cHappy cHanukkah

I am so glad that I married someone who is Jewish and learned a little bit about the holidays and food. Latkes are one of the most delicious comfort types of food ever. I usually have them once during the eight days of Hanukkah, and serve them with applesauce and sour cream. I also usually have beef brisket and gravy with them. I never had cooked or even seen a cut of beef called brisket until I met Harry's mom, 28 years ago. Boy, could she cook!

I am posting the recipe and hope that some of you will try them and tell me how you like them. I never met anyone who didn't!

Latkes

2 1/2 # baking potatoes (6 good size)

1 medium onion

2 eggs

1/4 t. baking powder

2 T. flour

salt and pepper

Vegetable Oil and butter (OK, so I am not Kosher)

Grate potatoes and onion in food processor. Put in bowl. Drain or blot moisture in bottom of bowl. Add eggs, baking powder, flour and salt & pepper. Put about 1/8 inch of oil in bottom of skillet. Add a blob of butter (about 1 and 1/2 T.). Heat over medium to medium-hi heat. Spoon potato mixture (with slotted spoon) into pan, and flatten pancakes. Cook until golden brown on both sides.

Serve with sour cream and applesauce.

Happy Thanksgiving

H-Bomb and I are working today to give staff a break for the holiday. And, to alleviate guilt I may have when I announce that I am "outta here" at Christmas time to go be with family. We will have our traditional dinner tomorrow and included, among other guests, will be our friend Marvin, who, with Harry's assistance as his sponsor, is moving along on the road to United States citizenship. Harry obtained the lawyer for Marvin a couple of years ago and now there is no more looking over the shoulder and worry about being deported and having to leave his US family behind. Harry "walks the walk and talks the talk" as I have said before.

The dinner will be what has been whittled down from favorites over the years. My favorites! Hey, I am the cook. The usual turkey, cornbread stuffing, etc. Braised brussel sprouts. Green bean casserole (I do use fresh beans but the classic recipe remains king). Cranberry sauce. Homemade rolls. Also, probably several pies so that there are leftovers. We will take plates to our neighbor Kirby and his wife Martha, who are pretty much housebound these days. Martha is on oxygen and Kirby is losing sight and hearing. Such lovely neighbors. I hate to see their world shrinking.

What am I thankful for? My life. It has been a great ride so far.

Are You This Brave?

My youngest son, Samuel Eli, has always been a mechanical whiz. He certainly is his father's son. As a toddler, his favorite toy was the vacumn cleaner. When he was in elementary school, his Halloween mad scientist costume had light up effects in his pocket, created by him. He blew out an electrical outlet at my friend Peggy's house when showing off one of his moving creations. And, when he was involved in the Odyssey of the Mind, in sixth grade, he motorized a cart and another prop and the judges took off points because they felt there had to be parental involvement, despite the coaches assurances that he had been the sole inventor. He never owned a toy for very long, because he took them apart to see how they worked. In fact, he almost lost the sight in one eye when he incurred a serious laceration from a piece of plastic flying off an tear-apart and had to wear goggles from then on. He was (and is) fun, inventive and interesting. Also, highly hyperactive as a child and definitely a challenge at times when he got "wound up." Sam, at age two, winged a heavy silver fork off a balcony at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel and it just happened to land on an employees head two stories down. He also left a goose neck lamp lit that he was playing with when he was perhaps 5 or 6 at a Jersey shore rental house and it just happened to catch a beach towel on fire, and then burned the carpet as his Grandfather, who fortunately was nearby, smelled smoke and raced to throw the burning towel in the tub. That event cost me new carpeting for the house. I love to tell these stories, not because I was upset with Sam. I couldn't be. He was just like the monkey George in the books "Curious George" and to me, just as cute, likable, happy and charming. Even when he was driving you so crazy you wanted to find duct tape and wrap him up.

