Sticky Pudding Parties and Holly Jolly Follies

The wintry, December, yuletide has arrived in full force, and before all the "Holly Jolly Christmas" hustle and bustle that comes with this most wonderful time of the year commences, I decided to treat my friendmates to an early break of the holiday kind.

  My initial thoughts were to host a holiday fete where each guest brings all needed materials to carry out an action from a holiday song, non-denominational of course.

For example, a guest could bring chestnuts and plan to roast them over an open fire, as is done in "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,"

Drink "Gin and Tonicas" from Adam Sandler's popular "Happy Hanukkah,"

or bring figgy pudding from "We wish you a Merry Christmas."

Shortly thereafter, I realized it was going to be far too complex an event to organize within the narrow window of time I had to arrange something that would coincide with our annual Ocean Beach Holiday Parade, a silly, beach-themed, eclectic, holiday parade perfectly suited for eccentrics.

obtowncouncil.org

It was decided that it would be a Sticky Pudding Party yielding a variety of holiday puddings such as, figgy pudding, plum pudding, and rice pudding.

Following this, I realized that making three types of pudding was going to go far beyond what I was willing to carry out in one given afternoon.

The end result?

Rice pudding, desserts, mulled wine, spiced bourbon cider and fantastical holiday cheese.

Featuring Pierre Robert a decadent triple cow cream, Red Hawk a sinful washed rind variety, Truffle Tremor a velvety goat meets earthy truffly treat, and a holiday white cranberry stilton beauty, adorned with edible metallic-shelled, chocolate covered, hazelnut embellishments.

"Baby it was cold outside", but we all kept warm and toasty with the "Peace on earthy" goodness of my holiday pudding, spiced bourbon cider and enough steamy, mulled wine to get the hearts-a-flowing with much mistetoe'ing. 

Guests brought potlucky items, and additional booze to drink to the Dickens.

Why even my homemade Chilean Malbec made its inaugural appearance. 

And it was actually fit for human consumption, what a relief!

We wore our holiday finest, the white fuzzy trimmed Santa hats, and the rockin' "pa-rum-pa-pum-pumtastic" outfits of red and green for the festive occasion. Costumes were highly encouraged for the event, and no one was allowed to be a scrooge!

Thereafter, in an "over the river and through the woods" sort of festive manner (over the river and through the woods meaning a two-block walk) we made our merry way to the 33rd Annual Ocean Beach Holiday Parade, which commenced sharply at 5:05pm, OB time.
 

the VW bug run

a tree-topped spectacle

Santa Yoda taking in the sights

the man in red himself

our seaside tree, OB style

  What an arsekicking parade, I believe it's safe to say we were all be pleased as "Partridges in pear trees." It was certainly sweeter than anything any of us could find "Away in a manger", and I trust that my guests all slept a "Silent Night" afterwards.

even our reindeer pup!

Hot cups of cheer, holiday pudding, reindeer games, and all the fun was had.

I am fully prepared for the holiday hurry now, although I have to admit I may need to avoid certain someplaces which play incessant traditional holiday music.

Believe me I don't want to hear what Mariah Carey wants for Christmas anymore than you do.

x

         

Fourth of July Fourthiness and Marshmallow Combat

We hold these truths to be self-evident.

That all friends, family and humans are invited to celebrate the 2012 Fourth of July extravaganza. This day will include picnics, volleyball, waterfights, boozing, merrymaking, parading, sea-splashing, three-legged potato sack racing, and the prettiest form of explosives between the Atlantic and Pacific in the United States.

Today, grills across the states will be firing up feasty delights all the livelong day from sea to shining sea. Hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, chicken, ribs and fresh corn on the cobs will proudly wear their grilled stripes. Accompaniments will proudly stand adjacent to the main charcoal-broiled fare.

If you're lucky you may even get some smoky, maple-planked brie topped with dried apricots, cranberries and pistachios with a drizzle of amaretto and a touch of honey for the gooey holiday celebration you well deserve.

