Goose Bay - Nice place!

Well, there's another 4th July in the books. There used to be big day-long party in the park at the back of my house on the 4th. There was a beer tent - pony rides - lots of folks making hot dogs and hamburgers - and music all day long BUT in the interests of safety, hygiene, and the city's opposition to people having fun, they have put a stop to all of that and now we just have a fireworks display at 9 p.m.

I got to thinking about 4ths long past. I remember the time we flew to England on the 4th July. Long time ago. We flew with Freddy Laker's airline - yep - long time ago. We stopped to refuel in Goose Bay, Labrador and they allowed us to get off the aircraft for an hour to stretch our legs. There was not a lot happening in Goose Bay!

Then there was the time the bottle rocket landed on the roof (wood shingles) and nearly burned the house down! And the time that Rob let off ONE illegal firework in the back garden and wouldn't you know it but the sheriff was driving past and stopped and gave us a warning! One lousy Roman Candle!

And of course, there was that happy day when my lovely granddaughter was born. Isn't it great to have fireworks every year on your birthday?

Last night's fireworks were OK. No rockets on the roof or other mishaps. So - another 4th gone!

The picture above is our dinner!

Happy 4th July!

Mr. Indi got home from work yesterday at about 1p.m. He had a bite to eat and then lay down for a rest. He had been up since 2:30a.m. While he was sleeping, I took my knitting and sat out in the shade on the porch. Ah - peace and quiet. No - not really!

My neighbor, two doors down, has come over all patriotic and has erected a 30 foot flagpole in his front garden. He doesn't always raise the flag though and when the pole is flagless, the lanyard and it's associated hardware clang against the pole. The clanging provides an accompaniment to the 2 dogs that are either side of me. So, as I sat bodging away on the baby shawl, I was serenaded by: Yip yip clang clang yip yip woof! Woof woof clang clang yip yip woof!

I had started to compose some lyrics in my head when intruders arrived on the scene - 2 chickadees. They added to the music: Woof cheep woof yip clangy clangy woof cheep. But, all of a sudden a breeze got up and flagpole went nuts as did the dogs: Clang woof yippy yip clangy bang cheep cheep woofy yip! Arggggggg! I came inside!

Yesterday, I picked the first tommy arters off the vine. They smell yummy and I'm using them today for a salad that will accompany the ribs.

The picture above is another San Clemente orchid.

The Dear Sweet Boy

Since I became interested in genealogy - my own and other peoples - I have taken up a secondary hobby. I scrounge around in junk - oh, I mean antique - shops looking for old photos (especially if they have a name on the back.) If they are not too expensive - less than a fiver -I will buy them and I try and return them to the family.

I acquired the above photo postcard a few weeks ago. It has an inscription on the back. Our Lester - the dear sweet boy. Also, Mr. Lester Humphrey, Rialto, California Aug 11, 1908. There is also a stamp mark that says that the photo was taken at the Glenn Ranch Resort in Lytle Creek.

I have found Lester - who was born in Kansas - on the 1900 US census, living with his parents, William and Lucy Humphrey and his siblings; Earl, Callie, William, Maude, Laura and Leota. They live in Rialto. By 1910, Lester is married to a lady named Ina. She was born in Iowa. They lived together in San Bernardino until Lester died in 1940. I don't believe they ever had children.

So, your mission, should you choose to take it is to find any living relatives of Lester P. Humphrey who would like this lovely photo!

Pepe Le Peu!

Mr. Indi was tied up with lots of meetings yesterday and didn't get home until much later than usual - so I spent most of the day on my own. I didn't get much done though!

I got a call from my sis in England/Wales (she straddles the border!) and I am everso pleased because she is going to buy herself a computer and join the rest of us in cyberspace. I shall enjoy sending her pictures and I hope she will enjoy reading this here blog!

The weather is killer hot - yesterday was 102F - but the weatherman says it will be cooler tomorrow - only 99F Oh, I am glad - I'm sure I'll notice the difference!

This will be short and sweet today because I'm a little bit grumpy and can't think very well.. The A/C came on at one in the morning and must have startled a skunk - Peeewwww! I couldn't get back to sleep and at 2:30 got up to go to the loo and startled the the pesky thing again - Peeeeewwwwwww! So, due to lack of sleep, I have limited brain function.

