Kicking back in California

Northern California is always a favorite stop, and being with good friends makes it even better!

During the day, we (Rosanne, Dan, me) are on our computers working on our diverse projects.

Their apricot tree is covered in sweet juicy fruit; Dan just canned seven jars.

The other day, we went to a water aerobics class in a nearby college's outdoor pool. I look forward to this all year, and hope to get in a few more sessions on this visit.

We've also been enjoying some of the great restaurants in the area - we really need those water aerobics classes now!

We've been to Arya, an excellent Persian restaurant, for classic chelo kabab; a Vietnamese pho (noodles) place that's a lot of fun and very inexpensive. And our favorite - and superb - all-you-can-eat sushi place where we most definitely overdosed!

The other night we stayed home and cooked - I made Persian rice with crispy, crunchy tahdigfrom the bottom of the pot, to eat with chicken slow-cooked in barbecue sauce.

At Arya, we had a separate tahdig portion with classic fesenjan on it - a marvelous sweet-sour walnut-pomegranate sauce that has to be tasted to be believed. Our's was also good!

Next week, Judy Simon of New York will also be in town and I'm looking forward to seeing her.

It's nice to be able to kick back and relax. And, of course, to keep on blogging.