Busy Monday

I love Mondays, or any day with nothing on the calendar. Since today was a free day, I decided to plant the "Early Girl" tomato plants that I bought at Save Mart a few days ago. It was a 6-pack with large nice looking plants, so I didn't want to let them hang around until they looked sad.
First I dug 4 really big holes and filled them with water like the man in the produce section at Save Mart told me to. Then filled the holes with good Miracle Grow garden soil. If the snails don't eat them I should have some nice big tomato plants this summer.
I gave 2 of the plants to my sister. I don't have room for six plants. Saved a little room for a pickling cucumber plant. I need to get a couple more of the tomato cages. Going to put one around the cucumber plant also. I don't have enough room to let them sprawl all over.
In the picture is the SunCrest peach tree in bloom. Wonder how many peaches I will have this year? I had two last year and one nectarine. I hope I get a few more this year. John Esau said I should get a few cherries already this year, so that will be exciting!! The cherries are not blooming yet and neither is the apricot.
I fertilized the fruit trees today finally. You have to hoe it in, so I was tired after fertilizing and watering 8 fruit trees.
I hoed some weeds today around the Iris plants. The ones out by the road had a lot of aphids, so I got this bright idea to get the lint roller and roll the leaves. Got quite a few off that way and then sprayed the plants with water. I'll have to check them again tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the Merced County Retirees luncheon at the Elks Lodge in Merced. We meet quarterly on the second Tuesday. If you're a Merced County retiree and don't usually go, put it on your calendar for June and try to attend. You need to make a reservation.
Now that gasoline is so expensive, I try to do other errands any time I drive to Merced. I need to go to the library and look up a few items in the old newspapers on microfilm. And then I have my shopping list. It's going to be a long day.
Wednesday Carolyn and I have appointments in Turlock for our monthly reflexology treatment. Carolyn can hardly wait the whole month, but I've been doing pretty good.
Of course tonight my muscles are sore from doing yard work but I feel good that I got something done. I did get on my exercise bike for a very short time tonight and I think that helped somewhat.
Good thing!! I have a LOT more weeds to dig out.

My Weekend

Mandy came down for a visit this weekend. She took me out to Nagame's Saturday night for dinner. She said it was a late birthday dinner. We had a good visit and the food was delicious as always. Taylor was our waitress. I saved a couple of newspapers with her picture plastered over the front page, which I meant to give her, but forgot them at home. Sorry. Next time.
I looked around and noticed that the customers were all eating with chopsticks. In fact it's rare to see anyone eating with a fork. Guess we're all loyal customers.
(I don't think you'd call us show-offs.)
Kathryn invited Mandy and I over Sunday for a late breakfast. Jack fixed crepes for us. He said it was his grandfather's recipe from the Old Country. I need to get his recipe!! They were delicious of course. Sharon made mimosas for us. So, we had a very nice breakfast and good conversation.
Later that day Mandy and I went to lunch at Josie's in Atwater. Even Josie was there. All the tables were full. As Fats Waller would say "The Joint was Jumpin'."

Happy Birthday Aunt Teen

Aunt Ernestine will be 96 years old tomorrow. Happy Birthday Aunt Teen, you look like a much younger woman.
Ernie and Diane had a little luncheon in her honor today.
Ernestine's cousin Helen was there.

In the last picture is Ernestine, Diane, Ernie and Helen. We ate outside on the patio. The weather was perfect for it. A wonderful nice warm day.
We all had a good time. Thank you, Diane and Ernie.
I enjoyed seeing their yard with fruit trees and flowers.

Winton VFW Auxiliary

The Winton VFW Auxiliary had their annual Brunch Saturday, Feb. 25. The men cook and serve the meal. Decorated tables were set up with 10 people at each table.
Here are pictures of our table.
Virginia, Marilyn and unknown. (Sorry, I didn't get her name.)
Next is Joan and Mrs. Baker.
From the left is Rosalie, Lorraine and Carolyn.
Last is Stephanie and Roxanne. (daughter & mother)
There were many raffle prizes. I was lucky to win a very nice basket with 2 bottles of champagne and 2 champagne glasses.
This Dollar Hat was a separate raffle. It was worth $100.00. I think everyone tried to win that.
It went to a very lucky young lady at another table.

Annual Winter Tea

This afternoon was the Atwater United Methodist Women's annual Tea. Pictured is the president of the group, Iris Jackson.
The food was catered by Heather Vann.
Another table of food.
Friends at one of the many beautifully decorated tables.
We were entertained by a lady and her three daughters singing beautiful songs. These very talented people added to an enjoyable afternoon.

Dinner at Josie's in Atwater

Sunday my daughter Jill and husband Tim invited me out to dinner for my birthday. It was my choice, so I picked Josie's Mexican Bar and Grill in Atwater. My family always enjoyed eating at Mi Casa in Merced, so I knew they would like Josie's. Josephine's son Hugo is the manager/owner of the Atwater restaurant in the Target shopping center.
We had a wonderful visit and a great dinner.
It was so good to see them and catch up on what is going on in the "North Country."
(Orland, CA)
Laura is a junior in high school already and Tom is in his first year at college.
Both kids are doing well.
It was great seeing you all.

Fruit Trees are Pruned

I had an honest-to-goodness orchard man prune my young fruit trees today. I was concerned that they get a good start and I got an expert to prune them for me.
When I told a couple of my friends that John Esau was going to prune my little fruit trees, their reaction was REALLY?? and REALLY!!
It was hard for them to believe that he would take the time to come prune my trees.
Well, here's a picture to prove it. John is standing by the "Fantasia" Nectarine tree. He said it was the best shaped tree that I have. Good! I love nectarines.
I took a couple of pictures of each tree before John got here. Tomorrow I'm going to take the "after" pictures.
Oh, and he said I could fertilize the fruit trees now, no need to wait. So, all you homeowners with a few fruit trees growing in your yard, you don't have to wait until spring to fertilize them.