Daytona

Jack doesn't watch much NASCAR but the Daytona 500 is one he doesn't miss. I was informed back on Monday to make no plans for Sunday. So I made no plans except to get out my cookbooks and look for some new recipes for munchies during the race.

Two new recipes I tried were a Garlic Veggie Dip and an Eggplant Spread. They both turned out great and I'll for sure make them again. Recipes for me are suggestions. I always play with them changing the amount of ingredients and sometimes substitutions. More garlic is always needed and I generally kick up all seasoning over the recommended amount. If you try them season to your tastes. Both require chilling before serving.

Garlic Veggie Dip

equal parts plain yogurt (or sour cream if you prefer) and mayo
minced garlic
chopped onion
chopped water chestnuts
chopped parsley

The water chestnuts add a nice crunch and substance to the dip.

Eggplant Spread

eggplant (cooked at 475 until skin is dark brown) peel and chop
minced onion
olive oil
lemon juice
pepper
sugar (small amount)

It is very tasty. In addition to using as a spread, this could also be served as a side dish. I wouldn't chill if I were using this way. I'm thinking it might also be nice in stuffed shells.

Let the race begin!

After the race while Jack played guitar and goofed off in his office, I watched a movie. It didn't get very good reviews in general, so I'm in the minority here, but I liked it. Not your run of the mill story. I generally like movies about authors and such.

On a not Daytona day side note, we have started a new jigsaw puzzle. Haven't done one in years so looking forward to it. And I'll have a map of Michigan highlights when it is finished. Love maps.

It is a beautiful warm sunny day out today. However, tomorrow night we're suppose to get more snow into Wednesday from the storm rolling through the country's mid-section now. As February closes in on March, I look forward to the weather warming up for good. It will be nice to trade in the snow blower and shovels for garden pots and deck furniture.

Frozen in Time

Saturday we walked downtown to check out the Frozen in Time event - "live mannequins" in store windows depicting movie scenes. Even though the town is covered in snow it was warm and the sun was shining so a very nice day to be out and about. The sun shining also made for interesting reflections in the shop windows. You can see the actors and the buildings across Washington.

There were a lot more but you get the idea. Made for an interesting walkabout.

Speaking of frozen in time...

On Sunday it was very warm and we walked downtown for lunch. It was starting to rain by time we got home. Then we kicked back for the afternoon with The New York Times.

As of Monday morning the temps are still above freezing so we have puddles not ice - a good thing.

But we're scheduled for more precipitation, maybe rain, maybe snow and then in a day or so getting cold again - so freeze. It is Michigan.

January Ends

January ends with a burst of warmth. On Monday evening we walked up town for dinner. We figure when the cold wave hits we won't want to be out and about. This morning in was in the low- to mid-50s. We took Sugar for a nice long walk. Things are thawing out and there are puddles. The wind was blowing hard but it was still warm. No wind chill this morning. But it is foggy.

Ducks are becoming regular visitors on Washington.

Spotted these in a shop window. What's old is new. I had a coat and dresses like these in my youth. Note Sugar's reflection in the window.

Central Park.

Our driveway is a mess. Hopefully the cold snap holds off long enough so all the water drains. But we're suppose to get more rain today and tomorrow so I'm not very hopeful.

Lost

On Friday, Jack was heading to a doc appointment at the hospital. Sugar and I tagged along for the walk. Sugar and I peeled off at Duncan Woods. It was pretty this time of year. I like the open look without the leaves. I'll have to go back when the sun is shining to see how that looks.

Jack reported that I got lost in the woods. That would be real hard to do because Duncan Woods is very nice but not that big. What happened is when I came out the other end, as always seems to happen when I do this, I wasn't sure exactly what combination of turns to make to get home. It is a part of town I don't normally walk around. I always had a general idea of the way to go so not lost in the real sense, maybe more wandering about in an inefficient manner. But that was OK. Even though it was raining lightly, it was one of our last warm days. Sugar is always thrilled to sniff out new locations so she wasn't complaining.  Of course before the next time I'm heading to Duncan Woods, I could look at a map and figure out the straightest route home, but what would be the fun in that?

Jack and I discuss how nice it is to not know where everyplace is. Someone will reference a town here in MI and we are clueless. We know the Muskegon to Holland to Grand Rapids area pretty well, but get out of that triangle and it is still mostly a mystery to us. We truly can get lost in MI - an impossibility  back in IL. Having lived there our whole lives, any town mentioned we could place it geographically - south side, north side, western sprawl, mid-state, downstate, etc. With our road trips, we are learning MI. So more and more places are becoming familiar. However, I doubt we will ever have the complete grasp of MI that we had of IL. I like it that way. It is like traveling. You go to see new things. When we travel, I love truly getting lost in big cities. No plan, just start walking and see what happens. You might miss the "must see" museum, but instead you find wonderful little local gems and quirks of the city.

