Category Archives: inspiration

Seals on the Bluff

Having just returned from CA I had to post about the amazing Elephant Seals we saw at the ocean near Hearst Castle outside of Cambria, CA. The seals return to this same beach every year. The females arrive in January to birth their calves. We saw many, many mother nursing their babes. The parents are brown and the new pups are all black. Many of the males were bloody from their fighting because apparently as soon as the babes are born the males are ready to hit it again so they fight over the MILF’s. And these males can weigh up to 2 tons – impressive! The hand out shared that the action really heats up around Valentine’s Day – when the real mating season begins. We all really enjoyed seeing the moms curled up with their pups. All the seals look dead on the beach – but they were just lounging.

They look so gentle

A beach filled with the elephant seals

A nursing pup

A bloodied male - recovering from a fight

The head male - keeping an eye on his beach

a male making crazy noises that sounded like a motorcycle starting up

A mom nuzzling her pups

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Thrift Scores!

So my “eye” has been request by the tall one to find smaller nic-nac items for his space at the Trove in Scottsdale. I have a fun new task – yea! My first day on the job I found some great items – all of these will be placed for sale in booth #308 at the Trove. The hounds have been released – look out!

Orange Vintage Converse Sneakers (last year of Made in the USA issue)

Jonathan Adler vase

Highball glasses in carrying caddy

"NICE" notcards

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On a whim . . .

As mentioned in a previous post the in-laws were in from Chicago and one of the nights we cooked in they brought over a loaf of french bread. I noticed it was turning a bit stale by last night and I hated to waste it so I thought I would whip up a pan of baked french toast. I’ve seen this on brunch menus but have never made it. Seemed easy enough! I put the bread slices down in what is fast becoming my favorite pan. It is a Vintage FINEL Enamel Finland orange baking dish. I don’t really see these pans online much but they can be found in thrift stores. Anyway back to the french toast. I whisked together eggs, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, poured that on top of the bread and then I threw on some slivered almond for visual flare. Finally, I stuck it in the refrigerator, covered over night. Woke up this am to my favorite show – CBS Sunday morning and popped the goods into the oven for 30 minutes. It was heavenly! Never shall old bread go to waste in my house again. MMMMMMMM . . . . .

Night before, wet ingredients in my now favorite vintage baking pan

Next morning out of the oven

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