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Spring is here!  We have had deightfully warm and pleasant winter - and now spring is really getting here in a hurry.  The flowers are starting to bloom, well actually some have been for quite a while 

 The yellow ones are my favorite of the many daffodils that we have.  Most of them are off spring of bulbs my Dad planted in Graham many many years ago.

 These pansies I planted this past fall.  They have really enjoyed the warm winter and are now really showing off.

 Here is one of the larger planter beds of pansies.  This particular site is special for me because a little over ago, last fall we had very special guests who helped me plant flowers at this spot.

 My helpers were these two.  Yes we are talking about very good gardeners.

 We dug holes, took plants out of plastic containers and planted flowers.

 And this made for a very good day.  Good help is so very important and I had good help.  They were cute too.  

 This is the view of the house today.  If the summer does not get to hot to soon, these ought to continue looking good for a couple more months.

one last post from Panama with Deuce

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When I starting packing for our return to the US of A, Deuce got very concerned and passive of Patt and me.  She paced the floor and then started watching me oh so closely. She knows suitcases mean someone is leaving.  Jen said that once as Stephen was packing she lay in front of the door so it would not open to try to keep him from leaving.  Deuce was so cute, I had to take some photos to share.

 as you can see we had a full bed with Patt, Deuce and Jen.

 and oh how sad she was too.

 but she did appreciate having her butt scratched.

so I reckon this is my last post for now.

restaurant Review #17 -The Beruit

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One of the delightful things about Panama City are the incredible number of eating establishments.  lots and lots of them and some just really good.  This is one of them.  Lebanese, and close to our location.  Large outdoor veranda seating area as well as large rooms with those Arabic type tables.  Of course middle- Eastern music is playing.

 We sat outside and had a wonderful falafal type wrap sandwich, salad and taboule. The taboule was like eating roughage and will be passed on next visit.  

 The decor is fax-middle eastern tent/cave? or something.  a hot cup of green tea and about six scoops of sugar are automatically served at the conclusion of the meal along with a gelleatano con leche that was WOW !  again most of the sugar from Cuba or somewhere along with sweetened condensed milk and some kind of light pastry wrap.  Come back and get yourself one for desert.

we leave in the morning and are already looking forward to returning to soon.

Yes, we saw the Super Bowl

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We were part of an energetic place, full of excitement, noise, hoopala, food, beer, soda, snacks,  and just plain ole good time – super Bowl Roman Numeral something or other was one to remember.

We were at the Marriott Hotel Casino Sports Book terrace – see photo below for a view of part of it.   The manager/operator, John, and his wife Jolene are friends of Stephen and Jen’s from New York.  Jolene is expecting her first child the same week that Jen is expecting.  Jen and Jolene are great friends and obviously mean a lot to one another especially at this  particular point in time.

 Photo below is of just small part of the crowd we were with, from left to right -- Peder, the owner of Executive whose son is our landlord – and friend,  Jen, the previously mentioned John, Stephen,  Sherry girlfriend of  Rob , Rob, (a WF guy and real estate  property manager), and Kevin a marine biologist –medical chemist professor at Duquense,.  Interesting and fun folks.  And we did indeed see the game – from any of a large number of TVs including two at our table.  This club/sports bar/book is where I have seen several Wake games when here on previous visits (never on the BIG screen though – Wake is just not as big a draw as Ohio State or somebody like that)

 The brain trust of the gym in Casco.  Andy and Yana ( who also works at Kooziez.)

 And another random photo, of friend Helmer helping set up the TV amongst the painting /remolding being done in the apartment.—note Deuce at bottom right of photo—she is present but not a bother at all, just a great companion, guard of the kids.

Good couple of days here in Panama

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Starting from just this evening, we had a delightful Thai dinner with Heidi and baby Elliot

 and you know who really liked holding this Grandson of ours.  Eddie G is one proud Papa

 Earlier today we spent time looking for an apartment to rent - some with nice balconies, but in rough condition.

 and some just a little bit out of our price range.

 in case you were wondering, traffic on Via Espania (the big street just down from the Hotel El Panama) has not improved,

 and it is easy to see how the construction of the subway system is really helping.  This is form the pedestrian overpass.  The "Rey" is one of our grocery stores.  Yes we have neighbors.

