What would helen do?

November 12, 2011

Thursday 11-10-11 Yoga, Tutto Design Studio, Chinese Dinner

Thursday 11-10-11

Today was FREE YOGA a the Solebury club.

The surroundings are just so gorgeous,

I never get tired of seeing them

& admiring the beauty.

After yoga class I accidentally discovered this

little park right behind the parking lot of the gym.

http://athomeoutdoors.blogspot.com/2009/05/buckingham-wetlands.html

I made friends with Vince & Nick

– who happen to be local birders.

They lead bird walks on Saturday mornings

from the Churchville Nature Center.

http://www.churchvillenaturecenter.org/

ALL are welcome!!!

They even invited me on some upcoming bird trips…

maybe if I’m not working?!

It’s hard to see what we heard & saw in the brush here

(i know where the bird is so I can see it!)

A Carolina Wren

this is what they sound like:

after yoga & impromptu birding I stopped at

brother Raymond’s studio. The trees were

“raining” leaves & I tried unsuccessfully to capture it.

Ray trying to figure out some details of a custom table

a heavy slab of marble will be going on top –

which is a challenge for the shaped legs

The clock is still for sale – I almost hate posting a picture

of it bc it is difficult to depict the detail & awesomeness of it.

The city of New Hope contacted Ray about

displaying it in town which will surely attract

a buyer – so if you are interested —

ACT NOW!!!

Next stop was Bagel Junction —

I used a “now” GROUPON –pay $3 for $6 of food.

I like to keep bagels in the freezer

so I have them on hand. 1/2 price is always a good deal.

they make these tasty morsels (I’ve told you about them before).

They are called FLAGELS – essentially FLAT BAGELS

and the best part is they have toppings on the

TOP and BOTTOM!!! bonus!

“BEFORE”

~ 1/2 way through the beauty process –

getting some color ….what girls don’t do…..

“AFTER”

– not the greatest shot but you’ll see the new ‘do

in other photos for sure!

I made a home-made Chinese dinner which was a lot more

work than calling & placing an order.

I made:

Vegetable fried rice, Sauteed spinach Asian style,

chicken dumplings

home-made chicken drop soup.

Everything was super tasty & I would definitely make everything again!

later we attended a tasting of

Southern Tier beers at the Jamison Pour House.

They had 8 different beers on tap.

they were playing Quizzo & we won

some bling that we didn’t want!!

Yuengling cap anyone??

tell your story……

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Don’t wait for later to do what you love

and to love what you’re doing.

Life is made richer in increments of now, and
this very moment is your moment to fully live.

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November 11, 2011

11-10-11 EAGLES & more (part two)

11-10-11

Conowingo Dam, Eagle Watching!

cool spider web

Eagle in flight

dead fish — not sure if an Eagle dropped this or not

Helen & Deb

gorgeous scenery

LOOK – he has a FISH!! look in his talons

eagles fighting for a fish

blue heron

fisherman

birders

Eagle getting some sun

Misty, senior citizen dog (16 yrs old)

her brother TIP

feral cats

good bye Mr Eagle – it was great visiting you!

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People grow through experience

if they meet life honestly and courageously.

This is how character is built.
– Eleanor Roosevelt

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November 11, 2011

11-09-11 Eagle watching at Conowingo Dam (part one)

11-09-11

Today neighbor Deb & I headed down to the Conowingo Dam in Maryland

(a 2 hour drive) to do some Bald Eagle watching.

The largest population in the east coast is found here.

You never know what you will see or not see.

this is what it looked like when we first arrived.

NOT optimal bird watching conditions

this was the first Eagle I saw. I wasn’t sure if we would

see more or if conditions would improve so I snapped

this photo

really cool to see the Bald Eagle (despite the fog)

birders lined up with tripods & large lenses!!

this was a cat box they use to feed the feral cats

fisherman in the fog

fog slowly lifting

this Eagle had a fish & landed in the tree

hello mr eagle!!!

How cool are these close-ups?

the fog actually made for interesting picture taking

these towers are out on an island where you see

the eagles & vultures perching

Conowingo Hydro Station.

