the French chef

 My tenant, Ari, prepared Easter lunch yesterday before he hopped on his bike to head out to Baker Beach. He is a delight and so easy to be with and interesting. A lazy Easter for me, for sure.

the festival returns

 What a glorious Spring day in SF yesterday with so many activities and ALL of them well attended, according to every report I've seen. Amy and I went to Japantown for the Cherry Blossom Festival ~ what a great experience! I can't believe that I had not done this before. Drummers of all ages and ethnicities with so much drama and flair. I could feel the drum beats way down in my stomach. Of course the audience was fun to watch too and I will put this in next year's schedule for sure. 

Easter in the nabe

 I picked up trash in my very own neighborhood yesterday morning and compared to Valencia Street it was beyond boring, except for this car. After finding no cig butts or vodka bottles I had a hot cross bun at neighbor Heidi's and then did a spot of gardening. Annabelle insisted on a nap and who am I to argue?

my busy all good Friday

 From the bottom: lunch with Reverend Rich Carlini and his half sister (!) Carol and a couple of other friends. Miss Puma observed the proceedings. Back/forth to Walnut Creek via BART and not a moment to relax when I arrived home to make Bill's famous white sauce for Passover last night at Doug and Barb's. Just the three of us to remember the old times and those who are no longer with us. Delicious brisket and all the trimmings and now I'm ready to leave the social ramble for a few solo days.

bunnies galore (people too)

 Ham, chicken, mashers, scalloped taters, green beans, carrots, spinach salad with strawberries and German dinner rolls. Carrot cake with coffee or tea. Six happy people. I was NOT the smooth hostess because it's been so long and that's okay, it's all about the smiles and laughter. Next time will be easier and I'm working on my notes now. A very nice time with happy memories already. 

Blogmaid lends a hand

 She Swiffers! She manicures! Many thanks to our Blogmaid for helping me get ready for Easter entertaining. I had prepared a Little List for her and yes, we accomplished everything. Gratitude. (the cat got the mani/pedi, not the human)

Easter in Taiwan

Our local movie critic is reviewing Netflix and Amazon Prime movies
now and he and I both appreciated Tigertail ~ a story mostly about a
father and his daughter. Touching. And I also had a zoom meeting with
Doug, Barb and Mr. Bumble in Idaho. We discussed theater and what a
sad state it is in currently. Also a good walk and split pea soup from
neighbor Heidi. All in all, an OK Easter. Next year will be better.

Easter 2020

I was planning an Easter dinner party ~ invitations were mailed before
the shut down for shut ins. It's ok. Grey here today again, so I had better
get out for a walk now, before I get too lazy...as I did yesterday. The
Blogmaid promised not to slug shame me. Anyway, this huge lilly was
growing in my dank backyard where no one could see it, so I snipped
it and brought it to Annabelle's courtyard in the front. A walker
woman snapped her photo the other day and we both felt so very proud.

holiday gratitude

Such a warm and happy gathering yesterday. Way too much food: ham,
sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes, broccoli, fruit salad, fried chicken,
corn muffins fresh out of the oven (thanks, Barb) and then angel food
cake with berry compote for dessert. But the conversation and laughter
was what keeps me smiling this morning as I do the who-said-what
stuff this morning. Husbando would have approved.

passover memories

Passover 2015

Passover 2013 

This blog makes it too easy to go back in time to relive experiences and
although the memories are sweet, I sometimes feel biter like the herbs
of the seder ceremony. (Well, not bitter, but sad. I just wanted to throw in
the bitter herb line.) Today I'm having eight dear friends in to celebrate
Passsover and Easter and there will be laughter and joy and just a few
tears, as per usual. Annabelle will spend some quality time down in Bill's
office until things settle and then she will come upstairs to the usual
ooooohs and ahhhhhs as she searches for food. I might wear Bill's brown
beret today, or not...

Easter prep ~ two views

I've been buying Salvation Army used rabbits for my Easter table.  Friends
will join me and I look forward to this celebration. Once in awhile Bill
and I would "do" Easter, but Passover took precedence, especially over
at the Great Plotniks' and I have many memories and photos of those
colorful and sometimes l-o-n-g dinners.

April First Fool and Easter too

I was going to buy Hot Cross Buns yesterday at Dianda's during my
latte walk, but I didn't want to stand in line. So I am defrosting some
cinnamon buns and too late I see that it says, "do not freeze" on the
label. The weather has cooled a bit and the fireplace is on again and
all is well in our topsy turvy world this morning. Happy Easter!

Easter Day with clouds

...and probably rain. Oh well, a good day to stay indoors by the fire.
The Warriors, Giants and a fat Sunday Chronicle. Ham, yams and
banana creme pie (not homemade) and maybe a nap or two. Happy
Easter, Spring is near.

happy easter

posh Easter dinner

Sour cream waffles, bacon, coffee - yum. Another quiet (yet special) day
with a touch of morning rain, just to get our hopes up. We did go to the
Asian Art Museum but it was packed with visitors as it was a Free
Sunday. Great parking spot, so that helps. I reworked some Ellen writing
and then later mourned the loss of Lon Simmons, a baseball (and football)
radio announcer who was important to us when we first started falling in love
with the Giants. Ironic - the 2015 Season opens tonight for us in Arizona.

Carlini on Easter

As promised, I took our out-of-town (Philly) guest to the top of Folsom
Street and then we settled down to ham and scalloped potatoes and lots
of laughter. We have known Rich Carlini for more than 25 years and in
that time he has moved about 10 or 12 times, all across the country. He
was an army brat and continues to have this nomadic need. Of course the
last winter in Philly was beyond horrible, so he is ready for another
move. Back to California? We'll see...

a blue Easter

The video didn't work, you are stuck with the table

again. On YouTube check out "Scottie Pinwheel" for

a fun video and I'll try another video after checking

with my IT people.

SPCA humor

I've not "done" a video on da blog before, so let's hope this works. I wish
you all a Happy Easter and we are looking forward to a ham dinner here
with our friend Carlini from Philly.

a rainy Easter Sunday?

That doesn't seem quite right, does it? Especially after our winterful of sunshine.
In any event, enjoy the day and celebrate Spring and don't jump into any runny
eggs. The above is courtesy of Joe, my friend at work who taught me how to
avoid colds by gargling with peroxide.

our Easter morning walk

How can we not love our bridge? Here as seen from Land's End

This will be a gift shop, coffee spot and restrooms down here at the

end of Geary Street ~ all made possible by the National Park & Rec.
It will probably open in a month or so...

You can sit here and watch the ocean, admire Sutro Baths and

do some people watching too. Wait until the tourists arrive!

Sutro Baths with new trails to explore.

Honestly, is there any place prettier? I remarked to Husbando that
if we were visiting a foreign spot we'd head here first to take in the
glorious view. And yet we hardly ever get to Land's End, it's only
about 1/2 hour max from our home. They have worked on the trails
and when the new center opens this place will be packed. For now,
there is plenty of free (!) parking and we understand that one can
hike all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. Really spectacular and
such a nice way to start our lazy Sunday filled with baseball, ham
and asparagus.