Beach Day

Henry at the beach.  Say "cheese," Henry.

Vacation Catch-up

We're been on vacation since last Wednesday in places where the internet is barely on not accessible - Bumpass, VA (slow, data limited satellite), Meadow, NC (internet - what's that?), and now Kill Devil Hills, NC (requites a walk to the clubhouse).

Anyway, last Thursday we visited three Virginia wineries:  White Hall,

Stinson Vineyards,

and Cardinal Point.

We also stopped by an orchard, where local peaches were available.

No pictures from Benson.

We arrived at the OBBC on Sunday.  Here's the sunset.

We spent most of Monday at the beach.

At the end of the day, a big storm rolled in.  Here's the ocean just before it started

and again this morning.  Yesterday was hot and humid; today is like a fall day - cool, dry, and windy.

Father's Day with the Luschers

Rob and Diana were here for Saturday night and Sunday.  We took them down to the Connecticut shore for wine tasting and lunch.  Just over a year ago, CL and I made this same trip alone; click here to see pictures of it.

First stop was our long-time favorite, Stonington Vineyards,

where Rob and I posed in the vineyard with our Hawaiian shirts.

Next stop was Skipper's Dock for lunch.  First the view from the dock,

our table,

and one of the daily specials, hot lobster sandwich with melted gruyere and butter.  Outstanding, even if it probably had a month's worth of cholesterol.

Next stop:  Saltwater Farm Vineyard, also in Stonington.  Here's a wine rack by the entrance.  We thought that the wines were drinkable but significantly overpriced.

The view from the deck at Saltwater Farm.

Last stop:  Maugle Sierra Vineyards.  Nice place; good wine.  Since it was Father's Day, they had a small band,

whose music Rob and Diana danced to.

We had a great weekend and hope they manage to make the big Eastern trip often.

Cherry Bounce

I suppose that this should be in Corduroy Orange, since it's about food.   Cherries were in our CSA box last week, so I made a small batch of cherry bounce this morning.  It's whiskey, sugar, and cherries.  The recipe is from my Aunt Vera, who gave it to us at least 30 years ago; we haven't made any for years.  CL kept the recipe in the family cookbook, and here it is (by the way, the pictured quart was one-half the recipe):

Iva’s sister Vera Trigger used to make this every year and share a jar with many of her friends and relatives as Christmas gifts.  We even bought little cordial glasses and a decanter for serving it.  We always put a cherry in the bottom of each glass and provided toothpicks to spear the cherry after drinking the bounce.  Cherries that have marinated in whiskey for 6 months or longer are very tasty!

(This recipe is copied from the original from Vera and is in her own words).

1 quart sour cherries, wash but do not pit

1 pound white sugar

1/5 blended whiskey.  I use Seagram’s Seven.

Stir to dissolve sugar.  Cover but do not seal.  Keep at room temperature.  Should be ready to use in about 6 months.  I usually make it in July when cherries are in season, and start using it around Christmas.

If I remember correctly, she mixed the whiskey and sugar and poured over the cherries that she had put in the bottom of a quart jar.  Should anyone venture to try making it, it will keep for quite a long time.  The cherries just get more and more tasty as time passes!

Last week in Cambridge

While Great Britain was celebrating the Queen's Jubilee, Princess Marguerite made a special appearance in Cambridge.

Adeline practices standing.

Excitement

Adeline bouncing.

Happy Birthday to Me

We were in Cambridge Monday night to celebrate my birthday with JAMA.  Maggie helped me with my candles.

Pictures of Maggie and Adeline tomorrow.

Fenway Park

We went to the Sox game last night, thanks to Jeremy.  Since the crowds are down this year, especially last night with doubtful weather, we actually got there before the game started.

Banners along Yawkey Way.  Prospects for one this year don't look so good.

Tom Caron and Jim Rice on the NESN pre-game show.

Fenway Sunset.  We expected drizzle, so this was a pleasant surprise.

The view from our seats.

Lansdowne Street after the game.

By the way, the Sox lost 8 - 6 in the 10th after tieing it in the 9th.

37 Month Teddy Bear Height Check

Jeremy used to do these regularly, but it's been a while since the last one, so I decided to do one.  Click HERE to see the one from 3 years ago.

Flowers & Cherries

A few shots from our yard.  The first two are from a rose bush (yes, one bush with three different colored flowers - cream, pink, and white) that Jo gave CL for Mother's Day last year.  It's still alive and doing great.

Then the cherry tree before

and then during attack by birds.  This sequence features a cedar waxwing, but there were also robins, catbirds, starlings, red-bellied woodpeckers, and occasionally finches.  Squirrels, too.  The chipmunks just sit on the driveway below the tree and wait for the pits to be dropped.