Now Sam is into cars. Big time. He repairs friends and family's vehicles and has done quite a bit of audio customization. He created his own touch screen computer for his former car. Now he is doing a huge project (which just happens to be taking up every conceivable bare spot in the yard and under the house). He has purchased two BMW's, each for $800, and is placing all the interior in the car that has engine problems into the car that has the great rebuilt engine but a crapped out interior. Then, he will sell all the remaining parts on eBay. He laughed and told his friend Jim, when I looked at the project, that I would say exactly what I said..."Sam, you are scaring me." But, every time he takes these cars apart, they manage to get put back together in perfect order and in perfectly working condition. Including mine.

Not Your Mother's Easter Corsage

Meet a LC - Laelia Cattleya. I do not know the hybrid name - the tag was lost a long time ago. This beauty is blooming for the first time, thanks to Harry's lath house creation, and my finally learning, somewhat, how to fend off the myriad of viruses, fungi, and snails, and to adjust the light and water issues that determine plant success. If you are thinking "big deal" - my marigolds are loaded with blossoms - than consider that an orchid plant takes about 7 years to reach maturity where it can bloom, and many bloom once a year. And, the light, and nutrition has to be correct for it to happen. So when plants that I have had for literally years finally throw out a little bud, I am ecstatic. I watch the tortuously slow growth daily until, like this morning, I go outside and see this beauty in nearly full bloom. Each flower has an iridescence that does not show on camera, as though dusted with a frosty fine glitter. Many have heady fragrances, but this one does not. I will get hopefully a couple weeks of enjoyment in the house until it wilts and then goes out to the yard, until, hopefully next year.

The above Dendrobium, and above it, Cattleya, are examples of sticking a plant on a tree down here. I mean, literally sticking it on with liquid nails, wrapping a wire around it for a day until the glue dries and then watching it slowly send its roots out to wrap around the tree and live in symbiosis, like in nature. These two plants took over two years to send out inflorescence and bloom.

The Ugly Side of Humanity

Ugh, it is one of those days when I get discouraged that people have a dark side, and some have a very easy time letting it rotate into the sunlight. After dealing with a guest who ignored our no-smoking policy, despite signing a specific agreement on the reservation form agreeing to being charged for said behavior, he left a cup full of cigarette butts in a very smoked up room. In addition, we have multiple signs on the property, and ashtrays outside everywhere with seating next to them. And, did you know that despite hotels having a no-smoking charge - they cannot enforce it? The credit card companies will not support the merchant. The guest has to "sign" that they accept the smoking penalty. So, I decided to charge the man half of the normal penalty and wrote to him that if he opts to dispute the charges, I will take him to small claims court, since he is a Keys resident, and ask for court costs in addition to the full penalty. And that I have photos of his deed. We will see what he does.

Then, after dealing with that slime bag, (who by the way was an "arrogant jerk" when he checked in according to staff), I received a phone bill for almost $300 of phone call charges to Cuba made in a two day rental in a property that we own. Dummy me. I thought that having local calls only established with AT&T meant, just that - local calls only. No, I just learned that you can dial 1010123 and get around that little system and charge calls to anywhere you would like. And, when calling the former renters to discuss this bill with them, I learned that their phone is disconnected. Not only did I go out of my way to make an exception for this family who needed a short term rental which is not my normal policy, during their stay we had to call the police for excessive noise, and their group of 6 as stated on the contract was really about 14 people, and last but not least, after they turned in the keys, they snuck back in the house and used the house, and pool until late in the day after we thought they had departed. How do people do these things and not feel guilt? Does what goes 'round really come 'round?? And, by the way, I have shared some little secrets of the low life world but trust that my blog readers are my friends and family and would never use this new knowledge!

Happy 100th Birthday, Howard Ryden Nord

Today would be father's 100th birthday. This occurred to me last month as I attended my husband's aunt's 95th birthday dinner in Naples, Fl. and as I walked the beach that day, I calculated that my father had been born in 1910. My sister Suzanne had thought about it also I learned in a later phone conversation, and I wanted to post this remembrance.

