Just 'cause I like the picture

The early Heron gets the...?

My Neighbor, The Artist pt VIII

You never know what you're going to see when you step out your door when you live next to an artist.



He has a show coming up, 1/19-3/1 @ Aurora Colors Gallery,145 Kentucky St, Petaluma,CA

Back amongst the Living

One of my favorite bloggers has returned from Hiatusville. He single handedly taught me that my problems with his bad spelling and typos were MY problems, and to get over it and enjoy the passion and perspective of a good guy. 

New Years Mystery

Just moments ago I was folding clothes from the dryer when the doorbell rang. Two quick rings like UPS does it. I quickly trotted to the front,and as I approached the front door, I could see padded quilted material like a....MATTRESS!?

Someone had left a dirty, rain (presumably) soaked twin sized mattress leaned up against our front door.

I moved it quickly and looked around outside. All I saw was a red Mustang driving down the street, nothing to indicate they were involved.

What do it mean? Why the doorbell?

First sunset of the New Year

My new favorite blog

Direct from a recent blogger of note designation...she's in S.F., brilliant, funny, lots of interesting links...



Tango Baby!

If You're in Napa, a good place to eat

http://winecountry.citysearch.com/profile/46316180/napa_ca/pica_pica_maize_kitchen.html

10 First St Ste 5
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 251-3757


Pica Pica Maize Kitchen
610 First St. #5 (Oxbow Public Market)
Napa, CA 94559
707 251-3757

1. Pick Your Main
Arepas
Grilled Corn Flour Flatbread (Wheat & Gluten Free)

Pepeada chicken salad with "guasacaca" (creamy avocado) 6.25
Pelu’a shredded skirt steak with cheddar cheese 7.25
Domino black beans with shredded white monterrey cheese 5.75
Pabellón shredded skirt steak, fried plantains & black bean paste 7.75
Pabellón vegetariano tofu with cilantro adobo, fried plantains, black bean paste & sliced avocado 5.50
Llanera sautéed sirloin strips with cilantro adobo, green peppers & onions. "guasacaca" served on the side 8.95
Benedictine poached egg, smoked ham, avocado & spiced sour cream 6.75
Perico scrambled eggs seasoned with pica pica sofrito. choice of bacon bits, chorizo or cheese 5.50
Cachapas
100% Sweet Corn Pancake (Wheat & Gluten Free)

Cheese choice of cheese 7.00
Cheese & Ham choice of cheese & smoked ham 8.00
Meat chicken salad, shredded skirt beef or sautéed sirloin strips 8.95
Maize´wich
Grilled Cheese On Sweet Cornbread

Cheese choice of cheese 5.00
Cheese & Ham choice of cheese & smoked ham 6.00
Add To Main A Small Salad Or Cup Of Soup $2.99

2. Add
Salads
Fresh

Bululu corn, red bell pepper, jicama & pineapple
Salad Of The Day served on mixed greens with choice of vinaigrette 3.75
Soups
Homemade

Chupe chicken, corn, potatoes & cheese in a cream based broth
Soup Of The Day cup 3.75 large 5.75

3. Plus A Side
Pasapalos $3.25
Choice of Venezuelan sides served with one dipping salsa (wheat & gluten free)

Yucca Fries
Tostones
Sweet Plantains
Salsas $0.50
Mmmm!!!

Morena black bean mayonnaise
Mela’o de papelón & tamarindo
Pica’chup our own spiced ketchup
Pica’pun our signature hot sauce

Drinks
Aahh!!!

