Dining Delights | Peaches Prattlings

{January 12, 2016} How cool is this!!

I got some amazing chanukah and Christmas presents thus year, I am very lucky girl, I have to tell you!

People know me, I got some practical ones, silly ones, fun ones, I loved them all. And this week, I had my last goody sent to me and I have to tell you about it, I’m just tickled!

It arrived in a very large box and I had no idea what it could be, but I had a great laugh out loud when I saw it! JCT remembered one of my posts from Barcelona and how much we loved the cooking class and couldn’t resist getting me a paella pan! How cool is that!

I’ll be looking up the instructions from the class and I’ll let you know what time to be over!

{January 10, 2016} Happy birthday ACS

Today we celebrate my brother-in-law, ACS’ birthday.

ACS and I are the same age for a,little over the months, then he gets to tell me what is like to be a the next age, until I get there.

Everyone gets to choose where they want to eat on their birthday and ACS’ favorite place for his birthday is The Cheesecake Factory and that’s where we went, it’s tradition.

The usual suspects were there, GES, MGS, EMS, B&S M and their son, HM, his brother and sister-in-law, J&AS and added his year, PSM, only people missing…dad and Lala.

Guess what I found in Hawaii! How much convincing do you think it would take to celebrate his birthday there next year?

ACS is a great guy, I’m glad I was here to celebrate another birthday with him.

ACS is a good guy, a fabulous father and great husband to my sister. They’ve been through so much, ups and downs over the last few years and he’s been a rock and someone she could count on, what more could you want for your sister?

I’ve sung his praises a few times, as you may remember, so tonight, I just want to say a big happy birthday to my “little big brother”.

{December 28, 2015} More friends…can you be any luckier than me?

I don’t think so.

I started the morning off at ST’s, after we all got back from dinner, I threw in a load of laundry, always nice to have clean clothes.

Then it was off to see RJS and her new kitties, Max and Maddie, also known as M&M. So very cute!! They are about 5.5 months, affectionate, sweet, smart and very precocious. They definitely keep their human parents on their toes.

After a bite of lunch, back to the house for more catching up, laughing, silliness.

Next was time to meet CKM, we met at an Italian restaurant for pasta, mine was ok, but I was jealous of CKM! Apple and goat cheese ravioli, oh my did it smell fantastic!

After dinner we went to do one of our favorite things, a painting class! We decided on the blue background. Tomorrow I’ll show you the finished product.

Before we went into the class we sat in the car and exchanged gifts, it was raining cats and dogs!

After another fun class, we chatted a little on the way back to the restaurant to get her car, back to RJS’ house for more catching up, talk to you and lights out.

Another great day, as always! I’m beat!

{December 26, 2015} Another fabulous day!

Today was laid back and packed.

The day started not too early…well, sort of, 6am, but doze fire the next two hours until SDL and Miss A came down and we had breakfast.

Today it was a blueberry muffin. We discuss world events, the economy, you know, the usual stuff you talk to a five year old about. It’s actually one of my favorite things I get to do with her, meals.

SDL and I had a chance to catch up, one on one, which I love as well. Then everyone else started getting up and joined us.

After a bit, I got showered and dressed, then headed out to see my house, just a drive by, see if everything is in order, it is.

Then off to see TS and her daughter, KS and Miss Molly, the furry one in the family, at their new house. It’s lovely, and suits them to a T, just right.

We had a tour, TS has the first floor and KS has the upper floor and Miss Molly has the run of the place, of course.

We chatted for a while, then went to get some dinner and after dinner decided to see a movie, Sisters, with Tina Fey and Amy Pholer, quite funny actually.

Back to the house to talk for a few hours, not even realizing how late it was!

Now it’s time to talk to you and get some sleep! Tomorrow is another jam packed day, of course!

{November 28, 2015} A fine Chanukah party

Today my family and I were invited to a special event.

PSM hosts a Chanukah party every year for his family. It’s a tradition that has been going on for years.

