I know it is 105 today in Merced. This means it must be getting close to the time that I need to get the fruit off the trees and into the glass. This morning the job (After walking the 2 mile stint) was to get the outdoor kitchen in place for canning. In the last few years the crop has not been spread out over the Summer. It seems like the apricot and the peach season and now the nectarine season are all coming together with ripening points very close to each other. This may be the result of global warming.
I gathered up the pieces of the big three burner stove and sought to get it going or at least figure out what it needed for canning. 'After cleaning it up and getting it ready to stand on its legs (it spent the winter in the gardening shed) I realized that I needed the gas to pressurize it and look for links,
Down to the local U-haul place I headed for s couple of tanks of propane. (29 dollars later for 9 gallons) I headed home. When I set up the tank to go through the stove everything looked good. I sprayed some cleaning fluid on the area around the gas connections and it looked good. When I sprayed around the area where the regulator was attached to the stove, it started blowing bubbles in the soap.Not good.
I replaced the regulator and the hose that connected it to the stove.. still bubbles although not as great. I have heard great tales about people having their propane tanks pierce their neighbors fences so discretion is the better part of valor when dealing with gas leaks in portable equipment. I needed to replace the stove.
At my local Costco the store has sold out of the stoves. They seem to have them all the time. I inquired of the manager and he noted that they had sold their last one a week ago. I asked him if he would kindly check to see if Turlock had them. Yes indeed they at 17 and Modesto had 21.
I made a quick trip to Turlock and a promised to Sue that this year I would get it under cover so that the weather wouldn't ruin it and I had a new stove for the backyard. It is really the best way to can. The mess stays outside. You don't have to pay to cool the heat you generated by canning inside, and the glassware jars don't have to take the shock. By the way, Linzi I found a canning kit that had a jar grabber, a bubble remover and a jam funnel. I bought you a kit too.
So now I am waiting for the evening to cool down and I will be ready.. At least I hope. Plum jam will be first on the list if I can gather enough plums. The tree is in a very obscure place in the yard now that the house has been expanded. I hope you find a cool place to be.
Love
Pat
Friday, June 20, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
New Mexican Restaurant in Merced
I sampled some soup at the new Mexican restaurant in downtown Merced. Located on M street just across the street from the County Bank parking garage, the Fiesta sports a new modern exterior that is also reflected in the white tile and booth set up inside. The menu is complete and therefore presents a challenge for its niche. It is not a tacqeria which tend to be very clean in the kitchen area but sorely lacking the the dinning area. this restaurant is a waitress served venue.
The salsa was hot.. spicier than salsa outside of Merced County. No carrots on the table. This is unusual for even the lowest of the low Mexican spots in the county. No carrots usually means the food is from outside the state of Michoacan, Mexico. A study was once done concerning the origin state in Mexico. Overwhelming is the number of people from the state of Michoacan. In Livingston, just 14 miles north of here, the people who live there come from a radius of 14 miles in Mexico. It is probably true that most of the food from here is pretty much the same, considering its origin. What is interesting now is the beginning of more Mexican seafood oriented restaurants in Merced. I wonder if the same thing is happening in Michoacan. It is about the same distance away from the sea as we are (about 100 miles). Some of Michoacan is right on the Pacific Ocean. The biggest city is Morelia, a large city between Guadalajara and Mexico City.
The restaurants, in Merced, all have photos of the little town of Cotija. It is a rather obscure city of 16,000 the is best known for its development of the crumbly cheese that melts in the oven in enchiladas. It is close to the state of Jalisco.
This restaurant had an albondigas (meatball soup) with chayote squash (it could have been peeled) zucchini, cabbage, meatballs and tomatoes. The broth was very thin, like most good Mexican soups, and it was medium spicy. In the spice group was an unusual addition, cinnamon. It was accompanied with three thick white corn torillias, a small plate of rice, and chopped onion and cilantro, and three lime quarters. Every time I eat a restaurant Mexican soup I always think of my sister. I once accused her of being the queen of the condiments. I think that she likes that title.
