Summer Salad

Today was hot and muggy. A few thunderstorms passed over with heavy rain pounding down followed by clearing and a little sun; then the cycle repeated. On a day like this, Summer Salad tastes good. Here is the one I made today, served with steamed broccoli and watermelon chunks on the side:

Pasta, cooked according to directions, drained and cooled. (can use spaghetti or any shape of pasta, about 2 cups before cooking)
Cooked shrimp (or tuna or chicken), about 1 cup or according to your preference.
Chopped raw vegetables; today I used chopped onion, celery, and radish.
Mayonnaise (low fat).
Ranch dressing (low fat). (I use about half mayo and half ranch, just enough to lightly coat.)
Seasoning as desired (today I used a little paprika, black pepper, hot pepper, and salt.)

Mix above ingredients together, place in salad bowl, garnish as desired (I had lettuce from my garden!), cover and cool in frig until dinner time.

This is nice to make in the morning of a hot day; then you can relax a little when dinner time is approaching.)

Coco Enjoying the Sun

Coco is a quiet and calm dog, very easy to have in our house. Every morning and evening she has a walk, with me or Tony, or sometimes with both of us. After a good walk, she likes to sleep most of the day. She is very enjoyable company!

Our Visitor

Yesterday we went to Steve and Marta's house to pick up their boxer, Coco. Marta and Gabriel are already in Spain and Steve is leaving today to join them so Coco will spend the next two weeks at "Grandma's house". She usually comes here when her family takes a vacation, so she is very familiar with our house. We always start off the day with a long walk, which tires Coco out and she needs to spend most of the rest of the day on her blanket. Coco is a very kind and intelligent dog so she is a pleasure to have in our house.

Our little friends, Ann Marie and Mary Jo stopped by to talk to Coco.

Please be sure to check Marta's blog because today she has the most beautiful pictures! Marta (my wonderful daughter-in-law) and my grandson Gabriel are enjoying a holiday in Spain right now. My son Steve is joining them very soon. Marta's blog today has the most beautiful pictures of poppies blooming in Spain right now! They are just as beautiful as I remember them! Thanks, Marta, for showing us the pictures from Spain!
Marta's blog is here.

Strawberries

A nearby strawberry farm is open for picking home grown berries every June. I have been picking strawberries all my life, starting when I was a child and my mother had a small field of berries at home. The berries that we picked were sold in a roadside stand, and the price, more years ago than I care to think about, was sometimes 3 quarts for a dollar. Picking strawberries was not the most enjoyable work for a child because it was hot and uncomfortable , but as I became an adult appreciating fresh fruit, I've come to enjoy this season very much.

















Yesterday we went to the farm and came home with two large boxes full of strawberries. We cleaned and froze the berries as Tony enjoys them with his breakfast all year. Later in the day I made strawberry shortcake. The local berries are much sweeter and tastier than those coming to the supermarket from out of state and the picking season is never long enough. It is wonderful to be in the open air picking the red treasures that are ripe strawberries.

Family Party

Saturday evening we enjoyed a family party at Carole and Keith's house. Their granddaughters, Rori and Lulu, were visiting so it was a wonderful occasion for catching up with everyone. Missing from the party were Tricia and Chris, parents of Rori, who were at a local hospital, having given birth to Rori's baby brother, Ian Patrick, a whopping 9 pounds 1 ounce, earlier in the day. It was a beautiful evening for sitting on the patio enjoying good food and conversation. Here are some scenes from the gathering:



Carole with Rori on the left and Lulu on the right













The buffet table











Jack and Lib











Tony in charge of the barbeque











Bernie with Lulu

Fun with Bubbles:

Poppy Memories

Five years ago in May Steve and Marta were married in Spain. Our family rented a house in the country just a few miles outside the beautiful city where the wedding took place. We arrived a few days before the wedding, spending some time touring nearby cities such as Toledo, strolling along market places, seeing cathedrals and palaces, enjoying the wonderful Spanish atmosphere and hospitality. I often enjoyed early morning walks along the farmlands near the rental house. A special memory is of wild poppies in bloom everywhere along the roadside and in the fields. I was entranced by their color and natural beauty.

