Spring has sprung.

Memorial Day weekend is a thing of the past.  Many of the residents did come out to watch the parade.  The weather cooperated.  We served over 30 people at our impromptu pot luck picnic.  Later in the day, we played shuffleboard and bocce ball.  My shoulder told me when to quit.  I knew I'd be a very hurting unit if I kept going.  Found music from the 50s and 60s that celebrated summer.  It seemed appropriate music for the day.

My friend, Nancy, planned to call me early this morning so we could walk for about 1/2 hour.  I woke up late.  I saw her about 9:30am and asked if she called.  She laughed.  "No, I overslept."  So much for good intentions.  We'll try again tomorrow morning.

The shop and the diner are doing well.  Vacations are taking a chunk out of my volunteer pool.  Tomorrow, for example, I'll be in the shop from 3 to 6pm.  It should go fast since tomorrow is Pizza day.  It will keep me busy.

Tonight, I'll do the prep work for lunch on Thursday in the diner.  The choices are a grilled turkey sandwich with a spinach, artichoke and asiago cheese spread, thinly sliced tomato and grilled onions, the usual hot dogs from the outdoor grill and egg and black olive sandwiches.  The spread is best after it mellows for a few days, so making it tonight will work.

Since I'm going away for the weekend, I'll have to get Monday's breakfast underway before I leave.  The special for Monday is a triple berry french toast bake. 

Things are buzzing at the Towers.  We are working on a plan to use the donated craft supplies.  Our first gathering of the talented arts and craft people is Monday.  I know there will be a lot of good ideas.  We did name our group the GeneSeniors.  We'll be making items to donate; some to sell in our tiny gift shop; some to add to our 'welcome basket' for new residents; and others for decorations for our community rooms.  It should be an interesting project. 

There is a request for an Ice Cream Social.  When I mentioned it to Shop and Stock, his first reaction was, "How much is that going to cost us?".  In the end, he'll go along with it.  We just have to get over his initial rant.   I really believe that an event like the picnic (we supplied the hot dogs, rolls, etc.) and an ice cream social go a long way towards thanking the residents who support the shop and the diner.  It will be fun for the residents to make their own ice cream creations. 

Today is the last day of our May Ice Cream Sale.  It has been a marathon of keeping up with the demand.  Between ice cream and pop, it has kept S&S running.

This is the beginning of another busy week. 

Easter Sunday and other things

Easter was a quiet day. 
I went out to dinner for Easter. No cooking; no fuss; no muss. I chose to go an untradional route, no ham, no turkey, no roast beef. A refreshing seafood plate just hit the spot.


Planning for opening day of the Summer Diner seemed to take center stage.  It is still a work in progress.  Our first event is breakfast on May 2.  The menu is set and the shopping list is made.
The first lunch is May 5.  It dawned on me that it will be Cinco De Mayo.  We should have something on the menu to celebrate that day.
So out came Pedro!

Pedro will be serving beef tacos with all the fixings. 
For those who prefer something different, we will have a choice of either a tuna club or a hot dog from the grill.
We sat down to make out the final grocery list for the diner last night. My good friend, Lu, will do the majority of the shopping.   She has her list and the money and should come back this afternoon with goodies for the freezer, refrigerator and the pantry (of which we have very limited space). 
I have my list which will be filled on Friday.  Between the three of us who have lists we should be in good shape. 
While I'm trying to keep the shopping concentrated on the current week, we did decide to purchase some items in bulk.  Those will hold us for the entire summer.  Ergo, the first week's shopping list is long.  As with everything, start up is expensive.  This is no different.


On May 7, we'll have our Kentucky Derby party.  The ladies are very secretive about their hat creations.  I can't wait to see what they come up with.

The Snack Shop will be closed for Memorial Day.  I'm sure the staff will enjoy their long weekend.
Looking through cookbooks for ideas for the diner has been interesting.
I happen to turn a page and found a recipe for a game pie.  According to the cookbook the recipe dates back to the early 1800s and was found in the attic of an old home.
The list of ingredients included 2 rabbits (dressed) and a duck (dressed). 
Then the shocker.  It also included one can of chicken stock and, the kicker, one package frozen pastry puff.
I did the literary version of a double take.  An authentic 1800s recipe?  I think not.

From Newsletters to Gardens to NY26 and other things.

The Sunday Blog on Monday

Can you tell it was a busy weekend?

Today was busy too. The days seem to run into each other.

