Last day of bicycling class

Cold and windy this morning. Miss Elle on her way to Natomas Park Elementary:

A slightly later start today as the entire school had a luau with entertainment.

We waited outside our first classroom. It was great to have so many volunteers and paid ride leaders (yay! finally this week, I earned some money) and we were able to break the students into 5 groups with 2-3 adults each.  L-R: Doug, Pollyanna, Elle, Alexis, Christa.

Before the community ride could start, students had to take a post-test.  What a cool thing to have in a classroom:

Miss Scarlet led this group in the pre-ride ABCQuick Check.

We spent about an hour on the streets around the school, analyzing upcoming intersections and practicing right-of-way, hand signals, right turns, and the multi-stepped left turn. 

This was so much fun.  Now I'm really looking forward to working in May at Regency Park Elementary in Twin River Unified School District where I will co-teach with Brad, an LCI for the past 3 years with lots of experience teaching this same program. 

First day of spring

It was a bit wet today. We are in our 4th and final week of Project Ride Smart. Each class of 30-35 students has been broken into 4 groups with at least 2 adult LCIs/group. If students were proficient with playground handling skills, we were able to ride into the neighborhood for a short time.

The first group this morning only got a bit wet. The afternoon group got rained out, but completed their post-test so Friday's ride should be about 90 minutes.

By mid-afternoon, the rain was over and I was able to go for a walk with Phyl, something we're trying to do everyday.  In Phyl's yard:

Part of our walk takes us along a small levee on the west side of Dry Creek Road.

Quick trip back to Penn Valley

Where's my camera? I feel like I'm missing my right arm. I left it at Maria's so back up the hill I went.

So, we got in a bit more conversation and catching up done AND she fixed two bracelets and made me a pair of earrings. 

It's so nice to have generous friends with skills.  This black fresh water pearl bracelet is my favorite, a gift from Maria. 

St Patrick's Day

Our favorite leprechaun of the day:

Maria is such a good cook! Irish Colcannon potatoes, corned beef, rye bread, and mustard that invigorated all sinus passages.

Tim, Roy, and Patrick:

Maria with sister Maria.

Happy Birthday, Patrick.  The Irish Car Bomb Cake tasted as great as expected.

Time to go home with a big cup of decaf coffee and a message from Maria on my chalkboard cup.

I had a great time as always.  Thanks and hugs to Maria and Tim.

Irish Car Bomb Cake

You know if a recipe shows up on this blog it's incredibly delicious.  Maria and I love to cook together talking the whole time of course. Today one of my tasks was to make this cake while Maria made corned beef with a mustard glaze: Irish colcannon potatoes with cabbage, bacon, and green onions; cheddar and Guinness fondue with artisan rye bread; roasted carrots and potato slices, and grilled Irish brats.

Generously butter a bundt pan and dust with cocoa powder.  Preheat over to 350 degrees.

Filling: beat until creamy then set aside
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1 egg
6 tablespoons Irish cream liqueur

Cake batter
1 (18.5 ounce) package chocolate cake mix WITHOUT pudding
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 (12 fluid ounces) can or bottle Irish stout beer (such as Guinness)

Beat cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, and oil until smooth. Slowly add beer.

Spoon 1/3 cake batter into bundt pan and smooth, spoon filling and smooth,

spoon remaining cake batter and smooth. Bake 40-50 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

Loosen edges of cake from sides of pan with a thin spatula.  Let cake rest in pan 15 minutes.  Invert pan over a wire rack to release cake and allow to cool completely on the rack.

 

Glaze
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup Irish whiskey

Melt butter, add sugar and whiskey. Bring to a boil, stir to dissolve sugar, reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Transfer cake to serving platter.  Generously brush whiskey glaze over cooled cake server times and allow glaze to soak into cake.  Put extra sauce into gravy boat.

Time to indulge.  Happy Saint St Patrick's Day to all!

Weekend in Penn Valley

It's been about 14 months since I've seen Maria, way way too long between visits.  I met her at the Lake Wildwood clubhouse after the Working Girls Saturday Golf Group.  Bets had already been settled, time for a beverage.

L-R: Debbie, Theresa, Dede, Janice, Chris, Maria

Maria's mom, Billie, once told her that after she died, she would come back as a big crow and caaa! during her back swing.  Billie disapproved of Maria playing golf, along with camping, going on vacations, spending money, ... you get the idea.  Billie passed away in Dec 2000. Now, this crow hangs out around the whole golf course and steals food. Other golfers say, "There's Maria's mother."

These ladies are so friendly, it's always fun to see them again.

L-R: Wyvetta, Maria, Dottie

The guys hung out inside the clubhouse.

L-R: Tim, Jim the golf pro, Roy (married to Theresa), Dick (Dottie's husband)

Time to head back to Maria and Tim's house for dinner - Tim barbecued chicken,

lots of talking, some jewelry decision making,

and pre-St Patrick's Day celebrating. Fun!

Perfect morning

I spent last night at Justin's.

 

Perfect morning: coffee, a bit of sewing on the latest project, daffodils in bloom, 

 

neighbors coming by for a chat,

Justin is talking with Justin.

and today's chores: pruning all the walnut trees.