Gardenias are blooming...

I remember going to my Japanese grandmother's house when I was little... rarely was she without gardenias in her home. She would cut the blossoms from her front yard, and float them in shallow black bowls of water. The following review is not exactly reminiscent of a trip to Grandma's house, but it left my nose detecting subtle hints of the delicious flower while reading this fan's take on a fragrance called Fracas:

"'Fracas' opens on a tart, fleshy gardenia note that has retained its buttery carnality, while having all sweetness removed. It's floral without the powder and deepens into something spicier as the fragrance unfurls. A slightly sweet, oily-rich jasmine enters, followed by a very naughty-smelling, rubbery tuberose. The tuberose is intense and hasn't been softened or powdered down by any gentle florals, so at times, 'Fracas' smells like exotic flower petals mashed onto hot flesh. It finally dries down into a velvety-smooth, subtle spiced and simmered fruit note, tempered by quiet woods. 'Fracas' has an over-ripe, very retro feel to it---but retro to a specific time and place: Late 40's - early 60's fashion. I can't imagine it existing before or being introduced after that time period. It reminds me of the kind of glamour that requires seeing a hairdresser once a week with no washings in-between or stockings, girdles and lipstick; chiffon house robes and negligee sets. It evokes worn-in makeup and undergarments--a very ripe, retro femininity--coiffed hair, cigarettes and scotch..."

Wow. Intense description... fragrances are fun to fantasize about.

Some more fragrances on my list to experience: Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Carnal Flower, Kai, Creed Tubereuse Indiana, and Voluspa Fleurs de Fete... all are gardenia scented fragrances


The List: celebrities and their fragrances... (I don't really care who's wearing what, but some people find it interesting)


Click here if you are cheap (like me) and would rather learn how to make your own gardenia fragrance from the garden

photo credit: Sephora

Crazy Uncle

Old-timer San Diegans may recall when the San Diego Union Tribune was two different newspapers: the San Diego Union and the San Diego Tribune. Before the two papers merged and became "the U-T," and before it's office building was located in Mission Valley, our San Diego newspaper building was located dowtown at 919 2nd Street. Thus, the "919 Gang" was formed, an email group consisting of most of the original reporters from the downtown building . My grandfather, Charlie Ross, was a founding member of the 919 Gang. He worked for the SD Union from 1956-1992. My Uncle Jerry also worked for the U-T, and here's an unauthorized excerpt from his contribution to the latest 919 Gang email message:

"It's appropriate that my first contribution to the 919 gang would involve Fred Kinne, as he hired me when I was jobless and broke.
I had quit AP-Sacramento in 1970, not wanting to cover the Unruh-Reagan election, and as the only single guy in the bureau I would have spent months with them, instead of with various girlfriends.
I hopped a British freighter, the Blue Star Line's Canadian Star, and sailed from Oakland to Liverpool, where I saw no sign of any beetles, and almost died from bad British food.
After a few months of spending all my money, I sailed back to New York on the Bremen, an ancient art-deco German liner, where I almost died from the bad German food. Fortunately, I encountered a boon drinking buddy, a hilarious guy with a moustache like the propeller on a Constellation. His name was Dali and he could drink as well as he painted. By the end of the night, we looked like figures out of one of his nightmare works.
I stayed at a Greenwich Village apartment with the late, great AP reporter John R. Morganthaler, looking for work. Turned down a stint on the Daily News copy desk but learned where the Editor & Publisher printing plant was, so I flew the press and answered an ad for an "enterprise" reporter on the San Diego Evening Tribune.
Got a quick response from a guy named Fred Kinne, followed by conversations with Dick Eby and Dick Sullivan, who I knew from his Sacramento sojourns when state government was covered by newspapers.
Fred hired me, which was useful as I arrived in LA with 7 cents in my pocket after a cross-country adventure aboard the wackiest Greyhound bus rolling.
I didn't know Fred from Brute Krulak, but without even meeting me Fred liked my clips, the fact "Sully" endorsed me and the AP training, and he took a flier on me. The thing I'll never forget is that he hired me despite my earned reputation as a union goon-troublemaker and public skepticism over the U-T editorial policies.
His decision changed my life. It was my first newspaper job, I worked mostly with real pros, loved working across from the Press Room and living on Coronado and met my eventual wife, Anne-Jeannette (Charlie Ross's kid).
I left two years later for Santa Barbara, much to the relief of U-T non-news management. But I have never worked with as nice a bunch of human beings again, people who personified simple human decency -- Mike Richmond, Dick Eby, Jerry Remmers, Neil Morgan, Frank Saldana, Jack Gregg, some copy kid named Preston Oregano or something, Don Coleman, Bob Dietrich, et al.
And among all these good guys, these inherently decent human beings, Fred Kinne stood out."

