways away from the falls, just so I could get both the upper an lower falls in the same picture will Will and Brandy.

The picture below was taken about 300 feet from the base of the lower falls, which are themselves 320 feet high.


When Don, Brandy and Will got back to the cabin it was time for THANKSGIVING. We had to serve buffet style- straight from the stove- no serving bowls or utensils. But that doesn't make anything less tasty!

Brandy and Will went through the line...

And this year I made Grandma Lucas' Corn Pudding- and I'll make it next year and the year after and the year after...

Many of our traditional Thanksgiving foods were "discovered" in America- and then made their way back to Europe- And now we build our Festival around these NATIVE foods- turkey- corn- string beans- cranberries- potatoes- squash (pumpkin).

So we had sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, corn pudding, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing- and of course the turkey. I've been making this same meal (that gets bigger and bigger when in Cincinnati- for 32 years- It's my favorite day- my favorite time- my favorite holiday- and I'm so looking forward to returning to Cincy to share this day with so many friends and family (PS: Brandy intends to run next year in the Cincy Thanksgiving Day Race- it is her POST BABY goal- so I think many of you need to get to the gym- or hit the streets- so you can keep up with her).

On Friday we hiked in the national forest just north of our cabin. The hike was about 4 miles along Lewis Creek. We planned this one well, by parking one car at the bottom of the hike and taking the other to the top. That way it was down hill all the way, and 830 foot drop. I forgot my camera on this hike, but Max had hers and got some great shots. The hike was GREEN and cool with a few waterfalls (not quite like the ones above, but very nice nonetheless).

There is nothing like a 4 mile hike- that is down hill all the way!

Now in between all this hiking- and eating (in typical Thanksgiving fashion this is the meal that keeps on giving- we had leftovers the rest of the time in the cabin- never had to cook again!)
But there were the games!

Will won scrabble...
Will won bridge... when I was his partner....when Don was his partner....when Brandy was his partner.... Not sure we would have noticed- but Will did point this out just in case it had escaped our notice.

On Saturday we hiked another National Forest trail up in an area that at one time was a grove of giant redwoods. Unfortunately, most of them were cut down in the early 1900's and turned into roof shingles. This was more of a grave yard of the giants in that after the trees are cut and carved into lumber, the stump remains for several hundred years as a reminder of what used to be there. The rest of the forest has grown up around these stumps leaving them as ghosts of what was there.
This stump on the left is close to 6 feet tall and the one in the back on the right is at least 15 feet tall. But the axe and the saw missed a few like this one in the picture below. This tree was about 250 tall, standing alone, surrounded by firs and pines that have grown up around it.

This hike took up up about 500 feet over a distance of about 1.5 miles. It was a beautiful hike with vistas of the lower mountains that make up the western edge of the Sierra range.

These are REALLY BIG TREES!

And then there was a nice walk in the forest....

We spent a two days hiking in the National Forest so that we could take Brandy and Will's dogs along with us. Dogs are not allowed on trails in the National Parks, but they are allowed in the National forest as long as they are on leases. So Caymen and Brumby both got some long walks with us on Friday and Saturday. But while in the cabin, they claimed the coach in front of the picture window as their own, and enjoyed naps there when they weren't protecting us from intruders.

And of course Don built the most fantastic of fires...

And we had such a wonderful time- and felt so lucky to spend this time with Brandy and Will (and Grandbaby #7)!

One Last Time: A Trip to Point Bonita Lighthouse

For the second day in a row we have made a last trip. This time to another lighthouse at Point Bonita. Are you getting the idea that we like these lighthouses? Point Bonita is quite close to us as it sits at the entrance to the Golden Gate on the north side. This trip has been one of our favorites- it is so close- but it seems that a lot of "locals" just haven't discovered it yet- so never so very crowded- and always spectacular. This light house was first built in the 1850's and has been replaced at least once. It sits out in the Pacific on a rocky ledge above a rocky shore that took many boats to the bottom. This next picture was taken from the Marin Headlands high above the point and you can see how it stretches out into the ocean.

