Things You Think Of Saving

All this talk of packing a "Go Bag", and stuff that is important to you, if you need to evacuate your home, has me thinking.

I put this piece of china on my table, during the Holidays.

It belonged to my Mother, and Grandmother before her.

The story goes...the two of them would go to the afternoon movies together, during the early Depression.

Mom was not yet in school, but her older siblings were.

Each person would receive a piece of china, so my Grandmother made an entire set of this pattern.

My Mom inherited it from her and thus, we got it, when Dad died.

Most of the pieces were all worn out, but this one was hardly used, and I brought it home with me to California.

If I run, it is coming with me. After all, it is almost 100 years old.

You can find more about that time in America, by querying Dish Night At The Movies, or clicking THIS link.

Best Friends Animal Society

Since things have been so horrid here, with all the fires, there are many calls to action going on.

One I happened to hear about, was a No Kill shelter in West LA, asking people to donate supplies for dogs and cats.

They mentioned that they have a pantry in Granada Hills, and so hearing that the Hurst Fire was doing well, we decided to make the trip into the Valley, via the Newhall Pass.

We saw nothing on our journey, in regards to burnt hills, or houses, so that was a good sign for the area.

We got to Granada Hills, and the pantry was quite easy to deal with, and they listed all our donations on a sheet.

We feel that Makenna would be happy that her things were going to help other cats, who need them.

I did keep her black cat carrier, just in case we have a reason to use it in the future.

Otherwise, it is all gone.

I Never Tire Of Lake Ontario

My Water Post For Today.

When I can't think of anything to post, my mind goes to Lake Ontario.

I spent 2 1/2 years by the lake, and it never ceases to make me happy.

As I go through some trying times here in Los Angeles, this lake reminds me that I have seen and overcome worse, on my own.

Enjoy the waves and rocks of Lake Ontario.

Chop Suey

I bought some Chinese Napa Cabbage last week, but ended up not using it.

I saw that they had beef for stir fry, 1/3rd off, so I said to myself, why not!

I got some Bok Choy and with ingredients in the house, I had a nice stir fry. I used Chinese noodles, with these vegetables. Obviously, rice can also be used.

The recipe follows. By the way, if you click the link on the next line, it brings you to a nice video of the preparation of this recipe.

Chop Suey

INGREDIENTS

• 14 oz (400 grams) of mixed vegetables
• 2 cloves of garlic sliced thinly
• 1/2 inch of ginger sliced thinly
• 12 oz (340 grams) of meat (beef, pork, chicken, fish...)
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of soy sauce to marinate the pork
• 1 tsp of dark soy sauce
• Some black pepper to taste
• A splash of water if needed
• 1 tbsp of soy sauce to seasoning the vegetables
• 1/2 tbsp of oyster sauce
• A drizzle of Chinese cooking wine
• 2 tsp of cornstarch
• 1/4 cup of water
• A drizzle of sesame oil

INSTRUCTIONS

• Cut 14 oz of vegetables into bite-size. You can use whatever you like. I choose Chinese broccoli, carrot, snow peas, bell pepper, cauliflower, and bean sprout.

• Slice 2 cloves of garlic and 1/2 inch of ginger thinly;

• Cut 12 oz of pork shoulder into 1/8 of an inch thick slices. You can also use the same marinade but switch to chicken or beef. Marinate it with 1/2 tsp of salt, 1/4 tsp of baking soda, 1 tsp of soy sauce, 1 tsp of dark soy sauce, and some black pepper to taste. Mix until well combined. Set it aside for 15 minutes.

• Before cooking, quickly mix 2 tsp of cornstarch and 1/4 cup of water.

• Turn the heat to high and heat the wok until it is smoking hot. Add some cooking oil and toss it around to cover the bottom of the wok. Go in with the marinaded pork. Quickly stir the pork for a minute or 2. Take it out. Make sure you tilt the wok so you can leave the oil in the wok.

• Turn the heat back on high. Toss in the garlic and ginger slices. Stir for a minute or until they are fragrant. Throw in the vegetables. Cook them for a couple of minutes. If you see the wok is a bit dry, you can add a couple of splash of water; the steam will help to cook the vegetables through.

• Season with 1 tbsp of soy sauce and 1/2 tbsp of oyster sauce. Keep stirring. Add the bean sprout and the leafy part of the gailan. Introduce the pork back to the wok. Add a splash of Chinese cooking wine from the side of the wok. Mix to combine everything. Pour in the cornstarch water. Stir until the sauce is thickened up. Before serving, add a drizzle of sesame oil for the nutty taste. Enjoy!

Krispy Kreme Pop Tart Doughnuts

While I was at the market the other day, I saw this at the check-out stand.

Krispy Kreme Pop Tart Doughnuts, say what?

It is some new thing, where you don't get enough sugar in the doughnut, so you add the topping of a pop tart on it.

They wonder why diabetes, and weight gain is a problem in America?

This is the answer to it. Adding sugar to things that do not need sugar.

The Winds Returned, Though Not As Bad

Life here in Santa Clarita is still a mess.

