I certainly do like this best...

After all, I do like writing about what I like best and I can't wait to write about this...
What???  Woman's best friend... Chocolate!
A few months ago I tried to make truffles.  I looked up one recipe online and off I went. 
Well, they were delicious but they looked ridiculous.  A thought occurred to me -
What if there was a class I could take to learn how to really do this. 
And then the thought passed. 
A few weeks later I saw a deal on a truffle making classing. 
Half off the regular price.  What a deal!
I booked it. I just had to.  And I am so glad I did.

At first I wanted to ask a friend to join me.  But it was still kind of expensive to ask a friend to buy a ticket.  And then I thought about it and decided I wanted this to be something just for me. 

I had a 2 hour drive to get to the cute little town of Sausalito to arrive at the commercial kitchen of Coco Luxe.  I didn't want to be late.  It felt like the first day of elementary school.

What was so awesome about this 3 hour class is how fun it was.  There wasn't a lot I had to learn; just a few tricks of the trade and voila..... deliciousness!

I was so pleased with my results and I just can't wait to make them at home.  I just need to get the awesome spatula/thermometer they had for us to use to temper chocolate.

Want to see the results?  It might make you want to lick your screen...(I wouldn't recommend that though.)

And to top it all off - A picture of myself that I actually like. And that never happens.

It's the final countdown

A month in the making.... Research has been done, reservations have been made, plane tickets have been purchased, time off from work has been granted, and we can barely contain our excitement.  The countdown calendar proves it...

 

As soon as I post this, we will run to the fridge and make an X through 6 and only 5 days stand in our way. 
What are we counting down to? you might be asking.

Our 5th wedding anniversary trip to ......... SEATTLE!

We have adventured and explored Seattle in two quick day trips, but this time we get two full days and 2 half days.  We aren't strictly planning the trip to know what we are doing all day each day but some of the things we can't wait to do are: A tour of the Theo Chocolate Factory, dinner atop the Space Needle at Sky City, a visit to the Seattle Aquarium and the Experience Music Project, exploring many Seattle neighborhoods, a stay in a downtown suite (with a negotiated price matching that of a regular room), and exciting trips through two major airports. 
Only two "real" work days stand in my way, (let's just face it, next Monday I am going to be practically useless walking in circles even though I have a list a foot long of things to accomplish that day.)
The countdown is on and I am ready. 
Pictures detailing our adventures to follow.
See ya.

Gray vs. Blue

Gray vs. Blue: Which one wins?
In almost any situation I would pick blue. Maybe because it is my favorite color. I would take blue over gray in cars, clothes, paint, pretty much anything. But there is one aspect of gray that wins over blue in my book. What might that be?

The sky. I would take a gray day over a sunny blue sky day any day. I know gray days bring a lot of people down but I have a wire crossed in my brain and a gray day makes me smile.

Take today for example. It has been gray all day. A little blue tried to peek out but the gray won. And I don't mind it a bit.

There is one thing that beats a gray day and that is a rainy gray day. (I hear from my husband working 25 miles north of here that it is raining up there. So I'm hoping the rain is headed my direction.)

I've discussed this before but as I just might get a few drops of this glorious liquid today I just can't help from sharing a video that I just love. (Thanks for sharing mom.)

I hope you enjoy this video. You don't have to watch the whole thing but at least watch the first minute or so. Or at least until you hear thunder. Better yet listen to parts of the first minute with your eyes shut. (But the whole thing is amazing if you have the time.)

By the way. Before I could publish this post I had to look up to see what the correct spelling was for gray. G R A Y or G R E Y. I have wondered this a million times and now I know the answer. Both are correct but gray is usually used in America where as grey is used in England. (Just a little tid bit for ya.)

Leftover strawberries? What ever will I do?

Three pounds of strawberries.  

That's how many strawberries I bought to make crepes.  

Therefore, what shall I do with the two pounds I didn't use. 
 

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!!!!

I love strawberry shortcake and I haven't made it in a while. 

While I am making strawberry shortcake, I figured, why not make homemade whip cream.  

And why make regular whip cream when you can make strawberry whip cream.

Voila!....

Better late than never

Summer never passes before I make crepes.  

Uh-oh! Summer just passed.
It's ok.  I fixed it. It happened to be the second day of Fall, but better late than never, right?