• The newsletter is finished and off to be printed.
• An 'interest sheet' is completed. Looking for interest from the residents for Friday night trips to Dwyer Stadium for the Muckdog games and fireworks.
• Wilcox Mini-Bus has comfortable transportation and is wheel chair accessible. There has been requests for this in the past. Looking forward to see how many still want to go.
• Completed my volunteer roll call. We have 49 volunteers who cover a myriad of services. They will be honored at a picnic on July 17.
• Made several phone calls for the Genesee Co. Democratic Committee and played phone tag with Clor's market for most of the day.
• Briefly my friend, Brenda, and accepted a donation of books and videos for our library. This is such an appreciated gift. Our librarian was thrilled.
• Gave 'shop and stock' two new contacts for products for the shop. Waiting to hear if he talked to them.
• Wrote two proposals for the council's consideration. One for future trips and one for the small freezer we need in the shop.
• Spoke to the new chair of the garden committee. I have to find time to sit down and talk to her sometime this week.
• Added a new volunteer to the Summer Diner. He will be our outdoor grill man for Thursday lunches. (big sigh of relief).
• Found out that one can make a cupcake with a Cadbury egg inside. Sounds delicious. I wish I had time to make some.
• Made the posters for J.D.'s Ice Cream Special Month.
• Talk to favorite daughter over the weekend. She is still suffering with whooping cough going on her sixth week. The doctor is telling her, and one of my nurse friends agreed, that it can take six months or more to get rid of it. In the meantime, she has two newborn grandsons that she can't see.
• I noticed that my stalker visited this site over the weekend. That is okay, all are welcome :)
• Working on a bi-partisan information night with the candidates for the NY26th seat.
• The weather is unpredictable. Snow, rain, wind, and more snow. I know it will break soon, but just not soon enough.

From the "Life is Never Dull" File

 Life is Never Dull File

Every once in a while, one has to look back to see how far one has traveled.  Today is one of those days.  Yesterday we had our annual corned beef and cabbage dinner.  It was delicious.  The kitchen staff did an excellent job. 

That dinner marked the year's anniversary of the beginning of a very traumatic time for me.  I would like to report that, in looking back, I've learned from that experience and have moved on.  

So, what is happening in the future.

The Snack Shop is taking on a new challenge. We will be serving a breakfast and a lunch once a week from May through August.  We will, also, serve a picnic once a month during the summer.

Don't be surprised to learn that Shop and Stock, the person I rely upon to supply the shop, was totally against the idea. 

"It's too much work"

"It's too hard"

"You'll never get the people to work it."

"I'm not doing the bull work."

The list of negatives was endless.

The idea of doing any cooking on the grill seemed to be beyond his comprehension. 

"We might do an outdoor breakfast.", I mentioned.

"You can't have eggs.  Eggs are hard to cook on the grill.  How would you do it?", he countered.

I had to think about that.  Eggs really aren't hard to do on an outdoor grill.  The grill has a side burner, just the right size for a big skillet.  Eggs would be easy. 

It wasn't until later that I had the image of what he was thinking.  I think he thought you cracked the eggs directly on the grill and, by some quick hand action, managed to keep the egg from falling through the grates.  I keep forgetting that his entire expertise in the kitchen involves opening the fridge for the next cold one.

That conversation ended with Shop and Stock harumphing, "Do whatever you want!"

So, the mission began. 

The theme for the Summer Diner is retro 1950.  I found a perky waitress for the menu's cover.

We will offer a choice of three breakfast meals on Monday morning.  Three lunch selections on Thursday.  One of the lunch selections will be from the outdoor grill.  Meal suggestions are coming in.

So far, we know we'll offer turkey clubs; soup in a bread bowl; reuben sandwiches; grilled cheese; and the usual hamburgers and hot dogs. 

For the breakfasts we'll be doing a lot of the breakfast bakes; chipped beef on toast points; toast, eggs, and bacon, etc.

The diner will offer ice cream floats and iced tea to go along with the lunches.

So, as I continue making lists and determining what we need, I run into the expected stone wall.

"I really would like to have a lunches be portable.  What size paper bags does our vendor carry?", I asked.

"You aren't going to put lunch in a paper bag.  They are too expensive.", he shot back.

"...and I need cocktail swords for the club sandwiches.", I mused as I added to my list.

"Cocktail swords!  Way too expensive."

My thought was that people could take their lunch out to the picnic tables in nice weather.  I was thinking of the lack of mobility of some of older residents.  While Shop and Stock's answer was to just plop the lunch on a paper plate, I was afraid some of them couldn't balance the plate and a drink while navagating through two doors to get outside.

I checked on the price of the size paper bag I want, less than a penny each.

The cocktail swords are less than two cents each.

I factored in the cost of disposable products per serving.  I think we can afford paper bags and cocktail swords.

So, the battle wages.  I say something is white, then he insists it is black.  Perhaps it is a control thing.

Whatever it is, it makes life interesting.  

But, I have a solution.

I think I'll start using reverse psychology.  Give him an idea that I don't like and let him come up with the opposite.  That way, I'll get what I want and he'll think it was his idea.  It will certainly make things a lot easier all the way around.