On Tuesday. The first time I tried to make pastry using my Cuisenart, it didn’t turn out at all. So I asked Merrilyn for a lesson today. Super-prepared as she is, all the ingredients were measured out and chilled as needed. 
Pulse 3 times. Check out the small jar FILLED with a variety of measuring spoons! Tool envy.
Pour cold water in a steady stream while Cuisenart runs.
Stop! as soon as a ball begins to form and dump it onto plastic wrap. Divide in half and wrap each separately, let rest at least 30 minutes before using! Wa-lah! Two double-crust pastry doughs (doughs?) in about 20 minutes! Thank you, Merrilyn!
Today’s beverage #1: Captain Morgan Loco Nut (coconut rum) and pineapple juice. Delicious!
While we made the pastry, A Tomato Tart baked, followed by Gougeres.
Always fun! We miss you Phyl!
Author Archives: arletelouise
Sophia and Avery – Monday
The air today was awful. There is so much fine ash falling from all the fires, especially from the Mendocino Complex Fire in Lake County. We stayed inside. Avery using his feet to play a game!
Saturday golf
How many rocks and leaves will fit inside a wiffle ball?
Sophia and Avery – Friday
Lala watched the kids, along with cousin Leo, in the morning. I arrived in the afternoon. We went swimming where I live.
Racing on the fat noodles:
There was another boy at the pool with his grandpa, Cody, about 4 years old. He tried out the fat noodle and really liked it (I think his grandpa is going to buy one). When Sophia and Avery started playing with the rings, he inched closer until he was able to catch them for me. A bit later, I suggested he try throwing them. He like that! He would throw and start shouting “Over there! Over there!” Sophia and Avery swam after every ring for the longest time.
A post-swim stop at Starbucks for frappuccinos before heading home, and then some sliding down the stairs after Mom got home.
“Do they behave like this when they’re with you?”
No 🙂
Sophia and Avery – Thursday
Sophia made, pretty much by herself, S’mores Icebox Cake.
Hmmm, leftover filling.
We needed to go back to my house because some patio furniture was being delivered. What IS the best way to break in new furniture? The flop test, of course. “Grandma, take my picture!”
The icebox cake needed 6-24 hours before tasting. “Grandma, has it been 6 hours yet?” Finally, at 3:30, six long hours had passed.
Jibe is born!
North Natomas Transportation Management Association has rebranded itself and become Jibe. Today was the official roll-out with new buses, literature, new website, etc. Every employee and a few other North Natomas residents, including me, did a morning Ride Along to greet passengers, give away free string backpacks, and answer questions. 5:50 am, I arrived at my designated street corner
and met Taneesha the driver of Bus 1806 on the Eastside Route.
This is a one-direction only commuter service that runs 6-10 am. Then starts again from downtown at 3 pm. Because it was a Spare the Air Day, all rides were free.
After the last stop, when the bus got onto the freeway, I stood up and gave my little speech and answered questions.
The last passenger for the morning:
This was fun! The hardest part was walking around on the moving bus to hand out the string backpacks. (Please do not let me fall down.)
Home!
I got back at about 1 pm PST. Justin was able to pick me up – yay.
After nine days of deprivation, that Diet Orange Crush tasted pretty good!
Toronto & Niagara Falls
Today’s adventure took us to Toronto. We got an early start which was a good idea, because coming back took twice as long, at least. First discovery: depending on one’s cell phone plan, relying on that way to get info/find your way was limited. And if a person forgot to bring their charging cord, it became even more of a problem. (I bought one before leaving town.) We chose to do a Hop-on Hop-off bus tour of the city. We were able to park very close to the Yonge-Dundas Plaza where we checked in.
We got onto the upper deck of a London double-decker bus. Mitchell was our fast-talking, Broadway-show-singing guide.
The CN Tower in the distance
and up close.
The tour took about 2 1/2 hours and we didn’t want to sit through half of that to get to the place we all wanted to explore further, Kensington Market, so we walked.
We decided to eat at Dirty Bird Chicken and Waffles – what a surprise! Different and delicious!
I had the OG: boneless chicken thigh, pickle, dirty aioli. Yum.
Incredible order of Hand Cut Fries:
Then we walked back.
Thank you, Toronto Canada, for a unique big-city experience.
We drove to Horseshoe Falls, Ontario … in stop-and-go traffic. The crowds at Horseshoe Falls, Ontario, were amazing. The sights more so. Upriver:
Back at the motel, we loaded the bikes and Billie backed her vehicle within 1 inch of the back wall. We would be leaving for the airport at 4 am to drop me off for my flight to California. They would have a 9-hour drive back to Virginia.
What a fantastic trip! Thank you Billie for all the planning. Thank you Billie and Donna for all your support and encouragement. I had a GREAT time.
Erie Canal – day 5
Oh geez! Our longest day and I was sure I wouldn’t be able to finish it. We were up at 5,
at Dunkin Donuts at 5:30 where Donna stuck Salon-pas onto my neck and left shoulder. I’ve been plagued by a muscle pain across my left shoulder and up my neck every day, beginning at about 18 miles of riding. The last 15-20 miles of the ride have been excruciating, but once off the bike, I’m fine. Lots of ibuprofen didn’t help.
We were on the trail by sunrise.
Approaching Medina (Meh-DIE-nuh) across a long horrible kind of rumble strip:
Middleport. Many years ago, I camped to the right of the boat and enjoyed the excellent little cafe in the brick building as I rode the Northern Tier Adventure Cycling route.
By 9 am or so, we were in Lockport, but 2 hours early for this festival – glass! I would have enjoyed this. Darn.
From this point on, the trail was paved which meant we could ride 2-3 mph faster. Hurray!
Tonawanda, the end of the Erie Canalway Trail and our ride. Just 3 more miles to the motel.
Miles = 52. I made it! I’m somewhat shocked, especially after my 24 hours of negative thinking. Total miles for this adventure = 211. Wa-hoo!!
Erie Canal – day 4
Today’s challenge was a 13 mph headwind. Ugh. We did get an early start, before 7.
There were several lift bridges and lots of boats on the Canal.
Billie heard the bells of the lift bridge begin to ring and stopped to watch and video.
Catamaran (with no mast) Encore slipped through. For the rest of the day, Encore and I leapfrogged along the canal. He was going (maybe) 6 mph and I was going 8 mph, but I stopped a lot to drink water and rest.
Very picturesque today: the trail, countryside and small towns along the way.
We arrived in Albion in time for lunch. Hard riding today with the headwind, we’re all exhausted. And, if you ever happen to need to spend the night here, know that there are two Dollinger Motor Inns and you do NOT want to stay at the one in town (even if it’s 0.7 mi closer to the trail) – there was one drug arrest/room eviction by the police, one abandoned child rescued by the police, and a television on low-ish volume all night.
Miles = 35
arletelouise 