What's Cooking for TMS Show and Tell

What's cooking with you and yours, both in the kitchen and out??

I've been doing my share of cooking and grilling this summer, including enjoying the bounty of our local California produce like this fresh asparagus. I marinated the cleaned stalks in Vidalia Onion salad dressing prior to grilling. The asparagus was the side dish to "smoked pork chops" grilled with chopped canned pineapple. Delish, fast, easy, and kid and pantry friendly.

I love the smell of fresh raspberries in the morning. ;o) Cherries too.

I made pan fried Baby Zucchini Blossoms stuffed with Morel mushrooms.
First, I reconstituted the dried morel mushrooms.
Then, I cleaned out the interior stamen from each blossom, and washed and dried them prior to putting in the fresh mozzarella, chopped morels, herb, and beaten egg filling.
The zucchini blossoms were dipped in a beaten egg, dredged in a flour, parmesan, dried herbs, and bread crumb mixture with salt and pepper.
Finally, the stuffed squash is pan fried in some vegetable oil until nicely golden and served immediately for a Molte Buono Appetito!

Thank you for visiting for The Motivation Station Show and Tell.

What bounty of the season have you been enjoying?

Crazy Lady on our Street

No matter where you live, there is always a "crazy lady" in the neighborhood, and we are no exception.

This elderly woman lives in a four bedroom house all by herself with no family or friends visiting, ever.

According to some long time residents, she was run out of her last neighborhood about a dozen years ago because of her busybodiness. (Or is that busybodyness???)

Crazy Lady recently counted the number of crepe myrtle trees in our housing tract, (95 if you care to know), and called the City to complain that only 4 out of the 95 were blooming. She has been blacklisted by the City staff and is No Longer Allowed to call them. Yes, Really. She must deal exclusively with our homeowners association about her "concerns".

Crazy Lady, instead of asking her next door neighbors to trim, and rake the leaves from their tree that fell into her yard, gathered all the leaves up, and dumped them over the fence into the next door neighbors' yard.

I saw Crazy Lady late the other evening, riding her bike with no light, on our dark street. I commented on this as I greeted her. She then proceeded to ask me some medical questions about an upcoming heart procedure she is going to have. I answered them as best as I could, and wished her well and "Good Night".

The next morning I was in my front garden doing some pruning before the heat of the day. She was across the street in her driveway with her bike when she yelled across to me from a distance of some 45 feet,- Did I think it was going to rain and should bikes be put away? I looked at the collection of dark clouds in the Southern sky and replied- "Yes, that's a good idea, I'm going to put my bike away, it might sprinkle". She then proceeded to scream at me, "I don't like the way you talk to me, you are very inappropriate and disrespectful. You talk to me like a child, first telling me not to ride my bike at night, and then telling me to put my bike away."

I have always been polite to Crazy Lady, and was one of the very last people on our block who hasn't "gotten into it" with her, so I was taken aback, and said, "What are you talking about? You asked me about the bikes. This is a misunderstanding..." I walked over to the sidewalk in front of her house, lowered my voice, and said, "I am not yelling at you, there is no need to scream at me". She then continued to rant and rave about how I disrespected her age, think I know it all because I am a RN, treat her like a child. I had had Enough. My New Jersey roots reared up, I ripped into her about how "Everyone thinks She is Nuts and Now I do Too!" She knows how to dish it out, but Not Take it, because she told me to "Shut Up". (Such a brillant comeback, Not!!) I told her that she could do Us All a Favor and ride her bike, at night, on the Interstate. Also, that her heart condition was Obviously interfering with the circulation to her brain. She was ill equipped to deal with my unique version of "an open can of whoop-a$$".

I now know why her last husband dropped dead on her several years ago, it was the only way he could make his escape. It will take restraint on my part, not to remind her of this fact, if she decides to try and cross blades with me ever again.

How are the crazies in your neck of the woods? Quiet these days? Or stirring the pot?

Cars from The Movies for Almost Wordless Wednesday

I love classic cars, (the side effect of having been raised by two older brothers), and I still have my collection of matchbox cars from 40 years ago. (They are a most prized possession as having been the toys that I shared with my late brother.) The Stingray Corvette was a much fought over favorite.

So, I was quite delighted to come across this Classic Car Show being held just a few blocks from my house. In addition to the sports cars and coupes, there was an impressive cast of Cars from the Movies including-



The Dukes of Hazzard Car, The General E. Lee, just for some Good Ol' Boys.

The Back to The Future Car, A DeLorean, made in Ireland. (The owner was surprised that I knew this fact. Well, like, ummm, doesn't everybody know That??)

A Pink Cadillac for the Pink Ladies of Grease.

The youngest cast member, Lightening McQueen from Pixar's Cars.

How about you? Seen any cool cars lately, either classic or new? We just saw a blue Bentley and black Ferrari in the last week while cruising in our uncool minivan.
Thank you so much.

Three Reasons my Hobbies suffer (including blogging)

Work - There is no shortage of patients whose problems need solving one phone call at a time. I wish I had paid more attention to my pysch nursing courses in college thirty years ago, because I sure use those empathetic listening skills and open ended questions out the wazoo now.

Play - Coronado Island in San Diego is delightful and the Hotel Del is an incredible landmark and architectural jewel. However, the Weather Gods Did Not Get the Memo about "Sunny, Warm Weather" for San Diego in July, and they sent us Bay area weather instead, that is, overcast and cool. It was great to get away, and a true highlight of the trip was to see the boys surf successfully for the first time, despite our youngest son getting stung by a sting ray.

More Play - I have been juggler of the boys' schedules, including, But Not Limited to - voice, dance, and guitar lessons, lunches out, visits to theme parks, basketball, swim team, and my own volunteer activities to support various endeavors.

My cup runneth over, how bout you??

Thanks so much, Martha

When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Gets a Pedicure (and Nail art too)

Thank you all so much for your warm wishes of support for our nephew, G. as he recovers on a long, hard road to normal functioning, if that's possible. It's been a tough week on all fronts, (work, home, mood, etc.), and I've been feeling like I have a dark cloud over my head and just, sad. This spurred me to treat myself, (and to spare those looking at my formerly raggedy feet), to a pedicure and nail art. Gotta have the nail art! I found Nemo, (well, actually, a pair of his close cousins), and thought these little fishies were the perfect summertime tootsie treat.


Thank you for your visit and lovely thoughts, I really appreciate it. I look forward to visiting your blog to find out what's new with you, and wish you a Wonderful Independence Day, no matter which flag you pledge allegiance to.