Happy Birthday Dinner

I began celebrating my birthday two weeks ago with oh-so-good chocolate cake after a Meanderthals hike. Big thanks to Margie and Richard who squeezed  me onto the cake. 

Since then I've had lots of birthday wishes and cards and I'm looking forward to dinner and a movie on Tuesday, a birthday lunch out on  Wednesday, and dining out with family next week.

Today, I think I made myself a really lovely birthday. Out of bed late but not too late, for a perfect summer breakfast of peaches, homemade rye toast, "fresh" strawberry preserves and good Irish breakfast tea.

Off to the the farmers market in full summer dress: tomatoes, eggplant, fresh garlic and onions, apricots, nectarines, peaches, watermelon, tiny oranges, cukes and three kinds of cucumbers. The usual suspectsof broccoli, cauliflower, greens of every description, potatoes of every shape and size. 

I'm celebrating the riches while looking forward to sweet corn. Two weeks away, I think.

Back at home I made an excellent skillet dinner of tomatoes, eggplant,  cauliflower, spices and rice on the Maqluba recipe in The Jerusalem cookbook. Made a beet and avocado salad (fresh citrus vinaigrette and pistachios) to go with.

In another tiny victory, I used a jar of turkey stock from my freezer. A victory as I'm trying to reduce the mass of food in my freezer.

All delicious. Now I'm considering baking a Wacky Cake. It is my birthday, after all.

On Read Across America Day, the first Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff reads I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark. 

Or find Mr. Emhoff reading on Instagram.

Missing Piece Recovered

It is whole again. Yay!

Posted by mail.

Finally

Complete - almost.  One piece missing in the sky. 

This puzzle is a bear to assemble but a wonder, too. All the details hidden in the assemblage. 

I wish I was out there on the Pear Blossom Highway.

Posted by mail.

Puzzling can be a slow business.

Family Xmas

All of us Cashio Street natives. 

The View From Here

On the good ship Cashio Street, I'd say this desk is the bridge. It has a pretty good view most days.