I recently met up with an old friend to have lunch- it's been such a long time since I could write that! Everything is far here compared to what I was used to so I had a 40 minute drive to the restaurant. On the route which is familiar to me, two new roundabouts had been made during pandemic days. I don't know what it is about them, but you can see the drivers hesitating though really, they are fairly straight forward. I had to wave a woman on in one-she had right of way but maybe was too polite to claim it. Roundabouts appear to be a great way to handle 4 way stops and there are so many of those here in the country. Anyway, it was wonderful to spend a couple of hours just chatting and eating somewhere completely different. I had delicious Steak Frites which I often order when out. As I've mentioned I don't eat much red meat at home and fries are always a treat for me.
Here is the front view framed by both my kitchen window (which I've shown so often as it is my window on my world it seems) and the verandah roof. The hydrangeas are wild this year. But that is not what I was focusing on. Can you see her?
And the eating of it is fun too. Calamari is one of my favourite dishes; any of you like it?
I'm giving Fraktur Flowers attention these days. In Flosstube world, there is a custom of allowing yourself a new project start on your birthday. Since my birthday is coming up, I've been thinking of which pattern I'd like to start next. Maybe more flowers or another bee since it is still summer.
A poem I liked.
37 comments :
Jocelyn, I am so glad you are able to be with your family again. Your hubbby looks like he really needed it, too. Here in Europe people are meeting again despite numbers rising again, too. And unfortunately there seems to be a sudden reluctancy to get vaccinated. I just don't understand that. I am so happy to be able to go out again, too. Just visited my daughter in Berlin and enjoyed a couple of days big city life. Good to return to the country, though. I love your fawns, none of this kind around here. And squids! Yummy. Nothing better than fresh calamari with garlic dip. And now you've got your hands full with the Labradors. They won't give you a chance to ponder on things too much. Hope for the best and wish you well.
Andrea, Germany
The deer are pretty until they devour one's hanging basket. Squid - makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. I tried calamari once, like chewing unflavored rubber. Maybe it wasn't prepared correctly ... Do you think I can use the half-birthday thing to start a new quilt?
here we often see deer with two young. I must say I hate round abouts! I am always terribly confused especially on double round abouts, you go through one and promptly are in another maybe because in my area we have not had them until about 2 years ago - one town is going crazy with and it is making shopping confusing for me. Have fun with all those dogs
That was such a fun post and those fawns sure are pretty. Those roundabouts seem to be the rage here too but sadly our drivers don't even do well on the straightabouts the the roundabouts really mess them up. Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
It sounds like you are having a busy week. Love the photo's of the fawns. So fun to be able to see that right outside the window. I'm glad you got to have lunch with your friend. Sometimes chatting with a friend is all we need. Give the doggies a pet from me. Wishing you a good week and an early happy birthday.
How nice that you could meet up with your old friend for a meal, bet you had a wonderful catchup after all this time. Have to admit that I dont know what steak frites are? As for roundabouts, we have plenty of them here in New Zealand too. As you probably know, here in NZ we drive on the left hand side of the road, but when we had a rental car on Hawaii, quite some time ago now, we had to drive on the other side. Going through a roundabout the other way over there felt so strange, our brains were telling us not this way!
Love the bunch of happy dogs, all that playfulness they would certainly lift your spirits!
I am a big fan of calamari, but not the breaded rings that you show here. Next time you get a chance to eat in a Portuguese restaurant order calamari there and you will have a whole different experience. The best I ever had was in a small restaurant in a small fishing port in Croatia. I doubt that It will ever be matched.
I just left a comment but I am not sure it went through.
Wonderful color and I am not a fan of the cali but am glad to be eating out in our area again. Great seeing the kids. I had two Labs many years ago. Spunky was so energetic and full of love while Kuda was an idiot dog but, handsome and loving
I love your hydrangea, I hope mine gets that wild eventually. We almost lost it last winter and it looks pretty forlorn now.
Calamari is a big no to me, but Hubby enjoyed it in Spain.
God bless.
You have a lovely view out your windows, Jocelyn! I never tire of seeing your photos. Your grandson looks like he's having a fun time on his trip, and your trip to a restaurant to meet a friend sounds wonderful, too. I love the Hawk Run Hollow stitchery! I've never looked at FlossTube - maybe I should. I like the idea of starting something new on your birthday!
Well done dog sitting! I love dogs, but with two cats...
You are doing so well!
We've a doe with a single and one with twins. They are fairly common here.
Love your visitors they are very pretty fawns. I am envious of your gorgeous hydrangeas. Love calamari! Looks like a fun trip, and a change for you to dog sit. Pretty stitchery, and what a neat written piece.
Your photos of the deer are so nice, and what fun to be able to watch them nearby. I've never heard of squid jigging, but I do like calamari. Glad you were able to meet up with a friend!
That poem made me chuckle. So many good things this week! I just watched a video on how much safer and fuel-efficient roundabouts are than 4-way intersections. The fawns are cute! And calamari is delicious. That photo is making me hungry. Blueberries! :-)
Wow, what a great view. Those deer are beautiful. Always enjoy your nature shots.
nice to see somebody with a jacket on....so very hot here...and the calamari looks good...i never tried it but would think similar to fried clam strips...going on my bucket lis...