Overall the soup was a solid B. Points were awarded for the restaurant having the soup. The soup had the proper condiments,authentic veggies and the right amoount of spiciness. Points need to be deducted for the cinnamon in the soup, the unpeeled chayote.
Price was 8.99. Add a buck and a half for unlimited soda and free chips and salsa while you wait.. and you have a pretty high class lunch.
Pat
The salsa was hot.. spicier than salsa outside of Merced County. No carrots on the table. This is unusual for even the lowest of the low Mexican spots in the county. No carrots usually means the food is from outside the state of Michoacan, Mexico. A study was once done concerning the origin state in Mexico. Overwhelming is the number of people from the state of Michoacan. In Livingston, just 14 miles north of here, the people who live there come from a radius of 14 miles in Mexico. It is probably true that most of the food from here is pretty much the same, considering its origin. What is interesting now is the beginning of more Mexican seafood oriented restaurants in Merced. I wonder if the same thing is happening in Michoacan. It is about the same distance away from the sea as we are (about 100 miles). Some of Michoacan is right on the Pacific Ocean. The biggest city is Morelia, a large city between Guadalajara and Mexico City.
The restaurants, in Merced, all have photos of the little town of Cotija. It is a rather obscure city of 16,000 the is best known for its development of the crumbly cheese that melts in the oven in enchiladas. It is close to the state of Jalisco.
This restaurant had an albondigas (meatball soup) with chayote squash (it could have been peeled) zucchini, cabbage, meatballs and tomatoes. The broth was very thin, like most good Mexican soups, and it was medium spicy. In the spice group was an unusual addition, cinnamon. It was accompanied with three thick white corn torillias, a small plate of rice, and chopped onion and cilantro, and three lime quarters. Every time I eat a restaurant Mexican soup I always think of my sister. I once accused her of being the queen of the condiments. I think that she likes that title.
Overall the soup was a solid B. Points were awarded for the restaurant having the soup. The soup had the proper condiments,authentic veggies and the right amoount of spiciness. Points need to be deducted for the cinnamon in the soup, the unpeeled chayote.
Price was 8.99. Add a buck and a half for unlimited soda and free chips and salsa while you wait.. and you have a pretty high class lunch.
Pat
Monday, June 16, 2008
Tiger Did it
Tiger Woods finally won today (Monday) the US Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines near San Diego. Tiger bested Rocco Mediate the 45 year old after a complete extra day plus one hole of sudden victory. All morning long the two traded leads. Sometimes they made great shots and other times pretty mediocre ones. In the end Tiger kissed the big silver cup and held his one year old daughter. He even successfully found her nuk pacifier and she chomped right along. It was quite a display. He said that it was the most important finish in his career. Earlier in the year he had one the Buick Open on the same course and his daughter was just beginning to take her first steps. Today she is running around. Tiger seems at home being a father. When he passed her off to mom at the end, his daughter reached out her arms and asked for more holding time. He complied for a few more moments, then passed her off to mom and went to sign his card.
As predicted, Tiger drank G4, is red gatorade endorsed product for the last two days of the championship. His opponent was drinking Dasani or aqua ya da.(fil?) So it must work.. right?
Big doings are on the horizon. I am hosting a license and new job celebration and one year anniversary at Woolgrowers next Sunday at 1pm. All family members and connected will have their meals paid for if they arrive by 1. There after you are on your own. Come celebrate the girl's success. Dad has reminded me that the girls will be making announcements about their success so you can count on some excited description of their accomplishments and their hopes and dreams of the future. Those family members that do not wish to eat the entree are encouraged to come and have a places etting for the beans, the salad, the soup, and the chicken and rice casserole. Call for more information
Love Pat
As predicted, Tiger drank G4, is red gatorade endorsed product for the last two days of the championship. His opponent was drinking Dasani or aqua ya da.(fil?) So it must work.. right?