One of the things I love about crepes is you can make them difficult or simple.  Since I was just making them for myself and Kyle I decided to go simple.  I didn't need every type of filling in the book. Strawberries would be just fine.  And...

Luckily the store had a sale on strawberries and they were beautiful and sweet too.

A few more ingredients and I was ready to go.  

And they came together beautifully and deliciously. 

Now I just want more!

Results of a shopping trip bring back a childhood memory.

When I have time I really love to cook.  Having time allows everything to go smoothly.  My favorite recipes usually require a lot of veggies.  Getting to wash and cut them all up ahead of time makes the cooking process a lot easier and actually quicker.
Every once in a while I get a week day off and I like to make a really good dinner on those nights. 
I had last Friday off but what was I going to cook.  Not the same old thing...again.
So what sounded good?  Pasta, of course.  But what could I do differently?
Hmmmmm?  I felt adventurous so why not wing it.
I knew I wanted to use white wine in my sauce.  I wanted it to be light and refreshing.  And of course, it was going to be vegetarian.
Are you wondering where the childhood memory comes into this story?
It's coming I promise and this following photo helps introduce it.......

While I was prepping my veggies I found myself alone with my thoughts.  All these gorgeous fruits and veggies and I pondered on the fact that although I really don't like the summer because of the heat I do love the produce it brings.  Summer brings so many things...
And that is where the childhood memory comes into play.  Growing up one of my favorite books was Summer by Alice Low with the very true line - Summer brings so many things.

Here's the cover

I used to like summer more than I do now.  Probably because school was out.  We spent a lot of time at the lake.  The frosty was open.  And where I grew up it didn't get really hot. 
As a teenager I had a job that was really fun and busy in the summer.
The difference now is I live in a place that gets a lot hotter and you don't get summer break from work. 
Back to the book - Let me share just a few pages with you. 

Can't you just feel the heat.
Stuck in the heat- in traffic.

But when you turn the page.....

Now you can feel the cool refreshment.

And now back to the results of my shopping trip.  I came home with watermelon, lemons, apples, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, green onions.  I already had the carrots and the lettuce was fresh from a co-workers garden.  How refreshing!

A good dinner needed a good drink to go with it. 

Fresh Homemade Lemonade.

 

And dinner... turned out delicious.  I am calling my creation Summer Pasta.
And really quite simple. 
Red Bell Peppers, Zucchini, Yellow Squash and Garlic sauteed in olive oil.  When veggies are tender add chopped sundried tomatoes.
In a saucepan, simmer white wine, butter and a splash of lemon juice.  Add to veggies. Toss with angel hair pasta and sprinkle with shaved parmesan cheese.
The final result.....

I can't wait to make it again.

Crawling out of a literary / I don't have time hole.

Over a month... Over a month since my last post.  Why?  Time and ideas.  When I had time I didn't have an idea and when I had an idea I didn't have time.  Did I write down my ideas when I had them but no time? NO!  Why would I do that?  Oh but I wish I had. 
Oh well.  I can't undo it. 
So here goes.  I guess a fresh beginning.  

Ready, Set, Go!

1939 vs. 2011

"I simply love to have to set my alarm clock for anything." 

      - Quoted from Lost Sunrise by Kathleen Norris published in 1939. 

This sentence really stuck out to me.  I simply love to NOT have to set my alarm clock for anything.  It isn't very often in present time that most people don't have to set their alarm clocks.  Our lives are busy and we have to be woken up to start the day. 
I know some people just automatically wake up around a certain time each day without an alarm but as I am not one of those people, (however I do often wake up 10 minutes before my alarm goes off - but I am not very alert) I just love the rare occasions when I can wake up when I wake up.  It gives me a peaceful feeling when I go to sleep if I know I won't be waking up to my alarm. 
This above quoted sentence, demonstrates that life is different now from 1939.  I know people still had jobs so I don't know why they wouldn't need alarms on a normal basis so that they are happy when they have a reason to set it.  I think life was just slower back then. 
I can understand enjoying the alarm if you have something exciting to get up for rather than the every day routine.  It is always easier to get up in that case.  Say for example, I was waking up to go to Disneyland.  I would definitely enjoy setting my alarm for that.  

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~Author Unknown

I love sharing books.  A great way to find authors you like, or don't like.  I think you can share a bond with people you exchange books with.
When I saw this the other day, it just made me happy.  I don't know how long it has been there but after living in Ukiah for 8 years, I just found it.  I don't live in this neighborhood but I want to donate some books to this Neighborhood Library.