When I returned home, I often thought about those poppies, so when I had a chance to buy a poppy plant for the front garden at my house, I was so happy. A couple of patient years were needed for my poppy plant to begin to really bloom. Now every year when I see my poppy plant producing buds and then beginning to bloom, I remember the poppy fields of Spain. My poppy is orange-red as you can see above; the poppies in Spain, if my memory is correct, are more rose-red, but still the memory is there with me. (Incidentally, the poppies must have a good taste because they are often consumed by our deer population. Overnight the flowers disappear. Maybe they are sweet.)

Marta and Gabriel are now enjoying a few weeks in Spain; Steve will join them soon when his vacation begins.

I love to talk to little children and see what they're thinking:
Last weekend, talking to Gabriel, age 4:
Me: "Gabe, are you and Mommy going on vacation this week? Where are you going?"
Gabe: "To Espana."
Me: "Why are you going there?"
Gabe: "To see mis abuelos".
Me: "Are you going in Mommy's car?"
Gabe: "No, in the airplane."
Gabe, having just turned 4 last month, is an experienced traveler and has maybe 9 international round trips on his passport already.

Fun at the Playground

I love to go to the playground with my grandchildren. Modern playgrounds are designed so well with many enjoyable things to do. Children have different approaches to being at the playground. Gabriel, at four years of age, always runs from one thing to another, quickly trying everything, sliding, climbing , enjoying, shouting as he goes. Scarlett at three years old is very cautious. She looks at everything, walking around, watching other children, and then tentatively approaches and tries something very carefully.
Saturday we went to the playground together. She didn't want to sit on the little animals, didn't want to get on the swings, (saying a definite "no" when encouraged), and didn't want to go down the slide. Then she carefully began to do a little climbing as you can see in the video.

Our Garden

We have expanded our garden this year with more plants and a greater variety of vegetables. We planted tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, green pepper, and Japanese pumpkin. Everything is off to a good start now that the warmer days of early summer are finally here. We have begun to harvest radishes as you can see in the second picture. I was amazed how quickly the radishes grew, having planted them less than a month ago. They are very tender and delicious. There's nothing like fresh vegetables picked just a few minutes ago and then enjoyed with your dinner.

Here are my little friends Ann Marie and Mary Jo who were visiting me recently. Ann Marie at nearly 6 years old just lost her front teeth!

Time for Asparagus


May is asparagus season in Michigan. So many tasty dishes can be made with this tender and delicious vegetable. Since Steve and Marta live near asparagus farms, wild asparagus can be found growing along the roadside. Marta's father Martin was visiting recently from Spain and is an excellent asparagus hunter having begun to find wild asparagus as a small boy. Here are some ways that we enjoy asparagus. I especially recommend

Consuelo's Asparagus with Egg:
12 stalks fresh asparagus washed and cut in small pieces
1 egg beaten (or egg substitute)
a little olive oil
a non stick frying pan
Add the olive oil to the frying pan, cook the aspargus until almost done. Add the egg or egg substitute, stirring until it is cooked. Add salt and pepper. Enjoy!




Stir Fried Aspargus and Tofu.
Lightly fry chopped onion, mushrooms, chopped asparagus and sliced tofu in a little olive oil, add soya sauce, and serve over rice. Delicious!














Cream of Asparagus Soup
Chopped asparagus is simmered for a few minutes in chicken broth until tender, thickened with a little cornstarch and water, and then milk (or cream) is added. This makes a great lunch served with crackers and fruit.

A Visit to the Zoo

Saturday was a beautiful day so we decided to visit the zoo at Michigan City. I believe it is necessary to visit a zoo with a child to have a full appreciation for the experience. Gabriel was full of enthusiasm so he quickly jumped in the car, ready to go.






Marta loves animals more than anyone else I know. She was especially excited about seeing the otter exhibit, spending a lot of time enjoying this animal.






Steve is a good dad who enjoys his son very much.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa

Friday was Tony's birthday so Gabriel was helping him celebrate. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner together at Steve and Marta's house plus birthday cake and a special rendition of the birthday song.

Matthew, Scarlett, and Gabriel
Here are some videos of my three grandchildren in action. They are so much fun! Yesterday was Matthew's first birthday. He is an active little boy, walking around furniture, pulling himself up on everything, on the verge of walking. Scarlett just had her third birthday, has become much more outgoing and confident since Christmas, now more independent, talking, and playful. Gabe will have his fourth birthday next Saturday. I love to talk to him and hear his interesting ideas. All three have great enthusiasm for life. I am very proud of them and very happy to be their grandmother.

