Using Our Victory Garden to Deal With Sadness During Covid and an Ahi Tuna Poke Recipe

Spent the morning planting herbs. Last week, I went to Sloat Nursery and bought basil, parsley, cilantro, marjoram and kale. My girlfriend Marie gave me a generous gift card for my birthday. I also bought seeds for my Fall vegetable garden. Tending my garden helps me cope with the challenging times Covid brings. Also sharing my favorite Sesame Ahi Tuna Poke

yellow zucchini growing outside my back patio

Pickling cucumbers

Zephyr zucchini

I’ve really taken the Victory Garden thing seriously this year. Because of Covid and the possibility of a food shortage, I planted seeds in March. I am growing 3 types of zucchini, 3 types of pumpkins, strawberries, lettuce, kale, peas, beans, chard, several tomato plants, several corn varieties, cucumber, sunflowers, fennel, cantaloupe, butternut squash, acorn squash, and more. It brings me joy to share these organic crops with the neighbors and our family.

 

I’m harvesting peaches now. I should be canning them instead of writing, but I’ve put my blog on hold for way too long. Last month we picked loads of Santa Rosa plums from our backyard tree. Besides sharing with neighbors, I was baking crisps, jams and we ate plenty of fresh ripe plums and now peaches with our yogurt in the morning.

Me, my Dad Ron and my sister Sue taken over 25 years ago

This has been a tough week. Thank goodness for my garden. I feel peace there and can work in the soil and feel my stress dissolve away. The first set of bad news came a week ago last Sunday. I received a call from the Veterans Home where my Father lives. He had a seizure and was taken to the emergency room at a hospital in Napa for tests. It was the worst day ever waiting for some kind of news. I wasn’t able to visit him because of Covid. All of the hospitals have strict visitation rules about keeping loved ones away. It is sad and hard knowing I couldn’t be with my Dad.

Great day visiting my Dad Ron at the Veteran’s Home 8 years ago

Luckily, the cat scan was negative and his blood tests were normal. They released him back to the Veterans Home, but since he was away for more than 6 hours, they had to quarantine him. So he has been in the hospital across the street from his home all by himself. I talk to him regularly and he has had a fairly good attitude about his situation. He is feeling okay, but misses his home in memory care. He should be released back there this weekend if his Covid test comes back negative. Thank Goodness.

Great time hanging out with my Dad Ron in the patio at the Veteran’s Home in Yountville 8 years ago

All in all, my Dad is well. He is a fall risk, so that is scary, but hopefully he will get stronger and regain his strength.

I cried talking to him today. This happens often, but today I was especially sad. He said I almost made him cry, and he never says that. I miss him and wish this pandemic would go away so we can go back to our normal lives and be with our aging parents.

 

The next bad news came last Sunday, a few days ago. Ken’s Mother Nilda fell and broke her ankle. She was visiting Ken’s brother Dan and fell going up a step. She has horrible knees and doesn’t get around very well. She is 89 years old and we are very concerned about her.

Beautiful Mother in law Nilda at her aunts wedding

She had surgery on her ankle and will get a cast when the swelling goes down. She is still in the hospital at John Muir and we are not able to visit her. The family doesn’t want her put in a nursing home because people are dying in these homes from Covid. It’s a horrible time to need care. 

My mother Nilda and her daughter Terri Ann visiting with us in her home in Rossmoor

So there is a plan to put a hospital bed in her family room when she is released and she will be cared for in her own home by Ken’s sister Terri Ann, his brother Dan and his wife Nancy who will temporarily live there with her. It’s a crazy idea and no one knows if things will work out. 

 

There are obvious things to worry about like blood clots, and pneumonia from being in bed too long, etc… It is a tough time. You can never prepare for losing a parent.

Great day celebrating my son Curtis’ graduation at Monte Vista High School with my ex husband Eric, and his grand parents Elena and Robert 17 years ago

The last bit of sad news was hearing that my son Curtis’ grandfather Robert passed away last Friday. He was my ex Father in law. We are so sad to hear this and had heard he had a stroke a few weeks ago. My son wasn’t able to see him either before he died. It is hard to process these times. How can you grieve the pain? I work in my garden. I see the beauty in the plants and flowers. I pray for my family. I talk with my friends and I write. It’s times like these we need each other even more. We hold our spouse a little closer. We take one day at a time. We stay away from the news. We love those around us more than ever before.

 

There is more to do. I will be preparing food and helping out however I can. I hope life is treating you well.  For now, I will put the computer away and sit with my 16 year old kitty. My husband is done with his work for the day so we can hang out . Maybe we will play Scrabble and eat popcorn. Maybe we will start a puzzle. In any event, it is a good day and I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you. Ahi Tuna Recipe. 

