If this is Tuesday, it must be England #171

 

Post is going up late, so I'll be brief.  I waited for a photo from this evening's State Banquet for the Japanese royals, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.  Absent from the banquet were the Princess of Wales and The Princess Royal who is in hospital with minor injuries and a concussion after a horse-related incident.

After the official welcome earlier today, the royals traveled by coach to Buckingham Palace.  I was surprised to see the Empress wearing a mask until I read that she is allergic to horse hair.  The Japanese royals continue their visit tomorrow and will also visit Oxford University, where they both studied, before returning to Japan.

Life Last Week - June 24, 2024

It's been a week with a little of this and a little of that.

On Monday, I called the dentist about my lost crown - they were able to schedule me for the following day which was awesome because we were getting together with friends on Wednesday.  The rest of the day was quiet, laundry and a general tidy up after the weekend.

A call from the dentist woke me up on Tuesday, they couldn't see me that day after all, my appointment was moved to Thursday.  Great, getting together with friends on Wednesday rocking the toothless hag look.  I'll have to keep my lips together as much as possible!  I consoled myself by booking our flights to Miami for our Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise.  Vic was off so we ran to Subaru to pick up the carrier for Malone and then to Petsmart for treats, Costco for gas, and the commissary for a few groceries.  Tuesday evening was Malone's last dog training class.  He did pretty well, all four dogs walked a circuit with enough distance between them to make things chill until the last lap when Malone zoomed in on the dog in front and went into a barking episode.

On Wednesday we drove over to my former co-worker's house for a barbecue.  It was the Juneteenth holiday, so she was off as well as Vic.  She and her husband invited another couple from their old neighborhood, and we had a lovely afternoon getting to know each other and eating delicious food.

I headed off to the dentist on Thursday and Friday, just a quick let's take a look appointment on Thursday and back on Friday for a longer appointment to put in a temporary crown.  Not much else either day but I noticed that the house was warmer than it should be, so I called the HVAC people to come out to check it out.  They came Saturday and replaced two fuses, and all is well cool chez nous now.  Thank goodness because it was warm this weekend.  Vic started working on the electrical outlets in the kitchen (one side hasn't worked since the kitchen remodel, who knows what the contractor left undone because it wouldn't be the first thing we've found) while I went to lunch with the Lunch Bunch.

Vic has to cut into the drywall, run new electrical wire up through the attic, and then make everything look new again.  My prime rib dip sandwich was delicious.

That evening, after a cooking disaster, some things just don't turn out the way you expect they will, we grabbed a takeaway and continued our Grey's Anatomy marathon.

I started Duolingo's French course and it's going well.  Fifteen minutes a day and I hope to parler français comme un natif d’ici le printemps prochain (speak French like a native by next spring!).

We got up early enough to make the first service on Sunday, and picked up a pecan pie from a couple in our small group because Vic fixed their oven last week.  After church, we stopped at the Olalla Bay Market for bagels and lox and then ran to Target.

The tide was out but the view was lovely

Oops!  Selfie fail, cut off Vic's head!

Yummy lox and bagel breakfast

Such a cute little market with the deck to the side

Home for Vic to continue with the electrical work in the kitchen and I did some laundry since I'll be out of the house most of the day tomorrow.

And that was life last week!

Friday Favorites

 

Masterpiece announced the start of filming The Forsyte Saga with Millie Gibson as Irene and Joshua Orpin as Soames.  I loved the original (Nyree Dawn Porter as Irene and Eric Porter as Soames) and the 2002 series (Gina McKee as Irene and Damian Lewis as Soames) and I'm looking forward to this new version.

I love travel planning and these travelers' notebooks from Amazon are perfect for drafting an itinerary and keeping notes of places to visit and things to do.  They are 4.25" by 8.25" which is a perfect size for tucking in a travel bag for updating along the way.  Planning is half the fun!

I love this sticker from FiveStickers on Etsy for the cover page of my notebook.

I'm off to do more Paris research - have a great weekend!

