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Feb. 25th, 2005 08:57 amWhen she was planning her schedule for this quarter, Maia arranged to have no classes on Tues.. She did this to make a couple of four day weekends. The last was one of those.
Since her classes end at noon on Friday, it was more of a five day weekend.
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killslowly happened to be in town, so Thurs. night he came over (I had to wake him up at 7 p.m., he was taking a nap) and we schmoosed, and had pizza. Friday we met him again, took his car to get the oil changed, spent that time at the horse, I took some pictures of rainbows and birds, and we sent him on his way.
Saturday we were planning to go to Cambria, but didn't. We puttered around the house, and then took the dogs to check out a place we might be able to let them run free (the usual dog park is a bad idea. Token will go haring off after a fox that doesn't exist, and Oliver (all 95 lbs. of him) will decide to establish his rights to every tennis ball he sees; which leads to some decidedly brisk counter-assertions by the rightful owners). Since both the local parks have sides open to the street and seem to never be empty, we can't go to them.
But the softball diamonds are closed off. Well, not quite, there is a hole in the fence on the near side, and the gates aren't locked, just closed on the far. We took a look, walked the perimeter, let them sniff and familiarise and then walked home.
Maia went and loaded Leus, while I made some breakfast and then we headed to the beach. She to ride, I to take pictures. We both did much of each. She put about five miles on the horse, I put about 600 pictures on the camera. I was twisting her tail for a review I'm doing of the camera, and the day was pretty good for that. Clouds, blustery rain and broken sun. Active surf (not as common on the shores of Pismo as one might think, the slope of the shore is really shallow. When the tide is out it can be as much as a third of a mile from where it laps when it's in) and birds. Seagulls, and sandpipers, and some little things which run about like crazy (wings like a swift, and feet like a roadrunner. They spend their time in the foam, and run from the moving water) and pelicans.
Home and to supper. I started some sourdough starter to make bread Sunday/Monday. Off to Meeting with Maia (where I got some amish friendship bread starter) and thence to Cambria. We were on a mission. There is a berry farm in Cambria, Linns of Cambria and they make divine pies. Heavy monsters (about 4 lbs.) which one can buy in the freezer section of the local markets (as well as online, somewhere). We had heard they also have a restaurant. So we drive up the coast, and across the valley. Cloudy, with no breaks. Windy, pleasant in an English sort of way (though Maia says one has to imagine the mountains, which we think of as low, are much smaller still). Winding our way, looking at the shades of green, the cows (someone in the area is keeping longhorns, great eating, but lousy economics. They sell cheap because they don't flesh well at the feedlot), and I see the sign for the turn-off to Linns.
We have to head into town to turn around, and then back to the shop. Which is what it was, a shop. The restaurant is in town (we saw it, but there was that sign) and we bought things. Ollalieberry butter, cherry butter, elderberry jelly, raspberry curd, scone mix.
Hungrier now we went back to town.
Cambria is a touristy place. B&Bs interspersed with antique collectives and galleries, knick-knack shops and restaurants. We browsed. Saw some nice stuff, some strange stuff and all the presents we might ever want to buy forakirlu if she ever gets the shelf space to display all the teacups she might ever want. There was a stack of cast iron skillets and pots. I started to disassemble it, looking for two words, Lodge (which can be bought new) and Griswold's (which can't).
Most of it was Ware. Not bad, but thin, and not worth buying, because Lodge is better, and never more expensive. There was a skillet which claimed to be Griswold's. It wasn't but was was very nice. Heavy, good finish and of a size I needed at a price no more than buying a Lodge (which have a stippled finish, not a smooth on like this. My grandkids will have smooth pots and pans from me, but I'll have to wear them so). Despite the false advertising I bought it.
Back to the car (who want's to shop with a 10 lb. skillet at one's side?). Back to the next shop. It was more varied (the guy selling schlock swords and knives was preying on I don't know whom, because they are worth less than the wholesale price, and he wanted more than the going retail), some of the vendors plainly knew their stuff, and some were a little less clued in.