In this picture you can't actually see the lighthouse, but trust me it is at that tip of land in the distance. And I do mean a tip of land, or rock in this case. As you can see in the picture below, the ocean has worn away the original route to the lighthouse, so they now have a short suspension bridge that you use to walk over the rocky coast line to the actual lighthouse. In fact only two people at a time are allowed on the bridge,

and if you look down while crossing it you will be relieved that there isn't more weight on it. I only looked down a couple of times- and decided that if I looked again I might just freeze in place- besides there is a line on either side waiting to cross- and we'd waited for a while before embarking- so didn't want to suddenly start delaying this process of crossing- but it is a LONG WAY down to the water- and there a gaps between each board so you see the raging waves beneath your feet!

The picture below is of the same bridge taken from the lighthouse side. And yes, that is the surf just below it.

And if you look north up the coast line, you can see why this area was so dangerous for shipping before the lighthouse was built.

This light house is still being used, although they now use a 1000 watt bulb in it instead of wicks and whale oil. But the Fresnel lens is the original that was installed in the 1850's and it still warns ships of the rocky coast.

I loved the eagle head rain spouts just under the roof.

OK, I promise that's the last lighthouse picture you will see. We don't have any more to visit out here. Well- at least all the lighthouse pictures from the "left coast". I do believe we'll be visiting lighthouses- on the "right" coast whenever the occasion arises.

One Last Time: A Trip to Point Reyes Lighthouse

One of our favorite places to visit and one we have been to several times is the lighthouse at Reyes Point. Reyes Point is a needle of land that extends west about 11 miles into the Pacific about 30 miles north of the Golden Gate. But it's not just the beauty of the lighthouse- but the road that you take to get there. As you follow highway one up the north coast you drive the most windy, mountainous road to get there. Part of the highway is the road they use for that spectacular stretch of road to advertise cars- cars that go fast and take the curves close in- And the road that makes even me queasy in my stomach- and it takes a lot to make me queasy. But this stretch of road is spectacular- and I'm going to miss this spectacular beauty- around curves, and then by the flats with the waders fishing in the estuaries. A coastline so rugged and spectacular and remote- that it is still virtually uninhabited- except by birds and deer and fish and seals. The north coast Reyes Point runs straight east and west and is a beautiful straight beach onto which the winds blow and the surf pounds.

The south coast is a big curve that forms Sir Francis Drake Bay (he supposedly landed here back in 1570) and the waters there are calm and blue.

The western edge that faces the Pacific is all rocky cliffs, rock outcrops in the water and pounding surf that continuously wears at the coast line.

To make it more interesting, this piece of rock is moving north as the San Andreas Fault slowly moves this western part north. The fault line moves Reyes point away from the coast and another bay is formed on the east end of this piece of rock opening to the north called Tomales Bay.


We drove the Smart (AKA Too Cute) up to Reyes Point on Friday (Vacation Day for me) to spend one last time exploring this National Sea Shore. We do love lighthouses and try to visit them whenever we see one.


This 11 mile rocky needle has been the cause of many ship wrecks. The lighthouse was built back in 1870 to warn ships about this rocky point. The lens from this lighthouse was able to penetrate into the night for 24 miles from the light of several whale oil wicks. The Fresnel lens weighs about 6000 pounds and was made in France. It rotated using a geared clock system somewhat like a grandfather clock works using counter weights that had to be cranked up to keep it rotating.

The tip of the rocky point is 600 feet above the sea and the lighthouse was placed into a level spot blasted in the rock 300 feet below the top of the rock. Consequently, to get to the lighthouse you have to walk down some 300 steps. They really are quite helpful though- they put numbers on every 10 steps so you can mark your progress and you climb up from the lighthouse.

And they quite conveniently put little cages (don't want us to suddenly decide to jump) with benches periodically so we could stop and rest- We did occasionally.



But this National Sea Shore is more than just a lighthouse. There are hiking trails that allow you to explore the rocky cliffs. There are lots of deer that inhabit the land and we saw many of them grazing on the newly greened grass. They pretty much just ignored us as we walked by.

And there are COWS! I love COWS!


I have more pictures of cows- I kept making Don stop the car so I could take just one more picture- But maybe this is enough...