Here are more photos of the beautiful wedding on Saturday:

Wedding Weekend

Saturday was the perfect day for a wedding, sunny and warm. My great niece Jenna was married to Nate in a wonderful wedding enjoyed by friends and family arriving from many locations across the country. It was wonderful to be together for this happy occasion with some that we hadn't seen in several years. There was a beautiful young couple taking their vows and reminding us that love is what really matters most in this world.

I have a new camera that arrived early last week, so I have some perfecting yet to do in my technique! These pictures are a little shaky but I will try to improve and present them to you today in their imperfection.

Walking the Trail

Behind our neighborhood about 5 minutes walk through the woods the Falling Waters Trail can be seen, a walking/ biking/ running path that extends from the center of our small city to the countryside, more than 10 miles of lakes, wetlands, ponds, and other natural habitat. Very often in the early morning after my coffee, I head out for the trail, spending 45 minutes or an hour enjoying nature. Sometimes I can see other people enjoying fresh air and exercise; always I can see various animals sharing this little space of nature with me. This morning I took my camera with me and here is what I saw!

Yasuyo and Ted were our neighbors and friends for 5 years. After their assignment was completed, they returned to their home in Japan 8 years ago along with their baby Kento who was born here and was just a few months old. We kept in touch with occasional emails and holiday greetings. We were very happy to have their visit on Saturday. Life has gone on and now Kento is nine years old, very polite and intelligent, such an amazing boy to have gone from the baby I remember to this big handsome boy we now can see. In fact, Saturday was Kento's ninth birthday so we celebrated with strawberry birthday cake and candles. It feels like the years melted away and we were together again!

Shepard's Pie

A couple of weeks ago Marta asked me for my recipe for Shepard's Pie. I learned to make this following Tom's request; Shepard's Pie was served in a pub in London where Tom had been working. (London is an important city in our family. Both of my sons met their future wives in that city!)

I had never made Shepard's Pie before but I looked it up in a recipe book and have been making it ever since. It takes under an hour to make and is especially good on a cool dark day, like a comfort food. The leftovers are tastier the next day when you heat them up for your lunch.

Shepard’s Pie

1 pound ground beef (or turkey.)

1 chopped onion

a few chopped mushrooms (if available but not necessary)

Could add any desired vegetable such as peas (1 cup)

Beef broth ½ to 1 cup or however you like it. (This could be canned or dry flavoring mixed with hot water such as bouillion)

2 tablespoons Cornstarch

4 or 5 potatoes, boiled, drained, and mashed with milk until they are smooth

grated mozzarella cheese, about 1 cup or whatever you like.

Fry the onion and meat in a little olive oil until browned. Add any desired vegetables and cook 5 minutes. Add broth and heat until boiling.

Then thicken the broth to make gravy. Mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with a little water in a cup to make a thick paste, then add this slowly to above meat, veg, and broth mixture in pan. Stir and heat until it thickens to a thick gravy.

At the same time prepare the mashed potatoes and have them hot and available.

Spray an oven proof casserole with Pam or other cooking spray. Pour hot meat mixture into the casserole. Next put the mashed potatoes in a layer on top of the meat mixture. Spread all over the top like icing on a cake. Next sprinkle the mozzarella cheese in a thin layer on top.

Heat the broiler in the oven, place the casserole in the oven, and broil a very short time, less than 5 minutes, until the cheese melts and turns slightly browned. It is ready! Watch the broiler carefully because it is easy to forget and burn it.

It is almost asparagus season in Michigan! Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables. I prepare them the Spanish way, as shown by Marta, sauted quickly with a little olive oil.

Here I am with my student Harris, who is leaving tomorrow for Japan after completing nearly 5 years of work here. Doesn't he look very young? Believe it or not, he is a family man with 4 children. We have worked together on Business English and conversation skills during these 5 years. During one of our first lessons, I used the word "enthusiastic" because it describes him perfectly; describing his approach to work and study. It has been a pleasure to teach Harris and I wish him well in his new life at home in Japan.