Frozen Tropical Juice 3.50
Beer 3.50
Frozen Sangria 5.95
Cans 1.75
Bottles 3.00
Water 1.75
Glossary
Arepas - Ah - Ray - Paz grilled corn flour flatbread, crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside
Bululu a noisy gathering
Cachapas - Ka - Chóp - Az 100% sweet corn pancake, wheat and gluten free
Chupe - Chew - Pa andean hearty chicken, corn and vegetable soup
Domino a tribute to the game of dominoes. the combination of black beans and white cheese alludes to the colors of the domino pieces
Guasacaca - Wá - Sa - Ka - Ká creamy avocado sauce with peppers and onions. mildly spicy
Llanera - Gia - Néra venezuelan cowboys, living in the llanos (vast plains east of the andes), are called llaneros
Pabellón - Paa - Be - Jóhn a traditional venezuelan platter: carne mechada (shredded skirt steak), fried plantain, black beans and white rice
Pelu’a - Pe - Luu - Aa means shaggy
Pepeada named after susana dujim, miss world, 1955. some say the name is derived from the definition of pepeada (beautiful and voluptuous)
Perico signature venezuelan scrambled eggs. the colors are reminiscent of the feathers of a parrot
Pica Pica - Peeka - Peeka picar’ means to eat different small things
Sofrito - So - Free - Tó seasoning base in latin american cuisine made out of tomatoes, peppers, onions and herbs
Tostones - Tos - Tó - Ness crispy fried green plantain
Yucca part of the agave family, it is a root that is widely eaten in the amazon by indigenous peoples. wheat and gluten free

Also in the Oxbow Market is a great spice booth.

Comment your gender indicating parts off

One of my regular reads is proposing that everyone, yes, both of you, comment on as many blogs as possible in some sort of commenting orgy. Hey, he turned his blogging into a book deal, so who am I to comment, I mean say whether he's nuts. (And there is some evidence to suggest he may be)

Lenora & Lily, sitting in a tree...

They're not K I S S I N G, but they do sniff a lot and occasionally play.



Meanwhile Michaela seems to have an upset tummy again, and her hindquarters seem worse. Maybe the cold weather?

Observation

Learning curve leads to brain burn

What's new

We are rejoining the Mac crowd, having purchased a new imac just before T'day. We went to a PC many years ago, but we're just TIRED of all the virus', updates, blah blah blah...

RIP Charlie the Seagull? We spent a week out at the coast, on our first day, I found a seagull carcass in the backyard. As funny as it sounds, it looked better than Charlie. I believe I would recognize his beak/face, and it definitely did NOT look like Charlie, however Charlie was a no show for the week...

I am spending time transferring files between computers, setting up internet access, printers etc. This morning I tried to set up the imac to work with our old printer, and it's not going so well...

Hope to get back to more regular posting in the near future.

My Neighbor the Artist, pt VII

Bush as Cartman (From South Park)

Pet Peace Progress

Upon hearing, only recently, the results of the presidential election, a peace treaty has been "signed" between Lily and Lenora. It stipulates at least 30 minutes of play together a day. (The treaty refers to "Hunting technique familiarization")
The negotiations were aided by liberal doses of catnip on the remaining cat tree. (The other was returned to the coast), and restrictions on access to Lenora's base of operations (our bed). This has the added benefit of increased sleeping time for the non feline members of the household.
Oh, and the cats have been trapped in the house for long periods because the house is being painted.

Here's what we did last night.

This was the first song of the night. I'm enjoying the music as much today, I seem to have several of the tunes running thru my head all day.

Special thanks to Bill & Kathy who invited us and paid our way. Good Time!

New feline fotos

Lenora seems to be shy. She was initially very attached to us and would jump into our laps at every opportunity. Now she's a bit more aloof. She's claimed most of the house, in particular our bed where she spends most of her time. It seems like there are few if any chances for "cute" shots. She chases Lily off if they interact at all.

Dis udda cat has made me a basket case I tells ya!

My Neighbor the Artist, pt VI

Here are the rear view mirrors he made for the car which are only put on for special occasions due to fear of theft.

Here they are in approximate position they would be on the car

Another neighbor, another artist of a different kind

He writes and sings music for young kids.

Here is James K at the Saturday Farmers Market just down the street where they had craft booths and entertainment for kids revolving around Halloween

Here's his website.

Introducing LENORA!

Stats: 9lbs 1 oz, throws right, bats left.

Meet Charlie's apprentice

Introducing... Studley Segal

He isn't taking food from the hand yet, but he shows up regularly, often after Charlie, and goes to the birdbath expecting food. Who is training whom?