PSM orders a lot of food, I mean a lot! There are platters of bagels, lox, cream cheeses, cheeses and crackers, a whole whitefish, egg salad, tuna salad, whitefish salad, a salad/salad, a kiegel, two quiches and I made a blintz souffle. We had platters of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and capers, all the things that go with bagels, cream cheese and lox. And of course…potato latkes with applesauce or sour cream

Then there were desserts…cookies, cakes and pies, how could you go wrong?

It was PSM, his brother’s family, aunts and uncles, their kids and their kids kids, cousins and then there was us, and PSM’s best friend from college and his family. 39 people total. That’s a good sized crowd, wouldn’t you say?

So, there was food, then lighting the menorah, then presents for the kids. The nice thing is that only the kids get presents because all the adults make a donation to the charity of the year. Each year a different family member selects a charity. One of his aunts even gives each adult a check made out to the charity in their name.

This year, I got a check!! Along with a desk calendar like all the other “kids”. I guess I’m now part of the family.

It really was a nice party, a good time with good food, family and friends and I’m touched that we got to share in the day and experience, thank you PSM.

{November 19, 2015} The end is always bittersweet

Another project has come to an end. Boo.

Some projects go on too long, some too short, some end with notice, others close the doors. Every one is different.

My latest project was supposed to go thru mid January and a few weeks ago we got word that the project is ending sooner than later. At least this time we have the opportunity to say goodbye to each other.

It’s hard when you don’t get to say goodbye, when it ends abruptly, everyone is just gone.

This project at least allowed me a proper send off. We got to say thank you, from JO, we for mugs and key chains. How sweet was that?

I’ve been on quite a roll at my company. Theree have been good times and bad, laughs and some tears. But overall it’s been a great experience.

And now, I say goodbye again, who knows where this path that I’m on will lead.

Another great adventure!

{November 15, 2015} Ouch! It was H O T!!!

Today I burned my tongue and throat, but good!

We went out for a really good meal. I had a fried eggplant sandwich, a very tasty treat, but hot as hades!!! It was very juicy, pretty sure it was the juice from the eggplant, not the grease from frying.

I cut the sandwich in half, looked good. I knew it was hot, but, oh my! I took the first bite and the juice that squired out from the eggplant scorched my tongue and my throat! The look on my face said it all! Within the seconds the server came over and I asked for some ice, she was back post haste and I sat there sucking on an ice cube, ahhhh.

I didn’t stop eating, I was hungry and it was good, but I proceeded very, very slowly…

Let’s just say, I am still hurting! My tongu!

{November 13, 2015} Drinks after work

Tonight, I went out for drinks after work.

But…not with my co-workers. I got to join PSM and his colleagues and friends for drinks after work to celebrate to celebrate a 4oth birthday.

I don’t know of you remember me telling you about the wedding we went to for one of PSMs coworkers, PV, it was a celebration for him.

First, I met him at his office and I got a tour and met a bunch of people, then we walked to Abigail’s, a nice restaurant/bar, for drinks. There were four of us for a while and we had drinks and some starters and then more people showed including PV’s wife. We ordered more drinks and eventually food. I had a really good sweet potato and kale burger, wow! And I wasnt the only one either!

We ate, drank, told stories, laughed and had a great time. His coworkers are funny and og course , when they started talking technical, my eyes glazed over! But it was still a lot of fun.

I’m glad I was invited and I’m glad I went.

{November 4, 2015} Day 19…Nice to Budapest

Today we bid a fond farewell to Nice, au revoir, and said, helló to Budapest.

Up early and since we were so efficient in our packing last night…we ended up sitting around waiting for the taxi, and waiting and…

The driver arrived and off we went. We got to the airport in no time, dropped our bags, headed thru security and went in search of a petit dejeuner. They had Pastéis de Nata!!!

The flight to Brussels was an easy one, then a 2 hour layover and another two hour flight, all better than the 24 hours it would have taken ya by train.