Go out and get lost - I highly recommend it.

January in Grand Haven

I've been very busy indexing a variety of books. The books are all interesting so a bonus. On New Year's Day we participated in the VFW Post's pot luck dinner. We had a great time chatting with our new Grand Haven friends.  There were an amazing variety of dishes and very tasty.

It has been warm and dry. Right now it is mid-40s and we'll be up in the 50s this weekend. While this is nice for going out and about, it isn't nice for the tourist businesses that require ice and snow. And it is really not good for the lake levels. Our neighbor predicted a January 19 freeze date for ice fishing but right now that doesn't look like it is going to happen, But it is supposed to get cold starting next week so maybe he'll be right.

As you can see by Central Park no snow at all.

One of the stores has a bag of "real plastic snow" in the window.

Can't go skiing on that!

While we were out walking last Sunday we found this guy taking a stroll down Washington.

 Meanwhile back at home the Christmas tree and decorations are packed away till next year. The chessmen are back lined up ready to do battle.

 My window herb garden wasn't producing as hoped. Mostly this was due to my neglect. So the herb garden has been dismantled and sent to the basement until I decide if I'll try it again. In its place are some souvenirs.

We took a trip to my favorite consignment store in Muskegon and I found a nice little Wedgwood ashtray that is pretty and nice for holding my jewelry overnight.

That's all that's new around here. Now back to work...

Christmas in Grand Haven 2012

Jack, Sugar and I had a wonderful Christmas. It was most relaxing and totally enjoyable. We started the day with tea of course. Then we opened our gifts and had some more tea. As you can see, not really a white Christmas. Green with scattered white. As I've said before, we haven't had a tree or exchanged gifts in years. The travel was our Christmas. So this year staying home we put up a tree and agreed to one gift of no more than $25. Sugar got dog bakery cookies.

Thanks to Adam I found a John Wayne ornament for Jack. He loves John Wayne movies. When not on the tree he plans on hanging it by his desk, possibly on the window frame. Jack got me prep bowls for the kitchen. I was very excited. Yes, buying kitchen bowls for me is a fine thing to do. All three gifts were bought at local small Grand Haven stores.

Sugar enjoying a cookie.

Another cup of tea before Jack and Sugar took a walk and I did some indexing. I'm indexing a book with 1000+ pages so I figured I'd put a little time in on it.

Our neighbor left us a sweet treat.

Then it was time for our noon matinee movie. The munchies were better than popcorn.

The American President is one of our most favorite movies. Always a nice feel good movie. However, I did find it a tad depressing that this movie made in 1995 was about trying to get two bills through Congress - Crime Bill and Global Warming Bill. Except for the fact that we now use the more accurate term Climate Change, nothing has changed. These issues have still not been addressed.

After the movie, it was time to make Christmas dinner. I tried out a new recipe for Lentil and Mushroom Shepard's Pie. It turned out quite nice. Jack said, "It's a keeper." This translated means I should make it again. I wasted no time in putting my new prep bowls to work and they were great. They are heavy so they don't slide around or tip.

Jack helped with the mashing and Sugar helped with the droppings.

Ready to go.

I wasn't happy with how the biscuits turned out. I overworked them a bit. They tasted fine - just didn't get a good height. Jack said they were just fine and finished them for breakfast this morning with peanut butter. We'll finish the Shepard's Pie tonight or tomorrow.

After dinner we loafed around for awhile and then it was time for movie number two.

Love Actually is just a wonderful feel good movie. We laughed and cried. I always say a movie that makes you laugh and cry is perfect.

We finished the day off with National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. All and all a great day.

Around Grand Haven in December

Jack and Sugar hanging out.

Big new house being built on the empty lot on Fulton.

Dewey Hill Nativity Scene with music! You really need to see it. I'm sure the right camera could capture it but my camera isn't it.

Central Park.

We haven't had a tree in years. Once Adam was grown we used Jack's Christmas break to take vacations so we were not home at Christmas. So, no decorations. Jack said he wanted a tree now that we are settled and not traveling over Christmas - please never an airport at Christmas again!  He said it was important to him, so we have a tree. It has been fun. We're decorating with souvenirs from our travels.

From outside.

Inside.

Merry Christmas!