Weekend post

It was a full weekend at our house.  On Friday, we hosted our FFF (Fabulous Friday Feast) which is a group of 4 couples who get together once a month for dinner.  We started with hors d'oeuvres of vegetables and dip, followed with a green salad, then lasagna and steamed asparagus with a citrus sauce.  Dessert is a Lava Cake with ice cream. Actually we had only five as three called off the day of due to illness.  It is a cool way to get to know these friends better.

On Saturday, G had breakfast with his usual with a group of biker friends.  The breakfast morphed into lunch at another location.  I don't know what time he actually came home as I had left for a photography class.  The class was on taking pictures at gatherings (reunions, or just groups) when you are asked just because you have your camera with you and they know you are into taking pictures.  It was a beginner course so I would not be considered a professional by any stretch of the imagination.  On Sunday the photo club met and there was an hour long tutorial on how to take Macro pictures.  For those of you not into photography, that is taking really close up pictures like of small flowers.  Since Spring wild flowers time is upon us it was perfect timing.

I was all fired up to get out in our woods, but alas, this morning when we woke up there is several inches of snow on the ground.

Evidence of Spring

The speaker at the women's club I attend is from a "organic farm" in our area.  He raises goats for people who cannot drink cow's milk, but cannot legally sell it to them because it is not pasteurized   So the law permits them to buy part of the goat in exchange for getting the milk. He brought this kid, who needed his dinner.  As any of you are photographers know, getting a good picture of an animal or child is really difficult. This kid drank very fast and moved around while drinking.  While the owner talked to us, his wife just held the kid on her lap.  They have several green houses for vegetables, so I would like to visit them in a month or so (to buy some).

This robin was seen outside my window this morning.  It is hazy because I took the picture through the screen so as to not scare it away.  

I recently returned from an eight day trip to Minnesota where I spent time with my Mother and lots of other relatives.  My three sisters had planned a weekend in the Minneapolis area to shop at an outlet mall and antique stores.  I was invited to join them so I did.  I am not a big shopper but enjoyed their company.  My total purchases were: $15 for lovely chocolates, $10 for a new top, and $5 for a new camera case.

On my mothers's side of the family I visited her sister who is 94 and two of her daughters. One of these cousins is in the brown vest in the picture with me and my three sisters.

My aunt who is 94 and her daughter.

All in all I was able to see my mother, all six of my brothers and sisters as well as two of G's siblings. I also attended the funeral of last sibling of my father's, where I was with several cousins.  Wow, that is a lot when I start making the list.

 These pictures were taking from out of the car window as I drove to the airport.

Now that I am home, it is catch up time:  Laundry, cleaning out the refrigerator, paying bills, and of course posting on the blog.

Family time

A week ago we went to visit S & S and the kids.  K had come home from school with a temp.  Her cat, Humphrey, was trying comfort her.  She only missed one day of school and was able to go back to attend her Valentines party.

  B and I spent time putting a puzzle together. 

 Then Shawn decided he needed a mental challenge so he put the puzzle together with the printed side down.  Better him than me.  I think we went home before it was completed, but I am sure he did it.

Weekend roundup

On Friday night G and I attended a play, "Flyin' West", at the Weathervane Theater near Akron.  The story is about four Black women who homesteaded in  Nicodemus, Kansas in the 1800s.  It was interesting to me having just read the book on the migration of Blacks from the South during that time (see last post).  Both groups moved to escape the Jim Crow laws. February is Black History month so that explains the theme.

On Saturday, G spent several hours repairing a ladder (that he had picked up on the side of the road).  We had been using it and I asked, "Why is there Duck tape on the legs?"  He pulled it off and found cracks on the legs.  He reinforced it with steel so now it probably is stronger that when new.  He looked up how much a new one would cost. It was less that $150 but he said it was relaxing to him to work on that project.  And knowing G, he would be much happier fixing up a find from the side of the road than buying a new one.

On Sunday we were invited to a "Chocolate" party.  Each guest was to bring something made with chocolate.  I made chocolate eclairs filled with whipped cream and mascarpone and flavored with rose syrup. But the most interesting item was chocolate crackers, which were flavored with smoked paprika. These were served with cheese.

Book Club

On Monday my book club had a discussion on The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. It is about the migration of Blacks from Southern states to Northern states from about 1920 to 1970.  Millions moved North to escape the Jim Crow laws. The book follows the lives of three families and has a lot of history in it. I am amazed at how little I knew about that time in our country.  The book is extremely educational but at times a hard read when she describes the torture and lynchings that took place. It was a good picture of how life was without any protection of your safety, not being able to vote, and living in substandard situations.  One reason I am in the book club is to read books like this that I would not normally know about.

Keep the Audi alive

I may have mentioned previously that the estimate on the repair of the exhaust system on the Audi (220,000 miles on it) was in excess of $1200, which is more that it is worth.  So G decided to repair it himself.  A metal sleeve holding to pieces together had rusted away, there were holes in parts and bolts were completely rusted in.  He found an acquaintance who machined the sleeve for him, then he cut off the bolts and had to drill the remaining part out.  This drilling took a few hours because the bolts were hardened steel and he could only drill for a minute or so before sharpening the bit.  He also welded the holes.  On Saturday we worked on this in the shop from 3 pm to 2 am the next morning.  He  reports it sounds much better, but still has a rattling sound and maybe a small exhaust leak!  So it is driveable.

We  did have second thoughts though because on Saturday we looked at a used car (Mazda Miata) which cost $3500, sometimes wishing we had bought it.  But the Audi seems to have a good engine and transmission yet and goes great in the snow, which the Miata would not.