Well maybe you have to see this one- so you see what an absolute gorgeous views these cows have while they munch the grass. And this is no ordinary dairy farm- No this is a HISTORIC DAIRY FARM...

You all know all about the gold rush- and how everyone wanted to make a fortune in gold. Well I haven't heard of anybody that made a fortune in gold- but all those miners needed stuff- So there are folks still around who made a fortune in Levis- and railroad (Haight of Haight-Asbury)- and now you know it- Dairy cows. It was actually dairy farmers from Vermont that established these early farms moving several hundred pounds of butter from Point Reyes via schooners to the restaurants of San Francisco. These ranchers ultimately formed an uneasy alliance with the Sierra Club (you got it- ranchers and environmentalists all on the same page) to keep out the high end developers who wanted to turn this beautiful countryside into another gated community. This alliance won- so today we have both wilderness- and lighthouse- and COWS- all in one visit- and not a McMansion in site. Life is grand!

We hiked out about a mile to a place called Needle Rock at the southern tip of Point. As we were walking back we came to a narrow area and in the picture below you can see the rugged Pacific coast line on the left and the blue waters of Sir Francis Bay on the right.

I loved standing right in this spot- and being able to look to my left and see the crashing of the waves against the rocks on the ocean side- and turning to my right- and seeing the quiet pastoral scene of the bay with the docks and blue, blue water. It absolutely takes your breath away- you want to just stay and stare and stay and stare...

After hiking we drove back to Highway 1 and ventured north a few miles to Tony's Sea Food Grill. Tony's is a family owned business and has been in the same location, sitting on Tomales Bay, for the past 60 years. Tony's is only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and doesn't accept credit cards or checks. Tony likes cash. And Max likes Tony's BBQ oysters.

Tomales Bay is the location of another farm- Oyster Farming- The Hog Island Oyster Company (You can read about them at http://www.hogislandoysters.com/- they raise nearly 3 millions oysters a year- oysters you can actually eat without worrying that you'll die of some awful disease. And I do love OYSTERS- so you can say that a trip to Point Reyes is always a favorite for me- rugged coast, great lighthouse, COWS, nice hiking trails- and OYSTERS. Now Don hates oysters (I'm not sure what he thinks of cows)- but I know he hates oysters- So while I ate oysters- raw- barbeque and then fried- he had a hamburger and fries!

But before there were any oysters- everyone in the whole restaurant had to come out and check out the car- they took turns sitting in the seats- looking in the rear- So there was no service until the tour of the car was finished...


I counted- there were two cooks- two servers- and about three people who were just drinking at the bar- all checking over the Smart- We really drew a crowd- and were treated like celebrities after that.

They started me with a great big fat raw oyster- Oh my- this was good (by the way notice the finest of table setting- paper plates- now there's a road side joint that knows how to act like a road side joint).

And then to their specialty- five great big fat barbeque oysters- all for me- Don won't touch the things- go figure.

And then I made a strong finish with a fried oyster sandwich- three great bit fat ones- with tartare sauce and toasted sour dough bread. Delish!

After dinner and on our way back to San Francisco down Highway 1 the sun was setting as we were passing the estuary at Stinson Beach. You all know how much we do like sun sets and this one was another that was worth displaying.

I'm going to miss Point Reyes and the lighthouse and the cows and the oysters and the estuary and the sunsets. Maybe we'll visit- I don't know- but one thing for sure- I'll always remember the trips up the coast- and those great big fat oysters at Tony's!

One Last Time: A Trip to the Vineyard!

We actually "discovered" St. Francis Wine back in Cincinnati in our neighborhood wine shop. Dave (the owner) casually said one day- "I think you would like this wine- and it's really underpriced- It won't stay this cheap for long." It was actually the "wine" of the month at Dave's store and we had recently joined his wine club. Well, we loved it- and Dave was right- it didn't stay that cheap for long. The last time we I looked at the wine store in Cincinnati it was $24.00 a bottle. At least here we can get it for about $16. So it's not what you would call cheap but it sure is good. I wonder how much of it will make it home with us. It became that wine we saved for only special occasions- just the two of us. Not here in San Francisco - We take that drive up to Sonoma and load the case- after case- into the trunk of the car. Here is our house wine- shoot- we might open a bottle any ole day of the week- with nothing particular to celebrate. So we took the last trip to Sonoma and paid our last visit to the winery- and loaded the last cases into the trunk that will make the trip across several state lines on our trip home.

