Two sisters......

We have always been close even when we were younger. We tell each other all kinds of stuff and we always have fun when we are together.

Now that she is further away, we probably see each other once a year. Hopefully it could be twice a year.

When I visited, we cooked things we like to eat and go out and look for bargains. She is good at making sure I don't overspend and we have an agreement on what is a good deal and what is not. Things we should wait to buy and ones that we should just buy there and then.

I can't wait tovisit her again...Thanks a lot lil sis.

Two sisters on our way to shoppping.

 

Admiring the roses at the Heritage Rose Garden. I guess that dress must have been a uniform for me since I am wearing it in two different days.

 

Well, it is Friday, I am going to put up a few Christmas decor in my place to make it feel Christmassy. Time to start planning what cookies to bake and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menu.

 

I have finished my Christmas shopping. To all you folks, get busy and go shopping, do not wait for the last few days.

 

Enjoy the weekend!!!

 

 



Thank you, thank you and more thank yous.....

This is for my sister and hubby....thank you for your hospitality, all the exciting short trips and all the yummy meals, wonderful breakfasts and a lovely Thanksgiving meal.

And of course all the shopping trips, my brother-in-law I feel knows the kind of shoes/boots I like. And my sister for not letting me buy any dress over $15.00 but at times if I beg enough, she will let me get one.

My first night was really exciting as she gave me my belated birthday presents, the number of which corresponds to my years,so I will just show a picture.

There were all kinds of stuff from reading glasses, make up, creams, hair products, manicure/pedicure set, candies, soap, purse and wallet and so much more. A big thank you, Jeff and to Annette, my sister's mother-in -law and my adoptive MIL.

 

My birthday presents...getting old but what a nice surprise.

Thank you again, lil sis.



San Jose Heritage Rose Garden...

I love roses and even when I live in a highrise, I sometimes plant roses in the summertime. So before my holiday in San Jose, I checked out what else I can see that I have not seen/visited yet. I found this and we went to see it one day.

November is not the best time to visit a rose garden but I just wanted to see if it was nice and big and lots of different varieties of roses. The blooms at this time were not as beautiful but still there were some that were still lovely, so I took some pictures.

A variety of rose named after me.....

 

 

 

 

Even though it is not the season, they were still beautiful and I love them.

 

 

 

 

 



San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles....

This is the one place I was excited about to see while in San Jose. So we went to see and it is located in downtown San Jose.

I have made a small quilt before and I am really interested in the different designs and how they coordinate the fabrics with the design.

There was an entrance fee of $8.00 per person which is not bad but after we got in and saw the displays.....what a great disappointment. I am sure there must be only 25 on display and textiles was not really much. I would not recommend this one. Give this one a pass....go somewhere else.

I did take pictures especially when I found out the number of quilts on display was not a lot. I think if they charge only $5.00, there will be more people who would see it or display more quilts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those are probably half of the display, maybe whne I run of things to post, I will post more pictures and that will the whole display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



More food......

These are more of what I tried or cook while I was visiting my sister. As usual there are foods I ate that I did not take pictures of mainly because I always forget or remember just after I had a few bites.

 

Oysters with asiago cheese, there were six oysters but remembered to take pictures after I had eaten two. I had to rearranged them to look good. I had this at Hawgs. Really good.

 

 

Beef Kabobs at the House of Kabobs in Sunnyvale...my last lunch in San Jose. Another excellent meal and the service was good and friendly.

 

 

Water chestnuts and bacon with spicy/sweet sauce. Yummy!!!

 

 

Cassava cake, one of three desserts for Thanksgiving dinner.



Fruit picking....

I love picking fruits and vegetables and since we do not have a lot of fruit trees in my city, I get excited when I see trees with lots of fruits. I would tell my sister that I will steal fruits from neighbours yards.

So one day while I was in San Jose, I went to visit my cousin who has lemon tree in her backyard and proceeded to pick. I had so much fun....did not pick a lot but enough to just enjoy the experience. Just like my sister, it does not take much to make me happy.

Once we got home, my sister asked me to bake lemon loaf, lemon muffins and macadamia white chocolate cookies.

 

 

 That's me picking a lemon...

bj's - Livermore

When one is on , you want to try to eat at different restaurants especially the ones you do not have at home.

Just before the US Thanksgiving, my sister and her hubby and I wanted to check out the new Paragon Outlet at Livermore. It was crowded and we did not stay long. We were getting hungry and decided to try bj's in Livermore.

The place was crowded and the menu looks good. We just ordered appetizers and drinks. I ordered calamari, sister order the lettuce wraps and my borther-in-law ordered chicken wings.

I love calamari and would order it if I hear the place had good calamari. Well, when the calamari arrived, it was mostly tentacles. Unfortunately, we did not take pictures. I have never had this kind, there were probably only 5 or 6 at the most of squid rings. We kind of complained but they said that is how the calamaris come.

If I am not mistaken, a squid only has a set of tentacles and out of it you can have maybe 6 or 7 rings so I do not understand the explanation at all. We ate it but was not too happy. In most restaurants, you may get 3 tentacles and the rest are rings. Go figure.....

Not going back there......a big disappointment!!!! Will not recommend it to friends who are going on vacation in California.