Tuuci 'Parasol'

It seems a bit quaint for this mechanized model, but that's what they call them. Flush with success after last night's dinner with the neighbors, we are going to do it again this evening with some different neighbors. We aren't quite ready to entertain more than two people at a time.

The only things that spoiled the ambiance last night were the yellowjackets which caught the scent of John's beer can chicken* and my Italian potato salad. He's already made two trips to the store today and has no desire to make another trip to the hardware store for a trap, so he is fashioning one of his own based on a model designed by his father. A piece of meat (bacon) is hung by a string from the handle of the bucket which is filled with water. The theory is that the yellowjackets eat until they're not able to fly and drop into the bucket of water. I'm skeptical....

The Tour de France began today with absolutely no fanfare and only one television broadcast which is live here at 4:30am. It usually runs for the first three weeks in July with a live recording and a condensed version in the evening. Fortunately we can record it and watch it whenever we want, for we are addicted even though we don't ride bikes ourselves and don't know many of the riders anymore. It doesn't seem to matter. We love the scenery, the characters and the whole spectacular of this three week grand tour.

Peter and Jim came by on their way to take Peter back to Santa Barbara where he has a job interview. He still looks a bit chipmunk-like** but is ready to get on with his life and has left all his worldly possessions in his car in Santa Barbara after moving out of one house and before being able to move into another one.  The life of a student can get complicated...The schools in Santa Rosa and the U.C. system are planning to open on a 'normal' schedule in the fall barring any nasty surprises on the Covid front.

I made a pillow cover out of some fabric that I ordered and wasn't what I thought it would be and made some Mediterranean chicken meatballs with a yogurt sauce and Naan for dinner.

It is obvious that things are quiet when I start talking about what I have cooked for dinner but I'm happy that my desire to cook anything is coming out of hibernation. And I'm not complaining about a quiet day.

*place a whole.chicken which has been rubbed with a mixture of spices upright on an open can of beer and barbecue over direct heat. The beer keeps the chicken moist and flavorful.
** Blipper Deborah Bifulco has published a delightful picture of a chipmunk with its cheek full of peanuts if you're interested.