It's nice to hear that you are able to get out a bit more now. We've gone back to restricting ourselves somewhat, even with the vaccine, as no one knows how long the immunity will last or when a new variant might pop up.
Calamari is one of those foods that people either love or hate (or won't even try). I've had it, but wouldn't seek it out.
We have a fair amount of twins among the deer and last year one doe had triplets! We haven't had as many this year as our village is in the midst of a multi-year controlled hunt. But one decided this week to sample the dahlia buds. Grrr!
Three frisky pups at once must be keeping you extra busy. We're due for a bit cooler temperatures. Hope they come your way as well.
Pat
Hello Jocelyn,
I am glad you were able to meet up with your friend for lunch, sounds like a lovely time. I love your deer, the twin fawns are adorable. I like dog sitting, you have a great group of furbabies there. The birds and critters are eating our blueberries, I will buy some to eat. Sending happy birthday wishes to you, hope your day is great! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Your pics of deer and fawns are adorable. I like Calamari.
My latest post:
https://craniumbolts.blogspot.com/2021/08/yet-another-birding-trip-to-saul-kere.html
Love seeing the deer and everything! Happy Birthday sweet lady! Love the last quote too. I have snow white hair and get a lot of compliments on it when I am out and about....who knew that would happen! Enjoy your weekend!
I love seeing you deer pictures. We have calamari sometimes. My mom makes it. I feel it's an acquired taste. Isn't it so nice to be able to get out and see friends again? We're not doing too well here. My hospital is slowly filling up with Covid patients all over again. It's so frustrating. I wish people would just get their vaccine.
I love Calamares, I ate them a lot while living in Spain and still love it when I find them on the menu.
You are so lucky to spot deer in your yard. I would be sitting and watching them all day if I could. Glad you had a fun outing after so much time. We all need that from time to time don't we?
Those fawns are so adorable. How wonderful that you can see them from your window. Bring Flowers is so bright and cheerful. If someone else at the table is having calamari, I will have a bite or two, but I would never order it for myself. Hubby and I went to a restaurant in July, but with we haven't gone out since. We are playing it very safe with the virus on the uptick again here in the US.
We get deer in our neighbourhood too. I have not seen any fawns this year. Dogs are such great companions! We love spending time with our grand-dog, Finn. He and our daughter are visiting now. We spent the last week at a cottage together. Lunch out with your friend sounds wonderful! I’m hoping the reluctant people come around and get their vaccines. They are the ones getting sick at the moment. Your stitching is so pretty. I can relate to the poem.
So glad you had a nice meet-up with your friend! Those fawns are adorable. I just looked at photos of Newfoundland and Labrador and it has such a wild beauty. My husband loves calamari prepared like in the photo, and I love breaded, fried things, but did not care for it the one time I tried it. Love those puppies! That poem is just wonderful.
Roundabouts are common in the uk. But near London Heathrow airport there is a double one that you can go the wrong way round! I know madness! I haven't come across any others in the uk though so I guess the authorities deemed them to dangerous. Those deer are so pretty and it looks like you family is having fun!
Great poem! We need to celebrate our wisdom!
Those fawns are adorable, and your hydrangeas are gorgeous! Mine are looking like crispy critters these days with the 100-104 degree weather recently. Those are cute pups, can see how they would be keeping you busy! Hope you have a great week!
So happy for you that you got out and away! Now the picture of food looks like French fried onion rings, but what does a Texan know anyway - LOL.
Your Cross Stitch is beautiful! Have a great Sunday! Hugs
I loved the photo of Neddy and his giant stick, and now he has friends to play with...I bet you are exhausted! I’m so glad your family was able to get together.
I loved the recent photo of Neddy with his giant stick, and now a continual slumber party with his new buddies...you must be exhausted! The fawns are so sweet and growing fast. I’m glad you were able to celebrate with family recently. These crazy restrictions have gotten way out of hand.
Beautiful markings on those fawns... notice the individual markings, makes them identifiable till the spots fade.
Beautiful mama deer with her babies. I love fried calamari. The dogs are cute. How did you get them to sit together in a row?
Your doe and her fawns are beautiful Jocelyn. I’m so glad you have your dogs for companionship. They are the best! Squid jigging and wild blueberries are just perfect for east coast adventures. I love calamari and now I’m thinking of it, I just might need to brave a restaurant which I haven’t done for over a year and a half..
What a moving poem. I can see why you like it. I love Calamari battered and fried as you had it, but I'm no fan of any other way of cooking it.
Calamari? No thank you (said politely, but accompanied by a shudder). Tried it once and it was like eating shoe leather. DH is violently allergic to seafood so we don't go near it.
And those roundabouts are not exactly fun for many people. The small ones we have here aren't too bad but when you add in several lanes of traffic and umpteen places to get off and it's a lesson in crash up derby, particularly if you have either a Nervous Nellie OR someone who isn't sure of where they're going.
Love that poem - and immediately thought how often we do the same thing.
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