California in September Finale

On Sunday morning 12 of us gathered in Pasadena at a restaurant on E. Colorado Blvd. for brunch. The name of the restaurant is Old Town Caffe and don’t let looks deceive you, it was a fabulous establishment serving great food and specialty coffees. The service was top notch, too.

It was a fun and laid back morning and good for some recovery time after all the labor of putting on the Bridal Tea. Even though Vera’s car got locked in the wrong parking structure and she had to call attendants to let her out, all worked out in the end and we made it back home for a little rest time before we dropped off Katie at the airport for her trip home.

Later on Sunday evening…

…five of us gathered at Mario’s Mexican Restaurant for dinner. Lenny, Vera’s son-in-law, thought it would be fun to say it was Vera’s birthday. She was treated to a birthday balloon crown for this fictitious day.

Monday last before I flew home on Tuesday, I met my dear recently widowed friend at a restaurant in Tustin. We spent 3 solid hours at our table in conversation good for both our souls. We didn’t think to take a photo of the two of us.

My trip to California was filled with people time. No beach time even though I was staying in Huntington beach with my sister.

And now it’s time to enjoy Autumn!

Hour by Hour ~ Hymn

Hour by Hour

Hour by hour we trust in Je­sus,
Hour by hour for strength we pray;
Hour by hour the sands are drop­ping
From the glass of time away.

Refrain

We are goi­ng home where the pure and blest
In per­fect peace with Je­sus
Free from care shall rest;
Then let us go on with a hap­py, hap­py song,
Then let us go on with a hap­py, hap­py song;
O soon we’ll rest on yon­der shore,
Rest for­ev­er­more.

Hour by hour we hear a warn­ing
From the spir­it-voice with­in;
Hour by hour we meet the tempt­er,
Hour by hour we fall or win.

Refrain

Hour by hour we jour­ney on­ward,
Hour by hour we stem the tide;
Hour by hour we miss the dear ones,
Anchored on the oth­er side.

Refrain

Hour by hour the heart grows fain­ter,
Hour by hour the sun­light dies;
Hour by hour we near the por­tals
Of our home be­yond the skies.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1905.

Zucchini Tomato Hamburger Soup

 

Many times my kitchen creations come without a ordered list of ingredients and a numbered method. This zucchini hamburger soup is one of those throw together kitchen creations.

When someone’s garden bounty of zucchini and tomatoes is shared with you, try this soup.

4 cups fresh zucchini sautéed in 1 cup chopped onion till onion is translucent. 4 cups fresh chopped tomatoes salt and pepper to taste. A 32 oz box of beef broth and 16 oz can of chicken broth because that’s what I had in the cupboard. One garlic clove pressed. About 1-1/2 pounds of cooked hamburger because that’s what I had in the freezer. Bring to a boil and simmer for a while. Enjoy with a slice of fresh crusty bread like your daughter-in-laws sourdough.

Bridal Tea 2

This is a photo overload post with all the people who gathered and made this beautiful Bridal Tea event possible.

The bride to be, Delaney and her future Mother-in-law, Michelle, the hostess and visionary for the event.

Soon to be family on the groom’s side.

Laney and Avery, Jack’s only sibling.

Some of my tribe with Laney

Showered with family from Jack’s side of the family (AKA: my nieces and daughters)

Jack’s Maternal Grandmother and Great Auntie’s

Me with my two older sisters

Delaney and our Laura

Our Laura with Jack’s Auntie Meem

Our sister Vera’s ‘girls’ and our Laura

Cousins through thick and thin!

Michelle’s very special friend ‘tribe’ and ladies that have been in Jack’s life for many years!

One of the bride’s sisters and some of her bridal party.

Friends from our Russian Baptist Church days

My sisters and our sister-in-law Kelly and friend Svetlana

Hooray! Jack showed up at the very end of the event just in time to load up all the presents and to take them to their future apartment.

Some of us got a sneak peek to how the apartment is shaping up!

It was a full and glorious Saturday with more fun planned for Sunday!

Bridal Tea 1

When someone puts so much thought and energy in making an event so special it needs to be documented. I choose to document it here on my blog. I was blown away at the vision our niece had for showering her soon to be daughter-in-law and for the tribe of helpers who came along side her to make it all come to life. As guests we were treated to a very special time at Delaney’s Bridal Tea. Our niece’s ‘tribe’ were there before the event and well into the night when the event was over cleaning up and washing tea cups and tea pots. What a wonderful community!

The shower was held in Ryan and Michelle’s yard in Newhall. Michelle is our sister Kathy’s oldest daughter. The groom, Jack, is Ryan and Michelle’s son.

Jack’s grandmother (my sister Kathy) and Jack’s auntie (my niece Melissa) gathered flowers at the L.A. Flower Mart the day before the event. They brought the flowers to Michelle’s the day before the event and many hands arranged the bouquets in the tea pots.

Kathy baked the meat filled piroshky and they were delicious and transported those of us with Russian heritage back to our Mother’s kitchens.

The father of the groom was the scone chef!