We got off the plane, got our bags and immediately saw the ad for the City Pass, which included a shuttle to and from the airport, which is good because we are about 40 minutes from the airport. We sat next to a lovely woman from England who comes to Budapest every year and have us some great pointers.

This is an amazingly beautiful part of Budapest, technically we’re in Buda. Omg at the church right across from the hotel, I can’t even begin to tell you!

And the room, oh my word! It’s the biggest room we’ve had! We could have a party!

We found a lovely lite place for dinner, lots of different nationalities, we are in the touristy area.

Let me tell you one thing…Hungarian is not an easy language and I’ve had it pretty good so far, I’m going to do my best here, luckily it’s only for two more days! PSM is doing great! We made the waiter laugh with our efforts and he appreciated it. All you need to do is try!

szép álmokat!

{November 2, 2015} Day 17…Nice…A hike…Museums and Monaco /Monte Carlo!

What a day! Breakfast in Nice and dinner in Monaco, who does that?

No alarms again, but in case you were wondering if my “personality” hurt from my spill last night, let’s just say I didn’t sleep much. Every time I moved or rolled on to my side….ouch. So, I got up a little early, closed the blinds and let PSM sleep a little longer.

We got up liesurely, got ready and headed out to get some breakfast. Our original plan was to get some sandwiches and sit on the beach. We headed across a square, saw the circus coming in or going out, then a flea market, no fleas, just lots of stuff people were selling, flatware, art, clothes, toys, jewelry. This was not your average flea market, but it was fun to look.

Then we made it to the beach, no sandwiches. It was wonderful to sit and look and feel. Today it was a bit colder, eventually, I regretted my choice of attire in a skirt and shirt sleeves, even the sweater didn’t help some times, that got fixed later.

We ended up at a cafe for the full American/English breakfast. Pastries, fruit, juice, eggs, bacon (minus the bacon for me, it’s ended up with three eggs) and coffee or tea. The only issue…they were Sunnyside up! Anyone who’s had breakfast with me knows I do not like soft eggs at all! Cooked firm, all the way, but…I ate them, yes I did! It wasn’t horrible, but I’m not doing it again!

Now it was time for an adventure! The Musee Marc Chagall, a 30 minute walk…up hill most of it, but we got there and…closed got renovations, what! Trip Advisor knew, but we didn’t. Oh well, Musee Matisse was only another 20 minute walk…uphill. let’s just say, my glutes are loving me, not!

A beautiful building and a lovely collection, you’ll just have to imagine it, no photos.

We decided to go see Notre-Dame de Nice and have some lunch, but we wanted to get there sooner than later, so bus it was. A very nice woman told us which bus, the one she was waiting for and which stop to get off, hers. She even confirmed with the driver for us, how nice!

The church was beautiful, I lit some candles for some friends, as I’ve done in a lot of the cathedrals we’ve been in.

Then it was off in search of lunch. Little hole in the wall place for chicken kebabs and a veggie sandwich for me. The woman gave me a really nice compliment, that I was speaking French very well, thank you Monsieur B et Madame E!

After lunch, back to the hotel to change into warmer clothes, regroup and then head to…Monaco/Monte Carlo! Look out James Bond!

It was about 20 minutes by train and 3.40 euros a ticket, round trip. Just lovely.

We walked around, found the shore, then the Hotel de Paris and the Monte Carlo Casino and all the expensive cars, including the Lamborghini of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Royal 1.

Someone…not me…got to go into the casino and look around and maybe play a little, too bad you couldn’t take pictures!

We thought about dinner in Monaco, but when a Long Island Iced Tea and bottle of Evian costs 30 euros, you kind of wonder.

Back to Nice on the train and a lot of places were closed, I guess they roll up the sidewalks in the evening off season. So…back to the same wonderful hole in the wall pizza joint for another wonderful pizza and beer and as the owner was flipping channels…last Thursday’s Patriots vs. Dolphins game, guess who was happy! Fun with the commentary in French and no commercials. All in all, a good dinner.

Back to the hotel to talk to you and get ready for the next adventure!

de beaux rêves!

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