My first trip to St. Francis was exactly 1 year and 9 days ago when our dear friend Gay was here to visit. It should be noted that when "we" go to wine tastings at the wineries, Max et.al. does the tasting and I do the driving.

This time Don and I decided to go for the wine and food pairing- always a treat! Four wines- and four delicious bites from a great chef. Such a wonderful way to say goodbye! Ok, so I did do some tasting at this one, but we also had food, so it wasn't exactly just drinking since the food does tend to moderate the effects of a few swallows of wine.


As I was wandering around the grounds (and Don was making our last purchase) the song "I left my heart in San Francisco" kept playing and replaying in my mind- and I felt sad one more time. San Francisco is the only city I've ever loved- and it's hard to leave a love- especially a first love- a young love. Why I was only 19 when I fell in love with this city- and there isn't anything quite like a summer love (ask me- I finally married mine!) (I thought I was a first love. We dated when we were 17- we actually fell in love the summer of our 17th year- and that was two years before she met San Francisco.) (I just love that Don is jealous- of a city- isn't this just so wonderful!) Oh I'm so grateful for the opportunity to really know this city I love- But oh it does make the leaving sad- when I stop to pause- and remember the moments of this year. And before I get really sad at these moments (that keep coming a bit more often the shorter the time is I have here) well I just start singing another song- "And if you can't be with the one you love, Love the one you're with" so here's to Cincinnati- the one I'll be with, and love!
So on those cold nights in Cincinnati, I'll sip a glass of St. Francis and think about "this city on the hill with the morning fog..."

One Last Time: A Trip to the Market!

We are so close to our return to Cincinnati now. And so lately here when we do something it is something we're doing for the VERY LAST TIME. Saturday was one of those days. It was off to the Farmer's Market in the Ferry Building.


I love the Farmer's Market- In fact I think looking at vegetables is rather like walking through a flower garden- Don would tease me in Cincinnati because when we would grow tomatoes- or peppers- I wouldn't pick them because I liked to look at them on the plant- just like looking at flowers. They are beautiful!

All the bright colors!

So we bought leeks and sweet potatoes and tomatoes (the absolutely very last of the season here) and sugar snap peas. San Francisco has a LONG GROWING SEASON- I'm going to miss this. But we'll take somethings home with us- like the joy of a Farmer's Market- and I've found a blog for Cincinnati's Locavore's-
http://cincinnatilocavore.blogspot.com/
and I found a CSA- Community Supported Agriculture to join when I return. But I digress.

What Max didn't say here was that she was trying to take this locavore thing to a bit of an extreme as we return to Cincinnati. By that I mean local in our back yard. To be more precise, I was supposed to plant a large garden in our yard, take care of it, weed it, and harvest it. That makes me the local part. I used to garden a lot. When I was little, we all had to chip in and work in Dad's garden. We turned the soil with spades and rakes, and then we were in the garden, stooped over picking green beans, okra, tomatoes, radishes, peppers, onions, and whatever else was planted. It was hot, humid, itchy, and certainly not much fun. I asked Max if she was going to take care of that garden in August when things ripened, the temperature is in the 90's, the humidity is in the 90's and the mosquito's are very very hungry. Consequently, she is now looking for a local "CSA" that will do all of that for her for a price - something that will most likely exceed what we want and cost more than normal, but Barbara Kingsolver would be proud because we will be locavores.

We brought the the vegetables home and I made the MOST INCREDIBLE "Leek and Chard Tart" or as Don said- "Onion Pie". Onions in an egg base all in a pie crust is an onion pie.

So here goes: I found the recipe on:
http://confessionsoftart.blogspot.com/2008/10/leek-and-swiss-chard-tart-or-is-it.html

And mostly followed her approach.