Or you can take delight in knowing that you can actually grill cheese. Try a mint spiked Halloumi variety, Scamorza or cut sheep's cheese in finger length pieces, smother in olive oil and grill to perfection at hot heat.

Around the Ocean Beach parts of San Diego, you'd be wise to stock up on all the good foodstuffs and heaps of marshmallows.

That's right kids, marshmallows!

Tradition holds that following the Ocean Beach firework spectacle in the sky, many tipsy-a-folk split into teams and begin firing sweet, spongy confections at one another just by the seashore. The glow of fireflames will silhouette the rugged, sandy battlefront.

One will certainly need to have on their person plenty of stickysweet ammo because when partaking in the OB marshmallow fight, you'll join the legion of 4th of July marshmallow-dueling warriors, and this is a battle you can't afford to lose. We’re always in need of serious sugary firepower for our troops, and you just never know if a sweet tooth fix for a mallow roast will sneak up on you into the late fourthy hours of the day.

Bring your beach gear, super-soakers, volleyballs, horseshoes, hula hoops, and sparklers for fun-in-the-sun and a sparkly 4th. The beaches will be heaving with folks commemorating independence day and taking in the potassium nitrate scents that saturate the night sky. Arrive at your destination early to get more fourthy-July bang for your troubles.

Happy fourth of July fourthiness to you and cheers to the unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Independence is on the march patriots, and we need a marshmallow army. See you there, soldiers.

Jumbles of fun and Fourth of July Fourthiness to all.
Don't forget to stay out of harms way.

Uncle Sam & Auntie Ringo

Captain America will be most proud!

Happy Birthday America! 

You don't look a day over 236!    

x
                          

Ocean Beach Silliness, Chiliness, Street Fair and more

A spectaculous weekend seething with hearty laughs, funsies, a 150 foot waterslide, a Chili Festival, a salmon feast, a smashing-good hoopla-la, beautiful company and scathing amounts of the cheesestuff.

Saturday marked the 33rd Annual Chili Cookoff Festival and the official summer kickoff in the land of Ocean Beach (OB).

The friendmates and I took to a grassy picnic of sorts. Lucky for us, recently appointed Chef Phil, of Bo Beau's Restaurant, was on hand to help with the slicing and dicing of my first class cheese plate.

Counter clockwise from the far left we have Red Dragon, a cheddar made with wholegrain mustard seeds and welsh ale.

Ewephoria, a heavenly, sheepy milk treat,

and Comte, a mountain cheese straight from the Swiss Alpines.

(All which are fantastical for making new friends)

As is often the case in the OB parts of the world, this picnic was not exclusive to the local homo sapiens.

The neighborly dogs were also in attendance and took to the gathering rather well. Meet Jaya Rose, her name means "Victory" in Sanskrit. We soon discovered that we were unable to teach her a new trick of hula-hooping, but certainly not from a lack of trying.

We made camp just outside of a magnificent waterslide located just one block from my lilypad. Believe me, when I say that purchasing a ticket for this massive inflatable structure is hands down, the best $5 you'll ever spend on a splish-splashy good time.

We then joined the thousands that flocked to Newport Avenue to partake in the festivities that this grand festival had to offer including, a kids wonderland, an artist's alley, laser tag, unique vendors, a thriving beer garden, and the city's local music talent performed live throughout the six event stages.

Plenty of "Whees!" were had indeed.

The hooping took center stage as fairgoers young, and young at heart alike, shook and shimmied with the available hula hoops offered by Unity Hoops. The lovely Siouxanne and I even took to a mini spontaneous performance amongst the mayhem of the happy hoop-la-la.

Sunday entered and there was still much cheese about the kitchen for sharing, so this mini plate was assembled for the evening's going ons.

Which entailed a well received summer salmon bbq dinner with the beautiful friends turned neighbors, Baker and Sheri.

These two lovely humans are a much welcomed addition to the small community of Ocean Beach. As luck would have it, Baker's father is a fine fisherman, and is conducting research on the patterns of fish up in Northern California. 

The darling couple were gifted with these beauties just short out of season. They weren't even fished for human consumption, they left this world via natural causes.