Enjoyed a Sesame Ahi Tuna Poke appetizer at Jessup Winery in Yountville California last Friday with friends

Sesame Ahi Tuna with Avocado

1 lb fresh Ahi tuna

1/2 jalapeno , 3 cloves garlic, 1 green onion, 2 shishito peppers, sauteed in canola oil

1 T soy sauce

1 T chopped fresh ginger

2 T Sesame oil

2 avocados cut in small chunks

Juice and zest 1/2 pink grapefruit

Juice 1 lime

Bunch of cilantro

1/2 t sesame chili oil

1/4 t kosher Salt

1/4 t Lemon pepper

White and black Sesame seeds to garnish

2/3 C Canola oil

1/2 package Won Ton wrappers fried in canola oil.

1 t finishing salt. Sea Salt, Himalayan salt or Fleur de sel

Cut 1 lb of fresh Ahi Tuna into bite sized chunks. Set aside.

In a blender add all other ingredients except avocado and mix until combined.

Pour dressing over raw tuna.

Heat up a frying pan with canola oil. Fry each won ton until crispy turning over after 1 minute. Place on a sheet pan lined with a paper towel. Sprinkle with sea salt while hot.

Cut up 2 large avocados into bite sized pieces and fold into tuna mixture. Alternatively, you can put the avocado on the bottom and the tuna on top if desired.

Serve into individual bowls and sprinkle with black and white sesame seeds.

Heaven on a plate. Sesame Ahi Tuna Poke with crispy won ton wrappers and a chicken pot pie for a mid day lunch in our backyard

Feel free to follow me if you aren’t already. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and I hope to see you again very soon.

 

 

My Tribute To My Niece

I loved you when 

 

I loved you when you were just a tiny human when your parents would drop you off at my house in your car seat

 

I loved you when you wanted to have sleepovers

 

I loved you when you decorated Christmas cookies with us every year

 

I loved you when you sang at the top of your lungs “Wannabee” by the Spice Girls a zillion times on the way to Disneyland when you were included on our  Smyth family vacation

 

I loved you when I took you to choir lessons at St Isidore’s Church after school 

 

I loved you when I picked you up from grammar school and drove you to gymnastics practice with my son Andrew and his cousin Keri

 

I loved you when Uncle Ken and I gave you a birthday celebration with all of your friends and family at the gymnastic studio in San Ramon

 

I loved you when you wanted a yearbook,  to remember your friends from the school you were leaving and your dad wouldn’t buy you one. Auntie Teri always came through

 

I loved you when you needed someone to sit by your side at the dentist appointment and the pedodontist took care of all of your  cavities

 

I loved you when we made kitty blankets for the Tri Valley Animal Shelter when we were in National Charity League

 

I loved you when I picked you up after school to volunteer and make meals for Children’s Hospital’s Family House to provide meals for the families of children that were ill and needed a place to eat and sleep

 

I loved you during the dozens of times we got lost and I didn’t have a GPS or written directions driving to a National Charity League philanthropy and you were always patient with me

 

I loved you when you needed Auntie Teri to pay for a hairdresser to comb out the tangles in your hair, since you wouldn’t let anyone brush your hair, and the many times Uncle Ken and I paid to have your hair trimmed.

 

I loved you when at Christmas time, I gave you a beautifully painted pot from Mexico to plant your succulents in, and Uncle Ken and I gave you and Darious a wooden breakfast tray table to serve breakfast in bed 

 

I loved you when we spent hours shopping for the perfect dress for the many debutantes I took you to at the National Charity League events at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley and Ruby Hill in Pleasanton. It was the only way I could convince you to stay in NCL. My goal was to help you get into college, but you figured that out all by yourself.

 

I loved you when we scrap booked happy birthday and thank you cards for the senior citizens and we chatted for hours about your experience at Iron Horse Junior High and California High School 

I loved you when we volunteered at the Ice Cream Social and you met the 100 year old man who wanted two scoops of ice cream instead of one

 

I loved you when I brought you to Kaiser Hospital and made sure you were up to date on your immunizations and made sure you had adequate birth control

 

I loved you when Iron Horse Middle School called me because they couldn’t reach your dad. They told me you fell while playing on the monkey bars. I drove you to Kaiser where we learned you broke your arm. You didn’t want to get out of the car, but finally did and needed surgery immediately

 

I loved you when we spent the day in Capitola and Santa Cruz buying shoes because your feet hurt. Uncle Ken and I would do anything for you. You wanted a metal drinking straw. I hope you are using it to this day.