First you make the crust- a butter crust. I'm gradually moving entirely to the butter category. I've been rather on the fence- and usually mix it up with half butter and half Crisco for the crusts- but the flavor from an all butter is to die for- and with some practice it is just as flaky as the ones with Crisco- and I keep thinking- would I spread Crisco on a piece of bread- and when I stop to think how disgusting that sounds- I think about spreading butter on the bread and the smile comes all over my face.
So I'm going to just move to butter for pies (I still toy with the idea of lard for biscuits but Don keeps discouraging me- and usually I am persuaded.) Note that she doesn't mention spreading lard on a piece of bread and eating it. But to the butter- I am on board.

So here is the recipe:

Leek and Chard Tart:

Crust:
Mix 1 and 1/2 cup of flour with 1/2 tsp of salt.
Add in 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp of butter (you got it- this crust has BUTTER) cut into small pieces.
Using a pastry blender (I use a pastry fork- just looks like a big serving fork) to blend the butter into the flour. You probably could use a food processor- but I don't. But you blend the butter into the flour until the butter pieces are not larger than a small pea.
Now you add 1/3 cup of ice water.
NOTE: The butter should be VERY COLD- and the water should be VERY COLD. And you don't want to overwork a crust. So add the ice water and toss just to mix- I needed more than a 1/3 of water- so I add a tbsp at a time- careful not to overwork- or to make too wet.
And then you form the dough into a disk- wrap in plastic wrap and put into refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (I went for a 2 hour walk down on the Marina with Don.)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
After the dough is chilled- roll out to a circle larger than your tart pan (or pie pan or quiche pan- any will work for this). And place crust in the pan.
Bake the crust for 25 minutes. (This blog suggests that you cover the bottom with a buttered piece of aluminum foil for the first 20 minutes). Ann Waters in THE ART OF SIMPLE FOOD does not prebake the crust for her tart- but she doesn't use eggs in hers.

Filling:
3 pieces of bacon cut into small pieces (We used the Niman Ranch bacon- which is VERY ANIMAL FRIENDLY- I'm trying to use only "happy" eggs- and "happy" pigs in this house.) But vegetarians can skip this and use a tbsp of butter instead.
3 leeks (white and light green part cut in small slices). Cook until the leeks glisten and are soft.

And then add 1/2 bunch of swiss chard cut in small pieces.

Saute until chard is limp. Spread mixture on the crust.

Whisk 5 eggs and 1 cup of milk and salt and pepper together. Pour over the vegetable mixture.

Now place the tart in a oven that has been preheated to 375 degrees. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees for 30 minutes- until eggs are set. (At this point we had a real disaster- somehow- not sure how- the oven turned off- and we waited for 30 minutes- while the tart sat in a cooling oven- but by this time it is getting very late- and we are getting very hungry - long walks on the Marina sure do delay dinner- so I turned the oven up and just baked- and the tart did just fine!) This dinner finally was served at about 9:30, but it was awfully good.

And it tasted incredible- and was still just as good when I had it for lunch today. So bake one soon- or just schedule a visit to see us in Cincinnati- and request the tart!

Anniversary Album: Matthew and Sharon

Wow! Did I ever get derailed! Not that this is a new or novel experience for me- derailment- is one of my solid strengths! But I was on a roll! I'd loaded the pictures for this blog, And then suddenly there was the election, And of course now I have lots of time since I'm not on the Internet checking and rechecking the news, the polls, And then rechecking the news, the polls. Now with not so very much to do I've had a work stoppage. And so I try to find my place, my train of thought, because after all- Matthew and Sharon have been safely back in NYC for two weeks. So let's see if I can conjure up the memories. Well, I'll give it a try.

First, it was SO MUCH FUN to spend the actual day of the FIRST ANNIVERSARY with Matthew and Sharon- especially given that we didn't spend THE actual WEDDING DAY with them- elopement rather interrupted that. Now I did suggest to Don that perhaps it would be more fitting if we just sent Matthew and Sharon off to a romantic dinner alone for their anniversary- and he looked at me like I was OUT OF MY MIND- why, he said. Why would we even consider that- when we wanted to spend the evening with them- why would we even give them the option. He had a point- and we didn't give them the option. And it was romantic- in fact I think probably now everyone that reads this will rush to celebrate ALL ANNIVERSARIES with the parents and parents-in-law.
We went to a great restaurant called Absinthe- a great little restaurant here in San Francisco (which of course has no shortage of "great little restaurants").
We started with a champagne toast!

