Learning to Golf

Rob is trying to teach Susan the basic ABC's of golfing but his competiveness got the best of him. As you can tell by Susan's stance, she's probably thinking, "You've got to be kidding. Of course you won whatever it is you think you won. I'm just learning!" Learning to golf with my "treasured" golfballs that I place strategically on the patio in a very special basket used as a converstaion peice : } I collect these balls as they come accidently into our backyard. So far I have about 2 dozen collected in the past 5 years. Not too shabby. Anyway, here's Susan swinging with her instructor standing close by observing and giving tips of this manuever.

SAGE Student Bistro 4/10

We went to the Fort Omaha Community College Culinary Arts Student Bistro "SAGE" last evening with some friends. The senior students run this bistro totally [serving, cleaning, cooking and creating the menu]. We were allowed to ask any question we wanted to and so "I" did : } After dinner we got to take a tour of the kitchen labs and see where the kids learn and cook. They even learn how to cut up pigs, chickens, cows, etc. in a special room. The room behind the sink that is glassed in is the "Chocolate Room". It has to be at a certain temperature and then supposedly no air bubbles form in the chocolate. Interesting! It's so clean!


This is Sarah Slattery the Student Chef De Cuisine for the week. She created our entire menu and then specializes in what they call the "Student Prix Fixe Menu". So each week a student in the fine dining class presents a 3 course menu rooted in the fundamental techniques of the classical kitchen. I have 2 pics below showing her talent. This is her family that came to taste and tour too.

These are random pics of the students working in the different glassed in kitchens while we walked and observed in the hallway.

The yellow cords hanging from the ceiling are just eletrical outlets for each learning station. I noted that they had at least 2 dozen Kitchenaide mixers on one shelf!!

This is our waiter, Brandon. He did very well serving us and explaining the menu. He also gave us the tour. He graduates this December with his AD in Culinary Art and plans to tour Europe for a while tasting and learning about the different foods, then coming back to Omaha and opening up his own restraunt specializing in foods grown locally.

OK, this is from the Prix Fixe menu by Sarah. She made a Cajon Cobb Salad first; then came the Shellfish Cake made of crayfish, shrimp and crab; below is the Bacon Studded Beef Sirlon in stewed creole vegetables, andouille boulette, and peppercorn sauce; and then for dessert she made Beignets with Butterscotch Pastry Cream and Banana Brulee'. It was awesome, fantastic, wonderful.....and any other word that means "awesome" : }

Dad and I ordered the Seared Red Snapper below with green lentils, fennel, green pea puree' and caper beurre noisette. I can't even pronounce it all that but it was sure good.

These are our very good friends, Dr. Tom Tonniges and his wife, Jane who is also a nurse. We have "alot" in common and really enjoy their company.

Spring in Omaha 4/10

We are so excited to be officially in Spring up here in Omaha. NO MORE SNOW!! This is our purple plum tree covered in tiny pink flowers that will turn into beautiful purple leaves. I had to buy this pot of flowers at HyVee last weekend just to spring up the house. When they are all dried up, I plan to save the bulbs and plant them outside in front of some large rocks near the driveway.

And these are the lovely orange/yellow tulips that Will loved so much. He was helping me plant other flowers last Spring and before I knew it, he pulled one of these and handed it to me with this huge smile on his precious face. All I could do was say, "For me Willam, thank you so much!" : }

Alexandria, VA 3/10

I toured this mansion, the Carlyle House, in Alexandria, VA built in 1783. I love this type of thing! It was the first brick/stone home built in VA. Mr. Carlyle was from Scotland and he missed home so he built his house like those he remembered. All homes in VA were cabins. So you can imagine what his neighbors must have thought.

The back of the Carlyle mansion. He wanted his home to be as beautiful on the backside as it was in front because people visited the home coming from the Potomac River in back and from the town in front.

I imagine the gardens are simply beautiful in spring and summer.

I walked from our hotel straight down Kings St. to the Potomac River [~3miles]. Bands were playing, magic shows going on, balloon art, lots of people walking their dogs, and just sitting on benches eating ice cream looking out at the river. Luckily it was a gorgeous day.