Big doings are on the horizon. I am hosting a license and new job celebration and one year anniversary at Woolgrowers next Sunday at 1pm. All family members and connected will have their meals paid for if they arrive by 1. There after you are on your own. Come celebrate the girl's success. Dad has reminded me that the girls will be making announcements about their success so you can count on some excited description of their accomplishments and their hopes and dreams of the future. Those family members that do not wish to eat the entree are encouraged to come and have a places etting for the beans, the salad, the soup, and the chicken and rice casserole. Call for more information
Love Pat
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Frida Kahlo
My kids asked me what I wanted for father's day.
The answer is always the same. Time with you!
Secondary to that this year.. visit an art museum with you.
Saturday we all went to see the Frida exhibit at the SF Museum of Modern Art. We first met at the food court of the Meteron. We had a great snack a the firewood. A small pizza to share and some appetizer mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, and some green beans. We then proceeded across the plaza and through the Martin Luther King memorial to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art other ways shorted to the Moma. There was a decent line out in front waiting to get tickets. This was the first day of the exhibit. We got tickets for the 3 pm cue.
We had about an hour to walk though their impressionist collection "Matisse and Beyond" some very famous works were in the collection. It was the first time I have been to the MoMa. Sue and I were pretty much wide eyed. I think the setting and the collection would make anyone feel this way. Sue is not much of a fan of the modern painting and some work ... she just didn't get. She likes the more representational works. What a treasure of a gallery. The gallery space is absolutely spectacular.
When our cue time arrived, there was a huge line to get in. It extended down the stairs two floors. Having Sue in the wheelchair.. hand powered we all got to get to the front of the line since stairs were not an issue with a wheelchair. The exhibit was crowded and the folks with the audio have a tendency to "hog a spot" but still the exhibit was wonderful and truly reflected the depth and message that she wanted to portray. The color was amazing and the range of depicting emotion is her trademark. Some of that is visceral. In many paintings she depicts the organs that are causing her anguish.
We all enjoyed the visit.
Catch a glimpse of it here.. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
I was impressed by her painting's luminosity and captivated by how she was able to capture the black cat on her shoulder.
Sue liked her painting because they represented how she felt. With her accident and her relationships it was very evident that her feelings were expressed on the canvas.
After the show we had some excellent caps in the museum cafe. We also shared a creme bruelle and a fruit custard tart. A fabulous repast.
The expedition was retrieved from the 6th and mission parking garage, and we headed over to Ton King (I never get the name of this restaurant right) on Geary for some Dim Sum. Every thing we ordered was great and served at the right temperature.. always a great meal. Sue is always impressed by the sui mei. It is a Chinese dumpling with a small piece of shrimp in it, surrounded with a won ton skin. Yum double Yum.. Sue was happy after downing more than three of these little goodies.
A great time was had by all. What a day to share... the perfect Father's Day! We were home around 10pm.
Love, Pat
The answer is always the same. Time with you!
Secondary to that this year.. visit an art museum with you.
Saturday we all went to see the Frida exhibit at the SF Museum of Modern Art. We first met at the food court of the Meteron. We had a great snack a the firewood. A small pizza to share and some appetizer mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, and some green beans. We then proceeded across the plaza and through the Martin Luther King memorial to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art other ways shorted to the Moma. There was a decent line out in front waiting to get tickets. This was the first day of the exhibit. We got tickets for the 3 pm cue.
We had about an hour to walk though their impressionist collection "Matisse and Beyond" some very famous works were in the collection. It was the first time I have been to the MoMa. Sue and I were pretty much wide eyed. I think the setting and the collection would make anyone feel this way. Sue is not much of a fan of the modern painting and some work ... she just didn't get. She likes the more representational works. What a treasure of a gallery. The gallery space is absolutely spectacular.
When our cue time arrived, there was a huge line to get in. It extended down the stairs two floors. Having Sue in the wheelchair.. hand powered we all got to get to the front of the line since stairs were not an issue with a wheelchair. The exhibit was crowded and the folks with the audio have a tendency to "hog a spot" but still the exhibit was wonderful and truly reflected the depth and message that she wanted to portray. The color was amazing and the range of depicting emotion is her trademark. Some of that is visceral. In many paintings she depicts the organs that are causing her anguish.