Not a quote but A French Saying

"Measure the girth of a chef and you can rate his restaurant."

I found this quote when I was putting a cook book together for my sister's bridal shower present. 
I love the idea of this.  You can visualize a big jolly chef and know he must create delicious comforting foods. 
But I know that this saying couldn't really be true. Chefs of all different sizes have proved their culinary talents.  Some are just lucky to have a high metabolism.  

All In A Word

Just sharing a word that has stuck with me for many years. 
This is a word that I learned in a vocabulary lesson in high school.  I thought it was quite a useless word because I have never heard it used.  I know I would never use it.  But I guess the vocabulary lesson worked because I still remember the word, its spelling, and the definition.
So here it is.
ANTEPENULTIMATE
an·te·pe·nul·ti·mate
(an-tee-pi-nuhl-tuh-mit)
adjective: third from the end

Have you ever used that word? I haven't.

My Day Off

I usually work Monday through Friday.  Occasionally I work a Saturday and get a week day off.  I feel like those are bonus days.  Sometimes I waste these days by cleaning the whole day and then I am always bummed at the end of the day.  It feels like a wasted day.  So today, I was determined to enjoy my day and at the end of the day say, "That was a good day off."  Well it is the end of the day and I was a success.
Today I didn't wake up to my alarm - I woke up to Kyle's alarm.  I am always up before Kyle and therefore wake him up. But if I get the opportunity to not set my alarm, I ask him to set his.  I don't know why.  I wake up to his alarm before he does.  Anyway, it still counts. I love not waking up to my alarm.
Today I got to watch Rachael Ray's daytime show.  I usually only get to watch this when I am home sick.  Today was a repeat but that doesn't matter since I hadn't seen it. 
I had a small list of things I hoped to get to.  I successfully paid the rent, called Comcast since our bill is way to high and I was able to save $15 a month, and arranged for a new wireless mouse to be sent to me as my brand new one is defective.  I straightened up just a bit. 
My favorite parts came later.  I picked up lunch for Kyle and I and surprised him at work at lunch and kidnapped him and took him to the park to eat. 
I also had a spur of the moment idea to get a manicure.  I haven't had a manicure in four years.  I called a zillion places before I found a place that could take me but I got in.  I wasn't sure if I should spend the money on this but I decided to do it and I am so happy I did it. 
Then what?  Oh yeah, I had extra time to make dinner.  Running home after work to make dinner can really drag the fun out of it.  So I wanted to make something a little special.  I decided on lasagna because I haven't made it in years.  And to top it off, I made lasagna roll ups.  I thoroughly enjoyed being able to calmly make dinner without rushing.  Along with my lasagna I made a delicious italian salad and garlic bread.  Mmmmmm! It was scrumptious!  Do look -

And the best part is....I have lots of leftovers. 

AND:  It is 8:00 and dinner is done, eaten, and the dishes are done and often times we are just sitting down to eat at 8:00.  Crazy.

What Comes Down . . . Comes Down!

Enjoy this little diddy while I explain why I love the rain.

A picture’s worth a thousand words. 

Or in some cases four.  And in this case the four words are:

I LOVE THE RAIN.

Ironically, most people around me are complaining that it is raining and it is June.  But me… I am loving it. 
I recently realized a fear of mine.  The fear of the last rain.  You never know when the last rain is going to be and the hot Hot HOT season starts and doesn’t let up.  Some might think it is silly to have this fear but to each their own.  It isn’t like I said it was my greatest fear.
So what do I love about the rain.  Um, everything!

And since it encompasses all your senses, that is how I am going to break this down. 
Sight: I love the big dark clouds that come with a good rainstorm. I love watching the rain pound on the street, watching it bounce back up.
Smell: I love the smell as it first starts to rain.  If at all possible I run outside when it first starts raining and take a big whiff.
Hearing: If I wake up and hear the swooshing of the cars driving through the rain, I wake up smiling. If I wake up and hear the rain hit hitting the window, it’s going to be a good day. The other day I was driving in the rain. When I got to my destination I turned off the noisy engine, turned off the radio and just sat there and listened.
Touch: I love being caught in the rain without an umbrella.  I have purposely left my house when it is pouring without grabbing a jacket or umbrella.  Of course, I don’t want to be wet all day.  But if I can get dry afterwards, why not.
Taste: Ok, I don’t normally stick my tongue out to taste the rain so this might be a stretch but… what could be better than sitting by the window while it is raining, reading a good book and drinking hot chocolate. 
Let it pour!

