Yearly Archives: 2023

…………………..In 2000 Jac and I took a trip to see the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Hoover Dam……We took the “HARD HAT TOUR” of the dam….The guide took us deep into the dam down these narrow staircases with lights on the walls. Men who had worked on the dame had inscribed their names into the cement. It was exciting to see…..There are openings in the wall, “windows” that you could look through. As you looked down you could see the curve in the structure……I believe after 9/11 they discontinued this interior tour in fear of terrorists. I don’t know if they opened it again…..At that time the water levels behind the dam were very high, almost full……Now they are dangerously low due to global warming, and the amount of water that is needed for the south west……It was a trip I’m  happy we experienced!

……………………In 2000, Jac and I took a trip to see the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Hoover Dam…….We went on the “HARD HAT TOUR” of the dam……..The guide actually took us inside deep into the dam. Men who had worked on it carved their names in the cement. It was exciting to see. There are small openings or “windows” in the dam that you can look through straight down…..I believe after 9/11 they ended this interior tour in fear of terrorists. I don’t know if they opened it again. At that time the water levels behind the dame were very high……now they are dangerously low. It was a trip I’m happy we experienced!

……………………I LOVE special salads in the Summer!…….The…….THREE BEAN SALAD……..and the……..CUCUMBER SALAD……are both Jac’s receipts that I found. They have become my “go to” side dishes….If I can make them anyone can!……The THREE BEAN SALAD consists of: One can of Cut String Beans….one can of Chick Peas….and one can of Dark Red Kidney Beans…..DRAIN and RINSE all beans one at a time……Put in bowl and add one bunch of finely cut scallions and red pepper [1 or 2] chopped…..add one cup vegetable oil……add 2/3 cup Apple Cider Vinegar….or to taste [I always add a little more, because I like vinegar]……1/4 cup sugar……MIX WELL and refrigerate overnight. It always tastes better the next day…..I use SCALAFANI and DELMONTE beans, but any brand will do………………….Cucumber salad: Peal 4 large cucumbers and slice the long way. Scrape out seeds…..Slice approx. 1/4 inch thick….Put in a bowl and crush them with your hands to break them up…….Add salt. I usually put another bowl filled with water on top so the cucumbers can “sweat” for about one hour…..then drain liquid……Dice 3/4 to one small red onion and toss with cucumbers……Boil 3/4 cup water with two cups of Distilled White Vinegar. When the liquid is boiling add 1/2 to 3/4 cups of granulated sugar and stir until liquid it clear…….pour over cucumbers……add mince Dill…..stir and refrigerate…….best served cold. It always tastes better the next day……..These are yummy summertime salads and easy to make……and look pretty too!

…………………Now that the weather is warm I have a morning ritual…………..I take my bowl of cheerios mixed with corn flakes outside, and sit in my rocking chair……and look at the Long Island Sound……This morning the sky was a little over caste so the sun wasn’t sparkling on the water, but the water was as calm as a lake, and so beautiful…..not a ripple……….not a SOUND……The silence was so calming……..All I could hear was the bell on the buoy way off in the distance. You can actually see the buoy in the photo. It’s the little vertical speck to the right of the center of the photo. You can see how far away it is, but sound carries far on the water…….It’s the perfect way to spend the morning.

……………………….The ANNIVERSARY BANGLE is BACK……but this time with a new inscription…………..”INNER BEAUTY IS WHAT COUNTS”……….In a world where too much attention is placed on the way you look, and the “standards of beauty” are impossible to reach for the majority of women and YOUNG girls…..In a world where young women are judged, criticized, and sometimes bullied for the way they look….where social media can be cruel and demoralizing…it is more important than ever that we must impress upon young girls that INNER BEAUTY is so much more important…..That is the reason I had this new inscription created……Me must remind young women what is truly important, and we must do everything in our power to have them BELIEVE it!…..My hope with this new bangle, and its’ message is to be a reminder of what’s important!……The new bangle is available right now on the Linea QVC jewelry site……It’s avail in STERLING SILVER ONLY in three sizes…….small…..average…..and large…….J422008 is the style number……This is a perfect gift for you, and the perfect graduation gift….especially for young ladies who are off to college and university, and for many their first time away from home…….Wearing this bangle will remind them what’s important!