The Encore

I am writing to tell you what has been going on recently.

I have been baking every week and distributing cookies to the neighbors and the ladies I know from grocery shopping. They are all detailed on my YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-9p4j9GtAam60LuVuHHgYg

I signed up, as you may remember for Lasagna Loves, an organization whose volunteers make lasagna for a person in need in some way, I signed up for once a month and this week was my cycle.. I have a woman that I will be delivering lasagna tomorrow. Of course I have to include something I baked and I baked a chocolate pound cake topped with chocolate ganache.

I recently finished a puzzle of a beach scene sunset with two beach chairs and an umbrella, the location is tropical because of the palm trees, there were many areas of the puzzle that had shades of colors all around…. it was a difficult puzzle but I was able to get it done. It is fun to do these puzzles and good to get the activity in the brain.

As you know I love to run, I look forward to the summer when I can get out there at 7:00 am and be comfortable in shorts…. The weather was warm a few days last week, I did not run today because I was making the lasagna.

I enjoy running very much, I started running about 10 or 11 years ago. I started to walk every day for a year only missing one day then I joined a gym and ran on the treadmill when I saw a 5K race locally I trained and came in second place in my age category, except for a minor detour because of a bit over doing it.. I have been running ever since… picking up some medals with a major highlight being a half marathon this past October.

Getting out in the fresh air is the best even when it is a bit chilly…..

I also enjoy writing and have a story in a contest currently and a new one under way.

Keep on moving and enjoy every day you have…..

Until next time have fun!!!

Today, March 20, 2022 is the first day of spring.

We had St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday, I made Irish Soda Bread and for dinner Corned Beef and Cabbage. Both were very delicious and we continued the tradition.

I ran three times this week, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, it was raining on Thursday but a day of rest like today is good too.

I am so glad I am able to run even if the younger or even older people pass me by, I am just glad to get out in the fresh air and enjoy the time. It is good to get any exercise you can.

Give it a try just a walk around the block can give you a boost in your energy and your perspecive.

Today I baked the delicious Coconut Butterscotch cookies. I delivered them to the neighbors and the four ladies I got to know grocery shopping for during the pandemic. One is a recent addition as she can not got out because she is not steady and has poor vision.

Here is a YouTube video showing how to make these delicious cookies

I have also been doing puzzles and finished one today, this one was difficult because the colors and shapes repeated, they were different colored macaroons, it took a long time to finish it, but is is bright and cheery to look at. On to the next one.

It was a busy week and I went to the Motor Vehicle Office (with an appointment, which is needed to get in) but I still waited about 2 hours before being served. So within 20 days I will have a new license with the Real ID… in the interim I have a temporary drivers license.

I recently spoke to the Assistant Director of the Roxbury Food Bank and she told me about an organization called Lasagna Loves. I looked it up and you can volunteer for any frequency, once a week or once month etcetera. lasagnaloves.org

I signed up and had my first “match” this week. I contacted the woman and arranged to deliver a lasagna try to her today. I did that a short time ago.

Of course I wanted to include a cake with it so I made a chocolate pound cake and topped it with chocolate ganache. I made a small portion for us to taste test as dinner last night. It was delicous.

I purchased an extra large aluminum pasta tray, it took a box and half of lasagna noodles so it was a huge tray of lasagna.

I delivered it in Blairstown about 30 minutes away.

I met her on the street next to her apartment and carried up very narrow stairs.

It is so wonderful to volunteer and help others, this lady was very appreciative. I was glad to help out in this small way.

I am looking forward to the spring and summer, we had a few warmer days and I was able to run on those days. I wish I could get up and go run, but it is generally too cold for that but pretty soon my cool weather gear will let me run in the mornings.

The exercise, any exercise clears the mind and helps relieve the stress. Sometimes I work out a small problem I was dealing with or come up with a good idea to go forward.

I look forward each day to see what it will bring and sometimes it brings a little and sometimes it brings a lot.

I hope you enjoyed this short post.

Update Number 1 – February 24, 2021

Today I dressed in the full cold weather gear – it was 30 degrees, but with the multiple layers I was comfortable. It was a joy to be out there and I did 4-1/2 miles today.

I encourage you to get out and get some fresh air at some point, it is so nice to be out there, even though there were less people than yesterday due to the lower temperature.

Happy Exercising!!!

2/23//2022 Post

I have been out there running two days this week, I ran on Monday it was in the mid 50’s and yesterday (Wednesday) when it was 62 degrees.

I have struggled with the cold weather to get out there, anytime I went I enjoyed it very much but somehow the cold kept deferring me.

