To market to market to buy some...corn on the cob!

I made my weekly trip to the Farmer's Market after corn on the cob, tomatoes, and cucumbers. I purchased a chicken yesterday to their store to make a chicken brown rice soup. I purchased the most delicious looking carrots to grate into it. I find organic carrots have the best taste. There is a difference!
I have got to wheel my little cart over to Circle K to get some water and I will be stocked up for a while. Pick up a newspaper. Have already drunk a little green tea in the patio. Touched base there. Yesterday had the most refreshing swim with a friend named Linda. Hope I can get her to come on camera as she is very lively and entertaining. Got to make the best use of the pool in these waning days of summer.
Just got word from my sister Ann that the other grandma of her grandkids who was only 58 and just diagnosed with lung cancer metastisized died suddenly! Her immune system was compromised and Janet could not throw off an infection. Ann's son Jason and her daughter and kids had just moved to Texas and now must trek back for the funeral services. Everyone is in shock, but if cancer has metastisized, I don't know but what fast is the way to go. This lady was the major of the town and was still working to their restaurant. She has been a hard working lady all her life, but unfortunately a smoker. Smoking does pose a real risk in later years.
Off I go on my errands. I am looking forward to some delicious farmer's food this weekend. One resident claimed it was the same stuff Safeway sells. Well, every big supermarket has an organic section now days, but I love buying veggies out in the open air of a Farmer's market.

My pre birthday party with long lost Dick

Doc is a guy who can't wait for birthdays. He starts celebrating your birthday way ahead of time. Right now his fridge is full of food he got up at 6am this morning to go to the store to purchase for my pre party, which includes barbecued ribs, cole slaw, potato salad, and corn on the cob! Does that sound like like a celebration or what? He also lugged home a flower in his back pack which you will soon see in the video he set up to film the presentation. And my birthday won't even be here for 2 more days!
He has been talking to me about cheese cake which I think will be the dessert he intends to purchase tomorrow. I did not even tell him that I had already purchased sirloin steak at the Farmer's Market to roast with potatoes, onions and carrots for my own birthday celebration. I didn't want to spoil his surprise party. It's either feast or famine around here. I did not see his feast coming as he had just got through making a big pot of what he calls glop made out of poor people's food he freezes and subsists on most of the time. He has frozen all that to make way for the feast! So now we have a feast already to go in my fridge and one in his! Boy, I am going to have to do some juggling to make sure none of this food goes to waste.
I think I can wait to start roasting mine until tomorrow. Yes, that's what I will do, and freeze part of it if need be.
Oh, I got the best salad yesterday to the Farmer's Market store made out of cauliflower, raisins, and I think it was wheat with a yummy dressing, just enough to flavor it. They try the most interesting combination of vegetables and grains over there, quinoa, couscous, grains you might not ever think to use in a salad.
You might get a kick out of Doc's jokes in this video we also made this morning for my pre party! This guy loves birthdays!

I survived 114 degrees in Phoenix just barely!

The 4th of July weekend started off Friday with a scorching temperature of 114 degrees! People were complaining of nausea, weakness and general malaise. The air conditioning broke down in another Phoenix apartment complex (not ours, thank heavens) and people were in danger. I would have had to evacuate because I could not have survived a heat wave with no air conditioning. As it was I cooled off in our big pool. I even had to sit in the sun a little bit after I got out to avoid a chill on arriving back in my apartment. But 114 degrees gets to you in spite of air conditioning and swimming pools. It's out there! It's dangerous!
Doc actually bestirred himself to go to the Farmer's Market with me this morning because he buys watermelons all summer. So we returned home with fresh corn on the cob for barbecued ribs he purchased yesterday and yes, the watermelon. I ate this delicious lunch in his apartment with him acting as waiter. Yes, Doc actually serves me food and takes away the dishes just like a regular waiter might do because he can't stand dirty dishes sitting on our tables. He is the first husband or male companion I have ever had who actually waited on me. Just think of Doc, the waiter. What an endearing characteristic in a man. It is too wonderful.
He had recorded comedy central for our watching pleasure, so after watching two comics I returned home to embed the video I made this morning out by our big swimming pool describing how I barely survived the heat. Enjoy.

Farmers Market Shoppers led by Mr. Disgruntled

You can see Mr. Disgruntled standing in line. I got in line in the back but he spotted me and commanded me to come stand beside him, so he had someone to complain to, but he came home satisfied with a nice fresh watermelon and even carried my large sack of produce home including pinto beans, cabbage, tomatoes, corn on the cob, onions and cucumbers. I then went and bought granola, tabouli and a couple of tamales. Umm, good! I spotted this fabulous orange hat on a young lady and took a photo. I want one! Belinda's Pickles are featured. Typical Farmer's Market booth. Another gal and her big boxer complete my photo array today. As you can see it was kind of overcast and muggy, so we did not get too hot! Don't you love a farmer's market?

Post script: I talked to all three sons the yesterday. Dan and Raymond both talked and wished me a happy birthday. I also asked about Baby. She is becomng a good dog. Dan is thinking about heading back to Phoenix this coming month to his job. It dies off in the summer but he hopes it will be reviving soon. Gary had just got off work after a long week, but assured me he was okay and would be seeing his doctor next month. He survived his long trip to N.M. and Utah he thought pretty well. I also got a call from my sister Margie in Phoenix yesterday, too, wishing me a Happy B. We chatted for quite a while. I received a book in the mail from sister Ann, so I am well set up for entertainment. I am taking sister Margie's gift to buy a cartridge for my printer so I can start turning out books like my Utah sisters do!

Best potato salad ever!

I make this salad only about once a year because I am apt to founder on it, but when Doc brought me 5 ears of corn that were really good, I asked him to get a few more, because I had just been given the right amount of small red potatoes to make this salad. I purchased the green beans at the farmer's market as well as the wonderful olive oil. Well, let me give you the ingredients and instructions!

6 ears of corn boiled for 3 minutes and put into ice water
Couple of handfuls of green beans boiled about 3 minutes (until tender) and put into ice water
4 pounds of small red potatoes boiled around 20 minutes and cooled down
In the meantime roast 3-4 poblema (sp) green peppers (I bought mine fresh to Farmer's Market) in a hot fying pan. When browned on all sides and appearing done put into plastic bags and close up so steam can loosen the skin more
1/3 cup of chopped chives (important for taste)

As for the vinegrette dressing, put 4 tablespoons full of wine vinegar in a big bowl with salt and pepper, mix in a tablespoon and a half of dijon mustard. Then slowly drizzle 1/2 cup of olive oil in and mix.

Mix in potatoes first, cut to size you want after boiling, then add green beans. Cut corn off the cob and mix. Clean seeds out of peppers and peal off skin. Chop and mix in followed by the chopped chives.

If you love corn on the cob and potato salad this combination will give you such good eating, well, I could not stop sampling this divine dish all day. (That's why I don't make it too often)