Around the 'Net

July 4th is coming and here is some inspiration for yummy treats.  These are from the Facebook page of The Happy Whisk, a local small business.  She has some great decorating ideas for cake-sicles, cake pops, cakes in cones, and pretzels.

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 556

 

1. It's National Splurge Day...what's something you might splurge on today? What have you splurged on recently?

We splurged on a pet carrier for Malone so we can take him with us on days out.  He's still pretty reactive to anyone and anything he sees when he's in the back of the car so this will keep him a little more contained.

2. Do you have a beach bag? What's in it? Is a trip to the beach on your summer bucket list? Do you have a summer bucket list? 

No, I don't have a beach bag because I'm not a beach person so that's a no on the beach being on a summer bucket list.  We do like to take day trips out to explore our local area, so I pack a bag for that.  This summer we're hoping to visit Mount St. Helens and the Washington/Oregon coast.

3. What's a song that makes you think of a summer past? What comes to mind when you hear it? What memories does it stir up for you? 

Summer Breeze by Seals and Croft - it just always makes me think of summers at the beach (I used to be a beach person).  It's from 1972, one of our last summers in Belgium when we would escape to our caravan on the coast, play on the beach, swim in the English Channel, eat frites from the campground frites stand, and my sister and I would never go anywhere without a bucket and spade.

4. Sushi-yay or nay? Have you actually tried it? If you love it what's your go-to order? 

Yes, love it.  My favorite is called Vader.

5. I own a ridiculous amount of CRAFT SUPPLIES. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm in vacation planning mode.  Current research is river cruising in Europe.

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #170

 

So wonderful to see the Princess of Wales at Saturday's event.  She looked fabulous.

I love this lookback to 2011.

Life Last Week - June 17, 2024

I haven't posted a Life Last Week for a month - it seems like there's always a link party on Monday that trumps it.  Anyway, here goes.

Monday was a finance day - I prepaid the gratuities for our cruise next spring (I know, I know, 300+ days to go but just wanted it out of the way).  Vic got an amended offer for his new job after HR reviewed his resume and ruled that he really does have a LOT of experience - yay! - and then I loaded money onto Netflix for the year ahead.  I don't do the monthly billing to my credit card as I've had two fraud issues with Netflix and decided this was the easier way to deal with it.

Tuesday began the almost week-long saga with Home Depot.  I bought two upright fridge/freezers (they can be either a fridge or a freezer) on May 14 which were delivered on May 24, both damaged, and picked up on May 29.  I've been waiting for a credit to my account since then.  Twice I've received an e-mail from Home Depot saying there's a letter regarding the dispute in my account documents but there's no letter so I don't know what resolution they determined.  A phone call got me nowhere, so I ended up going to the store to speak to customer service and it probably took them all of five minutes to process the refund.  Note to self:  Skip the phone and e-mail, go talk to a human.  Tuesday night was lesson 5 of 6 for Malone's dog training.  He's doing really well; I just wish that behavior would be the same on our neighborhood walks.  Can't remember if I shared this photo already so either here he is or here he is again.

Wednesday was a quiet day, my bi-weekly Zoom with my scrapbook pal, Jodie, was cancelled and rescheduled.

Thursday was errands day - bank, post office, DMV, Michaels, commissary, Costco for gas, and then to Safelite to get a chip repaired in my windshield.  I love that you can just file a windshield claim on the insurance company's app and schedule the appointment.

Friday was mani-pedi day - my fave polish, In Stiches by Essie, for toes but just a buff for fingers because I broke two very far down and just had my manicurist file them all down so we can start again.  Photo of how they looked in better days.  The ridge on my thumb is from jamming my finger in a cabinet, the nail has never grown back properly.

Hallmark released the Christmas in July movie line-up which I shared in my Friday Favorites.  We were going to go to the movies to see Firebrand with Jude Law, but our local theater is not carrying it, so we went out to dinner instead.  Photo fail.

Vic headed off to the men's breakfast at church on Saturday and I took a shower and got ready to head out with him to the Medieval Faire.  It was freezing and the cash line was not moving at all and when the rain came, we decided to give it a miss this year.  We ran to Costco and then home.  I lost a crown while eating a sandwich - I'll spare you the photo of my toothless hag look because it's right near the front.  Will call the dentist first thing Monday morning.