Conowingo is an electricity generation plant.

http://www.harfordbirdclub.org/conowingo.html

there’s an eagle doing a fly by

getting some sun

seeing the birds was really quite incredible.

something everyone should experience!!!

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A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue,
but the parent of all the other virtues.

– Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC)

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November 9, 2011

Tuesday 11-8-11 wonderful Wine & Food Pairing at Carrabba’s

Tuesday 11-8-11

I missed last month’s wine pairing because it was my birthday but I really don’t

EVER want to miss another one in my life because these events are just so

FABULOUS!!!!!!!!

Once a month, our friend Susan, proprietor of the Willow Grove Carrabba’s,

hosts a wine & food pairing. She is an expert at the pairings!

http://www.carrabbas.com/restaurant/locations/PA/Willow-Grove/Willow-Grove/

the first food pairing:

Crostini with roasted garlic, goat cheese & apple chutney

paired with 2010 Etude Pinot Gris –

aromas of fruit, honey suckle & jasmine.

Tastes of white peach, nectarine & citrus.

Crisp acidity, focused & refreching!

2nd pairing: Butternut Squash & apple soup

2010 Stags Leap Viognier (my favorite).

Aromas of orange blossom & peach.

Flavors of apricot with lengthy finish.

Pulled Pork Jalapeno blueberry BBQ (ummm, yummmm)

2007 Beringer Merlot, Napa Valley.

Plum, blackberry aromas.

Flavors of black cherry & bittersweet chocolate.

Dense tannins, supple finish.

Erika — back from Espana – WELCOME!!

Thanks for all you do.

Erika is the wine rep that brings us the tasting each month!

2008 St Clement Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA.

Classic cab with strawberry aromas, red cherry & vanilla.

In the palate more black fruit, currants, clove & cherry.

paired with this tasty morsel —( i like rare! )

Rosemary beef with mushroom roasted garlic potatoes.

Salted caramel pie.

I was literally LICKING the pie plate.

such a ridiculously awesome dessert.

It should be banned.

and to top off the evening…..

Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages.

A five (cinq) varietal Bordeaux style blend.

Vivid aromas of blackberry & plum with floral notes.

On the palate dark fruit with fine tannins.

Lingering finish with hints of spice & clove.

JIM – giving us the answers to the Thanksgiving quiz

that we failed miserably.

friends John & Louann

(Steph – now you know who to look for on Saturday!)

friend Tommy & Me

Great Tasting picked up my tab tonight

we all make choices………………

take the road less traveled…..

it’s a little scary but worth it in the end.

probably…..??

BE HAPPY

WOOF!

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Remember

that your happiness

shouldn’t depend on what it’s like outside;

happiness depends on

what you feel on the inside.
– Belinda, age 11, in “Children on Happiness”
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November 8, 2011

11-7-11 work, flat tire, FREE snow blower

11-7-11

the trucks keep coming to our new store,

lining up to make deliveries.

Grand Opening is 11-11-11

Fine Wine room, I hope to spend a lot of time in here

this is just a fraction of the boxes we’ve unpacked

the first real display up in the store –

Champagne, of course!

got a flat tire on the way home 😦

Totally my fault. I hit a curb.

The guy couldn’t get the lug nuts off so he towed

me down the street – fortunately the tire

fixing place was close.

And look at all those gorgeous colors ….as my friend Vic pointed

out on a Facebook photo I posted….

JUST TIRES is the place I need to go!

the coffee selection wasn’t too expansive……

the waiting room not quite as luxurious as

Thompson Lexus. Felt like I was slumming it.

I was without my reading materials, but

fortunately I didn’t have to wait to long.

Michael’s new toy — a sparkling new Snow Blower.

This will assure us of a NO SNOW WINTER.

You’re welcome!

now we have this snow blower to give away.

Michael said IT WORKS.

sister Pat said it does NOT work.

Does anyone want it ??

It’s up to you to figure out if it works or not.

You can always call Michael & see what he

means by “it works”….

let me know!

Local Philadelphia Celebrity Joe Frazier, 67, died today.

“Life doesn’t run away from nobody. Life runs at people.”
~Joe Fraz
ier

Every day above ground is a great day!

