Making Progress And Getting A Little Glam

I planned on posting this a few day ago. But, it didn't happen. So, I will do it now. The photo below was taken the evening of surgery day for my fractured left radius in my arm.  And, I was in a lot of pain! It so happened that the "nerve block" did not take and I had to return to surgery the next day to have it redone. No fun! But it really helped with the pain management. The first few weeks were really tough with a high level of pain.

 

I returned to the doctor a week after surgery of placement of a plate and screws in my lower arm with anticipation of having a cast applied. Much to my surprise and delight, the x-ray showed so much healing that the doctor said that a brace would be appropriate instead of a cast. I was delighted! The brace was to be worn day and night, but could be removed to take a shower. I can't begin to tell you how nice that was.  

 

Since I had a gift card (since Christmas) to a local Day Spa and Salon I thought it would be a great time to use it. It was one of the best days I have had in a long time. I had an European Facial, Massage and Pedicure. It was just what I needed! And, then the day before seeing the doctor last time, I went back to have a Manicure. It really helped my spirits!

This is my arm today! Much, much better and still getting better each and every day. I still experience pain with some movements and overuse.



And, the garden started "outdoing itself" with beautiful flowers. I think the Simplon Oriental Lily is fabulous! Please enjoy it with me.

 

Food Prep For Weekend Dinner

I have enjoyed getting in the kitchen again after waiting for my arm to heal a little more. On Sunday evening my friend was preparing some Turf and Surf (filet mignon and lobster) for dinner for his son and daughter-in-law at his house. Along with the beef and seafood he served baked potatoes with all the toppings and asparagus. My contribution to the meal was summer Gazpacho and Blueberry Crisp with Ice Cream. Everything turned out great and tasted fantastic!

The recipe that I used for the Gazpacho is from The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I changed it a little based on what vegetables I had available to me. Also, I used Clamato Juice instead of Tomato Juice and I added about 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice and a tablespoon of Worcestershire Sauce.The Clamato Juice was my choice because I remember using it in Gazpacho way back in the 60's when I first made Gazpacho. I will definitely use this recipe as a starting point when I prepare it in the future.

We went shopping for the veggies at our local organic foods store The Outer Aisle. A lot of the produce comes directly from the fields. It is so - so fresh.

The recipe I used for the Blueberry Crisp is from  Foodnetwork.  And, I followed it exactly as printed. It is such a quick and easy recipe. Oh, so good. 

It was a very hot and busy day. The weather was in the high 90'. We attended church in the morning and then attended a Program on Central America presented by a professor and researcher with non-profit organizations. He shared his insight about how we as US citizens make assumptions about members of other countries based on misinformation we receive from our parents, our teachers, our textbooks and many media outlets. He believes that if we can recognize those biases we can change them and possibly affect the way other countries feel about us.

So Many Things To Blog About

But, first let me tell you it is very hot here in Northern California. It is over 100 degrees today. I went to church this morning and enjoyed it very much. Then the remainder of the day I spent in the high country (highest elevation 8700+ feet) enjoying beautiful lakes, scenery and clear blue skies with billowy clouds. It was nice to be in an area that wasn't quite so hot!

It was so relaxing - especially after getting to bed late last night. A few days ago a friend called to ask if I would like to join her and some women friends and attend an Outdoor Theater at one of the local Wineries  to see the Shakespearean play, The Tempest. Even though it probably is my least favorite play by Shakespeare, I felt eager to join them.

Several years ago I attended a lot of plays at the same outdoor theater and I always found it very enjoyable. Even though the play doesn't start until 8 PM we go about 6:30 PM with food and wine for our dinner. There are terraced lawns for lawn chairs and room to spread blankets.

And, since my friend had offered me an extra ticket, I thought it would be nice if I would bring the food for the four of us traveling in the same car. I haven't done much in the kitchen since injuring my arm (more on that later - "I'm doing good") and I felt like fussing around in the kitchen. So, I spent yesterday afternoon doing a lot of chop, chop, chopping.

My little menu was Apple Tuna Salad on Croissant Rolls, Fruit Salad with a splash of Lemon Juice, Honey and then freshly grated Nutmeg on the top. I also took a bowl of Mixed Nuts.

Since the food was quite filling along with the wine that was brought by one of the others, we waited until intermission for the dessert, which was Blueberry Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream. 

I am sorry, but I didn't take photos because I was just too, too busy. But, I would like to tell you more about the dessert. I guess I was "feeling a little creative".  How was I going to work with Ice Cream when it was 95 degrees outside?  OK, I put some Blueberry Crisp in the bottom of a small Rubbermaid Take-Along plastic container. Then I took the top off of a Haagen Dazs single serving (3.6 oz.) Vanilla Ice Crean cup and placed it up-side-down on the crisp and then screwed the top on. I placed the four containers in a small insulated bag with some ice packs.

When it was time for dessert, I just unscrewed the lid and lifted the cup up and off of the ice cream that had melted just enough for it to be removed easily.  It worked so good and the Ice Cream and Crisp tasted so good on the very warm evening!

