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.

Lunch at Carrows

Last Monday, on the 16th, the local "Golden Girls" went to lunch at Carrows in Merced. We had our usual 3 hour lunch that we've been doing once a month for the last 13 years. We started at the beginning of 1999, after we retired. Bev was still working part-time, but Claudia and I were enjoying full retirement.
January 16 used to be my birthday, but when I found out it's actually the 12th, I changed to that date. I have received many wonderful birthday cards this year. They are displayed on the piano. Nice to have such good friends and wonderful sisters.
It rained last night finally, so it is definitely a "stay-at-home" day. I think I will make the fruitcake that I was going to make before Christmas, but then didn't feel like it with the cold and crud. I bought the candied fruit just before I got sick. I've never made this before. My husband always made this fruit cake. The recipe came from his grandmother and he said it was a family secret recipe. Well, one day I found the same exact recipe with an advertisement for molasses. Some secret. I submitted the recipe to our first little recipe book (with John's reluctant permission) and so the secret has been out for a while. The Winton Historical Society's "Hometown Recipes" has been sold out for quite some time, but we do have some of our second (and last) recipe book, "Winton Centennial" available.

Thursday morning I went to Bible Study at the Atwater Methodist Church. They are about half-way through a small book titled "Matthew, Being Discipled by Jesus" written by Stephen and Jacalyn Eyre. There are questions in the book to be answered along with reading the Bible passages. It's a small friendly group of people. Two or 3 people had a study Bible, so although I have a new, large print Bible, I decided to order a NIV (New International Version) study Bible from Cokesbury. It's published by Zondervan. The one I ordered is here. It's large print, so of course it had to be a hardback. I'm sure it will be a large book. I hope not too big and heavy to carry to Bible Study. lol
Study Bibles are not cheap, but there is so much more added information before each book of the Bible, maps, and other references.
Cokesbury carries the supplies that the Methodist churches use.
I can't wait to get it and see what all it offers.
It was shipped today, from San Diego, I think. So it should be here soon.

Lunch at Hibachi Grill

Today my sisters took me out to lunch at the Hibachi Grill Buffet in Merced. They loaded up their plates from the buffet tables and I did too with the first go-around, but after I ate all that, I ventured over to the grill and had this young man quickly cook up some beef with Teriyaki sauce.
I tried several times to take a picture through the glass, but that didn't work at all, so had to bend down low and take the picture under the glass. That's why it's at that angle.
Some of the food I took from the buffet tables was quite spicy. You couldn't tell by looking which ones were spicy hot and not everything had a name tag. It was all good though. I was glad for the garlic bread to kind of tone it down a bit. The Teriyaki of course was not spicy.
For dessert I had this young man make a strawberry crepe for me with whipped cream inside. I shared it with my sisters who got their desserts from the buffet tables. They weren't very adventuresome!
I think next month we'll go to Turlock for lunch and then browse the huge used book store and some antique shops. How much browsing we do will depend on our energy level.
Elsie took us there quite some time ago. We enjoyed the antique shops and want to go again.
We had a good time today. I always enjoy lunch with my sisters.

The Garden Gnome

I got this garden gnome from my daughter Sandy today. It arrived by UPS on my birthday. What timing!!
This cute little gnome has a watering can and is watering flowers.
I was searching online for gnomes some time ago and now I remember talking to Sandy about it. I was going to order one just like this, but for some reason I didn't. And here it is today! What a surprise! I completely forgot we talked about them.
Thank you Sandy and Dol.

A few years ago Sandy sent her dad a gnome, he's the one on the right with the green hat. Is he panning for gold? That was John's hobby at one time. Or maybe he's just watering the yard.
I love gnomes, they are so whimsical and cute.
My birthday gnome is in the middle. He has a couple of friends to keep him company.

