My heroes

Tags

blessings, dead batteries, heroes, new batteries, Olive Garden 1630, Subaru, Tea Etiquette, teacups

Today was to be one of those truly rare days in my life — a Friday that was not a scheduled work day, and with absolutely nothing on my calendar.  I had loose plans to run a few errands and then go antique-shop hunting for Bone China teacups and saucers for next week’s program  on Tea Etiquette.  And somewhere in there I would be taking the girls to and picking them up from school.

Everything changed when I put my key into the ignition, heard one small “beep”, and everything in my Subaru went dead.  We quickly regrouped and Georgia drove everyone to school, then she and I returned for a quiet morning at home.  It was so nice to be able to sit and visit about any and everything under the sun, without time constraints.

After Nick got home from work, he and Georgia quickly jumped my car and it fired right up.  I still had no good reason to venture out, and pretty much forgot about doing anything else.  When my husband-who-lives-across-town called to see whether I had gotten a new battery, I realized I hadn’t even tried to start it again.  When I did, once more a quiet “beep” and then nothing.

So here’s my salute to today’s heroes, as Georgia and Nick went out after the pumpkins were carved and picked up a new battery for my car, then came home and installed it for me…even though his work day comes VERY early in the morning and it was already rather late.  I am so blessed to share my life with them and grateful that they truly “have my back”.

Tomorrow I will be back in the fray of activities, from dance class in the morning with Olivia to closing Olive Garden tomorrow night, and Halloween fun throughout the day.  And my Subaru will be equal to the tasks.

Sweet dreams.

Birthday celebrations

Tags

birthday, celebration, Olive Garden 1630, Sicilian cheesecake

I have a friend who annually celebrates his wife her entire birth month, with special presents and little goodies daily.  His kids don’t really understand the emphasis on daily gifts, but she does — and that’s the important part.

This was Day #2 of my own month of birthdays; Georgia had to work yesterday, so I decided to wait until tonight to celebrate my big day.  However, some of my friends had other plans.

We had our usual wonderful Bible study group this morning, and I ordered my favorite breakfast:  raisin toast with apricot jam.  One little corner of my brain was wondering why it was taking so long, but it didn’t really register.  Then our server arrived with a huge cinnamon roll covered in cream cheese icing and sporting a lit candle.  Everyone sang “Happy Birthday”, and I managed to bravely eat half of the roll before giving up.

I had picked up a day shift at Olive Garden, so after I finished work and Georgia colored my hair (I can’t avoid being 66, but I most definitely don’t have to have grey roots), we went back to Olive Garden for dinner.  Our favorite servers kept dropping by with birthday wishes for me as we ate, and then I followed my own usual recommendation to guests and ordered the Sicilian cheesecake.  Of course, it also arrived complete with lit candle, escorted by a phalanx of enthusiastic servers.  After a second “Happy Birthday” serenade, we passed my cheesecake around the table and everyone shared bites.  It was truly a lovely dinner.

All that really shows is my big grin, but there is a slice of Sicilian cheesecake on the plate in front of me.

I hope next week Vickie Baldini Mendez and I will be able to continue our shared birthday tradition and have dinner together…continuing the celebration even more.

Rain

Tags

Olive Garden 1630, rain, South Carolina, sunset

It rained today.  Not just a little piddly sprinkle that disappeared as quickly as it came, but a really wet, puddle-causing shower that lasted off and on for several hours.  The girls were thrilled to watch the rivulets of drops progress down the side windows of my Subaru on the way to church, and equally excited when they realized there might be thundershowers.  Although the thunderstorm didn’t materialize, there were some lovely dark clouds overhead.

Today’s rain event won’t even begin to fill the gap between between our water requirements and our the content of our existing wells and groundwater.  And the irony of our thirsty land barely getting damp and the people of the South Carolina coast who are experiencing thousand-year-record-breaking rainfall amounts today thanks to Hurricane Joaquin, is not lost on me.

By evening the rain was gone, but this incredible sunset remained.

This amazing sunset greeted me outside Olive Garden tonight as I took my break.

Sicilian Cheesecake

Tags

desserts, Olive Garden 1630, raspberry glaze, Sicilian cheesecake

In keeping with October’s NaBloPo Month of “Dish”, I have a suggestion for anyone who might be considering a meal at Olive Garden this fall.  As I often tell guests as I am seating them, the fall desserts are back on the menu, and our Sicilian Cheesecake is the best dish we have ever had on our menu (in my less-than-humble opinion).

Made with ricotta cheese, drizzled with a raspberry glaze, and topped with a caramel crunch crumble, it is absolutely divine!  In fact, if one must choose between an entree and this dessert, go for the dessert.  My motto is most definitely “Life is uncertain; eat dessert first!”  Enjoy!

Ladies who lunch

Tags

end of summer, family, friendship, ladies who lunch, Olive Garden 1630

Today we had a lovely “ladies’ lunch” at Olive Garden, celebrating the end of summer.  Lily, Olivia, and I, along with their friend Kora, her mama, and her grandma, ate and laughed and talked, then ate and laughed and talked some more.  The food was delicious, the company more so.

I have been honorary grammy to Ana’s children ever since they moved in next door, and I love that our granddaughters are such wonderful friends.  There is something so very special about sitting together while the girls laugh and shriek and giggle.  I hope their friendships last a lifetime.

Kora, Olivia, and Lily ready to order their Olive Garden lunches.

