Random Latelies

We lost our other momma kitty and kittens during delivery and the very next day this momma showed up. She was abandoned and bony in the extreme, with a swollen pregnant belly. She has fattened up, tamed down, and produced three darling kittens we are enjoying. Her name is Lady Jane Grey.

Friends Emily and Beth came to visit and we went on an orienteering outing.

 Em and M. show their successful finish.

Have you ever seen interpretive dishwasher filling? I have.

I made peach crisp with maple cream sauce for a bridal shower Friend Nancy and I hosted. There was maple cream sauce left over, so I ate it regularly over fresh peaches. Yummy! The recipe is simple:

 

Maple Cream Sauce

1-1/2 cup Whipping Cream

5 Tablespoons Real Maple Syrup

3 Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup

Combine whipping cream, maple syrup and corn syrup in a saucepan.  Stir over moderate heat about 15 min. until thickened and reduced by about 1/3. Chill in refrigerator or set pan into a small bowl of ice and stir until cool.  Drizzle over fruit or crisp. Refrigerate unused cream.

The H2O's were here overnight while their folks were on a trip. We had sweet corn for lunch.

Last week Miss O turned 6.

She especially likes Cousin D.

Girl Legos were a hit.

Mr. H inspires love. He always shows up red headed in pictures. He looks much more blonde than this seems to indicate.

Panama City Architectural Elements and Art

I am always drawn to unusual doors and I especially loved the details and coloration of the ones in Panama City. I would have liked to have had extended time to walk around and shoot at my leisure. Most of these were caught in a hurry.

The art above was displayed in the restaurant we ate in, and then we stopped at a nearby ice cream shop whose back wall was decorated with vintage scoops. I had lavender ice cream, which was ethereal. The neatest thing I've eaten in a long time.

 This mural was in the airport as we checked in to leave Panama.

Panama Day Trip

 Another morning in Panama, and a Panama cat by the pool.

One day three other ladies from our group and I took a day trip to Panama City. This involved a 45 minute cab (van) ride to the city. The driver took us around to shopping and sights and stayed with us the whole day.

 These two pictures show Panama City skyline.

These two photos look toward the Pacific entrance to the Canal. Note all the ships of various sizes waiting for their turn through the Canal.

The photo above is looking away from the Pacific Canal entrance. These islands were formed by the soil removed in the digging of the Canal.

 Everyone was fascinated by this spiral building.

Driving in Panama is very intuitive. Our driver only used his blinker twice all day, each time to indicate a turn that would stop the flow of traffic completely. Otherwise the rule everywhere seemed to be "merge".

The streets were narrow and the building were colorful. Things looked dirty, but a lot of that is from the damp.

This was an University on a point of land. Around the perimeter of the walkway were booths for shopping.

ussec photo

ussec photo

 

Our driver ordered this stew for dinner. We asked what it was and he said beef stomach and vegetables. Served with rice. Below is what I had. We were missing beef from all the smorgasboards at the hotel.

This visually striking bridge crossed the entrance to the locks. You can see into them below with a large tanker heading in.