Words can express....

About a year ago, Kyle and I decided we were going to find one unique item at a time that would be something special for our apartment.
My latest find. Yes I said "MY".  This was something I found and totally suits me but Kyle said he wouldn't mind it in our apartment. 

Here it is-


In case you can't read it, which it is pretty small, it says -

This is how my day went. I woke up in the blue bedroom looking at the cracked ceiling.  Then I dressed in a hurry and snuck out the side door and walked into town.  I stopped by the new cafe and drank a bowl size cup of coffee.  I walked in the warm sand down to the beach.  Early in the morning it was quite there.  I laid on my towel and I looked at my feet that were tan and pretty against the crashing waves.  The seagulls watched me. But only for the possibility of food. My hair whipped my face. I sat up to read the book I brought with me. It was a perfect day.

I was drawn to this sign for several reasons.
1.  It gave me a calm feeling.
2. My feet are the only part of my body that tans and I thought that was funny.

3.  I love to read on the beach.
4.  All in all- how wonderful for such simple things make a perfect day. 

I found this sign at a cute little store in Port Angeles, WA.  The store was called Fiddleheads.  One of those little stores that has a lot of random things, jewelry, stationary, lots of signs like this one, books, all sorts of things. One of those stores draw you in by its appearance. See what I mean....

When I found this sign, I thought "I could make this and save the $36.95 plus tax." But... would I ever really do it.  I know better than that. Plus that defeats the idea of finding neat little things for our apartment and with that a story to share with you. 

Meow is like aloha - it can mean anything. - Hank Ketchum

So it has been said that cats can help relieve stress.  I agree and disagree.  I agree when they are sleeping and disagree when they are awake.  Ok, not all the time.  Just when they are naughty.  Awake and playful is ok too.
However, the most peaceful thing that I think a cat can do is lay down their little head.  Every time I see my cats with their head down it makes me stop and think - peace.

Would you agree?

This isn't exactly what I mean but I couldn't leave

one of my cats out and he's so cute. 

Gluten . . . I think I love you.

So I recently tried to go gluten free to see if it would help make my headaches and leg aches go away.  I was gluten free for 5 1/2 weeks.  Unfortunately I didn't see a difference and have therefore decided to go ahead and eat gluten again. 

My favorite meal of ALL time is Pasta Primavera.  I haven't had pasta in over 6 weeks and decided to make pasta primavera tonight.  It was fabulous, as always.  I took a picture while I was making it....

It was eight o'clock by the time it was finished (I didn't start cooking until almost 7) and I was starving so I didn't happen to capture a picture of it on my plate. 
But I will give you the recipe.  I got this recipe from my favorite vegetarian cookbook, Recipes from a Vegetarian Goddess - Delectable Feast Through the Seasons by Karri Allrich. 

I have tweaked the original recipe to my liking and the recipe below is my tweaked version. 

Pasta Primavera

1 lb Linguini
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Yellow Onion, chopped

1 Medium Leem, white and light green parts only, sliced

4 Garlic Cloves, chopped or crushed

1 Large Carrot, peeled, julienned

1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped

1 Medium Zucchini, sliced, quartered

1/2 Cup Roma Tomatoes, chopped

1 Cup Vegetable Broth

1/4 Cup Dry White Wine
White Pepper

3 Tablespoons Cream

1/2 Cup Chopped Fresh Basil
1/2 Cupt Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Cook pasta as usual.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and saute the onion and leek for 5 minutes.

Add the garlic, carrot, and red pepper and saute until carrots are tender.

Add the zucchini tomatoes, vegetable broth, wine, and white pepper.

Bring to a high simmer, then lower heat and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
Stir in cream and fresh basil.

Drain the pasta and pour into warmed serving bowl.

Add 1/2 cup parmesan and mix together, then add the skillet vegetables

and sauce and toss together well.

-Enjoy-

Besides breaking up the recipes into ideal seasons, (Pasta Primavera comes from the Spring section) a very fun part of the cookbook is the little blurbs that go along with each recipe.  And this one is the best... "This appetizing dish could also be called Aphrodite's Pasta.  Set the mood with glowing rose colored candles and chilled glasses of white wine.  Then grab your love by the hand and step outside to drink in the colors of the sunset."

