Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Writing desk in the Amazon
Friday, November 18, 2011
Amazonian Aperitifs
On Saturday, after class, let's all rendezvous at our house for a mosquito-free civilized gathering in the spirit of the early 20th Century explorers. The four if us will probably never go to the Amazon in real life, so let's do it now. We have LOTS of fruits, nuts, snakes and champagne.
Don, can you bring our case of Copeland Creek?
In the spirit of a Happy-Hour-and-a-Half, I'll have to make it brief since I've been invited (conscripted) to attend my honorary goddaughter's play at McNear at 7:00. You all can stay calm and carry on. Or eat, prey and leave.
Tina
Friday, September 23, 2011
To Los Angeles and Beyond
It looks like they are actually enjoying removing the lady in the BLUE dress from the RED carpet. She may bring back a fashion that died with the Clinton Administration.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Flamingo Fling 2011
Our second 25th annual gathering fluffed our feathers and provided ample opportunity to reconnect in the fantastic setting of the wild and scenic Rogue River. Momentum River Expeditions managed our four day/three night trip fulfilling our every need, giving us the gear we needed, the expertise and service we wanted and the most desirable meeting space ever! Bet they never expected to see hearts and Flamingos on their rafts in pink duct tape! Ashley made our river arrangements and coordinated our river running with nary a hitch. Every Flaminga took to the water in a "ducky" sometime during the trip and all felt confident on the paddle rafts in the technical rapids with our great guides Mara, Erik and Jeff and gearmaster Arden overseeing our bags. Beautiful, warm, sunny weather greeted us each day, so jumping off the rafts and floating down river in our life jackets seemed natural to many. Being on the river brings us into the present and reminds us to "go with the flow".
Double "ducky" paddlers Joanie C. and Joan A. proved most entertaining with Joan in the back workin' hard maneuvering the waves and Joanie sprawled in front taking in the sun. Ashley double kayaked with all who wanted an expert's touch. And Joanie's stash of beer sure tasted great after a day on the river. It held us over until our daily cocktail hour...and a half.
Flamingees always dress for Saturday dinner, and this year was no exception even though we were on the river! Tina and Heidi adorned mysterious head dresses that transported us to the Middle East. Maren and Barbara interwove scarves and flowers in their hair. Judy wore the hand painted Flamingo shell necklace, a gift from far in the past that continues to attract attention. Joan A made unique use of the Flamingo river visor gifts. Even our guides got into the "pink thing". No one ever did find out how Carolyn's pink tights ended up on guide Jeff...
Our meeting room sparkled with Flamingo bling thanks to Flamingee Tina's treasure trove, not to mention the new champagne flutes Tina decorated and brought for each member. And the bubbly flowed because Carol lugged bottles of the precious nectar to the Rogue for us. At our meeting Flamingo historian and writer Jane entertained us with tales of Filomina. Be ready for some new chapters next year as Jane has her pen in hand! After Carolyn's revealing introduction we initiated new Flamingee Marlene Mills who arrived on the trip with pink galore. Welcome!... We sang our Flight song written by Kris. Thank goodness for Jane's fluent Spanish that helped us through the second verse. Our gifts proved perfect for our special liquid tastes. Wendi bestowed the coveted Flamingo Lampus - bedecked as never before - upon her unsuspecting roommate Suzie. And we completed all our "business" by lights out because Judith handled her time keeper duties with much finesse!
Even our Flamingo fellas got in the act. Burt (Marlene) sent along "Kayak like a Girl" stickers that found their way on our water bottles and bags. Alan (Joanie) sent soft, cuddly Flamingoes that Joanie presented as prizes.
The pre/post river run doings blossomed into a wealth of events. In Ashland Judith and Carol organized cocktail parties, theatre parties, dinner parties, shopping parties, hiking parties and party parties, complete with a printed schedule, for all who wanted to participate. The special treat was seeing Originale Kris who visited the Ashland group and shared her sunshine. Once off the river Judy was met at the river's edge by her dashing husband David who whisked her off for a romantic sojourn on the Oregon coast. Tina headed north for Portland and beyond. Maren, Carolyn and Marlene stayed an extra night for more Ashland theatre. Lucky Ralph (Carol) got to fly home five fluttering Flamingas. It appears that three Flamingees are considering a move to Oregon. Should the moves occur, we'll have mega reasons to return to this wonderland for future Flings.
