Watermelon Salad and an EMG

I've provided the updated dressing recipe. This should be right on...

4 cups seedless watermelon cut into bit-size pieces
1 cup heirloom tomatoes, large chop (I used halved, golden cherry tomatoes)
1/4 cup finely chopped Kalamata olives
1/4 cup crumbled feta
8-10 leaves mint, chopped (basil would work if you have no mint)

2 tablespoons finely minced shallots
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar (or other high quality white vinegar)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Assemble fruit in bowl (leaving aside feta and mint). Mix dressing and whisk until salt has dissolved. Pour over fruit and refrigerate. Add feta and mint before serving.

This morning I scheduled an 8:30 appointment to have an EMG on my hands (I've got carpal tunnel in both). I'm still a little bit on Cali time and woke up with a start at 8:54. Luckily, there was another appointment available at 11:30. I've given birth to three children, the last of whom weighed 10 pounds (and I had no meds); I've had knee surgery on both knees; and had a radical hysterectomy, a lumpectomy and I'm no sissy, but having someone put needles in my arms, hands, and neck, and then run electrical current through hurt like hell. It still hurts. I'm glad that's over. My follow-up appointment with the orthopod is on Friday and then I'll decide which option to take. I may be typing with one hand for a bit...

Tonight it's comfort food: tortellini salad with red peppers, shredded carrots, broccoli, onion, chick peas, black olives, basil, parsley, and Parmesan. Ciao amici!

We're Back!!

Our flight left San Diego at 7:00 AM. It being so early, we suffered the delusion that we would have some room to move around. Not so. This flight, a direct one to Baltimore, was booked solid, but at least this time we got to sit in the emergency row and had a little more room. I must share with you that we witnessed a miracle. A man pre-boarded in a wheel chair and spent most of the flight walking up and down the aisle. Amazing, huh? There were two little girls in front of us taking their first trip East. They were really well behaved and kept asking Mom, "Have we arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, yet?" When we began our descent, they got their first view of the area. They marveled, "Is Baltimore, Maryland a big forest?" I realized how different it is from San Diego. We are blessed with lushness/greenery everywhere.

That being said, I must admit Southern California enjoys beauty unlike anywhere else on this earth. Here are a couple of photos from our trip.
It simply does not get more beautiful than this. We're on a hill in La Jolla looking North.

The view South from our room -- toward LaJolla in the distance. That hot tub called to me--often!

Sunset in La Jolla


We've been back from San Diego since Thursday night and my mind is adjusting, but my body isn't; it's still on Cali time and I can't seem to get enough sleep. I've been trying to work through this, however and spent yesterday in the garden dead-heading, weeding, and watering. Here's a photo of my favorite pot. I just love how the colors turned out.

I tried to replicate the watermelon salad that we had at George's last Saturday night and will let you know how it turned out. Pictures and recipe to follow -- if it's any good.

PS I had the pleasure of having lunch with Rick Rockhill whose blog I have enjoyed reading for quite some time. What a neat experience to meet face-to-face. I felt as though we had been friends for years. He's posted some photos. Click on the link and stop by and take a look.

I can see myself living here, but would do so ALONE...

We arrived in sunny San Diego on Saturday to bedlam at the airport and car rental place. It didn't take us long to get our car and I had a chance to talk to some of the people working at Enterprise. Seems they were all concerned about the HEAT. Richard and I live in MD. During the Revolutionary War, the French mercenaries who were stationed in the area were given tropical pay. Our summer weather redefines heat and often times the humidity matches the temperature. Needless to say, we weren't sympathetic. It was a gorgeous 83 with about 17% humidity. Sheesh!
Our first stop was to a Panera -- as it was five o'clock Eastern time and we hadn't eaten since 6:30 AM. I don't eat on planes -- I have this theory that the airpressure changes metabolism -- and then onto our friends' new home. They are pretty much settled in and their home is lovely. It was a great reunion and we got to meet the babies--their twin grand children --for the first time.
Then onto our hotel in La Jolla to unpack, take a power nap and get ready for dinner at George's Ocean Terrace in La Jolla. I have just two words to say about this dinner: watermelon salad!! It is fantastic and I will replicate it when I get home. It had heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, fresh mint, a tiny bit of chopped Kalamata olives and feta and was dressed with a very light vinegarette.
We slept like the dead, got up at 8:00 Cali time and met Margie and Dave for breakfast at A. R. Valentine at Torrey Pines, where their son cooks, for a phenomenal breakfast. Then off to the pool. I had thought that I'd received enough sun in Bermuda that I could use the 70 SPF stuff I bought sparingly -- WRONG!!! My back, chest and forehead look like rare roast beef and this girl is a-hurtin'. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!! (I'm hitting my head right now).
After a day at the pool, we drove out to M&D's daughter's house in Scripp's Ranch for dinner and a quick visit. Chef Bradley cooked a four course meal for us (There are def benefits to having a Godson who's a chef!) that included crepes, duck confit, seared dayboat scallops on a bed of fresh cress, and grilled pound cake with native strawberries for dessert.
So today, Richard heads up to Carlsbad, I'll be staying out of the sun completely, and we'll have dinner with Marge as David is in flight to Toronoto as I write.
I've taken lots of photos and will post some later. Wednesday, we'll go exploring -- maybe to Palm Springs and then change hotels to get closer to the airport and our 7 AM flight on Thursday.

Lunch Was Good and Let the Packing Begin

I just returned from having lunch with a college (Millersville University of Pennsylvania) friend of mine. We met half way in Westminster, MD at a Panera. We both ordered the tuna salad from different order takers and then sat down and chatted for over two and a half hours, like we had been doing this for the past thirty-three years! I guess that's the mark of a good friendship.

Richard and I are leaving for San Diego tomorrow morning. He has business there and I'll be having pleasure. We'll also be visiting our friends, Margie and Dave who moved out there in May. We had planned to surprise them at a restaurant (George's Ocean Terrace in La Jolla) we all enjoy, but their daughter, who was in on the three-month scheme, emailed me a few days ago, upset that Dave had been given an assignment in Toronto for the week. So we had to tell them we were coming. (Come to think of it, maybe he found out and was trying to leave town...) Anyhoodle (sorry, Jay), we'll be gone for a bit enjoying Cali, the gorgeous Pacific, and seeing our friends. I'll catch up with you next week.