La Quinta, California: More than a week has passed since my last update. What a busy week we had, starting with cleaning up the mess after the wind storm and loads of sheets and bath/pool towels from the grandchildren's visit.
But those were simple tasks compared to changing the battery in a smoke detector.
Our smoke/carbon monoxide detectors are wired into our security system. When a battery is low, a message pops up on the alarm control pad, Dave's phone, and the detector itself beeps every once 30 seconds. There is a way to shunt the annoying beep for 12 hours (good, as the beep never starts in the middle of the day - only in the middle of the night!) so we can change the battery the next morning.
The last time we had a low battery alert, it was in our guest room with reasonable (10 ft) ceiling height, but as the tech was walking us through the procedure, the fire department showed up, because the tech had failed to put the system into TEST mode. Not fun, and totally embarrassing. This time, the low battery was on a 12-foot ceiling and we thought maybe to have the alarm company make a house call. But why wait for an appointment and deal with a beeping detector for days?
There was an obvious solution to this problem: You're gonna need a bigger boat ladder. Which is how we found ourselves at the local hardware store buying an 8-footer.
Back at the house, I put the system on test mode myself, my 6-foot hubby climbed up the 8-foot ladder, replaced the batteries, spent ten minutes trying to get the cover back on, then I took the alarm system off test mode and reset the system via the key pad. Guess what? It worked! I made lots of notes on how to recreate the scenario, and as long as there is a six-footer in the house, we will be able to change our own dang smoke detector batteries.
Don't get me started on Lisa's lecture on old people climbing ladders.
Our golf club has purchased some sort of fancy herding dog (from England!) to chase the geese off the course, and now they have purchased an alligator as well! Okay, the gator is only a plastic alligator head that floats around one of the lakes - but it seems to be working. No geese (nor water birds of any sort) in this body of water! Leo and Lucile had fun discovering this terrifying specimen on our golf course.
Back to the daily grind of thinking of something to cook for dinner. I try to plan my menus out a week in advance, and it is especially important the next several weeks as it is "festival season" - Coachella & Stagecoach - meaning the constant drone of single-engine aircraft dragging advertising signage around and around in circles, impassable roads, and our grocery stores are crazy busy and cases and cases of beer and booze clog the aisles. We just try to hunker-down within the walls of our community Thursday - Monday. The polo grounds (where both music festivals are held) are on the next block, so we are treated to big bass all weekend, and at night we can see the massive Ferris wheel spinning and spotlights shining. It is fun inside the gates of our country club though - so many "kids" staying with their parents/grandparents, hanging out by the pools, bocce ball, pickle ball, golf course, and the restaurant is busy with pretty young people in pretty little outfits.
We had a tailgate menu for the Final Four Monday night. DT won both basketball brackets he entered this year. No prize money. Bragging rights for 365 days only. Buffalo Chicken Tenders (hand-made, cooked in air fryer) after we played 18 holes.
Black bean tacos for Taco Tuesday and for Italian Night (Wednesday) I made a massive batch of turkey ragu. I used a pound of ground turkey, half a chopped yellow onion, three cloves of garlic, one grated carrot and one red bell pepper (minced) with a jar of Rao's marinara sauce. This was simply delicious served over fettuccini and there was a quart of ragu leftover for the freezer.
Thursday is soup night and it was 97 degrees, so I made a half-recipe of gazpacho. Friday (we golfed again) I served Black Pepper Tofu, Taiwan Pickle and rice.
Dave played golf again Saturday, but I chose to remain home to clean-up the pantry. Everything was removed, dusted out, checked for expired things, reorganized, etc. It took nearly four hours (I thought it would take one hour max). Ha.
Yes, I was pooped after this chore, but it has to be accomplished every once in a while. For our Saturday night meal, Dave grilled a steak and I made a salad with tomatoes and avocado - dressed with a pesto made with roasted garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, and basil. We have so much steak and dressing left over, we will be enjoying this all again tonight with a romaine-based salad - so really no cooking.
What are y'all cooking? I need some ideas! Please post below.
And one final bit of news. Good news. Since our new RV is so tiny, we have decided to not tow the Jeep on our summer trip (track meets in Eugene). We will rent a car during the meets, but the rest of the time, we will drive the RV around, Uber, or ride bicycles. Dave has several nice bicycles as this is now his major form of exercise. He rides daily. I have an ancient 3-speed Townie that I love, but it can't (or I can't) get all over the place with three speeds. So, I bought an electric bike.
We looked at smaller bikes with teeny tires, but I felt like I was riding Lucy's bike. We looked at folding bikes. I was nearly ready to just get a Vespa, until I saw the Pedego Boomerang. It is the best option for me because it has a "step-through" frame with a super low threshold - perfect for short people and short people who prefer to wear skirts/dresses. It is super cute, super easy to use, and comfortable to ride. It was not lost on me that a certain singer I love has a song called Boomerang Love Bike. It was meant to be.
Be ridin' on this boomerang love bike circling fast
Hard to see in a sky so vast
Laugh till you cry, cry till you smile
Up and down all around
Boomerang boomerang boomerang love bike
We've been riding on a boomerang love bike
Can't let go
Running fast, movin' slow
What's the right way, who is to say
Tension and suspension
On a boomerang boomerang love bike
Boomerang boomerang love bike
You can hear the song (1989) on Youtube. You're welcome.
Until my next update, I remain, your helmet-wearing correspondent.
Oh how I wish I had your pantry! It’s large AND organized!
You’re going to LOVE your electric bike! My husband does mountain bike riding on his.
Dinner suggestion
Crockpot shredded chicken soft tacos
A couple of chicken breast, chicken stock, lemon and favor Mexican seasonings on low. Shred with forks in the pot to keep juicy when done. Warm some corn tortillas in microwave with a smear of refried beans + taco sauce. Add a generous amount of shredded chicken and add your favorite toppings. Garnish with cilantro.
I spent a day, a couple of weeks ago, organizing my pantry too.
As for what am I cooking? Several of your recipes are favorites – Chile Rellano Casserole, Sanbeiji (3 Cup Chicken), Filipino Chicken Adobo and Pasta Puttanesca. I’ve also found some new favorites at eatingwell.com, Chickpea, Avocado & Quinoa Salad, Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad, Vegan Walnut Tacos w/ Avocado Crema, Mushroom Shawarma w/ Yogurt Tahini Sauce (just to name a few). Another favorite that I will be making this week is Fancy Mushroom Kasha Varnishkes which I got from The Splendid Table. It was a free recipe about 3 years ago, it’s from JEW-ISH: A COOKBOOK: Reinvented Recipes from a Modern Mensch © 2021 by Jake Cohen
Bon Appetit!!
BTW – I usually get my “fancy” mushrooms at the Farmer’s Market here in Joshua Tree. I know you have a good one there in La Quinta with some of the same vendors.