My friend & former employee Dat is leaving my former company (I retired) for new adventures… so I & our former co-workers are wishing him Bon Voyage!!
I won't say "Goodbye", because I want to stay in touch… I wish Dat many wonderful adventures at his new job, with his poetry, with his music, etc!!
It was so nice for me to have the opportunity to once again reconnect with some of my former co-workers - what a nice bunch!!
Here are some pics of the crew that gathered…. missed in the photos are my husband Jeff (he left early) and Dat's wife (who was behind the camera for most of the shots)...
As I was working on a new pancake recipe, Sweet Potato Sourdough Pancakes, I was reflecting on my family… You see I was trying to get this recipe to be more appealing to my Midwestern husband, who likes more traditional pancakes, than to get something that appeals to my California roots…
To say I have interesting roots, well that's an understatement… My family tree (both sides) has zany personalities which would work well as a cast of The Muppet Show… There are people in all kinds of unusual lines of work… One side of my family (Mom's) has roots in Kansas (wheat farming families), and the Midwestern influence is there - but they've been California city-folk for a while… The other side (Dad's) are from very interesting places around the country / world, have been rooted in San Diego for 5 generations, and are an eclectic mix of country / seafaring / international / … much harder to pin down a type…
The influence of my Dad's family shows up in my cooking - my Grandma was a "natural" gourmet, not fancy in looks/presentation, but she could (and did) cook everything!! My (midwestern rooted) Mom did my brother & I a huge service when we were young, she told us "don't ask what it is, just eat it, it will taste good" - thanks Mom for the wise words!! I wish I would have taken advantage of the opportunity to learn from my Grandma before she was gone… but at least she has influenced my creative / experimental nature in the kitchen - thanks Grandma!
I think God is very specific about what family He places us in, and where He moves us through our lives, Acts 17:26 tells us God "determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live"…
Thank You Lord for my family!!
I was blessed to be able to share in a special event this weekend… my girlfriend Jen's little girl Larkin turned 1 year old, and I hosted her birthday party!
A few days ago I enjoyed having time with my friend Jen, figuring out what to do with the decorations she picked…
Jeff helped me move furniture (he's such a trooper)…
Then Jen came over yesterday morning & we got busy in the kitchen… its always fun to work together in the kitchen with a friend!!
Jen did most of the food, I just attempted to decorate cakes (I'm not very good at it) and made some of my much-requested Guacamole…
Yesterday afternoon the house was full of Jen's friends & family, most of whom are friends of mine as well, and we had a wonderful time - what a delightful group of people!!
I'm recovering today… but its a happy recovery!! Enjoy the pics…
Happy Birthday Larkin!!
