Computer kept crashing this morning and that is why there’s a part II. This is the castle in Erlangen, Germany. (The lovely, young lady is my granddaughter.) This is also where my best friend and I played ,on the castle grounds and marvelous gardens, pretending we owned it.
It ain’t over until the fat lady sings!!!
…when you’re having fun and I’ve had more than my fair share of it, lately. The pictures are from our ‘Bavarian grill party.’ With food, song and ‘wine’ and a perfect Sunday afternoon with good friends. I did try to yodel after one drink but that was a sad imitation of the real thing.
I have been remiss in my hiking and feel vaguely guilty. The same kind of guilt that I felt, when I ate half a bratwurst. But, I also served a lot of vegetable kebabs.
We’re driving up to the Black Canyon this morning for a hike and sight seeing with my best friend.
Lifetime friends for sixty-three years. We’d met in Kindergartenin Erlangen, Germany. Lived on the same street. It’s a rare treasure to find someone of that quality, faithfulness and unconditional love.
The last few days have been a whirlwind of activities. First, driving to Grand Junction and visit the ‘girls’. Then, taking Carrie and mom to R.E.I and other outfitting places to get Carrie started. I was excited for her and she was in (happy?) shock. (Carrie, my niece. If not by blood but by mutual consent and love.)
Then we drove to the airport to pick up my dearest friend, Irene, now known since childhood days. We met at Kindergarten and lived in the same street, which makes this special bond lasting over sixty plus years! She knows all my history and we can communicate with just one word and go back to ‘Adam and Eve’.
This is her ‘quiet time’ visit. Coming from Las Vegas, there’s not much to compete with in the way of entertainment. But, of course, we have our canyon and mountains and cute, little towns.
Not much time for walking but will pick it back up on Monday. I am so grateful that Julio will accompany us the first few days on the camino. (I am also very grateful that my son has taken out that much time, to travel with me.)
I was going to have a Spanish theme party, with Tapas and Sangria and a little flamenco music. Sort of ‘going away’ party a little early. But then, some friends called and wanted to do a Bavarian ‘Zither’ get together and they chose my place to do it. (Food may have been a deciding factor.) So. My theme would not go with this music. Hence, we’ll have Brats, potato salad, Bowle (spiked strawberry punch) wicked stuff, really. Several salads and apple-plum sheet cakes. Pictures will be posted tomorrow.
(All the while, listening with one ear for the phone to ring and Doctor telling me the numbers of cancer marker. It’s been five days.) Really would like to know.
Just as I’d returned from the ‘Bloodsuckers’ and leaving several vials of good looking red behind, Cameron called. He’d researched ticket pricing and routes. Just to say the names of these European stops and how they roll of my tongue, even though a bit awkward. It’s like great tasting candy. Soft, mellow and then a few teutonic R’s thrown in (like Frankfurrrt). Then, there’s Bilbao which I confused more than once with “Bilboa’ something other entirely. But, it has not dampened my excitement and my cells are jumping with joy, like on a trampoline. This is an effect that NO medicine can provide.
Tomorrow I am hiking again with back pack. Training, training for the Camino. Bought some lambs wool belt cover to put on pack straps, to soften the shoulder pressure (suggestion from Connie) and it makes the world of difference.
The other thing that happened which is soo great. My friend Billy found another of our old friends whom we’ve tried to find for years. He lives in Huntsville, Al. (Imagine. I lived there as well. Maybe just a few streets apart? Such is fate.)
This is one of the only pictures as a child. In 1944, when I was born
in Erlangen (Bavaria) Germany, war was still going on and there was no money for a camera.
A Photographer came and took pictures at the Kindergarten when I was 4+ years old.
(Lovingly mended sleeves on a hand-me-down
dress from my sister.
First day of school in 1950. We all had our ‘cone’ an old tradition. Filled with sweets and school supplies.
Against my earlier self-advice I did call Doc’s office yesterday and left a message with my question about test result. Of course, then I waited and jumped every time the phone rang. My reason was/is, that when I do know I need to have time to research my options and can’t wait until the last minute.
Finally, in the late afternoon I get a call from the nurse only to tell me that Dr. is out of the office as well as today and if he has not called by Thursday, to call back. Geez!! It’s been over two weeks. This whole thing is like a crap shoot.
I had a hard time, yesterday not eating ‘Kielbasa’. When I was at the grocery store, suddenly I absolutely craved a piece and imagined biting in to it with the fat running down my chin. Luckily, this only lasted a second or two and I was once again, sane. (Could be I’m missing some protein??) I don’t have to plan what to eat (or avoid) as I’m invited to a Veggie lunch. Just had a tall glass of wonderful carrot/apple juice, all the while imagining my cells jumping in this bright red, healthful ‘bath’, splashing and having a grand time. Sure makes one feel better right away. … and then, they rest on a tiny lounge chair wearing tiny sun glasses. haha (I swear there are no drugs involved.)
In my last post, I mentioned that my father had given me a recipe for roasted peacock. I thought for sure he was joking. But here’s the recipe, just in case:
The young peacock should be killed 3 days prior to use. Pluck feathers and hang in an airy place. Remove head and then tie neck and wings together. Wash inside and out. Then rub all over with salt and pepper. Add 1 bay leaf, parsley and basil into cavity. Place bacon slices onto its belly and roast slowly. Or, you can roast him over a rotisserie, then add butter while turning.
Yesterday was a fairly busy day. I packed my back pack with nearly all the needed things to try out this weekend at the canyon for a lengthy hike. Already it’s over 20 lbs and not all is in there. My fancy water bladder was not filled and my buddy said that 1 gallon weighs 8 lbs?? WTH? I have to take it all out and see what I can do without. Although right now I NEED everything!! Then, I had an ‘aha moment’. What if I lose 5-7 more lbs? Then I could transfer that to my pack.
This morning I walked in my stretched boots and they felt ever soo much better. Rather than having to spend $180.00 on serious hiking boots and have to break them in.
Glorious morning hike. Fresh cut hay giving off that lovely summer smell. The mountains still with a bit of snow on some. A cool, light breeze. Then, I saw peacocks. What gorgeous birds they are. Well, the males anyway. Noisy, screeching things. A little further down the path I remembered that my dad told me a recipe for ‘roasted’ peacock. He learned of it when he was P.O.W in France. I didn’t believe him and thought he was pulling my leg. I mean, who would eat a peacock? But then, some people in this world eat stranger things. I’ll look for it and put it in my recipe section.
A few months ago I saw a documentary on the Camino de Santiago. It sounded great!
Now we’re planning on going in September to walk the Camino Frances, the most popular route.
It’s what I’m doing instead of chemo. I’ve had enough of that!