More cast iron, and real Griswold's. A stove-top dutch oven, number 8, with lid and bail for $17.95. Even at the slant X (a sub mark, lighter casting) it was a steal. On the other side of the aisle was a Griswold's ableskiver pan. It was $42. Not a bad price. I can find a Lodge for 25-30 dollars. But this was a Griswold. The temptation.
Nice condition. Still seasoned, black as turkish coffee and gleaming like wrinkled tar. I bought it. Upstairs Maia pointed out a vase and I gave a little cry of shock. Next to it, which she hadn't noticed was a color of porcelain as distinctive as Van Gogh's brushwork. A Belleek cream and sugar set. $40, and out the door. A gift for a friend who loves antiques, esp. small things like that, which she can use. It will probably get used at the Seder they host (eclectic, and it's my fault they've been hosting the Hertz permanent floating Seder for a common friend of ours).
To dinner (long delayed). It was ok. The menu was modern american middle. Hints of fancy chefs, decent vegetables, nice offering of salads, mediocre service, average prices and the pot-pie was nothing special (though the top crust was perfect). Desserts were ok.
The Sow's Ear, across the street looks like a better bet. Stop by Linns for pie.
Home again home again.
I forget how we spent Monday. Went to the Hardware store in Morro Bay to look at some things, got steel wool to clean up the new ironware. Alexa got home and I made supper. Then I made dessert. Ableskivers, filled with raspberry curd and elderberry jelly.
Easy enough, but they take a bit of practice. I doubt there will be much complaining when I do. It's fun. Kind of like making doughnuts, the way the Japanese grow melons.
Tuesday we took the dogs to the softball field. We need to take a third person so I can take pictures. Token, when he runs, is a furious explosion of motion, which doesn't seem to stop. Stretched out like a greyhound, or a cheetah, his frame sawing up and down; legs reaching back and forth he flies. Then he stops... maybe two body lengths to switch from galloping horse to quiet pooch. Oliver we exhausted with tennis balls.
He's funny. On the leash he follows the dictum, "Dogs go first." Off the leash he trails. I did a bit of running and he was a step behind (and made huge turns when I reversed, trying to keep up speed and get back to me).
It was a nice weekend.
Pictures (esp. the pelicans) may follow.
Since her classes end at noon on Friday, it was more of a five day weekend.
killslowly happened to be in town, so Thurs. night he came over (I had to wake him up at 7 p.m., he was taking a nap) and we schmoosed, and had pizza. Friday we met him again, took his car to get the oil changed, spent that time at the horse, I took some pictures of rainbows and birds, and we sent him on his way.Saturday we were planning to go to Cambria, but didn't. We puttered around the house, and then took the dogs to check out a place we might be able to let them run free (the usual dog park is a bad idea. Token will go haring off after a fox that doesn't exist, and Oliver (all 95 lbs. of him) will decide to establish his rights to every tennis ball he sees; which leads to some decidedly brisk counter-assertions by the rightful owners). Since both the local parks have sides open to the street and seem to never be empty, we can't go to them.
But the softball diamonds are closed off. Well, not quite, there is a hole in the fence on the near side, and the gates aren't locked, just closed on the far. We took a look, walked the perimeter, let them sniff and familiarise and then walked home.
Maia went and loaded Leus, while I made some breakfast and then we headed to the beach. She to ride, I to take pictures. We both did much of each. She put about five miles on the horse, I put about 600 pictures on the camera. I was twisting her tail for a review I'm doing of the camera, and the day was pretty good for that. Clouds, blustery rain and broken sun. Active surf (not as common on the shores of Pismo as one might think, the slope of the shore is really shallow. When the tide is out it can be as much as a third of a mile from where it laps when it's in) and birds. Seagulls, and sandpipers, and some little things which run about like crazy (wings like a swift, and feet like a roadrunner. They spend their time in the foam, and run from the moving water) and pelicans.