What an amazing century to live in. Dad used to tell me about when their home as children was "electrified." He and his teenage friends bought a used Model-T Ford for $5 and his buddy fell off the running board and broke a leg. His father died of an infection that began in a tooth, pre-antibiotics. His mother did the laundry for a family of nine before the amazing washers and dryers of today. Once a year the rugs were hung outside to be "beaten" because Stanley Steamer didn't exist. Fresh fruit and vegetables were stored in the cellar at the end of harvest and the idea of a fresh orange and an apple in your Christmas stocking was because they were such rare and expensive treats mid winter. You didn't run to the store and make a salad for dinner. Food was homemade (and delicious I am sure if made by my Swedish grandmother).

My father lived through WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, air travel, the first man on the moon and so much invention that I cannot begin to name. He remembered when neighbors cared for neighbors and there was no Social Security or welfare. He did not glorify the past and talked of hard times that people experienced. He was part of the post WWII boom and returned to build a home, work, raise a family, take us on yearly vacations, put children through college and experience a "snow bird" retirement lifestyle. All good. And, he managed to live his whole life and never once use a computer as far as I know. And, also never swear once in front of me (although my son Matt did hear him mutter one, once, when missing the coin drop on the Fl. turnpike). So, here's to you Dad. Happy 100th. Quite a century. Quite a life.

How Did I Get So Lucky?

I haven't blogged for quite a while. It isn't because I haven't had anything to say. It is because "my feet have barely touched the ground" as Harry would say.

I feel so lucky that I have had such a rich life. I have had some pretty rough times emotionally, as those close to me know, but in terms of opportunities and freedoms, I have had it all. I was able to quit work when my kids were small and enjoy the job of mother without the unbelievable pressures women have who are juggling jobs in and out of the home. I have only "worked" (meaning a pay check) part time for the last 20+ years. And, the jobs I had were totally able to be done on my own schedule. Now I find this freedom to be so sweet. No responsibilities or persons at home to constantly worry about. I love this time in life.

I spent the past couple weeks attending Harry's aunt's 95th birthday dinner in Naples, Fl which we extended into a several day vacation, fishing with my son Matt, and vacationing with my girlfriend. Harry and I had a great time together on Sanibel at our favorite haunts and also enjoyed spending time with Harry's brother George, cousins and Aunt Marion in Naples. We love the west coast of Florida, but I have to say, when entering the restaurant for dinner in on the first night of our trip Naples, I texted Sam who was on his way to join us to "be prepared because everyone except us appeared to be over 100." I guess this is because of the off season and also the restaurant, which appeared to appeal to the Naples blue blood types.

The day after we got back from Naples, Matthew and his brother-in-law Ryan Fitzpatrick, arrived with fishing poles in hand and we hit the water in my new (used) flats skiff, the "No Baloney" - so named because Ryan could not get over how good the baloney sandwiches we took aboard were. I think he had not had one his whole adult life. Our first venture was across open water to the Everglades. With storm clouds looming, I did not dare try to discourage Matt and we donned rain gear and off we went. Riding for an hour in pelting rain is like a new kind of spa facial - perhaps more like a zapping laser treatment. When we got to Flamingo, the first thing I saw before thunder forced us to the marina was a whole flock of Roseate Spoonbills on the flats. I couldn't even get a picture of these amazing birds, the color of flamingos with a flat spoon shaped mouth. As we pulled our boat in, a huge alligator cruised by. After the thunder subsided, we headed back out to fish in the rain. We decided that riding across open water again to our car was going to be a nightmare ride with all of the storms and convinced Sam to pick up our car and trailer and drive all the way north to the Everglades National park (about an hour and a half) to pick us up. When dark fell, we sought refuge in a fish cleaning station with screening because the mosquitoes in the Everglades are like being attacked by the Red Cross Bloodmobile. We were cold, wet, hungry and miserable happy!! The ride back in the car with heat blasting would have made any northerner laugh because the outside temp was probably 76.

