Bubbles O'Tracy

I've renamed Shirley. Her new name is Bubbles O'Tracy.  Over the years, as we lived here in Casitas Springs and in Santa Barbara, Shirley has expended gallons of bubble substance through various despensing arrangements. I've even painted a representive character of her doing them.

Yesterday, she received a package from her daughter, Linda, and granddaughters, Charissa and Anna-Lee in Texas, with a bubble machine. And today, when I returned from my trike trip to Foster Park, I was inundated with beautiful bubbles. I promptly announced "Your new name is Bubbles O'Tracy".  I think she liked it :-). Elbert

The Pumpkin Solution

Lauren had noticed that my large pumpkin left over from Halloween and said that she had turned hers into french fries when she decided  it was ready.  I asked her to do mine for me before her visit was ended.  On the last day she and her friend Ky did just that ---but they ran out of time while it was still in chunks. I told them to let me finish it.

I reduced their chunks to strips. (see pix), I oil sprayed a cookie sheet and arranged slices in close order.  My final touch was a mixture of cinnamon, clove, ginger and allspice plus sugar.  I hand sprinkled each side and oven baked at 300 degrees to get a maximum of moisture out and be sure they were tender.  A new recipe for me.  Thanks Lauren and Ky.   Elbert

THE EXPERIMENT WITH GROUND TURKEY AND GORGONZOLA CHEESE

We like ground turkey better than ground beef. It's also healthier and cheaper by the pound.
Our artist friend, Jim, does omelets for all of us artists at Jane's house every Christmas. He adds Gorgonzola  cheese to each which gives the omelets a real zing.
I asked Shirley to add it to the ground turkey. Great. Elbert

THE ELECTRIC TRIKE

My workhorse exerciser, the trike, has been out of order for the last three months.......during that time 
I've ridden it in a reduced stress pattern on our bike path out front. (This is the most beautiful bike path I have ever seen). 
My regular supplier of parts for electric trike has delayed me for three months on an order for a new motor driven front wheel. 
Shirley appealed to my daughter, Karen, in Germany, and she located an available one in a place near Salt Lake City, Utah. Today it arrived and we installed it. The new wheel is a gem and I rode until dark overtook me. Goody-goody.