sunny saturday

 It was cold and bright.   This morning was shopping for our youngest grandchild's birthday gift.   What would he like that they don't already have?

And I didn't want to buy some permanent toy that will take up room forever.  What would be fun in the short run and then non-sentimental and easily tossed when it's over?   And what would a one-year-old enjoy?

We found a few things.

Then there was a little real estate, always a good time.

In the evening, we went downtown to have dinner and listen to jazz.  That was truly lovely.   The bar is little with lots of dark wood and stained glass windows.  The music is original and has personality.  I'm fond of the piano player. There's a TV over the bar--and tonight was a baseball game, but usually it's old movies.

One night we watched, without sound of course, Some Like It Hot--Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon--those two guys dressed as women half the time.   We have no idea what it was about, but it was fun. 

Another night they were playing a black and white Titanic movie.  The boat tilted this way and that way, dishes slid off tables, people ran around.   We laughed, even though it probably wasn't meant to be  a funny movie.

 Then we came home and Tim was there in a coonskin cap, working on a bird house kit.   Julia helped cut the potatoes for the potato salad for the party tomorrow.

The recipe for the potato salad:

10 pounds of red potatoes, peeled and boiled, cut in small pieces when cool
8 eggs hard boiled, likewise cut up when cool
4 stalks of celery chopped
1 onion chopped

Dressing:

3 c Miracle Whip
9 T sugar
1/2 c vinegar
4 T mustard

Stir the dressing up, and then fold it into the potatoes.   Transfer it to a pretty bowl and garnish with slices of radishes and paprika (or not.) 

Okay, good night.   love, Val