Another Busy Week

It's hard to believe that ten days have gone by since my last post.  I really didn't plan for such a long time between posts, but I have been very busy this past week.  Let's see, On the 27th we went to the funeral of a good friend that I used to be very close with when I lived in Northridge with my first husband.  That was some forty plus years ago.  We were both in Chatsworth Ward. (For those of you who are not LDS, a Ward is a congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more familiarly known as the Mormon Church.)  Marilyn was also a musician.  In fact she used to accompany me when I played in various places throughout Southern California.  She was a very accomplished pianist.  It was suprising then, when one day a few years ago they moved to Indian Wells, which is the town just across the street from us.  Of course we were happy to be in the same ward again.  Both of us had pretty much retired from our music by then.  A few years ago Marilyn's brain started to deteriorate and to make a long story short, she ended up not even knowing her own family.  Her husband, Jack, (who used to be our dentist) took care of her for years until he finally had to put her into a small private care facility where she was for a little over a year before she died.  It was really sad because she used to be so active always. 

Then on Halloween we made chili verde and took it over to another friends house, so that we wouldn't be home when a zillion kids came by for "trick or treat".  We don't even have any kids in our neighborhood.   It's interesting to note that when we got home we found all the lights were on..........dumb, huh.  No damage anywhere though, so the kids didn't take their revenge for our not answering the door.  I swear that I think they must bus all those kids in from somewhere else.  These guys, Jim and Verna live in a gated retirement  community and  no children are there.  Her husband was in a rehab center at the time, being cared for, after his hip was replaced when he fell.  He is now home, thank heavens and seems to be doing well so far.

Friday I had to go to the infusion center to be infused with my second injection of iron.  That took about an hour and a half,  so it was pretty late when I got home as I didn't go until 3:00 in the afternoon.  It really did help though as I have felt quite a boost of energy since then and I just hope it lasts for a long time.

Saturday night we had the Pike's over for dinner and had such a great time with them, getting to know them better and  talking a mile a minute.  Of course we learned a lot more about his experiences with  The Lettermen, as well as a lot of other groups he sang in.  His new book has just come out, along with his new album.  I will have to tell you where you can go to get copies of both, because if you buy them both, you get a break in cost.  I have forgotten the address though.  You can probably find it by just typing in "Reunion", which is what his new group is called. The book is SO interesting.  It is titled "My Lettermen Years, The Journey To Hell  and Back".  He was in the group for about twelve years and then he lost his voice.  About ten years later, it came back.  He really did go through hell during that time.  I won't go into more, but you would really enjoy the book, I know.  When he was pretty much recovered, (he still has problems with his speaking voice but at least his ability to sing came back), he started the "Reunion."...........A couple of hours ago, Sue called and wanted the recipe for my wonderful baked chicken that I got from my daughter Sue.  Jim's wife's name is also Sue, hence the reference to "my daughter" whom most of you know.  She said that Jim has not stopped raving about how tender and juicy the chicken is and how he loved the sauce.   I guess I will have to give you all the recipe.  I have to tell you that it is one of my prized possessions and I always make it whenever I invite anyone to dinner for the first time.  I have surely given out this recipe to all of my friends and they make it often.

Sue's Baked Chicken:

6 boneless and skinless chicken breasts
swiss cheese, several slices
2 cans cream of celery soup
1 cup sour cream
2 Tablespoos sherry (I just use regular sherry, not the cooking kind)
French-fried onions
3 Talblespoons melted butter

Put celery soup, sour cream and sherry  in a bowl, stir and set aside  Place chicken breasts in a lightly greased 9x12 pan or pyresx dish.  Cut slices of swiss cheese and put on top of chicken breasts, completely covering.  Pour the soup mixture over the chicken, being sure every part of the chicken is covered.  Slightly mash French-fried onions with your hand as you sprinke them liberally over the top.  Add the melted butter by dribbling it across the top.  Put in preheated oven at 350 degrees for an hour.  Enjoy!!  I usually serve this with either white or brown rice, but you could use any kind of pasta too.

Sorry, no pictures (as usual)

Love to all,
Darlene