Father's Day and we had reservations for afternoon tea in Seattle.  I would have cancelled but it was too late to get a refund, so I just tried not to open my lips very far as I was so self-conscious.  We rated this tea 6/10 - there was soup (again!) and fresh fruit (no, no, no!) and the food was just average.  The Fairmont in Seattle and Victoria are still the front runners.  They KNOW how to do afternoon tea.

Happy Father's Day, darling, and the look on my face when I saw soup on the afternoon tea menu lol!

Food was just meh and for $72 each it was a disappointment.  I know I'm super critical, but we have had some amazing afternoon teas.

And that's a wrap for last week.

Friday Favorites

 

Friday Favorites going up late today!

Our Paris trip is less than a year away and I have gone down the rabbit hole on Facebook with this site - Les Frenchies - Paris Travel Tips - oh my goodness, so much amazing information and a You Tube channel and a website.  I have taken so many notes, now to figure out how to do it all!

Thinking about Paris makes me long for one of my favorite sandwiches - Le jambon-beurre, un "emblématique de la gastronomie française" (ham and butter, an emblematic of French gastronomy) - what's so exciting about ham and butter?  You have to try it - French ham, French butter, on a baguette, magnifique!

The line-up is out!  Hallmark Channel's Christmas in July 2024 is coming.

A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCESS OF WALES:

'I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

'I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

'My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.

'I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

'Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.'

So looking forward to seeing her at Trooping the Colour tomorrow.

Around the 'Net

How many of these snacks have you eaten?  In Europe, in a European restaurant in your area, or recreated at home?  Is there a particular one you'd like to try?  We're big fans of afternoon tea, eaten in a tearoom or created at home.  I was so disappointed when my local IKEA stopped carrying the Swedish Prinsesstårta - it's a bit of a challenge to make, requiring 26 separate ingredients with 14 steps, but it is so worth it!

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 555

1.  June 12 is National Simplicity Day.  In what way is your life simple?  What's one way that it's not?

I'm having a really hard time answering this.  Everything I type sounds like it would insult one group or another and that's not my intention.  I'm not a homemaker in the sense of making my own clothes or growing and canning vegetables or what's the expression, mending and making do?  I like modern conveniences but we're not extravagant.  I'm drawing a total blank at making this make sense!  

2.  Something you remember from a 'simpler time'?

My Dad was a junior enlisted soldier, and my Mum was a homemaker so there wasn't a lot of extra money.  I feel like we lived in a simpler time although I never felt like we did without.  My childhood was filled with unconditional love and fun, simple times.  We were lucky that we lived in some great places - Norway, San Francisco, Belgium - but that was courtesy of the United States Army.  We didn't travel extensively in those areas, but we saw plenty of local sites.

3.  Do you like squash?  If so what's your favorite variety?  What's a favorite way to prepare squash?

There are a lot of varieties of squash, I had no idea until I Googled.  I like zucchini, acorn, and yellow crookneck squash.  I don't like spaghetti squash, butternut I can take or leave, and I've never tried pattypan.  The others on the search are unfamiliar to me.  We love to grill or sauté or roast zucchini, but only until it's warmed through and not mushy.

4.  Do you shop the warehouse stores (such as Costco, Sam's, BJs, etc.)? If so, how often do you go, and what's something you always buy in this type of store?

I shop at Costco.  I go once every couple of weeks because there is just the two of us, so we don't do a lot of bulk buying.  We buy our gas at Costco, and I buy beef, chicken, and salmon and if we're not on the Whole 30, gluten-free eating plan, muffins, bagels and croissants make their way into my basket!  We also like their dips, and their desserts are delicious - tiramisu, chocolate mousse, macarons.

5.  Father's Day is this coming Sunday.  Any plans to make the day special?  Tell us something about your own father, or something about your hubs as a father, or about someone who stepped into your life and acted as a father if yours was not a part of your life.

We're off to indulge in our favorite pastime - afternoon tea.  We found a new tearoom to try so here's hoping it's worth the expense because afternoon tea has gotten ridiculously expensive.