See I told you this was a romantic dinner! It started off terrific!

Don't the BRIDE AND GROOM make some handsome couple?!

And the food was terrific!

And Matthew did try the absinthe (absinthe is said to have psychoactive properties and was banned in much of Europe and the United States in early 1900's. But it's making a come back- and is now widely available in Europe- the 1990's and now the US- 2007). The picture above reflects the way we were told by the waitress to made an absinthe cocktail. Absinthe is in the bottom of this glass. That's a sugar cube on top of a strainer over the absinthe. The method is to add water to the sugar cube which dissolves and drips into the absinthe. He was advised to add some sugar, taste it, and then add more sugar if desired. Apparently this stuff tastes pretty powerful and the sugar is added to make it palatable. I have to tell you though- it would be real difficult to evaluate for psychoactive properties using Matthew as the only subject in a trial. He acted the same before and after. Whether or not he was under some psychoactive influence is always hard to tell with Matthew. I couldn't tell if he liked it- or rather liked the novelty of it.

And there was of course chocolate at the end- what first anniversary would be complete without chocolate.

We cooked at home for breakfast the MORNING AFTER the FIRST ANNIVERSARY- And I do believe that Matthew and Sharon might be the only couple that we would dare fix "Poached Eggs on Brussel Sprouts" to start the day.

But Matthew and Sharon didn't bat an eye- in fact they pronounced it absolutely wonderful (Don won't go that far with this particular breakfast- but he was trying to impress Matthew and Sharon so he didn't forgo the Brussel sprouts for the usual fried potatoes on the side- usually it's NO SPROUTS FOR BREAKFAST- but not with Matthew and Sharon in town!)
But we did have homemade biscuits and preserves- just in case.

And then we were off for the day. In retrospect I think I operated much like a wedding photographer- albeit with much less equipment. I did make Sharon and Matthew stop and pose in front of every scenic pause during the next two days of seeing the sights of San Francisco- the bridge (of course), Berkeley Botanical Garden (of course for our resident arborist), Japanese Garden, and the just opened Academy of Science with it's Living Roof!






AND THEN WE WENT TO DINNER AT THE REAL ALICE WATERS' RESTAURANT, CHEZ PANISSE.

Now I know that some of you haven't been following the life and career of one Alice Waters- and the revolution she started in food/restaurants. But Alice Waters is the absolute ULTIMATE of the EAT LOCAL AND ORGANIC AND HUMANE AND SUSTAINABLE movement- she did SLOW FOOD before there was SLOW FOOD. And she does know presentation, presentation, presentation!

This display- with the apple tart for the evening sat on the bar between the kitchen and the dining room as we walked to our table! WOW!

I don't think I could have talked Don into this little adventure if it hadn't been for Sharon- or maybe he would have gone with me and then scowled the whole time. But with Sharon and Matthew. Don had a great time! He was the most adventuresome in his selection. How about those squid? I'm certain those squid were sustainable, local (from the bay?) and certainly organic. Those little squid were certainly not treated with any of those awful chemicals. And I'll bet they were happy squid just before they got thrown in the boiling water.

And before this dining experience I'd never even heard of "Wild Nettles" much less had "Wild Nettles Pizza"- though the oysters in the picture (farmed just north of San Francisco) are always a favorite of Sharon, Matthew and me- Don won't touch them! And I'll bet those "wild nettles" were organic and totally unaware that they were being grown just to be put on a pizza. I believe most farmers spray the wild nettles to keep them out of their pasture. We got a pizza.

And of course there was wine!

And beer!


And of course enjoying our special company!

And dessert!

We tried 4 different deserts! As you might guess from all of this, organic, natural, sustainable, or slow doesn't necessarily mean inexpensive. I know for a fact that Alice was very proud of this food and consequently, was reluctant to give it up without a price to match.

And Sharon and I left with copies- autographed copies- of Alice Waters' most recent book.

I think we might become Alice Waters' groupies!

We Interupt This Blog For An Unpaid Political Announcement: We Did It!