We all enjoyed the visit.
Catch a glimpse of it here.. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
I was impressed by her painting's luminosity and captivated by how she was able to capture the black cat on her shoulder.
Sue liked her painting because they represented how she felt. With her accident and her relationships it was very evident that her feelings were expressed on the canvas.
After the show we had some excellent caps in the museum cafe. We also shared a creme bruelle and a fruit custard tart. A fabulous repast.
The expedition was retrieved from the 6th and mission parking garage, and we headed over to Ton King (I never get the name of this restaurant right) on Geary for some Dim Sum. Every thing we ordered was great and served at the right temperature.. always a great meal. Sue is always impressed by the sui mei. It is a Chinese dumpling with a small piece of shrimp in it, surrounded with a won ton skin. Yum double Yum.. Sue was happy after downing more than three of these little goodies.
A great time was had by all. What a day to share... the perfect Father's Day! We were home around 10pm.
Love, Pat
Friday, June 13, 2008
Tiger of the Hunt
At the US Open today, the second day of four commenced with Tiger Woods pretty much out of it. In the afternoon he came roaring back with a string of birdies (one less then the course is rated for) to put him one back of the leader.
It was a wonderful piece of drama. The PGA is finally waking up to market its best players by eliminating the usual random draw for threesomes. This year they put together some "marque" players together in the foursomes. Tiger was playing with Phil Mickleson, the number two player on the ratings list. The number three player in the world Adam Scott was also included in the group. The HD coverage even followed this group exclusively in a separate channel. Usually golf switches back and forth picking out the players that are doing the best from their groupings. By following this group it was more rhythmic and the viewer had a chance to see the group (providing you were focused on that group) to the exclusion of the others. They even had a female on the course walking with the group to identify conditions and situations that would be only visible on the ground level and in front of the lines.
The course preparation took its toll too. In most tournaments these golfers are used to getting way better than the course is rated. It is not unusual for the tournament leader to win the contest with scores that are 8 to 11 shots better than the course is rated. This is not so with the US Open. The top score today was 3 less than the course was rated. When we covered the Olympic club's US Open, the winning score was just one shot better than the course was rated.
Two more days to go.
Love Pat
It was a wonderful piece of drama. The PGA is finally waking up to market its best players by eliminating the usual random draw for threesomes. This year they put together some "marque" players together in the foursomes. Tiger was playing with Phil Mickleson, the number two player on the ratings list. The number three player in the world Adam Scott was also included in the group. The HD coverage even followed this group exclusively in a separate channel. Usually golf switches back and forth picking out the players that are doing the best from their groupings. By following this group it was more rhythmic and the viewer had a chance to see the group (providing you were focused on that group) to the exclusion of the others. They even had a female on the course walking with the group to identify conditions and situations that would be only visible on the ground level and in front of the lines.
The course preparation took its toll too. In most tournaments these golfers are used to getting way better than the course is rated. It is not unusual for the tournament leader to win the contest with scores that are 8 to 11 shots better than the course is rated. This is not so with the US Open. The top score today was 3 less than the course was rated. When we covered the Olympic club's US Open, the winning score was just one shot better than the course was rated.
Two more days to go.
Love Pat
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The US Open Torrey Pines
Today was the opening day for the US Open golf tournament in Torrey Pines.. down by San Diego.
Every year this tournament, one of the majors, moves to a different course. Golfers compete to be included in this tournament in regional tournaments held across the country. The pros usually make it in by winning a PGA event during the year or have won a major event in the last 10 years. These are plays that compete through exemption. It is very special tournament. I have been fortunate to cover two such events when they were held in Northern California. The last one was held in 2000 at Pebble Beach. I was able to get dad in to see the one held at the Olympic Club two years before that 100th at Pebble Beach.
