Brooklynese is Spoken Here in Pinellas County Florida!

If you have lived in or near to New York City or hail specifically from Brooklyn, I have a treat for you. Mr Dude and I lived very close to NYC for many years and he comes from that area. When I came to Montclair, N.J. as a young bride I had no idea how the  experiences or the people I would meet  would enrich my life.  Now that we are older and have relocated, we both find ourselves missing so many things. The memories continue to sustained us. Our dearest friends moved here at the same time and came from the same place.  " Do you remember?" is a frequent start to many conversations.  They found and introduced us to the "Lucky Dill Deli". If you love great Deli sandwiches, made the New York way, then follow this tale of our lunch date this week.

We traveled up highway 19, never a pleasure on any day, but knew that this restaurant spot would be on the West side of the highway in Palm Harbor, Fla.  Hooray,  old, but still keen, Eagle eyes spotted the sign! It necessitated a turn around, but I wasn't driving and  the thoughts of the menu made any anxiety I might have had about oncoming traffic disappear--whew, it was close though.

When we parked and walked to the door knew we were in the right place, the Brooklyn flavor began right here.

It was a little later in the day so seating was easy and  fast.  This was the wall scene that we were able to see while waiting for our waiter.  This just brought us both to the right place at the right time. I hope that this one brings back fond memories for you. Beautiful, beautiful Broadway.

I rarely  put pictures of people in my blogs, but when I told our Waiter what I was doing he showed an interest in being part of this story and gave me permission to include him. A delightful man, an excellent waiter, cute sense of humor and above all dedicated to our needs and making our lunch time a positive experience. His name is Mike and if you are there at that hour ask for him.

  We gave our order and while waiting we had all of these wonderful pictures to prepare us for our NY. experience.  A picture taken in the 1930s or 1940s of the great old Cotton Club where so many

great artists started and then stared. This next picture is another one of my favorites. We sat and picked out buildings and places we  could identify.

Do you recognize the old Flat Iron district?  Wowza is all I can say about the memories that came flooding in on us.  Lunch had arrived!  Take a look at what is one of our favorites.

A  NY style Pastrami on Rye bread 1/2 sandwich, homemade potato salad, and a delicious cup of Matzo ball soup. A bargain at 10.00. Oh yes, don't forget that famous Kosher Dill pickle! There was so much there on the plate it was impossible to eat it all--a Doggie bag please! I had viewed many of those bags leaving with other satisfied folks who are lovers of the food and the New York atmosphere. I did not feel uncomfortable asking for my little container .

I had been told to " check out" the ladies room for a surprise. Now, it isn't any news to anyone that most Ladies and Gents, yes Gents are not immune to the old age maladies as well, Have you seen that ugly commercial that shows the women checking out the necessary rooms and locations, well I personally believe that is just good planning!  When I opened the door I thought I was in  the subway station looking at the graffiti that New York is famous for. Isn't this wild?  I am told the Gent's is the same.

I decided, that little bit of nostalgia demanded a cup of excellent coffee and a free sliver of apple strudel. Time to say Thank you to Mike and pay our bill, but we were not through just yet. A trip into the bakery was ahead of us.  The array of delicious morsels starts the taste buds into high frequency over drive. There is almost every Sweet Goodie for the most demanding . This place is impossible to escape from--well you will see what I mean, I will let you be the Judge. It is truly a sweet sinning!

Now I ask you??? and that is not the half of it.

Well you know what happened here, but I honestly tried to be conservative--ahem, well I did try? Time to get on the MTA and take a ride together, just like we used to do. It  was a great afternoon, sharing the best of times with my special Mr. Dude. It never ceases to amaze me, that after all these years we still have so much to talk about, we still have fun together, and we still are in love as well as like each other--what a gift we have been given!

Why don't you take this same trip through Pinellas County, Brooklyn, Florida? I promise you will like it.

 

The Gentle Waves Bringing Peace!