As I said, I have been busy! Yesterday, at noon I attended Murphys Homecoming Celebration in the Murphys Park. Free lunch was served for anyone 70 years old and older if they have lived in this area for ten years or more. It was a lot of fun. For the past 35 years, the Community Club has sponsored the event. There also was a Little Yellow Duck Race in the creek at the park as a fund raiser for the Animal Humane Society. 

I think I am going to sleep late in the morning. 

           

My "Super Purple" Daylily

The Daylily opened late yesterday. They are called Daylily for a reason. So, I thought I better not wait to take a photo. The color looks somewhat different than the photo that I posted yesterday. Cameras and computer monitors can make such a difference in what we see with our eyes. None the less, this is the first time I am seeing "Super Purple" bloom in my garden. It is kinda fun after the long wait.

This Years Surprises In The Garden

And, there have been several. I have been pampering a small Gardenia Jasminoides 'Radicans' plant for a couple years and this year it has rewarded me for my efforts. It is a miniature gardenia that grows to one foot tall and three feet wide. The flowers are fragrant, large, double white.

 

The gardenia is planted next to White Dianthus and near White Foxglove.

The biggest surprise so far, this year, is the possibility of my Black Mission Fig producing fruit for the first time. The tree is planted in my White Garden and has not gotten enough sun since I planted it about five years ago because of a very large Oak Tree in the neighbors yard. This past year the tree was removed because of disease. As a result, my White Garden is getting more sun than in the past!

Upon close examination, there are many tiny and little buds of figs. Even if there are only a few figs this year it makes me want to do "a happy dance". Do I love my garden or what?

Many of the Day Lilies are blooming throughout the garden. But, I have a 'Super Purple' Daylily that has never bloomed. And, it looks like this is going to be the year. It blooms late and is small. It really is a "late bloomer" because I have had it for a few years. This is a photo from google. I will have a photo of my 'Super Purple' when it opens a little more!

I know that all of my garden would bloom more consistently and bountiful if I had been able to bring in lots of top soil when I first started planting. This soil is almost  all clay with rocks. If you can call that soil! Each plant was  usually a one-gallon plant and I tried to dig a large enough hole and fill with planting mix. And, then hope for the best.

Yes, it would have been great to have lots of top-soil, BUT, I am so thankful I was able to have a "mortgage" and a garden! If you know what I mean! AND, I am so thankful that I have been able to keep it - - - so far!

Mary, Mary, How Does Your Garden Grow

It is growing slowly - slowly. But, it is growing. For years I have wanted to grow Hollyhocks. I know, some people think they are weeds. I guess it kinda depends what part of the country you are familiar with.

Last year I gathered some seeds in the neighborhood and threw them in a wine barrel at the end of the raised vegetable planter. Surprise - they grew and grew and bloomed! Aren't they sweet?



The tomatoes are trying hard to produce some juicy big red yummies. I can't wait for some tomato sandwiches! 

The zucchini barrel is looking great.

And, the cucumber barrel is looking good, too.

Some pictures of flowers around the garden.

Beautiful Basil

And, it is from my garden. I am hoping to preserve it for when I am able to do more cooking. So, I did a little research and came upon the concept of freezing it with olive oil.  I am going to try it. I will let you know how it works out.

I am not spending a lot of time on my blogging but that will change as I am able to do more. My fractured arm is healing and the pain level is less day by day. I have my next medical appointment and x-ray next week.

Even though my arm is still a "problem", I have been slowly cleaning out "everything" in my house. It is a huge job but I have set some goals and I am going to work very hard to stay on track and not get side tracked with anything. Once and for all I want to feel in control of my environment again!

What's Frying?

Nothing at the moment. But, I wanted to show you my new frying pans. I have had them for a few months but I have not been able to use them very often. They are Circulon pans with a regular price of $100 and they were on a One-Day Sale for $25. And, that made me very happy. And, the real Bonus is that I really like the way they cook!

  

If my vegetable garden keeps growing the way it has been during the past week, I should have some nice vegetables that I can saute, soon. The veggies (tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet red peppers and yellow banana peppers - oh, and basil) are looking "very promising". Since my raised vegetable bed does not get as much sun as I would like, it has gotten off to a "slow start." But, I am very hopeful that it will be a success. It won't take much to make me happy!

I've Been Thinking

That I would like to do some more blogging. However, I think I will have it as a private blog for friends that I would like to share my life with. Perhaps, at a later date, I will revert back to my blog - Everydaydelight.blogspot.com.

When I first started to teach myself to create a blog I registered two blog names so I could use the unpublished blog - Tell Me Tell Me - to experiment at the beginning of my learning curve so I would not inadvertently make big mistakes or accidentally delete my work on the published blog. I had no reason for the name other than the fact that I just grabbed a name quickly.

I think the name works. So, for now it will be Tell Me Tell Me!  For some reason Blogger has made the blog name - - -  
   http://www.tellmetellme-mary.blogspot.com.