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All this rain brought me another 100+ fig week and I am so glad that I can trade my figs for my friend’s heirloom tomatoes… We are doing some work on my house (yes finally finishing our kitchen); the other day one of the carpenters explained that my figs and fig tree saved his hand:  he relayed that he was out in our backyard, smashed his finger with a tool,…  Read more

My fingers are crossed as I watch the weather and Hurricane Ian’s path.  Myriam is up in NY; she is safe and visiting with me, but her family lives in Orlando and we wish them along with others in Hurricane Ian’s path safety and good luck.  The IRS has a bit of a heart too as tax deadlines have been extended for residents and businesses in locations hit by the…  Read more

It’s been the week of 100+ figs, some days I pick 5 or 6 and others 20 to 30, then a friend will stop by and find yet another ripe one and pop it in their mouth.  My favorite way to eat them is split in quarters, sprinkled with feta cheese and then grilled; very easy, very delicious, very healthy, they can pass for dessert.  It’s also been a week…  Read more

My daughter Jessie and her dog Sampson have been the perfect house guests but they head back to Atlanta tomorrow night. It was great that Jessie could vacation here and then work remotely. Sampson has been spending time in the office with Raquel and me as we worked towards our September 15th deadline.  So this morning I know he will be happy to resume our daily beach walks, I think…  Read more

A recent New York Times business section article “Peloton Regrets? You’re Not Alone”, featured various household items in a garage sale, so of course I had to read it.  As many of you know, my exercise equipment gets plenty of use; being able to cross train has kept me “mostly” injury free for years.  I hope the exercise equipment that others bought as an alternative to their usual gym workouts served them…  Read more

Fun fact: Beginning in 1882 Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September as a way to honor the women and men who campaigned tirelessly for workers’ rights and give most workers a three-day weekend off from work.  In the true sprit I am getting ready for Labor Day Weekend 2022, with plans for planting my fall garden, continuing my hip rehab with barefoot walks on the beach, barbeques…  Read more

If you live in the right place, even if you are an annoying parent, your kids may come for a staycation, may invite their friends, and if you are really lucky bring their kids and/or pet.  The timing is great for me, this week I progressed to walking for 2 miles barefoot on the beach with no cane and no pain.  While I am grateful to my husband who accompanies me…  Read more

Don’t you just love the summer, most of us don’t want to be inside cooking; even if you don’t have your own garden there are many great options at local markets and farmer’s market which enable you to chop, slice, and mix your way to an impressive and delicious spread.  I am not complaining, but Raquel and I are “struggling” to decide which “garden to table” lunch to have.  This…  Read more

Week 6 seems to be a turning point, now I keep loosing my cane, I still hold it when I am out in the garden because I am a bit klutzy and the ground can be uneven, but it feels good to be back on two feet.  Enough talk about new hips, let’s talk about our summer harvest, are you growing tomatoes this summer, are they heirloom variety?  If so…  Read more

I am in mid-week 6 of my hip replacement recovery and glad to see real progress as I have returned to my office for 3/4 days and am able to walk without a cane and use just the hand rail for assistance on the stairs.   Now I am also back in my garden picking those cukes, and string beans that like to hide in their leaves… What could be better…  Read more

It may just be back to “business as usual” for summer 2022 as we’ve enjoyed great weather and I hear about vacation plans and see photos of family gatherings.  I am in week 5 of rehabbing my hip replacement and am now able to enjoy the weather as my daily physical therapy walk includes the handicap ramp onto the beach at the end of my block. Beach 131 Rockaway NY…  Read more

Get well wishes and lovely flowers have really boosted my rehab efforts. Get well soon I am 3 1/2 weeks into recovery from my right hip replacement.  Up until yesterday morning I was feeling better and stronger every day, and then… Weekly Take Away …after weeks of following the prescribed and ever increasing physical therapy exercise outline I woke up  feeling exhausted, with a 4/5 level of  pain.  I was…  Read more

What a difference a day or week makes, especially in the “world of rehab”.  As my new hip turned 2 weeks old and I followed the PT schedule I was thrilled to make it back to the beach. Photo from the top of the berm I am not sure it was cheating as I stayed on the handicap entrance walkway, and I did hold the handrail, but I did it! Love…  Read more

Thank you for the support of family and friends through my planning and post-op; I have not been lonely, hungry or run out of dark chocolate.  How great to know that as I returned home from the hospital I would be met with such caring friends (luckily one is a Nurse Practitioner).  Nice to have a fresh brewed cup of coffee delivered to my room with an ice pack for…  Read more

Happy Birthday USA! I am expecting many are planning bar-b-ques, picnics and outings with family and friends. I hear the weather will cooperate and we can enjoy the weather, those friends and family as we watch spectacular fireworks. I am currently recuperating from hip replacement surgery so I will keep this week’s update short and sweet and lead right into this week’s take-a-way: WEEKLY TAKE-AWAY “Never underestimate the importance of…  Read more

I hear that many of our dads had a great father’s day celebrating with family and friends: fishing trips with laughter but no fish on the line, special meals in local restaurants, special meals prepared by our dads for the family, zoom and facetime meetings with smiles all around and of course many backyard bar-b-ques. Despite continued high gas prices and continued covid-19 cases most with much lighter symptoms it…  Read more

We as family and friends been talking about our grads of 2022; making celebration and travel plans. For our recent grads these are exciting and scary times.  They are possibly facing a summer starting with a short break, then preparing for a seasonal job or the beginning of their career.  This “rite of passage” happens every year,  but for graduates of 2022,  economic uncertainty looms large. This weekend we flew…  Read more

Welcome to summer (almost), a time of graduation parties, college kids returning home, planned vacations, walking barefoot on the beach again and fingers crossed that those seedlings take off… barefoot on the beach finally planted! I am hoping you have some great plans, enjoy your weekend. WEEKLY TAKE-AWAY Sometimes less is more; the most common  items in garden stores are 3 or 4 packs, and many weekend gardeners, me included…  Read more

As we do our weekly shopping we see prices steadily increasing.  The USDA says grocery and supermarket food prices are already 8.6% higher now than a year ago and inflation remains at near 40-year highs.  I am hoping to finally plant the seedlings I purchased mother’s day weekend, maybe add a few more of those I am cultivating from seeds and then enjoy my organic garden this summer.  I keep thinking…  Read more

Just a few more weeks until summer, I have been counting the days/weeks as the weather warms up and we have “real” beach days.   I was away this past weekend so I missed the first “real” beach day of the season, although I prefer to walk the beach rather than sit and bake.   I’m happy to share this morning’s sunrise, I wore long pants and a thick fleece … Post…  Read more