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Thursday 2/16/12 Hopslam at Union Jack’s

Thursday 2/16/12

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Union Jack’s
— the place to be tonight for the HOPSLAM event!

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fuzzy picture of friends Deb & Jim.
I was having camera issues (in the rain)
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Union Jack’s BEFORE the mad rush –
this place was PACKED!
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stellar line-up!
I just taste the beers because it’s
kind of like my job…..
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Having a Bell’s Two Hearted Ale in honor
of my friend Jeff who was sick!
It was REALLY GOOD JEFF!
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Philly Beerscene Magazine.
FREE & a wealth of information.
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HOT WINGS – the best in the area
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Deb got Asian – hot is too hot
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the awaited HOPSLAM –mmmmm.

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Helen, Deb & Jim enjoying a tasty Bell’s Hopslam
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lunch for Friday.
Their steak sandwiches are pretty darn good too!
Q
I have a t-shirt that says this but some people don’t get it.
It kind of loses it’s impact when you have to explain.
Do YOU “get it”?

==================================
No education is wasted.
Drink in as many new experiences as you can.
==================================

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Wednesday 2/15/12 Blind Finch, Wine school, train adventure

Wednesday 2/15/12

 

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BLIND FINCH
I caught a blind finch today with my very own hands.
Then I let her go, I don’t know why?
Maybe if I had a PLAN (or a Birdcage) I would
have been more likely to keep her as a pet.
Some wondered how I KNEW she was blind.
See picture below.

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Blind Bird

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the interesting part is – when I Googled Blind Finch
— it kept giving me a RECIPE!!!
Apparently there is a dish called Blind Finches
& they are not birds at all.

Blind finches are slices of sirloin battered almost paper thin,
 then lined with slices of cooked ham, and then stuffed with a mixture
 of pork mince, mustard, parsley, sage, garlic, and shallots.
They are then rolled up, tied securely with butcher’s string,
browned, and then cooked in beer, which is then reduced
and thickened to make a fantastic sauce.

LSNED!  (do you know what LSNED means?)

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I took the train into the city for tonight’s Wine Class.
I adore this commute. Relaxing & interesting…..
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My little study area at the hotel where Wine Class is held.
I always go to school early & study beforehand.
I’m so studious.
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Line up of wines we tasted tonight:
Sauvignon Blanc (white)
& Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon (red).

Question:
What color is WHITE WINE?
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Classmates – there are 12 of us.
6 boys, 6 girls
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A few extra bottles a couple classmates brought
for us to taste. Thanks Rosemary & Danny.
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Garth, Me & Brooks
~After class I stopped at the Prime Rib to
see Garth (proprietor of Prime Rib) & Douglass
(sommelier) and I ran into Brooks – a former colleague.
It was great seeing everyone & catching up.
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Cool Sculpture on my way to the train station
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Warminster Train is my line.
I just had to wait a few minutes.
It’s about an hour ride –
at least I am not driving!
Q
I had my “after school snack” with me.
Cheese, Crackers & Wine!
R
CHEERS!!!! 

============================
Don’t waste a lot of time complaining
about what has already happened.
Put your time and energy into envisioning and
planning and acting to create the life
you truly wish to live.
~Ralph Marston

============================

remember you can ALWAYS see Picture of the Day here:
http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

feel free to Share 🙂

 

2/14/12 Valentines Day, dinner, gifts

2/14/12

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The LOVE statue in located at JFK Plaza in PhillyWeasel

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Stealth Photo of morning SPIN class.
There are always bikes available in the morning
but sometimes they run out at night.
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snowmen still standing….
(they were in Picture of the Day on Sunday!)
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Chester & Weasel inspecting the Men
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Cheese Heaven

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ingredients for making home-made Caesar Salad dressing
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Caesar Salad mmmmmm
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BIG Lobster for dinner
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MEAT for Michael as he does not eat Lobster
(more for us!)
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I also made Michael Broccoli Rabe b/c he loves it!
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really good bread from “Cheese Heaven”
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Michael’s Valentine gift….
He liked some of them….
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My Valentine gift from Michael — I’M LUCKY!
Q
Dogs & Cats are good Valentines too!

——————————————————-
We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird,
and when we find someone whose weirdness
is compatible with ours,
we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness
and call it love.
——————————————————

remember you can ALWAYS see Picture of the Day here:
http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

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Monday 2/13/11 Starlings, Bluebirds, Hawks, Parrots

Monday 2/13/11

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Starlings come in SWARMS to my feeders.
To get rid of them I had to stop feeding the birds
for a week. They deplete the feeders & scare away
all the birds I do want.
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after not feeding them for a week the Bluebirds
DID come back today when I offered them food.
YAY!
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The Female was looking right at me!
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We also had this guy visit the feeder today –
looking for a free meal!

sharp shinned hawk
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FREE to good home!!
a pair of Yellow Naped Parrots.
Let me know if you would like to adopt one or both.
Z
the doctor had Patients/Patience!!!

