Feb 18th yet Again: All caught up

 

I finished packing to head to Flagstaff to see Tom tomorrow so I decided I could finish catching up.

Fran's birthday is January 29th. Her brother Vince and wife Carol were returning from Palm Desert for her birthday. Fortunately, I was prepared. When we were on the beach in Mexico Fran was admiring a necklace. It was a beautiful, unusual opal and I thought she was going to buy it. She didn't. I was confident she liked it so I asked Cindy to buy it for me. The next day the same vendor, whom the Canadians have known for years came by again and I noticed matching earrings. Cindy to the rescue once again because Fran and I were usually together. 

I asked Fran what she'd like for her birthday dinner. She asked, "Can you make duck l"orange?" I said, "Of course!"  So I found some frozen ducks and fortunately had enough time to let them thaw 2days in the refrigerator. (Critical) It was an "Older" adults only dinner. Craig and Karen, Vince and Carol, yacht club friends Brenda and Kevin and Fran and me.

The ducks took a little longer than expected but no problem, cocktail hour was just prolonged a little.

Fran has this very neat serving platter. It has a water reservoir underneath that keeps the meat warm. She simple poured hot water into the opening. She told us it is decades old.

Karen, Craig, Steve, Fran, Brenda, Kevin, Vince

From left, Fran, Brenda, Kevin, Carol, Vince
Karen and Craig

We took two pictures of the group so the photographers were included.

Fran made an apple pie for her birthday, instead of a cake. Craig provided the vanilla ice cream. Delicious!

The necklace and earrings were a good choice. Approved by all! I should have taken a picture.

The next day Fran told Vince she'd like to replace the shingles on a little flap on the chicken coop. (Fran had 3 chickens but a raccoon killed two so we were thinking how to protect Henrietta, the remaining chicken. Henrietta is a pet! I can pick her up, pet her and she likes it. After looking at the chicken coop, Vince said all the shingles should be replaced. I arrived on the scene later and said I'd be happy to help. I like projects.

Fran and Vince went to Home Depot the next morning for supplies before I arrived. We removed the shingles and found the wood also needed to be replaced. 

In the meantime, Fran painted the trim and part of the coop with Henrietta's assistance. Henrietta ended up with red toe nails!

Fortunately, Fran had some plywood available. We worked the better part of the day and I said, "Randy is coming, we'll finish it tomorrow." That night Vince and Carol took us out to a very nice restaurant overlooking the harbor for Fran's birthday. Vince and Carol were leaving the next morning but I picked up Randy and Cindy from Mexico that night. (Randy and Cindy stayed in MX for an extra week.)

The next day Randy and I the trim and shingles and installed raccoon proof latches. Then Randy said, "Henrietta needs a chicken door." I said, "She has one". He was talking about a solar powered door that closes when it gets dark and opens in the morning. Turns out chickens always, always, always go into the coop when it gets dark. So Fran doesn't need to close it up at night or let Henrietta out in the morning. Cindy ordered the door on Amazon and Randy installed it the next day.

Henrietta is very social and curious. She was on Cindy's back playing with her hair while Cindy was setting the time for the door! Very funny!

We had docktails on the boat that night and then went to the yacht club for dinner. The food is excellent and it was prime rib night. The goal for the next day was for Fran and Cindy, both 100% Polish, to make Borscht and pierogis. Randy and I would replace the fluorescent light on the boat. Randy is a lighting expert and I told Fran he was the man we needed. Cindy took care of ordering the lights which we would get the next day. The lights turned out great.

Randy also helped me install the bird feeder Matt, Wendy and Rebecca gave me for Christmas. It's very fun because the solar powered camera tells my phone, when there is a bird. I have a pair of California Towhees hanging out and a few sparrows so far. I expect a lot more. The camera has caught a robin and a Junco but I didn't see them. My Goldfish plants are attracting a lot of hummingbirds. I'm hoping one will build a nest. 

The pierogis and borscht were an all day project. Both turned out great.

It wasn't all work for Randy and Cindy's visit. We rode the trolley into Laguna Beach and did the tourist stuff. It was a beautiful day and we checked out some of the shops. In particular, was Wyland's Art Gallery. He lives in Laguna Beach and his work is incredible.

We went for a walk along the beach before going to lunch at Brent's brewery. On the way we stopped for a rest on the very artistic bench.

Randy, Cindy and Fran

The next day we climbed down the stairs to Fran's beach and enjoyed walking along the shore. The stairs in the middle lead to her house. 100 steps! Easier going down.

Randy and Cindy headed to Las Vegas in time to watch the Super Bowl, and then back to Canada. We'll see them February 26th when we go for a visit and ice fishing.