I got some cool cold weather gear, three layers for the top and two for the bottoms. On Monday I used only one layer on the top and yesterday I did the same. There is a merino wool sweater type for the first layer and a lightweight stretchy top for the second layer, in between is a heat vest which is a thin material that holds in the heat of the body while running.

I also have a couple of wool caps and gloves.

Today it is 25 right now at 8:30 am and only going to 36, I may try to go out later, I will let you know if I do.

It is wonderful to get out in the fresh air and exercise, it is not necessary to run any movement is great for your health, I learned that many years ago when I started walking not knowing at the time that would lead me to running and entering races.

As you know I ran a half marathon in October in Clinton, NJ, the course was very hilly but the training I did enabled me to persevere and complete the 13.1 miles, it took me 3 hours and 54 minutes but I completed it, a tough course and I completed it. Hooray, the team that ran the race was very friendly and encouraged me every step of the way. My son Paul ran with me and he encouraged me by just being there and watching over me every step of the way.

I hope you can get out there and enjoy the fresh air wherever you are.

Happy running! or Exercise or just enjoying the great outdoors.

Until next time!!!

We are taking a week break from New Jersey winter in sunny San Diego.

We arrived on Saturday, February 12, 2022.

We have gone to La Jolla on Sunday and today we went to the world class San Diego Zoo.

We went to La Jolla on Sunday

We spent some time at the beach.

Picture of us on Valentine’s Day

We are thankful for the opportunity to travel to a warmer place, we are enjoying the different scenery and experiencing new things.

I hope you get to do some exciting travel too!

More to come, check in a few days!

Update Number 2 – 2/15/2022

Today we went to Seaport Village and the Maritime Museum

One picture from Seaport Village

Update Number 3 – February 16, 2022

Today we spent most of the day in Old Town San Diego then later in the day we went to Oceanside to have dinner with Kelly and Harper at the Lighthouse Oyster Bar and Grill

We are having a great time here in San Diego we have found a fun and exciting thing to do each day!

Update Number 4 – February 17, 2022

Today we went to the Safari Park which is part of the San Diego Zoo and is about 35 miles north of the Zoo. It is a wonderful place, we took the free tram around the Africa Safari then we signed up for an afternoon trip into the safari up close to the animals, which was spectacular.

We had a quick lunch and then we were off to the up close ride into the safari.

The Zoo and Safari are excellent world class conservation programs, they breed endangered species which have been very successful.

A very worthwhile experience and a fun time was had by both of us.

Update 5 – February 18, 2022

Today is our last full day in San Diego – we went to the Cabrillo Monument, a national park on the tip of Port Loma, it overlooks a naval air station and a beautiful view of the sea and land around it.

We then went to the town of Coronado which is an upscale area of shops, we had lunch and did a little shopping.

Some information on the Cabrillo Voyage in 1542

https://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm

I have been recording my weekly baking of cookies and have tried a few other things also.

I also purchased some new equipment for my baking, I have bought silicone mats that are the exact size of my cookie sheets, I also bought a silicone mat with markings for macaroons and other things. I also bought a kitchen scale for more accurate measurements, also to even out batter among cake pans.

The real winner in all of this is the baking strips, they wrap around the cake pans and cool the sides which without them bakes first which causes rounded top, you wet them and wring them out, they are adjustable for various sides. You can also make your own with wet paper towel, rolled up and wrapped in aluminum foil. It works the same but is a little more intense.

I bought a set of baking tips for icing and decorating cakes, we will see how I do with those.

I also have tried a few new things.

I baked a Tres Leches Cake (three milks) you bake the cake in a 13×9 pan and cool completely in the pan and then poke holes in the cake and pour a mixture of three milks (regular milk, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. It is then topped with whipped cream that includes mascarpone cheese. It was scrumptious.

I also recently made a chocolate soufflé  which came out great.

It is so much fun to bake and also a lot of fun to try new things, sometimes they do not come out perfectly but you can learn from those mistakes too, so it is all fun.

You can follow my baking on my YouTube Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-9p4j9GtAam60LuVuHHgYg

I love to share my baking with neighbors and friends or as a special dessert for our dinner together.

I hope my videos encourage others to try different things in the kitchen whether it is baking or cooking.

Thank you for reading my blog and watching my videos.

Happy Baking!

We are in the middle of the winter of 2021 / 2022. It has been mild but today we got a windy winter snow storm.

I got up early and fired up the snow blower and cleared the walks and driveway, the wind was howling and I could not see very well doing the walk by the street, I missed the walk and was plowing the grass.