Holiday Slideshow

Happy New Year!

Our family usually celebrates the New Year with a traditional meal, as I'm sure many other families do as well. This year, we are going to my grandmother's house for dinner, where pork, greens, and black eyed peas will be served--a southern tradition for many generations. Pork for good health, greens for "greenbacks all year," and black-eyed peas for good luck. I'm bringing noodles "for long life" (out of respect for my Japanese descent--my dad's mom was full Japanese).

Any leftover pork will be cooked into Senate Bean Soup, a recipe obtained by my grandfather during his years as a political writer for the San Diego Union. He covered the presidential elections (Johnson, Reagan, Nixon, and Bobby Kennedy), following the candidates to Washington D.C. Ever since, he was in charge of cooking this delicious bean soup.

... For anyone who is interested in the soupy historical details, here's a tidbit from Time Life's 1968 publishing of The District of Columbia: "...Every day on the menu of every restaurant in the Capitol Building can be found Senate Bean Soup...there is no record of the origin of this practice, but according to one story it originated not in the Senate but in the House, with a Representative who insisted that bean soup be served daily. Today, however the soup is especially popular in the private dining quarters in the Capitol's Senate wing, two adjoining rooms, one for Democrats and one for Republicans. The Senators' fondness for the soup does not make them gourmets. The maitre d'hotel says, 'if they don't choose Senate Bean Soup, they invariably ask for a hamburger.' " My mom has adapted this recipe into a version that is even tastier, in my opinion.

Above, top: Granddad and colleague in a SD Union article, August of 1968. Above, bottom: Governor Reagan and Grandma, 1968

Click here for Mom's Senate Bean Soup recipe.

Memories on Paper

My kids (age 3 and 2) are toilet papering the house whilst I write this post, so I'll get to the point (quickly).

During the holiday season when I was a little girl, my grandfather took me to see my first theater performance: Babes in Toyland. I'll always remember how special I felt to be all dressed up and fancy, going on a "date" with Granddad. The years following he took me to see The Christmas Carol; both were performed at the Horton Plaza theater (the Lyceum). These annual excursions with Granddad always included a trip to a bookstore (our favorite was Wahrenbrock's Book House, a 3-story used bookstore), and dinner downtown. (I have vague memories of eating turtle soup at the Grant Hotel, sharing roasted chestnuts with Granddad on a sidewalk, and entering the Panda Inn as if it were a 5-star restaurant.)

Nostalgic holiday memories aside, I'm currently reading this book to my children at bedtime:

Inside, there's an inscription from my Granddad:

"For Jennifer--When you were seven and we went to see 'the Christmas Carol;' Remember? Granddad...Dec 22, 1986"

My grandmother recently gave me some of Granddad's books (he passed away 6 years ago), and one of them was a copy of Dicken's The Christmas Carol.

It had been a gift from his grandchildren:

There's an inscription from my brother and my father, but to be honest, it was mine that made me smile: "Granddad, I remember when you took me to see 'A Christmas Carol' at Horton Plaza's theatre. It's a memory I'll always treasure come the holidays. It's one of the many reminders of wonderful things you have introduced me to and taught me to appreciate. Love, Jennifer...Christmas '97"

In Memory of:

Charles

(my Granddad)

P.S. That took the length of 2 1/2 rolls of toilet paper to write.

Thanksgiving with Grandparents

Grandma & Grandpa

(& Katie and Smokey)

All the siblings (almost)...plus kids and spouses

Dan and the kids

We had a great Thanksgiving up in Mariposa. We had lots of family in one place: all of the siblings (minus one, who is out-of-state) and their other halves (plus kids). I will post some more pictures soon. Meanwhile, check out the pictures from my sister Cortleigh's family blog.

More Caterpillars!

Yikes! Just in time for Halloween!
3 caterpillars in this picture: Can you see the tiny baby one in the middle?

