A long-billed Curlew searches for lunch just north of Malibu. They migrate from Northern California to winter in Southern California. It was the first full day of autumn, and it seemed only appropriate that we should play hooky by going to the beach and soaking up the vestiges of summer rays. The air was calm …
Drivin’ the I-5
IT WAS OUR FIRST ROAD TRIP since the pandemic, an eight-hour drive from Southern California to the Sacramento area. On the way north, we took I-5 (also known as "The Five" in Southern California parlance). The I-5 can take you from Mexico to Canada (and I've driven the full extent, though not in one trip). …
Rules of the Road for Driving in L.A.
Los Angeles is a big place and in its own world. This is especially true when driving. The rules of the road apply a bit differently to L.A. drivers, so before you roll, it’s good to know what you’re in for. To begin with, those little white lines separating lanes are merely a suggestion. L.A. …
The 15-minute project that took a week
It should have been easy. Two screws and five color-coded wires. At least, that's what I thought on Monday when I decided, just before breakfast, to upgrade the old thermostat for one of those new fancy "smart" devices. You know, the kind of gizmo that displays a beautiful HD screen, which, of course, you don't …
Let me tell you ‘bout the birds and the bees
THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN Los Angeles are empty. The stores are closed. The museums are quiet. The tourists have disappeared. But the wildlife, for the most part, seem quite content to be the only hustle and bustle around. Each morning, when the sun peaks above the skyscrapers to illuminate our little window garden, the bees …
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Foolproof crackers
ABOUT A YEAR ago, Sherry and I were in a small town in Minnesota staying at a Residence Inn. It was your typical chain hotel with nondescript rooms. But this place had quite the happy hour. It wasn't the friendly service or copious amounts of alcohol that impressed us the most, though. It was the …
Let the chips fall where they may
When you have lemons, the saying goes, you make lemonade. And when you have potatoes -- and lots of them due to a clerical error in ordering online (5 bags vs. 5 potatoes) -- you start to get creative. Potato chips -- or crisps if you are British -- had always been on my bucket …
Christmas Horn Cookies
The recipe came from the “old country” and according to family legend, it was top secret and to be guarded. We knew them as Christmas Horns, a confection of almonds, flour, eggs, vanilla and sugar. Right after Thanksgiving, the kitchen would turn into a factory, as the kids helped Mom crank out the dough for …
Stuff about the staff of life
A few years ago, I was given a bread maker as a present. It's something of a beast: the top-of-the-line Zojirushi machine. I call it the 3D printer for bread, since it requires nothing more than dumping the measured ingredients into the pan, shutting the lid and pressing a button. As lovely and easy as …
Sherry & George 