First I want to give a BIG SHOUT OUT to Mary Jo Peairs in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mary Jo- You did it! And I am forever grateful. Mary Jo and her husband, Don, were early supporters of Obama- way back when- way back when you didn't have to fight crowds to hear him speak- way back when most people weren't even paying that much attention. But Mary Jo and Don were- paying attention- and doing the work that ultimately gave us all this glorious morning. I was lucky enough to reach Mary Jo by phone last night- she sounded really busy- and it was late in Cincinnati. The Peairs home was the Obama Headquarters for our neighborhood- Wyoming- and they were celebrating their BIG SUCCESS!

And I want the world to know that MY GRANDDAUGHTER and GRANDSON (with their mother, aunt, uncle, and cousins) were cheering Obama on in Colorado just days before the election! I am so very proud that Marianne- my spontaneous and passionate daughter-in-law, and most importantly the mother of my wonderful GRANDDAUGHTER AND GRANDSON- upon hearing that Obama was in town didn't hesitate a moment- and headed the group of 3 adults and 2 toddlers and 2 babies- one only 4 weeks old- off to this historic moment.

You can really see the enthusiasm of Hayes, our grandson!

And what fun all this new fangled technology- update to the minute cell phone calls from Brandy in Las Vegas and blog updates from Matthew in NYC and text messages from Amber as she waited in Grant Park in Chicago for OBAMA to arrive- and the official celebration began!

And we had such a great time sharing this exciting evening with, Betty, a very special lady- and our good friend. Betty is 89 years old and she said this was the very first election she has followed so closely. She is a cable news addict extraordinaire. Her late husband was a West Point graduate, a retired general and a decorated veteran of three wars. She lost one son when he was piloting a spy plane over Russia 30+ years ago that was shot down. Her youngest son interrupted college to become a Dust Off pilot in Vietnam rescuing over 3000 wounded young men. Betty is a talented artist- and one of the smartest people I have ever met- and an enthusiastic Obama supporter! We felt so lucky to share this excitement with her in her home.

We popped the top on the champagne early!

And we finished the champagne and then started on the Vermouth, nibbled on crackers and cheese while we waited for the BIG MOMENT!

When we finally got home it was too late for supper- but not too late for the all American Apple Pie.


But I wasn't really prepared for how pensive I would feel this morning.

But first- the very best part of waking up this morning- was not the realization that we would have Obama as our next President- but rather was not being a wakened by Don experiencing crushing chest pain. I did not call 911. I did not ride in the back of the ambulance on the way to the hospital. I did not wait numbly in a waiting room while the doctors rushed him to the cath lab to save his life. We can now rest a bit easier- At least when Democrats are elected President, the next morning starts much more gently, quietly, peacefully. I like these kind of mornings!

But now to start again- I wasn't really prepared for how pensive I would feel this morning. I didn't vote for Obama because he was a Black man- any more than I would have voted against him because he was. For me it was all about the issues- the economy, the wars, education, health care. But in the end today I haven't been thinking about the issues. I've been thinking about the man, this first Black Man to be elected to the Presidency of the United Stated of America. I am so very proud. My goodness, I don't think I ever really thought it possible during my lifetime. I grew up in Tulsa- and for my first 18 1/2 years I never sat in the same room with a black person- much less talk to a black person. Don and I spent 12 years in the Tulsa Public Schools- yet were never told that in 1921 our city had been home to the very worst race riot in the history of the country that resulted in the loss of 75-300 lives, over 1000 homes -the destruction of a healthy middle class Black community that left over 10,000 black people homeless. Our white world was very, very separate from the black world. And then I went to college and OU and my world so suddenly changed. And now I revisit all those moments and am so very proud- proud of my country- and proud of the hard work that this country has done these last decades. We've come such a long, long way. I still get teary eyed when I think of Colin Powell and his family crying with the news that the FIRST BLACK MAN is our new President Elect. I'm so very proud. Oh I don't think for a minute that the troubled history of our great nation is settled once and for all- But for today I am just so very proud. And so grateful that I got to live this moment. It really is true that in this country anything is possible. I've see it! And our two newspapers have already been requested by Amber- who will be saving them- because the whole country knows that this moment is indeed extraordinary.