My Dad was amazing, and I miss him dreadfully.  He worked hard to provide for his family and his years of working gave him a retirement income to live comfortably.  He lived his last days in Oregon with my sister and her family.  COPD meant that his physical activity was limited but his two grandsons kept his mind active.

February 2008 - Dad with granddaughter Sophia and grandsons Alex and Marc

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We're traveling to Paris next year and all I can think about right now is that I am so glad we are not going over there soon.  The run-up to the Olympics consists of lots of scaffolding, road closures or detours, and gazillions of people.  I know it will still be crowded when we go, but not anything like 26 July to 11 August.

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #169

The final rehearsal for the King's Birthday Parade, known as the Colonel's Review, has taken place in London.  The King's Birthday Parade, known as Trooping the Colour, is the official birthday celebration of the sovereign.

This year, the Number 9 Irish Guards will troop their colour on June 15 with the King in attendance.

They rehearsed at Horse Guards Parade in front of an audience of 8000 after receiving a letter from their colonel, the Princess of Wales, apologizing for her absence and wishing them luck.

King Charles III will inspect the soldiers from a carriage rather than on horseback as he has done previously.

A balcony appearance after last year's event.  It is not known if the Princess of Wales will be well enough to make an appearance this year.

Share Our Lives - Foods to Make for Someone Else

 

This month we're sharing foods to make for someone else.  A photo-less post because a) I forgot it was Share Our Lives Monday and am putting this together in a rush, and b) I need to take more photos of the food I prepare to have them handy!

I think the number one key to making food for someone else is to make sure they don't need to return any of the dishes.  Use disposable foil pans or other storage containers that they can keep or toss.

A one-pan dish is my go-to as it can be heated up and eaten right away or frozen for later.  In these days of meal trains, you don't usually end up with a counterful of casseroles but it can happen that more than one person brings food on a given day.  So, my top five would be:

1.  Lasagna or Baked Ziti - add in a bagged salad and some bread for a complete meal.

2.  Enchiladas - add some Spanish rice and beans.

3.  Shepherd's Pie - I add the vegetables to the bottom of my dish, but you can bring them in a separate container.

4.  Any of the one-pan dishes that you can make with cream soups - my favorite is chicken in mushroom-garlic sauce - chicken thighs, one can of cream of mushroom with roasted garlic soup, and one can of cream of mushroom with herbs, Crock on low all day and then transfer to a disposable container to take to the recipient.  Add a container of cooked white rice for serving.

5.  Chili with small containers of add-ins - chopped onion, cheese, sour cream, tomato, avocado.

Two other items that are always a bit hit:

Soup and sandwiches - pick up a couple of tubs of soup from your local soup bar and put together a tray of sandwich fixings - ham, turkey, cheese, tomato, lettuce, pickles along with mayo and mustard - a bit more work for you but it would be a hit with those family members who are not fans of casseroles.  Don't forget the sandwich rolls.

A gift card for a local takeaway - if you know their favorite, that's a bonus!

Join us on the 2nd Monday of each month - here are the upcoming topics.

Share Your Shelf - June 2024

 

It's the first Thursday of the month and that's time for Share Your Shelf hosted by

Joanne at Slices of Life

Marilyn at Memphis Bridges

Jennifer at Overflowing with Thankfulness

Tanya at The Other Side of the Road

Another great read from Kristin Harmel.

From the bestselling author of the “heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism” (People) The Book of Lost Names comes a gripping historical novel about two mothers who must make unthinkable choices in the face of the Nazi occupation.

Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change.

When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life—her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and, when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it.

More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookstore reduced to rubble—and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to her daughter in those last, terrible moments? Juliette has seemingly vanished without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise’s desperate search leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one final, fateful time.

A new author to me but a great read, very emotional, hard to imagine the circumstances.

One woman must make the hardest decision of her life in this unforgettably moving story of resistance and faith during one of the darkest times in history.