We have been flinging together for 25 fantastic years. It is a time to celebrate friendships and sisterhood. It's a time to de-stress and frolic. It's a time for fun.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Like daughter like mother?
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Half a flock of Flamingas
This is year 25 for these singularly silly flockings. Now daughters are now getting ready to be initiated into this August ( but more often winter) gatherings.
Flamingees do it with flair and, more importantly, on one leg with one knee bent (backwards, no less).
Laundry in Oregon
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Petaluma Rivertown Revival July 30, 2011
The Second Annual Petaluma Rivertown Revival was billed as a "green" event so, of course, Anne of Green Gables showed up. Don't know if any one of the 8,000 tat-covered , crinoline flounced, Edwardian top -hatted, cowboy boots over stripped socks for all genders but very, very young Steam-punk crowd got it, but I enjoyed wearing the dress that Clarke used for his Helen Keller book report in fourth grade. I also discovered that suitcases make purses you cannot lose AND they double as seating devices. All in all, it was a magical day to support the Petaluma River with food that one doesn't normally see at these sort of affairs - deep fried panko pickle slices, hibiscus iced tea, ahi tuna wrapped in a sun-dried tomatoe with pesto tortilla and aioli. This weren't no corn dog place for eatin' low on the hog. Definitely high class. They even offered weddings for $5. Next year they might add divorces for $5,000. Easy in - costly out.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Bastille Day in Petaluma
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Bastille Day is around the corner
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Blue footed poulet
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Can't get it out of our mind
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Oh, NO! Spaghetti-Ohs!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Time to leave la Trousse
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Cathedrals and Caves
After a picnic in the peaceful park behind the apse, we returned to Ay (pronounced eye-ee) to visit Chateau Bollinger. We were given a special private tour of some of their 5 km worth of underground caves.
From the heights of heaven to the depths of the cellars, we ended our day's adventures sitting in Madame Bollinger's home as their Chef du Cave tasted Don's Champagne with us, a couple from Moscow, their translator and a charming Parisian wine merchant, Lionel Michelin (of the Michelin Guide???). Hopefully Don, Kay and Lionel will be meeting up in Paris next week...
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Cider at the Chateau
Don't run ANY of these blogposts through spell check. Between being in a foreign language where at least one third of the letters are not pronounced and having to type on an iphone, mischief abounds.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Champagne tasting
Monday, March 21, 2011
Chateau Sunset
Missed tea but remained civilized and came "home" to a spectacular sunset, fabulous dinner, underground explorations and a full moon lit evening.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
French Wine at Whole Foods
Chez Janous
Saturday, March 19, 2011
After a day in Champagne Country
Baumhefner Bonjour!
The Champagne region in the Marne Valley is a patchwork of stubby (3 inch) grape vines planted in unterraced lines as far as the eye can see. Rows of grapes and rows of graves are present remindersders of the 310,000 soldiers who fought and 67,000 who died here. The weather was equally somber and the light elusive. We were reflective in our promenade.
Until, of course, we observed yet another boulangerie and patisserie. We brought home souvenirs for our kitchen table...
Comte e Comptesse dot Com
We are getting ready for "Le weekend."
How do you heat this?
Friday, March 18, 2011
Bookmaking
Jet lag
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Ready to go...ready to gossip
Imagine Kay and Tina stylishly gossiping in a fashionable Parisian cafe.
Alas, we are not here yet....but if we were, we would be saying loving, somewhat west county, things about the people reading our blog and giggling about the silliness of it all.
It's (in Petauma) raining and Chuck and Tina are packing at nearly midnight to leave in the morning of the Ides of Match plus one. Somehow everything we need fits into a space 20x24x18 inches This in the face of Clarke and Lisa moving (after renovations) into a 1402 s ft house. Do the math...
And stay tuned to our edition from either the airport or feet-on-the-ground France.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
What would Julia do?
Monday, March 7, 2011
Off to France
Steps and stairs
Stracciatella (chocolate chip gelato) is easily burned off one step at a time.
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After classes, a thunderstorm began to threaten a leisurely pre-dinner piazza gathering so Chuck and I headed off (code word for "willi...
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His dorm? Or maybe it's a hotel. This is way before the era of The Container Store.