The next day I woke to find Matt at the computer searching the weather reports and we lucked out. Calm seas and fairly clear skies. We headed south to the area of Big Pine Key. I love it there. Isolated, starkly beautiful. You could be in the Caribbean. Fishing wasn't great but the day was. We had a wonderful time enjoying nature and each other's company. We had dinner at the No Name Pub on Big Pine Key. It is a Key's classic - character and characters. There are about $30,000 dollar bills stapled to the ceiling and walls. The beer was cold and the pizza and wings a perfect compliment.

The third day of the visit was offshore fishing. The water was flat calm as we left our canal and we were out to 1500 feet in no time. After some searching we found a large weed patch floating alone in the gulf stream. Baits out, troll a few minutes and BAM, double hook up of Mahi Mahi and these were really nice size. Bringing one too the boat means the rest of the school follows and they are visible under the water so the fun begins. Three people fishing, chaos, tangled lines, fish running under the boat. It is adrenaline pumping action and the end result was some great fish and a spectacular dinner of Macadamia crusted Mahi with a Thai curry sauce - my specialty. And, lots more in the freezer. The day ended with us coming home and being joined by a school of porpoise who swam with the boat and played and entertained us.

Ryan had to head home that night. Matt and I were able to get out on the flats near the house one more time the next day. We finished his trip with a dinner out at a local restaurant that we can walk to, and after dinner, listened to the band. Eating outside to me is one of the most delightful ways to dine and one of the many joys of living in the sub-tropics.

Next morning, Matt and I were on the road at 5:30AM to head to the airport. I dropped him off and headed north to the Tampa airport to pick up my friend, Fern, who flew down from Cleveland for a few days of golf and girlfriend time. Fern has been a friend for over 30 years. I met her in graduate school soon after I moved kicking and screaming to Cleveland. That move turned out to be wonderful when I learned to love the people and the wonderful diversity of the city. The trip almost didn't happen because Fern's mother died the week before after several years of failing health and a move into a nursing home. Fern decided to come and it turned out to be the perfect antidote after caring for a very difficult, aging parent. Some of us were lucky in parent department, and some not. I don't need to say more.

The ride north was uneventful until I saw, looming in the distance, the Skyway Bridge near Clearwater, Fl. Holy cow! To me, it looked like the Magnum at Cedar Pt. amusement park. As I got closer, my hands and feet started to sweat. I maneuvered to an inside lane and fought off my panic as I drove up, up and up. At the top, I got the nerve to look out over the incredible water vista. I think I didn't stop perspiring for an hour. I am so afraid of heights, that even watching something high on TV can start me in a panic! Why the heck did they make this bridge so high? I know that I have dreamed about driving over high bridges many times, and this time, my dream was real. I don't know what the fear means. One time a co-worker told me I had a fear of heights because I was not "grounded." Is that like being a blond? Was she saying I was ditzy? I remember walking on the Kinzua railroad bridge in Pa. years ago with my family and literally having to get down on all fours and crawl off. Maybe I am afraid I will fling myself off in some wild impulsive suicide attempt? Or, most likely, I know what a klutz I am and am afraid I will fall.

Fern and I rented a little house in Spring Hill, Fl. through http://www.vrbo.com/ - a great site that I use to rent our vacation rental. The home was adorable, comfortable and a perfect launch pad. We played golf twice.

One course, World Woods, was a top rated public course. Absolutely beautiful. We explored the area all the way down to Clearwater and back. We ate out in fun restaurants. We shopped. We went to two beaches. It was a great time full of laughs and we were so tired at night we couldn't stay up past 11.

Home now. Back to work at the motel. Harry caught me up on all of the projects he has worked on while I was away. Sam had new projects to review also. I am tapping my foot while planning the next adventure.