Patt went with Jennifer to the physician's office for check-up — All is very well and baby is getting big — surprised you all on that one I bet.

 And yes we even went grocery shopping.

Back in Panama

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Whoa Nellie, it is good to be back in a familiar place.  I mean real familiar,  This is the same apartment we were in back in the summer of 2011.  Slightly different furniture, but the same feel and appointments. 

Here is the front room, that desk is a new addition and the couch is the furniture change I mentioned above.  An additional change is the presence of Deuce, Stephen and Jen  As a consequence now Patt and I are in the guest bedroom.  More later but essentially Stephen and Jen are going to take the back half of the apartment and the front half will be for Kooziez business.  Hence the desk.

 Quick update – an additional change – there is even more construction than before when I was here.  This is the building that was a hole in the ground – now going on a four story parking garage but heading towards more and eventual hotel.  Next to that to the left is another project, an addition to the Executive Hotel taking place in that small space that is not parking garage.  Across the street from the hotel expansion the Bristol is nearing completetion.

 And that is not all.  To the left across the street is a construction project about to start – see cranes and steel— there is another project also across the street, but to the right of our apartment- complete with huge drills making deep holes for the foundation.

The long view out the front is unchanged and there between the buildings is the gray Pacific, complete with ships waiting on entrance to the Canal.

Of course more to come.

  

Stephen and Jen were in town

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This past several days have been a whirlwind --- but you knew that from the title of this post.  Late last week Jen, and her Mom stayed with us and her Grandma, and step-Dad (Fa’s parents) and Grandma (Jim’s mom) and brother Doug and finance Haido stayed at the nearby Marriott.  Yes there was a crowd at our house – but it was delightful.

 The occasion was Jen’s baby shower at Mark and Marie’s hosted by Marie, Barbara, and Beth.

 The mother-in-law, that would be Patt enjoyed herself too assisting in the present showering.

 A great crowd of cousins, and Aunts and such were present.

As was Stephen, who made a cameo appearance – to be equipped with a diaper bag.

The Grandmama to be with son and daughter-in-law

 The young couple approaching one of those life changing moments.  (they truly are almost delusional) – so it is going to be a fun ride – but we have been there.

 Granddaddy Mark with grandson Ryan and granddaughter Margaret

 And at the close of the day we all had a wonderful Thai dinner with much good times.

Getting this stuff packed was not easy --- not easy at all.  But all of it was !! 

I knew this guy would be happy

This guy was pleased to learn of my recent success cooking chicken fingers —   I did not tell him about Jeff's contribution to our table with some of that wonderful grass and hay fed "you-know-what" that I was able so successfully convert into meatloaf and hamburger-potato pie.

Mark and I were at the local chick-a-fil for a quick lunch before going to the WF ballgame today and were fortunate enough that the Eat Mor Chikin Cow came by our table.  Some days you just get lucky.  

pretty good chicken fingers

Tonight I found a pretty good chicken finger recipe—and in just a little bit we had a real good source of protein. 

This is from food dot com

Boned chicken breasts paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, sea salt, fine ground pepper  two cups of saltine cracker crumbs, and an egg.

Crush the crackers with rolling pin; mix cracker crumbs with ¼ teaspoon of each of the above spices.   

Slice the two chicken breasts into inch wide strips.  Dip in egg then roll in the ground cracker mix – bake 12 minutes—and you got it.  Regarding the spices, I doubled the pepper since I like pepper.

Add a baked potato, salad and dinner is done.

Might have to do a restaurant review of 4307.

the Christmas party

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We had such a nice party at Mark and Marie's.  the littlest one was oh so cute and fun to be around.  Even let me hold him a while too.

Now these guys were wide open.  Nathaniel wanted to wrestle me — for a while — he said "now don't make me cry"  He found out I am a serious wrestler —- but he came back for more.

and we all got nice presents and had real good times.

Even the traditional "now-this-is-a-what" gift time.