Tuesday, June 02, 2026

Blintzes and Pie

Elaine’s blintzes are the best. I’ve posted photos of them before but they are worth another look!
We had them for dinner and are about to have more for breakfast.

Elaine’s peach pie is the best.

Monday, June 01, 2026

Where We Are

Now in West Lafayette visiting my sister Elaine.

The last day of May was very beautiful. I hope everyone will have a happy month of June.

Morning walk in the park.

Levi next door had a lemonade stand. Price: 25¢ (or free). It was delicious.

Another scene from our walk.
People leave scooters all over the neighborhood. I hope nobody trips.

Thinking about the Lewis chess pieces for no reason.

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Alice Makes Dinner and We Visit the Botanical Gardens

Saturday Dinner at Alice’s

Alice cooked chicken and vegetables for a delicious dinner. Ice cream bars for dessert.

At the Botanical Gardens

One Sandhill Crane was wading in the pond.
Michigan is now home to around 25,000 cranes, with many more present during migration.
Cranes were almost extinct 60 years ago, with a dramatic turnaround in the 1970s.

Spring flowers were beautiful.

A sale of garden plants was taking place in one of the greenhouses.

We didn’t want to plant sneezeweed, but it’s a great plant name.

Random Mona Find

Friday, May 29, 2026

Spring; Birds, School Picnics, Fun Menus

A robin is nesting next to our porch.

At the Highlands Amusement Park

A Google trip back to the end of May when I was in elementary school

Our big school event at the end of May up to sixth grade
was always held at the Forest Park Highlands, a big amusement park.
Each clild received several tickets for the most popular rides.
I rarely went on the Ferris Wheel. Too scary!

I was happier on the merry-go-round. (Note the murals on the center post. Shared with Sami.)

The roller coaster really challenged me. I never liked heights or fast downward motion!

Those who love the rollercoaster would wave their arms during descent.
The one or two times I was convinced to take this ride, I hid my eys.

My mother and my two aunts always accompanied us to the school picnic.
They brought lunch for us to eat, always including strawberries and pineapple in a jar.

All photos of the old Forest Park Highlands as well as of the fruit salad are from google image searches. A huge fire destroyed all the rides in the early 1960s, and it’s now the site of a community college. I wonder if anyone remembers it at all!

What we are eating this week

Lettuce topped with a cheeseburger and chilli.

Bagels with smoked salmon, hummus, and cream cheese. Also cherries.

Chicken on the barbcue.

Dinner with friends.

To be shared with other blogs.

Thursday, May 28, 2026

Sourdough

“The starter greeted me like a puppy, yapping and leaping, excited to be alive.”
A quote from Robin Sloan’s Sourdough.
Len’s starter is better behaved than the starter in the novel, which is very naughty.

Len’s bread made a few years ago — he makes it often, and will bake it this afternoon.

I’m rereading Robin Sloan’s novel just for fun.
While Len bakes for our coming guests.

Good bread for sale in Ann Arbor: including sourdough loaves at Zingerman’s Bakehouse

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

A Few Classic Foods

Classic Cinnamon Rolls

Len made them on Saturday. We enjoyed them for afternoon tea and for breakfast.
I find it amusing that the spiral design on the plate looks like the spiral on the roll.

Classic Pommes à l’Huile

French-style oil and vinegar potato salad is another classic dish that we love.
I’ve blogged about this often — especially when I make Salade Niçoise in which it is a key feature.
Tonight we ate it as a side dish with shrimp.

Classic Shrimp Scampi

Recipe from New York Times Cooking

Ingredients ready to cook. Cooking only takes a few minutes.

Saturday Lunch at Everest Sherpa Restaurant

The owner of Everest Sherpa restaurant is from Nepal, and the decor includes photos
of the Himalayas and of famous mountain climbers. The restaurant serves Nepalese and Indian cuisine.
The founding owner of the restaurant was one of the first to climb Everest.

Crispy dumplings called MoMo.

Curried chicken served with rice. The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes.

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Peonies and Rhododendrons at the Arb

Crowds of viewers at the Nichols Arboretum Peony Garden this morning.
I’ve posted photos of the peonies in many previous years. They are always wonderful.

This year our visit is early enough that we could also enjoy the rhododendrons that grow at the garden.

“The University of Michigan's Nichols Arboretum, known as ‘The Arb,’ is a 128-acre natural area in Ann Arbor featuring diverse plant collections, trails along the Huron River, and the renowned W. E. Upjohn Peony Garden with North America's largest heirloom peony collection.”