Fran and I got in a couple bike rides and then I made another duck for Valentine's Day. We both like duck and I had all the makings for the L'Orange sauce so why not?

 So I am now caught up. I am wondering how many people are reading this blog anymore. I would appreciate hearing from you if you are. 

Feb18th: Continuing to catch up, Christmas 2024

Angel Wing 

Fran's family celebrates Christmas on Christmas eve with a mostly traditional Polish seafood dinner. I was pleased to be included. The dinner included  swordfish on the grill with my honey, garlic, ginger, butter and soy sauce marinade. Fran also served shrimp and fish along with other wonderful side dishes. I also made angel wings. Fran and Vince remembered them from their younger days and so did I. I said I would give it a try. 

It was a great dinner and afterward we did a rotating gift/swap exchange. It was a lot of fun. 

Fran's family is very musically talented. We were entertained by John and Brent on the guitars and Tyler on the piano.

The holidays continued on Christmas day with a dinner at the Surf and Sand restaurant with John's family 

It was very nice, overlooking the water with excellent food. The dessert was amazing! Carmelized pears, toffee pastry with ginger ice cream. I enjoyed John's, Lisa's, Layla May's and Jack's company.

It's no wonder I didn't get a blog done. Next was a prime rib dinner at my house for Fran and the Reynards. We agreed to trade presents then. The prime rib was excellent and we enjoyed the evening. Fran and I struggled with what to get the Rahns and Fran came up with the idea of a very unusual and popular restaurant called the Hobbit. So what to get Fran. I immediately thought about fishing since she loves it more than I do. But that was kind of like a present for both of us because I would also use the lures and equipment. So I needed more.

Fran is very much into astronomy. Whenever we are walking at night I learn a few more constellations. The socks she wore when we visited the Griffith Observatory confirms that.

So I bought her a picture of the Syracuse N.Y. night sky on January 29th, the day she was born. (where she was born) It was a big hit. 

Because we both like to fish, I bought Fran an assortment of lures and a new rod and reel. I opened my present first and found she also bought an assortment of fishing lures and equipment for me. When she opened her present she had to laugh! We bought the same lures. We should have known. We have enough lures to last us a very long time.

Randy and Cindy sent us a present to use on the boat. Very appropriate!

I was invited to the Sand and Sea restaurant by Fran's Son, John's family for another Christmas celebration dinner. It was very nice, overlooking the water with excellent food. The dessert was amazing! And I enjoyed John, Lisa, Layla May and Jack.

From the left, Layla May, Sienna, John, Lisa, Jack
Tyler, Joelle Fran and Chloe

John and Tyler's families joined us for a walk around the marina and dinner on the water. The marina is very well decorated for the holidays.

We'd done a lot of eating and little riding. Fran suggested we go for a long bike ride to Cook's Corner. Sounded good to me. I learned it was a biker bar out in the outskirt of town. An interesting place. I had a Rueben sandwich that was as good as any I ever had. Fortunately, the ride was mostly down hill on the way back.

We of course still needed to celebrate New Year's Eve. The Rahns hosted a very fun party. I didn't get a lot of pictures but here are a couple of Karen's game, pong bowling.

The holidays were over. Next it was a trip to Puerto Vallarta, MX for Fran and me to join our Canadian friends. We all stayed at the Occidental Nuevo, an all inclusive resort. The resort was lovely. We met 4 new Canadian couples through Randy and Cindy and we thoroughly enjoyed their company.

Randy, Cindy and I went out fishing one day and did very well. We caught 15 Spanish Mackerel, very good to eat. We took them to the local Puetro Vallarta yacht Club and they cooked them for all 14 of us. The entire dinner was delicious and the people couldn't have been nicer.

The Puerto Vallarta Yacht Club and our Canadian friends

3 days after we arrived Fran was notified that she could be upgraded to a better room. Turns out the room she signed up for wasn't available when we checked in. Her new room was much nicer than the one she signed up for. It had a large balcony with a hot tub!

Coffee plant

Fran and I went on a short trip to a botanical garden up the mountain. It was very scenic and our driver/guide grew up in the mountains. He provided a great deal of information. 

He informed us that a helicopter landed in this bay while filming the movie Predator

Here are some of the views.

Our group took a van into Puerto Vallarta for some sight seeing and shopping. There is a very old church that was impressive. Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe 

The town is very touristy as expected. Everyone was having fun!

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The town is very touristy as expected. Everyone was having fun!

The music at the resort was varied and festive. Here is a sample.

The resort and grounds were very nice and the food was very good. Here are some pictures.

Main Lobby

Open Lounge area