I took a second sweep right before lunch and the neighbor Kyle was doing the walk along the street, so he cleaned up what I had done and I told him I appreciated it very much.

I was glad to have the driveway and walks cleared, it is something I like to have done since I was a young boy always wanting to be ready to get out if we had to. I am not sure why but that is my earliest memory.

Earlier this week, on January 27, 2022 was my Mom’s 91st birthday. We visited her, due to COVID restrictions we had to take a test before entering and also there was a two person limit on visitors. So we worked out a schedule so that Mom would have visitors all day, my sister Virginia started out about 11:00 and we got there about 12:30…. after us was my sister Kathy and after Kathy was my nephew Michael and his family.

I continue to pick up milk from Ashley and bring to the local Food Bank every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have also started to do food shopping for an elderly lady in town who can no longer get out on the bus.

I also bake every week and I have started to record the process on YouTube.

You can see my channel searching for my name or clicking this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-9p4j9GtAam60LuVuHHgYg

Have a good day and bring on spring!

Today, January 11, 2022 is the 20th anniversary of the death of my Dad due to Alzheimer’s Disease.

A horrible disease that robs the victim of his memory and ability to function.

We have participated in Alzheimer’s New Jersey Annual Walk since the year after my Dad died.

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My Dad was a jack of all trades, he was a tool and die maker and retired from Northrop Grumman in 1990.

He was a photographer and took this picture of a man walking with two bags at the TWA terminal at JFK Airport sometime in the 60’s. He had a darkroom upstairs in our house, if you look at the negative of this picture you see people at counters… he used a technique called “dodging” to block out those other characters. He won several awards in the company camera club for this picture. In years past we had this picture on the back of our team shirts at the annual Alzheimer’s Walk.

He was also a master mechanic – he took apart my 1962 Ford Falcon engine and re-seated the valves of the straight 6 engine.

He was always looking for the new thing, the new stereo, the new camera or video recorder or video game.

If he lived in the current generation he would be at the top of the technology of this day.

Here is a more detailed post I did last year:

Memory of Alfred P. Chernick

It is good to take this memory with the hope that I make him proud of me.

I had been pulling out my summer clothes from a dresser in a spare bedroom when we were preparing for our annual Christmas trip to Florida, early in December, 2021…. mixed in with my shirts was an American Flag —- This flag was very special it had covered the coffin of my father-in-law – Clinton L. Rose…. I did not think too much of it at that moment as I had been sorting out clothes for our trip.

A few days later I was driving and I thought wouldn’t it be nice to have the flag framed as a Christmas gift for my wife Megan.

I went to the Song Art Gallery here in town and I had it framed as a surprise for Megan.

Mr. Rose died in September 1999, and had his burial in Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island, this flag covered his coffin and was handed to his widow, Megan’s Mom.

I do not remember how it ended up in our possession but it was kept secure in the dresser drawer for many years.

I felt it was appropriate to display it as a memorial and a testament to the service of Clinton Rose and all servicemen who have faithfully served this great country, the United States of America.

We were fortunate to have Megan’s Dad and Mom for many years. Being part of the great generation that fought in the World War II we did not really hear much about the battles.

The American Flag with its 50 stars symbolizes the unity and freedom we have in this country.

We are benefactors of all the sacrifice of so many soldiers, so many of whom never returned home to loved ones.

This flag will always be displayed in a place of honor on our Living Room wall, as it is pictured above.

We had a short trip to Florida over Christmas.

We spent a week in Florida in Ruskin, Florida a few miles from Gretchen’s Mom’s new house.

We arrived on December 22 and came home on December 30.

We visited the Ewing Family where Megan’s cousins were having dinner on Thursday, the 23rd.

We had a wonderful dinner on Christmas Eve and a lot of fun on Christmas day

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Left to right, Gretchen, Barb, Paul, Meagan, Don, Christina, Megan, me; Front. Bob, Paul, Charlie, Jack, Debbie.

There was a small retirement party for Barb, Gretchen’s Mom.

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We did Miniature Golf one day and went to the Tampa Zoo, the zoo was very enjoyable.

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While in Florida I got an email from the American Academy of Actuaries and they wanted to do a short piece about me, they call it the “Member Spotlight”. Take a look at page 5 where that article appears.

https://www.actuary.org/sites/default/files/files/publications/Actuarial-Update-December-2021.pdf

Megan took the headshot that they used.

Of course I did a lot of running when we were down in the warm Florida weather, early in the morning.