In both cases they allowed the rough to grow very deep. This makes for much more careful play. It was so deep at Pebble Beach, that the second place golfer's ball on the the final hole could not be found when hit into the rough by the club house with thousands of people watching. I heard from the coverage today that they had done the same thing except they cut down the rough a little in the last couple of weeks so that it would not be too rough.
Torrey pines is not a private club. It will allow anyone who lives in La Jolla to play for 40 dollars. This is an amazing fee. Most private clubs in the Monterey Bay area charge upwards to 600 dollars to play.
NBC and ESPN are covering the tournament. My direct TV allows for four extra channels for specific spots on the grounds. In high Def.it is incredible. I The most picturesque hole is the third in this tournament. A hole that is separated by a huge cliff. Just the green and the Pacific Ocean are visible from the T box.
The big news at the event is that Tiger had knee surgery after the Masters (the last major tournament) and hasn't played competitively since. Will he or will he not be the Tiger that will decimate the rivals? He is kind of in the middle of the pack with a +1 score in the first round. There are four rounds to this contest.
After the first two days the field is cut. The last two days have pairings instead of four member groupings. In this stage half of the groupings start on hole number one and play to 18, The other half start at hole 9 and continue to play to hold 18 and then continue playing on hole one and finish on hole 8. This allows for speedier play. It wasn't in effect for the US open tournaments that I covered.
Have a great day! : ) Pat
Every year this tournament, one of the majors, moves to a different course. Golfers compete to be included in this tournament in regional tournaments held across the country. The pros usually make it in by winning a PGA event during the year or have won a major event in the last 10 years. These are plays that compete through exemption. It is very special tournament. I have been fortunate to cover two such events when they were held in Northern California. The last one was held in 2000 at Pebble Beach. I was able to get dad in to see the one held at the Olympic Club two years before that 100th at Pebble Beach.
In both cases they allowed the rough to grow very deep. This makes for much more careful play. It was so deep at Pebble Beach, that the second place golfer's ball on the the final hole could not be found when hit into the rough by the club house with thousands of people watching. I heard from the coverage today that they had done the same thing except they cut down the rough a little in the last couple of weeks so that it would not be too rough.
Torrey pines is not a private club. It will allow anyone who lives in La Jolla to play for 40 dollars. This is an amazing fee. Most private clubs in the Monterey Bay area charge upwards to 600 dollars to play.
NBC and ESPN are covering the tournament. My direct TV allows for four extra channels for specific spots on the grounds. In high Def.it is incredible. I The most picturesque hole is the third in this tournament. A hole that is separated by a huge cliff. Just the green and the Pacific Ocean are visible from the T box.
The big news at the event is that Tiger had knee surgery after the Masters (the last major tournament) and hasn't played competitively since. Will he or will he not be the Tiger that will decimate the rivals? He is kind of in the middle of the pack with a +1 score in the first round. There are four rounds to this contest.
After the first two days the field is cut. The last two days have pairings instead of four member groupings. In this stage half of the groupings start on hole number one and play to 18, The other half start at hole 9 and continue to play to hold 18 and then continue playing on hole one and finish on hole 8. This allows for speedier play. It wasn't in effect for the US open tournaments that I covered.
Have a great day! : ) Pat
Vetting
The new word for today is vetting
From Wikipedia:Broadly, vetting is a process of examination and evaluation. Specifically, vetting often refers to performing a background check on someone before offering them employment. In addition, in intelligence gathering, assets are vetted to determine their usefulness.
Its meaning comes from looking at a horse before buying it. Having a "vet" look at it.
It is currently used to describe the committee of the presidential candidates looking for a Vice President.. or a VP. So the committee is Vetting for a Veep..
: ) Pat
From Wikipedia:Broadly, vetting is a process of examination and evaluation. Specifically, vetting often refers to performing a background check on someone before offering them employment. In addition, in intelligence gathering, assets are vetted to determine their usefulness.
Its meaning comes from looking at a horse before buying it. Having a "vet" look at it.
It is currently used to describe the committee of the presidential candidates looking for a Vice President.. or a VP. So the committee is Vetting for a Veep..
: ) Pat
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