Santa Cruz, 1953. Jean-Luc is a man on the run from his past. The scar on his face is a small price to pay for surviving the horrors of Nazi occupation in France. Now, he has a new life in California, a family. He never expected the past to come knocking on his door.

Paris, 1944. A young Jewish woman's past is torn apart in a heartbeat. Herded onto a train bound for Auschwitz, in an act of desperation she entrusts her most precious possession to a stranger. All she has left now is hope.

On a darkened platform, two destinies become intertwined, and the choices each person makes will change the future in ways neither could have imagined.

Told from alternating perspectives, While Paris Slept reflects on the power of love, resilience, and courage when all seems lost. Exploring the strength of family ties, and what it really means to love someone unconditionally, this debut novel will capture your heart.

Danielle Steel - quick and easy, have a few of her books on Audible.

It was the maiden voyage of the Titanic, the greatest ship ever built, and in one fatal, unforgettable night, the sea shattered the lives and future of an extraordinary family, the Winfields.

Edwina Winfield, returning from her engagement trip to England with her fiance and her family, instantly loses her parents, the man she loved and her dreams. Without even time to mourn, she courageously defies convention to run her family's California newspaper and care for her five younger siblings. Unable to forget her fiance Charles, she is determined never to marry, to hkeep her family together, and to fight to survive as a woman alone. But Phillip, her beloved oldest brother, sets out for Harvard and tragically betrays her trust. Madcap brother George turns to the excitement of Hollywood during its magical days, not to the Winfield publishing empire. And lovely Alexis, who narrowly escaped death when the Titanic went down, grows into a troubled runaway whom even Edwina's love may not be able to save. The two youngest, Fannie and Teddy, remain with Edwina at home.

Compelling and deeply moving, No Greater Love questions a woman's choices and the price she must pay for making them. And in an unforgettable climax, it offers an answer—as Edwina confronts the ghosts haunting her and take an extraordinary risk for her future and her heart.

Finally getting around to reading the book I got for Christmas, Part 2 of the On Devonshire Shores series.

Royalty comes to Sidmouth, bringing unexpected danger and the sweet possibility of romance. . . .

When the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their daughter--the future Queen Victoria--rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal family's male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they've invited secrets and intrigue into their home.

Meanwhile, Emily Summers longs to become an author. A local publisher offers to consider her novel if she will first write a Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily agrees and begins researching the area with help from the Duke of Kent's handsome private secretary. But a surprise visitor from her past shows up at Sea View, leaving Emily torn between the desires she's long held dear and her budding dreams for the future.

Return to the Devonshire coast with the Summers sisters, where loyalties are tested, secrets come to light, and new love emerges.

My first book from V. S. Alexander but I'll be checking out more.

Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, Kristin Harmel, and Pam Jenoff, this new historical fiction novel from an acclaimed author is based on true WWII stories of life in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Occupation and the women who served the Allies as agents and spies. Casting light into one of the darkest periods of World War II, this powerful book tells of two Jewish sisters– one imprisoned in Poland and the other who joins the Special Operations Executive in a daring attempt to free her family from the Nazis.

It’s not just a thousand miles that separates Hanna Majewski from her younger sister, Stefa. There is another gulf—between the traditional Jewish ways that Hanna chose to leave behind in Warsaw, and her new, independent life in London. But as autumn of 1940 draws near, Germany begins a savage aerial bombing campaign in England, killing and displacing tens of thousands. Hanna, who narrowly escapes death, is recruited as a spy in an undercover operation that sends her back to her war-torn homeland.

In Hanna’s absence, her parents, sister, and brother have been driven from their comfortable apartment into the Warsaw Ghetto. Sealed off from the rest of the city, the Ghetto becomes a prison for nearly half a million Jews, struggling to survive amid starvation, disease, and the constant threat of deportation to Treblinka. Once a pretty and level-headed teenager, Stefa is now committed to the Jewish resistance. Together, she, Hanna, and Janka, a family friend living on the Aryan side of the city, form a trio called The War Girls. Against overwhelming odds and through heartbreak they will fight to rescue their loved ones, finding courage through sisterhood to keep hope alive . . .

Couldn't resist this library humor I saw on Facebook yesterday.