Dinner at Nagame's

Clark and Rosalie took me out to dinner at Nagame's tonight to celebrate my birthday later this week. This has always been a favorite restaurant for my family. John and I went there all the time for birthdays, anniversaries and just because. Mandy was just a little tyke when we first went there and she is now 30 years old. My, how the years go by.
I always order the same thing; Chicken Teriyaki and Shrimp Tempura. I don't like shrimp, but someone is always willing to eat the shrimp and leave me the vegetable tempura. So delicious. Of course it wouldn't be complete without a little hot Sake.
Here's a picture of Clark and Rosalie. You can see Clark has a fork on his plate. Oh, for shame. Where are your chopsticks?
Nagame is located at 2650 16th Street in Merced where the Cookery used to be. One lady on facebook said she didn't know the restaurant was still open!!! It's been open continuously for 25-30 years. An excellent place to go for delicious Japanese food. They are open for lunch Monday through Friday (maybe Saturday) and for dinner Tuesday night through Saturday. Closed on Sunday. Call Mary and make a reservation for dinner 384-1677.Clark told Rosalie to take a picture of me eating with my sticks. lol I wish I could take better pictures!!!!!! oh well, what can you do?
I enjoyed my night out. Thank you very much.

Here's a better picture of me, taken at the mobile home park Christmas dinner. Yes, most of us were wearing red. A very festive looking group it was.
I really don't like that other picture of me, but it does have me showing off that yes, I can eat with chopsticks! LOL
Sandy, Dol, Mandy and John always use chopsticks too. I don't remember if Jill does or not, but I think so. We enjoy our meals all the more when using chopsticks.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Isn't this a beautiful cake? It was served today at the Atwater United Methodist Church in honor of four of us who joined the church today.
Three of us were baptized for the first time. The other two was a young couple; I may have been the oldest one the pastor has ever baptized!! I will be 75 years old this month, so I guess it was about time.
One other lady was renewing her membership with the church.
The pastor had a very good message today (and every Sunday). The talk was on "Who Needs it?" Why was Jesus baptized? For more information on the Atwater United Methodist Church, click here.
Below is a picture of four of the many volunteers at the Methodist Church. Both pictures were taken in the Fireside Room where we meet after church for coffee and cake and other goodies.
From the left is Kathy, Marilyn, Carole and Caryl.

January already

Here it is the first part of January. The Camellias are full of buds with two flowers in full bloom. I'm glad the former owners planted them. There's about 6 plants, so I can enjoy them with little effort on my part.
I did finally get out and water the yard. I was especially worried about the new fruit trees. The sandy soil dries out pretty fast. So, I gave them all a drink today. I would have done this sooner, but have been down with a cold and sore throat since the 22nd of December. Finally getting over that. So many people came down with the same thing.
Yesterday we had our Winton Historical Society meeting. Rosalie gave me a 1987 newspaper article that she got from the Dusins that I am including in the newsletter. I think I have enough to fill the pages now, so just have to work on putting it together.

I didn't make any New Year's resolutions this year. I usually think about at least making a list of possibilities, but this year is different.
This Sunday, I'm going to become a member of the Atwater Methodist Church and that will be my influence for good.
For a couple of years when having lunch at the Jantz Cafe, I would look across the street at the Methodist Church and think that someday that is the church I will attend.
What finally gave me the push was I purchased a two-piece dress and then thought where am I going to wear this? I said, "I am forcing myself into going to church."
So, just to be sure of which one I really wanted to attend, I started visiting a couple of churches, the Methodist being one of them. Then I found out an old friend was also searching for a church home, so together we visited several others.
I thought she was going to prefer a different one, but I think we surprised each other to discover that we both liked the Atwater Methodist Church the best. So, there we are.
Every Sunday, we get to hear/sing the old hymns played on the organ and piano. No drums or guitars there. Just the way I like it. And the pastor is a history buff, so he gives a broad background to the Bible stories and lessons. Makes it more interesting that way. And gives us something to think about.
So, if you're looking for a church home, check out the Atwater Methodist Church on Linden Street. Like the commercials on TV say, "You'll be glad you did."