The trolley's go up and down Kings St. all day long and I could just jump on and off as I wanted.

Looking up Kings St. with my back to the river.

Here is dad talking with the photographer in the lobby of the AAO building right after he had given his candidacy speech. The physician on the right with his back to dad and in the dark suit is dad's competitor for Presidency.

The is the official American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgeons [AAO-HNS] building. Our hotel was a 1 minute walk away. This is Kings St. right near the Trolley station, the Metro and the Train Station....very convenient for the docs to get to and from the airport.

Trip to TX 3/10

OK, this is the family bd party for Aliana. She's sitting on the stool that Papa & I got her. Checking out the bd stool!
Alex & Tony had as much fun, if not more, helping Ali open the presents and playing with them.
Here's the g-ma's [Noni & Grammy] with our precious g-kids.
Several bd pics:

Here's the 2nd cake Amy made in 1 week. Look at thew details!

I had to include this pic. Ali and Momma were going to a Tutu's & Tea party. Note the purple patent shoes : } The decorations in the porch pots were for Ali's bd party the next day.

Grammy & Noni with the bd girl.

Miss Lulu wet through her special bd onsie and it had to be hand washed and was now drying. So...she was walking around like this and as cute as could be. The birthday present table! Note the birthday tree Amy created. It can be decorated for whatever occasion she desires to use it. Very creative! The boxes on the right side above the book are the treats for Ali's girlfriends to take home after the party.....too cute!

Amy worked so hard on this cake. It was several cupcakes put together then iced with tiny stars. The kids loved them and the amount of sugar could be controlled.

Ali's Dedication at Christ Fellowship Church. I must say, "I think" Lulu was the prettiest : } It was so funny when looking back on the pictures. All 3 daddies had the same shirt on [black with white pin stripes]....must be the dedication attire : }

Ali was dressed all in white eyelet. Here she is flirting with 3 grandma-type ladies sitting in the row behind us. She was sooooo cute!

Tutu Birthday Party video. The boys kept blowing the candle out before Ali had a chance to pucker up. Eventually she did blow it out : }

A Snowy Weekend

Rob & Susan decided to try our snow shoe gear out and of course Bear had to go along. This is the drift along the side of the house by the kitchen.

Stopping to pose for me to take a pic.....of course! : }

They snow shoed out on the golf course behind our home. It really was pretty and lots of fun watching Bear run all over the place. He's about 6 years old now.

Playing in the snow!

Magic Kingdom 2/10

This was on our way back to the condo after our 1st day at Magic Kgdm. Tomorrow Land...we rode the train throughout this area [nice, smooth and slow ride]

One tired puppy : }

Riding the train for 20 minutes to take a break from all the hub-bub.

We got to meet Mickey & Minnie. A lot bigger than I think the kids were expecting. They were all a little timid : }

Momma Tara LOVED it!!!

Micky Mouses messy kitchen [just like a mouse-man]

Outside Mickey's home

In front of Minnie's home.....it was sooooo cute and girly!

Entrance to Toon Town which is where all the kids had the most fun [due to their ages].

Papa and Will riding Dumbo's ride. Papa was having sooo much fun : }

The callosal merry-go-round. They rode this a few times.

Felt like we were in Sweden.

OK, the following pics are inside It's a Small World. The kids were mesmerized and just stared not saying a word. There was SOOOOO much to see. We sat in a boat that slowly went around to all the different places of the world while you listen to the song "It's a Small World After All" over and over and over again.

This was the line we stood in to get into "It's a Small World" ride.

Lunch time! Each day we brought our lunch from home and found a place to sit and enjoy the people-watching while we ate.

Riding Aladan's magic carpets

This is inside the Swiss Family Robinson's tree house

The tree house from below

I couldn't resist taking this picture of all the gorgeous flowers. Made me wish Spring would hurry up!

Main Street USA

This is about 9a.m. waiting on the ferry to take us to Magic Kgdm. Noni had her latte' : }

This is the entrance from the parking lot before you get to the ticket stands. Quite a long way from your car to the actual entrance to the park itself.

Noni & Papa sitting in the very back seat of the van on our way to the Magic Kgdm. Very excited!