Cousins of Michelle’s came early and assembled the tea sandwiches.

Another cousin made Gluten Free tea goodies for those who are gluten intolerant.

A dear friend made these melt in your mouth meringue kisses!

Michelle’s ‘tribe’ helped from before the shower began through and to the end with all the details that help create an celebration to remember.

Lemon curd and Clotted cream were added to each table for the scones.

Our daughter-in-love, Laura, flew in early to be a support and helper for Michelle.

Another lovely detail were the shower favors that were on each guests place setting.

It was a love filled event from beginning to end.

My Bridal Tea II post will feature all the guests and the ‘tribe’ that made it all come together.

Hello Fall Hodgepodge 2026

 

It’s time for the first Autumn Hodgepodge of 2026. Thank you, Joyce!

1. Fall arrives this week in the northern hemisphere. Does it look/feel like fall where you live?What’s something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel its officially fall? 

*If you’re answering today from the southern hemisphere feel free to sub spring for the word fall. 

The corn maze is a Fall event we love to do. The Marcus Cider Fest is another event in our area that definitely screams Fall!

2. What’s a small daily task or chore that always seems to fall through the cracks when your schedule gets busy?

Planning and making meals.

3. What’s something you’re falling for lately? 

Scones with clotted cream and lemon curd. They were served at the Bridal tea I attended on Saturday and it is confirmed that I’m a fan!

4.  Pumpkin is a popular flavor this time of year.  Are you a fan? What’s your favorite pumpkin flavored food or beverage?  

Pumpkin flavor is okay but I’m not crazy for the flavor especially in drinks. I can enjoy pumpkin in cookies.

5.What’s something you wish would never change? Explain. 

The love our family has for each other. Our dear Pop/Dzeda would say to his family members, “Love each other, stay together”

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I was in Southern California until yesterday getting home in the late afternoon/evening. I did not visit blogs while I was away. Our family was taking our dear old pop’s advice. We had a lot of together moments!

The Bride to Be…

I’m still in Southern California and it has been such a rich time with more to experience on this Monday and my last full day here. I have so much to share and hundreds of photos to go through. As per usual there is joy and sorrow that goes hand in hand in our community of believers. But for now the joy…

We gathered to celebrate the bride of our great nephew. Their wedding will be in October. What a special time we enjoyed with all these beautiful people!!

Our niece and her soon to be Daughter-in-law!

I will hopefully catch up with all of you soon.

He Saves Me Through and Through ~ Hymn

He Saves Me Through and Through

The blood that Je­sus shed for me
When groan­ing, dy­ing on the tree,
From all trans­gress­ion cleans­eth me,
And saves me through and through.

Refrain

Saved, saved, yes, I am saved,
My heart is cre­at­ed anew;
The blood of Je­sus cleans­eth me,
And saves me through and through.

In per­fect trust I now re­sign
My all to Him whose will is mine;
He fills my soul with love di­vine,
And saves me through and through.

Refrain

No an­gel tongue such praise can bring,
Nor learn the song that now I sing
To Him, my pro­phet, priest and king,
Who saves me through and through.

Refrain

I know not what my joy will be,
When face to face my Lord I see,
But this I know, He cleans­eth me,
And saves me through and through.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1885

Pear Crumble

On our previous property we had a pear tree that produced lots of pears and this is one of the recipes that I made to use some of the pears up.
 This is a simple to make recipe with the preparing of the pears taking the most time in the process.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 2-1/2 cups quick oats
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup melted butter
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (may be omitted)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 6 cups pears, peeled, cored and chopped (this was about 13 pears)
  • 1/3 cup white sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan.
  3. Mix together first 6 ingredients to make the crumble portion.
  4. Sprinkle the chopped pears evenly with the mixture of white sugar and cinnamon.
  5. Press half of the crumble mixture onto the bottom of the pan all the way to the edges.
  6. Top the crumble with all the prepared pears evenly.
  7. Sprinkle the remaining half of crumble mixture over the pears evenly. You can press down lightly.
  8. Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes.
  9. Serve warm or cooled with ice cream or whip cream or just as it is.

You can cut this recipe in half and bake it in a 8 or 9 inch square pan.

Sunday at the Feis

Auntie Lolo captured some great stills…

 

This dance competition was a ‘shuffle’ where the dancers are grouped with dancers from other schools of dance that they’ve never danced with before. Addy’s group earned a third place for their performance together.

This was the final dance of day.

What a enjoyable Feis. It was great toe be together to cheer for our Addy!

Uncle and Auntie flew in on Saturday morning and flew back home Sunday afternoon.

Some of us gathered for lunch at an Irish Pub just down the street from the convention center before we dropped Josh and Laura off at the airport. It was a appropriate finale to our Irish Dance Weekend!

I had just enough time to recuperate from our busy dancing weekend and now I’m on a plane today to Southern California for a Bridal Shower! It will be another weekend where I’m absent in bloggy world. September has been and will end as the busiest month in a long time for me. I’m leaving the PNW in the Summer and returning on the first day of Fall!