We found more caterpillars at Grandma and Grandpa's house this weekend... Grandma Lana encouraged us to take as many as we could find home, since they were eating her passion vine. These hairy insects turned out to be Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae caterpillars, and the passion vine is their host plant. We found 20+ caterpillars and 4 live cocoons (chrysallis)! Now, let's see if we'll have more success observing these guys grow than we did with our attempt to raise monarchs. They are currently hanging up outside in

our "lady bug lantern" (from Insectlore), and they are not as ugly when viewed from a distance--Sorry if I scared anyone with the above close-up shots... I just love playing with the zoom on our camera.

A Night Out

We had a fun evening at the Lake Wohlford Cafe, a great local hangout near Grandma and Grandpa's house in Valley Center. After a day of t-ball lessons, swimming, and relaxing, we needed another excuse to get out of the house. Lake Wohlford Cafe has the combined environment of a dive bar and a mom n' pop diner, situated directly across the street from a lake full of catfish. There's even catfish nuggets available on the kid's menu! We ate fried okra, iced tea, catfish burgers, and hot lava cake and ice cream...yum! The juke box, bait n' tackle counter, mounted fish trophies, pool table, bar stools, and live music on a dance floor made us feel right at home, despite the fact that Dan and I don't drink and can't remember the last time we've gone fishing. The Chieftain (Men in Trees) ain't got nothin' on this cafe on a Saturday night.

Lizard Among Us

On our walk to the park near grandma's house today, we found a baby lizard--the tiniest lizard ever! Minus its tail, his body was about the length of my thumbnail. As tempting as it was to bring him home, we decided to return him to his dwelling behind the baseball field. (Besides, we have attempted raising lizards before... from an alligator lizard that got loose in my car and lived off crumbs for over 2 months before molting and then escaping, to a lizard we kept in a cage and which refused to eat any of the live insects we presented. We learned it was best to observe them, not house them).

Rigel holds the baby lizard (with a little help)

Look how small it is compared to Izzy's little hand!

Grandma gets Caitlin a drink once we reach the park.

Grandma's Gardens

We love going to Grandma's house, and are so grateful Gerri lives nearby. She resides in the same house in which my mom, aunt and uncle grew up. There is a park and a school within walking distance, and a few of the neighbors knew my mom when she was a kid. Until 6 years ago (this month) when he passed away, she shared this house with my grandfather, Charlie. My grandparents were married for 58 years. One of Grandma's passions is gardening (along with geneology, hot tea, mystery novels, friends, family, church, and her dog, Caitlin--among other things). Rigel and Izzy love their great grandma very much, and don't like it when our visits come to an end.

The playhouse (Grandad's old office), and the Fairy Garden

The Fountain (In memory of Rigel & Izzy's great-great grandparents, Oradelle and "Smokey").

Izzy and Rigel enjoyed helping Grandma deadhead her flower beds... "put 'em in the bucket.")

Why Grandma Lana and Grandpa Gary's House is So Fun

The kids always love going to Grandma Lana & Grandpa Gary's house..."Can we ride golf carts at Grandma's house?" is a frequent request. Tucked away in a retirement community, their house is fully equipped with everything needed for fun-filled visits: a rec center with 2 swimming pools and a spa, an 18-hole golf course loaded with rabbits to spot while golf cart blazing, a pond to fish perch and the occasional bass (as well as tadpoles, crawdads and toads), and the grandparent's 1/4 acre yard upon which lizard catching, digging in the dirt, and exploring is always welcome.
























Gary and Lana's fountain and lazy hammock...




















Lana's beautiful roses (among other flowers) can be found all over their property














Lots of comfortable areas to lounge and dine (and enjoy Lana's cooking!)

The drive to and from their home is just as enjoyable, with horse stables and a pumpkin patch less than 2 miles away.

Going for an after dinner swim (ssshhhh...it's after hours at the rec center, so don't tell the neighbors!)

Citrus fruit, stone fruit, and apples grow in Gary and Lana's orchard behind their house...we love Lana's homemade apple pie.

Here's Tiko and Tootie, who grace our arrivals with extensive toe lickings... Tootie keeps Izzy entertained with her bouncy playfulness.

Lana is a fabulous cook, and always has an elaborate meal prepared for us before we arrive, usually complete with a dessert. She's a big fan of southern chef Paula Deen (among others), and you can click here to view some of the magazines you'll find scattered around her house.

Gary loves wood working, and has turned his garage into a work shop for his many projects. He would love to one day have a sizable enough supply of aspen wood to create a lamp shade comparable to those of Peter Bloch. He is a big fan of art, particularly Tomasz Rut.