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May 1st 2012 Chester to the Vet, Buckingham Wetlands, Ray’s Studio

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Chester had a Doctor Appointment today.
btw – he weighs 83.6 lbs – which I think is chunky

 

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Dr. Klingensmith inspecting the “problem”

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Chester has a “Lick Granuloma”

Basically – we’ll have to wrap his paw & give him drugs.
It takes a couple months to heal but it can come back
at anytime.
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after the Vet we stopped here:
Buckingham Wetlands.
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It’s a nice little park near the Veterinarian
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 Chester checking out the view

 

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 A couple red-winged blackbirds

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 Male Cardinal – it’s a GREAT DAY!

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We stopped at Brother Raymond’s Studio.

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 He has this new piece – table top gardens!

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You grow plants in the table & there is also
a space for your phone or drink.
It also comes with a mini Sculpture.
Who needs one?

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I created a spreadsheet for Chester’s Meds!

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I made a Walmart run to get stuff for
tonight’s Beer Tasting & came upon THIS!
5 Shelves of OREO COOKIES.
Who knew the variety was so vast??
Do we NEED that many?

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What do you Choose?

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“Real adventure is defined best as
a journey from which you may not come back alive,
and certainly not as the same person.

~Yvon Chouinard

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Monday April 30th 2012 mr bluebird, gym, green smoothie, "midnight snack"

Monday April 30th 2012

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Can you see MR Bluebird on the post??
Let’s see if we can start another family
& have them not get eaten this time….
Last I checked they had 3 eggs!

meanwhile enjoy My Blue Sky by ELO

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the gym was on the agenda after a run
with the dogs. The July merrell down and dirty
10K race will be here sooner than later!
gotta get ready!!

Anyone want to do it with me?? It’s FUN!

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decided to try & make a Green Smoothie —
I had one a few weeks ago.
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apple, pineapple, banana & SPINACH –
that’s what makes it green!
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It doesn’t LOOK great but it was darn good.
Really. I would tell you if it was gross & it wasn’t.
I might even make another one tomorrow…..
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today is the last day of foodie photo-a-day (#30)
“midnight snack”……

very challenging bc “generally” I am NOT a snacker.
But if we are out & we come home & I’m starving
(& we happen to have pizza) –
I’d definitely toast it up & chow down!

Take20pride20in20how20far20you
Pride & Faith – good to have!
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HOPE is good to have too…….

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“HOPE”  (all shelters animals have this….)

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did you know puppies have “Puppy Breath”??

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Be mindful
of what you believe about yourself,
because you will spend your time,
your effort and all you have
 to make it true.”
 

Ralph Marston
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Sunday 4/129/12 the park, birds, Chinese, "mix it"

Sunday 4/129/12

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you can imagine …….
my TO DO LIST never looks like this….
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before going to work……
got up early & took Chester for a run in the park
SO gorgeous & such an awesome way to start the day.
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I’ve had Tree Swallows hanging around
but no nests/eggs….yet!
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Parked next to this car today at work –
this sounds like something I would be good at?
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Book of Wine Reviews I created for work.
Always trying to help co-workers help customers.
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opened this VIOGNIER for a byob dinner.
It was good but nor GREAT.

Do you know anything about Viognier?
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Michael, neighbor Deb & I went to dinner at
Hong Kong Gourmet – one of our neighbors owns it.
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I usually don’t eat pork but I sometimes
I like to get the boneless spare ribs when
we go for Chinese Food.
These were a little different that I expected.
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I like to get Vegetable Fried Rice too
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today’s foodie photo-a-day #29 was “mix it” —
this is my food processor which definitely
mixes it…..
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 then I thought that my MIXER would make a
better photo for “mix it”……

I hardly use either one & wish I would use both
all the time — I don’t make time to cook
but wish I did. Maybe I need to break
a couple ribs again – I cooked a lot
last summer when I was on the injured  list.

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Such a proud pup!! 
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why I chose to be Optimistic….

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Here’s what my real TO DO LIST
looks like…..
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Within the great distress of life,
a true master remains at ease.

– Awa Kenzo (1880-1939), “Zen Bow, Zen Arrow”
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Saturday 4/28/12 Dog Fair, PASS wine exam, guilty pleasure

Saturday 4/28/12

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Went for a run with the dogs before work.
Came across this COOL tree.
Anyone know what it is???

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We happened upon a Pet Expo at the park.
Can anyone ID this breed of dog???
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dogs up for adoption in the Pet Parade
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Weasel, with a  MUZZLE!!!!  getting a manicure!!
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She really needed a toenail trim-
but did NOT need a muzzle!!
She was SO humiliated!

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they didn’t have a muzzle that fit Chester –
so he got a manicure unmuzzled —
Although – as a public service announcement —
One should NEVER put their face in a strange
dogs face – EVER!!
this tech was definitely WRONG doing this!!

