Fulminating Coreopsis
I haven’t written in a while, and my fingers are itchy to say something.
The truth is, mostly, that I have another hideous cough, just like I did last year this time. No energy to write. And just like last year, I go to Kaiser, and they haven’t a clue. They tell me that these things are viral, and antibiotics won’t help. Then they give me antibiotics.
They take X-rays. I can give you a long list of what I don’t have–TB, lung cancer, polio, pneumonia, psoriasis. I actually thought TB was a possibility after my adventures in Ethiopia last years, but apparently not. You know you’re sick when you hope it is TB so at least they would know what to do about it.
One of the interesting things about a cough that hangs on and irritates everyone around me is how many solutions people have offered. I’ve been told to try local honey, tangerine juice, olba oil, hot showers, hot coffee/tea, cough drops, spiced tea, boiling clove water, cough syrup, different blood pressure medicine, odd chest massage, blowing my nose more, antihistamines, lots of vigorous sex (wait, that was my idea), and just standing in front of Kaiser and screaming that they needed to do more. You can guess which ones of these I’ll be following up on.
I’ve decided to explain that I have a raging case of fulminating coreopsis. It sounds awful, and nobody will tell me about their cousin who had it last year. Meanwhile, I think I’ll just leave it alone and it will go away. Or my nose will fall off.
Hummingbirds
Our friend Linda Bell told me that she had a tree with a hummingbird nest, and she had been obsessively watching the growth of the two tiny chicks. The next morning I was there bright and early to take some photos.
A hummingbird nest is tiny–maybe 2 inches across. Even when you know where to look, it is awfully hard to spot. Linda found this one by watching the mama bird making incessant trips to feed the ravenous chicks.
Here are some photos. I’ll be going back–she has found another nest in the making, and perhaps I’ll be able to see the eggs, then the tiniest of chicks, and try to document their growth some.
When they aren't moving, they are almost invisible in the nest.
Always searching the sky for mom.
Networking 101
There it was, Saturday afternoon and we’re zooming down I5 from Davis to Stockton to the Pastel Show, and we realize we want to go to dinner after, and haven’t any idea of where to eat.
I know! Jerry Chamberlin used to live in Stockton, let’s call him.
Don’t have his phone number.
I know! I’ll call Mike, he’ll have the number. Micky isn’t home, isn’t answering his cell.
I know! Call Rippey, he plays with Jerry. Rippey is carousing in Vegas, not answering.
I know! Call Barbara Hanson, she has the number. That worked, sort of. We get the home number, but nobody is home. Gail leaves a message.
Winnie calls back–she gives us Jerry’s cell number
We call Jerry, finally. He says he’ll call his sister.
Jerry calls the sister, she gives him the best place in town. He texts us with the name.
I go on Opentable.com and make a reservation at Le Bistro, the best, and only, French restaurant in Stockton.
We have a decent dinner, with service that can only be considered unique to the central valley. Our waiter is both gay and redneck, the combination is irresistible. My monkfish was excellent, the rib eye steaks were to die for.
So from Barbara to Winnie to Jerry to his sister to us, we worked the phones, used our friendships and ended up with a fun dinner. Thanks, everyone.
Love me Tender
Albacore tuna, mashed potatoes, a decent spinach salad and a side of asparagus, for less then $15.
My friend Ally Whiteneck sent me a note touting a new restaurant in Walnut Creek, Tender Greens, on Locust next to Lark Creek. Gail and I gave it a try tonight, and I think it’s a winner.
The place is brand new–they can’t take American Express cards until tomorrow, or sell wine until Tuesday–which worked out well because they then proceeded to comp Gail her glass of eminently drinkable Pinot Gris. They don’t have much business yet, but they are simply aswarm with willing employees.
The setup strikes me as strange–you go through a line, read the menu on the wall and place your order, then walk all along the kitchen counter to where you order your drink. They give you a tray with your drink and silverware, but then bring you the food. I don’t get it.
The food, though, is excellent. We had the tomato/bread soup which was rich and hearty without the acidity that sometimes comes out in tomatoes. Then I had the albacore tuna, seared rare, with mashed potatoes and a side salad, for which I chose spinach. No way could we pass up a side of grilled asparagus. Everything was cooked right, the presentation was careful, it came to the table hot.
The menu isn’t large or complex–y0u have a choice of steak, chicken, fish or vegetables on a salad, on a plate or in a sandwich. Prices are quite low–my albacore plate was $10.50, barely more than the fish alone would cost me at Lunardi’s.