It was 6:00 P.M. after a very hot "muggy" day.   It had been a full working  day at the computer with our internet business, and I was not looking forward to organizing dinner, when my Darling Mr. Dude popped his head in the door of my office and said, " let's go to the beach!  We live very close to the beaches, but frankly very seldom go there.  His enthusiasm was infectious, and how could I say No when he had already packed our smaller cooler bag with bottled water, and packed our current reading material in another bag.  The folding green chairs were already in the back of the Volvo, so what was a "Girl" to do, but tag along.

That hour in the evening is usually a very good one, most people have taken their families home for dinner and the tourists are soothing their sunburns in the privacy of their rented Condos.  When we arrived at the beach in Indian Rocks Fla. we were almost alone.  Parking the car was easy , the parking lot was empty. As we walked down the ramp to the water's edge the most wonderful breeze greeted us and I knew that this had been the best decision we could have made.

This is the scene that greeted us as we walked to the water's edge,unpacked our chairs and settled down to read a chapter or two of the books that we are currently reading. No technical devices for us, we love the feel of a hard cover book in our hands. Birds were flying before us and occasionally a rider on a bicycle would ride by and wave to the two of us. The special larger beach tires making their ride swift and safe for
rider and the sand.

Sitting there in the quiet of the early evening, in this peaceful setting, the stresses of the day began to melt away. The sound of the gentle slap of the waves, the chirping of birds, looking for a tidbit of food that that the lovers of the sun might have left. The splashes of the pelicans who float quietly on the surface and then suddenly dive and disappear for their dinner, could this be the same world that I left just 15 minutes ago?

The evening news at this same time presents us with the sad facts of War torn nations, continuing threats to our own existence, corruption on many levels, of facts which tell us, inch by inch we are losing our individual Rights and the control over our own lives.  The PC police are everywhere and most often do not use common sense or decorum . I come from, what I believe was a better time in our world. We did not have to lock doors, our children could play outside without supervision, every home did not have a gun and we did not carry guns on our person,  we felt privileged to live under the "Stars and Stripes", our precious flag that so many had fought and died for so that I could sit here and feel the beauty of this beach and sea. We believed in the rights of worship. How could we not believe that this wonderful place was created by someone other than ourselves?  Hmm. For this moment in time, I didn't have to think, worry or be stressed about the future of our country and the futures of  our children and Grandchildren. I feel the healing of this beautiful place.

as I look out to the horizon I see the changes coming in the horizon.  Will it rain, I do hear distant thunder, or is this some far away voice agreeing or disagreeing with my thoughts?  Fantasy--think it might be the notice of rain!

Darkness invaded, but we continued to sit and wait for the array of colors that we knew would soon be coming.

God's paintbrush at work!

The rain never came, and we continue to sit and watch this magic until a little after 8:00 P.M. This was better medicine than all the prescriptions we could have been given to relieve the daily stress in our lives. We came home feeling truly blessed to be able to have been able to witness this daily miracle of the "End of Day"

The Lone Brave Survivor

This has been one of the hottest summers on record in this part of Florida and we have the energy bills to prove it!  That tale is for another day.

The heat and lack of water has destroyed our small little garden, my beautiful basil bush is pathetic in its thirst. I cannot water enough to make things right. Our lovely Mature Magnolia is dying, even though we have done everything we can to save it.

In my anguish about this, started pulling out the tomatoes that never really fruited, the egg plant, which is usually the easiest thing to grow and trying to clean up, just so I wouldn't have to look at the devastation. when I came around the corner I saw vines all over the ground that had seeded from the compost bed. Hope lives eternal for this is what I found hidden under the leaves.

 Now this pretty thing braved it all and will ultimately end the fight in a pie or just as a vegetable for the table. Steamed, mashed with butter and cinnamon.

He or she weighs 2 lbs 10 oz. Is 4 inches in diam and 9 1/2 inches long/

Soon we will start out seed pots for the cooler weather crop. September has come and we really haven't seen much of a change in the weather as yet, but in October I should have quite a few plants to plant in pots, boxes and perhaps the ground. This part of Florida is really not a good place for "in the ground gardening" . We miss the wonderful soil of New England and New Jersey, but we keep trying new methods and who knows we might win!

Blessings to the Garden Fairy for allowing me to have at least 1 (one) success to prove I did have at least "One brave Survivor".