 

I loved you when I had swim instructor Emily at the Livorna Swim Club teach you how to swim, so you wouldn’t drown in Auntie Sue’s pool or the Livorna Pool where you spent many summers with your cousins that love you

 

I loved you when we made macaroni and cheese with your girlfriend in my kitchen, and how I now see you cooking with your baby sister Josie

 

I loved you when I spent several months sewing you a quilt for your big girl bed and months later it was burnt up in a fire when your Dad’s place went up in flames

 

I loved you when we went to the movies together to see all of your favorite Disney films with your cousins

 

I loved you when I picked you up from the San Ramon Library every week to attend either choir practice, religious education, NCL events, gymnastic classes or swim lessons

 

I loved you when you got transferred to San Ramon Valley High and sang with the prestigious San Ramon Valley Choir with Ken Abrams and your cousin Andrew Smyth

 

I loved you when you helped out Roxanne Stone the school secretary at San Ramon High every morning at 7AM after your dad dropped you off to go to work at AT&T

 

I loved you when you got into Treble Clef and Concert Choir at San Ramon Valley High School

 

I loved you when you and Andrew would endlessly sing “Everywhere” by Michelle Branch in the back seat of the car

 

I loved you when you took off without me in San Diego while riding a scooter on a bike path at a very young age, and introduced Andrew’s cousins Keri and Jamie to things they shouldn’t have been exposed to. It was then I was asked by Auntie Kathleen not to bring you with us to the Smyth Family vacations again

 

I loved you when we played in the butterfly garden at Marine World and when we let the parakeets stand on our heads while we fed them at the San Diego Zoo

 

I loved you when we played on the beach in Santa Cruz and went on the “Giant Dipper” roller coaster with Grandpa and Andrew at the Boardwalk

 

I loved you when we sat in Berkeley at the coffee shop and you were inspired by and watched the homeless woman do her nails and you wrote a book about it because she reminded you of your mother when you weren’t even 13yrs old.

 

I loved you when we volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Bay Point painting houses and you spoke honestly about it during your National Charity League Senior Presents. Your speech was honored by many and used as an example  for many speeches to come. 

 

I loved you when we read books before bedtime and I would rock you on my lap and give you a special blanket to sleep with

 

I loved you when we played with and walked the dogs and played with the cats at Tri Valley Animal Shelter

 

I loved you when we drove to Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek and you, Andrew and I picked out our dog Baxter after just going there for popcorn during Christmas break

 

I loved you when you were the only one who noticed I had been crying after my cat Woody died and you wanted to know if I was okay

 

I loved you when we ate peanut butter on apples for snack after school and you didn’t ever finish your drink

 

I loved you when we played with the kids at the Concord Child Care Center at the swimming pool and they hung all over you and you never wanted to volunteer there again

 

I loved you when you gave out baskets of food to the hungry at Monument Crisis Center during Thanksgiving

 

I loved you when I watched you and Andrew thrive in a summer drama program through Contra Costa Christian Theater acting in “High School Musical.” And you wanted to drop out, but didn’t

 

I loved you when you and your boyfriend Sean bought a kitten

 

I loved you when you graduated from High School around all of your family and friends and wore the money necklace made by your Mom’s sisters

 

I loved you when you took on leadership roles in your Vista Oak NCL. Your graduation video was so inspiring that it is still used as a template for all upcoming seniors that need to write a speech

 

I loved you when you worked at the front counter at the Hospice Thrift Store 

I loved you when you went to Camp Concord in Lake Tahoe with your cousins Vince and Marie

 

I loved you when you and your cousin Vince pretended to get married at Auntie Sue’s house in Belmont, CA

 

I loved you when you cared for your cousin Kendall when she cried at night because her parents had on loud CPAP machines

 

I loved you when you danced with your Dad when he and Aly got married and you got a new Mom

 

I loved you when we spent hours at the beauty salons having our nails done and got facials

 

I loved you when Uncle Kenny took you to Oak Hill Park to take photos of you for your Senior Presents

 

I loved you when you liked auto shop and worked on cars and you were buddies with your teachers

 

I loved you when you welcomed your baby sister into our family and loved her

 

I loved you when you fell in love with Darius and brought him to family events

 

I loved you when you began making YouTube tutorials on how to do skin care and make up

 

I loved you when you became famous on Twitter after helping a jobless man become employed

 

I loved you when you said you were married on Twitter even though you never shared it with me

 

I loved you when you took me to the Facebook and Instagram Campus in Menlo Park and showed me where you worked

 

I loved you when we spent the day in Capitola to celebrate your birthday and chill on the beach, going to art museums, chocolate shops and beer tasting after my foot surgery

 

I loved you when we toured Pixar Studios in Emeryville and how Pocahontas was your favorite princess

I loved you when you and Andrew would sing “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne at the top of your lungs while riding in the back seat of my car

I loved you when you wanted to be a part of my life and our family

Here is Jasmine speaking at her Senior Presents after volunteering for six years with me.

Seamon, Caprasecca, Morabito, Dagnese, Partlow Family