Yesterday's all-day rain and warm temperatures have been replaced by sunshine and cold. This time of year you have to take the good with the bad. On the other hand, cold weather for Christmas is welcome, isn't it?
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The near-solstice pattern of sunshine at the Cool Water Ranch. [/caption]
While I was getting my second cup of café au lait, I noticed that the streaks of sunshine filtered by the trees fell at about a 45-degree angle across our big lawn. It's Stonehenge for the Cool Water Ranch--the only time of year when the sun's stripes so decorate the field. I pulled Mary Ann over to take a look. Instead of the disdain I usually get for such geeky show-and-tells, she said, "That's what I love you for. Noticing things like that, and knowing what it means."
I got a kiss and hug, too.
She's very busy lately making up for the time lost while her back problem had her immobilized. She has been itching to get out there. She has many advertising clients that need to be checked.
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Thai ginger with beef at Thai Spice.[/caption]
Left alone, I go to the places the Marys don't want to try. Today that was the third recent dinner at the Thai Spice, which has returned to its former goodness. I began with a cup of tom kha soup (chicken and coconut milk). Then on to one of the stir-fry dishes that go variously under the names "Thai garlic," "Thai basil," and--today's sampling--"Thai ginger." I ordered it made with beef. Hot, but not Thai hot. The kitchen hit the mark perfectly. They also make the dish soupy, which is the way they eat in Thailand. Most American palates prefer more solid content and less broth, but not me.
I don't often get dessert in Asian restaurants (the concept is foreign east of Iran). But the waiter, who was all smiles all night, sounded like he wanted me to have the fried, pastry-wrapped banana with ice cream. So I did. Good! Enough for two or three people.
Back at home, Mary Ann thought we should finally decorate the Christmas tree, which has stood bare in our living room for weeks. She had been waiting for Mary Leigh to return home, but our daughter had the opportunity to jump off a flight and be paid $500 cash for so doing--plus a later flight. Since this also gave her a few more days with The Boy, she took the deal and doesn't arrive home until Christmas Eve.
Jude (on the phone from Los Angeles) and I were so deep into website work that I failed to do my part of the tree-trimming. I'm the light stringer. I don't want anyone messing around with and breaking my bubble lights. Thus it was that we had no lights on the tree until the day after Christmas.
Thai Spice. Covington: 1531 US 190. 985-809-6483.
Written by Tom Fitzmorris December 31, 2013 14:00 in