The picture is of a large (about 4 feet tall) painted concrete ball outside the Riverside Museum! I don't really know what to make of it!

BBQ Ribs! Yum!

July 4th is just around the corner and I thought I would just take a few minutes to tell you how to make PERFECT BBQ Ribs.

The best ribs to use are the baby back ribs but the regular pork ribs will do just fine, too. Now, the thing about ribs is that they are naturally quite tough so I always pre-cook mine to ensure that they fall off the bone.

Put a sheet of ribs into a shallow meat pan and pour a can or bottle of beer (dark beer is best but lager is OK) over the meat. Cover with foil and allow to marinate for 2-4 hours. Preheat the oven to 325 deg. Drain the beer off and replace with about 6-8oz water. Cover with foil - poke a few holes in the foil to let the steam escape. Cook the ribs for about 45 mins. You can let the ribs rest until you are ready to do your BBQ. The ribs will only take about 15 mins.

Get the BBQ really hot - white coals - then bank it down and put the lid on. When the heat appears to be evenly displaced - place your ribs - bone side down in the middle of the rack. Cover with the lid. Keep your eye on the ribs - check every few minutes and move them about if they start to flare. Slather the top side with your favorite BBQ sauce - I use Sweet Baby James. Brush it on every few minutes - 2 to 3 times. Do not turn the ribs over - that just makes a big mess! They should be ready in about 15 minutes. Viola! Serve with potato salad, mixed greens and fresh fruit.

Mr. Indi bought me this orchid plant last year and by some magical coincidence, it has flowered again this year! I am amazed

Vroom Vroom!

Mr. Indi drives 45 miles each way to work and his car is now reaching the end of its useful life. Yesterday, while he was driving home and talking to me (on his hands-free device - of course) he suddenly stopped in mid-conversation and after a minute of silence said, "Oh, oh! Wow! Hmmm! What the? Woooo! Holy crap! I sensed that something was wrong - I'm good like that!

Long and short of it. All of the gauges on the dashboard suddenly went to zero and all of the corresponding warning lights came on. He pulled off the freeway and into a service station. He then spent about 15 minutes checking out all of the car's vitals. There was oil - coolant - petrol - etc. in all the right places so he took a chance and drove it the rest of the way home - 30 miles.

It appears to be an electrical problem and as we don't have a clue where to find a good electrical problem fixer, the poor sick auto will sit in the driveway for a while and Mr. Indi will use my car. I wasn't really going anywhere today but, already I feel like I have lost my right arm!

Today, as I am housebound, I am going to start to clean out the spare room. There are lots of toys and books in there that no longer get used. I was looking through the books yesterday and there are lots of pages in the Winnie the Poo coloring book yet to be colored. I think I might have a go later on!

The picture above was taken last Sunday. The orchids were divine.

Don't mind me!

Mr. Indi's chemo has been postponed until Monday, July 7. Dr. J felt it would be better to wait those few more days and make certain that the nasty cold had cleared up completely. That's the trouble with those nasty colds - they aren't like the nice colds which disappear overnight! But the reprieve means that his Lordship should be feeling quite good for the July 4th holiday - and that's a good thing!

We had a brief discussion with the doc about his rational for trying the Cisplatin. It boils down to the fact that there are really no options left and so he will try the Cisplatin with great caution. The plan is to infuse a small test dose, very slowly, and wait for a reaction. If he can tolerate the test dose they will continue .......if he can't - !

I don't normally watch morning TV. I'm a morning person so am usually out in the garden or doing laundry or something when Good Morning America is on the tele - but yesterday I happened to catch a segment on books worth reading this summer. One book caught my eye - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. I looked it up on Amazon and found that I could print out the first chapter - 16 pages - so that is what I took to bed last night. It's a boy and his dog story and I'm not normally attracted to those kinds of books but after reading that first chapter, I will say that it is very well written. Will I buy the book? Hmmmm - I don't know! I might!

As of today, you can no longer talk on a cell phone while driving in California unless it is on a hands-free device. Sooooo - you CAN talk on a cell phone while driving! Hello! It's the talking that is dangerous - not holding the phone! I expect the roads will be much safer now. NOT!

I love today's picture. I took it on Sunday at San Clemente. The pelican stood next to that chap for ages just waiting for a fish. The chap acted like he knew the pelican - I expect he did.