Gratitude Attitude

Frog / Dog / Deer

Which is a three letter word?

Just curious b/c Michael has his own ideas…..

we were “debating”………..

———————————————————————————————————————

“So what do we do? Anything – something.

So long as we don’t just sit there.

If we screw it up, start over. Try something else.

If we wait until we’ve satisfied all the uncertainties,

it may be too late.”

Lee Iacocca
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November 6, 2011

Impromptu Beer Tasting 11/5/11

Impromptu Beer Tasting 11/5/11

We compared Sierra Nevada Celebration

2009, 2010 & 2011

the color of each WAS distinct

our favorite was 2010.

’09 was a little malty, ’11 was “too young”

& 2010 was just perfect!

We tasted the Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA

& Dogfish 90 minute IPA.

Dogfish WON hands down though Sam Adams

would be an acceptable beer if you were somewhere

& had to decide between that or

Coors light/yuengling….

Dogfish Bitches Brew — woo hoo.

I LIKED this hard to find concoction.

Bitches Brew –

a bold, dark beer that’s a fusion of

three threads imperial stout

and one thread honey beer with gesho root.

http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occassional-rarities/bitches-brew.htm

Bitches Brew is a tasty Imperial Stout

two beers we didn’t get a chance to open

but WILL sometime sooner than later….

Green Flash Imperial IPA &

Port Brewing MONGO (aka, dead kitten beer!)

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“Beer brewers shall sell no beer to the citizens,

unless it be three weeks old;

to the foreigner they may knowingly sell younger beer.”

— German Beer Law, 1466

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“Beer has food value, but food has no beer value.”

— Anonymous

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November 6, 2011

Sunday 11-6-11 Philly Fit Bash, Roast Chicken, WINE

Sunday 11-6-11

every Sunday I aspire to “do nothing” —

sit & read – that’s it.

It NEVER happens……..why?

My mistake today was I read the Weekend Section & found

an event I wanted to attend at the Philadelphia Sports Club….

on our way to the Sports Club we stopped

at my new EGG place —

farm fresh eggs….no hormones, cage-free.

I’m glad they specify

EGGS from CHICKENS.…..

we got farm fresh broccoli too!

Philly Fit Bash is the event I wanted to attend.

Last time I went to the event I ended up winning

a bicycle — so I guess every time I attend

I expect to win something.

free assorted exercise classes for all attendees

I wanted to try the ladder but there was a line

a little boxing with the big guy

and PIGS!!! not sure WHY there where PIGS a the Fit Fair?

they were quite cute

Michael’s barber told him that COSTCO had

GREAT roasted chicken so we decided to get one

for dinner tonight. Barber Joe was right!

chicken, broccoli, rice, salad……….mmmm

I didn’t have this with dinner b/c I knew it wouldn’t pair right.

But I still wanted to&nbsp
;log some tasting notes – just for practice, of course.

Girard Mixed Blacks 2006

Deep purple color
Bouquet was not super strong
Reminded me of blackberries, slightly peppery
Smooth, not real acidic
Dry & slightly oaky
Medium to full body with hints of vanilla, raspberry jam
High in alcohol (14.5%)
Long finish, stays with you awhile
Blend of 6 grapes:

syrah, zinfandel, petite syrak, grenache, mouvedre, carignane

do YOU get it?? It actually took me a few seconds…..

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Life is full of surprises and serendipity.

Being open to unexpected turns in the road

is an important part of success.

If you try to plan every step,

you may miss those wonderful twists and turns.

Just find your next adventure-

do it well, enjoy it

-and then, not now,

think about what comes next.

– CondoleezaRice

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don’t worry, be happy

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What would helen do?

Thursday 11-10-11 Yoga, Tutto Design Studio, Chinese Dinner

11-10-11 EAGLES & more (part two)

11-09-11 Eagle watching at Conowingo Dam (part one)

Tuesday 11-8-11 wonderful Wine & Food Pairing at Carrabba’s

11-7-11 work, flat tire, FREE snow blower

Impromptu Beer Tasting 11/5/11

Sunday 11-6-11 Philly Fit Bash, Roast Chicken, WINE

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