Tender Greens is a great place to get a quick meal at a very good price. It isn’t fine dining, it doesn’t pretend to be. You can be in and out and on your way in 30 minutes for $20 apiece, and that’s hard to beat. Thanks, Ally.
Fun in Stockton
Yes, it’s hard to believe, but it is possible to enjoy yourself in Stockton, home of the highest foreclosure rate in the nation.
After the Ceramic Show yesterday, we drove to Stockton to attend a show by the Pastel Society of the West Coast, where our friend Ruth Hussey was getting an award.
The show was held in the Haggin Museum, one of those great places you never hear about. A stunning turn of the century mansion, now the site of a city park and renovated into an art museum, the Haggin is quite interesting beyond the instant exhibition.
But we were there to see pastels. I know what you are thinking–“Pastels? How many pictures of bunny rabbits and little girls in pink dresses can you use?”, but that isn’t the case. Pastel, in the art sense, means a stick of pure pigment to be rubbed on the paper–they come in all colors and saturations, and the name comes from the French word from paste, which is the how the pigment is combined with a binder and formed.
This was a juried show–over 170 artists submitted works, and about 90 were accepted, so the standard was very high. You can depict any subject in this medium: there were landscapes and portraits and still lifes, although no abstract work, everything is representational.
Ruth won an award for this piece:
And had another piece accepted, too:
Ruth and her piece, "Confrontations" (the lower one)
The entire show was captivating, and broadened our knowledge and experience. Then they gave out awards, and it was Ruth’s chance to shine some more:
The Pastel show will soon be gone, but the Haggin Museum is awfully interesting and worth a Sunday drive out Highway 4 to Stockton to enjoy. 1201 N. Pershing Street, Stockton.
Ceramics in Davis
Every year, the Natsoulas Gallery in Davis sponsors a Ceramics conference and show, featuring the work of students from many northern California schools. As the event has grown and matured, it has become important in the entire art world, attracting many top working artists besides the students.
We motored on up there yesterday, along with friends. I went to school in Davis, and always enjoy going back, although I hardly recognize anything anymore. Here are some of the things we saw:
At the Pence Gallery, we ran into two friends:
Michelle Gregor is on sabattical this year, and has produced a ton of great new work
Michelle amongst her new work
Stroll a garden for May Day
Some people love gardening. Not me, but some people. BJ Ledgerwood is one of those people. She has a fantastic garden, as befits a Master Gardener and budding Landscape Architect. Today, that garden is on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, and you have the chance to go see for yourself.
BJ’s husband, Handsome Larry, is a top notch photographer, too. Here are some photos he made of the garden, to whet your appetite:
Their house is at 75 Oak Knoll Loop, in Walnut Creek. Go on over and see the paradise BJ has made from her back hill.
Save yourself the trip
Lunchtime Saturday, we thought we’d try a burger joint called CJ’s I’d heard good things about.
Right next to The Sweet Affair in the shopping center across Ygnacio Valley road from Heather Farms, CJ’s is well located and easy to find. There is seating both indoors and out, although the chairs outside are chained to the concrete, probably as a result of an expensive lesson in human nature.
The menu, which is on a large board over the cash register, is interesting and extensive, because they serve a full breakfast all day long. I always find biscuits and gravy tempting, but we were there to try out the burgers so I was disciplined.
I ordered the CJ burger–1/3 of a pound of supposedly Niman Ranch beef, with a wide choice of toppings, and substituted sweet potato fries for the included French fries.
What I got was an over cooked, machine formed patty of dubious quality. My “fries” were strips of sweet potato carelessly dropped in oil nowhere near hot enough to fry them, just sort of a good soak in warm fat. When I don’t finish my fries, you know they suck.
The only time I have a chocolate malt is when I’m having a burger, which isn’t often. So I was looking forward to a good drink of milk and ice cream and chocolate. What I got was less interesting than a “cool shake” at McDonalds–and they aren’t even allowed to use the word milk in the name.
So here’s my advice–if you’re standing in front of CJ’s thinking of lunch, turn right and have a great sandwich at The Sweet Affair. You’ll be glad you did.
Barlata
A flight of gazpacho, including the rare and delightful white one.
Gail will often have a flight of wine, three shorter glasses of differing varieties. Barlata is the only place I can get a flight of soup–three utterly different versions of gazpacho, including the white one which is made with almonds instead of tomato.
Piquillo peppers stuffed with shrimp and white asparagus
Totally Unauthorized 