I was going to fly out on the 8th or 9th to NY, but I am so glad I heeded the words of our Southern California Weather Force meteorologist, and did not book that flight. He predicted this a week ago, as I mentioned in my last post.

In things I have lived through.
I took a nap Wednesday, and a fire broke out while I napped.
I took a nap on Thursday, and a fire broke out while I napped.

You seeing a pattern here? Angel Don't Nap!

So the wind returned, but in my area, not bad at all. I hear it will come and go for several days.

I told my Son that if we burn down, he gets us.

His comment...Snow?

The Worst Santa Ana Winds I Have Experienced

It has been a terrifying time to live in Los Angeles.

Thankfully, we knew these major Santa Ana winds were coming days in advance, due to the Southern California Weather Force group on Facebook.

As instructed, we kept our phones charged, all evening.

After I went to bed, the winds increased to gusts of 59 and 72 mph in Saugus, my home.

I have NEVER experienced something so violent. Superstorm Sandy comes close.

Thankfully, the winds died down the next day, though fires continued.

We have upwards of 6 fires burning in the LA area. It's horrid.

At this time, we are fine. But I hesitate to say that on social media, like Facebook.

So instead, I stay silent, to try to not jinx our situation.

More to come over the next week or so. Sigh...

A Stray Cat: Did It Know Something?

It has been a couple of weeks since we lost our cat, Makenna.

I was looking at my photo stream the other day, and realized that I had not seen this cat, that came through my backyard, since the day before Makenna died.

It was hanging around the door to the family room, and my first thought was that she smelled the turkey soup I was working on.

Now, I think she smelled my cats litter that I had just dumped into the trash. I gave her clean litter, to make her (as it ended up) last day a little better.

Maybe this cat knew something I did not, regarding the health of my cat.

Animals are very intuitive in regards to these things, and looking back, I think that was what it was reacting to.

I have not seen the cat, since that day, though it had walked through my yard 2 other times recently.

The Bay Bridge From 2020

My Water Post For Today.

Since I am a day late with my Water Post, I give you The Oakland Bay Bridge

Photo was taken in 2020, as we left for our Hawaiian trip.

There is nothing that compares to the San Francisco Bay, and the bridges just make the view even better.

I hope you enjoy.

Rosca De Reyes (Three Kings Day 2025)

No water post today. See you on Tuesday.

It is Three Kings Day, and in the Latino community that means Rosca De Reyes are in stores today.

I ran over to our neighborhood Vallarta Supermarket, to get one.

This year the cost is $30.99, but it is HUGE!

The one with guava in it is much smaller, and it is $5 more than the one I got.

I decided to go with the original flavor.

I am sure it will be just fine.

We Three Kings of Orient Are...

Another Beautiful Sunset To Bring In The New Year

I swear, I do not seek these sunsets out.

The sun sets around 5PM currently, so I went outside with water, to deal with my plants, and there it was.

I ran into the house, and grabbed my phone.

Absolutely stunning for about 5 minutes or so.

Of course, then I had to deal with 2 bottles of water in my hands, AND the cell phone. Sigh...

Totally worth it though.

Vintage Chairs In The Waiting Room

We had a busy Friday morning. Many errands to run.

I get home and make some lunch, and what happens?

My crown comes out.

It's noon on a Friday, so I immediately call my dentist from pre-pandemic times.

They still have my name on file, so they give me an appointment at 2:30P.

A quick x-ray, and a re-glue for my tooth crown, and I am on my way.

But while I was waiting, I saw that they STILL had these vintage chairs in the room.

I remember them in a different location, back around 20 years ago.

Very uncomfortable, but cute in a mid-century modern way.

Hanukkah Is Over

I took this photo on New Years night.

I don't think I have ever taken one with my Husband holding the book.

This was the last second, and I figured it was just about past the solemn part of the ceremony.

Please don't notice how much candle wax we have on the silver tray. It cleans up nice, though.

We made it another year. Our best for 2025.

We are all going to need it.

Makenna Has Returned To Our House

On Tuesday we received a call that Makenna's ashes had returned to our Vet.

We immediately drove over to get her, and felt it was karma, that she ended the year back with us.

I told my Husband that we will wait til spring to bury her in the front planter, the one with the bird bath.

She will join our other two cats there.

God willing, our Son will be in town from the 9th of March, so we will all bury her when he is with us.

A fitting end for a well loved, and missed cat.

I did not notice that in the quick photo I took, to show my Son, that her favorite cat toy (the eggplant) was hanging in the picture.

She attacked it twice during the Christmas season, leaving it on the floor, both times.

It was somehow fitting.

Happy New Year (2025)

Well here we are: Happy New Year 2025.

We did have some good things in 2024, like our trip around the Western United States...but most of the good has gotten overshadowed by the presidential election.

We will see what that brings.

Since we lost our cat last week, a good thing among the sadness we feel, is that we are not tied to home, and hope to travel a bit more in 2025.

I need to get to New York, so that is my highest priority right now.

Otherwise, life goes on.

May the year treat you well.