Home and to supper. I started some sourdough starter to make bread Sunday/Monday. Off to Meeting with Maia (where I got some amish friendship bread starter) and thence to Cambria. We were on a mission. There is a berry farm in Cambria, Linns of Cambria and they make divine pies. Heavy monsters (about 4 lbs.) which one can buy in the freezer section of the local markets (as well as online, somewhere). We had heard they also have a restaurant. So we drive up the coast, and across the valley. Cloudy, with no breaks. Windy, pleasant in an English sort of way (though Maia says one has to imagine the mountains, which we think of as low, are much smaller still). Winding our way, looking at the shades of green, the cows (someone in the area is keeping longhorns, great eating, but lousy economics. They sell cheap because they don't flesh well at the feedlot), and I see the sign for the turn-off to Linns.
We have to head into town to turn around, and then back to the shop. Which is what it was, a shop. The restaurant is in town (we saw it, but there was that sign) and we bought things. Ollalieberry butter, cherry butter, elderberry jelly, raspberry curd, scone mix.
Hungrier now we went back to town.
Cambria is a touristy place. B&Bs interspersed with antique collectives and galleries, knick-knack shops and restaurants. We browsed. Saw some nice stuff, some strange stuff and all the presents we might ever want to buy for
akirlu if she ever gets the shelf space to display all the teacups she might ever want. There was a stack of cast iron skillets and pots. I started to disassemble it, looking for two words, Lodge (which can be bought new) and Griswold's (which can't).Most of it was Ware. Not bad, but thin, and not worth buying, because Lodge is better, and never more expensive. There was a skillet which claimed to be Griswold's. It wasn't but was was very nice. Heavy, good finish and of a size I needed at a price no more than buying a Lodge (which have a stippled finish, not a smooth on like this. My grandkids will have smooth pots and pans from me, but I'll have to wear them so). Despite the false advertising I bought it.
Back to the car (who want's to shop with a 10 lb. skillet at one's side?). Back to the next shop. It was more varied (the guy selling schlock swords and knives was preying on I don't know whom, because they are worth less than the wholesale price, and he wanted more than the going retail), some of the vendors plainly knew their stuff, and some were a little less clued in.
More cast iron, and real Griswold's. A stove-top dutch oven, number 8, with lid and bail for $17.95. Even at the slant X (a sub mark, lighter casting) it was a steal. On the other side of the aisle was a Griswold's ableskiver pan. It was $42. Not a bad price. I can find a Lodge for 25-30 dollars. But this was a Griswold. The temptation.
Nice condition. Still seasoned, black as turkish coffee and gleaming like wrinkled tar. I bought it. Upstairs Maia pointed out a vase and I gave a little cry of shock. Next to it, which she hadn't noticed was a color of porcelain as distinctive as Van Gogh's brushwork. A Belleek cream and sugar set. $40, and out the door. A gift for a friend who loves antiques, esp. small things like that, which she can use. It will probably get used at the Seder they host (eclectic, and it's my fault they've been hosting the Hertz permanent floating Seder for a common friend of ours).
To dinner (long delayed). It was ok. The menu was modern american middle. Hints of fancy chefs, decent vegetables, nice offering of salads, mediocre service, average prices and the pot-pie was nothing special (though the top crust was perfect). Desserts were ok.
The Sow's Ear, across the street looks like a better bet. Stop by Linns for pie.
Home again home again.
I forget how we spent Monday. Went to the Hardware store in Morro Bay to look at some things, got steel wool to clean up the new ironware. Alexa got home and I made supper. Then I made dessert. Ableskivers, filled with raspberry curd and elderberry jelly.
Easy enough, but they take a bit of practice. I doubt there will be much complaining when I do. It's fun. Kind of like making doughnuts, the way the Japanese grow melons.
Tuesday we took the dogs to the softball field. We need to take a third person so I can take pictures. Token, when he runs, is a furious explosion of motion, which doesn't seem to stop. Stretched out like a greyhound, or a cheetah, his frame sawing up and down; legs reaching back and forth he flies. Then he stops... maybe two body lengths to switch from galloping horse to quiet pooch. Oliver we exhausted with tennis balls.
He's funny. On the leash he follows the dictum, "Dogs go first." Off the leash he trails. I did a bit of running and he was a step behind (and made huge turns when I reversed, trying to keep up speed and get back to me).
It was a nice weekend.
Pictures (esp. the pelicans) may follow.
