it's good to be a hostess

Like all other sentient beings in this great country of ours, I was outside yesterday morning, gazing open-mouthed at the breathtaking magic occurring in the sky.  We had about an 80% eclipse here in the valley.  It was everything every other gazer has said, so I will say no more.  Except, however, that the light seemed to be different for the entire day and that was downright eerie.

But moving on to more mundane things.

Hostess gifts from my guests; bright sunflowers from Bobbie's beautiful  garden and a bottle of my VERY favorite SB by Kim Crawford from Carolyn.  Erin brought beautiful salad; we ate it.  No photo!  Sorry . . .

Last evening I hostessed (sic) a little dinner party poolside.  Four of us who are neighbors sat out in the warm night air and enjoyed a lovely picnic dinner of salad and bread and fruit and cheese.  And a nice Geyser Peak SB, of course.  I so enjoyed the hostess duties; I don't get to do this very often, but when Mr. C is off on his frolic and detour, I take advantage of the opportunity.  And speaking of Mr. C, he returns today, eventually.  Since he flies standby, one never knows.  He didn't get a seat on his connecting flight from Minneapolis (over booked) and has been routed to Salt Lake City.  We'll see what happens there.  I think the airlines are busy bringing eclipse-ties back from wherever they went for a better look. I expect he'll be home late this afternoon or evening.  Or maybe an o'nite in SLC is in his future.

bounty

This morning's farmers market had so many beautiful fruits and veggies it was hard to choose.  But since I am here alone ~ Mr. C is on his annual pilgrimage to visit family in Ohio ~ I had to restrain myself.  These are the things I brought home to enjoy; bag of beautiful green beans, six peppers of differing colors and flavors, ripe tomatoes, a big melon , two Fay Alberta peaches, one Babcock peach, one plum (a freebie!), and four multi-colored pattypan squash.  Can't wait to get started!

better late than never

Today I finished Season 1 of The Crown.  Don't you think it's aboout time, since Season 2 is starting soon?  I don't know what I've been waiting for all these months.  I did look at one episode while at the beach but decided I needed to look at it on something bigger than an iPod!  Great cast, especially John Lithgow as Churchill.  What a performance.  So now it's on to Season  2.

lunch among the vines

I drove over to St. Helena yesterday to meet two delightful women of long acquaintance for a wonderful lunch at The Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch.  I had heard about this dining citadel first via Check Please Bay Area, the restaurant review program on KQED.  It was every bit as good as was promised.  Most all of what they serve in this big, airy space is grown or raised on the property.  Despite the size of the dining room the noise level is very tolerable, making for easy conversation.  A couple of highlights on the menu are macaroni and cheese (we did not try) and the cheddar biscuits (which we did try).

Go for the biscuits if for nothing else!  They are utterly delicious.

We stayed until about 3 PM after which I battled the parking lot that is I-80; took me 2 1/2 hours to get home.  But it was well worth it.

The Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch, 738 Main Street, St. Helena, CA

Tuesday matinee

I watched this movie yesterday and like most "based on true events"films, it was another example of how truly amazing human beings are and what they are capable of.  The story goes from a sort of wonderland setting to absolute horror and back to some level of sanity.  Set in Warsaw at the outbreak of WWII.  Many people did not behave well.

summer's bounty

Our neighbor planted 6 or 7 tomato plants in three raised beds in her garden ~ big beefsteaks, some Early Girls, Romas, and a variety of grape and cherry varieties, red, yellow and gold.  And, as always happens after a spate of hot weather, they ALL came in at once.  Dozens and dozens of tomatoes just right for the picking.  She sent out an SOS to her neighbors and Mr. C, our resident farm boy, went right over to answer her call.  Above shows about half of what he brought home.  Yesterday he roasted one batch for his delicious tomato soup.  This morning he took care of the rest in the same way.  And there will be many more of these beauties before the summer is done. As soon as we get some cooler weather, we'll eat!

sweet distraction

It's hot here in the valley, in case you were wondering.  So after all my "indoor" chores were done -- mainly cleaning up my "office" room, decluttering it of all sorts of accumulated stuff -  I treated myself to this sweet little movie, Gifted.  Reminded me of Little Man Tate, Jodie Foster's movie of many years ago which I loved.  The cast ~ Chris Evans, Octavia Spencer, Mckenna Grace ~ is wonderful.  If you want a sweet distraction this will do it.