————————————————————–
The only mistake that can truly hurt you
is choosing to do nothing simply
because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
————————————————————–

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http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

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2.12.12 Birthday Lunch, Dog Bath, PIZZA

2.12.12 

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Michael’s mom was 88 on Saturday.
She was able to squeeze us into her schedule
& have lunch with us today. She’s BUSY!
I love the #8 and she has TWO of them!
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We took Betty to Vintage Grille near her house.

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I had a tasty Chicken salad BLT wrap.
It was good but I would have liked to have more B.
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Michael’s mom went with crab cake eggs benedict.
REALLY good! I’m getting this next time.
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Me, Betty & Michael.

Happy Birthday #88!!!!! Wishing you lots more.
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Snowman trio in our neighbors yard.
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Bath time for Chester Rose Butt Sniffer
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Not Happy Chester
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Weasel LOVES getting a bath & toweled off
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another project on today’s to do list –
CLEAN OUT the Fireplace.
“BEFORE”
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“AFTER” – sparkling clean!
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WE had a nice fire going – it was the perfect day for it.
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sister Pat making pizza

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She’s a PRO!
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The pizza I made was the BEST!
Q
Make sure your life is worth watching…..

————————————————–
 

“Every saint has a past
and every sinner has a future.”
—Oscar Wilde

————————————————-

remember you can ALWAYS see Picture of the Day here:
http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

feel free to Share 🙂

2/11/12 Wine Dinner at the Schorn Shack….

2/11/12

 

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This what it looked on my drive to work today.
A Winter Wonderland…..
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Neighbors Kim & Dan
 hosted a small wine (& beer) dinner
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Tonight’s Wine Line-up
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and the Beer Line-up
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just beginning….. Tanya, Adam, Kim, Dan & Vanessa
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We had MUSIC !!!
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and MEAT!
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Chris & Marybeth
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Me & Michael
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Vanessa & Adam
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Tanya in the CRAZY SOCKS!!!!  I need a pair!
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end of the evening entertainment
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Vanessa jamming on the guitar
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Princess Chris
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GOOD NIGHT!

Fun was had by all.

Good wine & beer, good food & entertainment.
GREAT FRIENDS!!!!

—————————————————

The happiest people

don’t necessarily have the best of everything

but they make the most of everything.

—————————————————

ALL THE PICTURES FROM DINNER CAN BE FOUND HERE:

remember you can ALWAYS see Picture of the Day here:
http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

feel free to Share 🙂

 

Friday 2/10/12 Wine Concierge, dinner

Friday 2/10/12

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friend Linda utilized my Wine Concierge services.
She placed an order for 1/2 dozen Roses’.
I researched & selected wines for her
& she came to pick them! EASY!
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6 bottles of Roses’
3 French, 2 Italian, 1 Spanish.

Let me know if I can assist/advise
on any wine purchase!

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I took this to work today – 1999 French Blend.
The reviews were mixed, from
“I don’t like it”  to “It’s GOOD!”

I was in the former party but I am not
much of a French wine drinker.

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I didn’t get home from work until 8:30
so we thought we would be safe going to
the Jamison Pourhouse — but NO!!
It was packed to the gills.
We valet parked out car, discovered it was
WAY too crowded & went back to our
car that was parked exactly where we left it.
They were so busy they didn’t even
have a chance to move it.
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We went to our standby restaurant TAORMINAS –
no wait there!  We were the tail end of
their dinner hour.

Classic line of the night, Rayla
(- one of the servers & our neighor) says to us:
“Do you want any of this coffee before
I toss it ?” ahhh, No thanks….

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I never know what I am going to order so I generally
will bring one white & one red.

Reviews to come!

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GROUPER SPECIAL — delicious!
Grouper with asparagus, roasted peppers & mushrooms.
Served with Portabella Mushroom Ravioli.
In a creamy cognac sauce. mmmm

R
KARMA!!! Be nice to EVERYONE,
there is no reason not to…..

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POSITIVE QUOTE OF THE DAY
—————————————————
Life isn’t about finding yourself.
Life is about creating yourself.

— George Bernard Shaw
————————————————–

remember you can ALWAYS see Picture of the Day here:
http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

feel free to Share 🙂