So Delicious....... You should try it!

Out of nowhere

This caught my eye on my way to work.  I am not really sure if they are flowers or weeds but I think it is cool that they are growing out of the sidewalk. 

This makes me think of a little blurb on the introductory pages of my favorite book "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn".  It states: "There's a tree that grows in Booklyn.  Some people call it the Tree of Heaven.  No matter where its seed falls, it makes a tree which struggles to reach the sky.  It grows in boarded-up lots and out of neglected rubbish heaps.  It grows up out of cellar gratings.  It is the only tree that grows out of cement.  It grows lushly. . . survives without sun, water, and seemingly without earth.  It would be considered beautiful except that there are too many of it."

How great is it that such a little thing can put a smile on my face on my way to work.

WHAT A FIND!

The day: Almost a month ago.
The occasion: Celebrating Kyle no longer being on call.
The activity:  Estate sale-ing.
The find: Books, books, books. 
I wasn't even expecting to find something for myself.  I was along for the ride.  But out of the blue... I find myself in a room surrounded by books.  Old books. 
Immediately I start seeing authors I recognize from the same time period as my favorite author.  But I go through all the books in the room twice and do I see a single book by my favorite author.  No.  Almost crushed, Kyle encourages me to keep looking - lots of more rooms and books in each one.
And so I press forward.  And then I see it.  From across the room, I see a book shelf that looks like my book shelf at home.  Could it be.....? I slowly make my way across the room and....Yes!
An entire book shelf of my favorite author.  The great California writer - Kathleen Thompson Norris. (1880-1966).  I start organizing.  Separating which ones I already have at home and which ones I don't have and WANT.  48.  FORTY EIGHT! Forty eight books that I don't have and here they are at my finger tips. 
Well as the coordinators of the estate sale wouldn't make me a bargain, I was going to have to choose which ones I wanted and leave some behind.  How could I walk away? Every time I see a used and rare book store I go in to look, lucky to find one that I don't have at already.  But I do it, I walk away. 
But inside I am feeling tortured.  I want to go back but I am having a hard time justifying the hour drive back and spending any more money on books.  But...the next day with minutes to spare we rush back to see if they are still there. 
By the time we got there the books had been pulled off the book shelf and combined with all the others on a big table.  So with a little digging I, with Kyle's help, found them.  And as it was the last day of the estate sale the coordinators were willing to make me a deal.  In the end for $23 I got about 50 books.  You can't beat that!

When I got home, I grabbed all my new books and all my books by Kathleen Norris that I already had and thought I would have a little fun with them.  This is what I got?

Although I have already introduced my blog with two posts, I consider this to be the first REAL post.  My first experience I am passionate about and wish to share with you.  Thanks for letting me share.

Why "These I Like Best"?

Maybe you are wondering why I chose to name my blog, "These I Like Best."  The explanation is quite simple.  Since I have decided to start writing again, via blog, I decided I only want to write about things I like, things that make me happy. I don't want to write about frustrating things or bad experiences. 
And so I vow... and I hope I don't forget... to only write about things I am passionate about and experiences that make me smile. 

Welcome to my blog...

Why have I started this blog?  High school.... English was my favorite subject.  Of course I didn't enjoy all of my writing assignments but for the most part I did.  And I didn't really care for remembering all the rules of grammar, and let me just tell you right now, I didn't remember them.  That wasn't the fun part.  I liked starting with a blank piece of paper, or sometimes blank computer screen, (that's right - it wasn't until late in high school that assignments were required to be typed.) What did I tell you about grammar - right now I am wondering if all my parenthesis and commas are in the right spot.  Anyway, the blank piece of paper or blank screen  - It was time to create.  Stories, points of view, letters... etc.  It was in high school that I decided I wanted to be an author.  So I decided to major in English.  Well when you go to a small college and not enough people sign up for the class, it gets cancelled.  That is what happened to me.  Every semester, 1 or 2 of my classes would be cancelled and I would be scrambling to fill in my credits.  And so.... I slowly got away from English and writing.  My days were filled with other assignments, work, and so on.  My life now revolves around photography, which I was able to learn about in college.  And I do love it.  But lately, I have been inspired to write again.  And so I have started this blog.  Of course I value any one who reads it but I am also doing this for myself.  Just a way to express myself - even if it is to myself.  This will be fun.  I am looking forward to this...
Thanks for visiting.