Portland, Oregon: I am pretty sure (from emails received) y'all Crystal wish we would get in our RV and go visit a national park, or fly-off to Europe, or do some damn thing of interest. So sorry. We are hanging at home. Working on projects. Organizing. Cleaning. Purging closets and drawers. Getting our earthquake kit ready.
My Dad and his wife came for the weekend. We did a lot of catching up (they have been traveling in Washington and Canada) and my sister came for dinner Saturday night. We were too busy talking to snap photos, but Dave and I prepared quite a feast: grilled chicken thighs, and an antipasto platter with roasted peppers, marinated anchovies, grilled artichoke hearts and fresh burrata. That was just part of the menu! I baked a zucchini and rice casserole and served panzanella and suppli. Dessert was home-made coconut-ginger ice cream topped with fresh mango. We practically starved. Dad and Mary are doing well. They, too, are busy with family and friends and travel during their summer away from Arizona.
The remainder of the antipasto platter I prepared Saturday became the topping for our Sunday night pizza.
Roasted peppers, artichoke hearts and mozzarella made for a delicious pizza. I tossed a little fresh basil over the pizza when it came out of the oven.
This week is "French Week" at Taylor Manor. Several traditional French dishes are on the menu. Two require an oven and the weather is supposed to dip into the 70's (a cooling trend) so menus have been planned with "cooler" weather in mind.I will be posting photos. Check back.
We had another guest at dinner this evening. S/he did not eat a thing. Didn't say a word. Did not require a place setting. Nor a cocktail.
Though we have seen a Great Horned Owl swoosh past our deck many evenings, tonight is the first time we have seen the Great Horned Owl rest on a branch in the forest behind our house since we have returned from Indio. We were sitting on the deck, just a few feet from the owl. The bird ignored us completely.Until my next update, I remain, your invisible correspondent.