So, it was only fitting that these King salmon straight from the boat chinook should be served up for our grilling delights.

Meet Atreyu, our new, and much welcomed, puppydog on the block. This resident loyal pup has been rightly named after the main character in The Neverending Story, and was on hand diligently prepared to dispose of any remaining scrapbits, to lap up any grease left behind, and to sit in your lap for a petting.

Good Atreyu!

The lovely Miss Sarah Cranberry, fierce violinist who also happens to have quite the green thumb prepared the veggie fixins for the grand feast.

Plenty of tasty beer, wine, fish-fishies and dip-dippings were present for our enjoyment.

Ooofy stuffed from the before...

and the carnage from a fine aftermath of much enjoyed indulgence.

Thank you, King Salmon, thank you Baker, Sheri, and to the beautiful friends who became family along the way.

and thank you Ocean Beach for showing us yet another magical weekend.

Summer has indeed sprung.

x

       

In the beachside garden of eden

Magniferificent weekend comrades!

I hope your weekend was as A-mazing as you are!

Take comfort in knowing that I'm working diligently on a strategic course of action to make the weekends last longer, but until then make certain to savor your 'you' time.

These are a few of my favorite non-worky things:
piano'ing
reading
hooping
fire dancing
bike riding
live music'ing
gardening
sea swimming
creating
writing
eating
writing about eating

Why just yesternight, I firehooped knee deep in the sea by a sky painted sunset.

And earlier today, I gathered a handful of fresh arugula

along with a hybrid zucchinisquash screaming to be plucked from the Ringo garden.

It made for a lovely summer salad mixed with watermelon, then topped with a driblet of balsamic and sprinkled with barrel-aged feta for a perfect weekend wrap-up.

The darling neighbors are sprouting corn, and we've a small plot of land for a miniature cornfield.

I shall construct a beach scarecrow in anticipation of the said event. Although I'm not entirely certain what this entails as of yet. After all, this IS my first scarecrow.

Additionally, there is a palm tree smack in the middle of the gardenplot that stretches high into the blue sky above.

I have grand plans for it.

Soon, it shall serve as a beacon of light for all the local residents to witness.

Stay tuned.

Thank you Sandy Eggo, and to you for reading my headthoughts.

x
         

Happy 5th of July

I don't believe I've seen a sparklier holiday.
We raised a few, feasted like royalty and let freedom ring all the livelong day.

Mother's freshly made salsa heaping with cilantro and giant-sized avocado chunks was a hit.

The cheese platter piled with Italian robiola bosino, tomme brulee and flagship reserve cheddar for the occasion was seized in moments by well earned cohorts.

Grilled and perfectly seasoned delectables included artichokes, spiced mushrooms, peppers, corn on the cob, stuffed blue cheeseburgers and speared kabobs of heavenly whatnots.

Those who didn't take to the beachside waves to beat the heat did so with Prentash's icy, cool margaritas effervescing with just a splash of the foamy for a perfectly-perfect afternoon cool off.

The alternative was having a go with Rob's fresh from the garden, lime-infused margaritas with incredible edible nasturtium flowers to top.

Bikini beach hooping and afternoon Pacific wave jumping ensued.

seaside hoopty hoop

Then out came the beach capoeira lads and lasses perfectly accompanied by a beatmaking drum circle.

bbq-hopping by day ran into night sparklies in the sky from the top deck of former neighbor's oceanfront lilypad. 

For the record, this bottom unit is on the market and you must have us over if you're interested in the lot.

Those who grew weary were replenished with a quickie, tequila and kahlua espresso fix.

Played a bit of catch with Luna, the black magic puppydog just before the pyrotechnic display lit up the night beach sky.

The subsequent Ocean Beach marshmallow fight always guarantees an ear to ear grin.

When the smoke and stickysweet barrage settled, the approximates were kind enough to allow fire spinning on the beachside driveway.

The quality of living around these parts is primo.

Hope everyone got a bit of rest after the sparkly-long, magical weekend, and that you're daydreaming about sunshiny days and flickering night skies well into the week.

x