You’re crafty!

Tags

Close To My Heart, Creative Memories, creativity, Olive Garden 1630

There comes that moment when your boss looks at you and says, “You’re crafty!” and you know you should probably run away, but that is not an option.  Then you are handed a to-go bucket for soup and asked to decorate it to hold the tickets in a contest.  Of course, being a good employee, and at least a moderately crafty person, you rise to the challenge and take said bucket home with you.

Then you sit and think.  You get out your scrapbooking supplies and tools, dragging them all over the  kitchen table.  Then you do anything BUT decorate the bucket for the next 36 hours or so.

Finally you are out of time.  You have two hours to deliver said bucket, pleasantly decorated, so you have to stop thinking and DO SOMETHING!

The initial plan was for the bucket to be covered with wine-colored card stock, which I would then embellish with stars and other bling.  As the bucket sides tapered towards the bottom, this plan proved unfeasible.
I stumbled upon the Shimmer Trim in my Medium Organizer.  I realized that my Shimmer Trim was in proper wine colors:  gold, red, purple, and bronze, and that the flexibility and “stickiness” was just what I needed to cover the sloping sides of the bucket.  (To buy any of these products, visit my Online Business Address.)  After developing a pleasing horizontal striped pattern, I decided to follow the same plan for the bucket lid (first cutting a slice out of the center to put the tickets through).
When the bucket and lid were covered, I punched a tag from a scrap of Whimsy Paper Fundamentals using my old Creative Memories tag punch.  I wrote “tickets” on one side of the tag, and “wine flights” on the other, then tied the tag to the bucket using the Thistle Diagonal Striped Twill, and it was done!

My completed ticket bucket, using Shimmer Trim compliments of Close To My Heart.

I am happy to report that my boss LOVED the completed basket, especially when I explained that I can remove the current tag and change it whenever her contest changes.

“Miss Lady”

Tags

kind words, Olive Garden 1630

Tonight at work a family of six came in for dinner — two adults and four children.  They had a toddler, a little girl about three, and two older ones.  As I seated them, I gave the toddler his kid’s menu and crayons, and the little girl said she wanted one, too.  I said, “Here you go, sweetheart,” and handed hers to her.

She lit up like a Christmas tree and said, “Thank you, Miss Lady!”  As I said “You’re welcome,” she told me, “You know, you’re kind of cute!”  I told her that was the nicest thing anyone had said to me all day.

I love my job.

Herb encrusted salmon and all the trimmings

Tags

dinner, fettuccini Alfredo, Olive Garden 1630, Sicilian cheesecake

Saturday night I splurged and bought myself dinner after work. Georgia was serving a large party, so another of my favorite servers/adopted children took care of me. Every time he came by to check on me, my mouth was full of amazing Herb-encrusted Salmon or fettuccini Alfredo, so I was reduced to pointing and nodding.

I was sitting at a table for two, and there was an empty chair at my table, so I had a steady stream of servers and bussers who came for brief visits during dinner. I am so blessed to be part of the team at Olive Garden 1630, where “When you’re here, you’re family” is not just an empty slogan.

Herb-encrusted salmon, fettuccini Alfredo, the world’s best breadsticks, and a Scotch and soda…who could ask for more?

And my Sicilian Cheesecake is waiting here at my computer for me right now.

Delicious!

Honoring Baby Hendrix

Tags

Baby Hendrix, Olive Garden 1630, yard sale

Today was Day 1 of our Olive Garden Family Yard Sale benefiting the family of Baby Hendrix. Setting out the donated items was like a treasure hunt, as things had come from many people and places. The weather cooperated completely, as it was gloriously sunny, but not hot. Friends and customers stopped by 3945 West Judy, Visalia, all day long. One couple drove up and read our sign explaining that we were raising money to help the family in their time of grief after Hendrix’s death. The lady called out her window, “We will be back with some things for sale.” And, sure enough, her husband showed up with his truck an hour or so later, bringing a lovely little table and a variety of other goodies for us. None of us knew this couple, and they didn’t know Baby Hendrix’s family. But they were touched by the circumstances and wanted to share with the family.

We were also honored by a visit from Hendrix’s grandparents, who came to tell us “thank you” on behalf of their family. Speaking to his grandmother was so heartbreaking; my brain just cannot wrap itself around the reality of such grief. She was so gracious and so thankful. We tried to explain how much we care about her daughter; words are insufficient in many directions here. One of Olive Garden Restaurant’s slogans is “When you’re here, you’re family!” The truth of that has never been more evident to me than today, as kitchen crew, servers, and hosts gathered throughout the day to help our friend and colleague. We will be back again tomorrow morning, with more goodies for sale. If you are in the neighborhood, stop on by. There are bargains galore, and all for a very good cause.

Hug your loved ones tight tonight; who knows when you will have the opportunity again.

Dinner treats

Tags

dessert to go, Olive Garden 1630, salmon, Sicilian cheesecake

I worked a short shift this evening, so I decided to give myself a treat and stay afterwards at Olive Garden for dinner. Had I not been such a little piggy I could have taken a lovely photograph of my salmon “before” digging into it with great gusto. Instead, here is the “after” picture of my dessert to go…an absolutely scrumptious Sicilian cheesecake with strawberry sauce, eaten in the comfort of my own bedroom. So incredibly delicious!

All that was left of my Sicilian cheesecake with strawberry sauce.