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Weaser & Cheddar – that’s their nicknames
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PASS…..with Distinction….
Remember that Wine Exam I took a few weeks ago??
I just got word I passed with DISTINCTION —
this is the highest grade possible!!
yay HELEN—
I really hope I can find a “real job” in the
Wine Industry – I LOVE IT!!!
I can’t imagine doing anything else.

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my boss let me select ANY WINE (under $100)
in our Fine Wine room to celebrate the passing grade.
Thanks TOM!!!
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Perseverance – with a Capital P……
I thought I did well on the exam & I studied quite hard,
but I wasn’t really sure I’d get a TOP GRADE …
but I did……..
One20step20can20make20all20the
I keep thinking — as long as I am taking steps in
the right direction I will get to where I am going.
I hope this is true & not a fairy tale I am selling myself!

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foodie photo-a-day # 28 “guilty indulgence”
…. I really like Italian Hoagies
(that’s local talk for submarine sandwich).
I don’t eat them often bc they cannot be
good for you – but I like them as an
occasional indulgence…..

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The surest way not to fail
is to determine to succeed.
 – ~Richard Brinsley Sheridan

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4/27/12 Friday wine tasting, "kitchen decor", lunch @ Brio, Dinner @ AUgusto’s

4/27/12 Friday

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We started the day with a Wine tasting at 11 a.m.
….it’s 5″o’clock somewhere…….
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today’s foodie photo-a-day was
“kitchen Decor”…our kitchen is pretty
minimalistic – I don’t like a lot of “stuff”!
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we have a few magnets on the refrigerator
 doing their job…. I don’t really like “stuff”
on the fridge — even this little bit makes me nuts!
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the FUN part of our kitchen is the light switch plates
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Can of Soup switch plate
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Watermelon  switch plate
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after my work wine tasting
I met cousin Rose Mary for lunch,
She kind of lives near my work & I had two hours
between the tasting & the start of my shift
so it worked out perfectly

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Helen & cousin Rose Mary @ Brio in Cherry Hill
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AFTER WORK — I had plans to meet a couple friends for  dinner – this was the wine line-up

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Casa Nuestra Cab & friends at Augusto’s Restaurant.

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friends Mary & Marguerite —
we’ve know each other for a loooooong time!
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waiter Michael
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onion brulee appetizer.
It’s a caramelized onion stuffed with crabmeat.
Sounds weird but it was incredible.
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Tuna Tacos
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Rib eye with Truffled Risotto
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Dessert was Creme Brulee,
very creamy and extra crispy bruleed top!
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Gratitude Attitude is the best attitude……

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which one do you need?

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Moving forward, no matter how slightly,
gets you moving in the right direction.

~Ralph Marston
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Thursday 4/26/12 new books, "something salty", Karma

Thursday 4/26/12

A
got a new book —
“Complete Wine Course”  by Kevin Zraly
Looking forward to diving in…..
B
also this new book – which may become
my favorite cookbook???

C
today’s Foodie Photo-A-Day is
“something salty”…
well –
Ted Turner Secret Salt is DEFINITELY salty!

Here is the recipe – but since it’s a secret
let me know if you use it because I will
have to come kill you.

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THIS also is salty!  It is a SALT BAGEL –
I think they are an East Coast specialty —
do they have them where you live??

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KARMA
— this is a new APP I started using on
my iPhone — it’s pretty fun.

Basically it sends out gifts for you without
even having the persons address.
The person gets an email or text saying –
Hey, Helen wants to give you a gift –
where do you want it sent?
learn more here:

Karmasnapshot
this tells you more about the
gifts you can send. It’s cool.
Check it out:

Thank20you20workds20that20can2
THANK YOU – can you say it enough??

I sent out a few TY notes today —
(forgot to take picture before mailman took them away)
in addition to a few resumes —
fingers crossed!!

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I hope to repel “neg-monsters”

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Have you ever seen a BEAR tree??
Where did you think BEARS come from?

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If you don’t think every day
 is a great day
try going without one.
Jim Evans
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Wednesday 4/25/12 Wine and Food of Argentina at Carlow Cookery

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Wednesday 4/25/12
Tonight I attended a class at Carlow Cookery
located in Doylestown, about 20 minutes from
Ivyland.  We learned about authentic Argentinean foods
and how to pair them with some of the great wines
 the country has to offer.

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Carlow Cookery in Doylestown
where tonight’s wine/food pairing was held.

They have lots of classes – check them out here:

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Denis & Liam – co-owners of Carlow Cookery
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Mike Conti – tonight’s wine expert
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The Torrentes & Flatbread
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Empanada wrappers – who ever knew?? 
Can be found in Frozen Section
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Empanadas on TV
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Sauvignon Blanc & Empanadas
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Everyone was paying attention
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MALBEC – “The Show” made by Joel Gott
with the grilled tenderloin & corn pudding
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preparing a tart on TV
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Red wine don’t like fried foods ….
 note that my neighbor took….
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last wine – which was quite delicious —
Bodegas Caro Cab/Malbec blend
paired with Tomato, Mozzarella, Ham Torta
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WINNER of a bottle of wine!!!

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all the pictures from tonight’s even can be found here:

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